Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Missing Link on October 18, 2017, 12:59:40 am

Title: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Missing Link on October 18, 2017, 12:59:40 am
I'm looking for a 2nd hand van; I loved my Dispatch, but it's dying.

I'd rather not go down any kind of finance route, so have around £5k to spend.  Would prefer to spend about £4k and keep the rest for work that might need doing to it.

I'd like enough payload for two people and a 650 litre tank.

I'm not arsed about anything fancy, just a workhorse.

There's a Ford Transit Connect 1.8L TDCi T200 SWB that looks decent close to me.

Suggestions anyone?
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on October 18, 2017, 07:33:57 am
Does size matter? As in dimensions of length and width?  ;D

Go for another Dispatch/Scudo/Expert (07 onwards) if a slightly physically bigger van is OK.

Well proven good engines (2.0HDi and upwards - avoid 1.6) and galvanised body see?

As you are both (Helen and you) not heavy weights you could get away with a 1000kg payload, but the above vans offer a 1200kg option too.

My Hyundai iload  has been brilliant (1070Kg payload) but they are rarer than hen's teeth secondhand and  have only been around since a '59 plate so might not fall within your price range.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Missing Link on October 18, 2017, 08:51:36 am
Thanks, Gold, you're a star.

Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Mike Halliday on October 18, 2017, 09:06:44 am
Tosh have you considered a 4 wheel drive pickup with a lockable cabin on the back, considering your outdoor type lifestyle  one might be worth considering ,
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Missing Link on October 18, 2017, 09:08:24 am
Tosh have you considered a 4 wheel drive pickup with a lockable cabin on the back, considering your outdoor type lifestyle  one might be worth considering ,

I have in the past, but I prefer just keeping a vehicle for work.

Nice idea though.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Missing Link on October 18, 2017, 09:08:54 am
Any good?  70K on the clock!  We only do about 5 or 6k miles per year.


(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1508314123_1.jpg)
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: dazmond on October 18, 2017, 09:48:40 am
it looks tidy tosh.how long have you had your current van though as it doesnt seem 2 mins since you bought  that one? ???
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Dry Clean on October 18, 2017, 10:25:54 am
Dispatch isn't a bad Van I bought mine at a year old and its going on 9, the bodywork is still like new and even though its the 1.6 engine Iv never had a single mechanical problem which is great considering I wouldn't be the greatest at keeping to service schedules, the electrics aren't the best thought as Iv had problems with electric windows heater fan and so on.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: NWH on October 18, 2017, 10:40:36 am
Save yourself untold hassle and put that 4K towards a new van.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Missing Link on October 18, 2017, 11:03:49 am
it looks tidy tosh.how long have you had your current van though as it doesnt seem 2 mins since you bought  that one? ???

I think I've had it about 7 years now, Daz.  It's been brilliant; very few problems.

But now it's losing power intermittently; I'm not sure what's the matter.  It's been serviced recently - all filters changed - but it still loses power, slightly, but fairly regularly in the low revs.

So I'll pull away in first gear no problems, put it in second, and as I accelerate it'll lose a little bit of power - at the same time I see dark exhaust out of the rear - and then the van with 'catch' and it'll accelerate no problems.

It happens in all the gears, but seems more noticeable at low revs, particularly in 2nd gear.

I've not even taken it to a garage; it's time to change it I think.

Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Missing Link on October 18, 2017, 11:05:54 am
Save yourself untold hassle and put that 4K towards a new van.

Yeh, it is a bit like Russian roulette, but I'd rather not have any finance.  My last van has been brilliant for the money (bought 2nd hand with about 50k on the clock).  I've put another 50k on it over seven years, but I do less mileage now than I used to, just by having a more compact round, bigger jobs and only using the van purely for work purposes.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Og on October 18, 2017, 11:29:25 am
 air flow sensor ?

Don't get caught out on weight.

I went on a weighbridge recently and was surprised how close I was with 650litres.

Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Missing Link on October 18, 2017, 11:34:50 am
air flow sensor ?

The Google mechanic tells me it could be all kinds of things. ;D
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: p1w1 on October 18, 2017, 12:41:25 pm
Yeah sounds like the air flow sensor had the same issue with a Corsa recently I would check that out first if the van is still in good nick.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: ֍Winp®oClean֍ on October 18, 2017, 01:24:56 pm
My dispatch used to blow black smoke out, I had the EGR blanked off and it was like a different van- no smoke and has run like a dream ever since. That was about 20k miles ago.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Steven Biggs on October 18, 2017, 03:49:58 pm
No vat is always a bonus . Deffo worth a look .
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Missing Link on October 18, 2017, 03:54:41 pm
No vat is always a bonus . Deffo worth a look .

