How do you arrange the stuff in your van?

[Subby]

It would be good to find out how you all keep your van organised.

My Renault Traffic is a complete nightmare. I have 3 steel shelves on each side in the back of my van.
I keep my fittings etc sorted into different hesien bags which are stuffed onto the shelves.
I have a big toolbox on wheels for most of my hand tools etc and an open tote that I keep the tools i'm taking into the job. I keep my screws washers etc in a screwbox with compartments, I have a plastic crate for all my fuxes, silicone, freeze sprays, cutting oil etc and I have a shelf for offcuts of pipe and a shelf for small toolboxes (socket set, bits, holesaws etc)
My drills and toolboxes, foldup ladders wetvac and all scrap are all kept on the floor of my van. Lengths of pipe are also kept in the back poking through the bulkhead, hosepipe and leads are hanging off the pipe.

I am getting a new van like this tomorrow, want to know a better way of sorting my kit out. Do I get shelving? what type? what do you lot do?
Thanks, Subby.

 

[lame plumber]

pay for proper fitted shelving is best and most secure

and a tailgate is essential to keep dry imho.

 

[stevetheplumber]

ive always buit my own racking to suit the various size boxes and old header tanks i use as storage iand a mixture of lin bins and pullouts ive collected b over the years

 

[Roger Welton]

Organised is not a word that often describes my van! Really need to give it a good going through tomorrow. May take a pic if it looks respectable at the end! But have shelving down drivers side, and a set aof drawers for boiler spares. Floor for materials, tool box, hoover, etc. Pipe goes on top of shelving and over cab. Hoses on top of cab also.

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

What van do you drive roger?

 

[mickie]

 

[Roger Welton]

Its like a disco with all the 'mood' lighting

 

[Roger Welton]

What van do you drive roger?

SWB medium hitopp transit

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

SWB medium hitopp transit

same as, mate

 

[PatrykA]

Mickie, what is that you have in the lower left hand corner? Never seen anything like that.

 

[Linkyplumb]

Mickie, what is that you have in the lower left hand corner? Never seen anything like that.

Telescopic ladder

 

[plumber0808]

I bet you've got the green strobes underneath the van. :rockon2:

 

[Roger Welton]

Seems to work ok, could always have more stuff though!

 

[lame plumber]

View attachment 11508

Seems to work ok, could always have more stuff though!

could get all that in my old kangoo, if fact I could get my kangoo in there ( if the wife hadn't drowned it)

 

[Roger Welton]

Still plenty of space to fit boilers, drums for pumping out oil tanks, powerflushing kit though.

 

[Whl4852]

Dedicate one hour each week to re load everything in, it's my system and it works for me :drool5:

 

[Dannypipe]

View attachment 11296View attachment 11297View attachment 11298View attachment 11299View attachment 11300View attachment 11301View attachment 11302View attachment 11303View attachment 11304View attachment 11305View attachment 11306View attachment 11307

Here's mine.

 

[Subby]

Some good inspiration here.

 

[Dannypipe]

 

[lame plumber]

View attachment 11513View attachment 11514View attachment 11515View attachment 11516View attachment 11517View attachment 11518View attachment 11519View attachment 11520View attachment 11521View attachment 11522View attachment 11523View attachment 11524

almost as ocd as me🙂 needs a tail gate tho

 

[REDSAW]

a neat pile deters the thiefs.lol

 

[lame plumber]

View attachment 11525a neat pile deters the thiefs.lol

is that before or after a visit to the scrappies? LOL

 

[Dannypipe]

almost as ocd as me🙂 needs a tail gate tho

Yup, I like order in my van. My last little Combo drove me nuts.

After reading this thread, I went put my boots on, went out and sorted my van out from working yesterday. Re-stocked and tidied.

I was seriously impressed by yours. That racking looks great, but expensive!

 

[vern]

View attachment 11525a neat pile deters the thiefs.lol

LMFAO.....Hope there is a side door...

 

[Dannypipe]

Mickie, what lights have you got inside the van? I need to brighten up the inside of mine. I end up putting the head torch on in there!

 

[lame plumber]

Yup, I like order in my van. My last little Combo drove me nuts.

After reading this thread, I went put my boots on, went out and sorted my van out from working yesterday. Re-stocked and tidied.

I was seriously impressed by yours. That racking looks great, but expensive!

Had to go to wales for it, came racked out, had to take most of it out to put the bulkhead panel in tho!!

 

[Dannypipe]

That racking would have cost you a good few quid if you'd bought it seperate.

I buy from auction normally and the racking on the ex bt vans is always very well thought out.

