Big J

It just doesn't seem that expensive considering a 12ft Ifor Williams tipper with the same options is nearly £5k plus VAT.

I wonder how much weight it would save not to have the cage sides on it? I'd never be in a position to fill past the top of the dropsides as I'd be way overweight. Might save a bit of cost too.

Either way, it's got an empty weight of 1100kg, which makes is a little impractically heavy if you don't have a 3500kg tow capacity.

Very interesting. Winter was very consistently cold here near Edinburgh. Monthly average temperatures were as follows: November: 3.89c December: 2.26c January: 2.1c February: 1.78c March: 2.9c As such not much showing signs of life. Daffodils are starting to flower here and there, some growth on some of my pond plants, but that's it. Grass hasn't grown at all yet, and all trees bare.

Very good advice regarding the tri axle Matthew. I am leaning that way.

The forwarder will just fit on my old trailer, but will overhand a fair bit at both ends. Not ideal, but would do in a fix. Still looking for trailers - it's a tough one.

Absolutely! You could double the GVW to 7000kg and still overload it!

I've committed to buying the Sprinter. Really quite excited as I was resigned to having to be without a van in order to get 4x4. Just need to get a suitable trailer now.

I haven't Richard, but I shall now If money were no object, this would be my (and I suspect most people's) trailer of choice: https://www.ahrens-ullmann.de/epages/61364809.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/61364809/Products/"AG6766N %2B BHHE10017 %2B GA515x209" If only I could justify spending £7k on a trailer. It does everything!

Spoke to SV Tech and with the installation of an appropriately rated tow bar, the sprinter is good for 2800kg. Replating the vehicle with a fresh VIN plate costs £260, so quite straightforward. I think 3500kg is possible, but I don't need it and can't be bothered with the hassle.

Interesting though it is, the possibility of extending the towing capacity past 3500kg, it's not for me. Too much hassle, paperwork and cost. Just not something I need. I'll speak to SV Tech as soon as I get to work today.

Very true. I think the chap took the notion of uprated tow bar to an unnecessary level, but it's nice to have redundant strength.

I had wondered about that! That's very interesting as I would never need to travel with a loaded van and heavy trailer. I'd estimate that my train weight with fully fueled van, 18.5st of me, tools in the back and loaded trailer would be 5100kg max. I haven't had a look at the tow bars yet, but the vendor of the van (wind turbine engineer) has a 5000kg rated tow bar lined up for it.

Saw that, but would prefer the newer model with the cruise control. That's really important to me, and I'd also like a bit more power for towing everyday. I shall certainly speak to SVTech in the morning

Checked with Mercedes UK today and that specific vehicle is plated at 5500kg GVW with a 2000kg towing capacity. It's never towed, so I presume the lower GVW was all they ever needed.

That's really useful information! More than I got from an hour on the phone today! Thanks for that, and I'll call SVTech tomorrow.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with changing the GVW of a vehicle? I am looking at a Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 as a tow vehicle for my forwarder for later in the year. As standard, it comes with a 5500kg gross train weight, of which 2000kg is towing capacity. However, Mercedes offer an uprated towing capacity by uprating the tow hitch and this can be increased to either 2800kg or 3500kg. There is also a corresponding increase in GVW up to a maximum of 7000kg. As far as I can tell, the only difference is the tow bar. I have not been able to get any information out of anyone, and that was me spending an hour on the phone to Mercedes UK, the local Mercedes commercial dealership, the DVLA and the DSA. My best understanding is that I would have the modification made to the vehicle (ie, tow hitch installed - the vehicle in question does not have a tow bar at present), then it would be inspected and replated accordingly. As I am sure you can appreciate, a 2000kg tow capacity is not much use, and I need a minimum of 2500kg. I love having a van and the only 4x4 option is the Sprinter. I just need to get my head around the process of uprating the towing capacity and GVW. Thanks in advance

Make more money from sawmilling. I hate selling firewood as the majority of firewood customers are idiots. Selling the unprofitable to the ungrateful, as another Arbtalker once put it.

You need a bigger mill. Only 66cm above bed is severely limiting. Serra has a good reputation and resale value should be high. My previous mill was a brilliant machine (Logmaster LM2). It had the same 90cm capacity, but went to 88cm above bed. I replaced it because it's capacity was too small.

No, we just don't kiln dry firewood anymore. All our spare biomass is taken by a local biomass company, so it's all off site quite quickly now, which suits us better.

I ask regarding the Sprinter as there is an immaculate, one owner, full Mercedes history, never towed 313 MWB 4x4 close to me for £14k. More than I wanted to spend, but perhaps worth shelling out for.

Well I had a chap pop by today in a Discovery 2 so I took the opportunity to sit in it to see what the space was like and it wasn't good. There is no chance I'd be able to drive it with boots on, and any kind of PPE (chainsaw trousers for example). Very cramped driving position. Does anyone have any experience with Mercedes Sprinter 4x4s? I much prefer vans than cars/normal 4x4s and whilst they are as rare as rocking horse sh*t, they tick all the boxes. As standard they have a low towing capacity, but with an uprated tow hitch will tow 2800/3000kg

You might want to add your location, though from the area code it suggests you're in Barnstaple

That's the picture of the spare. The other one is installed outside but under cover. The thermostatic control unit on them isn't great, so it's easiest with a manual switch. An on/off for the flue fan and an off for the circulation fan. They require regular (once an hour or so) stoking for maximal heat output due to the small firebox, but we were able to get a 40ft container up to 65 celsius with it. Looking for £700 for the two boilers and about 40ft of double skin stainless steel flue.

I might have misremembered the name. I'll not in to work today, but I'll get my colleague to send me some photos of it. It is fan assisted for both. Two large fans distribute the heat and a smaller fan helps the combustion.