Renault Load Master 150

 

The third vehicle needs to be quite different. With such a large area we may need to move rapidly a long way from home and out of radio contact with Base. As the M6 runs through the patch a load carrying big white van cruiser was our choice.

It needed to fulfil three roles; personnel and kit carrier, advanced control and shelter.

As a personnel and kit carrier we wanted to carry 9 fully equipped personnel in air craft style seats plus a full set Team Kit, generator, additional Search Management materials.

As an advanced control we needed to convert it to an office complete with great communications, good sized table, good light and wall maps.

As a shelter we wanted to be able to stay away in remote areas indefinitely to act as a warm, catering roomy space.

The choice of a Renault was dictated by its size (it had to fit our garage at base, especially height!!), availability of side sliding doors, power and gearing. We carried out considerable research into the Loadmaster and the local dealerships before we opted for the big 150 BHP 6 speed version. After 2 years we have few regrets. See the video.

It certainly does what it says on the backdoor swallowing up everything we throw at it. The Renault is a supreme motorway cruiser and can wiggle up the back lanes. We have to remember that it is front wheel drive when it gets parked up on the soft stuff and that its ground clearance being so long is limited.

The Renault was professionally converted with most of our expectations achieved. However, we have had a few problems that included poor battery capacity on the split charging system. This was solved with replacing the second battery with an enormous deep cycle yacht battery.

We also have had the opportunity to carry out a lot of minor tweaks as unfortunately the Renault was involved in a minor RTI and our insurers (NFU) have replaced it with a newer version that is currently in fit out.