Vans vans vans ......

[Best]

Lovely job Shaun. Looks like a cosy office, rather than a van, but why the cheap wood used?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Lovely job Shaun. Looks like a cosy office, rather than a van, but why the cheap wood used?

Managed to used the old racking off the old van it's lasted 8 years so far And at most just need to replace the bottom and upstands if they go

 

[Best]

Managed to used the old racking off the old van it's lasted 8 years so far And at most just need to replace the bottom and upstands if they go

That makes sense. Costs a fair bit for new timber, and to no advantage. I am thinking of just buying some of the already made ply kits and racks, rather than the cost of sheets of plywood, which wouldn't be much cheaper.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

That makes sense. Costs a fair bit for new timber, and to no advantage. I am thinking of just buying some of the already made ply kits and racks, rather than the cost of sheets of plywood, which wouldn't be much cheaper.

If you want some like just bins go pre built but tend to find the shelves not very deep

 

[Scott_D]

I got ply cut to the size I wanted at the local b&q and screwed it together

 

[Harvest Fields]

I would take a picture of mine. But it's an absolute mess at the minute.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I would take a picture of mine. But it's an absolute mess at the minute.

well we know what your doing tomorrow then

 

[Harvest Fields]

well we know what your doing tomorrow then

That will be Wednesday. Only servicing until then. So hopefully I will be ok.

 

[Leo21]

I'm too tight to change my van, 10 years i've had it and I bought it for £3600 inc VAT in Jan 07

I figure a new van isn't going to make me a better plumber is it? Theres no rust on it.

I want 5 more years out of it.

What van have you got?

 

[Phil]

Just an 05 Combo, no power and sluggish as hell but cheap to run.

 

[Leo21]

Fair play, iff it ain't broke.you don't make money buying vans.

 

[Phil]

I'm too tight to change my van, 10 years i've had it and I bought it for £3600 inc VAT in Jan 07

I figure a new van isn't going to make me a better plumber is it? Theres no rust on it.

I want 5 more years out of it.

Everytime I big my old van up I'm more or less imediatley punished, I had total brake failure on Thursday. I went into town in the morning for bits and was on my way to work when at the traffic lights I was stationary with my handbrake on and was messing with my pedels to pass time. I decided to press my brake with my left foot and it felt really weird as the pedel went right down to the carpet. I thought wft that doesnt feel right so I went back to my right foot and there was no resistance and then a red warning light came on the dash and the traffic light went to green so I crept fowards and like an idiot made the decision to drive half a mile through taffic to Diesel Daves thank god it was near. Very stressful driving with only handbrake but was only doing 10 mph.

When I got there my van was doing a massive oilly wee all over the car park. The rear brake cylinder had failed. Only £72.00 to fix though, got it back at 2:30pm.

 

[Leo21]

That can happen to any van, what a result getting it fixed that cheap/quickly.

 

[Scott_D]

Can you get 3m length of pipe in transit custom?
Looked at one on the weekend but didnt pay any attention to the through loading hatch

 

[Ric2013]

Peugeot Partner. 1.9 diesel, no turbo. Struggles up hills (that's my favourite feature). 45-55mpg. Blind spots all over the place, with thick A posts, but typical for modern vehicles. Fairly simple mechanically, and has been reasonably reliable in general, but getting to the age where I have to keep replacing anything made from rubber and stuff like alternator, springs, CV boots. Just waiting for the starter to go. That said, for 116,000 miles, it's pretty good apart from gearbox synchro on most gears.

Too small a load space for a 50 gallon Polytank coffin tank.

Not the most comfortable vehicle to drive though, although the seats are quite good. My old car (Citroen 2CV6) was warm below and draughty at top so you always had fresh air on your face, this van isn't, as the air vents all give the same temperature air. The high beam and low beam is controlled by pulling the lighting stick towards you, but the same action toggles between the two, which can be confusing (but, on sidelights, the same action merely flashes the high beam). The wiper stick is equally complex. It is also obsessed with saving electricity, going into 'eco mode' for no apparent reason. Eco mode means you can't use the interior light, or listen to the radio at lunchtime. The only way to get out of eco mode is to start the engine briefly, which doesn't seem very eco.

Bodywork seems to last well, and I'm sure they will all give many years of irritating and quirky service.

EDIT. In fairness to my particular van, the coil spring did fail as I was reversing into my driveway.

 

[Best]

The old Partner/Berlingo van was a decent workhorse. It could take a few 3 metre lengths of pipe diagonally inside from passenger footwell to rear corner. A handy wee van for getting through narrow gates and driveways

 

[Ric2013]

Mine has a cage thing so I can't get 3m lengths in it. I use a roof rack, or cut 1m off pipes, depending on the circumstances.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Anyone got any ideas for off cuts of copper eg under a m long (storage)

 

[Scott_D]

Scrap them

 

[SimonG]

Short piece of soil pipe, closed off at one end and slide the bits in. I had one at one side of the old relay for pipe offcuts and one at the other with my benders in.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Scrap them

There too handy anything less than a foot I bin

 

[Harvest Fields]

Can you get 3m length of pipe in transit custom?
Looked at one on the weekend but didnt pay any attention to the through loading hatch

Yes you can but it’s a pain if you have a SWB

 

[Harvest Fields]

Short piece of soil pipe, closed off at one end and slide the bits in. I had one at one side of the old relay for pipe offcuts and one at the other with my benders in.

Same for me. But not for the bender

 

[Scott_D]

Yes you can but it’s a pain if you have a SWB

Is it a pain as you have to angle it across the floor to get 3m?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Is it a pain as you have to angle it across the floor to get 3m?

You have to lift the flap on the hatch in the bulk head and it pushes under the passenger seat. Better off fitting a pipe tube mate, in my opinion.