Which van?

[steve hawing]

Hi all

I'm just starting out and am looking for a van, ideally a small van but Dosent have to be, I'll hopefully have a 400 litre system and all the rest of the gear

So any recommendations folks? I get payload and reliablity will be the main factors, oh and handy on juice as well

Cheers

 

[Alien Human]

Vauxhall Vivaro (Bi Turbo)..appreciate its a bit bigger but I had a Volkswagen Caddy before that and (v v annoyingly) I went into the back of someone and it just crumpled with only a 250l tank in the back.

Whatever you go for mate my main tip would be make sure you've got anything above 110 horsepower if your going to carry 400l. Engine size can be small.....but horsepower is key.......in my humble opinon

 

[Jake]

Ford transit connect has been my choice,

Most are Bullet proof, good size and cheap parts etc,

Here's a video of mine that may help you envisage what you might want:

Video was originally uploaded cos I had a load of plonkers on the dreaded clean it up forum claim there was no way you could fit a pressure washer in this size van, they basically said I was making it up so did a video to prove them wrong!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R84xXDdobYE[/media]

There are a few good vans out there, but I found the long wheel base transit connect was the best for my needs...

Worth noting this is the most powerful of the engines supplied and has just shy of 1000kg payload, I very rarely if ever fill my tank more than 500 litres, it's because I got the 750l tank very cheap that I've got such a big one (no pun intended)

 

[steve hawing]

Cheers lads

From what I've looked into aren't them vivaros liable for major injector problems or is there a certain engine trouble free?

The connect I have known 3 people to have them and the 3 were very hard on diesel, I will be doing a fair bit of mileage so be looking a decent mpg return

Cheers

 

[Alien Human]

Basically the old ones had a bit of a rep for being a bit dodge but the new ones have got much better reviews. A good place to have a look at all sorts of vans is.......wait for it.......www.loadsofvans.co.UK

Good luck with it all!

 

[Chris Finley]

I would consider a peugeot partner/citroen Berlingo. Get the 800kg payload one. Better fuel consumption than transits. Solid engines. Great little van surprising amount of space also. Have a look at the reviews. Best small vans to buy I think.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[tench0771]

ive got a vivaro an its bin bang on 2.0 cdti i have 5 friends an theres have bin bang on 1 has the 1.9cdti an had injectores an all sorts of problims mine has 41k so far so good my m8 has 120k had it since 30 k no probs other m8 30 ish k when brout now 68k no probs other 120k no probs its luck of the draw i think on the other hand neil had one 30k injectores went an got stick in head then fixed soled now they gone again luck of the draw u takle your chance i no people with the transit custum 2.2 an the injectore has burnt a hole in the piston causing new engine quiet common on them engines also water driping on ecu poor windscrean seil design like the vivaro

 

[steve hawing]

The caddys seem to be highly thought of due to reliability and cost of running but they do hold there price well and are prob out of my budget

Dunno bout French vans tbh I do see plenty of them on the road but how reliable are they I see the reviews or more negative than positive in them

I keep coming back to a transit in my searches for reliablity, cost to run, work hourse etc but might be a tad to big for me

I'm looking into the connects now, I don't like the look if them tbh but the reviews might sway me

Cheers

 

[Smurf]

If you decide to go down the route of exterior property deep cleaning like I do then I would defo go for a large van with a good max payload. That way you have more room to carry all the kit about you need instead of the hassle and struggling to fit it all into a smaller van.

 

[stuvy]

Just to echo smurfs point, I initially brought a connect and it was too small so I went for a transit swb semi hi

 

[tench0771]

The caddys seem to be highly thought of due to reliability and cost of running but they do hold there price well and are prob out of my budgetDunno bout French vans tbh I do see plenty of them on the road but how reliable are they I see the reviews or more negative than positive in them

I keep coming back to a transit in my searches for reliablity, cost to run, work hourse etc but might be a tad to big for me

I'm looking into the connects now, I don't like the look if them tbh but the reviews might sway me

Cheers

the caddy with the 1.9tdi and 2.0sdi r bomb prouf ide say there the best small van on the road i once had a scudo an it was the worst van ive ever had maby i was un lucky but the lecky all went ape an it was a pile of dung stiff gears heavy cluch slow 1.9d ploder it was 1b thing after a nother ide avoied french my self

 

[Keir999]

Ive had my Vivaro 2.0 CDTI for a couple of months now. I love it. I carry a 650 litre tank and it pulls with no effort. Plenty of room for everything and room to spare. Great on fuel too. Im well pleased with it.

