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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Clever Forum Name on December 14, 2013, 12:15:41 pm

Title: Working with doors open...
Post by: Clever Forum Name on December 14, 2013, 12:15:41 pm
Undecided on this one as I still have external van ports. Does everyone here who has a fixed reel work with the doors open.

I have seen a few vans with rollers in the floor that is something I can't do at the moment.

What about trapping the hose in the door and closing it like that?

Door padlock and work with slightly ajar.....

Just a bit ???

I do carry a lot more than ya standard WC it seems :(
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: PurefectWindowCleaning on December 14, 2013, 12:26:43 pm
We leave one door a jar, although im thinking of fitting outside port, but not sure I want to damage new van  ;D
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Clever Forum Name on December 14, 2013, 12:49:49 pm
Don't want to keep lugging reel tho!
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Mick White on December 14, 2013, 12:55:16 pm
All time never had a problem
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Clever Forum Name on December 14, 2013, 01:11:47 pm
All time never had a problem

Wide open or ajar?
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: SeanK on December 14, 2013, 01:12:37 pm
New shape Dispatch if you leave the back doors open then you can reach in from
the side doors and open the front.
This would mean if the van was stolen then my insurance wouldn't pay out. ( Have checked this out )
So for me I have no choice but to work with all the doors locked.
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Smurf on December 14, 2013, 01:13:14 pm
Another option is to mount the reel on the outside of the back door as you have outside ports fitted.

I've seen a few vans knocking about like that  ;D
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Clever Forum Name on December 14, 2013, 01:18:04 pm
Another option is to mount the reel on the outside of the back door as you have outside ports fitted.

I've seen a few vans knocking about like that  ;D

Temporary solution as changing van, so dont want to wreck it  ;)
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Clever Forum Name on December 14, 2013, 01:19:38 pm
New shape Dispatch if you leave the back doors open then you can reach in from
the side doors and open the front.
This would mean if the van was stolen then my insurance wouldn't pay out. ( Have checked this out )
So for me I have no choice but to work with all the doors locked.

I am ok on that front due to bulkhead and i can remote lock front vs back/side

I am gonna have a look today and see if i can close the door on the hose :)
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: GAZZA B on December 14, 2013, 01:21:55 pm
I have been working with reel inside for years, don't like taking reel in and out all day and outside ports get all dirty and frozen in winter, on my new Belingo the doors have never trapped the hose but i do use mirobore all locked up when working never had a problem

Gazza  
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Clever Forum Name on December 14, 2013, 01:24:06 pm
I have been working with reel inside for years, don't like taking reel in and out all day and outside ports get all dirty and frozen in winter, on my new Belingo the doors have never trapped the hose but i do use mirobore all locked up when working never had a problem

Gazza  

And you would basically reel out the hose, go back to van if needed trap hose and lock van up yeah?
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Mick White on December 14, 2013, 01:25:27 pm
Wide open as mines a lift up
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: robbo333 on December 14, 2013, 01:52:26 pm
I work slightly differently.
I use 50m of Aquadaptor red pole hose as my main hose on the reel. The reel is secured to the floor of van (but can be removed in seconds) and I can shut and lock the back doors on the hose without any loss of water flow. Also it's amazingly light to use and easy to reel in.
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: James Bulton on December 14, 2013, 02:20:51 pm
I have my hose reel roof mounted over my tank aswell as my gas boiler at the side door as well so there is no way anyone can get in through door. It is all very compact as my controller and battery are in the same area.
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Simon Mess on December 14, 2013, 03:10:02 pm
I have never worked with ports, and always worked with the doors open. Never had any problems, even when I have been parked up with school kids walking past. Maybe I'm just lucky?!.
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: mgba_78 on December 14, 2013, 03:55:31 pm
We worked with van ports for a few months when we converted but the constant lifting in and out along with winding at a low level nearly killed us!!! We've since built a platform to fix the reels in and its much better reeling in!!
Also for over a year and a half never ever had issues with leaving the doors open to work

In fact sometimes when we jump back in the van we realise we have left the keys in the ignition still (van off)  and all has been fine. ;D

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/adaily/Mobile%20Uploads/20131214_155050_zps9631829c.jpg)
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Smurf on December 15, 2013, 01:14:13 pm
I heard of a window cleaners van being nicked recently. The first thing the chap noticed whilst working round the back of a property was that the flow of water had stopped. He went to investigate why and found no van then realised not only was it left unlocked but he had left the key in the ignition too.

