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Just as a note to the above most people don't give a rats what you turn up in as long as you turn up when you say you will and do a good job. As for using fittings from the 50's I would be very pleased to find someone with a good stock and also pipe from the same era it's about twice as thick walled as the modern stuff and is a hell of a lot easier to work with. As for old vans breaking down all the time there's a lot less to fail on a 80's van than a 2015 one. They were built to do the job there's no reason they can't do it today as long as you do oil/ water checks and services regularly same as you would any other vehicle. Like. I would tend to think if someone had a nice old van that they would have more of something about them , hence common sense , hence better job and better person to deal with .
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Jul 18, 2015 10:12:26 GMT
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I've thought about a retro van for my business, my current VW LT is 15 years old, but as I have a water tank on the van rust is unavoidable (I'm a valeter by the way, the tank's for the pressure washer).
The LT has been superb, 15 years old and apart from the odd flat battery no bother at all.
Reckon I'll go modern purely because the work is harsh on the vehicle. The LT's had to have welding under the tank. I can see why you'd go the retro route. I always fancied a boxy 80s van, Mitsubishi's always seem to catch my eye. The only thing I'd say, 'cheap' retro van scares me a little. In my opinion your van needs to be presentable and cheap and presentable rarely go hand in hand.
Good luck with the business by the way. If I had a plumbing business and wanted a USP I'd go to work wearing dungarees, a flat cap and a 'tash a la Super Mario Bros!
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Jul 18, 2015 11:17:34 GMT
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You can get lucky with old commercials . A friend of mine bought a T2 minibus from a a posh private school in Oxford about 13 years ago . One of the last made with 2 litre fuel injection , about 25k on the clock and it was immaculate as you would expect .
Sometimes stuff like that turns up , such as vans used by florists , bakers etc where they have led a charmed life compared to there relatives .
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Jul 18, 2015 11:22:11 GMT
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Just putting my practical/pessimist's hat on for a moment, I wouldn't bet against other cities introducing restrictions on older vans in the same manner as London's Low Emission Zone in future. I don't know what Newcastle's like on issues like that but if someone in the council decides there's money to be made or votes to be gained it could add major costs and hassle to your business if you went the retro route.
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Jul 18, 2015 14:46:23 GMT
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For : great advertising & very memorable you enjoy the trip to work! Against : Insurance - expect to have "fun" finding business use on a unlimited mileage retro. Running costs - can your business cope with retro 25mpg against modern 60mpg ? travelling time 60mph cruising against modern 80mph ? Will need servicing often... Council tip - can you take a van there or is it "cars-only" ? For most traders I'd vote for an estate or panel van, but I know how much junk/stock/baths end up up in a plumbers van more flickrhivemind.net/Tags/reliant,van Just as a note to the above most people don't give a rats ... what you turn up in as long as you turn up when you say you will and do a good job. Got to disagree here. I often help a plumber who has a smart modern van. A customer last month commented "so nice to see a tradesmans van with the inside that's tidy and well kept" - some customers even notice how it looks on the inside.
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,786
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Jul 18, 2015 15:59:34 GMT
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Unless you're considering using an electric milk float, the speed thing really isn't an issue.
Our 400e cruises at a steady 50 mph on open roads, if traffic permits. Our average distance to a job would be around 10-15 miles on mostly B roads. (I'd guess about the same for a plumber?) That usually means, another 5 minutes travelling at most.
If you can average over 40 mph on a journey (other than pure motorways) you're doing really well, and your average through towns will be around 20 mph!
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jonk
Part of things
Posts: 154
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Jul 18, 2015 16:33:24 GMT
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To echo the comments about customer perception, I was told the other day about someone who used a plumber who "had the whole of the back of their van laid out perfectly and as clean as my living room". The man they were talking about also has immaculate paintwork and a personalised number plate which says the name of his business, and it does look smart to anyone who looks. I would say an old van could be a good tool but only if it looks smart enough for a non-car person to be impressed, if not, they will just think it's a shed.
