Ruairidh

Thanks for all the info, I like the Amorlks best to, although the gearbox on the demo I had was pants. Second gear crunched as it went in. I was told it was because the first ones made has American boxes in them not the German ones going in now. The resale value is also best on Amoraks so its a big shame their tailgate. Thanks for all your comments

Hi I am looking for a pickup with a drop tailgate . one which ges right down so a pallet can be loaded, looked at the Amoral and the Navar but they have no facilty to drop the tail so you cant get to close with the forks and I know it'll end up being damaged. Cant seem to find any info on the net as all the websites are trying to sell you are caravan or boat pulling machines! Looking to buy a new one Thanks for your help!

This reminds me of a Frankie Boyle Joke about Gerri Halliwell in a Union Jack jumpsuit "The only time I would want to see Ginger Spice draped in a Union Jackt is after she has died in battle!" That was a funny one liner.

They ask for your VAT number because there is a scheme called RDCO "registered dealers in controlled oils", it is a scheme where wholesalers of bulk fuel have to let HMRC know every month where they are selling the fuel to. These are then cross referenced, for example if a haulier were to buy 3000 litres of Gas it would not be suspicious, however if they were buying that amount from 10 suppliers then it would point to the haulier usng the fuel for road use not fork lifts and dokey engines. They cross reference everyones purchaes of Gas Oil and Kero which is sometimes used with the addition of hydraulic oil. Gas Oil is not the same as road diesel, it may be soon with the changes in RTFO but no-one wants bio fuel in Gas oil at the moment, unless its imported (london), then it is likely to be a differnt cetane number, CFPP and flash point. The thing that worries me personally is that if someone is prepared to run a vehicle on rebated fuel, are tehy also not taxing their vehicle and not insuring it? What would the condoners on this blog say if for example they were hit, and god forbid, injured by someone without insurance, running on red and no tax and were then unable to work for a period of time?

The RTFO (renewable transport fuel obligation) means that we have to by European Law put a Bio element into fuel used to power mobile engines; how and where the bio is put is down to the oil companies. Most Bio is going into petrol at the moment (ethanol) as it is cheaper than bio diesel. Having said that as from March Gas Oil (red diesel used by farmers and off road machinery falls within scope which means there will be no option but to put bio into the diesel to meaat the target and not put any into the gas oil (Red Diesel). 7% is the agreed max at the moment although this will be raised.The reason that supermarkets have bad press is because they have recently switched to buying a lot more imported fuel as its cheaper, and they but product from traders mostly with no addatives (which is the difference between your power max, optimax etc, ceteane improvers and lubricity agents) There is no differnece in the base product. Farmers are worried because it is the Bio element that absorbs water and over time will develope bacteria which clogs filters etc, they store fuel for sometimes up to six months on off season so it is a real concern, but it is not a concern to you or I that buy fuel from pumps as it isn't in the tank long enough to develop bacteria. In essence what I am saying is you get what you pay for (addatives) the base product all meets the same BS spec (EN590). Better get used to Bio diesel/ethanol; you've all be using it now for 5 years without knowing, some retailers do put prominant stickers on pumps some don't. At lease a lot of the ethanol is made here in England (wissington sugar factory) rather than lining the pockets of crackpot states! Good enough reason I would have thought!! Sermon over!

Unliess your driving an agricultural machine or off road machinery not furhter than 15 miles (I think) from its normal place of work you will be prosecuted. Red can only be used in Land rovers etc if they NEVER go on the road, if you get caught they will take action against you. HMRC turn up to cattle auctions and the like for exactly that reason. They also check occasionly the fuel filters to see if any rebated fuel has been used in the past, they can detect less than 1% so beware

PLatts closed at just under 106ppl yesterday including duty. Its the mechanism that is used to determine the price of fuel, if you were to go to the jetty in Rotterdam with a barge (12 million litres or there abouts for a small cargo). That means before any transport costs, you are paying 127ppl!! The only people making money out of oil are the big oil copanies that actaully drill and refine the product, the supermarkets as they use it as a carrot , oh and the government of course! I am a poor oil distributor and believe me we are not getting fat on the margins that are about!! Having said all that the prices are sliding rapidly, down another 1.07ppl as I type!