Needless to say insurance companies don't pay out on claims like this.


We worked with van ports for a few months when we converted but the constant lifting in and out along with winding at a low level nearly killed us!!! We've since built a platform to fix the reels in and its much better reeling in!!
Also for over a year and a half never ever had issues with leaving the doors open to work

In fact sometimes when we jump back in the van we realise we have left the keys in the ignition still (van off)  and all has been fine. ;D

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/adaily/Mobile%20Uploads/20131214_155050_zps9631829c.jpg)
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Jonny 87 on December 15, 2013, 01:38:25 pm
I leave one back door open, for the reel etc. then shut one over, and lock. I've got a bulkhead, so it Means that if anyone wanted steal anything, poles etc, it would be hard to manouver the poles out there rack.
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Smurf on December 15, 2013, 01:55:23 pm
Thing is we all get complacent at times leaving our vans not locked up but it’s an invitation for scumbags to nick the van and/or contence.

My mate had his genny stolen from the back of his van as he left the doors open whilst carrying his plastering gear inside a property. Was only gone less than 5 mins and needles to say he was gutted 
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Carl2009 on December 15, 2013, 02:08:39 pm
We leave one door a jar, although im thinking of fitting outside port, but not sure I want to damage new van  ;D

Get a Pure Freedom port: http://www.purefreedom.co.uk/outside-van-port-panel-p-337.html

You would have to drill thru the floor on one corner, but grommets can fill these if and when you come to sell.
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: PoleKing on December 15, 2013, 09:08:27 pm
I leave one back door open, for the reel etc. then shut one over, and lock. I've got a bulkhead, so it Means that if anyone wanted steal anything, poles etc, it would be hard to manouver the poles out there rack.

What van have you got for one door to lock?
I do the same on a Trafic.
I've set the pole rack (guttering ;D) so that 2 of the 3 poles I carry are hidden behind the closed door, along with the gas bottle & L5.
From a casual glance all a passerby would see is the tank and reel.
But if a scumbag opened the door he'd see what was in there...
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: kempy on December 15, 2013, 09:47:30 pm
Yep that's what I have pure freedom ports

When gas on have a door open
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Jonny 87 on December 16, 2013, 01:15:41 am
I leave one back door open, for the reel etc. then shut one over, and lock. I've got a bulkhead, so it Means that if anyone wanted steal anything, poles etc, it would be hard to manouver the poles out there rack.

What van have you got for one door to lock?
I do the same on a Trafic.
I've set the pole rack (guttering ;D) so that 2 of the 3 poles I carry are hidden behind the closed door, along with the gas bottle & L5.
From a casual glance all a passerby would see is the tank and reel.
But if a scumbag opened the door he'd see what was in there...

Vw caddy mate.

When I lock the doors the left hand door stays locked hiding poles etc, then right door open just for reel.

Works pretty well.
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: DaveG on December 16, 2013, 04:21:04 am
You guys that work with outside ports, do you lose a load of water every time you disconnect the reel?
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: windowswashed on December 16, 2013, 06:05:35 am
If I'm out of sight of van then it is always locked (no exceptions). I have had two attempts at someone trying to break into my van during mid day whilst working out of sight of my van in affluent areas so doors always shut and locked and alarmed, no brainer really !!!!
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Carl2009 on December 16, 2013, 07:34:59 am
You guys that work with outside ports, do you lose a load of water every time you disconnect the reel?

No. Pure Freedom ones are Hozelock type, so same as you lose when you disconnect your garden hose from the tap.
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Dave Turley on December 26, 2013, 10:39:11 am
I built a vertical partition in my van just in front of my hosereel so there was nothing that anyone could get at when I'm working away from the van while the tailgate is open, except my ladders which are easy to replace.

