7.5t truck running costs
Discussion
I'm looking at the various option for transporting the race car going forward, Up until the end of this year I should be fine towing the E30 on a light trailer using my current mercedes C class but as I'm building an M3 for next year the mercs not going to be legal.
There seams to a few options.
Larger trailer and 4x4, larger trailer and van or going for a cheap (circa £4-5k) 7.5t truck .
I think I've ruled out the 4x4 as I do a fair amount of millage and as most within my price range seam to be achieving poor MPG.
The van could work, if I could hack using it every day, however I'd need to find somewhere to store a larger trailer.
This brought me to looking at trucks, there seams to be some good value ones around.
I figured a reasonable truck would deal with the minimal millage I'd do with relative ease
I was just after an idea of what kind of running costs could be expected.
There seams to a few options.
Larger trailer and 4x4, larger trailer and van or going for a cheap (circa £4-5k) 7.5t truck .
I think I've ruled out the 4x4 as I do a fair amount of millage and as most within my price range seam to be achieving poor MPG.
The van could work, if I could hack using it every day, however I'd need to find somewhere to store a larger trailer.
This brought me to looking at trucks, there seams to be some good value ones around.
I figured a reasonable truck would deal with the minimal millage I'd do with relative ease
I was just after an idea of what kind of running costs could be expected.
I have run a 7.5 ton truck that I self converted to have living/sleeping accomodation for the past season. Prior to this a ran an XLWB Iveco van.
Prior to buying the lorry I considered a covered trailer and a pick-up truck, however once I factored in the fuel used by a pick up I could pay to have a second vehical just for racing.
MPG for the lorry I have never worked out as the tank costs me too much to brim, but I would guess its around 15 -20 mpg loaded right on the weight limit. Insurance is £230 fully comp for two drivers. Tax is £165 I think. MOT is £100ish. I bought the lorry with no test and it needed some work, but I expect maintainence will cost about 100 before each test.
Benefits of the lorry are:
Although it is actually shorter than my old van and trailer, I still have a great big lorry sitting on my driveway. I would also suggest looking for something slightly bigger than 7.5t if you wish to add living accommodation as my lorry is not far off the weight limited. (Bigger trucks tend to be cheaper to buy than 7.5t).
Dan
Prior to buying the lorry I considered a covered trailer and a pick-up truck, however once I factored in the fuel used by a pick up I could pay to have a second vehical just for racing.
MPG for the lorry I have never worked out as the tank costs me too much to brim, but I would guess its around 15 -20 mpg loaded right on the weight limit. Insurance is £230 fully comp for two drivers. Tax is £165 I think. MOT is £100ish. I bought the lorry with no test and it needed some work, but I expect maintainence will cost about 100 before each test.
Benefits of the lorry are:
- It's warm and dry between races.
- All my spares and tools are with me
- Everything, including the car lives in the lorry so no need to pack and unload
- Somewhere ready made to sleep with some mod-cons
Although it is actually shorter than my old van and trailer, I still have a great big lorry sitting on my driveway. I would also suggest looking for something slightly bigger than 7.5t if you wish to add living accommodation as my lorry is not far off the weight limited. (Bigger trucks tend to be cheaper to buy than 7.5t).
Dan
I guess you are looking at box truck with tail lift ? & then get tailift modded ?
4-5k should get you a tidy 03 merc atego which would be my choise, or almost a good a little daf 45
Iveco Cargo's are the most common & are the cheapest but are bottom of the pile in the truck world
And yes they should be reliable, but no truck likes been standing about for monthes on end.
4-5k should get you a tidy 03 merc atego which would be my choise, or almost a good a little daf 45
Iveco Cargo's are the most common & are the cheapest but are bottom of the pile in the truck world
And yes they should be reliable, but no truck likes been standing about for monthes on end.
I run a 1995 merc 814 its a heavy old beast , sleeper cab and a 24ft box with 1.5 ton tail lift.
I think its the best way to do it.
I get 16-17 mpg i ve got 8ft living with cooking sink and benches snd a garage at the back. Im fortunate to have space at home sk everything lives in it and i even work on the car in it.
