[Tom White]

The van I'm buying doesn't have a bulk head and Wor Lass is already complaining that she's going to be cold next Winter when having her lunch.

And I can imagine that if I'm to leave a heater in the van overnight, during those freezing Winter nights, then a bulkhead would help keep the warmth in the rear where it's needed too.

Is it worth forking out £170 for a steel bulk head, or is it possible to DIY a plywood one?  

What's the score with bulk heads?

[Frankybadboy]

look at van breakers tosh or you can by the kit for the ply all ready cut

[Tom White]

Cheers, Franky; van breakers sounds good to me.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I've had with & without.

With- safer for you as any flying objects under heavy braking wont hit you on the back of the head. With rear or side doors open, no one can get into the cab area. A quieter drive.

Without- you can put longer items in the van. the heat from the cab gets into the back.


Personally, I have a full steel factory bulkhead & prefer it now. I have cut a small window in it to allow me to carry some long items & allow air circulation, I block it back up though in summer.

 

[BORBRYCE]

Tosh, you seem a very sensible type. Have you thought about the damage a full 400 litre tank of water could inflict on a driver or passenger in the event of even a 30 mph impact. A bulkhead of some type is imperative. Securing your tank with straps bolted to the chassis is also of the utmost importance. Better still if professionally caged and weld fitted.

[poleman]

had a plywood one in my tranny and man...it drove me mad.... squeak....bloody squeak

[mci services]

Ok two vans in and the first didn't have one and the second has. The heater in the van without the bulkhead made no difference it heated the van and the front so no scraping the windscreen. on the second van I struggle to fit some poles inside because of the bulkhead, and as you say it only heats the back of the van so scraping the windscreens again. the heat while driving around on the one with no bulkhead circulates round the van and helps defrost everything in sub zero conditions whereas on the bulkhead fitted van the back just stays frozen.

So in conclusion I have no idea what is best, but eating lunch without a bulkhead has never been a problem.


and as mentioned it is probably safer with one fitted

[Frankybadboy]

ply kits just for the bulk head aint going to cost a lot.

google vanextra  on netham road bristol,dont think they got a web-site but phone for price.

[BORBRYCE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcyM8EpILxo&feature=more_related

Just to give you an idea of what you REALLY should think about. 15 secs in.

[Tom White]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcyM8EpILxo&feature=more_related

Just to give you an idea of what you REALLY should think about. 15 secs in.

Aw you're too sensible, Ronnie; but yes, I'll sort something out with regards safety.

Promise. 

[mikecam]

Here we go the health and saftey brigade is out !!!
If you are a STUPID driver and think you can drive a fully laden van with a water tank and allsorts of hanging equiptment in it like a 20 year old drives a GTI then get a steel bulkhead fitted. If you're a sensible driver who drives to the conditions of the road and his load then the option to not have one is fine, you can also fit ladders right inside the vehicle. The cab heating is a plus point in winter to keep the chill off when temps are minus and all your poles (even the long ones) for right inside.
 The other plus point of not having a bulkhead is whe you do have one and hear something fall off and bang the bulkead you invariably pull over to see what it was what fell, thus wasting valuable time. With no bulkhead you know straight away whats hit you !!  

[BORBRYCE]

Mike. Five years ago, I was driving at only 35 mph along a normal main road, single carridgeway. Busy road with many junctions. From nowhere and I mean nowhere, A car pulled out from a driveway and I hit it full impact, side on, virtually no braking time involved. The lady driver was hospitilised. Need I say more. My van came to a standstill instantly.

[mikecam]

Mike. Three years ago, I was driving at only 35 mph along a normal main road, single carridgeway. Busy road with many junctions. From nowhere and I mean nowhere, A car pulled out from a driveway and I hit it full impact, side on, virtually no braking time involved. The lady driver was hospitilised. Need I say more. My van came to a standstill instantly.

