Mk3iain

Looking on the FBHVC website, they knew of this on 10 Dec. 2009, they initially informed the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society and the National Traction Engine Club. They make a point that it will not effect pre 1960 vehicles !! Hmm

Spoke to MVT chairman today, they had heard on Friday and are looking into it, also wrote to my MP. I think we can see that the bill as proposed is pretty much a done deal, it is going to happen. What we can do is look for a bit of fine tuning. I have a M1008 ( no problem there, it is tested like any other car of its age!) and an AEC Mk3 recovery. I cannot find any excuse for my own vehicle not having an annual test of some sort. I am not qualified to speak for the many other classes of vehicle out there. I think we should try to be positive and put forward options that would be acceptable to all. Ie. Perhaps if post 1960 pre 1973 vehicles could be annually checked/tested at approved places such as LGV operators and garages that are allready approved to carry out safety checks. The checks should be sympathetic to age and use, such as "historic" and the rules that allready apply to this classification. They could be local and at reasonable cost. Maybe its not that simple for all. Regards

Nice pics. Good to see a bit of a Milly and I want a Drops. But now my neck hurts!

Good idea, afraid the qualifications count me out though. A guide may be an idea as government agencys look out for standard letters and if it looks personally written it may bare more weight? maybe. If you try to e-mail your MP it filters out cut and pasted items! Regards

Unfortunately the person that worries you most will be driving a pre 1960 vehicle that it seems will still be exempt. I do not know anyone that fits your description ie with a bad attitude and poorly maintained vehicle, but I am not in the mainsteem up in Aberdeenshire! I am sure others will know if there are any. I do understand where your coming from though. Regards

I dont think any of us have a problem with being safe. The danger is assuming that DoT does not intend to inflict unnecessary burdens on private owners. It is probable that there is not a hidden agenda. But beware the DoT in the proposal has set some ground work to justify itself on safety grounds, using data they have created from nowhere! they will use this to appeal to those that take it at face value on purely emmotive grounds,..."we are saving lives"!!! But if these recommendations go through whithout accomodation for private owners, we will be subject to requirements that have been brought in over the years and have been applied retrospectively no matter the age of vehicle. Such as side and underrun protection, tachograph, marker lights etc. it goes on and will include the testing itself and the heavy handed actions taken for the slightest problem! Not a problem for smaller vehicles but a heavy and unnecessary cost to owners of large vehicles. I am hopefull that with representation we can be accommodated, perhaps with an annual check at an approved place. VOSA stations can be distant and these and the up and coming approved testers will be equipped to test vehicles to modern standards with no facility to assess older vehicles ie. brakes. Regards

Cheers Croc True, and considering it has been in some deep snow. It has done this before, each time its engaged it takes about 15mins or more to unlock! Today I went for a cup of tea and by the time I came back it had cleared!! Could be frozen, it may also need a bit of tlc. Strip and clean the actuator and valves etc... may wait for better weather though! Iain

Snowed in! The Millys quite happy but its too deep for my Disco.

Any Militant owners had problems with the diff. lock sticking on? I have used the diff lock today and it will not come off, I have an indication and it "feels" like it is still engaged!:undecided: I have looked at the parts book and see that the warning light switch is a px switch on the air line. I have then removed the line at the selector incase that was stuck, and no air escaped. It sound like just a small amount of air escapes when I select from on to off. I am now thinking there must be a resriction, kink or some damage to the hose somewhere. Any ideas? I think I just talked myself through it!! but would appreciate any input from others. Many thanks

One of the next things will I buy for my Milly. Mike theBike Ditto !

At the moment this is all speculative, to many ifs, buts and maybes. From my personal standpoint and that of a quite a few others, the effect on post 1960 large vehicles has the potential to be most profound. It may be fatal to wait and find out what it will mean to us. If our concerns are not voiced we may find we are treated the same as commercial operators, and even if tests are age related they will still be stringant compaired to a private vehicle! (If we are catagorised the same as commercial!... the main concern for me) I hope this is a storm in a teacup and the authorities are aware and sympathetic to our situation, but we cannot take that for granted. If they dont know of our existance they wont be able to cater for us. Time to contact whomever you can and put our case, politely of course. Regards

Quite right, if you are using a windscreen. The same guy, and others, also said they never used these screens instead they preffered to use a warm hat and goggles! Not much chance of being affected with any stray exhaust fumes with your face in the wind. At least their toes were warm. Also no Elf and Safety police in those days!

