Big J

Again, I'm not looking to lose tax. I have a plethora of highly useful forestry machines I could choose from if that were the case. I'm just looking for a practical solution to a practical problem, not an accounting problem! ?

Not a joke as such, but watching a video from Autocar comparing the old Suzuki SJ with the new Jimny, the reviewer (Matt Prior, a usually conservative and professional journalist) used the analogy (when referring to the old SJ) that it rattled like "a skeleton masturbating in a filing cabinet" which I thought was outstanding. Whenever a machine I own presents such symptoms in the future, I shall be cracking out that expression!

I'm not in the position to be spending that kind of money. Accepting that I have a need for a work vehicle, my theory is that it's best if it's classified as a business expense.

It's a fair point. I'm open to suggestions, but the only thing that is fairly well resolved in my head is that the Sprinter isn't suitable for my daily needs anymore. I thought when we moved down here that I'd use my forestry contacts in southern Scotland to work there, so the Sprinter was going to be a mobile live/work van. I'm not heading far from home now and it's not ideal for the lanes. I've always hankered after a V10 Touareg, but they are very expensive when they go wrong.

Fair point! ?

You're in the same boat as me. I'd use the Berlingo for 80% of my work usage, but a pickup is attractive for financial reasons, as well as being a backup family vehicle capable of towing heavy when I need it.

I don't, as I'm semi retired from sawmilling (forestry now). When I sold the chainsaw milling gear, I bought a Trak TTS800 sawmilling with the wide head. That comes with it's own issues though as trying to keep a 60mm blade cutting straight over a 1.15m throat is tricky. All I can suggest is that someone needs to build a heavy duty slabbing mill, using a tensioning system on the bar that prevents flex. It would need to be a mill that is mounted on rails, very solidly built and designed for cutting 6ft diameter trees. As it is at the moment, it's far too easy to flex a long bar in a chainsaw mill and it's inevitable that you get some deflection.

Fair enough. I suppose that if you're no longer doing tree work, there are more practical and comfortable vehicles as a daily driver.

Yes and no. I have the Berlingo, which is quite small, but the width of something like the Sprinter is a particular issue at this time of year when backing up as many of the lanes are narrower than the van once the hedges grow out. That's OK if you're going forwards, but then if you need your mirrors going backwards, all you see is hedge. Mostly ferns to be honest. The VW Transporters only tow 2500kg max. Haha! You would say that. If I'm a Navara hater, then you're the other end of the scale. It's a fair point though, as it is a different truck entirely.

I've briefly driven a friends D-max and didn't get on with it. Very cramped for me and first gear is very high. At the time I had a Citreon Relay and first gear on idle in the D-max was the same speed as second gear on idle in the relay.

I sat as a passenger inside an Amarok a few months back and it seemed quite spacious. Maybe different behind the wheel. A 4x4 lorry isn't what I need now. I'm not doing so much mileage with my small machines, so it's an occassional heavy towing, backup work vehicle and backup family vehicle that is required.

As much as they appeal, my brain tells me never to touch a Landrover again. I got stranded on the M6 between Christmas and New Year 2016 with my toddler and pregnant wife in a Disco 4. Not a sensible choice, even if they are super comfortable.

That's a shit load of money for a truck of that age! It's probably bigger than my Sprinter too!

The 258ps V6 is an 8sp auto, so no need for low range (I have read)

258bhp with overboost to 272bhp would be damned handy. When I'm not towing, I'm usually trying to get somewhere in reasonable time, and inevitably you get stuck behind someone. The ability to pass quickly and safely is important. For instance, on one trip home from site (a fraction over an hour usually), I worked out that I lost just under 10 minutes to just one car that was holding up traffic on the Crediton - Exeter road. But anyway, I appreciate the feedback on the Amarok. I need to go drive one.

The tax savings are quite substantial - for instance if I got a £30k vehicle (plus VAT), I'd have to swallow a £6k VAT bill if it didn't qualify as a commercial vehicle. I'm also fairly keen on a long warranty, as it just offers fixed price motoring. You know that it might break, but that you won't have to foot the bill. I had a D40 Navara from 2011-2016 and it went into the garage 29 times in it's warranty period. It didn't like proper work. The 2012 313CDI 4x4 Sprinter is a better truck, but I've had issues with various sensors tripping up the ABS and ESP system, knocking out 4 wheel drive and cruise control. It's a good van though, and remapped to 160bhp (with the corresponding torque increase), it's fairly brisk. I really like the look of the Amarok, but it's serious money. You're up to almost £40k plus VAT by the time you've got a canopy, tow bar and other bits and bobs. And then you have to do the paper exercise with SV Tech (about £300) to uprate the gross train weight and towing capacity to 7000/3500kg respectively as it's lower from VW.

I'm from Derby!

I double checked the specs - 2426mm. Hence the issues on the utterly terrible, completely unfit for purpose, third world Devon lanes......oh cripes, did I mention that again? ?

Mirror to mirror, 2.45m

Not tax deductible though. Has to be a pickup or a van.

Can't believe he doesn't have safety specs on - health and safety man! ?

The smaller load space isn't an issue. I have the Berlingo van, which has more load space than any pickup, should I need it. I just need a strong replacement tow vehicle that can go off road a bit. I'm not planning any crazy offroading and after a winter on mud terrains I've concluded that it's just better to get out and walk a bit rather than living with tractor tyres day in, day out. Ideally, the vehicle would be a bit more compact than my existing 4x4 Sprinter, which is 8ft wide. And needs plenty of power due to the hills. Hilux's have always struck me as reliable but very basic. Also, for me (6ft 8"), they are very small inside.

The dealer here has one as his work vehicle, and delivers vehicles by trailer. He said I was welcome to borrow their demo with trailer to tow my forwarder around on the hills to try it out. That was somewhat reassuring

The reports that I read were that it was a good tow vehicle, but the economy quoted by the salesman wasn't brilliant. I think it's a Mercedes engine that's in it, and I wonder if it's a previous generation model?

I did test drive the Ranger and I wasn't impressed. Hard, uncomfortable ride and obtrussive gearbox with a lot of random auto changes. Didn't feel quick either. I'm disinclined to buy used now. The cost of repairs on an older vehicle is such an unknown. My uncle once said to me that with vehicles, you always lose money. On older vehicles it's on repairs, on newer vehicles it's depreciation. I'd rather lose on depreciation and hopefully minimise down time. I'm in the fortunate position of running two work vehicles, so always have a backup, but neither is capable of doing everything the other does. Jesus, I don't know what to do. Why can't Ford just stick the 6.6l Duramax into the Ranger? I'd have that in a heartbeat!