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jezhermer



Member Since: 30 Mar 2015
Location: Dorset
Posts: 49

United Kingdom 
CROSSWAY Style
I am very conscious not to be classed as a spammer.. And I don't know how the moderators will view this.. I may get booted off!

But, following the interest that was previously shown on the CROSSWAY 600 BHP thread that's now in the 'Off Topic' forum I thought I might try to garner some genuine (no holds barred) feedback here as regards the new 'non armoured' cab style for the CROSSWAY pickup. Last week we were lucky to be featured in the Sunday Times business section.. And there's been one helluva hullabaloo since.. We had to take on an extra member of staff to handle the calls and e-mails! What became clear is that there may be a more broad market for CROSSWAY.. Other than just armoured or highly specialist. We have been asked to produce a general pickup version and below is our design team's first efforts.

I know what I think... But I'd be fascinated to hear the comments.. Good or bad on here.

To me... CROSSWAY needs a modular cab.. A fold down windscreen and doors and bulkheads that can be removed. A wash out with a hosepipe, heavy duty design.. No nonsense and no bullsh*t... Loads of power and axles like a locomotive.. All of which it currently has in the defence version.. I'll also post images of that one later...

But... Against a brief we had last week tell me what you think of what you see below. It doesn't have a folding windscreen or pull off doors .. But the rear pickup load bed would be modular and you'd be able to swap it for a flat bed, a box body or whatever.. Very easily. It would be either 3.2 diesel or 5.0 litre petrol V8 both with six speed auto / tiptonic or six speed manual options.



Click image to enlarge
Post #417695 20th Apr 2015 7:02pm
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apt100



Member Since: 05 Mar 2015
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 1547

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
Honest answer is I think it looks terrible - but to be fair I am not really a potential customer so what I think doesn't matter.

I do wish you good luck and it is good to hear of a British engineering company doing well Thumbs Up
Post #417702 20th Apr 2015 7:14pm
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jezhermer



Member Since: 30 Mar 2015
Location: Dorset
Posts: 49

United Kingdom 
Apt100....

Many thanks... I don't mind what you think and I appreciate your candour. I genuinely value it. As I said... I know what I think... And I'll divulge that in due course
Post #417703 20th Apr 2015 7:22pm
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g-mack



Member Since: 07 Jan 2014
Location: northumberland
Posts: 1967

United Kingdom 
looks like something for the U.S market to me Very Happy not to keen to be honest My 109 thread

my youtube channel
Post #417705 20th Apr 2015 7:24pm
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mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142

United Kingdom 
who would buy one of these and how much would it cost?

if you reproduce what make the defender great (i.e. some of the things you mention) with upgrades (like you mention) and still make it cost effective (i.e. less than a defender - you dont have the name afterall) then maybe; and thats all betting that the next "defender" from land rover isnt going to be at all like that and therefore give up this market entirely.

.... oh and it needs to look less like a dogs dinner. honestly the front end is terrible. Thumbs Up
Post #417709 20th Apr 2015 7:29pm
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jezhermer



Member Since: 30 Mar 2015
Location: Dorset
Posts: 49

United Kingdom 
This is the standard concept for the cab... Fully modular... Fold down screen etc

Click image to enlarge
Post #417711 20th Apr 2015 7:30pm
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jezhermer



Member Since: 30 Mar 2015
Location: Dorset
Posts: 49

United Kingdom 
The current armoured station wagon style..



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Post #417714 20th Apr 2015 7:36pm
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shaggydog



Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3347

United Kingdom 1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue
Try some more reasonable steel wheels - something like a standard modular or wolf wheels - I can never take a working truck seriously if it has alloys, just doesn't look right.

I think it looks good, but a little too much influence from America, looks a bit too much like a dodge pickup to me.