You can see this on my website front page.

www.daveswindowcleaning.co.uk
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on December 27, 2013, 06:02:38 am
a bulk head is probably the easiest way as dave said I used to work at a place in bilston who did them called  barton handling check them out
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Clever Forum Name on December 27, 2013, 11:31:09 am
I built a vertical partition in my van just in front of my hosereel so there was nothing that anyone could get at when I'm working away from the van while the tailgate is open, except my ladders which are easy to replace.

You can see this on my website front page.

www.daveswindowcleaning.co.uk

Yeah funny you should mention this, i decided on this over the xmas break. :) Thanks for the pics (via www) top man :)
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: tom20001 on December 31, 2013, 09:28:31 am
Im currently building my first system and im just going to drill a hole in the floor and fit roller guiide externally to help feed the pole to me, so no van ports the reel just flys out floor of van soo van locked at all times   ;)   tho im a rookie so  we will see how it works
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Mike #1 on December 31, 2013, 11:07:26 am
Why be cutting holes in the side and bottom of your vans when all you need is some pole hose and microbore/minbore female end stop fittings .

One end connected to pump outlet or DI outlet (depending on set up ) then other end connected to hose reel outside Van or Truck doors shut locked and secure .

Done it this way with my truck for over 2 yrs now its  simple straight forward and cheap . Mike
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: tom20001 on December 31, 2013, 09:03:20 pm
Putting small hole in the van easiest way for me as I dont want to be taking hose reel out of van at every job

Each to their  own I might think differently in few months but for now its the best option

Happy new years to all

Bout to crack open the vino here  ;)
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Johnny B on December 31, 2013, 10:01:04 pm
Recently I had the ropes on my roof bars nicked! Fortunately, I knew who the culprit was (a young lad of around 12 years of age), and when I told his dad he retrieved them for me. He also pumped my tyres up that the lad had let down too. I wince at the thought of the discipline that was administered (Irish traveller style)!

I was in the same area today. The young lad was as good as gold and we even had a bit of a chat! I still locked up the van though!

John 
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: PoleKing on December 31, 2013, 10:18:52 pm
Recently I had the ropes on my roof bars nicked! Fortunately, I knew who the culprit was (a young lad of around 12 years of age), and when I told his dad he retrieved them for me. He also pumped my tyres up that the lad had let down too. I wince at the thought of the discipline that was administered (Irish traveller style)!

I was in the same area today. The young lad was as good as gold and we even had a bit of a chat! I still locked up the van though!

John 

Ropes? Left the ladders?

I got some if those spinney hook things.
£20-well happy.
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on January 01, 2014, 08:30:47 pm
10 years of working with van doors wide open never a problem at all
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Johnny B on January 01, 2014, 09:22:04 pm
Recently I had the ropes on my roof bars nicked! Fortunately, I knew who the culprit was (a young lad of around 12 years of age), and when I told his dad he retrieved them for me. He also pumped my tyres up that the lad had let down too. I wince at the thought of the discipline that was administered (Irish traveller style)!

I was in the same area today. The young lad was as good as gold and we even had a bit of a chat! I still locked up the van though!

John 

Ropes? Left the ladders?

I got some if those spinney hook things.
£20-well happy.

No, I had the ladders with me. I only noticed the ropes were gone when I tried to tie the ladders back on! I had to laugh, but as said, the boy's dad got them back and probably gave his son 'what for' later!

If I get some ladder clamps I reckon on getting some good padlocks to go with them!

John 
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Jonny 87 on January 01, 2014, 09:30:06 pm
I've just bought rhino van clamps. There awesome.

Have a look on YouTube if your not sure how they work.
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Johnny B on January 02, 2014, 12:40:07 am
I've just bought rhino van clamps. There awesome.

Have a look on YouTube if your not sure how they work.

Thanks Jonny.

John
Title: Re: Working with doors open...
Post by: Klean07 on January 02, 2014, 09:08:34 am
I work with reel inside van but close van doors either resting on hose or just pinching hose. Works for me.