maybelateron

I use the biggest of the Ifor Williams twin axle plant trailers, with built in ramp to move my Forst TR6 chipper. Room to get the power barrow/muck truck on at same time with room for a bit of timmber/bag of sweepings if the Iveco tipper is full. Fantastic if there is good parking room at the job, very stable tow. A bit of a pain on narrow streets/lanes, a real pain if parking limited at job, then I wish for a smaller 8x4 plant trailer, but in fact take my Ifor Williams 12 x 5ft 6in flatbed. No so nice to tow as wheels under trailer and chipper sits higher off ground.

Not been to Brighton, but I can put it on my travel plans!

Wych Elm is far less likely to get the disease. My understanding is that it is because the beetle that carries DED does not find the Wych Elm as tasty or whatever. If you want to see some fantastic mature Elms go to Edinburgh or Glasgow, probably more and bigger in Edinburgh I would say. I often admire these when going to see our son in Edigburgh or daughter in Glasgow.

I would definitely avoid front wheel drive - bad enough unloaded on loose gravel etc for uphill start, well nigh impossible if towing when unloaded. Years ago a chap with a Citroen Relay tipper worked with me. I was often having to tow him off the grass. I would imagine a rear axle copes better with transmission forces than drive shafts with CV joints, but I am not a professional mechanic. One of my beefs with so many 3.5 tonners is the inadequate clutch. I have a new shape Iveco Daily, 146 bhp, great power on the move, good c section chassis less prone to rust, but the clutch is dire on hillstarts with a load or towing. Same applied to my previous LDV Convoy I had from new. The commercial garage I used said Transit clutches were no better. One of my subbies has a 12 year old Izuzu 3.5T tipper, plenty of grunt with a clutch to match.

Agreed entirely. I have an excellent relationship with our local Stihl agent. I never expect them to beat or match online prices, but they get very close. Their service is so worth supporting it would be silly to push them further for say £10 more when buying a saw costing £400+

I'm no expert on fungi, but it looks quite different to a definite case of Ustulina/IKretzscmaria deusta Iam dealing with on a Lime in the local church yard.

Bought a mucktruck earlier this year, with hydraulic tip and two spare spool valves. The original make, not a Chinese copy. What a gamechanger moving timber out of large back gardens, uphill. Had it climbing ally ramps recently to go from lower lawn onto higher patio to get a large Atlas Cedar out to the road in pieces.

I am well aware that the series 2 gearboxes have always been regarded as stronger than series 3. In the 90's I had a SWB series 2 with the later 2.5 petrol mated to the original series 2 box. The engine was in standard tune, ie not a half shaft snapper. Imagine my shock when pulling away on the level, unloaded, not towing, and the gearbox mainshaft snapped!

I had exactly the same symptoms with a stihl long reach hedgecutter. Took it to the dealer, new coil sorted it

Having owned a Land Rover Series 2, 3, 110 station wagon (with Mazda 3.5 intercooled conversion back in 1991) and two Disco 2 TD5's, and never had a Hilux/L200, DMax etc I still like the stick I have seen in a HiLux, saying "one life, don't waste it mending land Rovers" The appeal to me of the series LR's is the basic simplicity I can fix. It cost me about £7k to do a thorough rebuild of the series 3, including galvanised chassis and all of drive train rebuilt, full diy rewire , doors. pto winch and shaft refurb. She will hold her value. The appeal of the TD5 Disco is it is good for heavy towing, and doesn't have the reliability issues of the Disco 3/4. If my Disco needs replacing I will just look for a low milage TD5 Disco, it is such good value compared to the crazy hysteria induced prices for late Defenders. Mind you, I still like the Hilux...

I've got a series 3 swb Land Rover, fitted with the later 2.5 n/a/ diesel. Fully restored by myself including galvanised chassis, axle and gearboxes professionally rebuilt. PTO winch fitted. Goes nowhere quickly, goes anywhere slowly. Tows 2 tons legit, OK for 3.5 as has the LWB twin leading shoe front axle with servo, just not had it changed by DVLA/VOSA. Use the Disco 2 TD5 for the heavy towing. I reckon this combination is very cost effective. Series 3 won't lose value, Disco 2 has bottomed out in price and makes the hysteria over TDI defenders look crazy. Don't get me wrong, I think a Hilux or ranger 3.2 would be lovely, but the cost is just silly.

