Ford Iveco lorry - any advice?!

[Neddie123]

I'm considering buying a 1997 Ford Iveco 7.5t lorry from my instructor.

It's had a lot of work done to it including a new floor but I'm wondering if anyone can give me any ideas on running costs?

I appreciate it's a bit of a hard question to answer but any insight from those that own this model would be very helpful in making my decision.

Also, if there are any things to look out for that typically go wrong on them would be great to know before I look at it.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Louby]

Im definitely no expert but check the cab floor, round the bottom of the doors and round the window screen for rot. Ivecos and Dafs are well know for rotting. Also check the MOT history on the Gov UK site, it will tell you what it has failed on and any advisories.
I have had an Iveco and I personally loved it, although I know some people hate them. It was a Tector and was so powerful. They drive more like a truck that a Daf, gears can be hard until it warms up and they definitely need running as they are known for calipers seizing. If mine wasnt used I used to take it for a run once a week (any lorry not just Iveco), and in the worse of the weather ie snow, it was started up and left running for about 30 mins and moved backwards and forwards.

 

[Cowpony]

I had one of about that age but a 6 tonne. Expect to spend £££ on servicing and repairs. At that age everything is wearing out. I spent more on mine in about 3 years of ownership than it originally cost me, and I sold it for half what I paid, even though it had 6 new tyres, battery, brakes, you name it! I got it vetted before I bought it but it still cost me a lot.

Also check the payload. People sell 7.5 tonners as able to carry 2 or 3 horses but they often have a very small payload. Then you are stuck with a big lorry you can only use for one horse.

 

[Lots of Gift Bags]

I budget around £1,500/year for mine, similar age. I had a couple of years which were horrible expensive, brakes and gear box, but that's been offset by much cheaper years.
I bought mine from my instructor and haven't regretted it for a minute. I've considered selling it as it's hardly been used in the last couple of years but is struggle to find something else so reliable.

 

[Muddywellies]

I have one. It's 1993.costs £14.a month tax and £41.ins and breakdown. Recent mots have cost £1300 (full brake system overhaul), £250, and a few weeks ago, the last mot was £600. I put £70 a month away to go towards mot work. Tho I'm getting a bit tired of the lorry Mot hoo haa (have to book 3 months in advance) so looking to sell it abd get a 3.5t or at a push, a trailer perhaps.

 

[Neddie123]

I had one of about that age but a 6 tonne. Expect to spend £££ on servicing and repairs. At that age everything is wearing out. I spent more on mine in about 3 years of ownership than it originally cost me, and I sold it for half what I paid, even though it had 6 new tyres, battery, brakes, you name it! I got it vetted before I bought it but it still cost me a lot.

Also check the payload. People sell 7.5 tonners as able to carry 2 or 3 horses but they often have a very small payload. Then you are stuck with a big lorry you can only use for one horse.

Thank you this is what I was worried about. Maybe get look for a large trailer instead.

 

[Neddie123]

I budget around £1,500/year for mine, similar age. I had a couple of years which were horrible expensive, brakes and gear box, but that's been offset by much cheaper years.
I bought mine from my instructor and haven't regretted it for a minute. I've considered selling it as it's hardly been used in the last couple of years but is struggle to find something else so reliable.

Thank you, lots to think about. It's such a minefield with older vehicles.

 

[Cortez]

I had a 1994 Iveco 7.5 tonne for many years and loved it - the only major expense was replacing the floor. Cheaper to run than my jeep and trailer, actually, but I sold it before it got too elderly to have a resale value.....still miss it, but don't have the need for a lorry these days.

 

[windand rain]

We have just sold the trailer and bought a 7,5 ton iveco 2004 it is going for its MOT next week I hate trailers with a vengence the lorry is cheap to run, cheap to tax and cheap to insure we sold the tow car too which was nearly twice as much to insure tax and about the same to run. Iwill see what the whole Repairs and mot cost are soon but the tow car we sold had cost 2000 in new parts clutch, brakes etc

 

[Goldenstar]

My 7.5 ton was a lovely lorry I had it eleven years and it Was sold by the people making my 6.5 .
it did get rusty underneath , we got it through test so it had a year and then passed it on , do get someone who know what’s what underneath the truck it’s easy to replace a floor the chassis is not .

 

[paddy555]

We have just sold the trailer and bought a 7,5 ton iveco 2004 it is going for its MOT next week I hate trailers with a vengence the lorry is cheap to run, cheap to tax and cheap to insure we sold the tow car too which was nearly twice as much to insure tax and about the same to run. Iwill see what the whole Repairs and mot cost are soon but the tow car we sold had cost 2000 in new parts clutch, brakes etc

we moved from a trailer to a Beford TK and then onto 7.5T iveco about the same age as you are looking at. I always felt it was so much safer for the horses and gave them a much nicer ride. The iveco was great, goes as fast as you want, it does however eat the more you put your foot down. Sensible driving and it is reasonably economical.
You don't mention the box on it but I presume the cab tilts?
Check out the condition of the metal work on the cab, cab doors and cab floor.
Make sure that not only has the box floor been replaced but also the ramps (if needed)

Only thing we had to remember with ours that it stopped equally as efficiently as it went. Very efficiently. If you were asleep to start with you nearly went through the windscreen. Several other iveco owners have told me the same so just make sure you get the measure of the brakes.

