Bri963
Well-known member
Round here they were farmer and muckshift foreman’s vehicle of choice. If they hadn’t discontinued them in the UK there would have been a lot less 90” Defenders sold in later years. I was hanging my nose over one last year but the price and spares put me off.
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Old Operator
Well-known member
I looked at things that could tow 750 Kg unbraked & fit in the 7ft wide (ex council) garage that I have, came up with the Yeti & Duster. The Jimny would tow an 0.8t machine on a braked IWT GH 64 but not the Gopher (unless I made a fast tow skeleton trailer for it - they used to have them as an option)
One good point of the Jimny is that it is petrol as just lately have only done 3K annual miles, this could well change as could much else.
I also looked at the Expert MK2 the Citroen Dispatch, & Toyota Pro Ace (I think these are the same van) All these pull 1500 kg braked & 750 Kg unbraked The wife would like a sort of day van - & I am a bit doubtful of buying a posh car with extra seating we would now never use then chucking in laser level & pick, spades, etc for jobs. So something more industrial like the crew cab van? I have a very old Berlingo van estate, 99.9 % of time it is a van with seats folded up. Bri 963 - do you live in a very flat area like Cambs / Lincs? just thinking what you mean by a steep hill?
I will shortly be able to look for a place with more storage etc so thinking of holding off then buying vehicle that will fit in whatever garage / building I end up with. Question is do I run two vehicles, say even go full hardcore with a Defender just to tow whatever I need, or compromise single vehicle that does the lot on a smaller scale. I will be 64 in a couple of months but fit & keep busy. It has all come a bit late for me?
I have a mate running a large modern Ford Transit van because of its towing capacity - this has needed a new engine at 45K miles!, now the addblue pump has failed - only available c/w its tank Cost £800 - his brother is a fitter & tells me to keep clear of Euro 6 engines as this is! Not a good advert
One good point of the Jimny is that it is petrol as just lately have only done 3K annual miles, this could well change as could much else.
I also looked at the Expert MK2 the Citroen Dispatch, & Toyota Pro Ace (I think these are the same van) All these pull 1500 kg braked & 750 Kg unbraked The wife would like a sort of day van - & I am a bit doubtful of buying a posh car with extra seating we would now never use then chucking in laser level & pick, spades, etc for jobs. So something more industrial like the crew cab van? I have a very old Berlingo van estate, 99.9 % of time it is a van with seats folded up. Bri 963 - do you live in a very flat area like Cambs / Lincs? just thinking what you mean by a steep hill?
I will shortly be able to look for a place with more storage etc so thinking of holding off then buying vehicle that will fit in whatever garage / building I end up with. Question is do I run two vehicles, say even go full hardcore with a Defender just to tow whatever I need, or compromise single vehicle that does the lot on a smaller scale. I will be 64 in a couple of months but fit & keep busy. It has all come a bit late for me?
I have a mate running a large modern Ford Transit van because of its towing capacity - this has needed a new engine at 45K miles!, now the addblue pump has failed - only available c/w its tank Cost £800 - his brother is a fitter & tells me to keep clear of Euro 6 engines as this is! Not a good advert
Storrsy
Well-known member
We have a Skoda Roomster as a run around with the 1.9tdi in it. That thing is utterly cavernous for its size! I got it as needed something quick after other half wrote off our Mitsubishi ASX but we both wish we'd got a Roomster years ago as so much space in it
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Stroppymonkey
Well-known member
I had a Fiat Multipla on rental for a weeks holiday in Ireland back in 2002. Ugliest damn thing I have ever seen but it was such a practical family vehicle . Amazing thing!
Practically most things would tow 750 unbraked, but I’d far rather have a decent set of brakes even if on a 750kg trailer . It’s surprising how much an unbraked 750kg can PUSH you when stopping in a hurry. I think that a decent well loaded twin axle trailer with proper overrun brakes will stop you faster than when you have no trailer at all. If I lock up with my tipper behind it feels like some has just thrown an anchor out ….
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Smiffy
Well-known member
It only feels like that. Over run brakes can't physically pull you back.
Lots of people confuse the point when the trailer breaks kick in and the rate of deceleration increases with being pulled backwards.
S
Stroppymonkey
Well-known member
Talking of trailers…. Was it @V8Druid that said Sankey trailers were s**t?
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2.4M views · 19K reactions | British Military Land Rover CRASH on the A43 yesterday😳 | OnlyForces
British Military Land Rover CRASH on the A43 yesterday😳.
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6feetdown
Well-known member
OuchTalking of trailers…. Was it @V8Druid that said Sankey trailers were s**t?
