Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: windowwashers on August 12, 2007, 08:43:01 pm
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I am getting a wfp system and I am trying to work out what van to get, was thinking vito maybe tranit or simalar as I know payload has to more than cover the water and all other stuff. it will be a 2 man system and the tank about 650, maybe 1000L
All water treament will be done in the van and it needs to have three seats.
What van do you think would be best??
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Renault Traffic or Volkswagon Transporter or Navara pickup.
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Citreon 2CV, miniclubman ;D
only messing, i guess the question is how much room do you want other than the system? i have 1000 litre systems in ford transits 300 swb (bt tranny), high enough payload but small enough to whip in and out of tight areas.
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Stick with a 650 tank and your choice of van is much wider. You need a tonne payload for that but with a 1000 tank ur gonna be up around the 1400 to 1500 KG payload and ur choice and also cost of van is gonna be a bigger factor.
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Stick with a 650 tank and your choice of van is much wider. You need a tonne payload for that but with a 1000 tank ur gonna be up around the 1400 to 1500 KG payload and ur choice and also cost of van is gonna be a bigger factor.
how long would a 650 last with two men working flat out on commercial ?
I was thinking about 4 grand for this van and when i get more wfp work buy another one but new, have to watch the pennies to start as have not been working myself much.
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Sorry Ian but .. lol at ANY Wcer workin flat out :-X :D
I've got a 600 and a 650 tank. Both are enough for 2 men doing a days work.. Even (COUGH) err flat out ;D
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We use old Japanese vans - a Vauxhall Midi with Isuzu engine, Nissan Vanette Cargo both 10 years old, under £1000 which run and run. Also a VW Transporter N reg, great van, solid dependable around £2000. Stick to older German and Japanese and you won't go wrong. All of these will carry the weight, give you the space and run reliably.
If you are a one man band a newer van will be treated well but if you have employees go for older vans because they will be mistreated.
Chris
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650 tank, go for toyota high ace, 1000 ibc older transit- a 54 or 05.
they,re the only vans that aren't gonna cost any real money cos they dont go wrong that often. the toyota wont go wrong at all
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650 tank, go for toyota high ace, 1000 ibc older transit- a 54 or 05.
they,re the only vans that aren't gonna cost any real money cos they dont go wrong that often. the toyota wont go wrong at all
thanks for the reply, could I ask what model of transit as there seems to be loads also while im here what are pug traffic's like would they be ok?
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The new citreon dispatch looks really smart,bigger than the old one but not quiet as big as a traffic.Good for 650ltrs.
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goy myself a vee dub transporter with ibc tank in the back with loads of room left not as big as my transit but bigger than a dispatch , great size i think and its a great van
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for toyota, get the swb 120 4d4, for the transit I would go fot the 115 in swb. you would get either tank in either van, but the transit is a little wider. depends what sort of round you have, but if its anything like mine you wouldnt be able to park along wheel base transit outside any of the houses I clean. Personally the toyota is a safer bet.
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i agree with steve, got an 03 hiace 70k we,ve done from new, only had 2 new tyres. Got 54 scudo been fine other than £450 for exhaust, sold other scudo had nearly 4k spent on 2001 one.
Thinking of another hiace i,ve found but price high.
Gary
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I have a Fiat Ducato. Not the very latest shape but the one before. A fantastic van, I cant sing its praises high enough.
I have an 800 ltr tank installed and its set up for two. With two of us working on domestic windows We have run out of water after 7 hrs work. It normally lasts all day but just now and again we run out of water, In the summer months only.
I carry 8 poles in the van at all times and my big pole goes on the roofRack when I need it.
Nel.
650ltr tank is not big enough for two working.
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Go for a Trafic/Vivaro/Primastar.
Millions of people can't be wrong.
Best van I've ever driven.
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got a traffic? - put some money by for a new gearbox. and the Idea of enough people cant be wrong, check with renault chiltern how many gearbox,s they order in a week. They are the only gearbox they keep in stock, and its the same for masters, but with them its engines.
If theyre that good why dont they have a special insurance that states if the engine blows or the gearbox goes they will re-imburse the full value of the van upto 10 years old. When I asked if anyone had claimed at a particular garage, I was told no, not yet
If you use wfp, dont bother getting an extra battery, they already have two on it, with a spliit charge relay
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Are they that bad,i fancy one of them.Where`s the connection for the split charge in the van.Cheers.
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got a traffic? - put some money by for a new gearbox. and the Idea of enough people cant be wrong, check with renault chiltern how many gearbox,s they order in a week. They are the only gearbox they keep in stock, and its the same for masters, but with them its engines.
Hmmmm... I was thinking about getting a Traffic. Maybe I'll re-think if thats the case!
Do the Vivaro's and Primastar's also suffer from gearbox problems?
Andy
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Don't take any notice of him. ::)
He probably couldn't afford one or something.
Probably has a Fiat. ;D
If you're abusing it like delivery drivers for 50,000 miles a year at 100mph it may give more problems than some.
I however do 5,000-odd work miles a year, and after 3 years when I exchange it I will have done 15,000, 20,000 at the most.