Negative for sure. Can't quite get over Mr Haynes telling me to take the bonnet off my mini in the 70's to remove the radiator. Got it down to a fine art, about 15 minuted with the bonnet on. Not that I have been damaged by this or need psychotherapy, of course.

This weekend, when walking along a local canal in North Staffs I saw a lot of young and mature Ash with what I assume are signs of dieback, also two on my own land appear to have it.

Ditto, for a heavier duty Tirfor cable. Done this for years with it, seems best bet to me.

Oooooh, so nice. I like my 16m trailer mount with fly jib, but am aware I am getting older, and have similar ideas. What did it set you back, if that's not too rude a question?

You do have my deepest sympathy with this. You have been 100% correct throughout in your actions. Then some unthinking busybody makes an unjustified complaint, quite possibly because they have an issue with your client. Sadly not a lot you can do about it. I'm a great believer in what goes around comes around, so hopefully the complainant will tread on a wasps nest this year. No doubt they would say it is someone else's fault.

I had a grounds maintenance contract for 3 years where we used a pair of Stiga Park Pro 4wd's. There were excellent in practically every way. Fast travel when mowing unless grass very long (our contract was fortnightly mowing), very fast between mowing areas(the Countax was a snail by comparison when going from one zone to another). Manoeverability was brilliant, petrol consumption was fine. Considering there are a domestic spec machine they withstood commercial use surprisingly well. The only real problem was the belt linking the two front blades, as this had to be a toothed belt so the blades were always in phase with each other. No problem on my own lawn, or on the better maintained parts of our contract. On areas with long grass I got fed up with residents leaving their dogs' sticks and stones in the grass - you couldn't see it until too late and the belt would snap. Took me about 20 minutes to change a belt once used to it, always carried spares with me. Belts were 315-20 a piece if I remember correctly. If we did the same work again I would certainly use the Stigas again.

Or how about "You snotty faced heap of parrot droppings, your sort really make me puke"

They work independently, but you can also link to your phone if you want to be able to answer the phone when climbing or operating machinery.

I have no experience of the 3M version. We use cheap and cheerful stuff marketed for motorbike helmets, and one of the team uses it in his Protos helmet. Sound quality is excellent, even has noise cancelling. I get them from ebay, hopefully this link will work https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1000M-BT-Bluetooth-Helmet-Headset-Interphone-Motorcycle-Motorbike-Rider-Intercom/233026967950?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

A couple of years ago I was collecting payment from a regular customer. He is one of those who always wants to pay cash to avoid the VAT. I let him pay cash, but he doesn't realise I have factored the VAT in - how else can I pay the wages and all the other running costs if it isn't going through the books. Anyway, he asks me to quote for the next phase of work, and this was £480. He had just put £500 cash into my hand for the work just completed. He tried haggling about the price saying it was a simple job, not worth as much as £480. So I told him I would gladly give him the £500 in cash back if he would climb the tree and do the work. Not worked for him since, tree still not been pruned by him or anyone else. Vintage Mercedes in his garage of course.

Not 100% in agreement, maybe 90 %. Agreed that it no longer complies with HSE if used with the handlebars turned to use from the operating end (where you can see what is happening). But it does the job quite well that way and I have seen a Carlton tracked grinder, ie monster machine, used with radio remote by operator directly in line with the danger area. It is all about planning for worst case scenario/escape route, but I realise this may not be PC to state.

I have no experience of using the husky, but I did handle both Husky and Stihl and preferred the feel of the Stihl. Can't say it looks pretty! In use very happy with the Stihl, agreed that MS150T had more power. I find the 160T usual for a lot of pruning, also for first part of dismantles. I haven't hear anyone else comment on the safety aspect, but I feel the slow speed of the electric 160T can only help reduce the risk of major injuries.

I know that feeling so well, you get up into the "hedge" and see the width of it and think oh f--k, why did I quote for this one. One day I'll learn.

I do so like common sense. This sounds like a comment from someone who has been up enough previously topped conifers to dull the excitement of the next ones!