You need one of these. A Mack B61, but try to get one without the twin stick gearbox!
Going to take a look at an ex army sedan Atkinson on Monday, it’s a 1999 model, double drive, with only 145k on it, it’s plated to 65t aswell. Any pointers as to what to look for? Anyone got any experience with them?
Going to take a look at an ex army sedan Atkinson on Monday, it’s a 1999 model, double drive, with only 145k on it, it’s plated to 65t aswell. Any pointers as to what to look for? Anyone got any experience with them?
There’s a reason Seddon Atkinson don’t build trucks anymore…
I understand that. However for my budget and what I am going to do with it seems a robust and practical choice, unfortunately I can’t afford a similar Volvo etc, the contract that I have gained won’t allow me to delay to save more money for a better unit, so I need something that will see me through the next 12 months or so.
The Atki you described should do that job for at least a year… Of course, you may have a broken back by the end of it, but if you look after it - clean air and clean fuel, and it’s not had too many different squaddies driving it, you could do worse.
Beware of engine oil seals leaking. What gearbox?
When your there ask if they have any tires and at what price, when i bought a JCB i got 4 new tires for less than half what they cost in the tire shop. meachers had some SA i think, they had eton twin splitter, but this one will have uprated universal joints look at them & compair to whats on a normal truck. we had some military spec DAF & the propshaft UVJ were huge, never managed to break one climing over mountain tracks in Bosnia for 5 years. With that winch you can pull out other trucks that get stuck, earn a few quid with that alone. 
Ask if its a war stock, they never got issued, so milage is only the service milage.
Good luck & keep us posted cheers JJ.
dave_k:
Straight-beam front axle if you can.Trucks similar to the following will probably be most suitable to your budget and work.
omg i knew one of the guys that drove that truck, he described it as well used and abused.
The Army SA’s are usually always in pretty good nick, are serviced by the allocated driver alot more often than civvy wagons so much less wear and tear on them!
tag lift is what you want, if your serious about doing forestry work then get a motor with a tag lift and then fit the tire boss (heres a link too a firms website that use tireboss) jamesjones.co.uk/index.php/n … ironment1/
and here is a youtube clip youtube.com/watch?v=uuU1pjUy … re=related of what it is
Lad in my yard ran a Scania 530 V8 Topliner on forestry work. Took some hammer but he loved it. He reckoned tag axles are better than 6x4’s as they push less on wet ground and are easier to turn around in tight forest clearings. He gave up the forestry game when the crane caught fire and took the unit with it.
MysonVinnie, are you doing your own maintenance and do you have a trailer of you’re own?
scotstrucker:
dave_k:
Straight-beam front axle if you can.Trucks similar to the following will probably be most suitable to your budget and work.
omg i knew one of the guys that drove that truck, he described it as well used and abused.
i think if this firm are selling a unit, it must be up a few pegs from used and abused! they have some rough looking outfits in cowie!