Travelling Tradie hits the road

Gary Harris has been a carpenter for 45 years and an all-round handyman, he’s forged a reputation as a tradie who will travel extreme distances to get a job done.

To Gary, few areas are too remote, and few jobs too small or unusual for him to consider.

In September 2016 Gary decided to start Travelling Tradie — the Door Specialist, his own venture, and embrace life on the road.

“I am my own boss and I have all the freedom I want, going anywhere I want. It’s the life I’ve always wanted,” Gary said.

With his Isuzu NPR 45-155 Tradepack, Gary not only takes his skills and his tools on the road, but also uses his work truck to tow his caravan as he moves across the country with his beloved travel companions, a Jack Russell Terrier named Bella and a Cockatiel named Jacko.

“If I find somewhere nice to stop, I look to stay there for a month or so. Then I’ll post notices advertising my services, letting the locals know what I can offer,” he says.

The decision to buy an Isuzu wasn’t an accident—but it was the result of one.

“Two years ago, I had a head-on collision in my ute.” Gary said.

After the ute was written off, Gary decided he needed something that had the power to tow as well as excellent safety features.

“This was a pretty serious accident, and it reminded me that weight and loading was a serious issue. My old ute just wouldn’t have been able to handle a 3.5-tonne caravan.

“But an Isuzu truck can. Plus, with a truck, you’re a lot higher up, which is really important to me.”

Safety is also a key feature of the NPR 45-155 Tradepack, which comes with Isuzu Electronic Stability Control (IESC), ABS, Anti-Skid Regulator (ASR), and driver and passenger airbags.

The Travelling Tradie has put the NPR through its paces in terms of durability, power and drivability too.

“It’s been everywhere; I’ve driven it for long stretches. I’ve given it a good trial way out west as well, driving it along developing roads. You don’t see many Isuzus broken down on the side of the road either,” declares Gary.

Isuzu’s NPR 45-155 Tradepack has a gross vehicle mass of 4500kg, power of 114kW at 2600rpm and torque of 419Nm at 1600 to 2600rpm.

Needless to say, the NPR has more than enough power and durability for Gary’s work and towing purposes, but it’s more than just a reliable workhorse.

“It’s so bloody good to drive—far easier to drive than the other trucks I’ve had in the past,” he said.

“My Isuzu is everything I had imagined and more. The cab’s very comfortable, Bella loves it too,” he added.

“Especially for towing my caravan, there’s no better option out there. I’ve even been recommending this truck!”