To be honest I think your on to a winner, but that front end is a bit gopping. Works fine as a shovel for moving vehicles blocking the road but as a civvy vehicle I think its a bit over the top. Especially in criminal hands Shocked

Maybe try looking more at a flatter maybe Ford F150/discovery front end which is still purposeful and "powerful" looking without looking to much like a weapon of war? Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197

Self confessed mileage hunter Very Happy
Post #417715 20th Apr 2015 7:39pm
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Fatboy Slim



Member Since: 04 Feb 2008
Location: Bridgend
Posts: 1006

Wales 
What's the underneath and suspension like ? Give it to me for a week on a mine and I'll soon tell you if it's any good or not Laughing . The modular body and choice of engines look good. The one thing LR has (in my opinion) cocked up on in recent years is a lack of a decent sized diesel engine. Since the Td5 they have been hugely underpowered for the type of vehicle they are.
Post #417717 20th Apr 2015 7:45pm
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dozerman



Member Since: 09 Nov 2014
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 101

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Indus Silver
Looks too polished to me, as though it is trying to fit in with/take on mass produced American trucks (which I don't think it ever will as your business doesn't appear to be aimed in that direction fortunately). I would stick to the more basic utilitarian slab sided purposeful look of your current design, with a possible tweak of the front end styling to make it appear a bit more 'attractive'. The swage lines and stepped window are purely design points that add to the cost of production and increase cost of repair and to my eye detract from what the vehicle is - I would personally forget them and build it out of stuff that has to be there for a reason. Basic is great when it comes to the design of utility vehicles and that is the appeal to consumers away from the target market - it looks different because it is!! (I also think the cab looks massive and the load-bed tiny, which is crap from a real world truck point of view).
There will be a market for trucks like yours that are under 3.5 tonnes when built up with MEWPs in the near future from utility companies who can no longer get hold of Land Rovers (obviously you are aware of this!). You are going to do well I reckon - can I have a job please?!!!
Post #417725 20th Apr 2015 8:00pm
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jezhermer



Member Since: 30 Mar 2015
Location: Dorset
Posts: 49

United Kingdom 
Fatboyslim...

You'd be familiar with the suspension.. It's coils and radius arms.. But our own design and V V heavy duty. Eibach make bespoke, progressive springs for us... Good to 5.5 tonnes. We run either FOX adjustable dampers all round or specially designed Bilstein units.. Twin shocks on the rear.

We build our own axles. Good to 5 tonnes each! Locking diffs and variable diff ratio as required.

We run 4x2 permanent with electronically selectable 4x4 and hi / lo ratio. Wheels are bespoke... 17" and rated to 1750 kg a corner.. Tyres vary but 285/65/R17 are standard. Brakes are bespoke by Alcon.. We need the 17" wheels to house them.. Six or 8 pot fronts and four or six pots rear. ABS and stability control optional. Central tyre inflation system optional.

We've been asked to build sub terrain chassis for a Canadian mining company.. With wet disk brakes.
Post #417726 20th Apr 2015 8:03pm
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munch90



Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: guildford
Posts: 3558

England 
Whats the body made of ?
suspension? Coils ?
axles , rigid or independent?
Post #417729 20th Apr 2015 8:09pm
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jezhermer



Member Since: 30 Mar 2015
Location: Dorset
Posts: 49

United Kingdom 
Dozerman....

I hear you... and I'm kinda with you... but I don't want to declare my hand yet... This is ace.. it's essentially what we do at design meetings.. but with hundreds of you! This is only stage one... design concept one... There could be a hundred of these! All comments well received...

Dozerman...

this one's for you....



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Post #417738 20th Apr 2015 8:20pm
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jezhermer



Member Since: 30 Mar 2015
Location: Dorset
Posts: 49

United Kingdom 
Munch 90...

Body is aluminium and GRP (phenolic resin on E glass).. unless it's armoured - in which case... 6mm Armox 600 armoured steel
Post #417740 20th Apr 2015 8:26pm
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dozerman



Member Since: 09 Nov 2014
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 101

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Indus Silver
That's the direction I think you would do well to follow! You don't need subtle in a work truck...
Post #417741 20th Apr 2015 8:26pm
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