GA Groundcare

Of course there are limits to it. Location shouldn't theoretically really make *that* much difference to cost. The local dealer will have similar buying and business costs to some other dealer 200 miles away (in theory) For example all GreenMech dealers buy their machines & spares at the same terms. Labour rates will vary from dealer to dealer but shouldn't be "massive". We have a local steel merchants we will drive and pick material up for certain jobs, they are 1 mile away. They aren't cheap and it can be bought from further afield at wholesale cheaper but when you specifically need something to do or finish a job you have to accept convenience can cost that little bit more.

What are you after? We have a QuadChip 160 coming in this week. 2015, -500 hours and only used at a council run gardens, never really been used on the roads. £8,500 ex vat.

If you are driving past a bearing / belt factor or hydraulic supplier swing the chipper up outside. They should be able to match it for you. As Jase says, should be readily available and won't cost that much.

The vast majority went to Japanese Pickups when the TDCI Defender was still being produced. The protective wrap is only an option from the reviews I have seen.

Seeing so many posts on social media saying "I bet the MOD won't be buying them". However I doubt they want the business of a few thousand orders to non factory specification. Highly doubt suppling the MOD with Defenders ever pleased the accounts department... A good marketing showcase no doubt.

Interesting, the 2.4 & 2.2 share the same transmission and running gear don’t they?

Not sure how anyone can say that’s shit...?

Can you stick a picture up? Is it in the linkages and pivots to the spool valve block? If so it maybe possible to drill out the pivots and replace with a large diameter bolt / pin than standard taking out the wear.

Currently trying to purchase a 90 TD5 van (have been for a couple of months). There are some serious dreamers out there selling tatty, rotten, chopped about examples with 200,000 miles for 10k. However when you start following some adverts they really aren't selling. The next person comes to advertise their 90 and after a quick internet search thinks he (or she) has doubled his money on a 5k truck in 4 years.

Could well be wrong and at this stage can only really be theoretical. 200, 300, older TD5, 130, tipper, Hi-Cap, mewp and all the other weird and wonderful creations will be fairly safe price wise. They have hit the bottom on their pricing, a 200/300 can be picked up for decent money and is a good dog car, weekend toy, off roader etc and can be beaten about, spanner it yourself easily, stand on its wings without much thought, wash it out and life is good. However, you start getting into the 2010-2015 Defenders. XS, County station wagons and the like that are commanding 25-50K they are no longer any of the above, apart from a shock absorber and other basic mechanics, you aren't going to do much work on a 2.2 TDCI with DPF yourself, you don't really want to chuck dogs in one and stand on the wings with stone filled wellies when you own a 35k late Defender. They are uncomfortable to drive, anything over a few hours and you struggle to walk after, rubbish heaters, window needs to be open to steer it any sense etc etc. (Don't get me wrong, I love a late TDCI Defender) Now you will be able to buy a brand new Defender with manufactures warranty, all the mod cons, spec for spec the new Defender pisses all over the old Defender if you wish to go lightly off road (check latest review videos) it'll be safe, comfy along with a better transmissions, engines and you could drive the length of the UK and be able to walk after wards. The folk that buy a late Defender XS (or similar higher trim level) 9 times out of 10 wont be buying it to go off road,a farm hack or as a work truck. It''ll be for urban usage and maybe some towing. So surely you would spend that money, or potentially less and drive away a brand new Defender from the dealership? Thus decreasing the demand for the later classic Defender?

Bearings & belts are not usually covered. I would check your warranty policy?!

Data sheet specs are pretty impressive!

Some folk are moaning its too expensive. But since when did a middle of the road hatchback become 30k! 34k ex vat for a commercial variant apparently.

I think owners of high value late "old" defenders won't be sitting very comfortable at the moment.

Think its going to be a great vehicle. The amount of builders/ groundworkers around here which use a disco 4 towing diggers about etc it'll be ideal. Ok, its no farm hack. But then the later 110 county station wagons, 90 XS's etc aren't either. Who ACTUALLY goes green laning / off roading in a new Discovery, Mercedes X Class, D-Max or L200? It is exactly the same moaning at Toyota that the new Hilux isn't the same as the one on Top Gear. We love anything Land Rover here at GA Groundcare, we also have a Bowler TomCat but whether you can admit it or not the old Defenders are uncomfortable and poorly made. But then, that's also why we and so many love them! Who remembers when the Transit Custom was released, it was slated for not being commercial enough... Now look, they are the most common new van on the market. Our service van is a Custom and its superb. Awaiting a coil sprung 90 3 door van to be released...

I do prefer towing a heavy item with a wheels on the outside plant trailer ?

I do prefer towing a heavy item with a wheels on the outside plant trailer ?

True, because you won't be taking that little TW125 anywhere near commercial railway work.

We have a GX, recently had a GD until we sold it with a SafeTrak 19-28 as a little package to a contractor. The groundworker next door here has a GH which I think is more suited to diggers and the like. He has the beavertail which makes tracked equipment nicer to load / unload on the breakover angle. The sides on a GH would take accidental knocks by the bucket better.

Do you really need a pick up? How about a new 4x4 VW Transporter, I believe some models tow 2.8T and you could have it as a crew van? Modern vans are lovely to tow with, our transit custom L2H2 tows 2.6T (so we can tow a 6"-7" tracked chipper on a plant trailer) and I think it tows nicer than our 2.5T D-Max we just sold. Only downside is pulling away on steep hills and trying to reverse on any slight incline. I had a brand new 2.5T D-Max in 2012 and covered a faultless 100k then had another one until July this year which again was faultless. I've had a great experience with the D-Max, completely different to yours by the sounds of it! Pickups frustrate me though, on the surface they seem very practical for multiple things however in reality they don't carry 4 adults well, things get wet in the back, nothing is very safe either and if you wanted to say move furniture a Ford Focus estate with the seats folded down will take more. Nothing will trump the D4 Disco for towing luxury though...

Seen that crop up on eBay when searching for used equipment. On one hand if you have a chipper sat in the yard that owes nothing and can be turned into a useful tracked unit for under 4k you think that's no *so bad*. But on the other you would just be better off selling your road tow and putting that 4k into buying a used tracked unit.

When you say lost power? Do you mean the engine lost its power / stopped or that the engine is running perfect and there is no hydraulic tracking performance? Do your feed rollers work? You can have a hydraulic flow test carried out. I don't know where you are based but we have a digital flow meter, you plumb it into the hydraulic pipe work and it gives you how many litres a minute the pump is producing. You can then tell if your hydraulic pump is knackered. Is it driven off the crank pulley via a belt or directly driven off the engine?

Just call their office? 01981 590 224

He’ll have to. Everything Jensen comes into the UK via them now. Charles at ArbRep is a knowledgeable Jensen dealer for anyone wanting parts / service.