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[Martin]

Looking for thoughts and opinions on the preferred (and why) chassis replacement for a series 2a 88.
Richards? Marsland ? other ?
What would you recommend

[diffwhine]

Having spent a lot of time talking with Marsland at the Malvern show, I was really impressed with them. We discussed how the chassis are built and they identified every variation appropriate for the model year I was talking about. They do a galvanised version, with an option of a heavy duty powder coat on top. Its not cheap, but ticked a lot of boxes for me. Delivery / Lead times are far better than Richards (based on the last quote I had from them) and I think the quality is spot on. I'm seriously considering a Marsland frame under my Station Wagon.

Plenty of people have had good experience with Richards and I had no problems building on a Shielder chassis two years ago, so best seek other opinions, but based on my Malvern impression, Marsland get my vote.

[GHOBHW]

also +1 on a Marsland, got one under an 88" and its perfect, about 20 years old now, still as good as new.

had 3 richards chassis, one very good, one decent, one meh. with a twisted out rigger they didn't want to know about.
plus the galv finish on them is random at best. not exactly their fault, but chunks of mine was silver spray rather than galvanising, guess it didn't stick, only noticed after I sprayed t-wash on it 

currently building one on a richards again and after the galv issues and other odd bits, the back of my mind wishes I went marsland...
but already painted it now and stuck through it. anyway enough complaining...

the 1st richards chassis I had was very good though, not a single issue and the galv was also very good on it, perfect even, so its pretty random.

[DogDave]

Really like the of being able to have the chassis powder coated on top of Galv if it will stick, saves a lot of faff painting.

[diffwhine]

Best talk to them about how they powder coat it as its a far more involved exercise than I realised. It's certainly tough which goes against my current experience of most accessories for LR which are powder coated. I'd do it, but its £500 on top. My thinking though is that if you think of the cost of paint, time, T wash, primers, blood lost and so on, is £500 on top such a costly add on?

[DogDave]

My paint bill for the 2B chassis, etch primer, base coat and top coat (which admittedly is a far bigger chunk of steel than a 88) was over £350 delivered although that included aerosols of wax to spray inside as well. Factoring in time and the number of paintbrushes that the base coat eats you would be close to 500 notes I’m sure

I will have enough paint for axles and everything else that should be black (and maybe more over) so not so bad but when it comes time to do the 109 to me £500 to have it turn up in black and just start bolting bits on is a decent price.