Isuzu Tradepack for work and play

While COVID-19 might have put the brakes on many industries, for WA-based boutique commercial landscaper Ben Van Ryt it's been full steam ahead – so much so that he traded in his ute and trailer for an Isuzu NPR 45-155 Tradepack.

Ben is the managing director of Van Ryt Industries, which pivoted from general carpentry some years back to focus on landscaping, and in particular larger projects like nature playgrounds. The switch meant Ben needed to upscale his operation and its equipment, and the new Isuzu – with six-speed automated manual transmission and in a medium wheelbase – was a logical choice.

After driving past an Isuzu NPR 45-155 AMT Tradepack with Isuzu's genuine bull bar two years ago, Ben said to himself, "Yep, that’s me for sure."

The model belongs to Isuzu's pre-bodied Ready-to-Work range, so it came complete with all the application-specific features Ben needed.

With an aluminium tray, galvanised ladder racks, integrated load restraint anchor points, removable drop sides and rear tailgate, as well as the genuine Isuzu bullbar and a 3500kg rated towbar, Ben says the Tradepack was perfect for his requirements.

The truck has a car-licence-friendly 4500kg GVM and 8000kg GCM, and with 114kW at 2600rpm and 419Nm available from 1500 to 2600rpm, Ben says the NPR 45-155 Tradepack has all the grunt he needs for transporting heavy loads of timber.

In additional to carrying all his tools, the truck also features a 1.5-tonne crane to assist in moving heavy jarrah wood around worksites.

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Ben says he really appreciates the ease of driving the truck, which is highly maneuverable.

"The other day we couldn't get the excavator into one of our worksites, so I pulled up with the Tradepack and used the crane to lift 600kg logs around and over the footpath and into the playground," he says.

"With the Tradepack, it's almost like driving a go-kart… I can literally pull up anywhere and do a U-ey. It certainly makes grabbing the morning coffee very easy!"

And with his experience in speedway racing, Ben says the Isuzu's smart and professional looks represent yet another drawcard for his business.

"A massive thing in car racing—and any other industry—is good presentation; it lets everyone know you're prepared and ready to do well," he says.

"The Isuzu presents as a really neat truck on top of being the workhorse it is. The other Japanese brands just don't really present the same.

"We rock up looking a million bucks, tires shining, flawless sign writing, washed truck and then we produce work of the same top quality. That's how I've gone about my business and so far, it's going pretty well!"

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, business is powering on for Van Ryt Industries, with the company recently experiencing its busiest month ever.

Ben credits his step up to the Isuzu NPR 45-155 Tradepack as a major factor in that success.

"I think if it wasn't for this truck and the set-up I've got now, I don't think Van Ryt Industries would be half the business it is," he said.

"My Tradepack is pretty much my one-stop shop. It has all my Milwaukee tools in there, literally every single tool in their catalogue.

"Whatever I need to do or get can be forked onto the back of the truck; timber can be packed onto the roof; there are so many options with what you can do.

"We've put a generator on the back together with a solar set-up, so now we're always covered by 240-volt power and the batteries are always charging.

"The truck is just everything you could dream of as an employer or worker. Everything is just set up well, and wherever you go, you're ready to go, get the job done right and make some money."