 

[REDSAW]

Mickie, what lights have you got inside the van? I need to brighten up the inside of mine. I end up putting the head torch on in there!

i know exactly what you need and very effective too!. i used to wheel n deal them on fleabay part time i have a few left but i am keeping them for my kitchen and own truck..

CUTTABLE White Car interior LED STRIP day Light BRIGHT Flexible DRL 60CM DODGE | eBay

 

[Whyme]

organised kaos is the best way to describe mine..

 

[mickie]

haha no strobe lights under the van but the amount of light i have is needed so i can see whats in the racking and behind in the draws.. those LED strips are proper easy to wire into the interior light and cost only 5 quid off ebay..

 

[lame plumber]

carpet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mickie]

aye carpet, i do a lot of miles so wanted to try and sound proof it a bit, my right ear is shot from the constant noise in the van, probably be deaf in another 10 year..

 

[Dannypipe]

What? 🙂

Not a bad idea mate!

 

[secret squirrel]

pay for proper fitted shelving is best and most secure

View attachment 11485View attachment 11486View attachment 11490and a tailgate is essential to keep dry imho.

Lidl bag...... my god........ Lidl

 

[lame plumber]

vee like german food, good vegs, as good as tesco and i live 100yds fm a lidl, no brainer

 

[Dannypipe]

If I ever drive past a Lidl I'll mentally note where it was and drive back that way so I can pop in.

I love the centre aisle that has all the weird /wonderful stuff in it.

 

[Whl4852]

If I ever drive past a Lidl I'll mentally note where it was and drive back that way so I can pop in.

I love the centre aisle that has all the weird /wonderful stuff in it.[/QUOTE

My lido drill well outlasted my makita, love lido, I should be an ambassador!

 

[Whl4852]

Lidl ^

 

[REDSAW]

carpet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

all my vans had carpet, cant beat it. were not talking axminster, just cheap off cuts.lol it also stops your gear sliding and banging about
also soaking up spills. i used to use the old carpet as a template and change every time a new piece came along, look...........persian lol

 

[REDSAW]

If I ever drive past a Lidl I'll mentally note where it was and drive back that way so I can pop in.

I love the centre aisle that has all the weird /wonderful stuff in it.[/QUOTE

My lido drill well outlasted my makita, love lido, I should be an ambassador!

what drill was it?

 

[Whl4852]

what drill was it?

Ive had them all, but the best by far is the smallish 10.8 volt lithium ion one. Pitched against my makita version it thrashed it. Only paid £30 and I believe they are in this week. 3 year guarantee and 1 year for trade use. Thinking of buying another one. Honestly well worth parting with the cash!

 

[lame plumber]

If I ever drive past a Lidl I'll mentally note where it was and drive back that way so I can pop in.

I love the centre aisle that has all the weird /wonderful stuff in it.

what the elastic bras, granny pants and other weird womens clothes that some plumbers luv to buy!!!!!:ciappa:

 

[Dannypipe]

all my vans had carpet, cant beat it. were not talking axminster, just cheap off cuts.lol it also stops your gear sliding and banging about
also soaking up spills. i used to use the old carpet as a template and change every time a new piece came along, look...........persian View attachment 11546 lol

Has someone nicked all your tools!?! 🙂

 

[REDSAW]

Has someone nicked all your tools!?! 🙂

nah, used to have it all in tote bins, this was taken for the 'van for sale pics' sold as is before i got my
land rover😉

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

nah, used to have it all in tote bins, this was taken for the 'van for sale pics' sold as is before i got my
land rover😉

you posted up pics of your 110 racked out cant find them,give me ideas what i can do with mine

 

[REDSAW]

you posted up pics of your 110 racked out cant find them,give me ideas what i can do with mine

there 'dept store' crates 4 off, theres a drill box depth tray beneath these for sliding drills in & standing upright on the floor. there is 2 big 'bass' boxs for the sound up front top.lol followed by 2 large sandwich boxes for talon clips and solvent welds. next there is a gap for bits (wd 40, trv's etc) next near back door is 2 stanley boxes that fit perfect in the space. from the back door right box at bottom are tools, skill saw grinder etc, toilet parts above, drainage, then the weird box of bits. boiler parts on other side, fittings plumbing spares etc.
tool boxs down the middle and in back seat wells behind caging, cock key spirit level saws hoses at the back. multi ladder up in roof on cage and timber rest and the dogalarm.lol
and i can still get a boiler box and 900x450 cylinder down the middle

 

[lame plumber]

you posted up pics of your 110 racked out cant find them,give me ideas what i can do with mine

what you gonna get in there once the rackings is in?

