Which Van is best for an electrical contractor?

Discuss Which Van is best for an electrical contractor? in the Business Related area at ElectriciansForums.net

Vjsmarwick my sympathy’s regarding your Dad and my full respect on your decision to down tools and look after your Mum.

Regarding My Van. I am on my second Citroen Berlingo Enterprise. Perfect small Van for domestic electrician.
 
when going self employed got a 14 plate peugeot bipper. is small but does the job for house bashing. parking is a nightmare in Bath so being small makes the small narrow streets easy to park and turn etc. can fit fold up ladders and usual house bashing kit in no problem but conduit and wood has to go on the roof rack.
Really have to keep on top of things in the back or it gets messy, in next year or so when the emissions zone comes in to force in Bath I will possibly get a ford transit connect plus loads of after market security or a medium size peugeot.
The bipper does fly though, handles well and cheap to run and insure. only paid £3k for it 2 and half years ago, had to get clutch and brakes done but otherwise is good for now.
 
vjsmarwick said:
For the past 10 years I have used just which ever car I have run at the time for my works van until earlier this year when I decided it was time so I bought a second hand Peugeot Boxer and kitted the back out with all my makita kit and toolboxes and cable shelf and odds and ends ! That was four months ago the van is going great but life has taken a drastic turn for me a few weeks back my dad was found dead in his house and mum was found laying on the floor ! Dad has taken a heart attack and because mum has Alzheimer’s she wasn’t aware of anything and was found in a poor state and was rushed to hospital. We waited a week or so before arranging dads funereal just in case we needed to bury mum too ! But happy to say she is pulling through and so I have taken the decision to hang up my tools for a bit and take care of mum ! 34 years in the trade and I vow I will return but hopefully not for a long time not because I didn’t love it but because I love my mum more ! But I will have more time to come here and keep an eye on you lot more so watch out for straight talking and reprimands for those seen cutting corners ?? and the moral of this story if a car will do don’t rush to buy a van !
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Pics of the interior of the back !
 
This thread has 14 replies, but 22,000+ views - in just over 24 hours.

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In fairness, we have the site-wide poll running too. But it still wont count as a view unless somebody clicks the thread title in the poll to end up on the thread.

That's cool. Don't think I've got that many so quickly before!
 
a-z electrics said:
I used to have a vauxhall zafira! but for last 3 years have had a nissan eNV200 electric van. I know a lot of guys will criticize evs as not suitable for range etc but for a sole trader operating locally (within a 25 mile radius) it works fine.
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So much good info in one post (suggest reading the full post above)
I run the diesel version of the NV200. Bought used at high mileage and very complete history. Used mainly in London traffic. Dead easy to park and, critically, fits in most car-parks even with a rack and Rhino Tube. A bit basic - change the radio / Bluetooth for your sanity. Been around for years unchanged so plenty of cheap spares / breakers. Down sides are really just slow and a bit noisy on a motorway. Could do with a hatch under the seat like Berlingos for 2.4 metres of trunking but will carry a six step Youngman step ladder inside due to the shape of the cab.

I fitted slightly larger alloys, ply racking and a half width false floor which works well. Limited space equals don't cart lots of unnecessary crap - tidy it out. Probably go for the EV version if the right deal was available. If you have solar on the house it's an obvious match. Images to follow when I find them.
 
once had a Subaru Sumo. rear engine, light on front end, any sort of crosswind blew it off the road.
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Zerax said:
Unless it's one of the T5s with the oil burn issue... I think it's like 1 litre/1000 miles ??
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and a new gearbox every 50,000 miles.
 
I have had Peugeot Partner vans for a number of years via lease agreements. They were great until they went wrong. Local Peugeot dealer is useless. Gone back to using a car (not Peugeot).
 
Dan said:
Best Van for Electricians for 2019 / 2020? (Pics Please But Not Essential)

You can vote for 3 - The one you had last, the one you have now, the one you want next. ​

You don't have to fill all these in. But if you do, copy and paste the questions into a thread of your own. Or quote this first post and just make your own bullet point replies. I'll do one for the plumbers and tilers too. See if we can come up with a formula for best vans somehow, and then I'll write an article for some Van Magazines and Professional Electrician Magazine and whatnot.


