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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Scrimble on November 10, 2009, 05:56:41 pm

Title: Best van?
Post by: Scrimble on November 10, 2009, 05:56:41 pm
What would be the best van and tank size to get for a single operator doing domestic work only?

Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: kenaltobelli on November 10, 2009, 06:05:35 pm
fiat doblo  tank size 400 or so best thing is a trolley use less water ;)
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: Dean Taberner on November 10, 2009, 06:06:45 pm
Vauxhall combo 250-300 litre tank
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: luther1 on November 10, 2009, 06:09:18 pm
How many hours do you work in a day?
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: Scrimble on November 10, 2009, 06:13:22 pm
How many hours do you work in a day?


a full day 9.30 to 5
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: pingu on November 10, 2009, 06:25:30 pm
Landrover 110 with a 500litre bespoke tank in the back.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: bobby p on November 10, 2009, 06:31:31 pm
wots that little door for ?on the side of your LANDIE?
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: luther1 on November 10, 2009, 06:38:06 pm
If you do 9-5 then you will probably run out of water with 400ltrs. I can get about 5 hours out of 400 ltrs in my Berlingo and all day with 650 in the Transporter. That is constant use though with minimum travel between jobs.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: pingu on November 10, 2009, 06:41:13 pm
Can be used for holding a jerry can or spare pants ;) Thats not really my van I have a Racing Nissan Vannette 2.3 cargo...the LR is how my restored LR110 will be...only another 93 weeks to go ;D
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: dd on November 10, 2009, 07:24:24 pm
Dispatch/expert /scudo.

With 900kg payload version you can fit a 600l tank. Good van IMO.

New ones go upto 1200kg payload.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: david thomas on November 10, 2009, 07:43:05 pm
Iveco dailey 650 litre tank put ladders inside of van plenty room for poles Power wash equipment best van i've used for wfp
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on November 10, 2009, 07:46:38 pm
despatch looks big! what does everyone think about the v.w caddy?

thanks, george.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: MoemGorod on November 10, 2009, 07:49:03 pm
GAZ Sobol with 650L water tank.

See the nice flash also at the website of one our customer: http://chistiy-gorod.ru/ .. and point the pc mouse at the headlight on that flash.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: MoemGorod on November 10, 2009, 08:15:20 pm
... forget, just £7,350 for new van.

Vadim
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: Scrimble on November 10, 2009, 09:47:46 pm
would a vivaro swb be too big for just 1 person on a domestic round?
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: ccmids on November 10, 2009, 09:49:34 pm
What would be the best van and tank size to get for a single operator doing domestic work only?


get a combo with 500 ltr it will fit , upright. :)
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: EZclean on November 10, 2009, 10:27:58 pm
so the best van is whatever you happen to own  ;D
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: chopsie on November 10, 2009, 10:36:42 pm
a iveco daily for one man on a domestic round :o!those things are massive,i drove one occasionally in my last job,way to big for what he needs i would of thought,But hey what do i know,I only just starting up ::)
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: bobby p on November 11, 2009, 07:35:00 am
i saw a car thatd be just the very best for trad work - its a Toyota Yaris Verso, the rear hatch on this motor opens sideaways  so it wouldnt catch on the ladders .    weird looking motor though !!
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: bobby p on November 11, 2009, 07:38:10 am
GAZ Sobol with 650L water tank.

See the nice flash also at the website of one our customer: http://chistiy-gorod.ru/ .. and point the pc mouse at the headlight on that flash.

  HEY do you know PECHORA ?  i once worked in that city (komi republic)
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: MoemGorod on November 11, 2009, 07:45:33 am
.. do you know PECHORA ?  i once worked in that city (komi republic)

Hi, mate.

Of course I know, such as Pechory is very closed to Saint-Petersburg. Just couple of hours by car.

regards,

Vadim
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: bobby p on November 11, 2009, 07:59:14 am
i remember Pechora was 32 hour train ride,from Moscow .
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 11, 2009, 08:05:40 am
I'm a single operator with mainly domestic light commercial and I carry 400L plus 50L in barrels in my Doblo Van. I am careful with water and if I start at 9am on compact work I will typically run out by 4pm on the main tank and then top up with the 50L. I have run this van for three years from new. My van has a 736kg limit and so if I was strict about other items carried I could just about get a 500L in my van. But it would be physically very tight.

But I do benefit from low road tax (it's an 85hp turbo 1.3 diesel), fantastic mpg (42 stop-start work) and as it is rated at 2000kg I can legally go at car speeds on dual carriageways and single carriageway roads. (The 1.9 is over this limit mind!)

