- Thread starter Dannypipe
- Start date
Welcome to the forum. Although you can post in any forum, the USA forum is here in case of local regs or laws
I was the same, now I owe 10K on the van and I still have to rack it, and sign write it. But it's tax deductable, and I won't have to put up with this anymore:
These were taken a couple of years back, and in fairness I have become more careful about what I carry, and it is now better than this....but still it's hard not having enough room. It stresses you out and slows you down.I ideally wanted a big VW Crafter, but the Tranporter was just too nice to let slip. 8K plus VAT and fees. So ten in total. It's worth that in the hassle it will save me every single working day!!
Come on Danny pics , drove the transit this morning nice and smooth drive bit weird when first got in.seating position higher than.my vivaro
Thanks for the info lads.
Its a treat to drive. So bloody quick!! I'll take a couple of snaps tomorrow. Can't wait to get her sign written and racked out.
I've been looking up kits on the internet that look really good. A couple of hundred quid but all the shelving is purpose cut on a CSC machine. SO it fits perfectly.
I'm putting it in for a service with a VW specialist on Monday. That's gonna set me back over 300 notes.
Very annoying, I spent 400 on the Combo in December having that serviced!
Its a treat to drive. So bloody quick!! I'll take a couple of snaps tomorrow. Can't wait to get her sign written and racked out.
I've been looking up kits on the internet that look really good. A couple of hundred quid but all the shelving is purpose cut on a CSC machine. SO it fits perfectly.
I'm putting it in for a service with a VW specialist on Monday. That's gonna set me back over 300 notes.
Very annoying, I spent 400 on the Combo in December having that serviced!
T
tamz
A bit like phoning Worcester to service your boiler Danny.
A good independent will do every bit as good a job at a fraction of the cost but everyone to their own.
Its an independant VW/Audi specialist Tamz. So they charge £58 +VAT an hour as opposed to VW who probably charge twice that.
John Bowles they're called. All they do is Audi and VW's. Reccomended from my father who takes his Audi there.
Wouldn't go straight to VW, I don't have deep enough pockets.
Anyone else getting van adds when on You Tube? Ha Ha Those Transit connects are very expensive, you seem to get more van for your money with a regular Transit.
H
Helpfulplumber
Just bought a 08 expert, cheap as chips and as good as my old 05 caddy. Transporters are vanity over priced due to there following on the surfing community. Used to have a lease one, no better than the French stuff, better resale though. Fuel consumption is king in my business and my expert is loads better than my transporter ever was.
D
dave1
I used to have a 04 fiat Scudo. That was a good van for me, preferred that to combo and connect.
Probably true.....but I like having something with a bit off go, and the new van has that in spades. I'm not vain at all by what van I drive. It just needs to look presentable as far as I'm concerned.
H
Helpfulplumber
I hear that, I like transporters but the motocarvan conversion people have made them to expensive, that said my pals is a nice thing to go on holiday in. 180hp is cool just not really that useful when tap fitting.
My last van was a VW transporter. A T4 (older) model which is a fair bit older than yours. It was a superb van and the only thing I had to do was rebuild the cylinder head after the cambelt slipped. Which was a known weak point on the old ones. It was super reliable in general and cost me very little to maintain.
By comparison I currently have a transit and hate it! Its an 04 plate and rust is coming through all the way round the bottom edges. Utterly crap build quality but a good work horse.
Im also thinking about a new van after seeing this thread lol.
By comparison I currently have a transit and hate it! Its an 04 plate and rust is coming through all the way round the bottom edges. Utterly crap build quality but a good work horse.
Im also thinking about a new van after seeing this thread lol.
Well the van went in for the service, and I wanted the noise looked at on the steering. Both sides could do with new bearings and bushes.
End result - £500 fitted. So with the service - just over £800.
That's the risk you take buying at auction. The van is only 3 and a bit years old.
I'm driving it to Milton Keynes on Saturday morning to have a load of racking fitted. Another £300 plus fuel.
Oh well that's life. I'll take some photos once the racking is installed at the weekend.
I'm back in the Combo tomorrow. I'll probably use it all this week and swap all my gear over at the weekend.
End result - £500 fitted. So with the service - just over £800.
That's the risk you take buying at auction. The van is only 3 and a bit years old.
I'm driving it to Milton Keynes on Saturday morning to have a load of racking fitted. Another £300 plus fuel.
Oh well that's life. I'll take some photos once the racking is installed at the weekend.
I'm back in the Combo tomorrow. I'll probably use it all this week and swap all my gear over at the weekend.
Yeah. It takes the shine off it a bit, but it still works out a fair price. Going to seriously dip into the savings though. Thing is the lost productivity of not having a van has been steep. I've also peed off new and old customers as I haven't been able to visit on their booked times (some of them having been waiting weeks for me to come). So it's been one big pain in the backside.
Back in the old Combo tomorrow, and loads of work to do too. Starting trying to earn a few quid!
It's funny, when I was van hunting I went into Toyota to enquire about a new Hiace.
Mate of mine has one that's done 200K and still going strong. Well I got told by the very polite girl on reception that the Hiace is no longer sold in the UK but she thinks its still sold in Europe. Wasn't sure.
