Big J

Heart shake is normal, to a degree. Avoid anything with star or ring shake though. It's always (and I mean ALWAYS) worse once you open up the log. The is especially true if the log has any bend in it, as it'll split along the shake with extra vigour. I'm no great fan of oak, if I'm honest.

Just remember that with oak any defect that manifests itself at the butt will almost always be worse once the log is milled. There are rarely any nice surprises when cutting oak.

Fairly cheap. £150 a tonne is less than £6/hoppus foot and for such small quantities, that's very reasonable. Reasonable quality oak starts at £5/hf, very good quality is £8-10.

My phone is pretty old and I prefer proper sat navs. The Garmin I have in the Sprinter is superb. Seconds to program in an address.

I'm looking at the Enterprise (cruise control, AC, bluetooth etc) with 130bhp, then extras such as offroad kit, rear camera (mostly for my wife), ply lining, 240v socket in the back, doors both sides, probably a metallic paint as I'll let my daughter choose the colour (thankfully they don't offer purple). I think he quoted about £16600, plus VAT (including 4 years servicing and roadside assistance) but I'm going to try to wangle satnav out of him for that. I couldn't believe how large the cab was. I've driven the old Berlingos and they were OK, but the new one is massive inside.

A 4x4 would be lovely, but hope that this off road version should be enough. It really does need to be ordered before April 5th.

If I order it, mine's £16k because I'm going for a lot of kit and the fastest engine! ? How long ago did you get yours? Is it the new model? I ask only as it gives me negotiating clout.

I think you can only get the Canter 4x4 as a 6.5t vehicle? They are honestly tiny for me. Even without PPE. Then with saw trousers and boots, my knees are around my ears! In a bit of an about turn, I think that I might be ordering a Citroen Berlingo. The Commission use them and with the off road traction control system, under body guarding and mud and snow tyres, they get around OK. It occurred to me that in the past 5 weeks I've only towed twice (taking machines off site) and all the rest has been back and forth, day in, day out to the same site. I'd be as well getting 55mpg rather than 22mpg and not putting the miles on the 4x4 Sprinter, which is a very expensive truck to run. Whenever Iveco see fit to release their new 4x4, I'll speak to them then and see what the costs are. In the mean time, £16k on a little run about (I like options) seems like a decent option for a second work vehicle. Good for site visits too. You wouldn't think it, but the cab on a Berlingo is much, much bigger than a pickup, it has three seats and the loadspace in the back (even on the short wheelbase) is a foot longer than a double cab pickup.

They are a thing of beauty. Proper little Unimogs. They seemed to start at £40k plus vat for the chassis cab for the 3.5t single cab, but they aren't presently in production, so no real hope of finding one.

Wouldn't be considered a van unfortunately.

A diff lock is an option on most still (certainly the Ranger and the Amarok, which I've looked at). Sadly (as it's probably the most reliable) the Hilux isn't an option simply as it's the smallest cab. Too tight for me. Also, they only do the 150hp engine option now, which is rubbish.

I haven't got as far as that with discussing it with my accountant, but thanks for the heads up

I think that they are 3200kg GVW and carry around 900kg, unless I'm mistaken?

I did, but I still profited from that.

I would love to try an American pickup. Fuel economy isn't really an issue for me.

That is stunning, but after reading about HMRC's definition of a van, I think that this may not qualify. It doesn't carry 1000kg and has windows behind the driver.

There is just a lot more space in the cab of a van than in a pickup. Getting in and out of a double cab pickup like a Hilux is not dignified!

I just don't fit comfortably in a pickup now. Too reclined and too cramped (I'm 6ft 8"). Chassis cab Iveco 4x4 would be spot on. Custom back on it for tool and fuel storage, and a sleeping compartment for when I'm staying on site. That would be spot on, but they are very hard to find.

Not much of a looker is it!? I drove a 12 plate Shogun a few years back but didn't like it.

Interesting prospects, certainly. The Unimog is a bit rough for my liking. I quite fancy a tidy U90 or U140, as I don't need mega off road capabilities. The Landcruiser is quite a lot of money for something that still needs a lot of money spending on it, but it's a lovely example.

Haha! No, I'm done with that. At least for the time being. There aren't really any nice mobile sawmills IMO. You've got to get up to nearly £100k with Serra or Wimmer to get a reliable and productive sawmill with a breadth of capabilities!

Agreed. Invalidation of insurance too. Not worth the risk when your livelihood depends on being able to drive.

We have VOSA check point quite close to the house. I also came very close to getting prosecuted for not having a tachograph 4 years ago but managed to get it dropped as in the intervening period they expanded the operational radius from 50km to 100km and my alleged offence occurred in between 50km and 100km. It's not a risk I'd be prepared to take. I like having a clean driving licence.

I could always go for a 5 tonner, so something similar and tow it with the tractor. Wise advice though. I need 100% capital allowance or it's not worth it. I did consider the Amarok, but the towing capacity is only 3100kg.

That is silly money for a low grade, impractical product. Good to know though, and gives me a useful negotiating startpoint.