Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: AuRavelling79 on July 23, 2023, 12:23:44 pm
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So ...
As of Monday evening the hire van goes back and I have a week to get my van returned, give it a thorough check over and if ok start arranging for bits and repairs.
By this time next week I should have either decided to not keep it or be part way through repairing it. (Most of the work being done by Dan the Man, me sharing his van and using a backpack out of Mrs. Gold's little car. Three or four barrels and a backpack so about 100L.)
Today I tried it out on my own house which is a 3 bed semi with a high rooflight but no bays, porch or conservatory.
From opening the tailgate to shutting it took 13 minutes for the house plus 4 minutes to change poles and move the backpack for the rooflight.
I used 12 litres for 12 windows/doors and wiped the downstairs cills with an old towel to save water.
If I was charging I reckon I would ask £16/18 if among others nearby.
So I hope to get north of £100 out of a three hour half day with driving included.
We shall see ...
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Good luck Gold!
I think that even with just 3 hours of backpack you will at least start being fatigued or worse hating the whole process.
its good to do a test run but 1 house and being your own, is not like doing several in a day.
Its great you are getting the van back and working on it yourself (dan the man) this should leave you quids in
Darran
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I'd have the week off. Sod using a backpack ;D
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I won't be using it much. Just on a day or two when I'm not working with Dan the Man in his van.
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Been there and done it . 12 barrels in the back of a Volvo xc60 . It’s good to keep earning and ticking off those jobs . Needs must. So good when you get back to using your van. I’d say look after your back though
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Been there and done it . 12 barrels in the back of a Volvo xc60 . It’s good to keep earning and ticking off those jobs . Needs must. So good when you get back to using your van. I’d say look after your back though
Thanks for the reminder!
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Think I would consider a hire van . For a week or so
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Think I would consider a hire van . For a week or so
My hire van goes back tomorrow - had it just over two weeks. I've pulled stuff forward a few days so I can have a very quiet week from Tuesday. Just a handful of time sensitive jobs. And I'm sharing Dan the Man's van the week after too. No point in paying £300 a week and transferring my system for a week.
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Could you work Saturday when Dan Van should be available? I would find it hard to be bothered enough to use backpack and barrels.
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Could you work Saturday when Dan Van should be available? I would find it hard to be bothered enough to use backpack and barrels.
wash your mouth out with soap! ;D
Darran
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My insurance doesn't cover driving other vehicles. We'll see how it goes working two man for a week or two, assess my old van more thoroughly and see what happens then.
I'm considering several options now. Ranging from selling the old van as a Cat S runner to finding we've bitten off more than we can chew with the old van and replacing or getting a little van as I wind down over the next few years.
It literally took me an hour to remove my system from the hire van so I feel quite adept at moving it about.
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I'd have the week off. Sod using a backpack ;D
It's actually not too bad if you use a fold away trolley and 20m of pole hose on run of the mill houses.not so good if your cleaning large properties and commercial jobs.
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Any time we have an accident (especially if it's not our fault) we get a van from the insurance until the issue is resolved.
Does A-plan not offer that? What's the point in having insurance if not?
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Any time we have an accident (especially if it's not our fault) we get a van from the insurance until the issue is resolved.
Does A-plan not offer that? What's the point in having insurance if not?
I imagine you'll pay a premium for that though ?
Which is understandable with staff . .
But as a sole trader you could just hire a van, use your car or have a few days off...
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Any time we have an accident (especially if it's not our fault) we get a van from the insurance until the issue is resolved.
Does A-plan not offer that? What's the point in having insurance if not?
I amagine you'll pay a premium for that though ?
Which is understandable with staff . .
But as a sole trader you could just hire a van, use your car or have a few days off...
For the fully kitted out van with hot water system the policy costs £75 per year , absolute bargain as far as ime concerned we have used it se times due to non fault accidents
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Any time we have an accident (especially if it's not our fault) we get a van from the insurance until the issue is resolved.
Does A-plan not offer that? What's the point in having insurance if not?
I amagine you'll pay a premium for that though ?
Which is understandable with staff . .
But as a sole trader you could just hire a van, use your car or have a few days off...
I mean our insurance is expensive but not overly so I'd say.
If it's not your fault you shouldn't really be put out at all IMO.
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Any time we have an accident (especially if it's not our fault) we get a van from the insurance until the issue is resolved.
Does A-plan not offer that? What's the point in having insurance if not?
Yes. But it is resolved.
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Any time we have an accident (especially if it's not our fault) we get a van from the insurance until the issue is resolved.
Does A-plan not offer that? What's the point in having insurance if not?
Yes. But it is resolved.
Sorry, I must have misunderstood. I thought you said you were having to faff about with backpacks, DtM's motor and your mrs's car.
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Any time we have an accident (especially if it's not our fault) we get a van from the insurance until the issue is resolved.
Does A-plan not offer that? What's the point in having insurance if not?
