Andrew Barrett

Thanks treefrog - that is exactly what I'm after! I've contacted them and am waiting for quote. Apparently they do (did) a lot of Defender conversions and have gone through the requirements to legally uprate the D-Max to 3.5 ton GVW as the Defender is no longer being / going to be sold. I've told him he is likely to get a lot of interest from the tree work fraternity!

Hi tree_beard, I've looked into that too. The basic Toyota Landcruiser single cab as chassis cab weighs 2,065 kg - that is 80kg more than a Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 3.5 tonner single cab chassis cab. And the Landcruiser is only a 3.3 tonner. It also costs about the same as the Merc Sprinter 4x4 before shipping costs! So, you're right that it would be a seriously tough vehicle, but the payload would be poor with box and tipper. Certainly much less than the new Ford Ranger sold in the UK, for example.

Not sure. I figure I can get into that once I've had confirmation of ones they've actually done. I'm wary of buying a new or new-ish pick and then finding out they can't do that one.

Hi again timbernut, Matthew from Truck & Trailer indicated that it doesn't matter if pick up new or not. It apparently depends upon the chassis on a specific pick up / truck. It needs to be rated to carry enough weight. If it is then I think it is just suspension / tyre changes then testing and paperwork. He told me they have converted D-Max's but I'm waiting for more detail on previous actual pick up upratings they have done, with make, model, age and cost.

Hi all, Has anyone got a new Ford Ranger (2013 onwards)? How are they finding them? I'd nearly convinced myself to place an order for the chassis cab version for fitting a box and tipper (because only UK pick up excluding Land Rover with big enough legal payload to make it just about worthwhile). Then I spoke to a hire place out here in Oz (on hols). They had loads of new-ish single cab pick ups for hire and I asked what they thought of the different makes as I need a new one. Immediate reply (with no prompting): "don't buy a Ford Ranger"! Back to the drawing board...?

Hi timbernut, Yes, estimated cost for pick up conversion was lower than I thought, too. I'm pretty sure only one 4x4 option for Mercedes Sprinter. Includes better (but not massively so) ground clearance and hi / low ratio. Yes, Ford Transit AWD is automatic and comes on if wheels slip. There is no low ratio or extra ground clearance.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply Paul. I agree, I don't want to run overloaded vehicles either - even if it is very common in our industry. When we were looking at a Schliesing chipper a couple of years ago, Rob from Overland did tell me that they did / would be supplying Hilux's uprated to 3.5 ton GVW. But when I asked if they would be able to do it to an older Hilux (like ours) he didn't get back to me. Have your Hilux's been uprated? The current single cab Hilux has the lowest legal payload of any of the main pick ups sold in the UK (820kg payload and 2.7 ton GVW vs. the highest is Ford Ranger, 1,300kg payload and 3.2 ton GVW). So, unless Hilux uprated, their legal payload is a hopeless approx. 1/2 ton with box and tipper.

VW don't supply a 4x4 3.5 tonner. Biggest is 3 tonner. So hopeless payload. I've been looking at Mercedes Sprinter 4x4. Unfortunately the 3.5 tonner chassis cab, singe cab weighs 1,986kg (just been given exact figure from dealer) vs. 1,832kg for the Transit AWD (about same as 2WD Transit with double rear wheels). Transit payload bad enough with box and tipper. Don't want the Transit AWD because: 1. Only comes with small engine choice. 2. No low range (Sprinter does have low range).

The additional cost of getting the All Wheel Drive upgrade to a new Fort Transit 3.5 tonner chassis cab is £4k+VAT. For a Mercedes Sprinter the additional cost to upgrade to 4x4 is £5.5k+VAT. According to Truck & Trailer in Bristol, the cost to uprate a pick up to 3.5ton GVW (so long as chassis suitable) would be approx. £1k inc. paperwork and testing.

