just dreaming

[Mr Ed]

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/trucks_popup.jsp?did=128503&pageid=2&originalid=&gid=nogroup&tid=20&start=6&distance=0&adcategory=trucks&channel=DEALERPAGE&id=200828314187548

[Mr Ed]

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/trucks/advert+search/N-243,Ne-7-8-27-64-133-146-233-236/advert.action?R=200830314846286&distance=63&postcode=ll588ls&channel=TRUCKS&make=&model=&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=

[arc]

Cheers Ed, Do you know if they suffer from heavy corrosion on the chassis as a result of the salt?

Also do you know how capable they are off road.

[Mr Ed]

WHat tends to happen is the little fittings on the brake pipes and suchlike tend to corrode.

If you buy one, budget to have it shot blasted and painted.

Offroad they are pretty damn good for their size. Most have full airlocking diffs.

[arc]

Our u1200 with 3pl chipper is pretty good but the U1500 has narrow MPT tyres and Jonsered 770 crane on the back and has to tow the 10t trailer so is pretty limited to what it can do, thats why I want to chage it for a lorry. Also since we told by the great HMRC that we cannot use red diesel in the U1500 its been pretty expensive to run as well. Would you go for a Merc or MAN, I've been told the Mercs are underpowered thats all.

[Mr Ed]

I would go for the MAN with the 224 engine. Very nice truck. Your crane will go really neatly on the back of that compared to a unimog. I used to have an 890 Jonsered on the back of a 17tonne volvo

[Mr Ed]

Just phoned them, The MAN's are gone but he has some really tidy 1824 mercs on a 2001 plate for £20k.

[arc]

Did you also have a tipping body on the back or Bolster / flat. I want to use the truck everyday for chipping into and carry occasional loads. The reason for this is that the U1500 is our most expensive bit of kit which does the least amount of work. I.e collecting odd stems and logs from site. The timber crane is great, loads of power, fast and good visibility but it wont fold behind the cab of an 18 tonner so I think it'l have to be changed for something more suitable. A Z crane would be good but very expensive new and not many about used.

[arc]

Are they 240hp

[Mr Ed]

240hp, yes.

I've never worried about my cranes not folding. I used to stick them accross the load. I reckon if you want to use it for chipping into, you need to either have

Rear mounted crane with side tip bin

front mount crane with conventional chip bin.