Isuzu edge for Brisbane landscaper

When it came time for Brisbane-based landscaper, Revive Landscape Construction, to expand its fleet, owner Mariner Rood turned to Isuzu and, more specifically, an Isuzu FSR 140-260 Tipper.

Now, six weeks after taking delivery of the new truck, Rood says it’s delivering for the business on many fronts, from its payload and capability to its safety and comfort.

“The ISRI seat is awesome,” he says, before listing the heated side mirrors on foggy mornings, the wide lens and microphone on the reversing camera, and the “super-quiet” cab among the truck’s many benefits.

“It’s really comfortable and perfect for the job.”

Fresh venture

Rood established the landscaping construction company just a couple of years ago after being made redundant, and says he’s now focusing on expanding the operation, with more staff and equipment in the pipeline.

The new Isuzu is a pivotal part of that process, the newcomer replacing a small and ageing predecessor that wasn’t “cutting the butter” for Rood and his two apprentices.

“It’s right in between the largest size and the smaller variant, so it’s great for those tight access jobs around town,” he says. “I do a lot of demolition work for jobs and it helps us get rid of a lot of product that we don’t want on-site.”

The new tipper, purchased through Brisbane Isuzu, arrived in time to help Rood and his team tackle soil and turf preparation for Brisbane’s Mount Gravatt TAFE.

“We’re working on couple of hundred square metres of turf and landscaped garden area and will move around 30 cubic metres of topsoil and other material over the next couple of days,” he says.

Varied work

The company does an even mix of residential and commercial landscaping around Brisbane, north to the Sunshine Coast and the town of Cherbourg and south to the Gold Coast.

With a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 14,000kg and a Gross Combined Mass (GCM) of 21,000kg, the FSR Tipper easily handles a full load of construction rubble and towing earthmoving equipment, including the firm’s 2.5-tonne Terex Posi-Track.

The FSR’s six-cylinder Isuzu 6HK1-TCC engine, meanwhile, takes the payloads and Brisbane’s often hilly terrain in its stride, producing 191kW at 2400rpm and 761Nm at 1450 to 2400rpm.

And with safety features including an anti-lock braking system (ABS), anti-skid regulator (ASR), hill start aid (HSA), cab tilt warning (CTW) and a low-light capable reversing camera, the FSR also does its bit to keep Rood and his team safe.

Efficiency plus

Rood also says the new tipper can carry and tow a lot more than his former ute.

“There are less trips, less hours you've got to spend on the road,” he said.

“That's pretty much the reason I bought it…I don’t have to go to the tip before I go and pick up the bobcat. I can just fill the truck up, put the trailer on, chuck the machine on, and I can go home from there.”

Even the rapid 20-second raise/lower time is playing a part, enabling Rood to get in and out of locations quickly. “The up and down time on the tips, it’s pretty efficient,” he says.

Emerging theme

The new Isuzu FSR joins a 1995 Isuzu NKR on the Revive fleet.

“It’s a solid little work vehicle,” he said. “I think it’s got over 300,000km on it, and it hasn’t skipped a beat yet.”

The dependability of his Isuzus, both old and new, will likely point Rood back to Isuzu when further additions are required.

“More staff, more of the fleet,” he said of his expansion plans. “Only onwards and upwards.”