We used to have a Cabstar Tipper and got fed up with it getting stuck at tip sites - we used to carry a small winch and custom ground anchor at all times in the cab. So, want to stick with 4x4. I've asked my local Ford & Isuzu dealers if they will supply pick ups uprated to 3.5 ton GVW with normal warranty and have given them the details of the bloke I've been speaking to at Truck & Trailer. Doubt all that likely but worth trying, I thought. Truck & Trailer told me expect cost to uprate pick up to 3.5 ton (so long as chassis suitable) would be approx. £1k (including relevant paperwork and testing).

Hi all, We'll be needing a new truck soon. We need 4x4 but I don't want a Land Rover. I am considering getting a newer pick up and uprating it to road legal 3.5 ton gross vehicle weight. They don't carry enough weight with box and tipper otherwise (e.g. nice tipper Hilux on eBay at the moment has only a 1/2 ton payload according to the seller). I have found a company who will do this (depending upon vehicle chassis) - Truck & Trailer in Bristol. They tell me they have done it before. Has anyone on here got any experience of doing this - good or bad? And what company did you use to do the conversion - and would you recommend them? Thanks, Andrew

Hi all, I am thinking of using Truck & Trailer from Bristol to uprate a 4x4 pick up to 3.5 ton gross vehicle weight. Does anyone have any experience of this company, good or bad? Thanks in advance, Andrew

They must have different payloads in Germany. The current single cab D-Max as sold in UK has a 1,136kg gross payload. That includes fuel but not a driver or a chip box, tool box, tipper etc. You'd be lucky to have 800kg payload with driver in UK with that set up. The current Ford Ranger has 200kg higher payload. As far as I can tell that's the only 4x4 pick up (apart from Land Rover) you can use properly with a tipper / box and a reasonable payload in UK. Does anyone know of any company that will (legally) uprate the payload capacity of 4x4 pick ups in UK (e.g. to 3.5 ton GVW)? I would much prefer to buy another 2nd hand Hilux than a new Ford Ranger...

Our 261 C-M (auto tune) has been nothing but trouble since we got it about a year ago. It has been back four times to fix the problem with it not idling. It is intermittent and only seems to happen when you take it to work and use it properly (rather than "testing" it in a workshop). Last time it got so bad it wouldn't start at all sometimes after it turned itself off. Dealer sent it back to Stihl this time and we've been without it for 7 weeks so far! We literally might as well not have had a second saw for the last year. Until about 3 years ago we were confirmed Stihl men but we have had so many problems recently. Had three pistons seize (660, 261, 660), all problems with new 261 and recently had a new Stihl fuel filter disintegrate/dissolve and then block carb filter on a 200T. Also had a 201T for a couple of months about a year and a half ago and got rid of it because it was so gutless. Stihl are doing a fine job of ruining their reputation.

We'll be needing a replacement truck soon and need 4 wheel drive. I'd ideally like a bigger truck than a pick up. A new Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 chassis cab is v expensive. But I've been looking on eBay and there are a few 2nd hand 4x4 Sprinter panel vans for sale. I've been thinking that so long as one made sure to get a 3.5 tonner and a decent sized engine, one could buy one of those, take the back off and have an Arb body and tipper fitted. Has anyone done this, or knows anyone else who has? Or knows of a reason why it wouldn't work? Any advice much appreciated - thanks.

Thanks. But I note after all the hassle of getting himself set up with the 5.5ton Iveco / Bang Tidy - both from the vehicle conversion, suitable chipper + admin side of things - Chris has downsized back to a 3.5 tonner. I do like the idea of a 2 ton payload but going over 3.5 ton looks like a major pain in the a*se. When our boarded Hilux is full to the brim with conifer chip (esp. when wet) it carries a ton - about 2.5 cubic metres. I realise with a 3.5 tonner I won't be able to carry any more (legally) but at least we'd have a bit more space...

I've been looking at all the 4x4 tipper options. Unfortunately (according to our local dealer and brochure) the 4 wheel drive van chassis (VW call it 4MOTION) is only available for the VW Transporter which only goes up to 3 ton GVW. The bigger Crafter doesn't have 4MOTION option. So, unless they've changed the models, if it has 4WD that truck will only be a 3 tonner. 3.5 tonner 4WD only seem to be: Transit AWD, Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 and Iveco (but 3.5 and 5.5 ton 4WD no longer on their UK website - have they been withdrawn??). If anyone knows something I don't or if I've made a mistake please let me know as trying to decide re: new truck for us.

