[CF Facilities]

Hi does anyone have as above but crewcab with six seats?
Obviously load area a lot smaller but is it still large enough for wfp.I don't use much water I am using trolley and barrels out of a pug expert at the moment but unsure what to go for next van so considering one of theses or an l200 animal or navaro type thing. Ideally combining work van and family car and replace the wife's car with a small run around.

[dazmond]

if i were you id go for a small cheap van for work if you dont use much water and a separate car for leisure.

i dont know your circumstances though.

i know that when i finish work its nice to leave the van on the drive filled up ready for the next days work and go out in my car.

so much nicer to pick girlfriend up in a car rather than a window cleaning van when im taking her out!

also not got a load of water sloshing around in the back!!

[Simon Mess]

I would go with a crewcab van if i were in your position, but i wouldnt get a lwb. I value maneuverability and the lwb versions of vans like the vivaro are just too long and cumbersome for my liking. You would easily get a 500l tank in the back of a swb vivaro crewcab. You may need to cut some holes in the top of the bulkhead to feed ladders or poles through, but that wouldnt be a major problem.

 

[Spruce]

Do you have something like this in mind?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RENAULT-TRAFIC-VIVARO-CREW-CAB-CAMPER-VAN-CONVERSION-KIT-SEATS-BULKHEAD-/191109199077?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item2c7efef4e5#ht_396wt_1161

I would imagine a 250 litre tank across the back behind the bulkhead partition will be ok. You have been even able to go to a larger tank, but this would depend a exactly where the tank sits in the cargo area in relation to the front and rear axle.

I would contact Vauxhall technical dept as they will be able to provide you with a loading weight footprint of the model van you are considering, taking into account the payload of the van in question. Once you have that, you can then make an informed decision on the size of tank you could fit.

If you are just thinking of fitting rear seats without a dividing bulkhead then it would be easier to carry poles as they would slide under the seats.

If you are considering this then it will be far more comfortable for rear seat comfort to have the rear bulkhead, internal roof lining and side upholstry, especially in winter.
One of the issues you will have to contend with is water spills will make the internals damp and won't smell very pleasant. I would consider the rear behind the seats to be fiberglassed into a tray with a couple of drains to the outside to reduce this.

There is a local window cleaner who bought an old LWB Transit minibus, removed the rear seats and fitted a tank and works from that. Not the best looking vehicle but the main thing is that it works for him and his family.

However, I'm inclined to go with Dazmond's opinion on this. I would hate to have to go anywhere with a full tank of water on board because I hadn't used it - usually weather related. On the other hand on those odd occassions you do get caught, it isn't a big deal to have a seperate tap to drain it off in the street.

There is an old boy whose has an old smiley face Transit SWB for his business. It isn't window cleaning related, but whenever they go out together, whether grocery shopping or for an evening out, they prefer to take the van. Her car just sits in the drive and hardly ever gets used. They both find it easier to get in and out of the van.  

[Spruce]

I would go with a crewcab van if i were in your position, but i wouldnt get a lwb. I value maneuverability and the lwb versions of vans like the vivaro are just too long and cumbersome for my liking. You would easily get a 500l tank in the back of a swb vivaro crewcab. You may need to cut some holes in the top of the bulkhead to feed ladders or poles through, but that wouldnt be a major problem.

 

Hi Simon
There is only 400mm difference between the SWB and LWB, so I wouldn't have thought that this will make a huge difference maneuverability wise. Just my opinion though.

[CF Facilities]

I would go with a crewcab van if i were in your position, but i wouldnt get a lwb. I value maneuverability and the lwb versions of vans like the vivaro are just too long and cumbersome for my liking. You would easily get a 500l tank in the back of a swb vivaro crewcab. You may need to cut some holes in the top of the bulkhead to feed ladders or poles through, but that wouldnt be a major problem.

 

Hi Simon
There is only 400mm difference between the SWB and LWB, so I wouldn't have thought that this will make a huge difference maneuverability wise. Just my opinion though.

Hi Spruce/Simon thanks for the input. Yes a bulkhead would be a must really.
I had a vivaro in my previous job and they have a comfortable driving position. In two minds about lwb probably look at the swb and make do.

I am still considering the animal/navara/L200 route but I expect running costs would be really high but with the scarey stories on here about vivaro gearboxes etc I am not so sure.

[Simon Mess]

There are one or two on here use the mitsubishi, and at least one of them reckons the mpg is not too bad, not sure what that might be though. I am not especially keen on the double cab pickups myself, firstly because i dont like the thought of all that weight out on top of, or behind the rear axle, and secondly, i just dont need 4wd, and you dont seem to get 2wd double cab pickups. I have thought about, and looked at the ford ranger 2wd with the 'supercab', that is like a cab and a half. there are a couple of fold down seats in the back, but you also get a decent sized load bay, and the opportunity of getting the tank that bit further forward. But that wouldnt be much use if you plan to double it up as a family car as the rear seats are only for occasional use.