Van dilemma!

[TerryH]

Gentlemen,
After several months in transition from aircraft mechanic, through a City & Guilds Tech Cert 2 in plumbing to my present position, I have been using my trusty C-max.

Things have changed, though and now I need a van if I'm to have any credibility at all. I'm sick of loading and unloading all the tools and equipment, taking the seats in and out....

So..... what van would you recommend for a jobbing plumber?
I was thinking of somethng mid-sized that I can garage. Central locking, side door (?) roof rack...... that sorta thing.
Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Terryh

 

[Phil]

whatever you do don't end up with a rust infested dirty white van, they are ten a penny and look rubbish.
Do what I did and get a decent ex-post office Vauxhall Combo and get it properly sign written in white and blue, Rhino Bars and pipe tube from Demarvan and your sorted.

 

[TerryH]

Cheers, Phil,
I think you are right. Peopledeserve more than a grubby rust bucket pulling up outside their houses...... and first impressions are very important.
Thanks... by the way, how did you buy your van.... is there a web-site for old PO vans?
Thanks again.

 

[Phil]

There's no website that I know of, but I got mine (2005 1.3 turbo diesel) earlier this year for £3,700 with 25,000 miles. They are over £10,000 brand new so let some other mug pay the depreciation, I had to buy a new front bumper, wheelarch trims, hub caps and give it a good T-cut, change the oil etc, now it looks and drives brand new.

 

[TerryH]

Thanks again, Phil.I'll pick up some of the Auto-trader types of magazine and see what they have to offer.
As you say a few simple bolt on bits, some oil and off you go.
Terryh

 

[greenday]

im using my bmw touring estate. nice car gonna get a merc vito traveliner with vinyl wrapping.

 

[Phil]

I used to have a Mercedes Vito, good to drive but do you really need something that big?, I was always bumping and scraping it.

 

[fizzput]

I think you'll always fill what you have....parts alone to save trips to merchants can take up serious space...I drive a transit and like the fact you can use it a bit like a mobile workshop with the space available inside, had a connect previously and it could get a little too cramped..

 

[ajs heating]

have to agree with fizzput, you'll always fill it up

if you do as i do specilize in drainage and 24 hour call outs you need the stock to cover a wide range of jobs.
in the end i moved my drainage side into another van.

 

[TerryH]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking along the lines of a Peugeot Expert/Fiat Scudo size. I know if I went for something as large as the Vito I would just fill it with junk and never find what I wanted. So I guess a mis sized van will be adequtae.
Also it depends on the sort of work you prefer as to the tools you need, horses for courses.
TH

Have to sell the c-max first. The garage offered £5.2k p/ex Taking the p@@@

 

[razal]

There isnt a van made imo that beats the VW Transporter, built like a tank , reliable, economic, and a pleasure to drive.

I always say to anyone I know, if they pull up in an estate car, pretend you aint in !

Ask yourself what you would think if someone came to do a job of plumbing in your house in one, before you made that career change ?