[Dave Willis]

Never thought I'd say it but even though I don't suit rigger boots a four wheel drive is getting more appealing for me as time goes by.
I got my van well and truly stuck in a grass field over the weekend - it's only got to look at grass and it bursts into tears! Met a 4x4 today on a customers drive, he simply took to the field and sped past. I've had several dodgy moments with the van and a full tank. Getting stuck in mud, snow and even a steep drive where I had to be towed up by a 4x4. Had a quick look at a Ford Ranger but not sure if I could fit everything in.

[richard groves]

That all depends on what you want to fit in it Dave.
I've a Ford Ranger super cab with a high hard top.
I carry a 500 tank, supermax 40, van mounted reel, backpack, trad stuff, tool box and a multi ladder all in the back of mine - no ro or di though, thats static.
I dont go off road for work ( but do for camping and festivals ) what I like is the nice clean comfortable cab that doubles as the family car. 

[EandM]

We're four years into Ranger ownership and as work vehicle...it just sort of works. Only have a 400 litre tank and a 1,250 kg payload so it's hardly being taxed. Work is very rural with many farms and agricultural buildings in fairly remote locations. Enough space inside to get the kids to school too - highly recommended.

[Dave Willis]

How do you get on with the tailgate? Does it fold right down to a vertical position or have you bolted your reel to it so that it folds up with the tailgate? Do your poles fit into the loadspace?

What I mean is do you have your reel on the tailgate.

[Spruce]

Never thought I'd say it but even though I don't suit rigger boots a four wheel drive is getting more appealing for me as time goes by.
I got my van well and truly stuck in a grass field over the weekend - it's only got to look at grass and it bursts into tears! Met a 4x4 today on a customers drive, he simply took to the field and sped past. I've had several dodgy moments with the van and a full tank. Getting stuck in mud, snow and even a steep drive where I had to be towed up by a 4x4. Had a quick look at a Ford Ranger but not sure if I could fit everything in.

The solution - don't drive through a field unless the ground is as dry as a bone.

[richard groves]

How do you get on with the tailgate? Does it fold right down to a vertical position or have you bolted your reel to it so that it folds up with the tailgate? Do your poles fit into the loadspace?

What I mean is do you have your reel on the tailgate.

the tank was  custom made by aquaeous pf, and the reel was mounted in front of it  to the floor with room to allow the tailgate to close, the gate will open flat but I never have to do that whilst working. pole fits in diagonally on top of tank. The load bed of the supercab is just shy of 6 ft, less with the twin cab and longer still (obviously) with a single cab.

[EandM]

I have a Supercab which has a 5.8 feet bed and four seats. A CLX-22 sits nicely inside the bed and the hose reel just sits behind the tank with enough feed hose to remove it. As for going anywhere I find that around 500 kg load and the LSD make for more usable traction than an empty truck and 4wd.

[SeanK]

There's no privacy sitting on a portable loo in the back of a Pick up, that rules them out for me and my fifty plus bladder.

[slap bash]

In the end you buy what you want, But I for one would not buy one as the costs of running a 4x  is much higher than a van in every aspect. Many guys buy a 4x4 as a toy that the misses would never agree too under normal  circumstances.

[Smurf]

For those that want to carry loads of gear about that don't need to go off roading as in my case they are defo not really pratical than a large works van that's for sure. 

[Dave Willis]

Wait till you get stuck in a field 70 miles from home! I had to use an overflow car park at Lymington Ferry terminal totally knackered. Luckily for me it was a cycling event so managed to get about fifteen young girls to push and bounce the van the two feet required to get on gravel.

[EandM]

In the end you buy what you want, But I for one would not buy one as the costs of running a 4x  is much higher than a van in every aspect. Many guys buy a 4x4 as a toy that the misses would never agree too under normal  circumstances.

Think it depends on what you're running. I do my own maintenance and have a tame mechanic for anything I can't manage. I haven't found it any dearer to run than any of my other work vehicles over the past 30 years. It's over engineered for WFP Cleaning so as a result is never running flat out - as a result it tends to be very reliable. Any 4 wheel drive  has the potential to be expensive but the Ranger system is more 'Victorian Signal Box' than   'Star Trek' and so far has been well behaved (16 years old with 150,000 miles)

[SeanK]

Seriously how many times are you going to stuck in a field 70 miles from home in our business ? you cant beat a van for the job we
do and theres no excuse for a Pick up other than wanting a big boys toy.

[dazmond]

i suppose if you work in a lot of remote/rural areas with plenty of hills then a 4x4 would be a sensible option with the water we carry.

[Scrimble]

you can buy vans with off road capabilities you know

[richard groves]

There's no privacy sitting on a portable loo in the back of a Pick up, that rules them out for me and my fifty plus bladder.

I know what you mean 

[Smurf]

There's no privacy sitting on a portable loo in the back of a Pick up, that rules them out for me and my fifty plus bladder.

I know what you mean 

pop up loo tent springs to mind for a wee bit more privacy. You obviously have not thought that one through Barry 

[Spruce]

There's no privacy sitting on a portable loo in the back of a Pick up, that rules them out for me and my fifty plus bladder.

 

That's my first priority as well.

The second is; can I get into the back in time?

Way down the list is what size tank can I put in it?

-

[Smurf]

Man pants work well for me Spruce. You should try them 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGNMeR-BOis

[Spruce]

Man pants work well for me Spruce. You should try them 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGNMeR-BOis