woodsmanmatt

Ok, so..... I've now got over my initial excitement around unimog's and big ex army trucks, and am back to the rational world of timber lorries. There are too many grey areas around hauling with a Mog, and realistically it will end up being way more expensive, even if Mogs are cool and would be better on the slippery stuff. I'll just have to treat myself to a u406 for fun once my timber haulage firm as made my fortune!!! That big Foden is not going to be practical, as much as I am a fan of big MOD trucks, having looked on the Military forums they seem to go wrong far too often, and spares/maintenance is likely to be a nightmare. So, it's (almost) definitely going to be an ex-brick lorry with bolsters and a headboard added, and the brick grab swapped with a log grab with weighing sensor! Get a proper O licence and HGV/Hiab ticket and will be ready to go, and provided I can sort out all the necessary funding I hope I'll be up and running next winter. Currently getting quotes from engineering firms for the conversion, and then going to put in for an FC grant, even if they will only part-fund the bits for the conversion it will be a start! Thanks for all your help and advice. Wish me luck

Just seen this! Rolls Royce engine too! Foden FH70 6x6 Gun Limber (Forestry, Quarry, Expedition) | eBay Would need a different crane, but certainly has potential!

Thanks Chris, that's great. That Volvo is very tasty, but way beyond my budget unfortunately!

Only if I was running on red diesel I think. On white it would be fine provided I could prove it was Forestry (as that falls under Ag registered vehicles) and not Arb, so I wouldn't be able to transport chip for example.

Just been looking at the Unimogs Rock thread - see what you mean! The "Hire and Reward" thing could be worked around I think. I think if I was hauling my own timber to a customer and using white diesel it would be ok, so would just need to make sure the timber was mine before I loaded it. That's just a paperwork issue I hope! That said I'm not sure it would be practical, but certainly worth looking at in more detail.

Quick question, would a half decent Unimog with 12t forwarding trailer be an option? If I got an Ag registered one I think I could legitimately use it without MOT/OL as it would be working in pure forestry. It would avoid the need to get an HGV licence too (I have experience of towing large trailers with tractors so that wouldn't really worry me). The advantage would be that I could grow the business using the PTO to drive a chipper etc if necessary was well as Hauling timber in the woods and on the road which really appeals. Disadvantage is that the initial outlay would be more expensive, as would the running costs I suspect! Thoughts??

Ok I may need to allow a little more for diesel and tax then until I know exactly which truck I would be getting. Ideally I'd be getting something newish, but suspect finances won't allow for it. Thanks guys!

Ok starting to get somewhere with my business plan now! Based on my calculations I need to move a minimum of 2000t per year to make it worth the investment, so now I need to talk to the firms I've been working for to see how likely this would be. That's somewhere in the region of 45-65 days work depending on payload of the lorry, so wouldn't necessarily need to be full time, but it would be needing to go out once a week at least. One thing I wanted to check - I've allowed for the truck to return about 10mpg - is that about right? Also what do think I should be budgeting insurance wise? Thanks!

Great advice, thanks Chris!!

Thanks, that's really helpful. Definitely starting to feel that I'd be better off converting a decent UK truck with a proper timber crane. Out of interest, what are the fuel costs of running a truck like yours? I need to work this out for my business plan.

Thanks, added to the list! I have a suitable operating centre I think. Do you know exactly which crane ticket would I need? Would this be sufficient? NATIONAL DRIVING CENTRE LONDON

This is more like it, just add a grab and bolsters and it's ready to go! IVECO 260E28 26ton GVW, SKIP LORRY, 6X4 WITH HIAB 085-3 EXT CRANE, EXT SKIP ARMS | eBay

Interesting and important stuff to know!

Just sent this link to my Finnish Friend, who said that HUOM:!! moottori rikki..!!!, means Note: Engine Broken! Maybe not then!

Just seen this: Sisu Eemeli - Timber trucks, Price: £6,263, Year of manufacture: 1996 - Mascus UK As it happens I have friends who live nearby to where the truck is, so could get them to go and visit and get some more info. I'd obviously need to re-register it etc but seems a very good price, any thoughts?

