Mark Bolam

I think it could be very useful. I’ve had some good advice over the years on here. Mind you, my idea of a finer, more technical joinery project is one where I use 4” nails.

Butt is set up nicely as well! Pics if you do it please Saul!

I’ve found the climbing not as bad as I thought tbh, but dragging and chipping is about as bad as it gets. On top of the bastard factor the limbs and timber are seriously heavy. Keep some timber if you can, you can make some funky stuff even from shortish barrels.

Ripeur 2’s are my choice, but they are pricey. I’ve just bought a backup pair of welding gauntlets for £6 in a jaunty red. That will be fun the first time it rains.

I started my SRT journey on that rope. It will work, and you’ll appreciate a more static rope when you get one.

Jesus! Glad everyone’s all right John, that’s the main thing. Getting a tipper with a box will be the biggest pita in the short term, pretty much impossible to hire.

Nicely judged there mate!

With feet your size you could just put a small fridge freezer in each boot afterwards if that happened.

Thanks, after a little reading they seem to not be rated so well for spikes. 95% of my work is spike climbing - would you still reccomend? I get on fine, and I’m usually on spikes. The Pfanner Zermatts are very well rated for spike work, though I’ve never tried them. @Stephen Blairwould know, and how warm they are.

The Close Group were good for my when I had a bad credit rating. Close Asset Finance is the branch you want I think.

Fantastic project Andy.

Basically my Airstreams were worn out and Rich and another couple of climbers I work with had already got the Andrews and rated them. Handy little built-in loop for the HAAS as well. The red also goes with my face.

Looks a little belter Wayne. Good times ahead.

Tidy job there mate.

It’s never been about the money Mick. Just the chicks and the Likes.

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He never bummed the pig Mark, he’s a Tory, not a sex case. It was only oral.

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).