Tradie swaps ute for Isuzu Servicepack

Justin Moore from JLM Plumb’N’Gasfit runs a modest domestic plumbing and maintenance business.

The business was established in 2016 in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, specialising in all general plumbing and maintenance (in addition to heating and cooling), and has now grown to accommodate an apprentice and a subcontractor.

A typical day for Justin includes anywhere between four and eight plumbing jobs. Justin handles the emergencies (most with less than an hour’s notice), and his crew handle all the other quoted jobs.

Justin dashes around all day helping his customers out with unexpected emergencies or urgent projects, and he needs to bring all his gear with him. To do that, he needs a sturdy, reliable workhorse that will get him and all his equipment from job to job, while being versatile and compact enough to navigate the busy and sometimes tight suburban streets of Melbourne.

Justin said that his old ute was being constantly pushed to its limits, especially with what he had to bring with him from job to job.

And that was when Justin saw a preview for the Isuzu NLR 45-150 Servicepack X online and thought to himself, “This is exactly the vehicle I’m looking for.”

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Explaining his preference for the Servicepack X, Justin said, “It’s a cross between a ute and a van. But it’s not as creepy as a van, and it’s just far better than a ute.

He headed to Westar Truck Centre in Campbellfield, Victoria, and became one of the first in Australia to drive an NLR 45-150 AMT Servicepack X from the Ready-to-Work range. Justin’s NLR Servicepack X features a two-pedal automated manual transmission (AMT), a genuine Isuzu bullbar and a reverse camera, that helps him get out of tight spots.

And with his NLR Servicepack X coming with a pre-built body that’s also covered by the truck’s three-year warranty, Justin could get back to work straight away.

Justin said: “I could just pick the truck up and start work the next day, no stuffing around fitting it out and no downtime.”

Asked what his former ute couldn’t do that Justin needed it to do, he added: “The biggest issue with my ute was space and weight.

“With the nature of my work, I need a vehicle that can handle the weight of all my equipment and still have storage to spare.

“Because at any given time, I’ve got hand tools, power tools, fittings and parts—and a lot of them are brass or copper, so that starts to add up in weight. And in addition to all of that, I have to bring with me a high-pressure water jet for cleaning sewers.

“I need a payload capacity of at least a tonne, all without the vehicle putting up a struggle, and a truck is the only option for that.

“I need to be able to have everything on me all day… I can’t afford to be constantly going to and from suppliers to get materials.

“I need to be a mobile workshop, and be able to pull up to jobs and solve the issue immediately,” Justin said.

The NLR 45-150 Servicepack X light-duty truck has a GVM of 4.5 tonnes and a GCM of 8 tonnes, which means it can easily transport everything he needs for any job.

And not only that, but all Isuzu NLR 45-150s can be driven on a car licence, meaning Justin doesn’t need to specially get a truck licence.

“Not having to go for a course or pay for your employee go through a course is great, because that’s less downtime, which affects the business.

“This truck means anyone can jump in it and start driving, and it feels like driving a car,” added Justin.

JLM Plumb’N’Gasfit takes on jobs beyond Melbourne’s inner city suburbs, and Justin finds himself having to travel more than 800 kilometres a week, on all types of terrain.

Justin described the types of roads he often finds himself on.

“A lot of dirt roads; rural, off-the-track lanes; driveways that are borderline four-wheel drive tracks; farm properties across paddocks; and plenty of freeway… The truck gets a flogging.”

“Honestly, I wouldn’t bother getting utes again, even for apprentices or employees… I’d be putting them in an Isuzu truck,” Justin said.

“A lot of things still surprise me, 10 years into plumbing. I’m constantly learning and having to problem-solve.

“But when it comes to the Isuzu, there’s no doubting or stressful thinking required.”