ace3 - Starting from scratch - WFP Blog

[Chris33]

@ace3 I been looking at the 100bhp partner professional sat nav. 16 plate in your price range if shop about and real world 50 plus mpg

I got a big van now and get 23mpg so thinking of going back to a partner. They got an 850 payload and so will carry 450 tank maybe 500.

The higher bhp models are better mpg generally with them.

 

[ace3]

@ace3 I been looking at the 100bhp partner professional sat nav. 16 plate in your price range if shop about and real world 50 plus mpg

I got a big van now and get 23mpg so thinking of going back to a partner. They got an 850 payload and so will carry 450 tank maybe 500.

The higher bhp models are better mpg generally with them.

Hey mate cheers for the help, I've just been looking at auto trader, are there any other places that you'd recommend? 

 

[Chris33]

I have always went via ebay mate. I have driven 300 plus miles for vehicles if the price is right.. .Lot of ebay listings are garages mind.

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[Spartan]

I have always went via ebay mate. Lot of ebay listings are garages mind.

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Same here Chris33, I've used eBay on my last 2 vehicles.

Under the seller you can tick the box 'private seller' so it filters out the garages, that way you're more likely to get a bargain.

Ace3, you won't get a 500 tank in a 625 payload - you'll be well over.

Just about get it in the 850kg so go for that one.

 

[dmw]

Hi all,
 
things have been going really well. I am about to start my 2nd cycle of cleans which I'm looking forward to as they are all maintenance cleans which I'm hoping will be much quicker.
 
I haven't managed to canvass the bigger houses yet and that's mainly down to the fact that I feel a little bit embarrassed of my set up.
 
I still haven't sorted out my boot and my workaround is using a long piece of wood to keep the boot up whilst I get my trolley out....it works, but to others must make me look like a total cowboy!
 
i am currently looking at vans and my plan  is to sell my car and just have a van.
 
does anyone have any recommendations about vans? 
 
I needed a new car anyway so I was thInking of spending about £8k and getting a nice low mileage van which has air con Bluetooth etc as I will need it for window cleaning and my main employment which includes motorway driving.
 
i have been looking at berlingos/partners and am not sure about whether to focus on a 625kg or a 850kg payload.
 
i am also looking at x line systems and am confused as to whether or not I should get a 350litre system or 500litre system.
 
if I went for a 625kg berlingo for example I would be able to get a lower mileage vehicle for my £8k budget and it would probably be a higher spec than a 850model but then I don't know if it would be possible to have a 500litre x line system installed as payload wise it would be very tight.
 
 

At the start of the year I bought a 3year old 850kg Partner,

It cost £5500 Inc vat and has done 53000 miles with FSH,

It's a basic spec with no air-conditioning​ or Bluetooth but still comes with trip computer electric windows and mirrors and took me 600 mile round trip to Devon and has been faultless.

The next thing I did was have a 500 litre di system by Grippatank fitted and has exceeded my expectations,

I too looked at Xline but read some less than complimentary stories on here about customer service etc, so I avoided that one, and while Grippatank are more expensive the aftercare has been excellent.

If you've got the time and expertise you can build your own system quite cheaply, but as I have a full round the van was off the road for one day for fitting and out earning the next.
Good luck with your next move.

 

[ace3]

Hi all quick update.

completed my first day of maintenance cleans and can't believe how much easier the day was compared to last time where I felt like I was scrubbing/rinsing for ages! 

I have bought a van this week, went with a 65 plate Peugeot partner professional 850kg payload which I should get at the end of this week.

I am going to have a look online for professional systems tonight with a work colleague as I don't feel confident enough to diy it myself....I do really like the look of the xline system or maybe the water genie from the cleaning warehouse......grippa systems do look nice but they come out at an extra £1.5k compared to others which I think is too expensive.

thanks for all of the help once again everyone! 

 

[Part Timer]

Have you looked at Pure Freedom, mine still going strong after 6 years.

 

[adamangler]

First cleans are horrible when yiu have a full day of them. They roughly take me twice as long as normal. I never book more than about 8 in on one day. The first clean is key I make sure mine are immaculate first time. When you get to the second clean it like heaven on earth. But the really beauty comes after half a dozen clean when you get really quick with them and do them on autopilot.

 

[ace3]

Have you looked at Pure Freedom, mine still going strong after 6 years.

My trolley is from pure pure freedom and I've had no issues with it but didn't even think about their systems as I can't find much info about them.  what are the prices like for pure freedom it doesn't display anything on the website. I'm looking at a 500l full ro/di system.

First cleans are horrible when yiu have a full day of them. They roughly take me twice as long as normal. I never book more than about 8 in on one day. The first clean is key I make sure mine are immaculate first time. When you get to the second clean it like heaven on earth. But the really beauty comes after half a dozen clean when you get really quick with them and do them on autopilot.

Yeah you're right adam, 6 of them today were fronts only and I think they took 10mins maximum each I couldn't believe it! 

 

[Part Timer]

By the looks of their webpage you have to ring them. They were, in my opinion, when I bought mine the best value for money.

