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  Richard@www.seasons-garden.co.uk April 10, 2011 at 10:29am

  Judging by your requirements, i.e. maintenance then build, I'd go for a van over a truck as this will offer you maximum load space together with security for tools/machinery and ease of access.

  If you want reliability buy Japanese and a Toyota Hiace LWB is a very good option - barely changed over a decade as they don't go wrong.

  40mpg sounds very optimistic for a loaded vehicle on short hops, not sure what others get on which vehicle. I get average of around 30 on the Hiace.

  Also got a Hilux 4x4 which is great for winter but more hassle to load.

   
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  Colin Hunt April 10, 2011 at 12:42pm

  We have always had a 'truck' (currently a Nissan Cabstar tipper) - and even tho our maintenance now outstrips the hard/soft landscaping, I cant imagine life without it - even tho we have had 2 hedge trimmers lifted from it! I also run a little Bellingo and do find the security comforting.

  If it is your only vehicle, a van/trailer unit would be best I would think.

  Think the mpg figures quoted above are more than a bit optimistic.

   
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  CJ April 10, 2011 at 6:08pm

  Cheers for replies folks, yip van would make sense for load space. need to have a look around
  
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  Chris Auld April 10, 2011 at 8:44pm

  But you cant beat a pickup for good old pulling power (towing ability that is, not the kind that pulls women) or being able to drive off road and through muddy fields! or still being able to work in the snow when all the ford transits are sliding around all over the place.
  
  ROWLY HILL said:

  Van - that's it. Buy a van CJ - if you are planning to tow heavy make sure you check out the towing capabilities of the potential vehicle.

   

  Perhaps I'm a bit old school and getting grumpy but the L200 and all of those ridiculous so called pickups with very manly names - Predator, Thunder etc etc are not designed for what we do - there's no load space.

  The manufacturers and designers have realised that there is a far bigger market for mums on the bull bar school run in Surbiton and have forgotten the agricultural and trades needs. That is load lugger. 
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  Gary Hedges April 10, 2011 at 8:50pm

  No good having pulling power if you can't fit anything in it !
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  Chris Auld April 10, 2011 at 8:58pm

  I always keep mine in 4wd mode, it gives better traction, feels safer and i only get 1mpg less than in 2wd mode.  As long as the lawn isn't damp it shouldn't do any damage, i quite often drive over grassed areas and havn't caused any damage yet.
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  Dan Frazer Gardening April 10, 2011 at 9:08pm

  Ah, the grass is always greener on the other side though when you could have just as easily have done the job from the road side! (park, unload mower, start cutting from the nearest side heh)

   

  I have never felt I wish I had  a 4x4 (apart from that one time I got stuck on the farm track at the top of arbroath cliffs at 3am trying to get home after a cod fishing session).

   

  I'm purely maintenance, maybe fence repairs etc, and mulching. I have the trailer for stone, materials etc if needed, have towed it with about a 1.2T load which equates to 2T gross and got by. Not rapidly, but I got by!
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  Paving & Landscaping April 10, 2011 at 9:29pm

   
  

  I want a pick up, I need a van. Anybody know what van's give the best mpg?
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  CJ April 10, 2011 at 9:41pm

  very swayed by vivaro as vauxhall parts are usually fairly easily come by its payload is reasonable and theres some fairly fresh models about for the money. If find any need in winter for 4X4 I can worry about that then
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  Andy Thorne April 10, 2011 at 10:08pm

  Don't worry about a few days in winter.

  Get a van with good winter tyres and then, if you think you'll need them, a set of chains:  Problem solved and you have the advantage of the van all year round.

  I really don't understand the pick up thing either - with my sprinter I can legally tow 2.8t when the van is fully laden at 3.5t.  That's an approx payload of 2t on trailer - Not often that I'd need to drag more than that!

   

  I could understand a tipper if you were dealing primarily with bulk materials, otherwise van wins hands down as previously said, for load space and 'security'.