I said it's a shame as they have a good reputation which she agreed with, but said they just didn't sell enough to warrant selling them here anymore.
They're great vans from what I can gather.
Mate of mine has one that's done 200K and still going strong. Well I got told by the very polite girl on reception that the Hiace is no longer sold in the UK but she thinks its still sold in Europe. Wasn't sure.
I said it's a shame as they have a good reputation which she agreed with, but said they just didn't sell enough to warrant selling them here anymore.
They're great vans from what I can gather.
I'm really lucky as most of my work is local and mostly bathrooms with the odd kitchen. If I have to drive more than 20 mins I'm annoyed and over 45 mins forget it, £10/15 a week on diesel max.
I take my hat off to you guys who drive all over the place and clock up hundreds of miles a week, I just couldn't do it.
I take my hat off to you guys who drive all over the place and clock up hundreds of miles a week, I just couldn't do it.
I used to have a Hiace. They are uncomfortable, cold, noisy, not very nice to drive etc etc. They are however indestructible and rear wheel drive which makes for lots and lots of fun. Anyone after a cheap second hand van couldn't do any better than to look at getting one. They are not refined at all, but if you want a van to be purely a van then you cannot go wrong.
Couldnt agree with you more. I bought mine new because I got so fed up with vans costing me money in repairs.
K
kay-jay
anyone know about transits? 53 plate they reliable model or not...been offered one cheap ish, good nick,low mileage full electric pack, stereo, silver for a grand, they aregoing on auto trader for around 1500-2k. anyone know if these are prone to expensive faults??
cheers
cheers
K
kay-jay
Not 100% sure weather if it was resolved. Cost me about £1600. It was six or seven years ago. I took it to an independant garage who butchered it, I could select gears but it was a pig. So I drive it straight to the Toyota garage.
I haven't got the photos off the phone yet. But I've spent the weekend racking and loading the new van.
It's almost 100% now. I need to buy one more small box for the racking (for my 22mm pushfit fittings). I've fitted a Rhino roof rack and a Rhino pipe carrier.
I'm actually excited about going to work in it tomorrow. Haven't been excited about going to work in a looooooooong time!!
Going to be a treat compared to the last van. I will get some photos up tomorrow I promise. Thanks for all the help advise and general kind words I've had on this thread!
It's almost 100% now. I need to buy one more small box for the racking (for my 22mm pushfit fittings). I've fitted a Rhino roof rack and a Rhino pipe carrier.
I'm actually excited about going to work in it tomorrow. Haven't been excited about going to work in a looooooooong time!!
Going to be a treat compared to the last van. I will get some photos up tomorrow I promise. Thanks for all the help advise and general kind words I've had on this thread!
G
Gerard17
I had van hell with a transit connect not so long ago and needed 2 grand to fix all the problems. Knew a feller who runs an auction house so he told me to put it in his auction even tho it had a lot of problems an got nearly 2500 grand for it. It was an ex virgin media van with full service history on it so when I bought it thought I was buying good
I've taken some new photos today, as the original ones I took just looked too perfect!!
I've now been working out the van for a week or two. I don't intend to drive the pipe freezer and transformer around with me but I have been as it's handy.
I haven't had a chance to label the boxes yet....I will eventually.
I think this van is the perfect size. I can get in the back and grab what I need no problems but I'm not driving around in some huge, LWB monster!
It's so fast too!
The roof rack, pipe rack and ply racking cost me £640 fitted. Which I think is a bargain.
I've now been working out the van for a week or two. I don't intend to drive the pipe freezer and transformer around with me but I have been as it's handy.
I haven't had a chance to label the boxes yet....I will eventually.
I think this van is the perfect size. I can get in the back and grab what I need no problems but I'm not driving around in some huge, LWB monster!
It's so fast too!
The roof rack, pipe rack and ply racking cost me £640 fitted. Which I think is a bargain.
HA!!
Anyway to explain briefly my 'system'.
The big box at the back has loose power tools. (it's screwed to the ply floor).
The F&E tank next to it is also screwed to the floor. That's got tubes of silicon and gas, etc in it.
Against that I normally have my tote bag full of tools I take in on the job. (It was on the job when I took this photo!).
Then is my 'engineers' box. Which has all sorts of crap that I don't use often, like smoke pellets, pressure gauges, glass fuses, water finding paste, the list goes on.
Then I have my 'hop up'.
Then I have my tool box full of hand tools I don't often use.
Then I have my pipe freezer.
On the left hand side racking is useful things like hose adapters, jubilee clips, tape, etc. On the right hand side I have my large plastic tubs. Filled with waste fittings, comp fittings, pumps, valves ect.
Then I have my Makita cordless drills in one box.
Then I have drill bits, jigsaw, crimpers, and all manner of tools. Then on the back I have my benders, formers, hose pipe, cable, kitchen roll, U gauge and the like.
I love working out this van. compared to the old one, my stress level has less than halved!
Anyway to explain briefly my 'system'.
The big box at the back has loose power tools. (it's screwed to the ply floor).
The F&E tank next to it is also screwed to the floor. That's got tubes of silicon and gas, etc in it.
