Lorries without a tilt cab - question

[fuzz]

I'm looking at buying my first lorry, a have a question for all you experts.

The lorry that I'm looking at doesn't have a tilt cab, however they say that when the cab was bolted on, it was made so that there was a gap in the lorry to give easy access to the engine etc. Not knowing much about tilt cabs, and these things, I'm wanting to know what people think of this? Would you buy the lorry or leave it because it doesn't have the tilt cab?

I will be getting a mechanic to check it out before I buy it, but since I'm going to have to travel for about 3 hours to go and look at it, I'm wanting to make sure its the right one.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Spinal Tap]

Sounds like you might be able to access the engine via an opening just behind the cab in the living, my old wagon was like this. Access was awkward but do-able. I later looked at a wagon where there was no engine access at all You'd either have to cut a hole under a seat or drop out the engine to work on it, the mechanic who checked it out for me said walk away I've got a tilt cab now & it's sooo much easier!

I think you are doing a very sensible thing getting it checked by a mechanic, but could you have some photos of the access arrangement emailed or something so you can show them to your mechanic & save yourself a trip if it's going to be a showstopper?

 

[dustbinlid]

As an ex HGV mechanic, We used to hate horseboxes without tilt cabs coming in for repair! access to most of the engine is very restricted at best, even for service items! I would imagine that the repair bills will be higher due to the extra time taken to get at things.

 

[Louby]

Im in a similar predicament. Having sold a newer tilt cab horsebox, Im looking to replace it with something older and not as expensive but most of the older boxes have lutons with non tilt cabs. Ok Im being fussy as Id like my new horsebox to look like a horsebox not like a converted parcel wagon which in my price range is what I would get if I insist on a tilt cab. I know Im being stupid . In an ideal world I would buy a coachbuild with a tilt cab but I think I'll be looking for ever.
I just wonder how people managed years ago as most of the horseboxes you see are not tilt cab. Ive viewed a few and they have all had access to the engine but not being mechanically minded I wouldnt know if that access was sufficient or not.
Hence Im still looking as my heart wants one thing but my head tells me not to do it

 

[dustbinlid]

they can still be worked on, but obviously jobs take longer. for example a waterpump failing on a daf 45, tilt cab will take 30 mins to replace and can be done roadside! non tilt cab cant be done roadside, so recovery cost straight away, then about 3 hours extra work removing radiator, fan etc to get access to it!

 

[Louby]

Thanks, tilt cab it is
Hubby says Im a 'what if' sort of person and to stop worrying about things going wrong before Ive even bought one, so I have looked at non tilt cabs. Ive seen a tilt cab horsebox that looks like a horsebox, older but a newer price tag, if you know what I mean. Ok nothing may ever go wrong but I suppose the extra money spent buying one may be worth it in the end

 

[dustbinlid]

im a what if person too! at some point somethings bound to go wrong, most commercial vehicle repairers will work to book times ( a set time to replace a component on a vehicle) so labour charges cant go over the top. without a tilt cab there wont be a book time and they could charge whatever they see fit!
Im not in a position to need a horsebox yet, but if and when i do it will definately be having a tilt cab!!

 

[jenni999]

Try and get a tilt cab if you can, its worth it. My old one wasn't and my mechanic hated it, so did my wallet. My current one is and its definitely cheaper to get work done on it as they can get to everything so much easier.

 

[Spinal Tap]

My wagon looks like one of those vans they use to take people to prison I love it!

 

[Louby]

Thats what my old one was described as I wish Id never sold it!

 

[pinktiger]

just to add that some adverts say has a tilt cab but the cab is still attached at cut through ect ect, just something to look at, ie: how easy is the tilt cab to errrm actually TILT!!!????

 

[fuzz]

just to add that some adverts say has a tilt cab but the cab is still attached at cut through ect ect, just something to look at, ie: how easy is the tilt cab to errrm actually TILT!!!????

I agree, I was looking at the adverts that say tilt cab but can't see how they could tilt, especially the non HGV ones so I need to try and decide if I give up the perfect lorry because it doesn't have a tilt cab? I hate decisions!