I doubt most window cleaners do that much more.
I hardly think it's going to fall apart in 18-20,000 miles. ::)
You're perfectly safe with one, and it's the best van to drive, along with the new Transit. ;)
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I average about 20000 miles a year
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I average 15 to 20 k miles.
Got a realy good price on new vivaro, gearbox problem sorted, but might still go for hiace as employees drive them.
Gary
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I average 15 to 20 k miles.
Got a realy good price on new vivaro, gearbox problem sorted, but might still go for hiace as employees drive them.
Gary
Yet another of these vehicles having a gearbox problem? I needed mine replacing in my Trafic at 39,000 miles. I may well go for the Hiace too next time around.
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How on earth are window cleaners doing 400 miles a week? :o :o
80 miles a day every day, to clean windows?
I do 80-100 miles a week and my round is quite spread out. ???
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How on earth are window cleaners doing 400 miles a week? :o :o
80 miles a day every day, to clean windows?
I do 80-100 miles a week and my round is quite spread out. ???
I'm getting through about 10,000+ miles a year and some of that is private use. I haven't done an exact calculation but I reckon I use about 8,500 miles per year for window cleaning and business associated activities. This may well increase as I get more work in as I am gradually increasing my catchment area. That's about 160 miles per week at the moment.
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Ah, if you use it for other things as well.
That's what cars are for.
My van is solely for work.
No breakdown worries then. ;)
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I like the traffic's but have also heard of gearbox problems, was speaking with a guy very early the other morning in the city (wouldnt shut up and get on with his own work) He told me it cost him over 3k to put right :o
Vito's, Transporters or that new LDV Maxus ;)
Pro
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LDV? Stands for Leyland Daf Vans. ;D
That's an old Sherpa.
Absolutely pooe build quality. Avoid.
It's rubbish about gearbox problems on the Trafic under normal window cleaning use.
As I said earlier, thrashed for 50,000 a year it may be different.
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He told me he done 48,000 in two years! hardly broken in if you ask me mate. Other than that they are nice vans, I even hear you get a cooler in the glove box and all kinds of extras.
The new LDV Maxus are nice vans.
Pro
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How on earth are window cleaners doing 400 miles a week? :o :o
80 miles a day every day, to clean windows?
I do 80-100 miles a week and my round is quite spread out. ???
If you saw the house prices for a 4 bed det in nice area in Cambridge you would understand.
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So if you keep it 3yrs it`ll have 60000 on the clock,this is the kind of mileage that guarantees run out on vans.It`s not guess work that they give you this figure over 3yrs,that`s the magic number when things start to go wrong.
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We offer a 60 mile radious of our base.
Or one hour dependent on location ie. Brum.
15k is th average, looking to sign for an ex demo hiace tomorrow, saved 4k + extras.
gary
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We offer a 60 mile radious of our base.
Or one hour dependent on location ie. Brum.
15k is th average, looking to sign for an ex demo hiace tomorrow, saved 4k + extras.
gary
what price is a hiace?
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No sorry 15 k miles is our average annual milage.
Have currently got berlingo on loan from brother who does not use it, but, now requires it back for his own work. Need another van to replace it.
Was offered good deal on vivaro, but needed nearly 5k to put down.
Found 3 hiaces ex-demo 06 x2, 55 x1. Both 06,s went within days. Looking to sign tomorrow. £8500, 3k miles, bulkhead, lined & special floor.
Gary
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Hi Gary,can you give a quick explanation of the good deal they offered you on the vivaro please.
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Hi Gary,can you give a quick explanation of the good deal they offered you on the vivaro please.
They probably knocked 5 grand off if he supplied his own gearbox.
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NWH
Offered,
0% finance
£500 fuel
Free servicing
14% or 19% discount.
Comes out at around £12500 all in but no interest, where normally you,d pay between £3k £4k extra for finance dependant % interest.
Have seen a couple low milage in trader for around£10 1/2 k but need to add interest.
I like the toyota,s for there non destructable running, i have 3 different drivers in it, & no prob,s whatever. The vivaro,s had problems with gearbox which i am told is fixed or changed in the new facelift model. Also i was going for the 2.0l to have the different box anyway.
Garyt
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been awway for a couple of days so I haven't read all the statements.
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cant afford a traffic??. Skueaks, look on my website, it hasnt been updated for ages, but it will give you some idea of the size fleet I run. wwwvangovans.co.uk. You want to hire any van between a transit connect and a 7.5 tonner, give me a shout.
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talk to bt, they tried the vivaro cos they were cheaper than the transit. 42% off the road at any given time with engine/gearbox trouble. surprise surprise they went back to tranits. saying that they have just ordered 400 movano's
so they cant be all that bad.
3.
after running nine toyotas for the past three years and only replacing 5 tyres and one clutch, I reckon thats not too bad.
And at the moment toyota a doing a deal of three grand off the list price, so go get a swb hi ace for 9 grand + vta. I did I ordered another 2
Been doing this game now for 6 years with different co.'s, and Got to know all the reps well, so I think I know a little bit about vans, maybe a little mor than the average guy
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talk to bt, they tried the vivaro cos they were cheaper than the transit. 42% off the road at any given time with engine/gearbox trouble. surprise surprise they went back to tranits.