 

[ace3]

Hi all I am looking at van insurance now, am I correct in thinking that I now need commercial insurance as I will be using it for business as wel as my daily commute etc?

also which form of commercial insurance do I need to get, there are 

carriage of own goods

carriage of goods for hire and reward

And haulage cover

also I have 10 years no claims for my car and have never driven a van before so is there any way of transferring that or is that lost now? Sorry if these are really stupid questions, I'm in between night shifts and my brain is frazzled.

thanks for any help 

 

[Part Timer]

Most insurance companies won't transfer car no claims to a van. The only one I know that do, they did for me, are NFU Tel, 01273769625

 

[spruce]

Hi all I am looking at van insurance now, am I correct in thinking that I now need commercial insurance as I will be using it for business as wel as my daily commute etc?

Yes - insurance for business use.

also which form of commercial insurance do I need to get, there are 

carriage of own goods

Yes

carriage of goods for hire and reward

No

And haulage cover

No

also I have 10 years no claims for my car and have never driven a van before so is there any way of transferring that or is that lost now?

Yes - in fact I was able to add a second vehicle to my NCB by insuring a car and a van on the same policy.

Sorry if these are really stupid questions, I'm in between night shifts and my brain is frazzled.

Most insurance companies won't transfer car no claims to a van. The only one I know that do, they did for me, are NFU Tel, 01273769625

I had no problems doing this unless insurance policy has changed since.

 

[ace3]

Hi all, so far aviva seem to be the cheapest to insure the van (although it is nearly double what I am paying now for my car.

i was told that I would be insured if I had a tank in the van but that the tank would not be paid for if it was damaged/ stolen etc as aviva only insure you for tools which are up to £150 in value and non electrical.

what do you all do about your van mount systems which are worth a lot of money, if you have a crash and they get damaged, how do you claim?

 

[Deleted member 257]

Hi all, so far aviva seem to be the cheapest to insure the van (although it is nearly double what I am paying now for my car.

i was told that I would be insured if I had a tank in the van but that the tank would not be paid for if it was damaged/ stolen etc as aviva only insure you for tools which are up to £150 in value and non electrical.

what do you all do about your van mount systems which are worth a lot of money, if you have a crash and they get damaged, how do you claim?

You could probably add them onto your public liability insurance.

 

[CM Cleaning Services]

Swinton provide my public liability insurance along with equipment insurance so anything I own for business lost , stolen or damaged I can claim costs to replace / repair Up to £3K

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[ace3]

Thanks both of you I think that's what I will do.

i got hold of "A plan" and they have offered me the best deal for van insurance which includes the use of a wfp van if I am involved in an accident that isn't my fault.

does anyone else have experience of "a plan?"I'm not too sure if they are the insurers or brokers for an insurance company.

i have now finished my two night shifts and we were really busy both nights so that coupled with a lack of sleep means I find things (which should be really easy to understand) quite difficult ha! 

Ill get get a good nights sleep tonight and look over the details again tomorrow

Any advice appreciated! 

 

[Tuffers]

Thanks both of you I think that's what I will do.

i got hold of "A plan" and they have offered me the best deal for van insurance which includes the use of a wfp van if I am involved in an accident that isn't my fault.

does anyone else have experience of "a plan?"I'm not too sure if they are the insurers or brokers for an insurance company.

i have now finished my two night shifts and we were really busy both nights so that coupled with a lack of sleep means I find things (which should be really easy to understand) quite difficult ha! 

Ill get get a good nights sleep tonight and look over the details again tomorrow

Any advice appreciated! 

I thought you firemen slept on the job anyway  :1f61c:

I contacted 'A Plan'. They offered a van in replacement if yours was off the road due to a non fault claim. IIRC the replacement wasn't a fully kitted out WFP van. Check with them! I'm with Aviva and they allow NCD to be transferred from a car.

 

[ace3]

I thought you firemen slept on the job anyway  :1f61c:

I contacted 'A Plan'. They offered a van in replacement if yours was off the road due to a non fault claim. IIRC the replacement wasn't a fully kitted out WFP van. Check with them! I'm with Aviva and they allow NCD to be transferred from a car.

Ha I wish mate had a nightmare week!

I went with Adrian flux in the end.

Still looking at wfp systems and it's between the cleaning warehouse water genie system and pure freedom system.

Im cracking on with maintenance cleans currently and have had a few calls from people I canvassed when I first set up who want me to add them to the round.

still loving it, cheers everyone for the support as always.

 

[ace3]

Hi all, I have bought some protecta kote and I plan on using it on the ply line but there are gaps on the ply line where the metal work of the van is showing.....I'm worried that water will just drop down underneath and rot the ply. Should I just remove the ply and protecta kote on the vans metal itself instead or keep the ply on?

also I am worried that water may drip into the cab area from the back of the van, anything I can do to stop this? I've added pictures so that you can see what I mean 

 

[Part Timer]

Personally I would always remove plywood and then use a waterproof coating