what vehicles does everyone use? Advice needed please.

[Robert Lambie]

Mid-wheel base high roof sprinter.
you can get 10ft sheets of composite in in one go.
you can get ten foot trestles and catwalk in in one go.
get one with best power you can afford, saves you on fuel and really are powerful vans. drive great and cabs comfortable for long hauls.

[Robert Walker]

Same issue I had, I had a Nissan Pathfinder for a few years and was perfect, I could get 8×4’s on the roof and 3m inside ladders the lot. But it couldn’t be classed as commertial, I have 4 kids (one drives now so 5 seats is fine)

I looked at vans and couldn’t find anything that I would carry the kids round in. So decided on a double cab pickup, after a lot of research I decided on a Nissan Navara, mainly for a few reasons, mainly Toyota Hilux are really really expensive, VW Ameraks can’t be classed as commertial and L200’s are awfull to drive but they are cheap unless you want any creatcher comforts like air on, sat nav or being able to hear yourself think!

I have to admit that it’s not the most useful, the bed is roughthly 1.5×1.4m and the width of the back seats is less than 1370 ( like most pickups) so it’s a bit of a squeeze getting rolls of vinyl and all my kitt in, I even had to buy some fold up steps.

We do also own a horse box so that covers me for sign installs but it’s not perfect.

Just my take on it,

Robert

[Martin Pearson]

I had a Renault Espace for a few years which worked well, easy to put the seats in & out as required, 8×4’s went inside which was handy although I did have the front passengers seat permanently removed. Ladders fitted on the roof no problem. Insured as a business car with social & domestic use which covered work & family.

[Ewan Chrystal]

Cheers guys. The load space is my obvious concern. Currently for my window cleaning business ive got a lwb trafic but ive been in a van every day for the past 13 years and fancy something different (if its practical enough)

[Phill Fenton]

I’ve always had a van for my business. Currently it’s an NV200 which is small and economical but has never failed to provide enough carrying capacity for any project I have undertaken in the last 2 years of ownership. I hire a trailer for the day if I need to transport anything that’s too big to fit inside the van or on the roof rack (e.g access towers or large folded pans). I have considered a pickup in the past, but the smaller load space has ruled them out for me. With the van I often remove the bulkhead to transport longer items.

[John Harding]

Vauxhall vivaro LWB for me excellent van and you can get them with extra seats too – I think Hugh has one like that

[Ewan Chrystal]

Basically the same van with a different badge as mine John. I have no complaints about but i would like something i can use for AND go away for the weekend if possible. I have thought about also getting a towavan for larger items.
Other option as i said is sticking with a van and then persuading swmbo to let me buy another Volvo 850 T5 (chat.)

[Jon Marshall]

Fiat Ducato LWB

You can get a 3m panel in it and stand up in the back.

[Martin Pearson]

quote Jon Marshall:

Fiat Ducato LWB

You can get a 3m panel in it and stand up in the back.

Robert can stand up in the back of a ford fiesta van :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:

[Unknown Member]

Mercedes LWB Sprinters all day long!

Absolute beasts on the road! You can cruise at a good speed and best of all it feels like a car!

I’ve had some right dog vans in the past and in fact my current Nissan NV200 is a pile of crap…only 2.5 years old done 30k and looks like and feels like its done 70k….

Sprinter or crafter all the way

Many Thanks

James

[John Dorling]

Get a pickup and a box trailer. That way you will have a family vehicle with enough space for small jobs, then for larger jobs you just take the trailer which will have more space than most vans.

Bear in mind if you buy a Sprinter/Vivaro/Transit type van it will be limited to 60mph on dual carriageways and 50 on single carriageways if it is plated at 2000kg or more (which they all are). Pickups are not subject to this restriction unless towing a trailer.

John

[Hugh Potter]

I do have a vivaro LWB, black, blacked out side and rear windows, false floor and a double bench seat behind the passenger bench (VW seat I think),

use it for fishing gear, dogs (removable cage in rear), can sleep in it down one side, and I occasionally do a bit of work with it!

that said, rarely do I need to carry anything very big, I’m considering going back to a Range Rover & roof rack – I live in the middle of nowhere – my commute is 7 miles of narrow back lanes and 150m of main road… it really does make sense!

[Ewan Chrystal]

I’m 6 miles single track to get to the main road and we get our fair share of snow, which is leaning me to the 4×4

[Paul Seeley]

I use a Subaru Legacy estate (which is a 4WD if you want) Carry a 10 x 3 or 5 x 4 panel inside anything bigger goes on the roof. Plenty of seats for family, decent comfort only downside is low mpg (28 -30)

[Luke Culpin]

Would highly recommend a LWB Sprinter! You will be surprised what you can pick them up for second hand! Solid reliable vans with bags of space! Can’t think of much that won’t fit inside!