Been doing some more research and found some small print re: Mercedes Sprinter 4x4: "Vehicles with all-wheel drive: payload decreases by c. 130-165kg". I can't find an accurate number to compare to the Transit AWD chassis cab payload in the Mercedes brochures, though. It is possible to find 2nd hand Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 panel vans. I'm thinking it might be possible to buy one, have the van back taken off and fit an arb box and tipper. Has anyone done this or knows of anyone who has? Or if there is a reason it wouldn't work? Thanks in advance...

Thanks. Just been looking at the Mercedes Sprinters and they do a 3.5ton 4x4 chassis cab. Couldn't find exact figures on payload but from the range of figures (if includes 4x4 and not just engine variants) would be about same as Transit AWD chassis cab - which has gross payload (including fuel but no driver) of 1.68 ton. The Sprinter 4x4 is also a 'proper' 4x4 with low range and slightly higher ground clearance. I like having the low range in the Hilux - been a real life saver on occasion. Bit concerned the Transit AWD doesn't have low range. From my researches on the Sprinter the only things people seem to complain about are price and rust. Does anyone know of any other problems - or if they have the rust issue sorted? Anyone got one or had one? If it is the right tool for the job and you intend to keep it long term then I've found it's best not to consider price too much - if you can possibly afford it. I'm very glad I scraped the money together for our new Jensen 530 we bought a year and a half ago - been a great buy for us.

I've been looking through the brochure for the chassis cab versions and it would appear there is no payload penalty for the AWD system vs. the 3.5 ton Transits with double rear wheels. The AWD versions are only sold with single rear wheels and so the weight change cancels out.

We'll be needing a new truck soon. Unless I want to run two trucks I need 4WD (current truck is an old - and very reliable - Hilux). I'm considering either the new Ford Ranger - only pick up I've found with payload high enough to carry a ton with box and tipper and driver (1.3 ton gross payload vs., for example, only 0.82 ton new Hilux single cab). I don't want a Land Rover. Or, I recently discovered that Ford do an all-wheel drive version of the 3.5ton Transit. But it seems to have some kind of fancy system that senses when 4WD needed and does it automatically. Bit concerned about reliability. Does anyone have one / have any experience of one? I don't need serious off-road capability, or high ground clearance. Just some of our tip / work sites get a bit muddy in winter.

Silver Bull hip bag with stretch top (stops too much sawdust, etc. going in). Pretty sure it's the small size I've got. They are just the right size but I don't find them very durable - they seem to last about a year / year and a half. Silver_Bull_Stretch_Top_Hip_Bag - Honey Brothers Ltd

Hi Mark. Yes, I would definitely consider the Zillon more desirable if it was sold more cheaply without rope. I use an 8 metre lanyard in a hip bag so that I can also use it as a temporary 2nd anchor point. I'm assuming both Petzl Zillon and ART Positioner would both be ok for this (on doubled rope) as they are basically same as used for main anchor set ups anyway? And I can tell you for certain that it is not just me who thinks this. I have just visited a self-employed friend who uses a 7 metre lanyard in a hip bag (I copied his setup). And he has recently bought an ART Positioner with swivel and thinks it's great. I will also be placing an order for ART Positioner with Swivel next week. I would probably have bought Zillon as have recently bought ZigZag (from you) and like it - but Zillon set up doesn't meet my requirements.

That doesn't make any sense either: they sell the ZigZag without rope - but not the Zillon. And the ZigZag is a main anchor setup whereas the Zillon is for lanyard use. If there was some stupid legal rule that meant all manufacturers had to sell lanyard adjusters with rope then fine - but there can't be or ART wouldn't be able to sell the Positioner without rope.

I understand that bit. But what is the point of selling it as an assembly at all, if it is not necessary (ART don't seem to need to with Positioner)? And why does a lanyard set up need a higher standard than a main anchor set up?