Iveco Daily 4x4

Today I went out with some friends to the Iveco dealership not too far from us. They were showing off the current model of the Iveco daily 4x4 double cab with pick up bed. There was a on road and a off road course. I drove the vehicle on both courses and from what I could tell it was a very well engineered vehicle. It was a good gap between general 4x4s and unimogs. It had hi and lo range with front/centre/rear diff locks and a grunty 3.0 twin turbo diesel oil burner. From what I could tell if money was not a problem this could be one of the best overland vehicle bases ever made.

http://web.iveco.com/uk/products/pages/ecodaily_4x4_features_and_benefits.aspx

the older ones are already very popular but the one problem with them (which the new ones may negate) is that they (the 4x4 versions) are usually 4 tonne gross or higher so anyone with a post 97 license (like me) would have to go and do C1 to be able to drive one in this country.

If there were some 3.5 tonne verisons kicking about at sensibel money then I would certianly be havign a look at them.

We had a downrated 5 tonne 2wd one where I used to work and that had the 3ltr @140hp and it was awesome - just very thirsty, probably the weight of it had a lot to do with it - nearly 2.7 tonnes empty!

I think the single cab version is just under or on 3.5tonne. The heviest is 5tonnes. Quite a weight. Had a look on google and there are quite a fue that have been outfitted like a camper. Sounds like a good idea. It is a very tall vehicle tho!

There's an older shape one kicking about for sale at the mo that's been camperised - it's well nice but £12K so well out of my price range even if I could drive it

You can derate them to 3.5 tonnes Chris, so no issue there, just that the payload is lower.

They are becoming popular in many markets because of their lower purchase prices, list of optional extras, and much lower running costs then the Unimog, Spain have a number as fire engines in inhospitable areas, and forestry vehicles, and many other vehicles are being sold worldwide.
Their simple turbo diesel is cheap to run, easy to repair due to a worldwide dealer network, and spares and service parts are easily accessible at much lower prices than Mercedes items.