Romsey Tree Surgeons has taken delivery of a new 3.5-tonne FUSO Canter 3C13 from South of England Mercedes-Benz dealership Marshall Truck and Van.
The vehicle has a high-sided tiping body built by Solent Bodybuilders and Repairs as well as a toolbox with locking shutter doors on both sides with a mesh-sided tray fitted beneath the body for carrying signage and equipment. The FUSO is fitted with a hitch for towing a wood chipper, too.
Owner Ross Woodley, bought the company’s first Canter in 2004. His most recent Canter has a comfort day cab and a 130hp 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine.
Woodley said: “I buy a new Canter every three years, and always have two at any one time – my other truck has been on the road since 2015. When they’re due for change I sell them privately. We don’t do a lot of miles but when I come to replace them I’m always impress by their residual values.”
He claims the Canter’s appeal lies in its strength and rugged durability provided by its ladder-frame chassis: “Most of its 3.5-tonne competitors are based on vans, which aren’t robust enough for our operation.”
The firm also operates a Mercedes Citan, again supplied by Marshalls Truck and Van.
“They handle all of the liaison and movements with the bodybuilder, while we also utilise FUSO Service Contracts – we drop the vehicles off at the end of the day and the work’s done overnight so we’re ready to roll again next morning.”