It was a nice van.  There were a couple of minor things which they're going to sort out when they MOT it (runs out in Jan, so they give it a new one).

Full service history too, but no cam belt change.

I pick it up Sunday.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: p1w1 on October 18, 2017, 04:01:44 pm
No vat is always a bonus . Deffo worth a look .

It was a nice van.  There were a couple of minor things which they're going to sort out when they MOT it (runs out in Jan, so they give it a new one).

Full service history too, but no cam belt change.

I pick it up Sunday.
You dont mess about..took me about a month of research before i ordered my new van
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Missing Link on October 18, 2017, 04:03:08 pm
You dont mess about..took me about a month of research before i ordered my new van

I trust Gold's advice.  I really have no interest in cars or vans, I just like them to work.  ;D

Oh, it's fully ply lined and has a full bulkhead.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Steven Biggs on October 18, 2017, 04:29:35 pm
Sorted that's how you do it . You chose that van quicker than the wife chooses which pair of shoes to wear .
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Mike Gwilliam on October 18, 2017, 05:54:40 pm
You dont mess about..took me about a month of research before i ordered my new van

I trust Gold's advice.  I really have no interest in cars or vans, I just like them to work.  ;D

Oh, it's fully ply lined and has a full bulkhead.

You'll like it. The bulkhead is a bonus, keeps you warmer in winter.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Don Kee on October 18, 2017, 06:00:43 pm
Looks like a decent van, especially seeing as you wont put any miles on it.
 I'd get the cambelt changed straight away if buying second hand,  irrelevant of what the previous owner has said. Cambelt and service and jobs a good 'un

(I always thought you couldn't MOT it unless it was within a month of the MOT expiry date..?)
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: KS Cleaning on October 18, 2017, 06:07:05 pm
Looks like a decent van, especially seeing as you wont put any miles on it.
 I'd get the cambelt changed straight away if buying second hand,  irrelevant of what the previous owner has said. Cambelt and service and jobs a good 'un

(I always thought you couldn't MOT it unless it was within a month of the MOT expiry date..?)
You can MOT it any time you want but you will only get a certificate for 12 months.  If you MOT it within a month of it running out and it passes the remaining time left on the old certificate can be added on to the new one, so in effect you could have 13 months MOT.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Missing Link on October 18, 2017, 06:12:18 pm
Looks like a decent van, especially seeing as you wont put any miles on it.
 I'd get the cambelt changed straight away if buying second hand,  irrelevant of what the previous owner has said. Cambelt and service and jobs a good 'un

That's the plan.  And a service.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: dazmond on October 18, 2017, 06:56:45 pm
wow has 7 years gone past just like that tosh? :o

i remember when you got that van.you even put a pic up of it on here after you had it sign written.im sure it was only a few years ago?
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Missing Link on October 18, 2017, 08:22:09 pm
wow has 7 years gone past just like that tosh? :o

i remember when you got that van.you even put a pic up of it on here after you had it sign written.im sure it was only a few years ago?

March 2011

Six-and-a-half years.

I've just had a look.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: ֍Winp®oClean֍ on October 18, 2017, 08:32:41 pm
wow has 7 years gone past just like that tosh? :o

i remember when you got that van.you even put a pic up of it on here after you had it sign written.im sure it was only a few years ago?

Time flies..... I remember your first Brodex alloy Daz!! ;D
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: p1w1 on October 18, 2017, 08:59:58 pm
wow has 7 years gone past just like that tosh? :o

i remember when you got that van.you even put a pic up of it on here after you had it sign written.im sure it was only a few years ago?

Time flies..... I remember your first Brodex alloy Daz!! ;D
should be able to lift it now since he's started going to the gym  ;D
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on October 18, 2017, 09:52:37 pm
Wow! Good for you, Tosh.

Yup - get the Cambelt done.
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: Missing Link on October 22, 2017, 11:43:28 am
Just picked the van up and brought it home; I'm very happy with it; thanks, Gold for your suggestion.

Vans 365 in Bristol were also very good, I thought. 

However, and unfortunately Storm Brian blew down one of the panels on my fence - first time ever - the one you advised me how to erect nearly 9 years ago, so you've lost a couple of Brownie points over that.

I've now got to swap the stuff over into my new (to me) van.

**sigh**
Title: Re: Old Faithful is Dying - What Van Next?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on October 22, 2017, 12:44:16 pm
Glad to be of help.

Your fence fell down because you didn't use the helicopters to hold the panels in place while they set. Remember?