Hindsight - that wonderful thing - tells me that unless I was insisting on a new van then I would now get the old shape (as in "S" reg to "07" reg) Fiat Scudo/Peugeot Expert/Citroen Dispatch with 3 seats and 900kg payload and put a 650L in it. I know several windies who do this with success.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: Rogue Trader on November 11, 2009, 08:07:27 am
Dispatch/expert /scudo.

With 900kg payload version you can fit a 600l tank. Good van IMO.

New ones go upto 1200kg payload.

ditto , cheap and cheerful and get a good one and will serve you well ;)
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: EZclean on November 11, 2009, 08:24:59 am
I'm a single operator with mainly domestic light commercial and I carry 400L plus 50L in barrels in my Doblo Van. I am careful with water and if I start at 9am on compact work I will typically run out by 4pm on the main tank and then top up with the 50L. I have run this van for three years from new. My van has a 736kg limit and so if I was strict about other items carried I could just about get a 500L in my van. But it would be physically very tight.

But I do benefit from low road tax (it's an 85hp turbo 1.3 diesel), fantastic mpg (42 stop-start work) and as it is rated at 2000kg I can legally go at car speeds on dual carriageways and single carriageway roads. (The 1.9 is over this limit mind!)

Hindsight - that wonderful thing - tells me that unless I was insisting on a new van then I would now get the old shape (as in "S" reg to "07" reg) Fiat Scudo/Peugeot Expert/Citroen Dispatch with 3 seats and 900kg payload and put a 650L in it. I know several windies who do this with success.

not many know about the speed restriction for bigger vans. alot have been caught out, although it takes a harsh copper really.

on the Dispatch/expert/scudo, they didn't start putting the 2.0 Hdi/JTD till around 2000/01, much much better engine, the 1.9TD are terrible and all need head gaskets doing, problem being on this engine it's a huge job.
Hdi is better on  fuel too
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: Scrimble on November 11, 2009, 02:20:31 pm
wouldnt want a scudo i really dont like the look of them,

no way would i fit a 500l tank in a combo my astra is on its limits carrying 250l and the payload on a combo is pretty much the same!

i'm thinking a vivaro swb 2.5l 2900kg 150bhp model with a 500l tank

who uses a vivaro on here what are they like on fuel? i normally get about 140miles to a tenner in my astravan
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: dd on November 11, 2009, 05:08:03 pm
wouldnt want a scudo i really dont like the look of them,

no way would i fit a 500l tank in a combo my astra is on its limits carrying 250l and the payload on a combo is pretty much the same!

i'm thinking a vivaro swb 2.5l 2900kg 150bhp model with a 500l tank

who uses a vivaro on here what are they like on fuel? i normally get about 140miles to a tenner in my astravan
Think you can get a vauxhall combo with payload around 800kg, so should take 500l tank.

I know 2 single operators who use this van and both have 500l tanks.

I personally would steer clear of vivaro/traffic/primastar as they are the most complained about vans on this forum, particularly with clutch and gearbox problems on even newish vans. Guy on here recently couldn't get his warranty honoured when the clutch went at 28k and just under 3 years old and is having to pay a 1k plus repair bill.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: EZclean on November 11, 2009, 05:33:28 pm
wouldnt want a scudo i really dont like the look of them,  

no way would i fit a 500l tank in a combo my astra is on its limits carrying 250l and the payload on a combo is pretty much the same!

i'm thinking a vivaro swb 2.5l 2900kg 150bhp model with a 500l tank

who uses a vivaro on here what are they like on fuel? i normally get about 140miles to a tenner in my astravan

it's a work vehicle  ::) , they are one of THE best vans you can buy for wfp use.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: mark dew on November 11, 2009, 07:17:32 pm
wouldnt want a scudo i really dont like the look of them,

no way would i fit a 500l tank in a combo my astra is on its limits carrying 250l and the payload on a combo is pretty much the same!

i'm thinking a vivaro swb 2.5l 2900kg 150bhp model with a 500l tank

who uses a vivaro on here what are they like on fuel? i normally get about 140miles to a tenner in my astravan

I don't know about vivaro, but i think you have the right idea. That van, if good enough, will last you growth wise for years. But with that much payload, i think you will regret not getting a bigger tank than 500 litres.
I think the average optimum flow is around 1 1/2 litres per minute. That gives you about 6 1/2 hours of working time. Some cleans require more, and maintenance cleans can get done in less. But i find there is a correlation between water usage and speed. A higher flow rate means quicker on the job, upto a point of course.
Therefore i think 500 litres would be good if you get a dispatch or something, but bordering on not enough on some days if you have 2900kg to play with.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: pingu on November 11, 2009, 07:35:11 pm
Just a quickie...when you guys buy a new van how long do you run it for...?