[Ewan Chrystal]

Cheers Luke, but I’m thinking more along the lines of something we can use as a family when not working

[Unknown Member]

Nissan Navara maybe?

[Ewan Chrystal]

Got an eye on this at a local garage
http://www.autopointautosdunbartonshire … 86/gallery

[Martin Pearson]

So did you buy it Ewan or did someone else zip in before you lol

[Ewan Chrystal]

Going for a gander on Saturday. Sale of my business not through yet but garage will keep it for me if i want it. Only problem is there’s no vat on it so nothing on that score to claim back

[Martin Pearson]

OK but the link was a bit of a waste of time as you just get a message saying the vehicle is no longer available which is why I thought you may have bought it lol

[Ewan Chrystal]

Oh right. I still see when i open it. Well either its sold or theyve taken it off for me

[Ewan Chrystal]

Just checked the website and its still there. Go to autopoint garelochead, search for Mitsubishi and its the black pick up

[Martin Pearson]

Yer I found it Ewan, strange thing is that when I click on the link you added it comes up with a message saying the page or vehicle is no longer available but on the same page is a link that says Mitsubishi L200 that takes you to it.

[Peter Munday]

Mitsubishi L200 would not have one of those ever again, so impractable I don’t even know where to start. Very, very thirsty motors, turning circle of a football field and loading space that is all but useless in our trade, very regular and expensive service intervals.
Sorry if you had your heart set on one, but you have been warned.

Peter

[Lloyd Vincent]

quote Peter Munday:

Mitsubishi L200 would not have one of those ever again, so impractable I don’t even know where to start. Very, very thirsty motors,

Peter

Since when has 30 to the gallon been thirsty?
That’s what we get out of ours, horses for courses, ours works for our business just fine, maybe you just had a bad one.

[Ewan Chrystal]

I don’t see 30mpg as being thirsty either. ANYWAY, went for a drive in the one i’d seen yesterday.
Outside was lovely but interior was very tired looking. Only had 70,000 odd miles but seat was extremely sagging, gear knob and round the stereo were all worn etc, etc. Guy in the garage was saying Navara’s have improved a lot since 06> so might have a look at them.
Still going to look at L200 but it will be the Animal i start looking at as it seems to have higher spec

[Stafford Cox]

If I were in your position I would definitely go for a VW T5 TDi sport. They’re massively comfortable and look great. A friend of mine in the AV industry has one and apart from the dire wrap job somebody did on it, it’s a cracking motor.

[Colin Crabb]

quote :

VW T5 TDi sport

that what we’d like next, get rid of our van & family car for one of these babies…. Its just the price that puts us off 🙁

[Ewan Chrystal]

I had one of those in a previous job. Fantastic van BUT after 11 years i fancy something other than a van

[Stephen Morriss]

I used to have a Peugeot 806 which was great for the kids and most of the work as the seats came out just like the Renault Espace and it did around 40mpg.
Now have a LWB MR transit Mk7 and while it’s great for work it crap for everything else, less than 30mpg, hard to park in shopping centres or local town centre and only 3 seats at moment (kids are both left school)

The other thing that kind of pisses me off about a van is all your friends suddenly think it’s ok to borrow it to move house etc then bring it back empty and hand you a fiver cos that’s all the fuel they think it’s used!

Anyway my advise would be a large family type vehicle and use a trailer for really big stuff.

Steve

[Derek Heron]

The other thing that kind of pisses me off about a van is all your friends suddenly think it’s ok to borrow it to move house etc then bring it back empty and hand you a fiver cos that’s all the fuel they think it’s used!
😀
yep i agree on that one
we have a lwb citroen relay got a great deal last year on a new enterprise
drives like a car bluetooth air con etc
we had a mwb but it was just to short
this carries all we need inc scaff tower etc
returns 30 mpg we did have a berlingo as well but had to get rid after being bumped for a fair few quid at xmas
so looking for a cheap one to do the local running about
would love a vw but sooo expensive mind they hold a good resale value
derek

[Ian Johnston]

quote Derek Heron:

would love a vw but sooo expensive mind they hold a good resale value
derek

Your right about the resale,
Had a guy beside me that was only getting a crap trade in on a T5 5 years ago, i bought it off him a SWB T5 85ps 90K miles for £2150.

Sold it last month 185K miles and 5 years of hassle free driving for £3250 😀

not often it works like that

[Colin Crabb]

quote :

SWB T5 85ps 90K miles for £2150

😮

Nice deal!