[The Jester of Wibbly]

I have been using a trailer system for a few years and am thinking is it worth investing in a Van and new system?

Just looking for peoples thoughts on this.

I choose to use trailer for the following reasons.

1) Running costs for just one vehicle.  Unhook trailer, and family car in use. - No need to buy a van
2) Trailer stored in garage so filling up tank from a secure area plus protection from freezing water and equipment
3) Easy to charge battery direct from trailer in secure garage.

I know the issues are trailers are harder to move around, but I am confident with towing.

But looking towards the option of a van now as most wc's tend to use them and I don't see much talk of trailers being used.

Am I missing a trick here?

Also if I was to get a van, what makes are best and what sort of budget would you pay for one.  Main point for me is reliability.

Also what systems are the best these days for vans,  Best value for money, but good equipment. 

Many questions I know, but help other peoples experiences and opinions are grateful. 

[AuRavelling79]

Uniquely, I have been trad. off ladders - used a trolley, used a backpack, used a trailer, used a small van (400L) and now have a medium van (650L).

If you are one man band and will not likely change and have the facilities you have for storage/frost protection then a trailer able to take a 400L will do fine.

If parking/manouevring is a headache on much of your round then go for a small van.

If you are likely to go two man go for a van with at least 1000kg payload (650L), better 1200.

If your wife has her own vehicle anyway you might as well get a van.

Nowadays I have a medium van for 90% of my work. I still keep the small van (doblo) for gutter vac and the rare day when I need two vans on the road. I still keep the trailer for family camping hols (with wife's car), firewood collection, rubbish runs but can chuck in a 250L tank if I need to. I live on a corner property with parking for 4/5 vehicles so space isn't a problem mind!

[Simon Mess]

If you are happy using a car and a trailer system, why change?. Just because not many on here use a trailer (that post about it anyway), doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it.

If you really want a change though, and don't want a trailer, but need 4/5 seats, there are options. A crew cab van would be my preferred choice, but there are a few on here who use a double cab pick up.

If you are a solo operator, you can probably get away with a 350l tank, but certainly no more than 500l (that is what i use). If you work as a 2 man team, then you would need at least 650l, which would obviously affect your choice of vehicle.

Whatever vehicle you get be very careful with payloads as experience has shown that the 'quoted payload' is not in any way an accurate representation of what size tank you can legally put in there!. If you read all posts on here, you will have an idea why. Me, for example, i have a transit connect with a 900kg payload, i have a 500l tank, yet on a customers weighbridge with a full tank, i was 40kg under my gvw. Another recent post had someone with a 650l tank in a vivaro going on a weighbridge to find that not only was he well over weight for his 2700 (gvw in kg's) version, he would still have been overweight with the bigger, 2900 version!. Someone else, had a 350l tank in a combo, 787kg (or there abouts) payload, but on a weighbridge he was only about 90kg under gvw. Now i have been labelled a 'keyboard warrior' for expressing my 'opinion' on these matters, but i am not too bothered about that. I just want to make sure you buy the right van for your needs, as even though it may be statistically unlikely that you get stopped by vosa with a full tank of water, it could happen, and has, to at least one guy on here!.

[Spruce]

If you are happy using a car and a trailer system, why change?. Just because not many on here use a trailer (that post about it anyway), doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it.

If you really want a change though, and don't want a trailer, but need 4/5 seats, there are options. A crew cab van would be my preferred choice, but there are a few on here who use a double cab pick up.

If you are a solo operator, you can probably get away with a 350l tank, but certainly no more than 500l (that is what i use). If you work as a 2 man team, then you would need at least 650l, which would obviously affect your choice of vehicle.

Whatever vehicle you get be very careful with payloads as experience has shown that the 'quoted payload' is not in any way an accurate representation of what size tank you can legally put in there!. If you read all posts on here, you will have an idea why. Me, for example, i have a transit connect with a 900kg payload, i have a 500l tank, yet on a customers weighbridge with a full tank, i was 40kg under my gvw. Another recent post had someone with a 650l tank in a vivaro going on a weighbridge to find that not only was he well over weight for his 2700 (gvw in kg's) version, he would still have been overweight with the bigger, 2900 version!. Someone else, had a 350l tank in a combo, 787kg (or there abouts) payload, but on a weighbridge he was only about 90kg under gvw. Now i have been labelled a 'keyboard warrior' for expressing my 'opinion' on these matters, but i am not too bothered about that. I just want to make sure you buy the right van for your needs, as even though it may be statistically unlikely that you get stopped by vosa with a full tank of water, it could happen, and has, to at least one guy on here!.

Spot on! Good post.

We can easily forget that all the little extras we have on our vans add up in weight. A towbar; a roof rack; ourselves; a second person: a full tank of fuel; etc

[James Bulton]

I know of a few window cleaner using a estate car due to paying less insurance and would think a trailer would have the same advantages because the minute you use a van insurance companies go to town with you. I used a car when I started and paid 160 quid a year and when I got my van it went up to £850 p.a. doing the same turnover.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Thanks,

Some great replies there.  Big help. 

I guess if its not broke don't fix it.  As trailer equipment is getting old, was going to get a van and keep trailer as a back up.

I was thinking along the lines of a transit with 500lt tank.

I do like the idea of an advertising method on the van.

[john classic]

  i have used this set up for 10 years . 250 litres in van . 300 litres in trailer
 my son and i work all we want to with this system  got a brill round. minimun expense max profit

[Simon Mess]

Citroen c15, cool, cant remember the last time i saw one of those!

[wfp master]

i never run out of water.

[Spruce]

Citroen c15, cool, cant remember the last time i saw one of those!

It is in immaculate condition. No rust especially around the rear window blank. I found the seats in the C15 van to be very comfortable.

Brakes weren't good though, so I hope you are allowing miles of stopping space with a heavy trailer behind.