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

what you gonna get in there once the rackings is in?

dont know,the mrs has that now,last year due to lack of use its covered 800 miles

 

[lame plumber]

so wheres the landy pics

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

so wheres the landy pics

looking at suitable defenders now will post pics up when i get it

 

[lame plumber]

dont get another brown one, resale value will be pooh🙂, dont forget the chancellor is about to increase diesel prices again!!!!!!!!!!

 

[REDSAW]

dont get another brown one, resale value will be pooh🙂, dont forget the chancellor is about to increase diesel prices again!!!!!!!!!!

i still wouldnt buy a petrol van!!

 

[lame plumber]

diesel all the way, but I'd hate to fill a defender on a regular basis, my Vdub costs enough, and I have found it cheaper to buy another small car than let madam run round in my discovery all the time, especially as she keeps bending it.

 

[REDSAW]

diesel all the way, but I'd hate to fill a defender on a regular basis,

why?????

 

[lame plumber]

coz if it drinks fuel in the same way as my disco, Id be broke running it as a van, soo greedy.

 

[REDSAW]

but you cannot off set your fuel bill on your disco can you, unless its the 3rd van in your fleet? what mpg does the vw & connect do? my last one did 25 urban!.

 

[lame plumber]

dont do urban just country side🙂, in all honesty never bothered to check just fill up as req, and the landy requires filling at least once a week if Im running it in the winter, vw transporter and I can get away with a full tank every 10 days at times. hence why the missus used to have my old kangoo till it drowned, now shes getting the daughters cast off modus (only cast off to me as no one wanted it!!)

 

[REDSAW]

i used to put £30 in the transit last year per week and the landy £30-40 but then fuel has gone up and at the end of the day, comes of deductables...best of all i get to use it!. might try running it on chicken fat though and get myself a bio plant.

 

[TomLane]

Quiet day today so sorted the van & the garage out! Put all my tools where they should be & restocked all fittings! I'm a bit anal with things being in their right place, especially as my brother works with me & goes to the van & just throws stuff back wherever!

 

[Dannypipe]

what's the purpose of the two bent bits of copper on the back, right hand side door Tom?

 

[REDSAW]

whats the mallet for?

 

[TomLane]

what's the purpose of the two bent bits of copper on the back, right hand side door Tom?

It's a frame that goes together to hang the pipe freezer on with the scales so you know how much refrigerant you've got left in a bottle. I've got an Arctic Pipe Freezer.

 

[TomLane]

whats the mallet for?

Nothing exciting or special, just find it easier using a mallet when using wood chisels etc. My brother's a carpenter so if I'm working with him I help chop out for hinges on doors etc.

That tool bag is my general hand tool bag. My plumbing tool kit is next to it on the left in the rigid plastic Stanley box.

 

[gilesey2]

and lidl tools have a three year guarantee! my wet vac has done me proud so far

 

[Dannypipe]

and lidl tools have a three year guarantee! my wet vac has done me proud so far

That's good. I've just started on my Lidl wet vac (think it's called a Parker??).

Hope it's good. I killed my Wickes one draining the last few litres from a seriously hot thermal store. Poor thing was belching steam, so I'm not suprised.

It was still working but started to trip RCD's a few days later, so I thought best of it, and chucked it.

 

[mickg1]

how much was the wet vac ?

 

[Dannypipe]

I can't remember - sorry. I've got a pile of receipts to go through, so it will be in there somewhere. Must have been fairly cheap otherwise I wouldn't have bought it! Think about £35.

 

[mickg1]

friend of mine always bangs on about them, says he uses it to drain down the system before he alters any pipe work i.e above ceilings an the systems always bone dry

 

[Dannypipe]

Oh mate, they're a life saver. I wouldn't be without one now.

 

[TBServices]

Oh mate, they're a life saver. I wouldn't be without one now.

Me either. Brilliant.

 

[mickg1]

been doing alot of site work over the last year or two so havent really had the time or space in my van but its finished now so deffo looking into buying one, screw fix had a cheap karcher one going but everyone slated it so it put me off but for the price of this one i may have to take a trip to lidl in the morning haha

 

[Dannypipe]

I don't know if it's in at Lidl this week? If it is, I would go for it. The Karcher one is crap.

 

[Barry98]

A new thread maybe "lidl watch"

 

[TBServices]

Definately don't get Karcher. Terrible.

If lidl don't ave them in, get the wickes one.

 

[Dannypipe]

Definately don't get Karcher. Terrible.

If lidl don't ave them in, get the wickes one.

Good shout. The Wickes one is good too.

 

[PriestyUK]

My layout, 2 points who can spot Henry trying to get in the picture 🙂

 

[Dannypipe]

Nice rack of Hilti gear!!

You don't carry any stock then? Just site work by any chance?

 

[stoker122]

A cheeky peek from the top shelf 🙂
What van is it?

 

[Dannypipe]

Vivaro I reckon?

 

[PriestyUK]

Hahaha 2 points and yeah a Vivaro, really like the look of those new transit customs. I do alot of big commercial work so most of my gear eg pipe fittings gets delivered to site. Building boilers, high level heaters etc. I do do some house bashing but only really for friends and family. Usually have the ridgid 300 in the back, hence the big oil circle from the bucket, Just installed these bad boys, 350kg each, dont think they would fit in my poor vivaro 🙁

 

[PriestyUK]

Danny did mickie get back to you about them lights he wired in, love to do that in my van, as sometimes have to do night work, its a pig trying to find what you want with the standard lights, they easy to install?

 

[Dannypipe]

Danny did mickie get back to you about them lights he wired in, love to do that in my van, as sometimes have to do night work, its a pig trying to find what you want with the standard lights, they easy to install?

I have fitted them myself mate!

I bought these from Toolstation:Toolstation > Lighting > Interior Lighting > LED Striplight Add on Kit

I bought 6 and wired them in tandem. I have a proper switch in the dash, with a little orange light (left by the last owner) that is wired back to some 1mm cable in the back. So I've taken them off of that.

In the dark you throw the switch and the back is lit in brilliant white. Bloody marvelous!! Not cheap, cost me nearly £70 for all six lights, but you don't need the starter kit just the lights obviously.

Also a bit of a fiddle to cut the wires down to make it look neat. I've angled one strip in each direction and one left in the middle. I will take a photo. Life saver in the dark.

 

[PriestyUK]

Might get myself a couple, anything stopping me from wiring these off the standard ones that are already there? So they come on when the door opens if you get me? Vehicle electrics are not my forte 🙁

PS Look forward to the pic 😉

 

[TBServices]

Looks good Danny. Wonder if you can just wire them off the existing rear light?

 

[Whl4852]

I've wired mine from the existing light, they all come on when you open the rear door

 

[TBServices]

I've wired mine from the existing light, they all come on when you open the rear door

I'm gonna do it. Make it my project for next weekend.

Do you need the transformer kit or can you just wire straight in?

 

[TBServices]

Need to see pics of yours Danny!

 

[Whl4852]

If they are 12v lights you don't need the kit, wire them strait in, I used speaker wire :1:

 

[TBServices]

If they are 12v lights you don't need the kit, wire them strait in, I used speaker wire :1:

Doesn't say on TS description. I would have thought they'd be 12v though

 

[Dannypipe]

They are 12V which is why you don't need the starter kit that TS sell.

You could run them off the existing wiring. Halfords sell a fitting to 'piggy back' off the feeds. (My mate did it with his).

But my van had the switch and the cable allready run by the last owner, so I used it.

 

[Dannypipe]

I will snap some photos later. Got my feet up at the moment!

 

[PriestyUK]

Plus its not dark yet, we wana see the full benefits from your new floodlit arena 😀

 

[on31ll]

My layout, 2 points who can spot Henry trying to get in the picture 🙂

That hilti stuff is too clean !

My mate works for sky theyve been given new vans he opened the back door and the van is lit up like twickers ! Have to find out those lights !

 

[TBServices]

I will snap some photos later. Got my feet up at the moment!

Come on Danny, its dark and my life has no meaning right now. Enlighten 😉 me

 

[Dannypipe]

Come on Danny, its dark and my life has no meaning right now. Enlighten 😉 me

It was still light when I snapped these. The extra light they give off is brilliant.

 

[Dannypipe]

Oh and incase you wonder, that lead thats going off over my dash is for the Sat' Nav.

 

[TBServices]

Brilliant. How've you managed to stick them up/hide cables?

 

[Dannypipe]

Well the lights link with each other, so that parts easy.

There is about a 40mm cavity between the roof lining and the roof of the van. So I just crimped all the joints, and then wrapped them with self amalgamating tape and pushed them into the cavity. Whole thing took about 2 hours. It was seriously cold when I did it, my fingers were hurting!

I was lucky as the tricky part of running the supplies and the switch had been done for me.

Makes a big difference when you're looking for something, or just tidying up and the end of a dark day/night.

 

[Dannypipe]

Should add, altering the link cables is a bit of a faff. I had to shorten them to make it look neat. The kit comes with crimps to do so. Just a bit fiddly.

 

[REDSAW]

My layout, 2 points who can spot Henry trying to get in the picture 🙂

what trade are you in?lol