Wagon

[Furniss]

Looking to pick the collective brains again, I don't really have a great deal of experience with wagons - I have run a 7.5t hook for a few years and early next year looking to going up to something that will move a 5.5t machine - tilty and buckets/attachments.

It would be great to keep something of a similar size to the 7.5t which has wheelbase of 3.6m and is spot on size wise for our domestic work, unfortunately a 12t hook won't really have the required payload and I will be having to go up a few tons - I would almost be happy to come down a few 100kgs on digger to have a smaller wagon but at the same time don't want to get too small as I will be selling the 8t digger and although our work is light it's replacement will be my biggest machine.
What's peoples thoughts/experience on size of wagons and running costs say 12/13t versus say 16t etc ? And 5t versus 6t mini diggers ? It's not a size I've much experience with.

Cheers

 

[JD450A]

The right 15t truck will piss in everywhere a 12t wagon will....... You'll likely have to build it though.

Look at 15t Volvo FL6's that roadsweepers are mounted on in the UK..... cheap as chips to buy but SWB, 15t capacity and LHD for you.

My old wagons for sale still if you want a cheap chassis cab..... But it's RHD and wants some cosmetic TLC.

Steering lock is mostly the same and if you keep the wheelbase short you shouldn't have a issue. Don't listen to Neighsayers.... I've been down most the lanes round here with the 15t truck.

 

[Smiffy]

Could also look at any Isuzu offerings as they a a fair bit lighter than the European cousins.
Can also look at getting a plate as that could save you best part of a tonne over a skip.
There was a plate in one of the auctions albeit for an 8 wheeler that had no headboard just the hook bar, and no middle to the deck only track pads and was as short as they could get away with to make it as light as possible
Or look for a 10 or 12 ton with a drawbar hitch and put the bigger machine on a trailer

 

[JD450A]

I'd skip a Isuzu as a hooklift or plant wagon tbh.... they don't like longitudinal stress and the chassis eventually crack.... great trucks but light built.

 

[Furniss]

Could also look at any Isuzu offerings as they a a fair bit lighter than the European cousins.
Can also look at getting a plate as that could save you best part of a tonne over a skip.
There was a plate in one of the auctions albeit for an 8 wheeler that had no headboard just the hook bar, and no middle to the deck only track pads and was as short as they could get away with to make it as light as possible
Or look for a 10 or 12 ton with a drawbar hitch and put the bigger machine on a trailer

Don't want to have to run a plate to carry the digger - fair bit more faffiing about running back for the other body and really enjoy not having to use a trailer since getting the wagon

 

[Smiffy]

Don't want to have to run a plate to carry the digger - fair bit more faffiing about running back for the other body and really enjoy not having to use a trailer since getting the wagon

Could you investigate the hook gear then. I don't know much about it but I know when my mate was looking for a second hand lorry he was very particular about the hook gear fitted due to weight.
And if a plate is no good for you what about looking at a custom built skip.
With lower than standard sides and fixed ones as they save a considerable amount of weight over drop sides. Or only have one drop section instead of 2.
Could always have greedy boards that could be fitted when the diggers off.
Even if you could just slot 2x4s in then they are easy to pickup if you need taller sides once on site??
And a lightweight tailgate that can be lifted off rather than barn doors??

 

[Monkeybusiness]

Just get a tractor, weight is irrelevant then…

 

[hiluxman]

Don't want to have to run a plate to carry the digger - fair bit more faffiing about running back for the other body and really enjoy not having to use a trailer since getting the wagon

Do you leave bodies on site to fill at a later date? Or leave bodies for customers to fill?

 

[Furniss]

As I s

The right 15t truck will piss in everywhere a 12t wagon will....... You'll likely have to build it though.

Look at 15t Volvo FL6's that roadsweepers are mounted on in the UK..... cheap as chips to buy but SWB, 15t capacity and LHD for you.

My old wagons for sale still if you want a cheap chassis cab..... But it's RHD and wants some cosmetic TLC.

Steering lock is mostly the same and if you keep the wheelbase short you shouldn't have a issue. Don't listen to Neighsayers.... I've been down most the lanes round here with the 15t truck.

