[Chris - CBWC]

Thanks for that.  I'm trying to be as flexible as possible with my choices as budget is the biggest constraint I have.  Anyone currently use a Mercedes-Benz Vito?  Supposedly reliable but costly if/when it does go wrong so maybe not a good choice for an older van

[Simon Mess]

Vito's are supposed to be pretty efficient, for a 2.2 anyway. But if you look at owners reviews, they are not rated very well for reliability, I guess a lot has to do with how the van is treated though.

I have had my transit connect for over 3.5 years now, not had any problems re reliability, but it isn't the most efficient van of its size. I drive pretty gently most of the time and get around 40mpg.

Not sure what sort of budget you had in mind, but the 2300 combo's are currently starting at about £8k. 850kg versions of the partner/berlingo are starting just over £4k with reasonable miles (up to 60k), the standard versions of the current shape doblo are about the same.

To be honest, if your vito is not giving you problems, I would stick with it because buying a 2nd hand van is a bit of a lottery!.

[Chris - CBWC]

No I don't have a Vito, I have a Renault Clio!  Fine (-ish for a Clio...) for trad, not for a mounted tank though!  I need a loan to make the change from trad to wfp so need it done right, first time and with as small a loan as I can until I'm up to speed and I can think about further expansion.  There are plenty of vans around, but they hold their resale value so it's finding the right one.

The Doblo I was after went over the weekend, to a window cleaner who wanted to put a van mount in it!  I'm looking at a Dispatch now, but like you say, it's a lottery.  We bought a Zafira to cart the family around, timing belt snapped some months later and shredded the engine, the rebuild cost as much as the car did    Keen for that not to happen again naturally.

[Simon Mess]

Sorry dude, don't know what made me think you already had a vito, I guess senility is creeping in faster than I thought!.
The current (2007ish onwards) shape citroen dispatch/fiat scudo/Peugeot expert seem to be pretty good vans and there is a lot of them about so plenty of choice. Payload starts at 988kg so you are fine there and there is a choice of 1.6 or 2.0 engines. If I were to change my van, either of those 3 would be pretty high on my shortlist. If it is the previous shape you are looking at, well they seem to be good vans too, but obviously the youngest versions are getting on a bit, so you might struggle to find one in good condition. The 1.9 non turbo diesels have a payload of 815kg (I think), the 2.0 turbo versions are about 900kg. What I like about these vans is the load floor, which at the front end has a pronounced 'step' up to the cab area. From a safety point of view this is highly desirable, as even a tank which is just strapped in is not going to come any further forward than the step (should it move in the event of an accident.

[Spruce]

Berlingo 800LX (2000 - 2007) will will handle 500 liter tank, hose reel and pole. I wouldn't push it loading much more. The facelift 2.0hdi from 2003 has a slightly lower payload of 788kgs and the lower van speed limits apply. Once they fitted the 1.6hdi engine in the 800LX the payload increased and they reverted back to the higher speed limits.

The newer Berlingo's (current model) have slightly higher payloads ie 825kgs.

Transit Connect L220 have an 825kg payload and carry that weight quite well. A good example second hand will command a higher price than some other makes.

Careful as all these newer vans fall into the lower speed limit catagory. We have to start to become more aware of these speeds limits. There is a threat that new speeding cameras will be able to recognise the van by its registration number and apply the approporate fine. For example, a single carriage road has a speed limit of 60mph. But these vans have a speed limit of 50mph. If you are flashed at 70mph it becomes serious as you will be 20mph over the limit, not 10.  

[Spruce]

Sorry dude, don't know what made me think you already had a vito, I guess senility is creeping in faster than I thought!.
The current (2007ish onwards) shape citroen dispatch/fiat scudo/Peugeot expert seem to be pretty good vans and there is a lot of them about so plenty of choice. Payload starts at 988kg so you are fine there and there is a choice of 1.6 or 2.0 engines. If I were to change my van, either of those 3 would be pretty high on my shortlist. If it is the previous shape you are looking at, well they seem to be good vans too, but obviously the youngest versions are getting on a bit, so you might struggle to find one in good condition. The 1.9 non turbo diesels have a payload of 815kg (I think), the 2.0 turbo versions are about 900kg. What I like about these vans is the load floor, which at the front end has a pronounced 'step' up to the cab area. From a safety point of view this is highly desirable, as even a tank which is just strapped in is not going to come any further forward than the step (should it move in the event of an accident.

Simon - excellent post.

This step up into the cabin area from a safety point of view hasn't been expressed on the forum before as far as I'm aware and is a very valid point. Well 'spoken'.

You are also right about the payloads of the Dispatch/Expert/Scudo. The only addition to this was the very early Dispatch/Scudo/ Experts with the 1.9 TD (not Hdi) were also 815kgs payloads, but were uprated around 2000/1 to 900kgs. PSA then stuck to the 900kg payload spec for the Hdi introduction. The normally aspirated 1.9 stayed at 815kgs.

