Outdoor Residential finds NPR 55’s size and features irresistible
At the crack of dawn, Cameron McDonald and the team at Outdoor Residential are already out on the road in Sydney’s North Shore, ready for a full day of landscaping and garden care.
With a dual-axle tandem trailer hooked up to their NPR 55-155 Tipper (upgraded from Isuzu’s 4.5-tonne model for extra oomph), McDonald says the crew are ready to get down to business before the sun gets too high in the sky.
“I’m up at 5.30am on the computer, organising our runs for the day and getting the crew scheduled in,” he said.
“We look after around 250 gardens and properties around here on the North Shore, from lawns to landscaping and horticultural maintenance for places like a retirement village over in Chatswood. We’re also licensed to do structural landscaping.
“It’s so rewarding putting the time into a business like this, doing something I’m passionate about. Some of my clients have been with me for almost 25 years.”
Graduating from mowing lawns, he bought two utes and trailers to set up the business.
But, as demand took off, particularly with the pandemic, he was faced with a well-known dilemma: buy another ute and trailer combo, or upgrade to a truck?
McDonald and his dad explored a few brands around town, checking in with Gilbert and Roach Isuzu in Huntingwood for a look at the NPR 55-155 tipper.
It was the professional dealership staff at Gilbert & Roach who sealed the deal, following up their initial visit with a live video demonstration, showing them a range of fit-for-purpose options and tipper features in action.
“I wasn’t too sure about what size truck I needed, wanting something that was big enough to haul our equipment and tow a trailer, but small enough to get around town and park in our client’s driveways,” McDonald recalled.
Plainly, he was looking for a bit more than what a ute could offer in this quest.
“One of the key things we needed was the space to have an all-in-one unit where we could turn up to a job with all the essential tools on hand,” he continued.
“The dealership organised a tray roll back to fit an extra-large toolbox between the cab and tray, they put on a bullbar for me, a reverse camera and organised a cover to put over the top of loads.”
The NPR tipper is packed with features that Outdoor Residential team are finding extremely handy and comfortable to work with.
“The auto-release tailgate and drop sides are a real time saver,” McDonald said.
“We’re constantly at the tip, so being able to just reverse back and release is great.
“The reverse camera and motor mirrors on either side mean visibility is good, especially when you’re hooking up a trailer.
“It’s got decent storage behind the centre console, plus the extra width in the NPR cabin makes it easier for three big guys with bags and all our day-to-day stuff to fit in.
“It’s just a no-dramas type of truck. And with the wrap on, it’s got some presence on the road, generating a bit of business for us.”