Cheers
Dave.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on November 11, 2009, 08:04:47 pm
Mark.... The expert/dispatch/scudo are cracking vans. Plenty of guys use them on here (including me as you know). I have a 400L tank and have never ran out of water. I dont use a tap / trigger at the moment, i just use the controller. So i waste a bit of water.

Hows the system going anyway ?

A vivaro is good, but big. Brian Stubbs round the corner runs one but he only does commercial.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: trevor perry on November 11, 2009, 08:14:57 pm
wouldnt want a scudo i really dont like the look of them,

no way would i fit a 500l tank in a combo my astra is on its limits carrying 250l and the payload on a combo is pretty much the same!

i'm thinking a vivaro swb 2.5l 2900kg 150bhp model with a 500l tank

who uses a vivaro on here what are they like on fuel? i normally get about 140miles to a tenner in my astravan
i dont think the payload is 2900kg but is 2.9 ton which is a lot less
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: Temple cleaning services on November 11, 2009, 08:21:00 pm
best van on the road is a toyota hiace without doubt!
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: DaveG on November 11, 2009, 08:23:29 pm
2900kg = 2.9 tonne :)
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: mark dew on November 11, 2009, 08:33:56 pm
Window wipers, i haven't said otherwise. I drive a dispatch with 400 litres and think the same as you. I usually get between 5 and 6 hours out of my tank.
If he chose one of our vans great choice. But if he's got something that can carry alot more, i think he will regret not carrying more. He will  eventually run out of water with 500 litres.
400 litres is ok on maintenance cleans, but large 1st cleans can need more than 500 litres on there own. And this work will come along eventually.   
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: trevor perry on November 11, 2009, 08:37:25 pm
2900kg = 2.9 tonne :)
yes your right but the actual payload on the above van is only 1120kg the 2900kg is including weight of van, my fault for not explaining properly
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on November 11, 2009, 08:54:30 pm
Window wipers, i haven't said otherwise. I drive a dispatch with 400 litres and think the same as you. I usually get between 5 and 6 hours out of my tank.
If he chose one of our vans great choice. But if he's got something that can carry alot more, i think he will regret not carrying more. He will eventually run out of water with 500 litres.
400 litres is ok on maintenance cleans, but large 1st cleans can need more than 500 litres on there own. And this work will come along eventually.

Was talking to ST1 as his name is Mark too ;)

Thats why you dont know who Brian stubbs is :P
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: mark dew on November 11, 2009, 10:11:39 pm
ooops.  :)
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: tacky on November 11, 2009, 10:12:29 pm
i knowa  una stubbs
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: C.C.S. on November 11, 2009, 10:28:15 pm
this scudo's look pretty good and have avery good price
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fiat-Doblo-Cargo-1-3-16V-Multijet_W0QQitemZ220504441219QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Commercial_Trucks?hash=item335716c183
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: Scrimble on November 12, 2009, 04:30:50 pm
Mark.... The expert/dispatch/scudo are cracking vans. Plenty of guys use them on here (including me as you know). I have a 400L tank and have never ran out of water. I dont use a tap / trigger at the moment, i just use the controller. So i waste a bit of water.

Hows the system going anyway ?

A vivaro is good, but big. Brian Stubbs round the corner runs one but he only does commercial.

its going pretty well am gettin used to the pole a bit now aint lost any customers yet and no complaints yet,

think i'm out growing my astra already though!
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: geefree on November 12, 2009, 05:07:46 pm
They say the best van on the road is a  v.w transporter

but i like my transit.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 12, 2009, 06:01:00 pm
this scudo's look pretty good and have avery good price
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fiat-Doblo-Cargo-1-3-16V-Multijet_W0QQitemZ220504441219QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Commercial_Trucks?hash=item335716c183

Errrr... not a scudo - it's a doblo! Like mine but lower spec.
Title: Re: Best van?
Post by: C.C.S. on November 12, 2009, 07:21:08 pm
this scudo's look pretty good and have avery good price
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fiat-Doblo-Cargo-1-3-16V-Multijet_W0QQitemZ220504441219QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Commercial_Trucks?hash=item335716c183

Errrr... not a scudo - it's a doblo! Like mine but lower spec.
sorry i meant doblo.looks like an ideal car.esspecially for the price.how reliable is ?and what mpg do u return?cheers