Looking for a new truck...

I would go a Isuzu with 6 rod suspension. Plenty of ground clearance, Meritor diffs, road ranger gearbox. Keep the grease gun up to it and it will last forever.

Well checked out the offerings at agquip - me and the manager were pretty underwhelmed... The Isuzu in the right WB only came in airbag and auto. The Hino didn't come in LWB. The UD was ok, but like everything there (bar the 6x6 Ivecos) under tank ground clearance was absolutely appalling. Surprisingly the Volo was actually the best, and that was just a regular FM (FMX looks better). But then the exhaust elbow was so close to the ground as to offset this. I think the Stralis was the worst here. Maybe custom fuel tanks is the answer?

So I'm now waiting on a bunch of quotes to come in. The WS 4700 could be ok (4800 doesn't have long enough WB, manager doesn't want a stretched chassis), although only 400HP.

The one I'm excited about though is KW! Fit the bill exactly, no ABS (I know others have it as optional too but this is a big plus - ABS on dirt is IMO very dangerous, the new LC has been banged up twice on loose dirt here by a total lack of brakes), good tank options, short wait time, any configuration we like and the shortest cab at 1.7m, so the most tray. Although I have got old mate to see how much tray/trailer we can get with a T409SAR or T359... He reckoned price wise they're generally in the volvo ballpark, which means we're in with a chance (owner is pushing volvo). Manager's pretty up for a KW it seems, the price just has to be attractive to the big boss.

Really really hope they go the KW - would be absolutely stoked! As well as having the best truck for the job IMO

Well We have one at last - took a lot of backwards and forwards negotiations but I picked up the trailer up on Monday and carted all day yesterday. Isuzu Giga long premium (air bag and amt- these were not optional ). Features wanted were some sleeper (for carting clean stuff like computer gear, boxes, files etc.), 26' tray and 22' trailer. I was still pushing for a t359 but the loss of bonnet space in the tray killed it, not to mention it was $80k less (140k less than a k200)... DPF so will see how that is long term.

So far power (455hp) is glorious (seeing as we're used to the lazy axle 250hp hino with 28.5' tray), very comfortable and has diff locks and power divider locks so 4x the traction, even if one axle spends a fair bit of time in the air...

Tray and crate aren't great (don't want to name names but we feel let down by the Tamworth builder) but the Duncan trailer and it's crate are a functional work of art and a joy to use... 64 weeners a load almost cut the journeys in half yesterday! Sliding draw bar with through load, both crates
Have sliding divider with 3/4 door, rear slider and full swing out doors. Truck has side load and side ramp for ground loading. Will be used probably 40:40:20 cattle hay and random stuff. Bit thirsty, glad I'm not Footing the bill - was lucky to get 1.5km/l yesterday (never got into to top all day though) and 2.1km/l when I picked it Up (empty highway)

for the more observant, yes I hit two Roos on the way home - these Isuzu bars are soft! A steel bar wouldn't have noticed

Well Dun Wedgy
With 455 HP U should B braking to go round cnrs n uphill ample poweer
unless it has 455 RHP ...LOL.... Rice Horse Power
cya
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Swishy wrote: Well Dun Wedgy
With 455 HP U should B braking to go round cnrs n uphill ample poweer
unless it has 455 RHP ...LOL.... Rice Horse Power
cya
§

And don't forget BHP...
Brochure Horse Power

Wedge, I hope you feel properly ashamed for not hitting more than 2 roos, its your duty to iron them out flat so we can put them on old pennys and Qantas planes. :ohmy: :oops:

Not sure if these horses are brake, rice or brochure but they're certainly good ones!

Sorry Wedgy

Eye mighta miss red U

Thort U mentioned

455HP ............ n never got into top all day

Eye haz bin known 2 B rong B 4 ( many times x 10)

cya

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Yeah I see how that can read... it's more of a reflection of the road - steep and rough, mostly dirt and potholes. I would have flipped it or had them all down f I was trying for top!

Already moved the rear air tank (behind bogie) up 100mm to get it out of harms way, it has one air line to it - would it be extra capacity for air bags? Next problem is the fuel tank, it's very very low, the brackets spend a lot of time hitting the ground. Only thing there is a slimmer tank, but then another air tank will be in the front line - it actually sits under the chassis rail so can't go up, would have to completely relocate to being the spare I think. Makes the hino gh1j seem like specialist high clearance truck :huh: