TooTallMike

Indeed - it's important to distinguish between drivers' hours regs and tacho use. They are not the same thing and the requirements and obligations of each do not completely coincide. In relation to NOS's last point - a horse box with a GVW of 7490kg is required to have a tacho and that tacho must have been calibrated at some point in the vehicle's life, but as long as it's only being used privately it does not have to be regularly re-calibrated and tachographs do not have to be used. The reason it has to have been calibrated at some point is that the tacho unit also serves as the speedometer so it has to have been correctly set-up for the vehicle. - MG

Out of interest is there anything to stop one buying a used tacho & sender from a commercial vehicle breakers yard, and fitting it yourself? It would have to be calibrated but then it would be good to go. Incidentally there's a brand new VDO one on Ebay for £175. - MG

There are many many private owners of horse boxes, large caravans, racing car transporters, classic plant transporters and other privately owned HGV-type vehicles out there who would be very pleased if someone could come up with a cast iron argument supporting what you say so please let us know the chapter and verse supporting your view. As previously stated, the 11th April 2007 changes removed loads of exemptions from tacho use including that for privately owned HGVs. As for VOSA supplying dubious info, it wouldn't be the first time. If that happens again try to get the person's name and ask them for written confirmation of what has been discussed. It won't help in court but it's the basis of an argument that you were duly diligent in your research. - MG

It could be a sticky foot valve. Is the hissing coming from under the cab floor? I'd suggest running the engine up and wedging the foot pedal down with a piece of timber so you can crawl under and see where the air is coming from. - MG

Ok, but what is it that bothers people about using a tacho? You still have to obey drivers' hours and the other rules, regs. and restrictions, you just don't have to fill in a small piece of paper each time you drive. - MG

I think the 'motor caravan' route is unavailable to you due to the gross weight but I'm prepared to be corrected on that. Downrating would do it, but why not just use the tacho? It's as simple as writing your name, the date, journey origin and destination, and the start and finish mileage readings. Keep the old the discs in a box in the cab. Bi-annual re-calibration is cheap and easy to arrange. At least this way you would retain your full carrying capacity. Unless your license is limited to under 7.5t I cannot see why you'd want to downrate. People seem very scared of using tachos but there is really no issue. Certainly in comparison to the effort of down-rating it seems a no-brainer to me :laugh:. Regards - MG

Hi, I believe you are being wrongly advised here. This all changed on 11th April 2007 when new EU rules were adopted. Lots of the concessions for Private HGVs were rescinded. Assuming it is a cargo-bodied truck and is plated as being over 7.5 tonnes gross weight it requires a 2-yearly calibrated tacho and you have to use it. You must keep your old tachos as per the rules and you also have to conform to drivers' hours. This is regardless of whether or not your use is private. You are running an HGV and apart from the VED status of 'Private HGV' all other rules apply. You do not require a CPC or Operator's License if not running commercially. There is plenty of info about this all over the internet but make sure you are looking at vehicles over 7.5 as this is the cut-off point where the rules change. One of our group was stopped in our Private HGV truck by VOSA who went through our old tachos and gave him an all-clear, so they CAN AND DO check private vehicles. The so-called '60 mile' rule does not apply to vehicles over 7.5t GVW. Regards - Mike

Personally I think it's an insult to our national intelligence to talk on the one hand about using legislation to create one of the least polluted cities in the world while on the other hand one or more airports 'must' be expanded to increase capacity. So what pollutes more, a few older cars or a sh*t load more aircraft? - MG

I had one of those on my 2wd ex-USAF pickup. I think they are used for solely on-road vehicles where rotation isn't required. - MG

As are (up til now at least) all VED zero-rated vehicles, so I can continue to drive my 1958 series 1 with 200tdi fitted into town :laugh:> The stuff about the London to Brighton run being re-routed is, in my opinion, scaremongering as it's unlikely to apply to these vehicles. That's not to say I don't think this proposal would be catastrophic for huge numbers of people unable to purchase a relatively new car. - MG

I use a local windows and framing company for flat toughened glass. They're not allowed to supply it for vehicle use as theirs isn't appropriately (kite?) marked. You don't need the mark so just tell them it's for your shed window. - MG

That's just a part number for whatever that part is. The chassis no will be stamped into a rail somewhere. - MG

I suggest you place an advert on the G503.com forum as there are a number of US-based Autocar owners on there who might be interested. Thank you for saving the truck. Regards - Mike

That's a Federal, not an Autocar/White. - MG

Hi, What you have is a 5-ton tractor unit. It is only either an Autocar U7144T (more likely - 11,000 built) or a White 444T (2,700 built). The other manufacturers suggested in the posts above did not produce this model. If it's a White most of the castings will have White cast into them. In the absence of that it is an Autocar. The chassis number will confirm which it is: this will be stamped onto the data plate at the extreme right hand end of the dash. It is also stamped onto the chassis - on mine, which is a larger model, it is on the right hand rail on the top edge directly above the rear axle. I am not sure where it is on the smaller trucks. As for value, these trucks are rare by virtue of their age but there are quite a few both in the US and Europe. Your truck is in much better condition than others which have been restored, in fact everything I can see that is missing from your truck is readily obtainable. If you only paid scrap money then you have done well. As for their use, it was a standard tractor unit for mainly over-the-road haulage of flatbed, stake side and box trailers. They were built between 1941 and Aug. 1945 and were mainly used in Europe. If a moderator were to change the title of the thread to something mentioning Autocars, you will get a lot more interest and more responses from other owners! Regards - MG

It would be interesting to know on what grounds the insurance was refused? - MG

We are gradually going over to Facet electric pumps on everything as it's the only way to combat diaphragm failure caused by ethanol in petrol. Even supposedly safe viton(?) replacement diaphragms haven't lasted. Electric pumps also address issues of vaporisation again caused by crap modern petrol as well as any problems of fuel run-back. Win-win! (especially as I'm less concerned about originality than I am about actually making it to my destination and home again...) - MG

Very nice. When I first got my previous truck it had wood on the tops of all the lockers but it was rotten so I removed it but never got round to replacing it. I always thought it would look best in natural colour or with matt polyurethane varnish, but would be vulnerable to damage from equipment being loaded in and out. You'll have to get used to removing the side boards! Is that your truck storage palace behind? - MG

To be clear, I believe they are only legally required to provide the minimum coverage required in that country, so you may find a fully comp. UK policy becomes third party abroad. - MG

Some places will let you tie the load sensing valve up for the test as long as you release it before you go back on the road. Not sure if that will help you but it's how we got a box-body RB44 to pass as there was nowhere practical to put weight. - MG

Vince, where did all the internal Milan stowage in Nick's come from as his was ex-BATUS? - MG

I'm confused, our friend Nick (CVRTNick) has had one of these for years - it is well known on the circuit as it was one of the first CVRTs to be released. It has an incomplete MCT turret which would be for a two-rail Milan launcher. Internally it should have stowage for multiple Milan tubes and would be very 'cosy' as a result. I have also always understood that they saw service in the first Gulf war so were there two different versions, one a mock-up and one an actual combat vehicle? Googling CVRT Spartan MCT comes up with a number of sand-coloured ones bouncing over dunes. - MG

Have a look at: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?6777-GMC-Jimmy-Production-Data&highlight=cckw+chassis - MG

Did you manage to get a letter from Land Rover stating that your vehicle is now an estate? - MG

Salut Willy, We would certainly be interested. Please could you let me know price and location? Merci d'avance - Mike