Small lorry

[Pennine Ploughing]

Have licence for artics so ok on that side. It's just the cost of the pickups and how long they last before chassis is knackered or engine gives bother made me think about this currently running a d40 navara. Will a 7.5 toner be a lot harder on fuel than a pickup I would imagine that they will be better towing as well. Was thinking of an old ford cargo that has simple wiring and no adblue. It would be a good winter project restoring one and would be handy once finished

Ford cargo cab will rot faster than any pickup will for sure

 

[Scholsey]

Near neighbour has a bit Isuzu high flatbed van, used to have Nissan cabstars. Both look handy tools, and usually have about 9 collies sat in the cab with him so obviously plenty of room.

 

[aleary5a]

Would one of these be exempt from operators licence and inspections. It looks a handy size

 

[Kidds]

I had Cabstars for years and with a trailer on I could cart about the same or more (can't remember exactly) than our 7.5 TK could carry.
No tacho, no O lisence and if you look a bit gypsy-ish VOSA and plod steer well away from you.

 

[aleary5a]

It looks like the cheapest/handiest option but can't go offroad. Running a Navara just now probably keep it for another year. If the chassis holds out! Maybe the cost of cars will have come down by then

 

[smcapstick]

I put in for a far two years ago. My Sprinter pickup was going to be the prime mover for the farm.

They’re the best vehicles in the world!

 

[Kidds]

It looks like the cheapest/handiest option but can't go offroad. Running a Navara just now probably keep it for another year. If the chassis holds out! Maybe the cost of cars will have come down by then

I took my Cabstar to places my Navara would get stuck. I'm not pretending they are the best of things off road but a bit of weight on the back, some mud and snow tyres and an experienced driver will get you a long way.
I don't think the price of cars is going to come down and even if it does I think you just won't be able to find them anyway.

If you do think about a Cabstar the old Terrano axles used to fit on them, not sure if they still do. The point being that Terrano axles have an LSD in them.
Another point is the single rear wheels have better grip and more payload as the weight of those extra two wheels comes off the payload. The advantage of the twin wheelers is the rear axle can carry more weight itself. This allows for the payload to be put nearer the rear, personally I would stick with single wheels.
The older twin headlight Cabstars were the best, 1.35 ton payload and after the first ton they were sat on the rubber axle blocks, you could put as much on as you like and they still sat the same. Had just over 3 ton of carrots on mine.

 

[aleary5a]

do the nissan cabstars share the same corrosion problems as the navara and other makes of pickup, is it the same chassis as the navara or is this a completly different machine, engine under cab must be awkard for servicing etc. do the cabs tilt?

 

[Kidds]

Bodywork rusts, chassis will last forever.
My newest Cabstar was built 20 years ago so can't comment on the later ones. My cab didn't tilt but the newer ones do I believe, servicing was never an issue with the non tilting cabs and was a whole lot easier than my 3 year old Navara. They are far from a perfect machine but their payload and turning circle make them very popular especially with tree surgeons, I found mine very useful and have toyed with buying another. I don't cart stuff about like I used to so no real need for one.
Have a look at a crashed one though and ask yourself if you would feel safe in one ever again. I don't think they are a dangerous vehicle but there isn't much at all between the driver and whatever they run into.