Lightest 7.5t truck

[lanan]

We currently run 2 artic race trailers and now need a 7.5t 20ft box truck.
Which manufacturer's 7.5t truck is the lightest ?

[Reltub]

Last year when I was looking the Isuzu was the lightest, also Hino do a light 7.5 tonner, did not buy either though they don't seem like they would last long?

[Stomnnorm]

Are you looking at new or used chassis'? If you're looking at new, E6 vehicles have put on a bit of weight in comparison to E5. It's also worth noting that the manufacturers who opted for EGR and SCR technology are encountering some issues.

[Stomnnorm]

Are you looking at new or used chassis'? If you're looking at new, E6 vehicles have put on a bit of weight in comparison to E5. It's also worth noting that the manufacturers who opted for EGR and SCR technology are encountering some issues.

[iguana]

For capacity I think lighter weight trucks that are more van based can give a larger posible load weight.

For example I've just bought a 6.5t mascott- pretty much same as the 6.5t iveco, is easily uprated just a paperwork exercise to 6.9t. With a steel built not mega lightweight beavertail body I stuck it on the weighbridge at 2.7t, (low fuel minus driver & no spare wheel) are many 3.5t vans weighing that.

an izuzu I looked at was 3.7t empty with a similar type body.

So keeping at 6.5t I have a 3.8t capacity & at 6.9t 4.2t capacity, which is pretty darn good.

Its not a box body, it will soon have a curtainsider beavertail on it which will weigh more but will still give a really good load capacity.

I would have prefered a sprinter, but I needed a higher train weight, the mascott is 9t which is perfect for what I need.

Edited by iguana on Thursday 18th September 22:13

Edited by iguana on Thursday 18th September 22:15

[MJK 24]

iguana said:

For capacity I think lighter weight trucks that are more van based can give a larger posible load weight.

For example I've just bought a 6.5t mascott- pretty much same as the 6.5t iveco, is easily uprated just a paperwork exercise to 6.9t. With a steel built not mega lightweight beavertail body I stuck it on the weighbridge at 2.7t, (low fuel minus driver & no spare wheel) are many 3.5t vans weighing that.

an izuzu I looked at was 3.7t empty with a similar type body.

So keeping at 6.5t I have a 3.8t capacity & at 6.9t 4.2t capacity, which is pretty darn good.

Its not a box body, it will soon have a curtainsider beavertail on it which will weigh more but will still give a really good load capacity.

I would have prefered a sprinter, but I needed a higher train weight, the mascott is 9t which is perfect for what I need.

I know you do car transport as do I. May I ask how long do you expect to keep this vehicle and what sort of mileage do you think it will accumulate? We run MAN trucks. Both currently on 600k with plenty more to come. A previous Renault broke the million mark! Are the 'lighter' trucks up for big mileages too?

Edited by iguana on Thursday 18th September 22:13

Edited by iguana on Thursday 18th September 22:15

[iguana]

MJK-

is a good question, but one that I don't really fully know the answer to!

Engine I don't see as comparable at all to a proper light truck, is shared with the ligher van based stuff, is only a tiddly 2.8 150bhp, I would prefer a larger lump, but they only seem to come in far heavier 7.5t ehicles. Gearboxes on the Iveco is a known weakspot.

I got this one with a genuine really low miles, I'm not sure how long I'll keep it probably quite a few yrs, I've seen many of these with fairly big miles on, but not big truck Scania etc million miles easy, but I did look at a couple in the 400-500,000 miles areas that still seemed ok, I'd like to think this will see 400km, but all depends how I get on with it, its not going to be a main use vehicle so it might not rack up that many miles pa, could be as low as 50k miles or less, so it might rot away before it dies (like my old sprinters have!)

The thing I wanted really is a truck with capacity for 2 car, 1 on unit & 1 trailer but staying under the 8250kg train weight so it can be driven on old C1, no chance of that with a 7.5t enclosed (which I'd acually prefer)

[pja]

I think the Isuzu or Mitsubishi 7.5t have the best payload, both good trucks but not ones I'd want to drive very far!

iguana said:

MJK-

The thing I wanted really is a truck with capacity for 2 car, 1 on unit & 1 trailer but staying under the 8250kg train weight so it can be driven on old C1, no chance of that with a 7.5t enclosed (which I'd acually prefer)

This is a genuine question as I'm interested to know, you've gone over the 3500kg GVW threshold so must come under tacho, O'licence etc etc,
Is it your driving licence stopping you going for a 10 or 12 toner or running costs?

[minky monkey]

I ran an Isuzu Nqr 7.5t tilt and slide roger dyson steel bed, fully loaded with all the kit on, it had a payload of 2.6t.

Obviously the alloy beds give a little bit more.

[grumpy52]

It's not strange that most of the 2 car transporters you see are of far eastern origin but not many seem to last !
I have not driven any but have spoken to many that have and none have been that enthusiastic.
I take it you have looked to use something without tail lifts or hydraulic moving parts .
I used to drive a Eurocargo tilt and slide with spec lift that weighed in at 4.75 tons empty , but I didn't have the 8250kg restriction on my license.
You should find a truck at about the 3 ton mark without all the heavy hydraulic equipment giving you 5250 kg to play with for a trailer and two cars .
A local fabrication company should be able to knock up suitable ramps .
It means more manual work on race days though !

[iguana]

pja said:

This is a genuine question as I'm interested to know, you've gone over the 3500kg GVW threshold so must come under tacho, O'licence etc etc,
Is it your driving licence stopping you going for a 10 or 12 toner or running costs?

Well even a 3.5t towing commercially needs tacho, & if trailer over 1020kg or for hire & reward even if lighter needs o licence.

Licence restriction for drivers indeed main reason for not wanting larger, but maintenance & running costs are a factor & my great local garage wont touch air brake stuff. I'd prob bypass the 12t (as gets expensive for Maut in Germany, well could re-plate at 11.95t I guess, eurovignettes 12t too, tho that's peanuts really vs Maut) & jump to a bigger 4 car enc, such as-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DAF-CF-65-250-4-CAR-ENCL...

Edited by iguana on Tuesday 23 September 09:41

[imagineifyeswill]

Ive run the Isuzu NQR, Mitsubishi Canter and Renault Mascott as recovery trucks and wouldnt rate any of them, found them all unreliable and cost a fortune in repairs compared with the old Mercedes 814s we ran or the Renault Midlums.

[Chipchap]

Graham
The Isuzu NQR 190 Easyshift is the lightest chassis cab in the 7500kg arena. The 150 is lighter still but 150 BHP is less attractive come resale time.

They usually come in around 500kg lighter than a DAF 45 and 600 kg lighter than an 814/817 Merc or MAN 8series.


Allan

[Chipchap]

If you are not constrained by a driving licence issue then it may be best to look at 10 tonners. Same sort of physical size as 7.5t but they can of course take more payload.