[Bobs Window Cleaning]

Hi All

I'm looking to invest in a new van which can hold a 500L tank.

At the moment I've got a Kangoo with a 125L tank which is of course too small.

I've been looking for a Peugeot Expert or similar for 2 months now and getting nowhere (this is the type of van which has been recommended to me by other tradesmen as a good all round van).  I'm happy to spend around 7K max but can't find the right one anywhere within 100 miles of Norwich. 

Until now, I've not considered a bigger van i.e Traffic & Vivaro, because I've always thought they would be awkward to reverse into customers' driveways, but because I'm having such a job finding a van, I'm now wondering whether to look at bigger vans as well. 

Perhaps you guys could let me know how you get on with reversing into driveways and parking in general?

Thanks Bob.

[windowwashers]

Hi All

I'm looking to invest in a new van which can hold a 500L tank.

At the moment I've got a Kangoo with a 125L tank which is of course too small.

I've been looking for a Peugeot Expert or similar for 2 months now and getting nowhere (this is the type of van which has been recommended to me by other tradesmen as a good all round van).  I'm happy to spend around 7K max but can't find the right one anywhere within 100 miles of Norwich. 

Until now, I've not considered a bigger van i.e Traffic & Vivaro, because I've always thought they would be awkward to reverse into customers' driveways, but because I'm having such a job finding a van, I'm now wondering whether to look at bigger vans as well. 

Perhaps you guys could let me know how you get on with reversing into driveways and parking in general?

Thanks Bob.

SWB is easy to get in and out of driveways, I have a cit relay swb have a 650L tank in it. if you get a bigger van get a bigger tank that way you will not run out of water.

[djhaydn]

you wussy bod
get a transit (new one)
come out with me and ill show you how to reverse into custy`s driveways...lol
hope you are well,
what was the score the other day?
gone abit quite...lol
catch up with ya around town

Haydn

[mark dew]

but can't find the right one anywhere within 100 miles of Norwich. 

yep, it sucks around here for a good vans. I looked for ages a couple of years ago and ended up going on ebay for an 02 dispatch.

[Alex Wingrove]

for 7k, get a bigger van, ex bt transit, you can get 900l tank inside, and its get so many perks. you could get a really really good one for that money,

i even think you would be hard pushed to spend that much

[Chris Cottrell]

but can't find the right one anywhere within 100 miles of Norwich. 

yep, it sucks around here for a good vans. I looked for ages a couple of years ago and ended up going on ebay for an 02 dispatch.

took me ages too ended up getting an older van than I wanted from Yelverton Motors

[steve m]

how old a van you looking for? do you carry ladders on top of your van? are you wfp only, the questions are endless. Avauxhall combo will hold the tank you require, but not a lot else. Ford transit SWB are great vans but a bit fragile in the clutch area. vivaro/ traffic are also good but earlier ones have dodgy gearboxes, and the relays etc are a bit too wide for domestic drives. Go for a dispatch, havent seen a write-up on the new ones yet but theyre the right size

[Bobs Window Cleaning]

Steve.

I will carry ladders and I would love a peugeot but starting to give up trying to find one. I didn't want a small van like my Kangoo as I will have a 500L tank plus need room for my trolley(the little gem)

When I hear that the older Vivaros and Traffic have gearbox problems, how old are we talking?

Chris n diss

Ive been over to Yelverton and they want 6k for a 52 transit with dents galore


Bob

[steve m]

go buy a new van, or lease one if your not doing too many miles. Shop around and you can buy a pre-reg'd one for around the 10k mark. Second hand on fleabay are whatever. The vivaro gearbox saga was all sorted two or three years ago now so new ones aren't a problem. If its a transit you want, thats what you'll get for 6k

[mr D]

Vivaro. the nuts!! me old man has one with the row of back seats. so easy to drive goes like poo off a shovle!

its a brave man that admits he can reverse a vecheal!! no honestly there so easy as long as you use your mirors as aposed to look out the back window how they teach now a days. if push comes to shove hold back £250 when buying and get it fitted with reverse sensors!