View attachment 52246

<---- copy from here ---->​

  1. CURRENT ELECTRICIANS VAN - WHICH VAN ARE YOU USING RIGHT NOW AS AN ELECTRICIAN?
    1. How much was it? and Was it new or preloved? :D :D
    2. Where did you buy it from? (give them a plug?)
    3. Insurance, were they good enough to give a plug to? - Feel free to link to them and mention price there about
  2. PREVIOUS ELECTRICIANS VAN - WHICH VAN DID YOU USE LAST AS AN ELECTRICIAN?
    1. How much was it? and Was it new or preloved? :D :D
    2. Where did you buy it from? (give them a plug?)
    3. Insurance, were they good enough to give a plug to? - Feel free to link to them and mention price there about
  3. NEXT ELECTRICIANS VAN - WHICH VAN WILL YOU NEXT USE AS AN ELECTRICIAN?
    1. How much was it? and Was it new or preloved? :D :D
    2. Where did you buy it from? (give them a plug?)
    3. Insurance, were they good enough to give a plug to? - Feel free to link to them and mention price there about
<---- copy to here ---->
Then past it inside a post of your own in the reply box, and answer what you can. :)​

Let's make this thread a handy thread for those looking for vans. I'll make a poll with popular van makes, whether long or short wheel base, what model is was, what extras it had, whether it had a Dab Radio (Best Dab Radios Thread) and that kinda jazz.

Colours? Did you select a certain colour? - Restore it perhaps if it was an old one? (A tiler sticks a new pre 1960s van through the books, restoration the lot, and uses it as 'marketing budget' and offsets it. Does one every year I think. Loafs of old triumphs and fords and bedfords. He's got a collection now.

Going to make a poll, I'll add some van makes. I wont do the models. There is bloody millions of 'em.

But choose a van make from the list, some pick ups in there too.

And then please reply with the pics of them if you can.

NOTES TO BE AWARE OF WHEN POSTING ANY VAN PICTURES ANYWHERE ON SOCIAL SITES
  • Side on pictures of your van if you can't number plates (Apple App to hide number plates) https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/hidemyplate/id662558691) - (Google Android App to Hide Numberplates)
  • If you keep tools in your van, and have your post code on any google listings, checkatrade, mybuilder, anything of that sort, and your van pictures show up in Google image search, robbers can link the two and find your van. So avoid posting pictures of it anywhere unless it's locked up in storage or tools are not in the van. This goes for all sites not just our forums.
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I found myself in a bit of a tight spot a couple of days before last Xmas. Two days to be exact. Guess I got to appreciate that he let me have a months grace with his van but just after Christmas when being self employed also became a stark reality again I thought I would try lease purchase. Never really nurtured my credit rating and to be fair I wasn’t a stranger to the odd financial knock back. So I pulled up to the pc and happened to stumble upon


Now when your only other option would be ask your dad or her parents for a loan at the age of 42. You think I might have grown out of that.

However the dude who called me up in response to asking for a quote - Neil Dandy managed to put me on the road in my own van within a month. When you’re on your --- financially and wouldn’t be surprised if there were two red flags when they say “Can you spell that again” I was just looking for something I could afford. So my deal is as this.

Van: Brand new Citeron Berlingo in my choice of colour.
Deposit: £0.00
Monthly: £235
Admin and initial payment: £385
Tax: 1 year included
Warranty: 3 years
Mileage: unlimited
Term: 5 years £4,000 final payment
Part ex after 3 years
Insurance: £635 per month includes £2k tool cover

When you do the actual sums you are paying more than you would if you were to do it via a bank loan. But Neil made it hassle free whilst I was busy keeping my nose to the grind stone.

I’m delighted with the service he provided and I got a van which I can confidently afford.

It’s a great little van. The touch screen and ease of how your phone connects is a big plus. Comes with reverse sensors and air con cruise e control as standard. Not all vans do. And I’ll get about 500miles to a £60 tank. Oh and it comes with 3 seats. Not what you’d want every day but it comes in handy especially when you have two kids and the wife is out in the car.
 
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Kevin Macnamara said:
I found myself in a bit of a tight spot a couple of days before last Xmas. Two days to be exact. Guess I got to appreciate that he let me have a months grace with his van but just after Christmas when being self employed also became a stark reality again I thought I would try lease purchase. Never really nurtured my credit rating and to be fair I wasn’t a stranger to the odd financial knock back. So I pulled up to the pc and happened to stumble upon


Now when your only other option would be ask your dad or her parents for a loan at the age of 42. You think I might have grown out of that.

However the dude who called me up in response to asking for a quote - Neil Dandy managed to put me on the road in my own van within a month. When you’re on your --- financially and wouldn’t be surprised if there were two red flags when they say “Can you spell that again” I was just looking for something I could afford. So my deal is as this.

Van: Brand new Citeron Berlingo in my choice of colour.
Deposit: £0.00
Monthly: £235
Admin and initial payment: £385
Tax: 1 year included
Warranty: 3 years
Mileage: unlimited
Term: 5 years £4,000 final payment
Part ex after 3 years
Insurance: £635 per month includes £2k tool cover

When you do the actual sums you are paying more than you would if you were to do it via a bank loan. But Neil made it hassle free whilst I was busy keeping my nose to the grind stone.

