Questions about things i cant afford.

[Benbay001]

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

[Benbay001]

Cock Womble 7 said:

Unimog?

This was my first though, but i fear it could lack an element of comfort and stability at M-way speeds?

[Benbay001]

rumple said:

I cant speak for what you are buying, however being ex forces i can tell you 4x4 military trucks aint far off landrovers in the mud.

Im not buying purely window shopping, and will be for a few years yet

[Benbay001]

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?

[Benbay001]

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 ?

Edited by iva cosworth on Saturday 17th March 21:40

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.

[Benbay001]

Tyres that could get you out the field you likely be unsuitable for lots of road use no doubt?

[Benbay001]

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 ....

OK, thank you

[Benbay001]

Curiosity has struck again. How much would it cost to have a grp box body built from new? And a tail lift?

Edited by Benbay001 on Saturday 14th April 17:05

[Benbay001]

hidetheelephants said:

Does it have to be new? Bodies from the better coachbuilders often outlast the wagon they're attached to, so a trawl of lorry breakers might get you what you need for cheapness. There are tail lifts that attach to the end of the chassis, so it doesn't matter if you can't find a body with a lift a)still attached and b)functional.

How much do you recon that would cost