Mark Bolam

The old faithful 06 plate Transit is still a great work horse, and I’ll stick with it until it fails on emissions. I’m well aware I’ll be losing about 40% load capacity, but I’m doing smaller jobs these days, and have plenty of mates with bigger trucks for volume jobs. I also have loads of tip sites locally which are inaccessible for the Transit in the winter.

Well explained mate, and nice work. How are you getting on with the extra cab Hilux? Thats’s what I fancy next.

Great post.

I had the same problem with Airstreams, good boots but cold. I’ve gone for the Andrews now, and they seem much better so far, although I didn’t get them till about March. @Rich Rule has had both and lives in Norway, so he would know. Steve’s sock advice is good as well. They seem expensive, but they are cheap as chips in the long run.

Life is far too short to worry about stuff like this. You don't need LOLER either, just for yourself.

To be honest mate the lack of cover isn’t a problem. There’s a company near me that MAY do a hitchlock that locks it onto the ball, but for now it’s a chain through the jockey wheel bracket onto the hitch bracket on the back of the truck, and a wheelclamp when stationary. And the shitty little brass barrel lock.

I’ve ‘researched’ this subject extensively (i.e. wasted loads of money) over the years. I’ve never found a one-stop solution. I think you need a bulletproof waterproof for more static jobs, which Mike is getting at for his Logbullet, with a decent big hood. You need a second waterproof shell for climbing and hard work, but you will get sweaty. Anything is going to be a best compromise. Good base layers are almost as important, and become more so when it gets cold. All the ex-forces Goretex I have bought has leaked, but I might have just been unlucky. A few name-brand Goretex’s started well, but all leaked eventually despite correct care and reproofing. The Pfanner is a great work jacket, but lets a lot of wet in for something that is rated 40000mm waterproof and cost the best part of £300. My Paramo seems awesome, but I’m buggered if I’m using it for tree work! A spare set of dry clothes and early finishes on really vile days are kind of where I’ve ended up.

Really rate my 160, apart from two things. The shitty cheapo pressed ALKO hitch, which you can’t buy a hitchlock to fit (I was the one who bought up the problem on here). Brass barrel lock would stop a 5-second opportunist and that’s it. Chain it is for now. I’ve also had a problem with the battery not charging when in use, so I charge it in the workshop. Apparently an easy fix under warranty which Greenplant have offered to do but I haven’t had time run it down to them yet. Other than those minor gripes it’s great. A few improvements over the 125, all of them well thought out, faster and more powerful, and I loved my 125 (until the dids stole it).

Or a 3-course lunch. With wine.

There is nothing on earth that will let sweat out WHEN it’s lashing down. That is an undeniable fact of simple physics. All the fancy technological names and advertising in the world won’t change that.

Every single year.

I do.

I would recommend them to anyone planning on growing a pair of balls.

Idiot. Everyone knows to stay legal the hi vis must be - a) filthy, and b) flapping around like a prem footballer after an ankle tap. Good advert for the Transporter, though. Some weight there.

What would be your guesstimate John? They don’t look particularly dry, either. Woody Paul hit a note for me earlier. Modern 3.5 tonners are good for far more than the pathetic legal payload (mine is 650kg depending on weight of dog and groundie), but will comfortably carry, handle and brake correctly with far more (on private estates etc....), so why not up the limit to 4 or 4.5t? The reason is because people would take the piss more and more, that’s why. I think Ben Edmonds comes across as a bit preachy sometimes about this sort of stuff, but in fact he’s 100% spot on. Why should he try and run legit against chancers taking the risk? Smart roads and motorways with weigh bridges built in are in our near future. If the law have the bollocks to stop the nomads as well it might be the best thing that ever happens to arb. As someone once said, O licence can’t be that tough, scaffolders do it.

Permanent loan?

I’m very much the same Andy, love all sorts. I must admit most garage-hip-grime-oooshh-ooosh-ooosh stuff these days doesn’t do a lot for me, but a good tune is a good tune. J, you might well be a world class grump, but what you did today was spot on. Littering is one of the only things that can bring down the red mist for me. It’s utterly disgusting and as easy to avoid doing as actually doing. Anyone throwing stuff around needs bringing up, whatever it takes. Fuck Kenny Noye, I’d have banged him out for throwing his knife away.

There’s only two types of good music Andy. Country. And Western.

Poor bastard. You couldn't make it up.

You seem to have a very good attitude Centralscot, and that can take you a long way. The problem is often money. It takes a while to be worth decent money in arb, or forestry. I’ve had loads of guys in IT or whatever on £40k+ saying they are prepared to drop £5k to get a start. When I tell them they will be dropping £20k the reality dawns. Bills are bills. Make sure you do the maths. Not being negative here mate, just pragmatic.

To be fair, I’ve climbed some biggish ones. They aren’t too bad as takedowns, just spike the stem/s and strip as you go. The branches can be bastard entwined, so be a bit patient. Good luck with the job. Post a pic of the stump.

You’re still mental, like. Climbing a holly - aarrrgghh!

Fair play Con, well explained. You’re not as mental as I first thought.

Forgot to say I did buy one. You wouldn’t base a commercial business round one, but it’s actually pretty good. Ideal for fussy stuff, and ‘cutting and holding’ those annoying strands away from fences, pavements etc. Made a nice job of tidying up my balls.

Doesn't work on mine.