Van and self employed

[joe brown]

I am currently saving for a van before i become self employed fitting bathrooms. I have a new car and was wondering would i be wasting my time saving or could i plumb from my car. I suppose i could have larger items delivered for a little extra. Just want some feedback on others who have worked from cars.

 

[newbie1]

not a hope in hell sorry

 

[helpsy]

You've got a job to get the standard materials/tools you require for a job in a van....let alone a car!!!

 

[joe brown]

helpsy that dont make sence, either that or its going over my head..lol , Can you rephrase that please.

ok ignoe that, i understand..lol , Most places deliver though...thats what i was getting at. I know that has a drawback of waiting for the deliveries..

 

[newbie1]

well i have a transit connect once you have tools/wetvac drills etc etc you havnt got a hope in hell of fitting it in the car and where are you planning on putting the 3m lengths of copper not to mention the state of your clothes after a days graft
how long have you been out plumbing???

 

[joe brown]

Point taken mate

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

i used to work out of a mondeo estate because of the wife and kids wrecked the car within a year,now i have a nice rover 75 for the family[i purposely bought a salloon not to use it]and a astra van for work,belive me mate you cant work out of a car

 

[joe brown]

cheers mate

 

[Blackcatgas]

Nothing plumbing related is allowed near my nice new car ,you will wreck it in 3mnths,also its good tobe able to get out of my tranny van all sh$$ up, have a shower, change into my nice new fashionable threads and get into my nice new clean car with my missus go out for a walk in the countryside and then drive back home and make love on a sheepskin rug infront of my Robinson Wliey Firegem Visa.

 

[traineedrip]

ive been running out of a passat estate, it`ll take 3mtr lengths of copper but you cant get everything + rads so end up tailoring the tools to suit the work.
which doesnt work! you always need something extra no matter how well youve planned it.

Theres also security, if tools are on show the could get pinched.

Its a pain but ive managed so far.... dreaming of a van constantly now though

 

[joe brown]

cant you just save up or is business that bad,

 

[andekoch]

I have been using my zafira for a while now. Luck to have another car as well.
I do find it hard to get what I need into it and need to think carefully to not leave something behind.
Security can be a problem but fortunately it parks well off the road up the drive with a blanket over the stuff (very secure you understand).

Would like to repalce this with a van at some stage but it makes a good car for going camping and dont feel like ending up with 2 cars (wifes car is a nissan note which is on the small side for a camping trip) and a van.

One option is always to get a cheep van to start with and see how that works out - probably what I will do.

 

[grahamgas]

As Helpsy says you have got a job to get all the necessary in a van.

I have a LWB Vivaro and that is always full, be it with tools materials boilers baths etc.

Think it largely depends on the work you do.Look at the BG service guys.Small little van to get their kit in.
If you are going to be doing the whole variety of plumbing and heating jobs, then get yourself a van.Also with a van all the fuel, mileage and use is business related, which is all tax deductable.

Graham

 

[joe brown]

Cheers everyone, Grahem a vivaro is exactly what i had in mind ..

 

[helpsy]

I got a vivaro swb with pipe tube and rack. Really nice vans and drive great and good on fuel.

 

[stevetheplumber]

ive had every shape and size of van over the years from a mini to a leyland fg ex gpo mobile work shop working from a car is a nightmare in all the ways previously described but worse still is a van that dont start or breaks down
its probably the one tool its worth getting a loan for

 

[pauls]

ive got a vivaro swb with my racking van vault ect i can just get a bath in maybe a toilet and basin at a push

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

ive had every shape and size of van over the years from a mini to a leyland fg ex gpo mobile work shop working from a car is a nightmare in all the ways previously described but worse still is a van that dont start or breaks down
its probably the one tool its worth getting a loan for

totally agree,a van is the one tool that must always be ready to work,its a disaster if they play up

 

[carpstu]

can you not work out the car till you can afford a van hopefully building up customers and get your bigger items delivered get a trailer for your car

 

[dean4drains]

i would also point out, it does not have to be a new van, i run a few older vans but they are very clean, not rusty and most importantly reliable. cheep D4 reg numbers on them. hay presto. just sold my oldest van a W plate astra for £900 it was like new and a also spent a few quid on it over the years as if it broken my boys cant get to jobs.

 

[mrlennie]

I work out of an escort estate it is difficult but take the tools i need and a variety of fittings it actually works out...Obviously a van would be better I suppose im saving on insurance and tax running just one vehicle?

 

[andekoch]

To update my post of a while ago. Just bought a transit connect van (second hand for 3k) and find it loads better than the zafira (car) to use as per the other posts. Now selling the zafira, since we have another car to use for family.
Getting the van was a very good move but if you cant afford it make do with the car just be careful with it.
Good luck.

 

[dieseldong]

Renault Traffic LWB.... can get the tube inside through a small cut out of bulkhead under drivers seat. And the van is always full.. not seen the floor for ages.

 

[lame plumber]

Renault Traffic LWB.... can get the tube inside through a small cut out of bulkhead under drivers seat. And the van is always full.. not seen the floor for ages.

I expect the model base has changed over the last 3 years

 

[gassafe]

I can't believe people go to customers houses working from a car or estate?

It all sounds abit rogue trader to me... No offence, you might be the best plumber in the world, but it just don't look right!

 

[lame plumber]

I can't believe people go to customers houses working from a car or estate?

It all sounds abit rogue trader to me... No offence, you might be the best plumber in the world, but it just don't look right!

what if the car is a roller

 

[Keefy]

what if the car is a roller

Then he's Charlie Mullins.

 

[mrlennie]

I know a plumber charges top dollar always got work works out of astra estate. also a decorator who charges 250 a day works 6 days a week has a zafira not saying these are the best tradesmen or anything but it certainly doesnt affect them getting work in any way.

 

[aligorgon]

I bought a Nissan Navara to work out off double cab with a snug top, kind of a middle ground solution, good enough to put the wife, baby and dogs in and go up to scotland in, and big enough for work, not perfect but a good compromise

I broke the rear window and guess how much for a replacement £720 +vat !!!!!!

 

[Griffo]

Hard work trying to do that from a car and all your gear is going to be on show, not impossible, but why dont you try selling the car to finance a cheap van, thats the way I started and build your way up as you go, same with tools, you dont need a VW Sportline to start up.

 

[gassafe]

I bought a Nissan Navara to work out off double cab with a snug top, kind of a middle ground solution, good enough to put the wife, baby and dogs in and go up to scotland in, and big enough for work, not perfect but a good compromise

I broke the rear window and guess how much for a replacement £720 +vat !!!!!!

Daylight robbery! Hope the insurance covers it! Then it's just a small excess!