Trouble getting insurance on Unimog/Truck (new driver)

[spudboy]

I've been having the usual periodical thoughts about moving up to something bigger than a 130, and have been out perusing mid-sized Hino and Mercedes trucks, and phoned up about a Unimog up in QLD. Am thinking of building a larger camper on the back of something so we can "live in" it rather "live beside".

Thought I'd see how much trucks are to insure, and have tried a couple of insurance companies who say they will not insure me because I haven't had a "heavy" license for at least 2 years.

Is this a common issue when you move up to trucks? Is it worth perservering and calling up more companies, or is this a pretty standard thing across the industry, and no-one will touch "new" drivers? I thought being 50 might help, but seems to not be relevant.

Not much point buying something that can't be insured.....

Thanks
David

[Col.Coleman]

I never had any trouble with Suncorp Commercial Insurance on my Canter 4x4. Only MR though at 6 ton, and I would have though that would be the range or trucks you are looking at.

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CC

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Hi David

There are smaller versions of the Mog and the Canter 3.0 (http://www.fuso.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=9) with a GVM under 8 tonne that don't need an HR licence.

The other option, is to get an HR licence ASAP and by the time you decide to actually buy or get a Mog camper built, you may have had the licence for 2 years and get as much insurance as your soul desires!

[spudboy]

Yeah - I think the Hino can be 'derated' to 8,000Kg (down from 13,000), but you still need a Medium Rigid licence. The Merc I looked at was an Actros, which is 13,000Kg too.

Better decide which way I want to go and just go and do the MR license ASAP. In 2 years time the market should be positively flooded with ex-army Unimogs!!

[spudboy]

CC - have you ever got that thing seriously bogged? If so, what are they like to 'extract'? Can you do it with hand tools and a winch or an ordinary 4x4, or is it "go and get another big truck to pull us out" time?

Am off tomorrow to take a look at a 300 NPS size Isuzu. Bit smaller than a Hino 500/Merc Actros.

[Col.Coleman]

Empty it was only about 3.5 ton, and even though I used to worry about it alot if I ever did, I never did get it bogged. It actually astounded me where it would go. Mass chassis flex meant I could diagonal and crossaxle 3 metre deep irrigation channels.

Thornton Power Lock Diff (standard), duals and old style transfer case meant plenty of drive to plenty of wheels all the time. Did get hung up on the front diff on that crossing down at Rats castle on the return crossing, but just reversed off.

Plenty of sand driving, just needed to carry a bit more speed and revs in the powder and only ever let the front tyres down. BBQ accross the headboard and outdoor setting in the tray, complete with umbrella made a great day out at the beach.

Even in a truck only this big (med) it is seriously big on tracks. I have had to cut down fallen trees that most other 4wd's just drive under. Hate to try a full size, or one with a camper body on those tracks. Open country and on the road is OK, so it just limits where you can go. One of the reasons I got rid of it and went to a Defender 130. Still bloody miss it though (and so does the wife, Cheryl loved driving it)

My mate who I bought my 130 off, bought one like mine and has built a body on the back for living in, and there are another 2 around the road from me.

They are great, fit a 1200lb winch, carry the usual stuff, just with bigger ratings, more of it and plenty of snatch blocks.

The big ones look cool, but gees they would get hard to drive in the tricky stuff. Oh, too, when things do start getting away from you, more weight tends to speed things up ALOT.

Wiped out 7 mirrors, took out clearance lights on branches, rocks wedge in the duals and smash the tray when they fly out, finding super single wheels and tyres are expensive(Michelin is best $$$). You will need to build a cage around the cab to protect it from trees, I got plenty of dints in the A pillar, broke the arial, but if you hit a tree with the bull bar, the truck generally won.

Great fun, still want another one, but they do limit where you can go, how you can enjoy yourself (0% not 0.05%) and take what it would normally cost for everything, triple it and add 20%.

CC

[spudboy]

... take what it would normally cost for everything, triple it and add 20%.

CC


That's scary :eek:

Thanks for all the other thoughts.

I vacillate between wanting the extra space and capacity of a bigger unit and thinking that $100K would buy a lot of nights in a nice hotel when the weather is awful!

[DeanoH]

I had similiar insurance issues when I got the OKA.
Try Ken Tame and Associates who are insurance brokers, they came up with the goods for the OKA when you're a member of the CMCA (Campervan & Mobile home Club of Australia).
Worth doing, you're not made to feel like a leper and you're not talking to people who have NFI if you are not driving a Falcodore. They actually understand what you're doing.
Shannons also do insurance for 'different' vehicles and is worth a try.

As to a 130 'upgrade' have a look at the OKA. If you're after non complex and solid motoring at a decent price you can do a hell of a lot worse.

Deano:)

[Iain_B]

I got quotes from Shannons for my Unimog - no problem at all. Build it so if follow the rules to allow it to be registered as a motorhome - makes it cheaper as well.

As far as the OKA's are concerned, nice truck, spares are difficult to come by outside of Australia, older leaf sprung trucks are a hard ride. New ones are pretty expensive. Canter/Fuso/Hino - sorry but I think they are just a road truck with a front diff unless you are looking at the All Terrain Warrior conversions - they fit proper suspension, wheels etc, and have a method of fitting a camper body that does not crack the chassis - not many can make that claim. Watch out for the claims that they are 4.5 ton trucks so can use a car license, once you fit a reasonable amount of extra water and diesel tanks, carry more than the "standard" 75kg of food and clothes and a few batteries, spares etc , they come out closer to above 5 tons. That means not only are you overloaded, but also driving on the wrong license.

As far as costing lots of money - what do you expect, its a big truck. You can't run a 7.5ton truck for less a 130. Spares are no more expensive than Land Rover parts, if you buy from MB Australia you pay 500% mark up, but there are plenty of oversea suppliers than can get you the parts a lot quicker and lot cheaper than MB Australia.

[bigcarle]

around my area the other day i cam across a short wheelbase Mog, twice, no camo paint, so anyone from here?