7.5 tonners have been the workhorses of the UK economy for many years and are always popular buyer’s choice at Truckpages. Typical 7.5 Tonne Lorry Dimensions: As operators can choose from a wide variety of bodies to be fitted to their trucks – even after the European Whole Vehicle Type Approval has removed some of the choice – you can find 7.5 tonnes box vans with body lengths from as short as 14ft and as long as 26 feet. A typical, average length would be 20 to 21 feet. The body length is dependent upon the wheelbase length as the overhang over the rear axle is important – nobody wants to see a truck performing a wheelie! Again, heights are variable – there’s no point in having a tall box body if your payload is a heavy one, as it will create unnecessary wind resistance because you will never be able to fill it up!
More About 7.5 Tonne Trucks
Note the half dropside for scaffold use on this 7.5 ton Iveco
When talking about 7.5 tonne tippers, body lengths are typically much shorter – you will normally see a 14ft to 16ft tipper body on a 7.5 tonne chassis, whilst dropsides and flatbeds are typically longer – especially those designed specifically for scaffolding work.
7.5 Tonne Truck Payloads
Here’s the problem with 7.5 tonne trucks – the payloads are not very good. A standard DAF LF with a day cab has an unladen weight of between 3.3 and 3.5 tonnes, depending on the wheelbase (there are no fewer than eight to choose from). That leaves about 4 tonnes for the body, driver and fuel. The overall payload depends on the weight of the body, the ancillaries, (like tail lifts, refrigerated units etc.) but in general, it means that you will be looking at a payload of around 3 tonnes to get to the 7.5 tonnes GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight).
When you compare this to a less popular 12 tonne truck, which looks almost identical to the 7.5 tonne version and weighs in at just 300kgs more, you will be able to carry 4 tonnes more than the 7.5 tonner! Most of this will be down to larger wheels and tyres – the only easy way to spot the difference these days.
So why are the 7.5 tonne trucks so popular?
The answer is that they are a lot less popular than they were 20 or so years ago. This is all down to a change in driver licencing rules.
Who can Drive a 7.5 Tonner?
If a driver completed their driving test prior to 1996 then they have the automatic right to drive a 7.5 tonne truck. However – to drive one professionally, they will still need to have a driver CPC. What this does mean is that there is still a relatively large pool of drivers who are able to drive at 7.5 tonnes, but not a t 12 tonnes GVW.
7.5 Tonne Truck Market
The other reason for the decline in the 7.5 tonne truck market is operators are either upsizing or downsizing their vehicles. We have seen that 7.5 tonnes is not terribly efficient, but operating at 18 tonnes is the most efficient way – compared to a 16 tonner, for example.
Equally if you don’t want the hassle of obtaining an operator’s licence (compulsory for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes GVW) then use a 3.5 tonne GVW van (like a Transit, for example) which can be driven by any car driver without a CPC.
This is exactly the decision that faces many own account operators who are venturing into operating a truck for the first time will ask. Perhaps the company is a wholesaler or manufacturer that has bought in transport or used vans to carry out their business and feel that they have outgrown both options. Of course, a company could choose to buy any weight of truck – there are plenty of others, 10 tonners, 16 tonners and, of course, 18 tonners. These are options we consider in other articles, but the 12 and 7.5 tonners look similar and are reasonable common…
Well, this really is BIG NEWS in the Truckpages world. On this week's front cover is the first ever fully electric truck to appear for sale inside the magazine. If is a fully electric, 19 tonne GVW (you get the extra tonne for it being electric) DAF LF E19 Electric with the 26ft curtainside body and tuckaway tail lift. The truck is a 2022 model and has only covered 33,435 kilometres. It is certainly worth a phone call to the vendors, Ford and Slater who have priced the truck at £180,000+VAT. Just think, never having to fill the truck with…
This looks like the perfect truck for someone who needs a new recovery truck in a hurry. This is a 2024 new and unused Isuzu N75.190 seven seater crew cab recovery truck. It's fitted with a new ORS recovery systems 18ft aluminium slide bed and second car carrier spec lift and a remote control winch. The truck is ready and in stock at CTR Truck & Van Sales in the West Midlands. Check out all of the details on page 11 of the magazine where you'll also find details of their 2018 12-tonne Eurocargo recovery truck for sale. Click to…
The picture of a 2023 7.5 tonne Isuzu tipper shows that MV Commercials is not all about heavyweight trucks with cranes. This nearly new truck is ready to go to work with a long, nearly 20ft tipping body and is fitted with Tarmac chutes and a towball hitch. If this one is outside of your budget, then MV also have a slightly older, 2020 model available. Check out the outside back cover for more details. Click Image to Read Click to Read Page Turn Magazine Click Image to Read Use the form at the bottom of the page to add…
Most businesses with a need to move things around will start off with a van or two, as they are straightforward to drive (and find drivers for), to buy and to service. Over time, the number of vans may well grow, but is using a load of vans the most efficient way of operating when a much smaller number of trucks would do? Vans vs 7.5 tonners - Payloads When we are talking about vans, we mean light commercial vehicles that have a maximum gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes – these can be driven on a car licence and…
Lot No: 3.0 4x2 - 9.2m - Dropwell - Box MoT: 2024-09-30T00:00:00Z .VAT on Hammer: Y. Registration no:MX07KLO For Auction at Protruck, Belton, Doncaster on 2024-04-24
2018 Mitsubishi fuso 7.5 ton box truck. Tail lift, 163 ,000 kilometres, full mot, one owner, auto gear box, axle weight indicator, 18 foot box, Like new
DAF LF 180 – EURO 6 (70) 2020 – 7.5 ton GVW 20ft Box body 1000 kgs Del Column T/lift Roller shutter doors Full Air Kit Day cab – 3 seats 6 Speed Manual gearbox Approx.Km 120,395 Date registered 18.09.2020 New MOT Engine Cc 4500 – 180 Bhp Chris Hodge Commercial is London's number one dealer...