...and our survey said...Ugh Ugh!!!
Actually the transit is the same price, because I had a straight choice.
In fact, If I went for the bottom engine it was slightly cheaper.
There's plenty of '07 plate BT vans around here as well mate. ;)
You just know someone who doesn't like them.
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LDV? Stands for Leyland Daf Vans. ;D
That's an old Sherpa.
the old sherpa's were built like tanks and used to last, they got bad a few years back
i know some1 who drove to india in a sherpa and lived in it for over 2 years ;)
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dunno where you live, but I@ve been offered swb traffic 3500 cheaper than the transit swb. The ldv's aren't too bad a buy, but to keep the price down the paint is a lot thinner (they only spray 4 coats instead of 7) and the bodywork is a little thinner. Also you dont get any sort of bulkhead or rear bar for the driver.
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the older LDV's look nasty in my opinion (sry for anyone that has one) the new one looks nice though, I am hearing so many different things on here. I think it's great I am learning loads and hope others are to, may be I should be become a mechanic and fix everyones vans on here would be a ready made business lol.
Jokes aside thank you for the replys please keep them coming others opinions are good for all that are looking to get another van or get there first. I myself am drawn to the look of the van as I want to show a certain image then saying that they need to be reliable as will be using it 5 days a week.
Thanks guys and gals
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The look of a van was not important to me, Thats why I bought a Fiat Ducato.
All vans are Boxes on wheels to some description.
My yardstick for buying a van was simpl, I wanted the best value van for the least amount of money.
Nothing else touched the Fiat Ducato. 1185 kg payload = 800ltr tank. 2 hosereels, I carry 8 poles in the van and I have more space then I know what to do with. I have a fully Sound insulated lined Bulkhead. which completly isolates any noise from the rear, No tinny echo sounds as you drive around.
All the toys, ABS brakes an absoulte essential for wfp vans with the weight we carry. Remote central locking, heated electric windows which are twined mirrors so you can see the kerb when parking. Electric windows and I have to say the most comftable seat I have ever had the pleasure to sit in.But the seats where designed by Back specialists.
The best bit, a superb driving position, I look down into peoples Landrovers and 4 by4s.
At the end of the day the van is there to earn you money and for me mine ticks all the boxes. I open my rear doors and have a great sense of pride in my wfp system. It as taken my earnings to another level compared to trad w/c. At the end of the day thats what you want from your van.
Nel.
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Make sure you get a van with air-con. ;)
It's worth a few quid a day.
You feel refreshed instead of hot and tired and wanting to go home.
Many a time in the summer I would have packed in, but sat and cooled off for a bit and carried on.
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Your a welsh Softie squeaks.
Sitting in the van to cool down. I,ve heard it all now.
I cool down while I work just stand under your pole its very refreshing.
Nel.
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Keeps your energy up if you're cool and refreshed, and breathing dry air.
No air con on Doblo's then? ;) ;D
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The look of a van was not important to me, Thats why I bought a Fiat Ducato.
All vans are Boxes on wheels to some description.
My yardstick for buying a van was simpl, I wanted the best value van for the least amount of money.
Nothing else touched the Fiat Ducato. 1185 kg payload = 800ltr tank. 2 hosereels, I carry 8 poles in the van and I have more space then I know what to do with. I have a fully Sound insulated lined Bulkhead. which completly isolates any noise from the rear, No tinny echo sounds as you drive around.
All the toys, ABS brakes an absoulte essential for wfp vans with the weight we carry. Remote central locking, heated electric windows which are twined mirrors so you can see the kerb when parking. Electric windows and I have to say the most comftable seat I have ever had the pleasure to sit in.But the seats where designed by Back specialists.
The best bit, a superb driving position, I look down into peoples Landrovers and 4 by4s.
At the end of the day the van is there to earn you money and for me mine ticks all the boxes. I open my rear doors and have a great sense of pride in my wfp system. It as taken my earnings to another level compared to trad w/c. At the end of the day thats what you want from your van.
Nel.
you made a load of good points there, can i have a pic of the van not just the back, from what you are saying they sound very good.
Van is there to make money yes, but I could get a van for a grand,would it look professional (doubt it) rusty more than likley. Cmpany image means alot to many people, We as a company only go for quality work, there are plenty of cheapo's out there, I let them take the crap and I get the cream. Image is everything and quality i just as important of work, add that together you get a better price for a good job done ;)
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I dont have a photo of the outside, Sorry. The Ducato is exactly the same as the Peugot Boxer and Citroen Relay. It just comes better equiped. Its got the same 2.0 Hdi engine in and the same running gear as the Pug and Citroen.
Their is a newer model out now so their wont be many left of the older design around now, Some of the van firms may still have pre registered ones available if they have old stock left.
My van was pre registered But brand new. It was delivered to my home address from Royal Portbury Dock at Bristol by transporter with 2 miles on the clock.
The price was less then £10,000.00 including vat. An absoulte Bargin. Happy as a Pig in Poo.
Nel.