20t HGV for farm use

[mountfarm]

Thinking about buying a 20t HGV tipper for farm use only. What are the legalities of doing this?
I’m sure I’ve seen somewhere before if you derate them to 25mph you can then run them on red diesel just like a tractor? It would only have to cross a public road from private drive to private drive but I’d want to be right legal wise.

 

[Tractortech]

Now Then..
20t carrying capacity or 20t GVW??

 

[Spud]

I assume you're looking at an 8 wheeler? 32t gvw, 20t payload? It needs to be roadworthy (Get an independent mechanic to check it over once a year pre busy season, and provide a certificate of roadworthiness, and at least check it over visually yourself periodically) Can run on red diesel, obviously needs insurance, and be registered as limited use. (1.5km max radius of base, 6miles a week restrictriction.

Agricultural vehicle licences, tax information and fuel

Find out which licence and fuel you need for agricultural vehicles and which tax and operator's licence exemptions might apply to you.

www.gov.uk

 

[defender]

Easily done as limited use but as said keep it roadworthy , It is worth getting it checked by an independent mechanic to provide a record should the worst happen
I used a lorry on limited for a lot of years without issue . When it was changed I went to dvla office and they made it so it did not look for mot when applying online for tax disc . Another limited use done through Swansea always had to be taxed at the post office and an mot exemption form completed

 

[mountfarm]

Now Then..
20t carrying capacity or 20t GVW??

Carrying. 32t GVW.

 

[mountfarm]

I assume you're looking at an 8 wheeler? 32t gvw, 20t payload? It needs to be roadworthy (Get an independent mechanic to check it over once a year pre busy season, and provide a certificate of roadworthiness, and at least check it over visually yourself periodically) Can run on red diesel, obviously needs insurance, and be registered as limited use. (1.5km max radius of base, 6miles a week restrictriction.

Agricultural vehicle licences, tax information and fuel

Find out which licence and fuel you need for agricultural vehicles and which tax and operator's licence exemptions might apply to you.

www.gov.uk

Yes it roadworthy and in license presently. It’s from a retiring one man band and has been meticulously maintained. He’s mainly used it as a sub contractor on jobs with the local council hauling stone. We know him well.
It’s a 2006 plate with 700,000 miles on the clock. Scania truck unit with a Wilcox tipper body with electric roll sheet. The only thing it hasn’t got is auto tailgate so it’s a manual which is a bit annoying. I’ve spoken to the mechanic that mot’s it and he said we won’t find anything better. The price is £7,500.

My only question really is how feasible is it to put it on flotation tyres. The mot mechanic knows nothing about agricultural tyres on a HGV so can’t help but ideally it needs to run down tramlines at harvest as well as tip muck out during the winter but we have some ex military matting for muck pile tipping.

 

[Spud]

Yes it roadworthy and in license presently. It’s from a retiring one man band and has been meticulously maintained. He’s mainly used it as a sub contractor on jobs with the local council hauling stone. We know him well.
It’s a 2006 plate with 700,000 miles on the clock. Scania truck unit with a Wilcox tipper body with electric roll sheet. The only thing it hasn’t got is auto tailgate so it’s a manual which is a bit annoying. I’ve spoken to the mechanic that mot’s it and he said we won’t find anything better. The price is £7,500.

My only question really is how feasible is it to put it on flotation tyres. The mot mechanic knows nothing about agricultural tyres on a HGV so can’t help but ideally it needs to run down tramlines at harvest as well as tip muck out during the winter but we have some ex military matting for muck pile tipping.

That's a good buy. It'll be 700,000km, which is about 440,000miles. Nowt.
Is it a grain body, or a lower sided aggregate one? You might struggle to get enough grain onboard without building some greedy boards.
@Terry Elsey Tyres will sort you out with tyres.
@limey2450 any advice?

 

[essexpete]

As long as the lorry does not get stuck or damage soil does it not look cheap and effective compared to even a half decent secondhand 14 grain trailer.