I’m delighted with the service he provided and I got a van which I can confidently afford.

It’s a great little van. The touch screen and ease of how your phone connects is a big plus. Comes with reverse sensors and air con cruise e control as standard. Not all vans do. And I’ll get about 500miles to a £60 tank. Oh and it comes with 3 seats. Not what you’d want every day but it comes in handy especially when you have two kids and the wife is out in the car.
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If you're not something to do with good old neil there I'll eat my hat.

No linking to sales websites please.

Checkout the advertising options here: Advertising with ElectriciansForums.net - What's allowed? - https://www.electriciansforums.net/threads/advertising-with-electriciansforums-net-whats-allowed.178037/
 
Maybe the critical factor is not "what van" but "who's van"? By that I mean, my NV200 is privately owned and not everyone's 1st choice. My experience of vehicles is regular garage maintenance and occasional DIY repairs make this age / mileage viable. Possibly a different individual with more work / better work / less time would exchange higher costs of running a new van on lease or finance for turn-key convenience. It's a personal decision, not based entirely on costs.
 
Kevin Macnamara said:
Can I choose the hat. Only thing I to do with him is that I was a customer.
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Prices and everything, it has to be a mate of a mate if not you're neil yourself lol

I'm no fool matey. :D This is my job.

Less of the sales stuff and we'll be alright. :)

(We're actually looking for a van-related sponsor, more contract hire related than what you had, from what I can see)
 
I prefer pick ups to vans; more comfort, off road ability. The Ranger was my previous one, loved it to start with, but started to deteriorate at 60k miles. Changed to Mercedes for warranty, 3 years unlimited mileage, and their mobilo service. I could possibly do 40 - 50k miles a year, over all sorts of terrain. ( As it happens, I've been working in BT exchanges for 15 months!, no off road at all). P7207372.JPGIMG_20180908_083926.jpgIMG_20180908_083926.jpg
 
Further to my earlier threads, and my vote that I presently have a Citroen berlingo....
I will be changing my van much much sooner than I thought.

After a situation this morning where my handbrake didn’t get pulled up enough, and I was parked on a slight incline.... the rear of my van met a parked hgv trailer at moderate speed.
Insurance have said uneconomical to repair.... written off, even though it’s drivable, and usable.
And as it’s written off, the insurance cover is now stopped. (As of midnight) so I can’t drive it legally now even thought there’s nowt stopping it. I’ll be reclaiming my road tax tomorrow!

5324967D-095C-4D7B-9128-D0677A5B1DC6.jpeg

Door and side panel took brunt of damage as you can see. But there is also damage to the roof, where my ladder pushed the roof rack mounts forward.

Apparently, a roof rack is a modification and should have been notified to the insurance company.
I thought modifications meant chipping the engine or whatever it’s called to make them go faster.
 
A little update on today’s incident.
I’ve taken the van back to the yard to empty it of tools. (Naughty naughty, no insured)
And parked exactly where it was. I deliberately left the handbrake off, and straight away it started to roll backwards.
There is no way I forgot to pull the handbrake on.

Next time I park there, I’ll leave the vehicle in gear, and turn the wheel so it rolls against a bollard.
 
I have had an Opel Corsa for the last five years, I don't see Opel on the list? If it was on the list that would have been my first choice. I am a vehicle mechanic/electrician and have found it has been nothing but fantastic. I picked Peugeot as a would be second choice as I rarely get called out to them.

Most unreliable Ford. Weakest over long term Fiat in the suspension, engine mount areas.
 
Dave 2000 said:
I have had an Opel Corsa for the last five years, I don't see Opel on the list? If it was on the list that would have been my first choice. I am a vehicle mechanic/electrician and have found it has been nothing but fantastic. I picked Peugeot as a would be second choice as I rarely get called out to them.

Most unreliable Ford. Weakest over long term Fiat in the suspension, engine mount areas.
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Opel in the uk is Vauxhall’s. Part of General Motors.
Reminds me of when I owned a Vauxhall nova.. which I think is the same as an Opel Kadet? Apparently Nova translates to “no go” or more “doesn’t work”
 
So, after writing off a Citroen berlingo 16 plate, I went along to my local used van dealer and bought.... a Citroen berlingo 67 plate!

Silver instead of red... and my towbar, ply lining shelves and roof rack can be directly swapped over.

Spent today ripping out the towbar electrics to refit that myself... and my reversing camera and dash cam. All added by me. Will be checking the tread on the spare tyre tomorrow.

Found £1.70 in change under the seat too! Enough for a coffee..... does anyone still take old round pound coins?
 
This little funk wrote mine off, only had it six weeks.

