What to carry as Stock on my van?

[DustyM]

Hello all,

I've just started out on my own, working in a largely rural area, and mainly doing repairs and general domestic maintenance/servicing. I'm pondering over exactly what I should stock on the van (within reason) in order to prevent many un-needed trips to the local merchants, (the closest being about 8 miles away). Obviously, I'll learn from experience, but I'd also welcome thoughts and advice based on the wisdom of my peers!!

All advice welcomed...................

Dusty

 

[Barry98]

Some fibre washers for a start compression stop ends of all sizes

 

[DustyM]

Some fibre washers for a start compression stop ends of all sizes

bod - that goes without saying; I'll definitely be holding a lot of the smaller consumables, washers etc; any more thoughts?

 

[cr0ft]

WC fittings, copper pipe/fittings/different waste pipes. Overflow fittings, solvent weld fittings. Basically the more the better. You particularly want to have items you need to do smaller repair jobs in one hit, otherwise like you say, by the time you travel to the merchant you aren't really making any money.

 

[Whn1]

Rad valves, trvs, waste traps. Siphons, inlets and close couple kits. Lots of silicone and your sandwiches.

 

[Hybrid]

Pump, 2 and 3 port valves, synchron motor, giannoni diaphragm, thermocouples.

 

[JCplumb]

Off the top of my head, this is the stock I use/top up, probably missed stuff off this but it's not far off.
2 of each ball valves (be + se)
2 torbeck type valves
2 syphons (1 big old, 1 new small)
1 kitchen mixer tap, 1 set of taps for bath and 1 for basin
assorted traps
some 40mm and 32mm waste pipe and fittings
basin pop up overflow kit
double sink drain kit
1/4 turn tap conversion kit
couple of spare tap head gears
ch pump
2 port and 3 port valves
couple of lengths of 15mm + fittings
couple of lengths of 22mm + fittings
coil of pex + assortment of pushfit fittings inc pipe inserts (you can't use the rubber ring ones with compression fittings)
coil of 10mm copper + 10mm fittings/reducers.
couple of TRV's
couple of lockshields
self tapping valve
washing machine hoses
assortment of monobloc tails
tap connectors
plenty of 15mm isos
a load of bleed keys (give one to the customer when explaining they may need to bleed rads in a week or so, they always smile when you give them something)
Step ladders
strap on boss (or similar)
wet and dry hoover
An assortment of trays (water catching types)
Dust sheets + 1 or 2 waterproof ones
Plenty of towels
Wonder wipes <- absolutely brilliant!!
something to wash your hands with including loads of KFC wipes - just grab a couple of dozen each time you go to KFC.
Portable radio
stock of business cards and flyers.

Have a look in Toms van here
[video=youtube;SXM2YfmmLaA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXM2YfmmLaA[/video]

 

[Puddle]

You have your stock to help you save time running around and save the customer time and it looks good when you can get the job done then and there

But I would add your little money earners,stuff you can make a couple of quid on

I carry seven day programmers,wireless states,chemicals for system,taps and tap heads as you mention,outside tap kit,magnaclean or equivalent,sliding shower rails and heads,pipe lagging,bath pop up waste

These are my pound stretchers,stuff I can sell to the customer and make a few extra quid on,I might go to a job ,boiler not working,do repair and then see an old programmer,I would get out the new seven day joby or a programmable room stat and show the customers the advantage and the savings to be made,as I have the unit,many will go with it,if I did not,they would say,will think about it

I know many would say,can't be bothered,do job,charge and on to the next one,good when we had loads of next ones to go to and also if you are rushing about,I find many are doing twice as much work,not for twice the money,customers end up benefiting as you have to be extra fast on their job to get to another,with in reason this is fine but a happy medium should always be met

Anyway off topic a bit,point is,I have myself a target,even if it only pulls in an extra £30 a week,over the year that is £ 1440,thats your holiday paid for

So keep the stock you mention but to me very important to keep the pushables as well

imho

 

[moony]

Puddle - the working mans British gas haha (pushables is there such a word?)

Seriously though that's great advice and your right 30 a week here and there is a good earner over the year.

 

[DustyM]

JCPlumb & Puddle - guys. many thanks, a great starter for ten on everything. Puddle - I hear you on the pushables, and given that many of the properties I've seen thus far are fitted with ancient systems that are way beyond efficient then it makes sense to at least be able to demonstrate the advantages. Thanks again guys......

