Need a 3.5t dropside truck

[Munkul]

For work. Been asked to find something in the £10k range. Wants to be a single cab, medium to long wheelbase, with an alloy drop side body. As reliable as we can get for the price range.

I'll be travelling to view it, so ideally within 100 miles of Wigton, Cumbria

Looking at sprinters and ivecos (because it's the only ones I've any experience of)

Why are ivecos worth so much more than sprinters??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes...093614?hash=item23e2c011ae:g:t8UAAOSwnVdffvYd


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IVECO-DA...463765?hash=item1cf077bed5:g:ct0AAOSwQBNfMYvQ

Any others I should consider?

 

[Brad93]

Cos anything sprinter is a dealer and parts nightmare ££££

 

[Munkul]

Is it? We had a great time with cousin's sprinter, took it past 250k.

 

[cheb]

Do the Japanese ones that look like very small lorries come within the weight limit?

 

[Deltic]

Do the Japanese ones that look like very small lorries come within the weight limit?

Yes. They are available in 3.5 tonne

 

[MattH]

Do the Japanese ones that look like very small lorries come within the weight limit?

The Cabstar actually has the best load capacity of any of the 3.5T dropsides.
Off the top of my head the single cab medium bed model has the most at about 1350KGS which is more than a transit or Sprinter.

 

[Munkul]

What about this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-VW-...152980?hash=item3432d58354:g:cAYAAOSw6aRfTN-E

 

[8ob]

You lose a bit of payload on twin wheel 3.5 tonners but they are more forgiving on weight distribution, last time I looked the Renault Master had the highest payload but that was a few years ago.

Bob

 

[Munkul]

Am I thinking too nice? Whatever we buy will probably be kept for 6 years or more, probably ran into the ground. So even though those sprinters and crafters are lovely things to drive... what are they gonna be like in a few years of running about?

Most of the work done by this truck will be running 3 miles back and forward from offsite storage. Mostly engineering goods with under a ton weight. So payload isn't super critical.

 

[cheb]

How about an old milk float with a solar panel on the roof?

 

[James1979]

I’ve some experience here so my 2p. Have an iveco daily camper. Without doubt the best truck I’ve had and that’s been a few. The 3.5t are down rated 6t trucks. So you get 6t everything. The only difference is the wheel size and one less leaf on the rear. They are hard as hell. Driving position is mega. It’s a wrap round like a HGV and the seat is adjustable every whichway. I’ve driven hundreds of miles in a day and I have no end of pain because of nerve damage but they are so comfortable to drive it doesn’t have an effect. Only reason I’ve just bought a canter for work is the daily’s rust like hell. They are full of sensors and prone to faults apparently but mines been ok.

Had a sprinter. Great truck. Had the usual injector fault. Needed a Computer and a mortgage to repair. Also beware injector 4. It’s an engine out job and consequently no one ever looks at it. Mine was in solid.

Just bought a canter as above. Mainly because it’s what was available here. I did research them a bit and all the jap micro lorries seem much of a muchness. Some excel where others fail but all get good reviews. Mate has a grafter as it’s got highest tow rating if that will bother you.

agree 100% with Bob re dual wheels

 

[arther dailey]

I used iveco dailys for 30 years ,from the original mk1 to mk4, very good on weight carrying if you constantly go to legal limit , what got me into them was the realisation they dont get stolen by a certain type of person like transits , if you live on the edge of the new forest a transit wont stay in your possesion for very long...and they dont carry weight like ivecos .
main thing is to buy a good one to start with , which will mean looking at a Lot !!

 

[sg66]

Short runs like that you want an old diesel before dpf's/cat crap, it will run into the ground quite happily.

 

[Munkul]

Problem there is that I've been asked to buy as new a condition as possible... not something that will need welding to get through MOT every year. I agree completely with you sg66, it will most likely run into dpf issues quite soon, whatever we buy.
I wonder if something on DEF(adblue) will be more reliable in this respect. Just considering all the short runs. Our current shift van (fiat doblo) when it eventually gets a run out once a month, it clears its lungs and spits out black soot and smoke from the DPF for at least 30 minutes!

 

[mtt.tr]

Sprinters rot terribly.

Vivaro type vans just start falling apart
Transits well known problems

Iveco and nissans would be my personal choice

Oh and nissans are cheap like 30k cheap new

 

[Memmeddu]

For work. Been asked to find something in the £10k range. Wants to be a single cab, medium to long wheelbase, with an alloy drop side body. As reliable as we can get for the price range.

I'll be travelling to view it, so ideally within 100 miles of Wigton, Cumbria

Looking at sprinters and ivecos (because it's the only ones I've any experience of)

Why are ivecos worth so much more than sprinters??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes...093614?hash=item23e2c011ae:g:t8UAAOSwnVdffvYd


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IVECO-DA...463765?hash=item1cf077bed5:g:ct0AAOSwQBNfMYvQ

Any others I should consider?

The Daily
It's a pretty reliable truck
I Knew many people very satisfied with this truck
There are many even very old which still run even after 30+ years
IVECO/Fiat OM heavy engines are very reliable almost manteinance free (if you mantein them they will run for ever if you just check the levels it will run the same )
Here still are Fiat OM40 ,LUPETTO,LEONCINO,OM612,OM82 still running after 70 year
Very good machines .

 

[Munkul]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IVECO-DA...463765?hash=item1cf077bed5:g:ct0AAOSwQBNfMYvQ

Would this be a good option then?

 

[James1979]

No experience of that gen as I don’t have that budget I agree with @Memmeddu though, won’t go wrong with one.

they seem to have got rid of the wrap around dash which is a pity

 

[northwest]

How about an old milk float with a solar panel on the roof?

You need to see how much a milk float costs, including the batteries. It is a good idea though as they are indestructible. I know this because some of the drivers really tried and failed. Cost pennies to run too, no MOT either.

 

[arther dailey]

Likewise , havent used one of the newer sort , if its 2.3 engine look for brown header tank (head gasket gone) stear clear, tail lift is v.very usefull but @ cost of 100kg approx payload but so saves your back its worth it , had them put on all of mine..