34 Vans
WHAT VAN?
Choosing transport is something of a balancing act for landscaping professionals. They need a vehicle that can transport people, materials and equipment to, say, the 18th hole – but not one that will decimate the fairway in the process. Colin Sowman reports.
T
heir on/off road mobility and load carrying capability have traditionally played well for pick-ups – especially after HMRC clarified
that business can reclaim VAT on vehicles with a payload of more than 1t. On the down side, pick-ups are quite expensive (from around £16,000 for a 4x4) and rather poor on fuel economy (30mpg is about tops for most 4x4s). They also leave the load exposed to the elements and the unscrupulous, meaning they are not ideal for transporting delicate or high value items. It is possible to fit a cover to the load bed but these increase the price still further.
VIABLE AND COST EFFECTIVE Now, however, a new generation of high mobility vans could provide a viable and cost effective alternative to a pick-up for many users. Vans are often cheaper than pickups, many have better load carrying capacities and there is a wide choice of body styles (van, dropsides, tippers, mini buses) to suit the needs of landscapers. While vans have usually been 4x2s and suffered with poor off-road
| October 2011 | Volume1 | Issue2
ability, some manufacturers are now offering versions with traction enhancements options and even full 4x4 drivelines. What’s on offer depends on how much material and how many people you need to carry.
Citroën, for instance, offers two traction enhancement packages on its Berlingo vans and chassis cabs. Those happy transporting loads up to 850kg and venturing off road infrequently may find the Berlingo with the Grip Control option will meet their needs. For an additional £640 the Grip Control Electronic Stability Programme gives the driver five traction modes to suit slippery conditions (both off and on road) as well as Hill Start Assist. The package comes complete with Mud & Snow tyres and underbody protection.
For those needing to go off road more regularly, Citroën offers Enhanced Traction versions (XTR+) of its Berlingo and Dispatch models. In addition to Mud & Snow tyres and full underbody protection, XTR+ models get bigger wheels for more ground clearance, raised heavy-duty suspension and a multi- clutch limited slip differential. While the driveline
The Citroën Dispatch XTR+.
The Citroën Berlingo XTR+.
remains a 4x2 the limited slip diff automatically transfers up to 70% of the engine torque to the wheel with the most available grip. This enables the vehicle to cope with the most off-road conditions landscapers users are likely to encounter and without any driver input or training requirement. The system adds a maximum of 30kg to the
vehicle’s unladen weight and around £1,750 to the price and adds off road ability without degrading on-road fuel economy. This means the XTR+ Dispatch will do almost 40mpg (on the combined cycle) and carry a payload of 1,163kg – better than most 4x4 pickups on both counts. This combination of on/off road ability and price has proved attractive to the Forestry Commission (where XTR+ Berlingos have replaced some pick-ups) and utilities companies.
EQUALLY AS EASY TO USE Ford’s All-Wheel-Drive Transits are equally as easy to use as the system automatically engages the front wheels when it detects wheel spin at the rear, and disengages again once all the wheels are turning at
www.pro-landscaper.co.uk
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