For Auction at Fleet Auction Group on 2024-05-01 Lot No: 32086.0 7.5m - BODY - LENGTH - Steer - CONFIGURATION - WITH - Air - SUSPENSION. ~ Gears: 6, Stereo: CD, Interior: Cloth, Cruise Control, Sat Nav: Yes, Phone Kit: BlueTooth, Remote Central Locking ~1VAT Status: Commercial (plus VAT) MoT:...
For Auction at Fleet Auction Group on 2024-05-01 Lot No: 40086.0 7m - BODY - LENGTH - Steer - CONFIGURATION - WITH - Spring - SUSPENSION. ~ Stereo: CD, Interior: Cloth, Cruise Control, Reversing Camera ~1VAT Status: Commercial (plus VAT) MoT: 2024-10-31. YE65BYA Lot no: 40086.0
IVECO 75-160 – EURO 6 (70) 2020 – 7.5 ton GVW Day cab – 3 seats 20ft 6ins Box Body 1000 Kgs Del T/Away Rear Roller Shutter Full Air Kit 6 Speed Manual Gearbox 97,668 approx.km. Date Registered: 17.11.2020 New MOT if required Engine Cc: 4485 - 160 Bhp Chris Hodge Commercial is...
DAF LF180, 7.5 ton, 19ft curtain, Sleeper cab, Auto, 327461 km, Cameras, DEL-Tuck under tail lift, Year of Reg 2016-16 Reg, Truck Inspected ready to go, ú12,000 + VAT.
1997 MAN 8.163 Euro 3 7.5 Ton Dropside fitted with Rear Mounted year 2016 Maxlift Crane Hardley used .Lifts 990 Kg at 1.26 mtr and 400 kg at 5.20 mtr .
For Auction at Fleet Auction Group on 2024-05-01 Lot No: 32317.0 6.2m - BODY - LENGTH - Steer - CONFIGURATION - WITH - Spring - SUSPENSION. ~ Stereo: CD, Interior: Cloth, Cruise Control, Remote Central Locking, TAILLIFT ~1VAT Status: Commercial (plus VAT) MoT: 2024-06-30. DIRECT RENTAL SP18KGO...
Truckpages always has plenty of 7.5 tonne box vans for sale because people and businesses new to buying used trucks are often those in the market for these kinds of trucks. It’s worth outlining the benefits of 7.5 tonners with box bodies here for those new to the market.
These trucks are the natural upgrade in size terms from your ‘Transit’ style commercial vehicles. Buying a 7.5 tonne box, as opposed to a slightly heavier truck, means that there are more drivers available to drive them, as people of a certain age – broadly over 50 - have ‘grandad’s rights’ to drive them...
Even though they are relatively rare trucks, you will always find a good choice of used 7.5 tonne crane trucks for sale on these pages. With relatively small payloads, these trucks are highly specialist, especially if combined with a tipping body. The weight of the crane, body and hydraulics means that payloads will be severely limited. The upside is that these 7.5 tonne crane trucks can be driven by many on their car licence and they are able to get into narrow locations that an 18 tonne version may not be able to manage. Before buying one of these trucks, consider the maximum weight you...
There's always a wide choice of used 7.5 tonne curtainsider trucks for sale on these pages. This 7.5 tonner variant is like the Swiss army knife of trucks. You can drive it down any city street, load it from all sides and even drive it on a car licence (if you are old enough). With a payload of around 3 tonnes, on a typical length 7.5 curtainside truck, you won't be carrying too much heavy cargo - if you do, then opt for the similar-looking 10 or 12 tonne versions. These curtainside trucks are more typically loaded by forklifts for speed, therefore finding examples fitted with tail lifts...
If you are looking for a refrigerated truck that can be driven on a ‘grandad’s rights’ car driving licence, then a 7.5 tonnes truck has the maximum gross weight that you can consider. A word of warning, however, you will need to be careful regarding the weight you can carry.
A refrigerated body is typically heavier than a standard box body thanks to the additional insulation material in the body and the doors. Add to this the cooling units and motors and you will soon see that the payload reduces rapidly. Add a tail lift and you’ll be lucky to be able to carry a passenger when the...
Typical buyers of the 7.5 tonne tippers for sale are builders or builder's merchant. These trucks that can have a payload of up to three tonnes are far more effective than their smaller light commercial siblings. So flexible are these lorries, that you can often find 7.5 tonne tippers fitted with caged bodies to work on waste collection. The usual specification for a standard 'under the weight' tipper truck is with steel dropsides and a front ram. Alternatives are having the hydraulic ram mounted underneath the body which gives more room behind the cab for a longer body, whilst the drop sides...
Whilst there are lots of different body types fitted to the 7.5 tonne DAF trucks for sale on these pages, the most common 7.5 tonne DAF is a standard box truck. This shows that the 7.5 tonne DAF LF (in the process of being rebranded the XB) is a popular workhorse in the fleet market. No fleet manager ever got the sack by buying a 7.5 tonne DAF LF. The question is whether they would be better buying a DAF further up the weight range – a 12 tonne DAF makes much more economic sense, since you are likely to struggle with the payload on a 7,500kgs GVW truck that weighs in at around 4 tonnes...
