Another Van thread

[Gazzer]

For the last 10 years I have made do with estate cars and an MPV due to personal circumstances. Its now approaching a time where I need to change car anyway and a van is high on the list.
Now I dont want to get into the brand slanging that usually happens when discussing vans but more the size of van that I can get away with.

My criterea is ....
This will be my only vehicle
3 seats minimum
Diesel engine
One side door (not 2)


Now can I get away with a smaller van or a Transit size. Its not often I carry Plasterboard or large sheet materials but it would be nice to have the option. A smaller van should give better fuel economy than a larger one.
If I undersize myself with the van then I am limited, If I oversize then I either have a half empty van or end up carrying too much !!

I really cant work out which way to go with this. Any thoughts ?

 

[peteablard]

I've got a 54 plate swb Renault Trafic which matches all your criteria (which was pretty much the same criteria as I had), I've had it 2 years now and it's been the best van I've ever had. It's got 135k on the clock now and still runs like a dream.

 

[Ian]

I changed from an Astra van to a vivaro about 2 1/2 years ago, I could never have anything smaller now. It's so handy for other things as well as the tiling side of things. The biggest benefit I'd say is the weight it can carry, 1000kg, handy for big stone jobs.


Sent via Tapatalk for iPhone 5

 

[nybor62]

ive had various vehicles , transits mitsubishi l 200 combo van, at present i have a ford focus estate i can get all i need init , i do mainly commercial work so dont carry tiles or adhesive, all delivered to site, saying that , i quite fancy a merc vito

 

[Gazzer]

I am pretty much convinced to go for this size van (Trafic) but I cant help thinking if it will be too much. In the past I have had all size vans and made them work well.

 

[peteablard]

I've just been over to Guernsey in mine, it came in at 3.5t on the weigh bridge fully loaded with materials but you would never have known it was carrying that much weight

 

[White Room]

I find with my Transit that the more room you have more you seem to fill it....but the Vivaro type vans many guys have said it's driving a car.

 

[Bubblecraft]

Transit MWB to take 8'x4' sheets. A good Mk6 you could get for around £1500. A Mk7 MWB will set you about £4k.
Gives you the side door & 3 seats. A Mk7 will give you the advantage of 6 speed to save on fuel costs & you can get all the mod cons like heated windscreen, sat nav etc.
Transit all the way for me

 

[Dave H]

I agree whitebeam, never seems enough space, we run two vw transporters,
brilliant vans, expensive to buy but also hold onto their value more than other vans.

 

[Alan.P]

I'm in the same predicament or similar, off to buy a van today, torn between size, it's either going to be a Fiat Ducato, or Astra van or Berlingo, we will see what I end up with

 

[Turkish tiler]

I have got transporter T5 drives like car 225k on clock still goes 85 to 90 mph on motorway full tank of diesel give 550 miles

 

[Alan M]

iv got a new berlingo.
its a great van. 1 side door.
roof rack for sheets
the pasenger bulkhead lower section drops down for long lengths of moulding etc. or a half sheet .
id love a bigger van but i would bring too much stuff.

i find th enew berlingo a nice bit bigger then the old berlingo.

 

[Gazzer]

I'm in the same predicament or similar, off to buy a van today, torn between size, it's either going to be a Fiat Ducato, or Astra van or Berlingo, we will see what I end up with

We`re waiting !!!!

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

I Have just swapped my old Peugeot Expert for a 07 Transit 2.2D sport van, well pleased with it up to now. I have had all types of vans in the past, bigger and smaller. As said the bigger the van the more you fill it, my next task is to empty the Peugeot, and take out the safe so I can fit it in the Transit, I hope I can keep the Transit a bit more tidy than I did the Peugeot. My vans have always been a standing joke with my local tile shops, I win the most overloaded van prize every year.:yikes:

 

[John Benton]

I Have just swapped my old Peugeot Expert for a 07 Transit 2.2D sport van, well pleased with it up to now. I have had all types of vans in the past, bigger and smaller. As said the bigger the van the more you fill it, my next task is to empty the Peugeot, and take out the safe so I can fit it in the Transit, I hope I can keep the Transit a bit more tidy than I did the Peugeot. My vans have always been a standing joke with my local tile shops, I win the most overloaded van prize every year.:yikes:

You just need a bigger safe for all that cash you earn Phil

I wish I enough £20 notes to make them look untidy.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

You just need a bigger safe for all that cash you earn Phil

I wish I enough £20 notes to make them look untidy.

:lol: I wish too John

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

Well i have a traffic 54 plate too its been a great van and would recommend them ,BUT last week it cost me £260 for a new alternator fitted , and this week well today its failed the MOT, so tomorrow its back -in for repair and MOT pass, and i expect it to cost me about £250 !! all while work is slow :yikes: and christmas is round the corner

 

[Peter]

Got a SWB Connect. Great running and reliable but wish I'd got something a bit bigger now. Something like a Transporter would probably be the best balance, with a tow bar and roof rack just incase.

 

[enduro]

Got a Peugeot Expert 2.0 HDI fantastic van.

 

[Minesacarling]

Got a Peugeot Expert 2.0 HDI fantastic van. View attachment 47346

That's what I've just bought but I'm struggling with ideas to kit it out because of the 2 sliding doors

 

[Peter]

Could always shelve over one of the doors and block it off.

 

[Ian]

As [MENTION=5786]Wingn[/MENTION] has suggested, have shelving facing outwards on one of the doors, for all your everyday bits and pieces. A bit like this

 

[Bubblecraft]

I did that with my Mk6 tranny as I could get full access via the side door as I had a full length internal glass rack

 

[widler]

Got rid of l200, loved it but no room for gear,got myself a lovely silver 09 vito,nice van. Need to build racking though

 

[thfc191]

Hi i have 56 nissan primastar 85k , had a bad sqeaking noise when i went over speed bumps had to replaced 2 new plates that the ball joints sit on last year both sides , got the parts from eurpoarts £160 plus mechanics fees , went for a mot this year failed saying 1 plate has too much play so went back to euro parts and as they were a year and 4 weeks they wont do any thing , so had to but 2 new nissan plates £270 plus mechanics fees again , so lesson learnt i wont be buying major parts for the van other than manufactures , guys who have the trafic vivaro primaster be careful of this and also i have heard if you get a engine management light come up with injector problems beware this is expensive changing injectors