Mots have been trouble free but with low miles you need a battery conditioner plugged in or youll be buying batteries every year.
Its easy to go overweight so next time ill either go bigger or drop down tail gate and beaver tail.
I think its the best way to do it.
I get 16-17 mpg i ve got 8ft living with cooking sink and benches snd a garage at the back. Im fortunate to have space at home sk everything lives in it and i even work on the car in it.
Mots have been trouble free but with low miles you need a battery conditioner plugged in or youll be buying batteries every year.
Its easy to go overweight so next time ill either go bigger or drop down tail gate and beaver tail.
DanGibsonRacing said:
I have run a 7.5 ton truck that I self converted to have living/sleeping accomodation for the past season. Prior to this a ran an XLWB Iveco van.
Prior to buying the lorry I considered a covered trailer and a pick-up truck, however once I factored in the fuel used by a pick up I could pay to have a second vehical just for racing.
MPG for the lorry I have never worked out as the tank costs me too much to brim, but I would guess its around 15 -20 mpg loaded right on the weight limit. Insurance is £230 fully comp for two drivers. Tax is £165 I think. MOT is £100ish. I bought the lorry with no test and it needed some work, but I expect maintainence will cost about 100 before each test.
Benefits of the lorry are:
Although it is actually shorter than my old van and trailer, I still have a great big lorry sitting on my driveway. I would also suggest looking for something slightly bigger than 7.5t if you wish to add living accommodation as my lorry is not far off the weight limited. (Bigger trucks tend to be cheaper to buy than 7.5t).
Dan
Would you mind telling me where you get your insurance at that price? I pay about £420 for my 02 7.5T Iveco 75E17?Prior to buying the lorry I considered a covered trailer and a pick-up truck, however once I factored in the fuel used by a pick up I could pay to have a second vehical just for racing.
MPG for the lorry I have never worked out as the tank costs me too much to brim, but I would guess its around 15 -20 mpg loaded right on the weight limit. Insurance is £230 fully comp for two drivers. Tax is £165 I think. MOT is £100ish. I bought the lorry with no test and it needed some work, but I expect maintainence will cost about 100 before each test.
Benefits of the lorry are:
- It's warm and dry between races.
- All my spares and tools are with me
- Everything, including the car lives in the lorry so no need to pack and unload
- Somewhere ready made to sleep with some mod-cons
Although it is actually shorter than my old van and trailer, I still have a great big lorry sitting on my driveway. I would also suggest looking for something slightly bigger than 7.5t if you wish to add living accommodation as my lorry is not far off the weight limited. (Bigger trucks tend to be cheaper to buy than 7.5t).
Dan
Graham said:
I run a 1995 merc 814 its a heavy old beast , sleeper cab and a 24ft box with 1.5 ton tail lift.
I think its the best way to do it.
I get 16-17 mpg i ve got 8ft living with cooking sink and benches snd a garage at the back. Im fortunate to have space at home sk everything lives in it and i even work on the car in it.
Mots have been trouble free but with low miles you need a battery conditioner plugged in or youll be buying batteries every year.
Its easy to go overweight so next time ill either go bigger or drop down tail gate and beaver tail.
Another option, if you can't get a conditioner on the battery, is to fit an isolator and run every few weeks at least, which is not a bad thing in any case.I think its the best way to do it.
I get 16-17 mpg i ve got 8ft living with cooking sink and benches snd a garage at the back. Im fortunate to have space at home sk everything lives in it and i even work on the car in it.
Mots have been trouble free but with low miles you need a battery conditioner plugged in or youll be buying batteries every year.
Its easy to go overweight so next time ill either go bigger or drop down tail gate and beaver tail.
DanGibsonRacing said:
REALIST123 said:
Would you mind telling me where you get your insurance at that price? I pay about £420 for my 02 7.5T Iveco 75E17?
We use Footman James if I remember correctly. It was by far the cheapest policy I could find, but worth while remembering that my lorry is pretty oldGassing Station | UK Club Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff