First van

[hotrod]

Looking about for a second hand van in good condition that I can use for my new career, have seen quite a few Citroen belingos and Renault kangoos at a good price with reasonable mileage, are these likely to be suitable or a little on the small side, obviously starting out want to keep running costs to a minimum as I know it's going to be hard going but equally don't want to buy something and need to replace in 12 months if I can avoid it. Would be interested in people's thoughts on their suitability
thanks
rod

 

[charlie1]

Small van will be fine if you won't be carrying 8x4's or loads of tiles, if its just your tools then you will be ok, hey, I could get away with using a car for most of my jobs!

 

[DGJ]

Will you just be tiling or are you Multi skilled and will look to do bathroom refurbs etc?If so then I would look for a van a little larger, you don't want to turn work away in future because the job is to big????


Edit- when I say "only tiling" that's not meant to offend any one as tiling is a damn hard trade and can make or break the finish, just meant if your going to be a multi treadesman a bigger van might be more adequate

 

[RDTiling]

I'm facing a similar situation myself hotrod, as the van is probably the most expensive 'tool' I need to buy, and want to make sure I get it right, so that it lasts me at least a couple of years until I get the business established.

I'm drawn towards a kangoo, berlingo or possibly an Astra van, but not many going at the moment at a reasonable price with a good mileage.

 

[Ian]

I had an Astravan for the first 3 years when I went self employed, it did the job but, I'd recommend something with a side sliding door, the area at the back of an Astravan is essentially dead space as you have to empty the back to get to it.

 

[hotrod]

Will you just be tiling or are you Multi skilled and will look to do bathroom refurbs etc?If so then I would look for a van a little larger, you don't want to turn work away in future because the job is to big????


Edit- when I say "only tiling" that's not meant to offend any one as tiling is a damn hard trade and can make or break the finish, just meant if your going to be a multi treadesman a bigger van might be more adequate

I'm planning on principley tiling but do have a couple of jobs lined up for the autumn fitting a couple of bathrooms and kitchens for friends so a bigger van would be easier then I can hire a transit for £30 a day though so my train of thought was if I needed to do that half a dozen times in a year that would cost less than the extra insurance tax and diesel on a larger van, i do really like the look of the swb vivaro but every time I see one it's done 150k plus, just waiting now to find out when I can hand back in my company lease car then will have to get something sharpish

 

[hotrod]

I'm facing a similar situation myself hotrod, as the van is probably the most expensive 'tool' I need to buy, and want to make sure I get it right, so that it lasts me at least a couple of years until I get the business established.

I'm drawn towards a kangoo, berlingo or possibly an Astra van, but not many going at the moment at a reasonable price with a good mileage.

Theres a belingo near me 7 yrs old 80k very clean and tidy fully ply lined only had 2 owners and is up for £1750 ? Does that sound reasonable ? I had budgeted 3k for a van to start up but obviously the more I can save the better

 

[DGJ]

Love the Vivaro it's great van

I see your train of thought and what ever decision you make if your anything like me you'll be damned if you do and damned if you don't :lol:

Personally I'd say a larger van ( not to big ) as hopefully it would pay for it self in the long run????????

Good luck anyway

 

[Ian]

If you can stretch to something Transit/Vivaro sized, get one. I can't begin to tell you the amount of times I had to go to a job, empty all my tools, then go back and collect tiles, then go back to the job (when I had my Astra). So much wasted time and diesel.

 

[hotrod]

Thanks guys makes sense I guess maybe I'll hang out for a swb transit or vivaro suppose they won't be that much more to insure , run etc and don't want to be in a position of having to do multiple runs if not necessary, I'm sure there must be some out there that haven't yet clocked up 230k !

 

[Andy Allen]

no mater what size van you get you will allways fill it .....I couldn't cope with a small van, I like to have all my tools with me as you never know when your going to need that one thing you left behind cause it wouldn't fit in the van...

 

[WR Landscaping]

Get the biggest van you can afford as there never big enough. Whatever you want look into it online first as there are lots of hidden faults with vehicles which you either can find out the hard way or by looking on owners forums.

For example transits with 2.0ltr diesels with the turbo have fuel pump failure which can be £1000 and also have dual mass flywheels which are about the same to replace.

Vauxhall combos have the same clutch issue and also a fuel pump issue.

Would go with a kangoo out of the smaller vans but big van would be an iveco.

 

[Stef]

I started with an Astra van (wrote it off) bought another one had it just under 2 years & traded it in for my current van, primastar swb.
The only problem you will have with a swb is that an 8x4 sheet won't fit straight in, it will have to go in at an angle.

 

[Andy Tiler]

I've managed with this for 40 years!!
Lmao..... It does me!

 

[Andy Allen]

do you really use that as your every day van Andy..