2.4M views · 19K reactions | British Military Land Rover CRASH on the A43 yesterday😳 | OnlyForces
British Military Land Rover CRASH on the A43 yesterday😳.
craig
Well-known member
If that's the driver getting out at the end, he`s very luckyTalking of trailers…. Was it @V8Druid that said Sankey trailers were s**t?
2.4M views · 19K reactions | British Military Land Rover CRASH on the A43 yesterday😳 | OnlyForces
British Military Land Rover CRASH on the A43 yesterday😳.
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Stroppymonkey
Well-known member
2 in hospital with 1 being serious.If that's the driver getting out at the end, he`s very lucky
Lucky not dead. The front of a defender flipping like that would not be a nice place to be
craig
Well-known member
I think late military land rovers where reto fitted with a roll bar/cage
M
Monkeybusiness
Well-known member
That was defo caged up - I don’t think there are any military land rovers without cages nowadays.I think late military land rovers where reto fitted with a roll bar/cage
O
Old Operator
Well-known member
I would not tow 750 kg unbraked any distance, as the machine has no suspension other than the balloon tyres, also the wheel motors are put into neutral but must not exceed 45 mph though I am told stick to 30 max https://www.oilyhands.co.uk/gopher_towable_diggers.htm
Hope it will not be my main machine long term - I wish to own rather than endlessly hire, a matter of seeing how things go
Hope it will not be my main machine long term - I wish to own rather than endlessly hire, a matter of seeing how things go
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
think it was a general consensus I agreed with ...... NATO hitch held up wellTalking of trailers…. Was it @V8Druid that said Sankey trailers were s**t?
2.4M views · 19K reactions | British Military Land Rover CRASH on the A43 yesterday😳 | OnlyForces
British Military Land Rover CRASH on the A43 yesterday😳.
.. TBH it all did
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
you're technically restricted to 20mph if ag., other wise it should not be on the road without suspension of some type (balloon tyres don't count as 'spendies)
pettsy
Well-known member
Hopefully the dashcam shows the reg of the car that turned across. Sadly I fear they will have just driven off completely oblivious to what they have caused.
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
" been driving 40 years and never had an accident " - caused dozens type
O
Old Operator
Well-known member
The lack of suspension was one of the reasons for making a drop in sprung centre axle - either braked or unbraked. The attachment points are already there. The boom / dipper folds back over centre & the spool block swings to one side to allow this, as shown in this info as to towing options. Seems to suggest towing on the wheels is a local option but plate on machine says do not tow above 45 mph on motor wheels & how to switch them off. Info shown here is pre 5 Star motorized wheel model http://www.oilyhands.co.uk/Gopher-Page4.pdf Need to see how it performs before committing to too much else. Had too much on my hands lately even to test it. All changes in a fortnight.
The machine was towed some distance behind a Volvo estate by previous owner on it wheels - legal or not, an archaeologist. My very digger can be seen here on Time Team about 5 mins in from start
This was before the 'bodge' repair, he towed it both before & after the bodge that brought the slew centre forward about 20 ins & unbalanced it at least for site use Place was Stanton Harcourt in Oxford I am told
The machine was towed some distance behind a Volvo estate by previous owner on it wheels - legal or not, an archaeologist. My very digger can be seen here on Time Team about 5 mins in from start
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V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
My Manor Micron has a set of 5 x10" wheels, on suspension units that you pin into sockets under the chassis for towing it about - nicely balanced and tows a dream as it's about 4-4.5ft wide on its road wheels - can't recall if I have a pic of it other than this one in the background of a.n.other shot of summat else -- tow bar's not fitted in that and obviously the boom is on the floor
O
Old Operator
Well-known member
The oilyhands site owner has restored what was then a Fleming Micron, Fleming & Gopher International joined forces to become Manor, Both models were built until the end when Powerfab bought up all rights & were the last man standing in UK towables.
Thanks for the pic, Mr Druid, I take it that the plug in wheels form an unbraked sprung axle? Ideal for longer tows. Mine has to go a couple of miles to a mate for storage for now. I will be hopefully soon able to do what you did & buy a sort of retirement bungalow or similar with sheds / containers / workshop but do not want to jinx anything. I have no plans to retire but keep working in a small way. Does your Manor have wheel motors - some did.
I gather the Rexroth wheel motors & 60mm bore 13'' rams were common to both the Micron & 5 Star.
Thanks for the pic, Mr Druid, I take it that the plug in wheels form an unbraked sprung axle? Ideal for longer tows. Mine has to go a couple of miles to a mate for storage for now. I will be hopefully soon able to do what you did & buy a sort of retirement bungalow or similar with sheds / containers / workshop but do not want to jinx anything. I have no plans to retire but keep working in a small way. Does your Manor have wheel motors - some did.
I gather the Rexroth wheel motors & 60mm bore 13'' rams were common to both the Micron & 5 Star.
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