Have a look at the last test cert. make sure it is tested for a year (or at least a long time) before you get it.
If everything checks out then it will be a lovely little lorry.

 

[WandaMare]

I've had one for the last 10 years and its not had any major problems. The most expensive thing was replacing the drivers door which had rusted although if I had attended to it earlier it wouldn't have needed to be replaced. I bought one off Ebay and had it resprayed and it cost £650 in total. Mechanically its been really reliable, the lights on the dash are a bit faulty but I have become accustomed to that. It feels very safe for the horses and they always travel well in it.

 

[Cowpony]

If you look on-line you can find the results of all its recent MOTs, all the advisories etc. Worth doing unless you really trust the seller!

 

[PeterNatt]

Make sure that the cab will fully tilt otherwise you may be in for some big servicing bills.

 

[Jango]

I was told to budget £100 a month for maintenance by friends with similar lorries, so 1.2k a year. Some years it will be 2k some will be 500quid. I have bought a 02 iveco this year. I got a 500 quid discount from the seller as I bought it in lockdown with an MOT extension and the MOT ended up costing 900quid. I also had a tyre blow out so another 200 quid there. Honestly I love driving it and the freedom it gives me :-D I'm only 5'2 and feel comfortable in it. And having somewhere to sit in the dry is awesome! I tried a couple of DAFs and wasn't keen. My mare doesn't travel well in a 3.5t, but I think if she did go happily in one I would probably have one of those. I think if you drive a lot in day to day life or need to travel 2 then it's the sensible choice.

 

[JulesRules]

I have an older MAN that I've had for about 4 years. My advice would be to find a decent mechanic and get it inspected before buying so you know what you are getting into.
Make sure the cab tilts otherwise many mechanics just don't want to work on it which makes life tricky.
If you do buy it, keep it running. Use it weekly if you can. They go much better when they are used regularly.

Hope that helps

 

[blitznbobs]

Never got a wagon thru a playing for less than 1200 quid ... always seems to be something that needs doing and that is on a relatively new wagon (12 plate) I’ve had older ones too and it always seems to
Cost between 1200 and 1500 quid no matter what

 

[Lady Jane]

I have a 2001 15e15. I've had it nearly 10 years and I'm very happy with it. I'm not very good about taking it for a run when its not used and has started every time (even after 3 months due to Covid) - hope I don't regret this statement. I would get it fully checked over by a good mechanic who knows the model you are buying and get the body checked out. Running cost tax £165, insurance and rescue £350, annual plate and service £600

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I'm considering buying a 1997 Ford Iveco 7.5t lorry from my instructor.

It's had a lot of work done to it including a new floor but I'm wondering if anyone can give me any ideas on running costs?

I appreciate it's a bit of a hard question to answer but any insight from those that own this model would be very helpful in making my decision.

Also, if there are any things to look out for that typically go wrong on them would be great to know before I look at it.

Thank you in advance!

I'm considering buying a 1997 Ford Iveco 7.5t lorry from my instructor.

It's had a lot of work done to it including a new floor but I'm wondering if anyone can give me any ideas on running costs?

I appreciate it's a bit of a hard question to answer but any insight from those that own this model would be very helpful in making my decision.

Also, if there are any things to look out for that typically go wrong on them would be great to know before I look at it.

Thank you in advance!

Hi This may be of some use here . https://h0rseservices.weebly.com/horsexbox--trailer.html




.

 

[Neddie123]

Thank you to everyone for your replies. This is all extremely helpful in making an informed decision.

 

[ihatework]

I had a 1995 Iveco with a PRB build. It was a lovely easy lorry to drive and own.

Id say in general it was pretty run of the mill for a lorry that age. Routine service and maintenance was probably 6-800 per annum. I had 2-3 bigger bills on top. One was a starting issue that took a while to figure out and involved stripping the engine out. I think overall the bill for that was about 1.5k.

Another was when the ramp sheared off. That cost about £800.

Then there was a gearbox thing that cost another £800.

Mine had some cosmetic surface rust but the cab and chassis was solid when I sold it over 4 years ago. But it’s structural rust that can be the biggie on those, and mean they end up scrapped.

I loved the luxury of a 7.5T but have to say the overall running costs meant I sold up as soon as I wasn’t using it weekly

 

[Cowpony]

Just to update, I've currently got a 2008 Renault Mascott that's in for repair, plating and service. The mechanic rang me (never a good sign!) and said the fuel injectors were leaking air, so need to be refurbished. Also the fuel heating coil needed to be replaced. That plus ramp rebalancing, sorting the windscreen washers which weren't working, a warning light and the jockey door lock, plating and service is costing me £3,800 And that's a relatively new, up-together lorry......I could have hired a 3.5t 38 times for that! And saved myself the insurance, breakdown assistance and road fund licence.