[FatGaz]

I'm looking for an old / cheap / reliable pick-up for carting stuff to and from the allotment - any suggestions on which makes / models I should be looking for?

Thanks

[Bigbadfrankie]

Morris

[SnooziSuzi]

Don't go for a mazda B2500 - it just drinks deisel  :evil:   I've just filled mine up today (full 'cos I've got a long journey to make tomorrow) and it cost £75 bl**dy quid!!!

If you do find one, consider a petrol instead of deisel;  petrol costs less and a petrol engine can be converted to use LPG which a deisel can't.

The usual types you'll find on the market are Mitsubishi L200's.  They are big and wallowy on the road, but are very powerful and comfortable to drive.   Expect to pay around £5k for one with aprox 80-100k on the dial.

I've heard that the Vauxhall Brava pick up is good... one of the chaps down the lottie has a crew cab one for bails of hay for his horses, and the Toyota Hilux is very popular too.

How big is the stuff you are thinking of carting to the lotty?  if it's just a few tools etc then why not consider one of the smaller car-type pick ups like the skoda felicia pick up.  I had a skoda a couple of years ago and it was great - always started first time, easy to drive and being a skoda was as tough as old boots!  

[Bigbadfrankie]

£5k snoozi is not a cheap pick up, in my book thats a major expence

[Teabag]

i would buy japanese if you can,i use a hulux for work and have had all sorts over the years ,this might upset some but i would avoid landrovers at all costs,unreliable and too thirsty

[new_2_veg]

nissan      

we had one fault free for 13 years, was great for a pertol and pulled like you wouldnt beleave


fast too

[Tigerhair]

A tax exempt series 2 or 3 landrover?  Easy to fix.  Well if you can't, we probably can and aren't miles away!!!

[Gwiz]

I use and old bedford/suzuki rascal van.
I'ts like having a really usefull mobile shed. with locks.

[SnooziSuzi]

£5k snoozi is not a cheap pick up, in my book thats a major expence

Didn't say it was cheap, I said they were about £5k!

Cheap and pick up don't really go in the same sentence I'm afraid... not if you want something reliable that is  :roll:

[SnooziSuzi]

It's a running joke among the off-road crowd that Landrovers don't leak oil everywhere; they're marking their territory  :twisted:

If you're not got at mechanics I'd avoid landrovers totally.  THey are great, but ocassionally (read 'most of the time') have something catastrophicly wrong with a major part of them so you'd end up paying out more for repair bills which don't come cheap.

On top of that, a D90 / D110 pick up will still set you back a good few thousands - I recently saw a 20 year old model, tatty interior, very very basic and it was for sale at £3500.

Something else to consider;  pick up insurance isn't cheap!   most insurance firms think that just because you own one that you must be using it for business purposes and will make you take a commercial policy which is fine, if you're running a business and using it as such.  I know this from personal experience.

handy tip:  Adrian Flux are good insurers of anything 4x4

[Tigerhair]

Our landy is a Series IIa - bought for £800 tax exempt, very cheap insurance used rarely and always starts.  If you want to go this route, we can help....  

[si-mate]

We've just upgraded up Mitsubishi L200 single cab to a new one so have the old R reg for sale.

[richyrich7]

Ape 50    cheap !

[new_2_veg]

Our landy is a Series IIa - bought for £800 tax exempt, very cheap insurance used rarely and always starts.  If you want to go this route, we can help....  

my old 2a was only 250 on the road, they are out there just got to look.  sadly sold now tho

[BigPaddy]

Ape 50    cheap !

Good call, or convert a Reliant?