When Carlisle-based horticultural equipment dealer Rickerby looked to replace an existing 3.5t vehicle, they opted to move up the weight range and specified a narrow cabbed 5.0 tonne Isuzu rigid as the replacement truck. This particular specification of vehicle has enabled them to achieve a full 2 tonnes carrying capacity, almost twice the payload of a 3.5t truck but with the same physical footprint.
According to Martyn Henderson, sales manager at Rickerby: “We were looking for a solution that would enable us to increase payload without increasing the actual vehicle size. The Isuzu 5.0 tonner is absolutely perfect for this job and we are extremely pleased with the vehicle’s performance.”
The Isuzu Forward N50.150 5t chassis cab has been specified with a beavertail body built by local company Hinds of Carlisle and the vehicle, which is the first Isuzu in the Rickerby fleet, was supplied by local Isuzu dealer Cumbria Truck Centre, based in Longtown near Carlisle. With a 3.0 litre, 150bhp, Euro 5, EEV power unit and the same compact, but well equipped, cab as the Isuzu 3.5t Grafters, this vehicle gives Rickerby’s much more payload flexibility. In addition the narrow cab and proportionately designed body make it an easy vehicle to manoeuvre through the Cumbrian road systems and really helps Rickerby’s to adhere to its demanding customer equipment delivery programme.
On a single driver operation, the new Isuzu is being used to deliver to customers within the locality and is working on a six-day week delivery operation, mainly on short run jobs carrying the full range of smaller horticultural and agricultural equipment.
“Prior to purchasing the new Isuzu, we talked to several local companies and suppliers who also run the Isuzu marque and without exception they were full of praise for the performance of the vehicle and the service support they receive from the local dealer,” added Martyn Henderson.
“In this current economic climate, it is essential to obtain the maximum payload as possible out of your vehicles. However at 3.5t it’s easy to inadvertently overload a vehicle. With a 5.0 tonne truck, the additional payload carrying capacity minimises this risk and enables companies to improve the efficiency of their distribution operations. Rickerby’s are already benefiting from this as they can now carry almost twice as much payload as the incumbent vehicle,” said Keith Child, marketing director at Isuzu Truck UK.
