As much as I like ERF s they really are getting hard to get parts for ,and don’t buy one past x or w as these man cross breads and ecx s are double trouble,where as the alphas you can get parts for the mk1 s are good and the mk2s are just a cf with a ■■■■■■■■
Are you doing your own maintenance?
Vonono:
I want to start a haulage company with a budget of £4k-£7k for a tractor unit.Ideally, I want a reliable, fuel economic and low cost maintenance tractor (this is ambitious because of my low budget). Based on your experience and knowledge, what would you recommend? When selecting a tractor unit, what else should I be looking out for? If you have one in your fleet, you were considering replacing, would you be kind enough to let me know?
I am looking for a 6x2 or 6x4, 400HP+, sleeper cab, manual gearbox unit and diesel fuel. It should be less than 14 years old. So far I have been thinking; Volvo FH12, MAN TGA, DAF CF/XF, FODEN ALPHA, ERF EC, SCANIA (though I haven’t seen much within my budget).
Please help.
You need all the help you can get, its suicidal to start at present when you are on such a tight budget. Dogged old motors dont get you good work or reputation.
Keep the money and drive for someone else and learn the industry from top to bottom and you will realise.
If you must do it I suggest you buy something from an old OD who will be honest about it hopefully.
430 6x2 manual Axor would be as good as any, simple and tough, not generally liked by steering wheel attendees so should be as cheap as you’ll find in this budget.
‘‘cheap as you’ll find in this budget’’?
Really should spend some time reading my own drivel before posting it… 
easy you will find something forget Volvo and scania and forget about all the bling you will probably have to go for the smaller cab as well daf cf foden erf ecs ecx ect and Renault would be within your budget doubling our budget will do nothing especially if it leaves nothing in he pot if you find a good truck it doesn’t matter how much you pay for it some are how shall I put it less fashionable than others but will still earn you money just as good also try the main dealers they usually have something or no of something if you do a lot of looking something will turn up
Why limit yourself to just one or a couple of diffrent makes, any make can be worth buying if its well looked after, look out for any make witch is tidy and well looked after. I
I heard its better to rent the tractor unit, and buy the trailer. Logic being you get a brand new rig so you have total reliability for getting the work done witch in turn builds a good reputation. If anything gose wrong your covered by parts warranty.
Then aim to buy a rig farther down the line, once you got some money behind you and hopefully some steady contracts. This is only what others have said to me so could be totally wrong.
jrt:
I heard its better to rent the tractor unit, and buy the trailer. Logic being you get a brand new rig so you have total reliability for getting the work done witch in turn builds a good reputation. If anything gose wrong your covered by parts warranty.Then aim to buy a rig farther down the line, once you got some money behind you and hopefully some steady contracts. This is only what others have said to me so could be totally wrong.
Well, it depends. Somebody in the same yard as me has recently taken on one of the brand new Volvos, it’s costing him nearly £2,000 a month including full R&M, and his work pays no more than mine.
I pay £570 a month for my truck and in 15 months I’ve spent about £10,000 in servicing and repairs and had just three days off the road. So it’s certainly been far, far cheaper to run than a brand-new truck would have been.
As for what truck would be best for the OP, it’s impossible to say without knowing what work he is planning to do, light/heavy, local/ long distance etc. But I will just say that even with a £5,000 truck, you can expect to put £10,000’s worth of diesel in it before you get your first pay cheque.
hello vonono
as per your pm to me you based in swaziland so bear in mind that at that budget you actually going to pay an additional £1500 for shipping and plus minus another R20000 for clearing and shiiping from durban to swaziland where u will pay a duty and vat plus reg costs so u looking at about R200,ooo plus for the truck.u would be better placed to look in bots as lots of owbner operators are leaving this bizz and u can come view the trucks as well as not pay too much for transport and taxes-u only pay vat as it fall in the sacu countries no duty.
nb;only vehicles in these parts that u shud be interested in are volvo,erf scnia to a lesser extent as they are very expensive to maintain.
Thanks everyone for your input. I will narrow my search to ERF EC, Foden Alpha and Volvo FH. I will be pulling +30 tonnes payload over a long distance (+/- 900km return). I have a local garage which will be doing my maintenance. I am going into this with an open mind - it is a gamble that I am determined to turn into a good investment. Again, thanks for your input. I am looking forward to sharing my progress with the forum in a few months time.
loadme:
hello vononoas per your pm to me you based in swaziland .
well that puts a different perspective on things, I don’t think the LEZ will be a worry in your neck of the woods, I should think something with an old ■■■■■■■ in and no electrics will do you fine