Yes. But it is resolved.
Sorry, I must have misunderstood. I thought you said you were having to faff about with backpacks, DtM's motor and your mrs's car.
It's resolved in that the claim is agreed and I have been paid.
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It's resolved in that the claim is agreed and I have been paid.
Makes sense.
I hope you got reimbursed properly for your prang and subsequent consequences.
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Wait ‘till you start looking for replacement/new vans, you’ll need to sit down!
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Could you work Saturday when Dan Van should be available? I would find it hard to be bothered enough to use backpack and barrels.
wash your mouth out with soap! ;D
Darran
I actually prefer having a day off in the week. If you want to go anywhere places are busier on Saturday.
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Wait ‘till you start looking for replacement/new vans, you’ll need to sit down!
The plan is to repair my old van.
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It's resolved in that the claim is agreed and I have been paid.
Makes sense.
I hope you got reimbursed properly for your prang and subsequent consequences.
The van claim has been settled. Uninsured losses claim has to be agreed with the other insurer. But as there were no injuries it is only a few hundred quid.
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What's your van - is it the Hyundai or am I confusing you with someone else?
Darran
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What's your van - is it the Hyundai or am I confusing you with someone else?
Darran
Yes. Hyundai iload Comfort 3 seater.
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👍
Hope the rebuild goes well
Darran
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Hyundai iload is a good van. They seem a little thirsty (compared to my dispatch anyway) but I think they are well made. Shame they don't still make them.
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Hyundai iload is a good van. They seem a little thirsty (compared to my dispatch anyway) but I think they are well made. Shame they don't still make them.
Yes it's a 2.5 diesel - only 116bhp but loads of torque - and I get about 30 mpg when I am using it for work. 35 on a longer run at normal speeds.
The slight down side is that they share hinges and side door handles with i800's and so aren't heavy duty and a bit tired after ten years.
I like the cam chain instead of cambelt.
I use a hook and eye on the barn doors at the back as the hinges aren't stiff enough when open to stop a door closing if a bit breezy.
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Hook and eye ……. wasn’t that a sitcom comedy?
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The bodywork guy has turned up and tells me the wings and bonnet are repairable/bendable/moveable.
Headlight fitted, slam panel fitted as is bumper bar.
Waiting for grille and cosmetic bumper to arrive.
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Well, the main and aircon radiators are fitted and the new fans. Can't get the Aircon one recharged yet but the main one seems ok with coolant added.
Fitted a new water pump and auxiliary belt as the front was off.
Temperature gauge doesn't hit 90 degrees on idle so can't check if the new fans kick in yet.
The replacement headlight is in and working.
The front cosmetic bumper and grille didn't arrive from Yorkshire. Some nonsense about the carrier (Evri) saying it was too big so refund agreed.
But luckily there was one off an i800 people carrier in Lydney so I collected it this afternoon and it is temporarily fitted to allow us to align the wings, bonnet etc.
Looking hopeful as the bodywork guy can spray it white in a couple of weeks but hopefully ready to MOT by the end of next week.
Fingers crossed.
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Well, the main and aircon radiators are fitted and the new fans. Can't get the Aircon one recharged yet but the main one seems ok with coolant added.
Fitted a new water pump and auxiliary belt as the front was off.
Temperature gauge doesn't hit 90 degrees on idle so can't check if the new fans kick in yet.
The replacement headlight is in and working.
The front cosmetic bumper and grille didn't arrive from Yorkshire. Some nonsense about the carrier (Evri) saying it was too big so refund agreed.
But luckily there was one off an i800 people carrier in Lydney so I collected it this afternoon and it is temporarily fitted to allow us to align the wings, bonnet etc.
Looking hopeful as the bodywork guy can spray it white in a couple of weeks but hopefully ready to MOT by the end of next week.
Fingers crossed.
Well. A bit longer than anticipated by a week and four days.
I decided to re-do the back - as in removing, repainting and replacing tank frame, rotten plywood floor (covered in rubber), kurusting any surface rust, priming, Protectakote UVR and putting in trays to catch water.
Original 650L tank and pumps re-used. Pumps re-sited.
New plywood top and re used insulation.
Passed MOT today. So insurance valid again.
Back to work with it tomorrow...
Aircon to be recharged next week.
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Don't ever make your main source of work a backpack, a trolley, a trailer or a car.
Having the van back is utter bliss in comparison!
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I know this is an after thought, but have you taken photos of the repair stages. It's always helpful to have this for when you decide to sell the van in the future.
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Doing just one or two houses with backpack is enough for me to agree with you lol
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I know this is an after thought, but have you taken photos of the repair stages. It's always helpful to have this for when you decide to sell the van in the future.
Yes.
I don't intend selling it this side of retirement so if that is finally 3 - 6 years away it won't have much value left being 15/18 years old and probably north of 100K.
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Aircon recharged yesterday just in time for the week's heatwave that is summer 2023! All finished.