7.5 ton recovery trucks
Discussion
I'm getting bored of towing a trailer and the newest toy while road legal has a top speed of 40 and weighs 3 tons so i can't tow the thing anywhere legally.
So starting to look at old 7.5ton recovery trucks of about the 5K range.
I'm an oldish fart so have grandfather rights for driving one.
So what are the ins and outs of running one privately
I have room to keep it on the drive
What costs of running one MPG etc?
So starting to look at old 7.5ton recovery trucks of about the 5K range.
I'm an oldish fart so have grandfather rights for driving one.
So what are the ins and outs of running one privately
I have room to keep it on the drive
What costs of running one MPG etc?
here you go 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1981-C30-CHEVROLET-GMC-WRECK...
5.7 litre V8 will be thirsty but plenty reliable and lots of grunt.
My uncle had one of these for shunting duties and he did pretty much nothing to it... it just soldiered on.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1981-C30-CHEVROLET-GMC-WRECK...
5.7 litre V8 will be thirsty but plenty reliable and lots of grunt.
My uncle had one of these for shunting duties and he did pretty much nothing to it... it just soldiered on.
I think you'll need to get it re-registered as a private LGV (Large Goods Vehicle), which in effect becomes PLG for tax purposes. However, I may be wrong on this as recovery vehicles might be a little different to normal trucks, in that they may not already be registered as an LGV.
Once it's a private vehicle, you should become exempt from tacho regs, and routine maintenance/inspections (ie 4 to 8 weekly) rules. This takes a huge amount of expense away from your running costs.
Most 7.5 tonners get around 14 mpg, give or take a couple either way. Servicing and parts can be fairly expensive, although it's worth finding a local independent truck mechanic if you can.
The only thing to be aware of is that they generally have a payload of around 3 to 4 tonnes, so it may be worth spending a tenner to get it weighed before you commit to buying, you wouldn't want to find it's got a lower capacity than you require.
Once it's a private vehicle, you should become exempt from tacho regs, and routine maintenance/inspections (ie 4 to 8 weekly) rules. This takes a huge amount of expense away from your running costs.
Most 7.5 tonners get around 14 mpg, give or take a couple either way. Servicing and parts can be fairly expensive, although it's worth finding a local independent truck mechanic if you can.
The only thing to be aware of is that they generally have a payload of around 3 to 4 tonnes, so it may be worth spending a tenner to get it weighed before you commit to buying, you wouldn't want to find it's got a lower capacity than you require.
I'd echo what Super Slo Mo said about capacities. 7.5 ton is the maximum gross weight, and lots of the trucks weigh over 4t empty so just be aware that the capacity is a bit lower than you might expect. Otherwise, they are pretty cheap to buy and cheap to run by truck standards. I'd have thought you might see 20mpg+ in a modern one.
MOT cost here (max. cost garage can charge)
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...
Tax information here
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail...
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...
Tax information here
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail...
Egbert Nobacon said:
Don't be fooled by the "recovery vehicles are exempt from MOT" line that you see in many adverts.
VOSA have a very strict criteria list (both spec and usage) for a recovery vehicle to be MOT exempt and in reality many vehicles advertised as being exempt are in fact not.
The only recovery vehicles that are exempt from MOT are SPEC LIFT ONLY trucks,they are classed as a crane,you have to inspect and show proof of regular inspections to be exempt.VOSA have a very strict criteria list (both spec and usage) for a recovery vehicle to be MOT exempt and in reality many vehicles advertised as being exempt are in fact not.
the whole recovery truck thing is a minefield of red tape,I spent twenty years as workshop manager for a car sales/garage that run 3 trucks of varying sizes.
If the ministry stop you and your vehicle is not up to scatch,they will sieze it.
Remember hgv road worthiness is a massive step up in terms of strictness and items tested.
That's all true, but if the OP has his truck re-registered as a private HGV, then he will be able to avoid the commercial aspects of running a truck, even though it's still subject to an MOT just the same as any other truck.
For instance, he won't require an O'Licence, commercial insurance, a 'competent person', nor will he need to use a tacho, or keep records for months/years etc.
It's still more stringent than running a car or light van, but a lot less than if he were running an HGV for commercial purposes. Servicing costs are still fairly expensive in car terms, and of course, the OP will need to be sure he can prove he's using the vehicle privately, and that the vehicle(s) being carried are his own, and not for hire/reward.
For instance, he won't require an O'Licence, commercial insurance, a 'competent person', nor will he need to use a tacho, or keep records for months/years etc.
It's still more stringent than running a car or light van, but a lot less than if he were running an HGV for commercial purposes. Servicing costs are still fairly expensive in car terms, and of course, the OP will need to be sure he can prove he's using the vehicle privately, and that the vehicle(s) being carried are his own, and not for hire/reward.
doogz said:
True. But your recovery truck could break down just as easily as any of your other toys.
yes but a recovery truck is unlikely to be bashed around a forest where as the mog will bedoogz said:
Although, it does make more sense if you'll use it for other things, if you were only ever going to use it for the Merc, it seemed like a bit of a false economy.
the landrover, the other landrover, the 7, the production trials car etcdoogz said:
As has been said, worth making sure you'll not be overweight, i've heard of a lot of horseboxes being pulled over and taken to weighbridges by the cops, and people being done for being overweight.
A regular car on a transported might not attract too much attention, but your Mog might.
Fully aware of the overwieght issues and plod having nothing better to do then easy pullsA regular car on a transported might not attract too much attention, but your Mog might.
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