Vans

[Panzerman]

What sort of van do you use?

The time has come to get rid of the Iveco 35-10 Turbo Daily, and get something else. The Merc Sprinter is the obvious favourite, but I'd like to know if anyone out there can give me a head to head appraisal with the new style Transit. I won't be buying new, so any specific problems you have had with either models?

I know about the Merc cam clatter, and about the Transit central locking issue, but anything else anyone experienced? Whatever I get really needs to be 4m long, and high roof.

 

Also, twice this week I have been approached by people who said "Ooh, plain white van. The police make a point of targetting those y'know". Must have been something on the telly, but who has sign-written vans? To me, this is a sign which says "Steal Me/Break In!! I am full of expensive sound equipment for you to sell for Smack!". Far better to get a tug from the rozzers on the M1 at 3am, surely? They will have one look inside, realise you are legit, and leave you to it, I'd have thought. Anyone got any security issues, or hints/tips?

 

Anyone been weighed lately in a 3.5 ton van? Apparently they are the focus of a new police crackdown. Any ideas as to the validity of this claim? I know that I have possibly been overweight, generally when doing a conference with all the set and tech gear inside. I blame the stage weights! A pile of those soon eats up your weight limit! It's hard enough parking a big van in London let alone a dirty great 7.5 ton truck which would be half empty. Then again, maybe I'm being paranoid, I've never been wheelying down the road, or had the leaf springs totally flat, so maybe I'm not over.

 

Comments, anyone?

Thanks!!

[gareth]

It's hard enough parking a big van in London let alone a dirty great 7.5 ton truck which would be half empty.

Just as a side note, aside from any parking issues, moving up from a 3.5t GVW to a 7.5t (edit : or, for that matter, any other vehicle above 3.5t GVW) takes you into the realms of a Goods Vehicle Operator's Licence. See this topic for further reading on this subject.

[Panzerman]

Hmmm, interesting stuff, I had no idea about the GVOL, thought that was only necessary if you wanted to run one yourself, or hired in over a certain amount of times per year from Kenning etc. Not really too much of a problem though, don't really go that heavy too often.

The 4.5t option is one I've looked at, my mechanic uses a LT45 which he down-rated. Apparently you have to change something on the spring stops, take it to a Goods Vehicle Re-licensing place and they give you the re-plate, thus avoiding the need to have an operators' licence, and you can get it MOT'd as a Class 7. The fact that you still have the 4.5t springs on it is irrelevant, so if you WERE to get it seriously loaded, it wouldn't be so obvious to anyone following you. Like in a police car. <cough>

So the commercial mechanic says, anyway, and he has all his tools, compressor, HD jack etc in his, seriously weighty stuff.

 

Maybe that is the way to go, rather than the 3.5t path and be running the risk of being over. It's not really a mega-dilemma though, I will just add on the price of another driver and transit to jobs that look like they are going to be over!

[slim_mcslim]

not to advocate anything illegal, but it is better to be caught for not having an operators licence than to be done for being overweight. Being overweight is generally an instant fine and points on your licence, and more importantly (if those two aren't enough) the police will make you unload the truck until it is legal, and won't let you drive off until you are a legal weight, so at 3am its a bit tricky finding someone to come and pick up the rest of the gear!!!

 

if you get done for not having an operators licence, then you are liable to get away with it a few times, as it is not a criminal offence, if you repeatedly get caught the company, not the driver gets fined, which at 3am on the m1 is a relief.

because the requirements of GVOL are not that well known, by the operators and the police the chances of getting caught are slim... also if you are driving a 4.5t van, this still looks like a standard 3.5t van so checking for and operators licence is not the first priority, its the motorway police who will pull you over to check your weight will check for the GVOL at which point you can always try the line of "its only a van mate" and at least you are not likely to be overweight which should lead to a ticking off for the licence, not a spot fine for being overweight.

 

as for sign writing, just a logo, no text, no phone numbers as it is just an advert to empty the contents of the van.

 

paul...

[strandgsx]

my company uses LDV convoy vans.

 

People hate them and say that they are useless cheap rubbish, they have never let us down.

 

the hi top long base is great for everything, bit high to load on the back though.

 

the 2.5 up has ford engine gearbox and running gear, so you are basicly buying a transit with a nissan built shell with landrover electrics.

 

Save the money on a sprinter and get a cheap to run all round good van! Ill stand by ldv

 

Mark

[slim_mcslim]

how do you get a 12ft set panel or a 4m roll of carpet in an LDV ?

[paulears]

3.5 is top limit for me, despite getting my first licence 25 yrs ago, my renewed licence (after losing it for a year when I was ill) is the same as a newly passed 17yr old gets - No 7.5, no minibus)

 

I don't need anything that big - I've got a Nissan vanette, which has been great (white, and unwritten)

[Panzerman]

how do you get a 12ft set panel or a 4m roll of carpet in an LDV ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Indeed, and that's the reason I need a different van. I can get a 14' set panel into the Iveco, just, if it lays across the top of the bulkhead and cab. And it is a hell of a struggle to get it into the air and slid along. I'm getting too old for that now, I'd rather have a van long enough to simply lob it in the back and lash to the side!

