rovers90

I think the 45p per mile is supposed to cover your fuel, tax,insurance and wear and tear costs if you use the vehicle for business use.

My friend and I had a good day out today looking over the stock in this yard. Went looking for a Bedford TM but decided probably manage with a Leyland DAF - they are at least ten years newer, better condition and parts readily available. Also got a good sized cab with plenty of room behind the seats for storing gear. Could have spent a small fortune!!

I think you will find normal SDP insurance covers you if you travel to one work site per day and do not leave there until home time. If you are driving to different sites or even tipping at different places you may not be covered and will require business insurance. Isn't mileage allowance set by the Inland Revenue at 40p per mile? May be a little higher now as that is what I was able to claim a few years ago in a different job I had.

Whilst looking at some ex army trucks in a yard today, came across this dinky little Unimog fitted with a snow blower. Looks like it would hail from the 1960s but I wouldnt be surprised if it was going to be scrapped soon.

I know its an old thread but possibly thinking of buying a Bedford TM - would it be possible to mount the crane at the back of the bed instead of behind the cab as most people in the pictures have done. The thinking behind this is it would then be possible to load a trailer as well.

I had a conversation with Northwoods (they are our local Rural Development Initiative body) today regarding grants. Under the Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme, grants of between £2500 and £25000 are available up to 40% of the purchase price. I was informed that equipment such as a forwarding trailer and crane would be eligible for grant aid. The next round of applications commence in April and decisions should be received by July. I am sure grants over £25000 are available from a different organisation.

My first attempt at these. A firewood client has requested some for his wedding! The log did put out a fair bit of smoke though!!

If looking at grants, most of those currently available will provide up to 50%. However, they are usually quite specific what it can be used for, you need three quotes for each item of equipment you wish to purchase and you have to buy it yourself before claiming the grant money so that may involve short term financing from somewhere.

Alpen for me with some added almonds on top. Was special K last year but have dropped a dress size now so I am enjoying the Alpen - no other muesli tastes like it!

Does any one know when Stihl changed their model numbers from, for example, 026 to MS260? I have seen a saw advertised with a silver label on the top stating STILH MS440 but have only ever seen them with the silver label when it has been STIHL 044 for example.

I am sure we all must have seen this many times already but for those that have not, Grand Designs is on More4, channel 14 on Freeview at 17.55 - the original edition with Ben Law building his house in the woods. It must be the most watched episode of Grand Designs ever!

I think the big yellow truck is a Pacific. I questioned payload with David and he replied it is between 85 and 90 thousand pounds on 7 axles and gross weight for truck, trailer and load is just under 130,000lbs. And some of the time he is hauling that up and down 30% gradients.

My cousin is a truck driver in the logging world on Vancouver Island and recently sent me the attached photographs. The yellow truck was one he spotted 6 months ago with an awesome sized load. If I remember correctly from the last time I was there, these are off highway trucks that use the logging roads and park up until they can cross the highway safely. The green truck is Davids present ride and those logs measure 60 foot - just as well they dont have roundabouts over there! Makes my latest delivery look a bit wee!!!!

PM sent

Dont be nervous,just try and take it all in and you should enjoy the training. Having worked in a bank for 23 years I had never picked up a chainsaw before attending the course but even I passed with flying colours so good luck:thumbup:

Somebody on here suggested putting some gate bolts on the inside of the tailgate so when you put the tailgate up you then close the bolts into retainers on the inside of the bed, that way the tailgate cannot be opened from the outside without raising the window. If you have a search in the arbtruck section you will find a better description, think the thread was about making an Ifor Williams canopy secure

My pal reckoned a truck and drag as a box would work out as 80m3, then loose 20% for air gaps,etc would leave you with 64m3. Don't know how accurate this is though.

My local chainsaw guru advises not to touch them as they are not listed in the current Husqvarna catalogue and he believes were dropped last year due to problems with them.

Gransfors recommend you only use the large splitting maul for knocking in wedges as all the other axes do not have the correct poll to act as a sledge hammer. Greenman Bushcraft have them for about £76 plus delivery, seem to be £99 most other places. I am tempted as I bought the Gransfors small forest axe before Christmas and absolutely love it - a real quality piece of kit.

As with all insurance, it's a waste of money ................if you never have to claim on it. And I'm sure you thought it was a good idea at the time otherwise you would not have taken it out. And as for the comment from Tom D, it does cover you if you are self employed.

Canada has always been very hard to get in to. When I looked in to it, albeit 13 years ago, the immigration system worked on a self assessment basis with points awarded for each question. The only people they were after at the time were IT specialists and anybody with a hospital "ology". My cousin got transferred to Montreal with the software company he works for and is now resident but he recently stated that the borders were shut. His company takes on 15-20 Europeans each year as game designers and programmers but they have recently been informed this is nolonger possible. He says that the public who voted in the present government did so because of their hard stance on immigration and the public have made it very clear to the rulers if they waver on this they will be voted out asap! If you can get there by hook or by crook you will love it. I have relatives on Vancouver Island and am planning on visiting them next year.

I know its a small saw but my local Costco had Husqvarna 240 chainsaws on Saturday for £136.99 plus VAT - £164.38 with 14 inch bar. May be of interest to someone. They also had Husqvarna petrol blowers for £200. They have only stocked Ryobi in the past.

I remember an article in one of the Land Rover mags a number of years ago entitled:"Discovery Commercial........the thinking mans Defender" and always thought that was very true for the reasons you have mentioned above. But we would all still have a Defender stashed somewhere in the garage/barn/yard wouldnt we?

One for all you Toyota lovers out there............. Video Hilux 6X6 < 6X6 < Toyota < Brands < Arctic Trucks