I spend most of my time pulling around my 2002 Fruehauf Bathtub tipping trailer. However it has been off the road this week to have a leaky ram looked at and so I’ve been using a 2011 Wilcox Planksider that belongs to one of my customers instead.
Now I know that planksiders are supposed to be better on fuel than bathtubs, for fairly obvious reasons, however my mpg this week so far is massively higher than I would normally expect with my own trailer.
I just went back through my diary for the last 10 weeks work and according to the amount of fuel I put in the truck I normally average about 7.3mpg, if I believe the computer on the dash I average 7.6mpg.
In the 4 days this week so far I have averaged 8.1mpg (based on fuel in) or 8.5mpg (based on the computer).
The work has been broadly comparable to what I would normally do. A couple of days fairly local followed by a decent run yesterday and today.
Now based on my average mileage over the last 10 weeks an 0.5mpg saving would leave me better off to the tune of about 270-280quid a month (obviously this varies with fuel prices).
It sounds far too good to be true. Does anyone else have any real world experience of the difference? I have been considering replacing my trailer in the next 6-12 months and if a planksider will really save me that much in fuel then I think I might be getting one…
kr79:
If that is the case thats a big chunk of repayments even on a new trailer
Exactly.
If I part-ex’d mine for a new one then it would work out at about 500/month for 5 years. Now if I was saving 250-300 on fuel that would make that 500/month a lot easier to swallow. In fact it would make it cheaper than my 10 year old one as I bet I spend 200-250/month on repairs on average as it seems to eat brake discs, and that’s without factoring in the downtime while those repairs are being done.
That said, committing to 500quid a month for 5 years is still very scary even if on paper it will make me better off… and a new trailer might not need any repairs in the first couple of years but by the time it gets to 5 stuff might be breaking.
The other issue is that I can’t go out and spend the wrong side of 30k on a new trailer just on the basis of one weeks fuel figures, hence me wondering if anyone else had an experience of the difference…
My father in law ran a bulk operation and he got between 0.8 and 1 mpg better with plank siders over tubs . He also ran several walking floors (I have 2 ) and also got good mpg I’ve never run conventional tippers but the only caution I have is to say ensure the load suits the trailer some plank siders I know don’t suit sharp loads !
Nextdrop:
the only caution I have is to say ensure the load suits the trailer some plank siders I know don’t suit sharp loads !
Thanks for the advice but the work I do will be fine in a planksider. I guess about 50% of my work is grain and other feedstuffs (soya, sugar beet pellets and the like), the other 50% is mainly potash and salt with an odd bit of sand and stone mixed in now and again, and both of my main customers run planksiders in their own fleets so they must be OK.
shuttlespanker:
is there any chance of you using the trailer for a couple more weeks to test the figures again?
I might be using it for some odd days next week but once mine is back on the road I’ll be back to mainly using that as he’ll be wanting this trailer back I think. The only reason I might be using it next week is if there is a run that involves a load of glass as my TASCC certification means I’m not allowed to put glass in my trailer.
fly sheet:
I’m fairly suprised at your shock regarding the difference in fuel it seems obvious to me & I know nothing about tipping trailers.
I was expecting a difference, maybe 2 or 3%, not not anything as dramatic as 10%. If it’s really that high (and my week this week isn’t just a one off) then why on earth would anyone ever buy a bathtub trailer unless they’re 100% on slow local work?
it will buy its self in theory based on those figures you have quoted. and a 2nd hand good one will or should produce extra money in your pocket from day 1. i have the same dilemma with the oldest trailer i have. 8 years old reliable as hell and any truck that pulls it gives 0-4 to 0.6 mpg better.Does it stay or does it go as my fleet avg is 4 years. planksiders are good for all sorts of work. have a ring around carefoots/Sherwoods/ nidera etc and ask for other peoples opinions. and sort the wheat from the chaff. lets face it you have not exactly put a foot wrong so far and this will be a make or break investment for you at the end of the day. rgds. Brian
r slicker:
it will buy its self in theory based on those figures you have quoted. and a 2nd hand good one will or should produce extra money in your pocket from day 1.
Indeed, if I can really get another 0.5mpg on average then once you take into account the increased reliability over my 10 year old trailer then in many ways it is a no brainer. But I still think if you can really get that extra fuel return why do the majority of trailers on the road still seem to be bathtubs? Maybe it’s just because that’s what people have always had, and of course when fuel was a lot cheaper the savings would have been smaller but fuel is only going one way in the future so I guess as time goes by perhaps more people will switch over.
However it’s a big jump to make, I would need to keep the trailer for at least 4 years (or ideally for the full 5 years I would financing it over) to make it worthwhile which is a long time given I’ve only been in business for 2 years so far.
Dont forget to factor in what you would get for your old trailer or even keep it as a spare or if a day between jobs your not stood up and get use that trailer for ad hoc work outside of what you are now.
kr79:
If you do go for a new trailer the merc axles seem best concerning disc brakes.
Yeah that’s what a lot of people have told me, I think I’ll be getting Merc Discs next time even if I go second hand instead of new.
Paul
100% Merc are the best but I haven’t had the problems with RORs on discs that a lot of others seem to have had. Like Scania units they’re better but not sure they’re worth paying multiple £ks extra for.
kr79:
If you do go for a new trailer the merc axles seem best concerning disc brakes.
Personally i would go for drums, i have a 2009 Bathtub on ROR drums, i think there is about 100kg weight penalty, but they have been bullet proof, and so much cheaper to look after, no sealed bearing that need a 1000 tonne press to get them out!!
sammy dog:
when i was running bulkers im sure there was a couple grand diffrence between the price of ribside and plankside the plankside being more expensive .
I have seen advertised a brand new 70cu Fruehauf bathtub for £31000 where as a planksider exactly the same spec is £31750. Not a massive difference in price when you take into account the fuel savings with a planksider.
M G B:
Is there any weight difference I seem to remember reading that Bathtubs are lighter than Planksiders.
They are, depending on who you listen to the difference is between 100kg and 200kg in the bathtub’s favour. If you can save anything like I seem to have done on the fuel though then the weight penalty is insignificant in comparison.