Wow, thanks for all the advice guys! There is certainly more to consider than I first thought! The key for me seems to the balance between payload and size, and I like the idea of a tractor unit or smallish rigid and trailer. Not sure I'd want to go down the fasttrac route, although it certainly has it's advantages in terms of flexibility. In terms of earning potential, I can see that there is definitely a market, and know that having a smaller lorry that can access difficult sites may be worth a premium to the guys I have been working with. I know they are currently paying around £13-15/t plus VAT when they can get hold of a small lorry. If I had a 15t capacity and could do 3 trips in a day then that would give an earning potential of £675+VAT/day, which seems reasonable. What I need to work out is what my running costs are likely to be, and then how may days per year it would need to work before I started making any money. As far as I can tell I need to take into account: Initial Purchase/Depreciation Training/CPC costs Insurance Vehicle Tax Fuel Operators Licence Maintenance and Repairs MOT Anything I've missed?

This could possibly be made to work, but only an 8t payload: Renault G300 Maxter RHD, 4x4 8T Cargo Truck , #55435 - MOD Sales, Military Vehicles & Used Ex MOD Land Rovers for Sale I like that it's already Tacho'd etc, and would be ideal for the types of sites we have round here with quite limited access.

Like it That's the kind of thing I was thinking!

Definitely a shortage here too! Doesn't necessarily need to be an off roader, but they just popped up on my searches and look the business, but payload would be the most important thing.

Yes payload on these does seem to be an issue, looks like it's a 6x4 or 8 wheeler, and good point about the grant funding, I'd better check the T's and C's on this.

You could be right, it is a lot of effort although the HGV licence is something I've been thinking about for a while for various reasons so would be dual purpose. Also I genuinely think there is a need locally and an opportunity to build my own business, and if I don't someone else will, but I need to make sure the figures are going to stack up before I go any further. 18t would be a good payload if it were possible!

Thanks, that's the kind of info I need really. I'll have a look into the costs, but do you have any ballpark figures on how expensive this all is? Do the inspections need to be by a mechanic or can you do it yourself? Presumably I could be the Transport Manager myself as an owner/operator? Interesting thought, but I think it would need to be a grab to enable stacking at the customers yard. Also the important thing for me will be payload and speed of loading I think. Ultimately I estimate that to make it pay I'd need to move at least 30t of timber per day, so needs to be quick and easy.

Fair question, I suppose I should have said relatively local, meaning that I could reasonably expect a 30-40 mile round trip to deliver the timber and probably a fair amount of A roads and dual carriageways, and I think a tractor forwarder would be too slow with too smaller load really to make me economically viable. For various reasons I am more likely to more grant funding for a lorry too.

I'm new to the forum but hoping you can help! I've been working for a couple of firms locally doing woodland thinning and coppicing this winter, but arranging transport for the timber from roadside to customers has proven to be a nightmare for the guys I am working for. Local haulage firms have either been too busy or not interested in helping, or they have only had Artic's which have been too big to get access to our sites. I'm thinking about setting myself with a smallish lorry to haul timber, not long distances or as a full time job, but just to bridge the gap locally between woodland owners/contractor and firewood merchants. I think I could probably get some grant funding locally for small businesses, and also possibly through the FC, which would help with start-up costs. I've done a bit of internet research on second hand trucks. I think I'd be looking at a 6x4 rigid or possibly 4x4 with timber crane and bolsters but no bigger than that. Hopefully I could get something with a minimum of a 10t capacity, ideally 15t. There seem to be quite a few available in Europe but very few in the UK, especially at the lower end of the price range which realistically is where I'd be looking. That would leave me to either import a LHD truck, or get a coach builder to convert a used chassis cab from the UK. Anyone had an experience for these options? There's a few ex-MOD trucks that look as though they might work if converted, they already have Atlas cranes, winches etc so presumably have all the necessary hydraulics, possibly even convert the existing crane if possible. I'd obviously need to get my HGV © licence and CPC, but what else would I need. Operators Licence? Would I need a Tacho if it's Forestry? HIAB training Etc. It may all be a non-starter, but I need to work what I need, what would work and how much everything would cost, and then I can look at a business plan. Thanks for any advice you may be able to give!