I was once told by an ex. REME guy, that they used to place ammo cans fitted with hoses over the engine vents to catch the warm air, and feed the hose into the drivers area to get warm feet etc. Never did try it but when your cold it sounds like a brilliant idea. Every little helps

OK my last comments are somewhat "doomsday.ish". (A little bit maybe!!). But at the moment we are obliged to maintain our vehicles in a roadworthy condition, up to their original spec. If we have to comply with commercial vehicle standards that is a huge difference and it could be prohibatively expensive to comply and maintain at that standard. It is not the same as your annual car test. Everyone out there that is concerned with commercial vehicles will be aware of what could be waiting for us if we have to fit in with LGV tests.

One thing that might put them off implementing this for private owners is if they have to compensate us for loss of our hobby. Remember the firearms Bill.!!!:cry: I`m sure it would mount into the millions, not sure the Government would want that.....but then again?:shocked:

Many thanks. I think an important point is "and used primarily for that purpose." Not really suitable for most of us but you see it being tried! Cheers Iain

Hi Can I resurrect this thread whith an obervation/question. I have noticed over the years some vehicles including Bedford MJs, being advertised as "registered agricultural". What is to be gained here? surely you cannot run on red diesel ! I would think it would only be "agricultural" if its primary use is for for that purpose. Also for all the other "dodges" you see being tried!! And another thing..... having made my living as an "owner driver" I get pi**.ed off seing JCB Fasttracks pulling loads:mad: Iain Is it just me?

"Aha, signs of an incurable ailment developing ! Wreckeritus is perticularly painfull on the wallet." There is much enjoyment to be had from these kind of vehicles and they are usefull! Cheers Iain

Hi LoggyDriver I had forgotten that I have already had good use of the crane when my Ptarmigan workshop arrived! First pic. is a "seasonal winter scene", with the w/s ( and a couple of Newfys) in the backround.. Next two is the w/s after picking of a low loader that was too big to negotiate my track. No problem when you have a crane. Regards Iain

Hi Loggydriver Of course unlike my DAF this is a toy, but I will still use the crane. I need to pull the g,box on my M1008 and will use it to lift the truck for access (taking all safety precautions of course!!!). I have been used to having a crane around for a few years now on the DAF and previously an M62. Its somehow a comfort to have the facility ,but never use it! I used the DAF crane all the time for work but only a couple of times for myself, but when I was without one for about a year I felt as if I had lost an arm. I have a friend with a Pioneer so will no doubt be required for lifting at some time, although the towbar will be needed more! Cheers Iain

Hi I had seen some last year at around £3-4k, they varried from "OK" to rust heaps, this one is clean with no rot, and in excellent nick. The only other good one recently was about the same price but not in quite as good overall condition. I could have gotten one much cheaper and spent a fortune bringing it up to scratch. The usual problem I have seen is rotten cabs, which are very expensive to repair. If I had the facilities to take on a project I might have considered it, but for the time being I cannot take on that kind of job. On balance this milly fits my circumstance, only small jobs to do and some ces to find , I can enjoy it as it is I spent a lot of time looking around and I am sure many of us have had similar experiences, wasted time, horror stories etc. Will put some pics of others I came accross in the milly album soon. Dave did not charge VAT as it was a private sale from his own collection. Forgot to say before, the engine is the 12.5 AV760. Last year I sold my DAF 400 26t beavertail cw 20tm crane for not much more. Is there any rime or reason to prices of our kind of vehicles? Not really I think! Skint(almost) but happy now. regards Iain

Hi Loggydriver I have not found out through experience yet, and my milly has been fitted with a turbo! so not sure what to expect! I have been using up a lot of fuel but much time has been running stationary. The book says 7.8mpg ( not sure if thats combined or extra urban?). Must be others with the info out there? Iain

I spent about 10 months searching for the right truck and seen a couple in similar condition described as "fair condition" or "paint peeling but solid" etc and they still want over £3k for a rotten wreck???? iain

Hi Yes it is tidy, only the cab is in need of work, its missing the rear shelf racking, heater and screen washer. Also the turbo needs boxing in and a passenger seat fabricating. I am very pleased so far! Iain

Not sure if this was spotted before. Selling green stuff abroad has its dangers if you dont follow the rules!!! news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8343267.stm