E6926569-42A7-4478-A948-A9F2AEC73950.jpeg
 
Toblerone said:
That new "Defender" is an absolute abomination. Basically a Range Rover with enhanced off road capabilities.

Can't wait for all the idiots who can't drive their current vehicles properly to be clogging up the roads with their new toy.
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Are you aware of the Ineos Grenadier? Available 20/21. Promising to take over where the original Defender left off
 
Working out of my little fiesta at the moment. I need a van, maybe a cheap 2nd hand that hopefully limps through the next MOT? Or do I save up a little more and splash £2000/£3000?

Or I’m working from the boss’s VW transporter. Very lush! Lovely rack. Smooth interior. Probably nearer to 10k

Previously been in a Mercedes Vito, these seemed ample for light Swapping up and down the motorway.
 
jeremy said:
Are you aware of the Ineos Grenadier? Available 20/21. Promising to take over where the original Defender left off
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Ah, the Ineos Grenadier, that billionaire brexiteer Jim Rattcliffe was going to manufacture in Wales but for some reason now looks likely to be made in France ?
 
Duncankmcveigh said:
Working out of my little fiesta at the moment. I need a van, maybe a cheap 2nd hand that hopefully limps through the next MOT? Or do I save up a little more and splash £2000/£3000?

Or I’m working from the boss’s VW transporter. Very lush! Lovely rack. Smooth interior. Probably nearer to 10k

Previously been in a Mercedes Vito, these seemed ample for light Swapping up and down the motorway.
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Can’t your boss supply you with a van?
You’ll be getting all the “own vehicle” tax benefits, of course??
 
Duncankmcveigh said:
Working out of my little fiesta at the moment. I need a van, maybe a cheap 2nd hand that hopefully limps through the next MOT? Or do I save up a little more and splash £2000/£3000?

Or I’m working from the boss’s VW transporter. Very lush! Lovely rack. Smooth interior. Probably nearer to 10k

Previously been in a Mercedes Vito, these seemed ample for light Swapping up and down the motorway.
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Any pics of the lovely rack and smooth interior? ?
 
Previous van was a Toyota HiAce medium wheelbase, single sliding side door and up and over rear door, the later is so useful if it's raining. Spare wheel under the rear bumper area so internal sides clear for ladders/racking, it was a second hand van when I brought it in around 2014, I think it was a '56 plate. But nice to drive and a high seating position so good visibility over cars beside you and low hedges on country lanes and near junctions etc.

Current van is a 114 Mercedes Vito 'compact' aka short wheelbase, issue initially being I didn't like it having sliding doors both sides (although I've got used to it now) but brought new I could specify an up and over door on the rear, a must have after three years of having one on the HiAce. I'd have a Vito again, but would almost certainly opt for a wheelbase that was long enough for the spare wheel to go under the rear bumper area. Seating position isn't as high as the HiAce and the door height seems low in comparison to the seating position so it's easy to bump your hear on the way in if you're parked by a kerb, especially if it's a little higher than average.

It's horses for courses though to be fair, same as with many things.
I know sparks who crave for a hightop van so they can stand up in it and/or one with a 3m internal load space for trunking/conduit etc. and also those who are perfectly happy with their VW CaddyMax or Transit Connect (aka the old Escort Van).

It all depends on what you carry day in day out and what you can put on the roof on the odd time you need to if conduit/trunking isn't your everyday job. But, saying that, there's always the delivery option from the wholesaler if you want to keep those mpg figures high.
 
FatAlan said:
Ah, the Ineos Grenadier, that billionaire brexiteer Jim Rattcliffe was going to manufacture in Wales but for some reason now looks likely to be made in France ?
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A car assembly plant became available in Hambach in France. Rather than build a new factory, it apparently makes commercial sense to use a 2nd hand one.
 
My 2011 Hiace is starting to show it's age. As much as I like it and would love to keep it, unfortunately it doesn't make sense to do so.

The mileage I do combined with the cost of repairs and lost time when it's in the garage means that it's time for a change.

A shame really as it's a great van and owes me nothing, but the tipping point financially has been reached.

I've opted for a new Transporter which I'll get, hopefully, in January.
 
I had a SWB Caddy on loan for a week. I know they are hugely popular; especially the ex-BG ones in blue. The one I had didn't really suit me. Very basic cab unless spec'ed up by the original new-buyer but fast and low. That's compared to my normal Nissan NV200, so the Caddy's rack was easy to reach but no"up high" driving position. My regular mechanic is convinced Caddies are no more reliable than other makes; just better looked after by the big fleets. Running a 60 plate Transit on loan at the moment. Feels a bit "tinny" but could just be that it's been builder- abused for 110K and that is the key factor I suspect. Sadly, there is likely to be a lot of keenly priced used vehicles about this time next year.
 
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