[Londoner]

go buy a new van, or lease one if your not doing too many miles. Shop around and you can buy a pre-reg'd one for around the 10k mark. Second hand on fleabay are whatever. The vivaro gearbox saga was all sorted two or three years ago now so new ones aren't a problem. If its a transit you want, thats what you'll get for 6k

When buying a van new is always the best option. Decent second hand vans are nearly as expensive as new and they often have a lot of miles on the clock. they are usually basic models without side doors etc.

Also, you never can be sure how they have been driven and whether they have been properly serviced.

Do your sums again and if you can stretch to a new van then think seriously about it.

[TVCS]

I sold my peugeot expert and got a vw transporter. 
Didnt get on with the peugeot and found it a bit small. 
I got an ex AA transporter on a 52 plate for less than 5K.  The money you are talking about you would get a peach.
Just a thought

[steve m]

always buy mine pre- reg'd. Saving work out about 10-15% on new for virtually zero miles

[wrighty]

hi there,

I have supplied one or two on here with vans however I have a complete unit for sale

I deal in new and used cars and vans and have a van and a 15 month 650L RO Brodex system and poles inside it too which is for sale.

van is 53 plate Citroen Relay 1800 LWB 2.2HDI 46k mls and full history.

Any interest then email: wrightcraigw@blueyonder.co.uk
Tel 07766 012876

Craig
Auto Village

[windowwashers]

hi there,

I have supplied one or two on here with vans however I have a complete unit for sale

I deal in new and used cars and vans and have a van and a 15 month 650L RO Brodex system and poles inside it too which is for sale.

van is 53 plate Citroen Relay 1800 LWB 2.2HDI 46k mls and full history.

Any interest then email: wrightcraigw@blueyonder.co.uk
Tel 07766 012876

Craig
Auto Village

around what sort of price are you looking for ?

[paulscotney]

I have a Peugeot Expert with 500l tank.. Fantastic  van but wouldn't have another one for WFP for the following reasons:-

Fuel consumption terrible on such a small van ( I have the basic non HDI version).  The HDI is a lot more miserly and quicker.

Most importantly the Payload on the basic version is easily exceeded. Full tank of water, actual plastic tank, metal cage, RO system etc, full tank of diesel, roofrack, ladder, driver,dog, pressure washer, trad gear,wfp poles, gutter lance other odds and sods, let alone with  a passenger.
You should be ok driving on local town roads etc but hit a motorway,main A road etc, where there are some clued up Traffic Police,on your way to the first job of the day and you are risking a massive fine for overloading, probably £600 to £1000.

I went to a weighbridge, just out of interest, it cost me £10 and with the above kit in, full tanks  and no passenger I was over the limit. Can't remember by how much but something like 40kgs, not major, but a passenger would have made it well over.

[Bobs Window Cleaning]

Thanks for that input Paul.

Im even more uncertain which van to buy

I really thought the Expert was the one for me then I thought it would be the Nissan primastar but that has had terrible reviews on the net.

Cmon guys help me decide on a van.

Bob

[NWH]

Transporter is my next van.

[paulscotney]

Further to previous post I think Peugeot diesel engines are brill (as are most things French but we better not go there). I had a Citroen C15 bought it second hand at 190,000 miles and ran it for five years up to 290,000 miles. Never anything major ever went wrong. I will keep my expert and if ever need extra payload will get a trailer but knowing what I know now I would be inclined to investigate one of those e x AA Vw vans,or a Transit, Hiace etc etc etc .

[steve m]

a basic dispatch has a payload of about 1100kg so I cant see that being overloaded. If you look about at the moment you can pick them up for as little as 10k. I've just bought a pre reg'd combo with a payload of 745kg, side loading door and the obligitory hub caps, with zero on the clock for 7700 plus vat. If you want something like a kangoo type van citroen have them on the forecourt at 6995 + vat