I spend a lot of time contemplating a van for my business. I'm a gardener and at the moment I use a estate crudely lined with ply which does look fairly tidy and carry a lot, although it's not as professional as a smart van. Crucially it costs me very little to run and gets me places on time. Someone offered me a loan of their series 2a Landrover - they and I thought it would be perfect for carting tools, compost, waste and so on. It would even get in to the tip for free. I managed about 2 weeks before I realised that it was going to bankrupt me in fuel, journey times, and time at the roadside lost fiddling with minor issues. I suppose a series landrover is more extreme than a C15 or a Carry, but I decided that what I want as a work vehicle is one which will cost the least and do the job efficiently. I've been looking at the last of the xud-powered peugeot dispatch vans as a simple but relatively modern option. Boring I know, perhaps I should be on the whatcar forum.
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Jul 18, 2015 16:55:26 GMT
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"A plan" for business insurance on classic vans, really knew there stuff over the phone. I'm sure others are available too. MPG really doesn't matter as you'll claim back all your fuel and running costs as expenses anyway and if you can't more than cover fuel costs something is going really wrong. Taking your Commercial waste to the council tip is a no no anyway so that's not an issue - locally you can get a tip licence that allows you in with none commercial waste in the van
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,786
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Jul 18, 2015 16:59:46 GMT
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No doubt it's me being overly cynical, but if I see a tradesman always with a new motor I immediately think they're earning too much and therefore charge too much! Lol
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jonk
Part of things
Posts: 154
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Jul 18, 2015 17:07:58 GMT
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"A plan" for business insurance on classic vans, really knew there stuff over the phone. I'm sure others are available too. MPG really doesn't matter as you'll claim back all your fuel and running costs as expenses anyway and if you can't more than cover fuel costs something is going really wrong. Taking your Commercial waste to the council tip is a no no anyway so that's not an issue - locally you can get a tip licence that allows you in with none commercial waste in the van Re Fuel and running costs; claiming back off tax isn't the same as getting them paid for. The op suggests that he won't be making lots of money at first so I would have thought it would be a bit of a factor. Would love to see a picture of your transit, if you've got one. edit to add metro.co.uk/2010/10/11/plumber-creates-bicycle-made-for-tools-to-beat-olympic-road-works-541705/This would be cheap and get you noticed!
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Last Edit: Jul 18, 2015 17:09:54 GMT by jonk
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Jul 18, 2015 17:36:46 GMT
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Speed wise vans over 2 tons are limited to 60mph anyway, so whether your van can cruise at 80mph is irrelevant if you want to keep your trade insurance clean.
Anyhoo, it's hard to break even a 20mph limit in the rush hour traffic these days.
Now overheating in traffic, that's a whole new issue to consider.
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Jul 18, 2015 22:39:03 GMT
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My buddie is a plumber and rolls round in a renult 5 van
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bazzateer
Posted a lot
Imping along sans Vogue
Posts: 3,653
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My buddie is a plumber and rolls round in a renult 5 van that'll be the soft French suspension!
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1968 Singer Chamois Sport 1972 Sunbeam Imp Sport 1976 Datsun 260Z 2+2 1998 Peugeot Boxer Pilote motorhome 2003 Rover 75 1.8 Club SE (daily) 2006 MG ZT 190+ (another daily) 2007 BMW 530d Touring M Sport (tow car)
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What about a LDV Pilot ? Basically an updated Sherpa so sort of retro. Wonder if Sherpa wings and front panel would fit
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Jul 19, 2015 11:18:27 GMT
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Chevy G20 with the 6.2 diesel and overdrive box, not the worst on fuel actually!
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Jul 19, 2015 11:33:43 GMT
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If i was doing it i would go with something classic as apposed to just old . I do think that unless its something quirky or individual you will just get people thinking its a old shtiheap .
Mk1/mk2 transit , tidy cf etc would be good .
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Jul 19, 2015 13:09:45 GMT
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If we ignoring the budget requirement... Toyota deliboy
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Last Edit: Jul 19, 2015 13:10:44 GMT by joem83
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Jul 19, 2015 13:43:22 GMT
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I was running a lime green j reg t4 absolutely no problems with it got work through having it as well. Never let me down. Replaced with a mk7 transit for a few luxuries and it's been non stop niggles. half the mileage of the t4 as well.
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Jul 19, 2015 13:47:09 GMT
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An old landrover can be a useful tool as well with the body options pretty much endless
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Jul 19, 2015 14:53:05 GMT
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I was going to suggest a T4, can make them look nice. Old enough to stand out and reliable. Even the swb version can fit 8x4 sheets in flat. Just watch for rust.
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