Val Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Hi everyone, I'm new here, but thinking about purchasing a Saracen APC. Can someone answer the following questions for me? What type of license would I need? Who to insure it with? How do I charge an "accumulator"? How often would it need servicing? Anything else I should know? I'm new to MVs but have always dreamt about having one. Many thanks, Val Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Grasshopper Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 You should be able to drive it on a car licence, as it is a historic vehicle. There are specialist insurers for MV's such as Roadsure or Adrian Flux, who can be found through magazines such as Classic Military Vehicles or websites such as Milweb or even this very fine forum. Accumulators usually require charging with an innert gas such as nitrogen, so a bottle and some guages will be required (Iam not an expert on Saracens, but used to work on Routemaster busses which had a similar system). You would need to obtain copies of EMERs to get the srvice schedules for this type of vehicle, I am sure some of the guys here could help you out..... A big problem with owning an MV is storage. Undercover is always preferable, and access to workshop/heavy lifting facilities is a bonus. If you have no previous mechanical experiance, don't worry as you learn fast in this hobby........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Val Posted August 24, 2007 Author Share Posted August 24, 2007 Looking at the Saracen Mk1 Troop Transport. I can't believe you can drive that with a normal license? If so great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Marmite!! Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Looking at the Saracen Mk1 Troop Transport. I can't believe you can drive that with a normal license? If so great! There's on on Milweb at the moment.. http://www.milweb.net/index2.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Val Posted August 24, 2007 Author Share Posted August 24, 2007 Just to confirm, I can use a standard license with a the Mk1 Troop transport? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Marmite!! Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Just to confirm, I can use a standard license with a the Mk1 Troop transport? See below.... goods vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1960, used unladen and not drawing a laden trailer so if manufactured before 1960 then yes Exempted large goods vehiclesHolders of a full category B (car) driving licence may drive any of the large vehicles listed below: goods vehicle propelled by steam eg large vehicles with coal or wood burning engines road construction vehicles used or kept on the road solely for the conveyance of built-in road construction machinery, (with/without articles or materials used for the purpose of that machinery) engineering plant (vehicles designed/constructed for the purpose of engineering operations) works trucks (primarily designed for use in private premises or in the immediate vicinity eg dumper trucks/forklift trucks) industrial tractors (tractors used mainly for haulage work off the public road, the vehicle must not have an unladen weight exceeding 7370kgs and have a design speed not exceeding 20mph) agricultural motor vehicles which are not agricultural or forestry tractors (primarily used off the public road eg crop sprayer/combine harvester) digging machines (vehicles which are limited to travel on public roads only for the purpose of proceeding to/from sites - used for trench digging or any kind of excavating or shovelling work eg vehicles with digging buckets/shovels) goods vehicle which is not used on public roads or, if it is so used during any calendar week: i. is used only in passing from land in the occupation of a person keeping the vehicle to other land in the occupation of that person ii. is not used on public roads for distances exceeding an aggregate of kilometres in that calendar week goods vehicle, other than an agricultural motor vehicle, which is used only for purposes relating to agriculture, horticulture or forestry: i. is used on roads only in passing between different areas of land occupied by the same person ii. in passing between any two such areas does not travel a distance exceeding 1.5 kilometres on roads goods vehicles used for no purpose other than the haulage of lifeboats and the conveyance of the necessary gear of the lifeboats which are being hauled goods vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1960, used unladen and not drawing a laden trailer articulated goods vehicles not exceeding 3.05 tonnes unladen weight goods vehicle in the service of a visiting force or headquarters as defined in the visiting forces and international headquarters (application of law order 1965 (a)) goods vehicle driven by a constable for the purpose of removing or avoiding obstruction to other road users or other members of the public, for the purpose of protecting life or property (including the vehicle and its load) or for other similar purposes goods vehicle fitted with apparatus designed for raising a disabled vehicle partly from the ground and for drawing a disabled vehicle when so raised (whether by partial superimposition or otherwise) being a vehicle which i. is used solely for dealing with disabled vehicles ii. is not used for the conveyance of any goods or load other than a disabled vehicle when so raised and water, fuel, accumulators and articles required for the operation of, or in connection with, such apparatus or otherwise for dealing with disabled vehicles iii. has an unladen weight not exceeding 3.05 tonnes mobile project vehicles - having a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes and constructed/adapted to carry not more than 8 persons in addition to the driver and carries principally goods or burden consisting of i. play/educational equipment and articles required in connection with the use of such equipment ii. articles required for the purposes of display or of an exhibition, and the primary purpose of which is used as a recreational, educational or instructional facility when stationary Drivers must be aged 21 and have held a category B licence for at least 2 years. A mobile project vehicle may only be driven on behalf of a non-commercial body. However, drivers who passed their car test before 1 January 1997 are not subject to these conditions. Mobile cranes Category B licence holders were able to drive mobile cranes up until 31 December 1998. From 1 January 1999 a category C1 driving licence is required to drive a mobile crane weighing between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes and category C if over 7.5 tonnes. Minimum ages Driving an exempted goods vehicle is determined by its weight. Vehicles with a maximum authorised mass weighing between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes may be driven at age 18 years. Vehicle's which weigh more than 7.5 tonnes can be driven from the age of 21 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 REME 245 Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 While we are talking licences can I hijack the thread slightly and ask how people driving quads and towing limbers and guns get on. The limber to comply with the law obviously has to be empty, but what is the gun classed as? Is it another trailer or classed as something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Marmite!! Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 While we are talking licences can I hijack the thread slightly and ask how people driving quads and towing limbers and guns get on. The limber to comply with the law obviously has to be empty, but what is the gun classed as? Is it another trailer or classed as something else? When I take my gun through the Dartford Tolls they class it as a trailer :dunno: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 saracenstump Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 saracens can be driven on a standard car license :-D :-D,mines insured with footman james for about £86.Depending on how much you use them servicing isn't really an issue,the main things i do are change the oil,and check the levels at least every other run unless something happens. charging the accummulators is easy but you do need the gauges and a gas bottle. saracens are great fun,but you do need friends if they break down :whistle: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 andyroo Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Hi everyone, I'm new here, but thinking about purchasing a Saracen APC. Good MV, I camp in mine at a few shows. You can just get a hamock to hang from the drivers side hatch to the rear door for sleeping :-D :-D What type of license would I need? Who to insure it with? How do I charge an "accumulator"? How often would it need servicing? Car license as its historic class. I use Roadsure for in-suwer-ants. So far, after about 10 or so years of ownership I've never had to recharge the accumalators on my Saracen. I have to do it almost every year though on my Saladin. You need a pressure gauge that gose to 650 psi. An addapter to fit on the end of the accumalator and some high pressure hose. The accumalators, with no oil pressure in them should be arround 525 PSI. How often you have to service any MV depends on how often you use it. Some years you'll get a thousand miles plus, other years you'll be lucky to get 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Val Posted August 24, 2007 Author Share Posted August 24, 2007 Thankyou everyone, where do I get a guages and gas bottles from? I take it not the same places that do like butane and calor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 andyroo Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Thankyou everyone, where do I get a guages and gas bottles from? I take it not the same places that do like butane and calor? I use Argon as I use it for tig welding at work. This comes in a large blue bottle at 3000 PSI. However, you have to rent the bottle from a supplier, in my case energas. The gauge I bought just for accumaltor charging, you see them on ebay somtimes. New they are arround £500.00. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Val Posted August 24, 2007 Author Share Posted August 24, 2007 Wow, talk about a helpful forum lol. Much appreciated guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Richard Farrant Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Thankyou everyone, where do I get a guages and gas bottles from? I take it not the same places that do like butane and calor? Sam, It has to be an inert gas, originally they were charged with Dry Compressed Air, which is how we did in when they were in service. On other vehicles and equipment, accumulaters now use Nitrogen, which is what I use to charge Saracen, Saladin and even Routemaster buses. Due to an archaic sealing arrangement within, the gas can tend to leak through in to the oil side, so should be checked at least once during the season. Of all those that I have done, it is normal for at least one accumulater out of the three, that loses a bit of pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 morris c8 fat Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Going back to the Quad end the limber is the breaking system for the gun and is classed ? as one unit. techanly the gun should not be towed without it but then the RHA always did on landrovers and I know the army had a time on bedfords and thames. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Grasshopper Posted August 25, 2007 Share Posted August 25, 2007 Surely towing a gun AND limber can't be legal? Two trailers....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 morris c8 fat Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 As I said they are classed as one trailer as the limber is the breaking system mind you the breaks on a LandRover are supose to be better than the Quads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Tony B Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 The gun is classed as a gun, so you should comply with firearms legislation and cover the trigger when transporting. I've towed them with and without limber with a 109 LR Safari. No problems except idiots trying to undertake at roundabouts and the tow cutting in. but thats their problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Val Posted August 26, 2007 Author Share Posted August 26, 2007 Got the Saracen now. Is restored and the engine rebuilt. The only work it needs is the accumulator charging and the fault finding on the indicator lights. Anyone know where I can get a workshop manual and drivers handbook/manual for it? Basically need to get it road legal by Sept 3rd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Marmite!! Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Got the Saracen now. Is restored and the engine rebuilt. The only work it needs is the accumulator charging and the fault finding on the indicator lights. Anyone know where I can get a workshop manual and drivers handbook/manual for it? Basically need to get it road legal by Sept 3rd. All the mauals you'll need & a good guy to deal with... http://www.mark.clubaustin.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Val Posted August 26, 2007 Author Share Posted August 26, 2007 Thanks Lee, The Saracen I brought, didn't come with a cannon though it has the turrett. Anyone know where I can get one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Marmite!! Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Thanks Lee, The Saracen I brought, didn't come with a cannon though it has the turrett. Anyone know where I can get one? Cannon... I presume you mean a Browning .30cal fairly easy to pick up but you are looking at over 400 quid for one now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Val Posted August 26, 2007 Author Share Posted August 26, 2007 To be honest, I don't have a clue. The big shooty the gun thing lol. Where can I buy from and they will be deactivated right? Don't wanna get in trouble with the law. http://www.sa-transport.co.za/military/army/saracen_armoured_car_ldp06.JPG[/img] The big cannon on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Marmite!! Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 To be honest, I don't have a clue. The big shooty the gun thing lol. Where can I buy from and they will be deactivated right? Don't wanna get in trouble with the law. http://www.sa-transport.co.za/military/army/saracen_armoured_car_ldp06.JPG[/img] The big cannon on that. Sorry but :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 ian2b Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 To be honest, I don't have a clue. The big shooty the gun thing lol. Where can I buy from and they will be deactivated right? Don't wanna get in trouble with the law. http://www.sa-transport.co.za/military/army/saracen_armoured_car_ldp06.JPG[/img] The big cannon on that. LMFAO :rofl: :rofl: Think i might get one now :whistle: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Marmite!! Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Made my day :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :clap: :clap: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Question
Val
Hi everyone,
I'm new here, but thinking about purchasing a Saracen APC. Can someone answer the following questions for me?
What type of license would I need?
Who to insure it with?
How do I charge an "accumulator"?
How often would it need servicing?
Anything else I should know?
I'm new to MVs but have always dreamt about having one.
Many thanks,
Val
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