I used to have an LDV, granted it's a good enough for nipping about in, nice and reliable, but I used to get out of it feeling like I'd already done a day's work. Especially going any distance in it.

Also, as a noise boy, I'd have to wear earplugs in the LDV, it used to tire my ears out before I'd even get to the job. Believe me, it does make a difference being in a nice, quiet cab like a Sprinter.

 

The weight issue is a major concern, something I have never given much thought to before. I'm not like some fellas I work with who will load until the mudflaps are dragging along the tarmac, but as I have said, I have had the nod that Plod is taking a dim view of it at the moment. My contact told me that at least one driver he knows of is going to be eating porridge for a couple of months for overloading a 3.5t van! God knows what he weighed in at!!

[Doug kelly]

Hi

 

We have been looking at new vans for a while. At present we run a Sprinter as well as our 7.5tonners. The sprinter has been a great van I think it has clocked up near 200,000 miles.

We have had demos of most vans the transit, ldv, renault and another sprinter included.

 

We found the load space in the Renault to be the best for us. Most of our cases fit 4 wide across an artic and in the renault and the transit they will fit 3 across. In the renault we can get 3 rows of cases before the wheel arches and 2.5 in the transit. So the renault seems to pack a bit nicer. The ldv was had work to load as the body is a lot higher off the ground and was tiring to drive any distance. The sprinter didn't allow for 3 cases across as the sides taper in towards to top.

 

I can't say with hand on heart that the renault was 4m long but we were able to a row of cases then a 3m section of truss behind it.

 

The worrying thing we found with the size of the cargo space nowadays is that it is so easy to over load these vans as the cargo space has increased so much over the years. It is the same with 7.5 tonners 10 years ago the longest body you could get was about 14' now they come as standard with 20'.

 

3x3 cable trunks at 180kg a case works out at 1620kg before you start putting things behind and on top of the cable trunks.

 

 

Doug Kelly

[Rich]

Hopefully whatever van you go for will do better milage than my transit, which does a painful 25mpg!

[ianl]

had an LDV, would never touch one again, got a transit now with the bigger engine size, it's excellent

 

be aware that the early new transits (2001 ish) had a weakness somewhere in the clutch / gearbox area, and they do various gear ratios, we went for the fast one but should have got the heavier loaded/towing one

 

also they do an extra long wheel base which should be 4m ish but it does weigh more so cuts the payload and is easier to overload

[Chappie]

If you get pulled over to a weighbridge there are limits to what is acceptable. Anything between 100% and 110% of gross weight will incur a slap wrist, fine and possible points but you will be allowed to continue. Anything over 110% and you will be stopped until the vehicle is lightened. A good rule of thumb (and what the cops use) is how many fingers you can get between the top of the rear wheels and the arches. If you can't comfortably get two in there, you're gonna be pulled.

 

In terms of vehicle choice, I would not recommend the Sprinter. My experience of their long-term reliability is not fantastic. There are also vehicles available with far higher carrying capacity, such as the Vauxhall Movano. An extra 100kg is a big help to everyone.

[mike]

we recently changed our operating size up to a 7.5 tonne vehicle, and if you can find a way to pay for the initial costs - you will not regret the move!

 

The process of getting the operators license is painless, and we now have regular dealing with the local constabulary, who help and advise without problem or fuss.

 

Parking is the only issue - but only till you're not afraid to try to get the vehicle in small spaces. After that - it's easy

 

mike

[mr.purple]

I can reccomend my long wheelbase Movano...the benefit..I can stand up in the back and its got a low loading height...brilliant for winching in our stage and handy for tipping in cases if your on your own. When its loaded it doesnt look much different to empty. The drawbacks....its slow when full and fuel ecconomy is average. Parts are reasonable...the side door never shuts properly, even though the dealer says they can fix it. Ive put 50,000 on mine in 2 years and its only broken down once ..2am in the morning...the AA sorted that out. OH YEAH talking of the AA.... read carefully the small print..... the AA general policy will only cover you for a small van for a big tranny/ merc/ Movano etc you will need specific vehicle cover ie only for that particular registration ...this caught my mate out when he broke down on the motorway...I argued the case with him then rang the AA who confirmed he was right ...Bugger...the cost is the same but you are limited to cover on the specific vehicle.

[Jivemaster]

Get a plain dark van, Fix black curtains to the rear windows, letter the side discretely "private ambulance". NO-ONE stops the undertakers wagon. Trouble is, you have to wear a suit and tie.

 

Dont touch the citroen dispatch series, my firm are going to scrap some at less than 50,000 --body, electrical and mechanical failures. We are moving to VW as a better price/running cost/life balance.

 

Watch licence categories as the current "car" licence limits you to a low weight whereas the earlier one allowed 7.5tons