Importing a New Machine From The USA

[Pheasant Surprise]

Not sure what sort of capacity/size outfit you're looking for?

How many cube/ton do you need to carry and at what sort of ground pressure @Cab-over Pete ?

 

[Cab-over Pete]

http://www.volvotrucks.co.uk/en-gb/trucks/volvo-fl/features/4X4.html

http://www.commercialfleet.org/news/truck-news/2015/07/21/tandm-plant-orders-10-man-tgm-4x4-trucks

Not sure what sort of capacity/size outfit you're looking for?

I suspect this one has come from an airport in the uk?

https://www.truckpaper.co.uk/listings/trucks/for-sale/17077579/2012-mercedes-benz-zetros-2733a

Thanks @pettsy . I've driven that Zetros. It was for sale at a dealers in Leicestershire two years ago so I went just to see what they were like.

@Pheasant Surprise I need to carry something near 10 t of lime. I will most likely keep my Bredal body and fit that if I do swap chassis cab.

 

[Chae1]

Anyone see top gear last night? I thought of this thread when I saw that 8 wheeled Russian suv!

 

[Clive]

View attachment 505822 View attachment 505820

Right, here we go.

THIS is what I'm talking about. Southern Spreaders in Aus have put bodies on both of these. Why do I keep getting fobbed off and told these things aren't possible? A bit of Aussie attitude is needed when you're a dedicated spreading contractor.

"Can't be done??? F**k that!! Let's make it work!!!"

I particularly like the Zetros. Interestingly, I read it has bigger wheels on the back than the front, although only slightly.

I really like the look of the forward control 4000 series Fastrac that knight had at cereals

Could you slap a spreader back on one of those ?

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Yes, very easily. I'm just not sure I like the big space behind the cab where the engine is (ok, an engine is reasonably important) and I don't think the rear axle is rated too highly.

I ought to look into it though.

 

[Flat 10]

View attachment 505738

Is that a litetrac? Whatever is wrong with that @Cab-over Pete? Looks ideal? Big wheels, mech drive if lite trac.
They get a lot of hammer round here on liq fert so don't see why they can't do lime.

 

[Wheatseeker]

Aye-up,

I like the look of a new machine in the states. Before I bother making any enquiries, what is the deal with importing stuff.

It would be a bare chassis-cab agricultural machine to which I would mount a spreader body.

Cheers, Pete.

Lack of ROPS certification could be a big problem.

 

[Will 1594]

Have you considered ex military 4x4 or 6x6 you could convert ?

Going full circle then . Old Bedford 4x4 was lots used for that

 

[Thomas5060]

Probably already seen this but will share anyway
http://www.fwi.co.uk/machinery/man-4x4-truck-gets-converted-to-high-speed-fert-spreader.htm

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Is that a litetrac? Whatever is wrong with that @Cab-over Pete? Looks ideal? Big wheels, mech drive if lite trac.
They get a lot of hammer round here on liq fert so don't see why they can't do lime.

Anything but light is what I hear regularly. It's huge too. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but too big for many of my customers.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Lack of ROPS certification could be a big problem.

Only tractors legally need ROPS. If I was told correctly self propelled machines (sprayers, combines etc) don't need ROPS and virtually all don't have them. An NFU insurance chap told me that.

 

[Flat 10]

Anything but light is what I hear regularly. It's huge too. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but too big for many of my customers.

Are they any bigger than a big A? One I have to mine travels surprisingly well....

 

[Cab-over Pete]

A Big A is surprisingly compact. That's part of the reason we stuck with them for so long. A Litetrac would dwarf a Big A.

 

[HAM135]

Mercedes Atego?http://stock.morrisleslie.com/stock/details?reg=WX05JXC

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Looks handy.

I have been thinking that maybe I'm looking at it all wrong. Maybe I should buy an old unit and completely rebuild it ending up with a totally recon truck. I've done it with two Big A's so it should be doable.

It wouldn't concern me putting big tyres on an older Merc truck. I'm sure the drive train could take it. The problems might arise when I try and change it from road truck tax class to agricultural.

Spoke to someone today who reckoned the Zetros was a great machine but heavy and not great turning lock. When I drive the 6 wheel Zetros I thought the lock was similar to a Big A so the 4 wheel unit should be better.

 

[ED.D]

Looks handy.

I have been thinking that maybe I'm looking at it all wrong. Maybe I should buy an old unit and completely rebuild it ending up with a totally recon truck. I've done it with two Big A's so it should be doable.

It wouldn't concern me putting big tyres on an older Merc truck. I'm sure the drive train could take it. The problems might arise when I try and change it from road truck tax class to agricultural.

Spoke to someone today who reckoned the Zetros was a great machine but heavy and not great turning lock. When I drive the 6 wheel Zetros I thought the lock was similar to a Big A so the 4 wheel unit should be better.

Absolutely no problem changing taxation class. Have changed 4x from artic/Hgv to rigid/ plant and machinery and 1x rigid/ Hgv to rigid/ plant and machinery. Normally takes 3-5 weeks, almost on first name terms at dvla.

 

[Chae1]

Looks handy.

I have been thinking that maybe I'm looking at it all wrong. Maybe I should buy an old unit and completely rebuild it ending up with a totally recon truck. I've done it with two Big A's so it should be doable.

It wouldn't concern me putting big tyres on an older Merc truck. I'm sure the drive train could take it. The problems might arise when I try and change it from road truck tax class to agricultural.

Spoke to someone today who reckoned the Zetros was a great machine but heavy and not great turning lock. When I drive the 6 wheel Zetros I thought the lock was similar to a Big A so the 4 wheel unit should be better.

Stupid question time.

If you have a big A at full lock can you just go round and round in a circle?

 

[JeepJeep]

Ex LA Atego 4x4 gritter? Minimal miles would have PTO Hydraulic set up.

Body be worth a bit to resell I should imagine.

Worked for our LA years back and theirs always went to Mercs for servicing so likely to be bang on.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Absolutely no problem changing taxation class. Have changed 4x from artic/Hgv to rigid/ plant and machinery and 1x rigid/ Hgv to rigid/ plant and machinery. Normally takes 3-5 weeks, almost on first name terms at dvla.

I knew you'd come in handy one day!

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Stupid question time.

If you have a big A at full lock can you just go round and round in a circle?

Yes!!!! It's like being in The Magic Roundabout!