New sawmill coming next month - need to sort out towing issues

[wills-mill]

Has anyone mentioned ag registered lorries like a Bedford MK or one of the more recent 4x4 beasts that the power companies use?

 

Solves the cost issue of a mog, and licensing and operating issues of a dedicated lorry that would be run for hire or reward.

 

Presumably a 4x4 hiab lorry that is a dedicated support unit for the mill (and not being used to carry timber and other burden about the place) wouldn't have any issues?

 

(opens massive can of mixed VOSA/ DVLA flavoured worms??)

[treequip]

Has anyone mentioned ag registered lorries like a Bedford MK or one of the more recent 4x4 beasts that the power companies use?

 

Solves the cost issue of a mog, and licensing and operating issues of a dedicated lorry that would be run for hire or reward.

 

Presumably a 4x4 hiab lorry that is a dedicated support unit for the mill (and not being used to carry timber and other burden about the place) wouldn't have any issues?

 

(opens massive can of mixed VOSA/ DVLA flavoured worms??)

 

The whole winging it on AG thing is risky IMO

 

Its sawmilling, its not ag and its not forestry. It is for hire or reward unless you are milling as a hobby.

 

The powers that be are a lot more clued up on the rules, gone are the days when you could plead "tree surgeon general exemption"

[Big J]

I would argue that sawmilling on site is an extension of forestry. I would be prepared to argue that with any VOSA official.

 

Thanks for all the info - lots to read through!

[treequip]

I would argue that sawmilling on site is an extension of forestry. I would be prepared to argue that with any VOSA official.

 

Thanks for all the info - lots to read through!

 

Its an argument you need to be prepared to loose but loosing the toss with VOSA is the least of your problems, if you are using red and have goods of any sort on board you don't want too loose with HMCE, they are best clued up and keen as duck.

[Peter]

FWIW even if you could fold the mill in half you still couldnt tow it with the Nav, its too wide.

[wills-mill]

FWIW even if you could fold the mill in half you still couldnt tow it with the Nav, its too wide.

 

A Navara must run out of legal towing capacity around 2800kg I would imagine? Hiluxes do....

[Big J]

A Navara must run out of legal towing capacity around 2800kg I would imagine? Hiluxes do....

 

It does yes, though is likely to break down long before that!

[Peter]

Mines towed at least 3.5 tonnes, off the public highway obviously.......

[agrimog]

how they define forestry work is a wierd one, if you go to the forest/wood, enter, cut, and bring the timber out, and back to your base/yard, thats forestry, but if you only go to the forest and pick up from a pre-cut stack then its not, so the very fact you are taking your mill into the site and cutting on site will definately make it forestry, that is my take on it, and our local vosa guy has agreed with me, thats how I operate, I only carry the equipment required to do the actual cutting job, my milling is usually taken back to base by a van and trailer, Ive only had one run in with the official mob, traffic, vosa, hmrc, and the dwp all in the one spot pulling in vehicles to a check point, when I got out the vehicle, they were round like the proverbial flies round sh*t wanting to know what it was, explained that it was a mobile saw mill, where Id come from and where I was going , thew looked in the back of the mog, saw the saws,fuel and oil cans and other bits and bobs, commented on the mog, and wished me on my way, since then I have passed the same setup in various locations and have been waved past, Ive found that If you carry downloaded copies of the various parts of legislation, definition of a tractor, ag, forestry,and horticultural use, trailer regulations , and use of rebated fuel, and hand the whole lot , in a folder to whoever stops you, they tend not to want to get any more into it, remember they only follow the rules, dont make them, and as long as you are operating within them ( and they give you a lot of scope) they arent really interestedin you. theres plenty of other white van men out there chancing there luck

[Big J]

how they define forestry work is a wierd one, if you go to the forest/wood, enter, cut, and bring the timber out, and back to your base/yard, thats forestry, but if you only go to the forest and pick up from a pre-cut stack then its not, so the very fact you are taking your mill into the site and cutting on site will definately make it forestry, that is my take on it, and our local vosa guy has agreed with me, thats how I operate, I only carry the equipment required to do the actual cutting job, my milling is usually taken back to base by a van and trailer, Ive only had one run in with the official mob, traffic, vosa, hmrc, and the dwp all in the one spot pulling in vehicles to a check point, when I got out the vehicle, they were round like the proverbial flies round sh*t wanting to know what it was, explained that it was a mobile saw mill, where Id come from and where I was going , thew looked in the back of the mog, saw the saws,fuel and oil cans and other bits and bobs, commented on the mog, and wished me on my way, since then I have passed the same setup in various locations and have been waved past, Ive found that If you carry downloaded copies of the various parts of legislation, definition of a tractor, ag, forestry,and horticultural use, trailer regulations , and use of rebated fuel, and hand the whole lot , in a folder to whoever stops you, they tend not to want to get any more into it, remember they only follow the rules, dont make them, and as long as you are operating within them ( and they give you a lot of scope) they arent really interestedin you. theres plenty of other white van men out there chancing there luck

 

Should I ever get a Unimog, I will have to get a copy of that folder of yours - sounds like it's worth it's weight in gold!