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Spinal Tap]

I agree, I was looking at the adverts that say tilt cab but can't see how they could tilt, especially the non HGV ones so I need to try and decide if I give up the perfect lorry because it doesn't have a tilt cab? I hate decisions!

Thanks for all the help.

It's a buyers market at this time of year, why don't you look & see if you can find perfection with a tilt cab. The one you have your eye on might not sell anyway

 

[perfect11s]

just to add that some adverts say has a tilt cab but the cab is still attached at cut through ect ect, just something to look at, ie: how easy is the tilt cab to errrm actually TILT!!!????

The real pro jobs like oakley and kevin parker ones the whole cab and luton pod tilts .. the way most comercial lorrys with lutons(furniture vans etc) retain the tilt is to have a flap that opens in the front of the luton and a lot of the older horseboxes have this method for maintanace..

 

[perfect11s]

I'm looking at buying my first lorry, a have a question for all you experts.

The lorry that I'm looking at doesn't have a tilt cab, however they say that when the cab was bolted on, it was made so that there was a gap in the lorry to give easy access to the engine etc. Not knowing much about tilt cabs, and these things, I'm wanting to know what people think of this? Would you buy the lorry or leave it because it doesn't have the tilt cab?

I will be getting a mechanic to check it out before I buy it, but since I'm going to have to travel for about 3 hours to go and look at it, I'm wanting to make sure its the right one.

Thanks for the help.

Dont do it!!! keep looking or buy a non luton if your on a budget but dont buy a non tilt as the OP have said repair and sevicing are a nightmare
and needing a new engine could cost £3000 for labour as another board member found out.. you might get away with it and never have a expensive problem but is it worth the risk ...sadly some of the bodgers opps sorry I mean horsebox builders are still building non tilt lorrys.... the nasty little turds..

 

[traceyf]

I know of someone who was refused recovery on a wagon without a tilt cab after breaking down on the motorway - beware!! also some jobs are only possible if the whole engine is dropped which is a BIG job and expensive!!

 

[PeterNatt]

A tilt cab on a modern commercial vehicle is a must. However be aware that a tilt cab adds extra weight to the vehicle so in effect reduces the payload of it.

 

[Spinal Tap]

A tilt cab on a modern commercial vehicle is a must. However be aware that a tilt cab adds extra weight to the vehicle so in effect reduces the payload of it.

Not a problem for me, my tilt cabby 7.5 tonner weighs less than 5.5 tonnes with my horse on board - it is only diddy and has no living though. All the same, always a good idea to get any wagon on the weighbridge before you buy. I nearly bought a wagon off a reputable company that they said was safe & legal for two 16.2 middleweights, took it on a weighbridge & checked the plating cert and it only had a 1.2 tonne payload. My horse weighs over 630kg, and her best mate is even chunkier! Narrow escape, that one

 

[Mike007]

I hyave a friends non tilt lorry in for repair and i am pig sick that basicly it will add £1000 onto what would have been a simple job.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Mechanics who work on lorries charge around £35 per hour, sometimes more. If you have a tilt cab it gives them easier access to the engine & easier access means the job takes less time & is therefore cheaper.

At the present time it's a buyers market & there are loads of lorries out there so take your time & you should find what you want. If you are not mechanical then take a mechanic with you ifyou find one you like & let him check it out. It may cost you a few pounds but it could save you a fortune at the end of the day.

Good Luck in your search

 

[MrsMozart]

Ditto the others comments re. tilt cabs. Mine didn't have one and the mechanics couldn't figure out how to get to fit new filters, etc. when she was serviced . Cost a fortune.

Also, get the last few MOTs and the advisory sheets! I didn't.... My lorry had passed it's MOT six weeks before I got it. Less than a year later (and a full service and new exhaust), everything that could leak had and every that could rust had rusted, including the cross struts holding the horse area floor . An expensive learning curve. We didn't take a mechanic We didn't get the advisory sheets. We were, shall we say, naive

 

[perfect11s]

A tilt cab on a modern commercial vehicle is a must. However be aware that a tilt cab adds extra weight to the vehicle so in effect reduces the payload of it.

That is sorry to say ... untrue, What adds weight is poor constuction methods and cheap materials... in fact most of the tilt pod lutons are lighter because its a fiberglass pod and not a contiuation of the body which is often heavy glassonite..