Questions about things i cant afford.
Discussion
4x4 LGVs- worth it?
I wont go into depth with my reasons for asking, as it will end up with a block of dull text that no one reads.
The basics go like this- the family business may one day need a 12 tonner, and i would be its captain/ pilot (sounds better like that)
I was looking a couple weeks back at the Mercedes Atego as its the only small (less than 18 tonne) rigid LGV offered with 4x4 drive train.
Would it be enough to get it out of a muddy field? We do agricultural shows and i find nothing more entertaining than watching a driver stuck, being towed out by the field's owner's tractor. But dont want anyone to ever find enjoyment from my similarly awkward situation.
But the majority of the driving would be motorway, would an Atego be too town orientated for long motorway work?
The business doesnt have the money, or a reason to buy one quiet yet, so dont go into too much detail answering, and dont expect an "i bought a truck" thread any time soon
Cheers
I wont go into depth with my reasons for asking, as it will end up with a block of dull text that no one reads.
The basics go like this- the family business may one day need a 12 tonner, and i would be its captain/ pilot (sounds better like that)
I was looking a couple weeks back at the Mercedes Atego as its the only small (less than 18 tonne) rigid LGV offered with 4x4 drive train.
Would it be enough to get it out of a muddy field? We do agricultural shows and i find nothing more entertaining than watching a driver stuck, being towed out by the field's owner's tractor. But dont want anyone to ever find enjoyment from my similarly awkward situation.
But the majority of the driving would be motorway, would an Atego be too town orientated for long motorway work?
The business doesnt have the money, or a reason to buy one quiet yet, so dont go into too much detail answering, and dont expect an "i bought a truck" thread any time soon
Cheers
purely window shopping, and will be for a few years yet 
) for any ex-MOD rb44s 
Its an image think, the business sells art work. An old lorry wouldn't come across correctly to our target market (yes, its like that) It also doesnt need ground clearance as the fields are usually tracks (albeit muddy, especially when you have hundreds of exhibitors trying to escape after a weekend of rain :-/ ) , and not bumpy, and would also need to be relatively low for access, which would be another reason why a mog would be unsuitable.
I was thinking more like
With a GRP box.
Towing a 9 meter caravan
Looks high though, too high for a regular motorway slog?
I was thinking more like
With a GRP box.
Towing a 9 meter caravan
Looks high though, too high for a regular motorway slog?
Plenty of ex army leyland dafs about and the electric/ utillity co's run mercs and MANs ,they are about however they tend to be low geared and not realy for long runs on the motorway and there is a strong demand for export on them so pricy, I think best bet is standard box van and fit chunky M&S tyres, and have a nice tip ready for the tractor driver if it goes abit pete tong....
OP ,you say you sell artwork .
Do you need to carry so much to each show to require a 12T truck ?
Or is it because you will also have a caravan in tow that a 4x4 Transit would not be suitable.
FYI i drive a 12T and it weighs 5.5 tonnes empty so 6.5 Tonnes of goods weight available
ETA What do you use currently for the shows ?
Do you need to carry so much to each show to require a 12T truck ?
Or is it because you will also have a caravan in tow that a 4x4 Transit would not be suitable.
FYI i drive a 12T and it weighs 5.5 tonnes empty so 6.5 Tonnes of goods weight available
ETA What do you use currently for the shows ?
Edited by iva cosworth on Saturday 17th March 21:40
iva cosworth said:
OP ,you say you sell artwork .
Do you need to carry so much to each show to require a 12T truck ?
Or is it because you will also have a caravan in tow that a 4x4 Transit would not be suitable.
FYI i drive a 12T and it weighs 5.5 tonnes empty so 6.5 Tonnes of goods weight available
ETA What do you use currently for the shows ?
Currently use a mwb med roof transit. Its almost full, and almost over weight (we have metal walling and our own marque) a 7.5 tonner would be adaquate, i guess. But dont know of any with 4x4? And dont fancy a 7 tonne van. Do you need to carry so much to each show to require a 12T truck ?
Or is it because you will also have a caravan in tow that a 4x4 Transit would not be suitable.
FYI i drive a 12T and it weighs 5.5 tonnes empty so 6.5 Tonnes of goods weight available
ETA What do you use currently for the shows ?
Edited by iva cosworth on Saturday 17th March 21:40
OP: you wont get out of a muddy field with those tyres, even with diff locks and cross lock on.
I expected to see single rear wheels, but thats because, I think, that I associate 4x4 puddle jumpers with the army.
Are you looking for a new vehicle, because Id expect that an ex-ministry/MOD vehicle would fit your bill, whislt costing far less. An Atego will be nice, but very, very expensive.
I expected to see single rear wheels, but thats because, I think, that I associate 4x4 puddle jumpers with the army.
Are you looking for a new vehicle, because Id expect that an ex-ministry/MOD vehicle would fit your bill, whislt costing far less. An Atego will be nice, but very, very expensive.
Given the way army fleet management seems to work the new(ish) 6 tonners will probably start being released in a few years (whilst half the army is still operating ancient 4 tonners)...
And despite what has been mentioned above, avoid an RB44 like the plague that they are. They don't have a single redeeming feature. They don't drive well or handle at all, they're absolutely useless off road, they were built without ever being designed and to add insult to injury they're inefficient, uncomfortable, noisy and unreliable.
And despite what has been mentioned above, avoid an RB44 like the plague that they are. They don't have a single redeeming feature. They don't drive well or handle at all, they're absolutely useless off road, they were built without ever being designed and to add insult to injury they're inefficient, uncomfortable, noisy and unreliable.
Benbay001 said:
Tyres that could get you out the field you likely be unsuitable for lots of road use no doubt?
No you can get tyres like are used on tipper trucks, just a strong tyre with a chunky pattern rather than the drive ones that have a pattern like a steer tyre that are standard fit on the average truck ....We do a lot of steam rallys and landrover shows so have the muddy field problem, we used to run an old 7.5t leyland daf roadrunner, when that got stuck it was a case of break out the strap and hook up my trooper. Recently though weve upgraded to a 7.5t ex post office avia, this has an air locker in the rear axle and copes really well with the mud, especially if youve got a decent bit of weight right over the back axle. Its got out of a few fields this year where other lorrys and vans have got stuck.
powerstroke said:
No you can get tyres like are used on tipper trucks, just a strong tyre with a chunky pattern rather than the drive ones that have a pattern like a steer tyre that are standard fit on the average truck ....
I disagree about the tyres, and I have quite a lot of experience. Its true that dual purpose drives will give you more traction than normal road driven tyres, but for any real off road ability you need tyres similar to those found on the single driven wheel military 4x4 trucks, along with diff and cross locks. Gassing Station | Commercial Break | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff