[ptwt]

Just wondering how much you guys spend on maintaining your vans? In my last financial  year I spent £1000 on MOT, service and repairs ;This does not include diesel tax and insurance.

I think that's a lot, how much have those who bought new or nearly new spent in their past year on maintenance for their vans?

[jonboywalton75]

My last new Van,   in the first year  I topped up the windscreen wash and spent £120 on a service

[Walter Mitty]

For what you get from it, I reckon £1k a year average on maintaining an older van isn't so terrible - it works out a one reasonable sized house per week.  Of course it depends on the miles you do too.  I would be disappointed to need to spend that on a newish van though.

[Mist A Bit]

Last year service and mot £100 serviced by myself on a1998 van
This year my2003 iveco cost nothing so far but service mot and cam belt all due this summer
I've spent more on broken pumps and controllers this year

[brianbarber]

Just wondering how much you guys spend on maintaining your vans? In my last financial  year I spent £1000 on MOT, service and repairs ;This does not include diesel tax and insurance.

I think that's a lot, how much have those who bought new or nearly new spent in their past year on maintenance for their vans?

Not bad, averages at 20 a week,

Mr B

[ptwt]

Last year service and mot £100 serviced by myself on a1998 van
This year my2003 iveco cost nothing so far but service mot and cam belt all due this summer
I've spent more on broken pumps and controllers this year

Yes that's the other area i'm looking at I spent about £1000 on equipment no new poles or systems just reparing and replacing bits.

[dazmond]

About  £900 since I bought it last April.

Cambelt change

4 new tyres
Battery
Starter motor
Alternator
Service
Windscreen wipers

Not bad really.

[Frankybadboy]

i dont know why but i have two services a year and the van does about 5000 miles ayear

each service cost about £120

[dazmond]

I always change the cambelt every time I buy a second hand van and 4 new tyres and battery usually at the very least.

The £900 includes labour as well as parts.

[Tom-01]

Quite a bit as I had some issues last January, which ended up being a very easily fixed problem but 2 weeks off the road - it took ages to diagnose. Then theres the tax, MOT, tyres, servicing etc. And on Monday spent £273 on getting side door fixed and a new starter motor.

Its a depreciating asset. Hence why contract hire for the next van appeals a lot more. Yes its about £4k per year but theres no worries at all, and its just a business cost. After all if we had a shop or other similar premises we'd pay more than that in business rates alone. Our vans are our business premises.

[ptwt]

Quite a bit as I had some issues last January, which ended up being a very easily fixed problem but 2 weeks off the road - it took ages to diagnose. Then theres the tax, MOT, tyres, servicing etc. And on Monday spent £273 on getting side door fixed and a new starter motor.

Its a depreciating asset. Hence why contract hire for the next van appeals a lot more. Yes its about £4k per year but theres no worries at all, and its just a business cost. After all if we had a shop or other similar premises we'd pay more than that in business rates alone. Our vans are our business premises.

Yes I know a van is a cheap business premises but I wanted an idea of how much others spend on their vans to see if it was perhaps time to update my van. Over the last few years I've been that busy working in my business rather than on it that iv not taken much notice of costs (if we needed something I just bought it). So thought it was about time to check whether I'm spending too much compared to others as my total expenses last year were 7k which I thought rather high for myself and a part timer.

[Tom-01]

Quite a bit as I had some issues last January, which ended up being a very easily fixed problem but 2 weeks off the road - it took ages to diagnose. Then theres the tax, MOT, tyres, servicing etc. And on Monday spent £273 on getting side door fixed and a new starter motor.

Its a depreciating asset. Hence why contract hire for the next van appeals a lot more. Yes its about £4k per year but theres no worries at all, and its just a business cost. After all if we had a shop or other similar premises we'd pay more than that in business rates alone. Our vans are our business premises.

Yes I know a van is a cheap business premises but I wanted an idea of how much others spend on their vans to see if it was perhaps time to update my van. Over the last few years I've been that busy working in my business rather than on it that iv not taken much notice of costs (if we needed something I just bought it). So thought it was about time to check whether I'm spending too much compared to others as my total expenses last year were 7k which I thought rather high for myself and a part timer.

That £7k on business expenses, I take it that doesn't include money paid to your part timer? If not that is a business expense and should be included. Its difficult to know whether £7k a year is a lot without knowing your turnover (not that we want to know, only you know that). Its profit thats key. If you have a good accountant he'll show you where you can save money. From experience a decent reliable van is first and foremost, spend good money and it will make you earn good money to pay for it!

[Ian101]

Had my Combo for 3 years now 2004 with 135k on it

1st year £900 ish on mot / full service, replaced all 4 tyres, front discs and pads, totally rebuilt front suspension, cambelt, oil pump and pulley kit for oil pump,

last year ... new clutch pedal £80 ish service / mot £150

last week £400 on mot / service, 2 new tyres, rear pads, handbrake cable, front bottom ball joints, steering rack gaiter and cv boot gaiter.

so about £40 a month on average but safe in knowledge its safe, serviced, and bar massive disaster good for another 12 months now ... next year should be a small bill.

We work our vans hard in this job with lots of stop starting and carrying capacity maxed out most days so can expect bigger than normal bills.

Think van cost me £1800 3 years ago and if you take out normal service items like tyres, mot, servicing prob not spent more than £1000 over 3 years on expensive 1 off items.

Would like a brand new van and selling house to downsize so will be in a position to go for a new one in a few months time but I wont.

Next van will be transit t300 with 800 ltr tank maybe £6000 level.

[ptwt]

Tom-01 no that does include wages it was just cost of sales.  A large part of that cost was maintenance so I was trying to compare to others  so I could decide whether it might be worth putting that money into a newer van with lower maintenance costs. As for reliability the van is reliable but it costs to keep it that way.

[ptwt]

Had my Combo for 3 years now 2004 with 135k on it

1st year £900 ish on mot / full service, replaced all 4 tyres, front discs and pads, totally rebuilt front suspension, cambelt, oil pump and pulley kit for oil pump,

last year ... new clutch pedal £80 ish service / mot £150

last week £400 on mot / service, 2 new tyres, rear pads, handbrake cable, front bottom ball joints, steering rack gaiter and cv boot gaiter.

so about £40 a month on average but safe in knowledge its safe, serviced, and bar massive disaster good for another 12 months now ... next year should be a small bill.

We work our vans hard in this job with lots of stop starting and carrying capacity maxed out most days so can expect bigger than normal bills.

Think van cost me £1800 3 years ago and if you take out normal service items like tyres, mot, servicing prob not spent more than £1000 over 3 years on expensive 1 off items.

Would like a brand new van and selling house to downsize so will be in a position to go for a new one in a few months time but I wont.

Next van will be transit t300 with 800 ltr tank maybe £6000 level.

Thanks for your reply looks like you have similar ideas to what your next van could be.

[Ian101]

Had my Combo for 3 years now 2004 with 135k on it

1st year £900 ish on mot / full service, replaced all 4 tyres, front discs and pads, totally rebuilt front suspension, cambelt, oil pump and pulley kit for oil pump,

last year ... new clutch pedal £80 ish service / mot £150

last week £400 on mot / service, 2 new tyres, rear pads, handbrake cable, front bottom ball joints, steering rack gaiter and cv boot gaiter.

so about £40 a month on average but safe in knowledge its safe, serviced, and bar massive disaster good for another 12 months now ... next year should be a small bill.

We work our vans hard in this job with lots of stop starting and carrying capacity maxed out most days so can expect bigger than normal bills.

Think van cost me £1800 3 years ago and if you take out normal service items like tyres, mot, servicing prob not spent more than £1000 over 3 years on expensive 1 off items.

Would like a brand new van and selling house to downsize so will be in a position to go for a new one in a few months time but I wont.

Next van will be transit t300 with 800 ltr tank maybe £6000 level.

Thanks for your reply looks like you have similar ideas to what your next van could be.

don't go for an orange one .... they all have wrong rear doors on em (ex RAC) 

[Mike #1]

About £700 most of that was on 4 new tyres .

[Spruce]

Had my Combo for 3 years now 2004 with 135k on it

1st year £900 ish on mot / full service, replaced all 4 tyres, front discs and pads, totally rebuilt front suspension, cambelt, oil pump and pulley kit for oil pump,

last year ... new clutch pedal £80 ish service / mot £150

last week £400 on mot / service, 2 new tyres, rear pads, handbrake cable, front bottom ball joints, steering rack gaiter and cv boot gaiter.

so about £40 a month on average but safe in knowledge its safe, serviced, and bar massive disaster good for another 12 months now ... next year should be a small bill.

We work our vans hard in this job with lots of stop starting and carrying capacity maxed out most days so can expect bigger than normal bills.

Think van cost me £1800 3 years ago and if you take out normal service items like tyres, mot, servicing prob not spent more than £1000 over 3 years on expensive 1 off items.

Would like a brand new van and selling house to downsize so will be in a position to go for a new one in a few months time but I wont.

Next van will be transit t300 with 800 ltr tank maybe £6000 level.

Thanks for your reply looks like you have similar ideas to what your next van could be.

don't go for an orange one .... they all have wrong rear doors on em (ex RAC) 

Actually Ian, having a tailgate is a good option for window cleaners. I found that at least I could put stuff away without getting wet as the tailgate became a roof so they aren't all bad.

The trouble with RAC vans is that they usually have mega miles on them before they are sold.

If they aren't fitted with a diesel air heater then the engine will have clocked up a lot more miles idling to keep the van warm in winter.

One of our customers works for the emergency response team with the NHS. When he parks up awaiting for an emergency call he leaves the engine running in winter to keep the car warm. He often sits all night with the engine running. 

[EandM]

In the last year with the Ranger;

About £1,300 on diesel

£165 for preventative rust treatment and MOT

£1.50 on tail light bulbs and about £40 on oils and filters.

£1,500 all in and that's a fairly normal year.

[andyM]

how much have those who bought new or nearly new spent in their past year on maintenance for their vans?

£160 for the annual service.
I sat drinking coffee while someone else got their hands dirty.