Show me where I said regular planned maintenance will stop mechanical failure
you are correct sir, I do not really see what you’re getting at. it seems a turbo in a small passenger vehicle will soon meet it’s demise and shall be replaced when the nearest opportunity arises. and this event shall light up the correct way to foresee and prevent all mechanical ailments in any vehicle travelling on tyres inflated by air. you sir, are my hero 
Harry Monk:
Tipper Tom:
I’m simply saying that maintenance can and does prevent massive bills on breakdown.Yes, we all know that already. But even maintenance causes massive bills as for example with my needing new discs and brakes across all three axles last year. It didn’t break down, the faults were spotted in time, but there’s still a mahoosive bill for having the maintenance done.
If all your brakes went at once that’s a good thing. Modern trucks are designed to wear their brakes out evenly.
The way I see things is that if you have a good maintenance contract (not cheap, a proper service) then when something goes down you get decent cover and usually a donation towards the bill if the likes of Volvo DAF or other manufacturer specialised dealerships are looking after your vehicle. On top of that, if you’re a cheap [zb] that doesn’t want to pay for anything and you run older vehicles 06 or before then of course you’re going to have problems.
All of the factors depend on if you have a newish wagon, I’d say 59 onwards. Then on the type of contract maintenance you have.
FH Hammy:
If all your brakes went at once that’s a good thing. Modern trucks are designed to wear their brakes out evenly.
Yes, that’s what I figure, most components of the same age and mileage fail at about the same time. If I had a burst drive axle airbag, I would always get the other one replaced at the same time, although I’ve worked for plenty of people who wouldn’t, and simply face a much higher expense when the other one bursts three weeks later.
Harry Monk:
FH Hammy:
If all your brakes went at once that’s a good thing. Modern trucks are designed to wear their brakes out evenly.Yes, that’s what I figure, most components of the same age and mileage fail at about the same time. If I had a burst drive axle airbag, I would always get the other one replaced at the same time, although I’ve worked for plenty of people who wouldn’t, and simply face a much higher expense when the other one bursts three weeks later.
That makes sense, I always work to those principles, even with headlight bulbs, change one and you can guarantee you’re changing the other a couple of days later 
I’d like to be a OD in the future, so I like to read a bit about this kind of thing, so what I gather from reading this thread…
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Even if you have no issues, still put away some cash (£120 a week I think was mentioned) then in 5 weeks you will have £600 in your “Maintenance Account” if a unexpected issue arises costing just say £350, your still £250 up because you have saved for it, and continue adding to this “Maintenance Account” in case a more costly repair pops up. Is this what some of you guys do?
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Can you pay, Daf or Scania ect something like £400 a month and have them do the 4-6 weekly inspections and build some sort of “Maintenance Account” with them that could include recovery and/or mobile tyre fitter?
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Trucks are bloody expensive to run,
I don’t actually have a “maintenance account” as such, just my general business current account. I just avoid the temptation to pay myself more money simply because I have had a run of good luck and the balance is looking healthier than usual. Because if I did, and bought a fancy 4x4, sure as ■■■■ the truck turbo would blow up the very next week. 
I know Renault have a fixed deal for inspections and the cost of the MOT, it’s £150 a month, probably other makes do too, but I don’t know. This doesn’t cover any parts needed though, you’re on your own there.
I have breakdown insurance, with National Breakdown, that’s £250 a year and covers three breakdowns, two for any same thing, there’s a £35 excess for each callout. I’ve used it twice in 20 months, once to be towed in by a wrecker which would have cost me £700 ish (my clutch release bearing collapsed). So I’m glad I took that out.
Tyres I just sort out myself. If I had a blowout on the trailer, then that would be for Gregory’s to deal with, if I had one on the unit I’d just phone a commercial tyre fitter located nearby (I’d Google for one).
Trucks are expensive to run, although repairs and maintenance only account for 6-7% of my turnover so not the most major expense.
Harry Monk:
Trucks are expensive to run, although repairs and maintenance only account for 6-7% of my turnover so not the most major expense.
What percentage of your turnover goes on diesel? and I’m guessing its your biggest expense. It’s tippers I quite fancy getting into, I’ve read on this forum that some companies help OD’s out with fuel and maintenance, is this the same in the tipper industry?
If its all about budgeting then surely leasing or contract hire is the way to go? Possibly a newer truck than you could afford to buy, but with probably better fuel consumption and the knowledge that if it goes wrong it should be repaired and or replaced quickly.
For less than £400pw you could have a fully maintained truck with full R+M, tax, tyres, replacement vehicle and 24hr support.
truckntrailerman:
For less than £400pw you could have a fully maintained truck with full R+M, tax, tyres, replacement vehicle and 24hr support.
Do you think that would include replacement tyres if they were damaged on a building site, as it lots of tread left but a stone or something bursts the side wall, or is it just for tyres that are wearing out?
G6Bob:
truckntrailerman:
For less than £400pw you could have a fully maintained truck with full R+M, tax, tyres, replacement vehicle and 24hr support.Do you think that would include replacement tyres if they were damaged on a building site, as it lots of tread left but a stone or something bursts the side wall, or is it just for tyres that are wearing out?
no body covers side wall damage,
G6Bob:
What percentage of your turnover goes on diesel? and I’m guessing its your biggest expense.
Yes diesel is the greatest expense, about 40% of turnover for me. After that, it’s wages, truck finance, maintenance, insurance, and yard rental in that order.
truckntrailerman:
If its all about budgeting then surely leasing or contract hire is the way to go? Possibly a newer truck than you could afford to buy, but with probably better fuel consumption and the knowledge that if it goes wrong it should be repaired and or replaced quickly.For less than £400pw you could have a fully maintained truck with full R+M, tax, tyres, replacement vehicle and 24hr support.
This system suits me I’ve got my truck on full r n m with mercs at 550 a month this covers everything bumper to bumper except tyres the reason I prefer it is that whole figure is tax deductable from my profit at the end of the tax year where as say I put the 550 in my own pot for breakdowns stroke repairs and at the end of the year there’s say 3 grand left over that is taxable basicly it costs me around 22 quid a day or there a outs for peace of mind there’s no right or wrong way with paying or saving for maintance this is just what suits me but without doubt regular servicing and preventative maintance does minimise problems I’m with Harry on the air bag thing same with shocks etc don’t wait for so thing to break replace it before it does my trl lift axle air bag had a slight leak on the n/s but I changed the o/s one aswell only an extra 39 mins for my bloke to change them both rather than callin him back a few weeks later to change the other one
G6Bob:
truckntrailerman:
For less than £400pw you could have a fully maintained truck with full R+M, tax, tyres, replacement vehicle and 24hr support.Do you think that would include replacement tyres if they were damaged on a building site, as it lots of tread left but a stone or something bursts the side wall, or is it just for tyres that are wearing out?
It would be unusual for any supplier to cover blowouts and side wall damage on tyres but what I would recommend if your looking for contract hire on something that’s going off site and or a bit harder work, look at hiring from a hire company rather than a main dealer.
This is because at hire companies its generally a fixed price based on term and mileage for the weekly rate, where if a dealer was to quote and there doing it right they should be including costs for the off road operation / site work and any extra servicing and repairs they might expect.