Against that I normally have my tote bag full of tools I take in on the job. (It was on the job when I took this photo!).
Then is my 'engineers' box. Which has all sorts of crap that I don't use often, like smoke pellets, pressure gauges, glass fuses, water finding paste, the list goes on.
Then I have my 'hop up'.
Then I have my tool box full of hand tools I don't often use.
Then I have my pipe freezer.
On the left hand side racking is useful things like hose adapters, jubilee clips, tape, etc. On the right hand side I have my large plastic tubs. Filled with waste fittings, comp fittings, pumps, valves ect.
Then I have my Makita cordless drills in one box.
Then I have drill bits, jigsaw, crimpers, and all manner of tools. Then on the back I have my benders, formers, hose pipe, cable, kitchen roll, U gauge and the like.
I love working out this van. compared to the old one, my stress level has less than halved!
T
TBServices
I don't want to tempt fate, but a van vault hopefully won't be needed. I've not had a van broken into and I've had a van since I started at this as a spotty lad!
I am insured for the tools too...but would rather keep them than have the money!
Yes I need to clean it. I NEVER cleaned the inside of my old van. Not once. I don't know if I ever cleaned the inside of the one before that either!
I actually had to ask a mate what he cleans the inside of his van with as I have no idea (warm soapy water is good apparently!).
I will try to clean the outside. My next thing is the sign write it, but I'm skint. Which is ironic as I've been working my butt off. Just need to knuckle down to invoicing. I'm too addicted to this forum!!
I am insured for the tools too...but would rather keep them than have the money!
Yes I need to clean it. I NEVER cleaned the inside of my old van. Not once. I don't know if I ever cleaned the inside of the one before that either!
I actually had to ask a mate what he cleans the inside of his van with as I have no idea (warm soapy water is good apparently!).
I will try to clean the outside. My next thing is the sign write it, but I'm skint. Which is ironic as I've been working my butt off. Just need to knuckle down to invoicing. I'm too addicted to this forum!!
G
Gerard17
Looks the bees knees mate. Would defo get a van vault, especially after listing everything on here
Danny didn't you forget to mention its guarded by 2 Rottweilers 24 hours a day with motion sensor lasers and gun wielding guards with a nervous twitch
I do have a rocket launcher in the bedside cabinet. Just in case. Pity as it will also vapourise the van, but that's a small price to pay to kill off a scummy tool thief.
Right, I'm off to finish some invoicing. Got to try and pay for this lil beaut!
Right, I'm off to finish some invoicing. Got to try and pay for this lil beaut!
T
TBServices
Van:
There you go Gerard. There's a picture of my van, which is not an estate but needs a wash, and my car, which is an estate and doesn't need a wash.
G
Gerard17
That is a nice van Tom 🙂 ist a VW transporter 🙂
just more wind up ........ Can not help it !
looks nice , no signs on yet ?
just more wind up ........ Can not help it !
looks nice , no signs on yet ?
T
TBServices
G
Gerard17
It's a nice van and you enjoy it Tom , no matter what we all say ! Some will say negative things cos they can not even afford one , some others will be negative cos they drive little **** vans and there will be me who is just pullin ur leg 🙂
M
Mike Jackson
Hi OP. My brother used to work in the motor trade and he said they sold more new transit parts than old ones so my advice on that would be to avoid the new-shape transits.
I've owned my VW Crafter for nearly 2 years now. It's 6 years old now and still running perfect. It's cost me nothing in repair bills over the last 2 years. Even the oil lasts for 2 years (that's the service intervals). Quality vehicles and I think when you look a the cost of ownership they are cheaper to own than transits etc. VW's last for years and years so they work out quite cheap. They also keep their value very well and as we all know depreciation is the biggest cost of owning a vehicle.
I've owned my VW Crafter for nearly 2 years now. It's 6 years old now and still running perfect. It's cost me nothing in repair bills over the last 2 years. Even the oil lasts for 2 years (that's the service intervals). Quality vehicles and I think when you look a the cost of ownership they are cheaper to own than transits etc. VW's last for years and years so they work out quite cheap. They also keep their value very well and as we all know depreciation is the biggest cost of owning a vehicle.
The MWB version of the Crafter is perfect too, it's long enough so you can also fit all the copper tube you want inside the van plus soil pipes, ladders, chipboard flooring whatever you want. I've got the Hi-Roof version because I'm a lanky ******* and I like to be able to stand up in the back without hitting my head!
T
TBServices
Yes, I get nice friendly waves from all my colleagues and my happy customers. They never forget "that friendly young plumber with his shiny red van"
Nothing wrong with a red van. Postman pat had one and he did alright 🙂
i used to drive a red van when I worked for housing associations and loved it. I was really high up and all the girlies noticed me in my shiny red van and I loved it 🙂
Only joking. I do a lot of work for BG and they have told me that whenever they need me they'll use me, so next van will be either blue like I have now or white. BG customers don't like "non BG" vans at the best of times so ill stick to what I know 🙂
T
TBServices
I have done HA too , there was good money to be earned I am so faking ****sssed of the BG sister company was given the contract has messed up my plans for my early retirement
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