 

[WaterTight]

Walk round your house and imagine everything needing plumbing work done on it. List what you'd use on a piece of paper. Buy multiples. Put in a van.

 

[mfaf]

Some 3/4inch olives for those older systems

 

[TerryWaite]

Towels for when you flood someones gaff, wet vac, plasterboards, plaster, and paint, for ceilings that fall through, loads of speedfit and hep for gas jobs, a threading machine, incase you encounter old houses with iron pipe, some cable ties, for clipping pipes, and a diving suit

 

[Mike Jackson]

Don't forget running shoes.

 

[grahamgas]

On the van as we speak, off the top of the old bonce:

various lengths of copper pipe in 8,10,15,22,28mm sizes
various lengths of overflow,solvent weld 32 and 40mm
various end feed and compression fittings
various pushfit fittings
various waste fittings, overflow
washing machine hoses
various fittings and nozzles for oil
cooker hoses both ng and lpg
stability brackets and chains
various gas fittings-meter unions, bayonets
a good selection of fibre and rubber washers and o rings
a 15-50 pump
a15-60 pump
various boiler stats, thermistors, air pressure switches, silicon tubing for aps
tap reviver kits
wc fittings, syphons,cc kit, doughnuts
bath and basin wastes
various pan connectors
various traps
electrical bits and bobs
assorted rad valves in angled and straight, and assorted trvs
a couple of control packs, one 3 port and one 2 port pack
spare 2 and 3 port valves, and synchron motors
programmers and cylinder stats, and roomstats and a frost stat
various thicknesses and sizes of pipe lagging
towels and wet vac
toilet roll
spare strides, shoes and shirt

plus all the usual tools and gear that goes with it

Graham

 

[Roger Welton]

Don't forget running shoes.

And wellies / umbrella for when it all goes wrong :lol:

 

[TerryWaite]

a wheelbarrow to carry your £70k a year

 

[RPG 80]

A couple off the top of me head, silicon clear/white, box of washers( fibre, shower hose, washing machine, float vv + torbeck). 10/15/22 push fit stops. Immersion element. Small tub poly filler. 3/4" olives, 1 meter length of hose to syphon cisterns, 300mm length of hose to clear airlocks on HW side. Mirror. Overshoes, couple of lifting keys for manhole covers. Selection of plastic shims.

 

[dontknowitall]

It's really difficult when starting out to know what to stock and what to leave to buy for those one off jobs. Carrying loads of stock is expensive. You can always leave some at home but then you forget to take it so end up buying more. (Example, I bought a bundle of 22mm a good 6 months ago, keep it at home and twice more recently I've had to buy more cos I'd not thought of taking it with me.)

You can't go wrong with:

5 x 3m copper tube
1 bag of 15mm elbows
1 bag of 15mm couplers
5 x 15mm tees

2 x 3m copper tube
1 bag of 22mm elbows
1 bag of 22mm couplers
2 x 15mm tees
1 x 22x22x15 tee
2 x 22x15 reducers

Tap washers
1 x side inlet valve
1 x bottom entry inlet valve
1 x washing machine valve
1 x outside tap
5 x isolating valve
2 x 15mm pushfit stop ends
2 x 22mm pushfit stop ends

Much then depends on the type of work you do.

Something else that might help is using an independent merchant. When you give them enough business, some of them are happy to give you a credit note or simply allow you to return stuff if you've over ordered for a job or two. I recently returned a few bushes and one or two other bits and bobs and it came to £126. That's a tank of diesel.

I'm saying it's important to watch your cashflow and holding too much stock eats into your available cash. When you've been going for a while you'll find what you need to keep buying and this is when you increase your stock.

 

[WaterTight]

Just skimming this thread has reminded me to get some more toilet roll and to invest in some plastic shims. So, thanks, thread.

 

[webs]

carry a couple of magnatex because the amount of central heating systems that are full of crap u can make a few quid fitting them after you have flushed them!

 

[DustyM]

WaterTight - er, not a problem, I hope I can be of further help sometime...........!😛hone:

 

[stevetheplumber]

no ones mentioned lube a pot of silicon grease is a must for taps,push fit wastes and soils, multi quicks another thing ive found good is buy a dispenser of stanley blades and screw it up in the van dull blades are the cause of many accidents with staney knives and youll always have a blade to scrape old silicon of