 

[steve hawing]

Does the 2l cdti not have the issue with the injectors that these vans have? I must say I got to drive one yesterday and it was as comfortable as driving a car tbh and it's a gd looking van I'm just very weary with the trouble these vans give engine wise

 

[tench0771]

u take your chance m8 neil had loads of trouble with his but i no 6 people who have no issue at all 2 of the vans have over 120k on the clock to this is 1 issue for injectore failer and wiren loom failer an also ecu failer

 

[Hanco13]

I started out with a n 03 plate Berlingo. I carried a 250l tank and the poor little Frenchy couldn't cope with all the weight. The older Berlingos are know for rear-axle trouble. The bearings wear after a while due to a design fault and the back wheels start to tilt inwards at the top, until eventually the tyres start rubbing on your inner

Wheel arch.

Have a look at the next old Berlingo youre following, I bet she's got knocked knees.

Got a Vivaro now and I bloody love it. The 6 speed box is very economical but is know to develop faults. Mines a 6 speed but was reconditioned not long before I bought it.

Happy hunting.

 

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

For the small van option I would look at Fiat Doblo Cargos. Brilliant vans, can handle 400ltr no problem & pretty cheap to buy second hand. I ran an '07 1.3 multijet for over four years completely trouble free. That 1.3 Multijet TD engine is incredible, it blew the pants off my previous 1.9d Kangoo. Plenty of room for window cleaning but not much else, if you want to go beyond 400ltrs or carry pressure washing/gutter equipment then you'll probably need something bigger.

 

[tench0771]

the fiat dublo is the bigest of the small vans to ive hurd the 1.3cdti run on fresh air to very fuel effishent the 1.9 turbo one is also spoce to b a cracker to only bad thing ive hurd about the 1.3cdti is the chain can snap but as long as its changed when it starts to rattle ur fine

 

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

the fiat dublo is the bigest of the small vans to ive hurd the 1.3cdti run on fresh air to very fuel effishent the 1.9 turbo one is also spoce to b a cracker to only bad thing ive hurd about the 1.3cdti is the chain can snap but as long as its changed when it starts to rattle ur fine

Yeah, mine did over 50mpg fully loaded!! They are quite big compared to thers in that category, mine was much bigger than my previous Kangoo both in the back and the the cab. Twin sliding doors are also a big bonus.

 

[monkeyman]

The caddys seem to be highly thought of due to reliability and cost of running but they do hold there price well and are prob out of my budgetDunno bout French vans tbh I do see plenty of them on the road but how reliable are they I see the reviews or more negative than positive in them

I keep coming back to a transit in my searches for reliablity, cost to run, work hourse etc but might be a tad to big for me

I'm looking into the connects now, I don't like the look if them tbh but the reviews might sway me

Cheers

I have a connect t230. Very happy with it. Plenty of space and it can take 900 kg.

 

[tench0771]

I have a connect t230. Very happy with it. Plenty of space and it can take 900 kg.

i take it your conect is a lwb hitop what milege is on yours when u got it an now? i allmost brout one b 4 my vivaro but the 2 i looked at were a bit tatty shame as i realy liked the size its kinda in between a small van an a meidum van

 

[monkeyman]

i take it your conect is a lwb hitop what milege is on yours when u got it an now? i allmost brout one b 4 my vivaro but the 2 i looked at were a bit tatty shame as i realy liked the size its kinda in between a small van an a meidum van

Yes lwb high top. Only had it for 5 weeks. 05 plate, 100k full service history, 12 month warranty very tidy. There only a foot shorter than an swb transit but it makes a lot of difference parking in busy streets.