[Chris - CBWC]

I hadn't realised about the speed limits either.  I'm not looking at the Berlingo, purely because it doesn't have a side door - am I being too fussy? !!  I know that plenty of people on here have them, but it seems that with the various bits of maintenance needed from time to time, having side access would make things so much easier.  Not to mention fitting it in the first place.

I hadn't noticed the step up in the Dispatch until you mentioned it!  Very good as there's no bulkhead, just the backs of the two passenger seats, and behind the driver seat is a metal framework with bars.  Considering the size and weight of the tank in an accident, a bulkhead is probably necessary!  The Dispatch is 2001 with quite high mileage

[Simon Mess]

Berlingo's and partner's do have a side door, maybe not all of them, not sure what the deal is, maybe just certain versions?. 

[Spruce]

I hadn't realised about the speed limits either.  I'm not looking at the Berlingo, purely because it doesn't have a side door - am I being too fussy? !!  I know that plenty of people on here have them, but it seems that with the various bits of maintenance needed from time to time, having side access would make things so much easier.  Not to mention fitting it in the first place.

I hadn't noticed the step up in the Dispatch until you mentioned it!  Very good as there's no bulkhead, just the backs of the two passenger seats, and behind the driver seat is a metal framework with bars.  Considering the size and weight of the tank in an accident, a bulkhead is probably necessary!  The Dispatch is 2001 with quite high mileage

My son's 800LX Partner Hdi van has a PSA fitted half steel lower bulkhead with steel mesh upper. He doesn't have a side loading door which is a big disadvantage as he can't put stuff in the triangular section between his tank and the bulkhead. I personally feel a side loading door is a bonus from our experience.

There is no particular Berlingo model that came standard with a side loading door (or 2 sliding doors) - they were optional extras. So when we ordered units for stock, the most popular were 600 LX models and some we ordered with and others without SLDs. I don't even recall ordering a stock van with twin SLD's ever. Believe it or not, SLDs on Berlingos took a long time to be accepted by the public.

We hardly ever ordered 800LX models either as they were more expensive and were generally ordered especially to customer requests. That probably explains why there are more 600LX units second hand.

I wouldn't put much faith in those ladder bars behind the seat. They maybe alright for light boxes but won't stop a water tank. I always recommend a second hand PSA steel bulkhead - they are expensive but very strong. I would also not buy a high mileage Dispatch van of that age. You will be prone to high repair costs. Ignition keys and barrels are an expensive repair.

If the van has central locking then the suspect barrel will be in the ignition.

[AuRavelling79]

The Doblo 1.3 multijet diesel (2005-2010) has a GVW of 2000kg (payload 736kg) and thus has car speed limits. (Also cheap road tax)

The Doblo 1.9 multijet diesel (2005-2010) has a GVW of 2015kg (payload still 736kg) and is restricted to "van" speeds. (Not so cheap road tax)

[Pete Thompson]

purely because it doesn't have a side door - am I being too fussy?

No you are not being too fussy, in my opinion a side-loading door is extremely useful, almost essential.

Remember you won't be able to squeeze past your tank once it's in, so the only way to store stuff behind it is to either lift over the tank (which itself is a squeeze) or use the side door.

VW caddys have a side door as standard as standard.     

[Chris - CBWC]

Does anyone have a van on 0% finance?  There's a Renault Kangoo at a garage very near me, with SLD.  I'm just thinking a little less short-term.  Rather than the lottery of an older van with high mileage, getting a newer van with low mileage, a guarantee and warranty, on a reasonable monthly payment may be a better option, and considering I already have a round built up, it'll just take time to get the speed up.

[Simon Mess]

Kangoo might struggle with 400l payload wise, which model is it?

[Chris - CBWC]

1.5 DCi ML20 70+, looks like 819kg payload - http://www.parkers.co.uk/vans/reviews/renault/kangoo/2008/technical-data/ love the Parkers website

[andyM]

Does anyone have a van on 0% finance?  There's a Renault Kangoo at a garage very near me, with SLD.  I'm just thinking a little less short-term.  Rather than the lottery of an older van with high mileage, getting a newer van with low mileage, a guarantee and warranty, on a reasonable monthly payment may be a better option, and considering I already have a round built up, it'll just take time to get the speed up.

When you go wfp you will realise that the tool you require the most is your van!
With trad work you can get away with using a car but with a full wfp van system you can't go to work if the van's not running.  
Buy the newest most suitable van you can afford within your budget, with a guarantee/warranty that will give you peace of mind.

[Simon Mess]

ML20's are pretty thin on the ground, you are lucky to find that. Yes, with 70bhp you wont be winning many traffic light grand prix!, but who cares if it does the job. If you get it and like it, you can always get it chipped!.

[KS Cleaning]

Does anyone have a van on 0% finance?  There's a Renault Kangoo at a garage very near me, with SLD.  I'm just thinking a little less short-term.  Rather than the lottery of an older van with high mileage, getting a newer van with low mileage, a guarantee and warranty, on a reasonable monthly payment may be a better option, and considering I already have a round built up, it'll just take time to get the speed up.

Not really such a thing as 0% finance, the reality is, they lump the money you think you are saving on repayments on to the cost of the van