Flat bed 3.5t - opinions

[Welderpaul]

We have a little 3.5t Transit tipper for everyday running about with stuff. It has been worked hard and finally died today. Lads went out in it this afternoon, came back 10 minutes later..one of the lads had some of the engine in his hand.

3.5T is our maximum GVW owing to the age of the lads and no one with a license for anything bigger.

Does anyone have experience with them? it needs to be a fixed bed i.e doesnt need to tip, and as long a back as possible..14' seems to be the norm?, but are longer ones available?.

Recommendations on make? Not sure i would bother with another Ford.

 

[madkayaker]

Bound to be lots of transits about as most fleet stuff is transit as there cheep!

 

[madkayaker]

Dibs on tipper ram and pump?

 

[Welderpaul]

I'll probably get it fixed then sell it. You can buy the whole thing if you want. Ideal for your regular collections from round the country.

 

[madkayaker]

One careful owner and a bunch of "not my van" lads!

 

[normspanners]

Transits are not as good now as they used to be, fuel consumption is better but the engines are not as reliable timing chain issues BTW DO NOT BUMP START A TRANNY the timing chain can slip teeth. Sprinters or iveco arn't too bad both can do longer that 14'
personally I would stick with rear wheel drive as front wheel drive are megga bucks if anything breaks. vauxhall/renaults gearboxes are breaking regularly

 

[Woody.v8]

Transits are not as good now as they used to be, fuel consumption is better but the engines are not as reliable timing chain issues BTW DO NOT BUMP START A TRANNY the timing chain can slip teeth. Sprinters or iveco arn't too bad both can do longer that 14'
personally I would stick with rear wheel drive as front wheel drive are megga bucks if anything breaks. vauxhall/renaults gearboxes are breaking regularly

Bumping the dura torque isnt that bad as long as your in 3rd WITH YOUR CLUTCH OUT before you start towing, What they were thinking when they made the tentioner govened by oil pressure is beond me

 

[Shedendman]

What years the van?

 

[Welderpaul]

What years the van?

Its on an 02 plate

 

[J_K]

If you look at Iveco's and Sprinters, just take note of their capacity.
The drive train takes away alot of their carrying capacity.
Masters aren't too bad as long as you are happy replacing gearboxes at around 150,000 and engines somewhere in the 150,000 - 200,000 mark.
We run a 55 plate and 08 plate Master Loloader vans.
We used to run citroen relay and fiat ducato's. And they are much nicer vans. I'm still running a 53 plate personally for towing my drift car around and it just works.
The newer versions are meant to be good but I have no experience of them.

 

[octo0072000]

If you look at Iveco's and Sprinters, just take note of their capacity.
The drive train takes away alot of their carrying capacity.
Masters aren't too bad as long as you are happy replacing gearboxes at around 150,000 and engines somewhere in the 150,000 - 200,000 mark.
We run a 55 plate and 08 plate Master Loloader vans.
We used to run citroen relay and fiat ducato's. And they are much nicer vans. I'm still running a 53 plate personally for towing my drift car around and it just works.
The newer versions are meant to be good but I have no experience of them.

not seen many masters or vivaros 5 or 6 speed boxs last anywhere near that mileage 60/80 thou normal to go start getting noisy
main problem is only a about 1mm between layshaft and main shaft so poor quality taper bearings wear so layshaft and main shaft touch you normally get a lot of wining before that
place local to us specialises in them he even gets gearsets made as the reno ones are crap

 

[J_K]

My vivaro was on 178,000 and it crunched into third.
1 master is on 140,000 and it's ok. third is just starting to crucnch.
the other master is on 160,000 and the synchro has gone on first.

 

[normspanners]

My mate reconditions gearboxes and he does two of three a week on the vx /ren he also recons their c.r.a.p.
Thats why the rearwheel drive are more robust but more and more gearboxes are getting smaller n lighter and power and torque is getting higher. Result bang!

 

[J_K]

The Renault gearboxes are crap. No denying it.
And vauxhall seem to have given up on vans so just facelift renaults.

But I stand by FWD vans due to their greater carrying capacity and generally better load space.

 

[stuvy]

im sure that the transit i borrowed off a mate had a 17ft bed i will double check,

I had an iveco the 2.3HDi it was super quick compared to the sprinter it replaced but drank fuel!!

as for vx/ren/nissn i wouldnt touch them with a barge pole

edit,
My mates dad had a toyota dyna it had rubbish cab space uncomfy seats and drank fuel above 50mph when it finally died the bills for a new head was huge!

 

[Cal]

I've got a sprinter van.
If you can find a decent condition sprinter I would go for that.

 

[Welderpaul]

Anyone any experience with these?

The cabs look a bit toy town, but a decent size back.

I have been on a quest to find a drop sider with a 19' back. 3-4 month waiting list for manufacture and a price tag to match. Hardly any about.

Waiting on a few getting back to me.

 

[madkayaker]

I know a few firms running the 7.5 ( I think) truck version of them always seem to be on the go

 

[KemppiFrog]

Were I used to live,those were common and lasted on poor roads and little maintainance. Toyota Dynas were also popular and tough.

 

[madkayaker]

I wonder what the empty weight is?