As I see potential candidates I will put them up for your appraisal

Do you leave bodies on site to fill at a later date? Or leave bodies for customers to fill?

No at moment just carry my kit to site in hook loader and then crack on with aggregates - muck away etc
Like the straight forward way it works now without having to swop between bodies.... we occasionally leave body on site to save carting it home etc

 

[Furniss]

Could you investigate the hook gear then. I don't know much about it but I know when my mate was looking for a second hand lorry he was very particular about the hook gear fitted due to weight.
And if a plate is no good for you what about looking at a custom built skip.
With lower than standard sides and fixed ones as they save a considerable amount of weight over drop sides. Or only have one drop section instead of 2.
Could always have greedy boards that could be fitted when the diggers off.
Even if you could just slot 2x4s in then they are easy to pickup if you need taller sides once on site??
And a lightweight tailgate that can be lifted off rather than barn doors??

Possibly but getting fussy about what I get built over here is going to be a pita.... will be looking to buy something used and up n running.

 

[Smiffy]

Possibly but getting fussy about what I get built over here is going to be a pita.... will be looking to buy something used and up n running.

Are little hookloaders uncommon over there ? Are there not companies that offer anything off the shelf?
And do the lorry's tend to come with a skip when sold.

Just as food for thought

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Furniss]

I think something like this is going to be favorite - short wheelbase - 8.6t payload before a skip, but I have no idea how much that might cost to run about compared to my 7.5t or even a 12t ?

 

[hiluxman]

As I s

As I see potential candidates I will put them up for your appraisal

No at moment just carry my kit to site in hook loader and then crack on with aggregates - muck away etc
Like the straight forward way it works now without having to swop between bodies.... we occasionally leave body on site to save carting it home etc

Would a streight tipper work with loading ramps? Or a tipper grab and loading ramps to give even more options?

 

[craig]

View attachment 30006
I think something like this is going to be favorite - short wheelbase - 8.6t payload before a skip, but I have no idea how much that might cost to run about compared to my 7.5t or even a 12t ?

I don`t know what your road tax set up is over there, but over here 15t is the sweet spot price wise, a 16t is the same as a 26t.
Fuel wise, and service/repair not a great difference.

 

[Furniss]

Would a streight tipper work with loading ramps? Or a tipper grab and loading ramps to give even more options?

Hookloader is absolutely brilliant so don't want to go back to straight tipper even with its increased payload.

 

[Furniss]

Yeah I need to find out a bit more about regs as there is something about axle tax etc
Anything over 7.5t non perishable can't run between 10pm Sat to 10pm Sun but that's not a problem

I don`t know what your road tax set up is over there, but over here 15t is the sweet spot price wise, a 16t is the same as a 26t.
Fuel wise, and service/repair not a great difference.

 

[craig]

A local firm around here had a 12t hooklift and have changed it for a new 15/16t, it uses the same skips HL5`s (I think maybe HL7), looks to be the same wheelbase, and couple of inches wider,not sure on its payload, but I`ll ask when I`m down there next.

 

[V8Druid]

Are little hookloaders uncommon over there ? Are there not companies that offer anything off the shelf?
And do the lorry's tend to come with a skip when sold.

Just as food for thought

Pardon our interruption...

they've ben on ebay a bloody looooooooooong time ... reckon a good offer'd buy the three of 'em

 

[JD450A]

That Renfault looks ideal. Same running gear as the Volvo and by all accounts good trucks. It's the right size

 

[Storrsy]

The right 15t truck will piss in everywhere a 12t wagon will....... You'll likely have to build it though.

Look at 15t Volvo FL6's that roadsweepers are mounted on in the UK..... cheap as chips to buy but SWB, 15t capacity and LHD for you.

My old wagons for sale still if you want a cheap chassis cab..... But it's RHD and wants some cosmetic TLC.

Steering lock is mostly the same and if you keep the wheelbase short you shouldn't have a issue. Don't listen to Neighsayers.... I've been down most the lanes round here with the 15t truck.

You know that job in Cornwood you did- did you get your lorry up there- Martin's farm?