There's always scenarios that you cannot avoid against. She'd of been hospitalised no matter what your van was like inside. But that video you linked too is no more than scaremainer tactics by a 'saftey' manufacturer. How is properley fixed down racking going to come through a cab like that vid? It would (did?) have to be very heavy stuff on them racks and i mean heavy. That video is poorly fitted racking with overweight stuff on it. Commonsense should be the order of the day, make sure anything heavy is fully secured. Makes me laugh when you see the seatbelt advert, its the people behind you who are most likeley to kill you (their head smacking into yours). No belts on buses or trains though!!!

[BORBRYCE]

Ok Mike, you win. Happy drivin mate. Nite.

[d s windowcleaning]

mates just fitted 1 in his expert got it for £40 from a online breakers yard will try to find out which 1 for you tosh .

[d s windowcleaning]

www.vansparefinder.co.uk

[Mike_G]

E-bay for bulkhead.

As for is it worth it as someone has already mentioned in the winter unless you have as heater in the van overnight things freeze up and stay froze for a long time if you have a bulkhead because the heat from the van heaters stays in the cab.

[Perfect Windows]

Mike. Three years ago, I was driving at only 35 mph along a normal main road, single carridgeway. Busy road with many junctions. From nowhere and I mean nowhere, A car pulled out from a driveway and I hit it full impact, side on, virtually no braking time involved. The lady driver was hospitilised. Need I say more. My van came to a standstill instantly.

There's always scenarios that you cannot avoid against. She'd of been hospitalised no matter what your van was like inside. But that video you linked too is no more than scaremainer tactics by a 'saftey' manufacturer. How is properley fixed down racking going to come through a cab like that vid? It would (did?) have to be very heavy stuff on them racks and i mean heavy. That video is poorly fitted racking with overweight stuff on it. Commonsense should be the order of the day, make sure anything heavy is fully secured. Makes me laugh when you see the seatbelt advert, its the people behind you who are most likeley to kill you (their head smacking into yours). No belts on buses or trains though!!!

I don't think Ronnie's comment was about the woman inthe other vehicle.  Obviously he's commenting on the fact that unavoidable collisions DO happen.  When they do, you need things to be set up safely behind you.

Now, I don't know and I don't care if you're the safest driver ever known in the history of the planet, my advice to you is still to get your water tank and tools securely fitted just in case (impossible, I know) you make a mistake.  Or someone else does.

Another thing I don't care about is whether your follow my advice, so feel free to rant about what a great driver you are and how it could never happen to you.

Vin

[Ryan @ Transparent, Carlisle]

get wooden one made.... noise reduction + cab warms up quicker in winter......

one thing is though ;

i spoke to a guy once that does the ply-lining, and he said he cant put in a wooden bulkhead because of health & safety!!!!!!!!

[mikecam]

Mike. Three years ago, I was driving at only 35 mph along a normal main road, single carridgeway. Busy road with many junctions. From nowhere and I mean nowhere, A car pulled out from a driveway and I hit it full impact, side on, virtually no braking time involved. The lady driver was hospitilised. Need I say more. My van came to a standstill instantly.

There's always scenarios that you cannot avoid against. She'd of been hospitalised no matter what your van was like inside. But that video you linked too is no more than scaremainer tactics by a 'saftey' manufacturer. How is properley fixed down racking going to come through a cab like that vid? It would (did?) have to be very heavy stuff on them racks and i mean heavy. That video is poorly fitted racking with overweight stuff on it. Commonsense should be the order of the day, make sure anything heavy is fully secured. Makes me laugh when you see the seatbelt advert, its the people behind you who are most likeley to kill you (their head smacking into yours). No belts on buses or trains though!!!

I don't think Ronnie's comment was about the woman inthe other vehicle.  Obviously he's commenting on the fact that unavoidable collisions DO happen.  When they do, you need things to be set up safely behind you.

Now, I don't know and I don't care if you're the safest driver ever known in the history of the planet, my advice to you is still to get your water tank and tools securely fitted just in case (impossible, I know) you make a mistake.  Or someone else does.

Another thing I don't care about is whether your follow my advice, so feel free to rant about what a great driver you are and how it could never happen to you.

Vin

So is that a yes or a no to a bulkhead?