It is an evansion of Excise duty which is a criminal offence, the driver and operator will be charged, the vehicle impounded and a fine will be levied. HMRC have HUGE powers. They are putting extra resources into road side units at the moment as there seems to be a big increase in rebated fuels being used on public highways including bio diesel (which in itself is a big topic commercially at the moment). I would really urge anyone who is considering doing this to rethink. I run a fuel company and we are often involved with uplifting product, giving evidence etc. The thing to remember is that HMRC know exactly who has taken a delivery of rebated fuels (Gas Oil and Kerosene) through the RDCO system, they really do not take any prisoners!!

Ruby enjoying some foliage!

Heres my 18 month old red lab called Ruby; to much energy by half!!

I have just started taking my 11 year old son; been borrowing a 28 bore s/s, I am in the same position, thought long and hard about .410 or 28 bore. In the end I used him as an excuse and got a 20g silver pigeon. It's too heavy for him but fits me lovely!!So now think I will get a single barrel .410 till he is old enough to not be put off by the silver pigeon's wieght. He has had some lesson at Hodnet (they are brilliant down there) and I would say he is already a better shot than me!. Great tip about the balloons

Being able to see the tanker from the tank side is a grey area, OFTEC can only give guidance on this it is down to ADR regs, VOSA and the great HSE. Our tankers now mostley have remote control so the driver can operate the pumping and metering system from the tank side, the issue comes when a scroat appears at tanker when you are 150 yards away!! If we declined to deliver when we couldn't see the tanker we would very quickly find ourselves with no domestic work. Most tanker hoses are at least 150 foot long so there is some lattitude for siting a tank, just be careful that you don't tie yourself to a particular company that has an extra long hose/ baby tanker as you will end up having your leg lifted. We have around 90 tankers delivering and very few deliveries come back due to tank location.

Funnily enough I work for an oil company that has a depot in Norfolk. We give FREE estimates and advise (really!) If you give the depot a call Joey our tank man will call around and fill in a site appraisal. The tank makers can be REALLY funny if you have a warranty issue and it is not installed by a registered engineer. There are big differences in plastic tanks in terms of warranty offered (and stood by). I personally would buy a metal tank and look after it properly making sure that I can paint all around the tank at least every three years (make sure you spec one with a lockable drain valve as it is the condensation gathering at the bottom of a tank that will rot it from inside)Plastic tanks do not offer this so you have to suck the water out after a peiod of time. It doesn't matter where you site it if it isn't in a locked building the theives will get the product if they want to, drilling holes is the norm these days with a transit and suction pump. (LPG is really expensive and you will be contracted to a supplier; I would say that however as I am an Oil Man!!) If you want us to take a look give us a call the company is called RIX PETROLEUM, tell them Rory put you on to them (I am the director) and ask for Joey. I started the business in Norfolk from my bedroom with Joey, he is a top bloke! Good Luck, any problem drop me a PM. (we sell the oil to go in it as well by the way!1) Cheers Rory

Hi Salop Sniper I have recently had a very good day at Lyneal Wood. It was a walked up day , but actually turned out to be a small driven day with a small team of beaters and a couple of picker uppers. The bag was capped at 60 and he kept us away from the more prolific drives but there was plenty of shooting for all. Alan Russon is the keeper there, a really nice bloke If you are a Hodnet man then you will probably know Trevor Reece who spends a bit of time at WMSG. Alan charged only £100 for the day, bring your own butties etc and lunch with the beaters. Really good day, very relaxed, lots of banter and saw some great birds. I will definatly be going again. Don't forget to tip the keeper!! Have fun. Cheers