 

[Enfoff]

That's a good buy. It'll be 700,000km, which is about 440,000miles. Nowt.
Is it a grain body, or a lower sided aggregate one? You might struggle to get enough grain onboard
Without building some greedy boards.

A chap near me does this with ex aggregate lorries definitely needs boards. He uses 3 or 4 and carts all his grain plus has a curtain sider for fert

 

[mountfarm]

That's a good buy. It'll be 700,000km, which is about 440,000miles. Nowt.
Is it a grain body, or a lower sided aggregate one? You might struggle to get enough grain onboard without building some greedy boards.
@Terry Elsey Tyres will sort you out with tyres.
@limey2450 any advice?

No definitely miles not km. And it’s a high sided body as it was bought to haul woodchip originally. The council work appeared at a later date.

What I’m confused about is that the rear axles are twins so how can flotations be added? If we have to start changing axles it’s a non starter. But there’s 10 tyres on it at the moment so could be very expensive to alter?
Ideally I’d like it running 650mm on 4 rear tyres and something similar at the front depending on how the steering works.

 

[Spud]

You'll need different rims, but that's all.
I assume it's an 8 wheeler? You'll be surprised how far it'll go on the normal twin wheels it's on. Maybe try it for a season as it is before you spend a few grand on wheels & tyres?
Have a look at @Cab-over Pete 's lime spreader thread for wheel inspiration

 

[defender]

I just had twin wheels with tyres with a good off road tread and worked ok if it was firm
Always fancied floatations but couldn't justify spending the money
Double drive and diff lock on your truck ?

 

[Andrew]

No definitely miles not km. And it’s a high sided body as it was bought to haul woodchip originally. The council work appeared at a later date.

What I’m confused about is that the rear axles are twins so how can flotations be added? If we have to start changing axles it’s a non starter. But there’s 10 tyres on it at the moment so could be very expensive to alter?
Ideally I’d like it running 650mm on 4 rear tyres and something similar at the front depending on how the steering works.

Easy, unbolt the twins and bolt a single float rim in their place. It sounds bad, but if the threaded section of the wheel studs isn’t long enough, you can cut the centre out of one of the old rims and use it as a washer, as you’re barely on the road. To do it properly it’s not a big job to whip the drums off and fit new studs.

 

[Renaultman]

Easy, unbolt the twins and bolt a single float rim in their place. It sounds bad, but if the threaded section of the wheel studs isn’t long enough, you can cut the centre out of one of the old rims and use it as a washer, as you’re barely on the road. To do it properly it’s not a big job to whip the drums off and fit new studs.

Also standard commercial axle trailer wheels and tyres would go straight on. Only problem is they aren't a traction pattern but I think they would do a job.

 

[mountfarm]

Easy, unbolt the twins and bolt a single float rim in their place. It sounds bad, but if the threaded section of the wheel studs isn’t long enough, you can cut the centre out of one of the old rims and use it as a washer, as you’re barely on the road. To do it properly it’s not a big job to whip the drums off and fit new studs.

What’s the biggest tyre I can get on?

 

[Deerefarmer]

Popular flotation truck single in the ag world here is the Alliance 331

Most farm trucks run 700 /40/22.5
Trucks pictured are on 331s in that size

 

[deleted user 837354]

Popular flotation truck single in the ag world here is the Alliance 331

Most farm trucks run 700 /40/22.5
Trucks pictured are on 331s in that size

I have got to get myself a go in one of those!

 

[Andrew]

What’s the biggest tyre I can get on?

What size is on it now?

 

[mountfarm]

What size is on it now?

Not sure to be honest but I don’t recall them looking strange so I would think standard truck tyres for that size of truck.

 

[Andrew]

Not sure to be honest but I don’t recall them looking strange so I would think standard truck tyres for that size of truck.

Find out, then you’ll know the diameter, and what size will fit.