Never really driven vans, drove a Transit Connect last time for a 2 mile move, which was far too small. Have a 30mile move to do this time. Haven't got that much stuff, though am living in a 4-bed detached, will probably chuck a lot of stuff away - wardrobes are £30 Ikea efforts. Might bring a couple of beds, plus a couple of ceiling-high cupboards, general household possessions.
Any suggestions what a good van would be? Not that confident driving something too massive, though my normal car is 4.8m long and 1.8m wide (excluding mirrors), it does at least have three mirrors.
|
Transit LWB with a Luton body should be fine.
|
Sorry, have I missed something here? You're hiring a white van and you intend on using the mirrors? Do you know nothing about van driving?!
|
Sorry have I missed something here? You're hiring a white van and you intend on using the mirrors? Do you know nothing about van driving?!
I mentioned this to someone else, and they made pretty much the same point.
|
Agree with local yokel, but bear in mind that there's not much that is fine about a Transit Luton, especially a diesel. Dog slow and horrible.
Don't catch the upper corners on trees or road signs. Lumber cautiously about and you should be OK.
|
always worth considering a van with a taillift, for those heavy pieces of equipment, I moved myself once, 2 bed,2nd floor flat to a house - never again- and I had plenty of help at both ends
good luck
|
Defo a taillift. What it's brilliant for is washing machines. What it's even MORE brilliant for is that it provides a step up into the van. Lutons are high off the ground; set the tail at half way up and you can step into the van easily. Saves loads of effort.
MIND LOW BRIDGES
Modern Lutons aren't too bad provided you're not planning on exceeding 50mph.
|
|
Make sure your house contents insurance covers you whilst stuff in transit - could be a very costly omission.
|
|
|
|
|
Last two times i've moved, i've hired a LWB Transit but the HiCube one i.e. one with a higher roof. Bit more user friendly than the Luton, as it has a side door and more wriggle room. £45 from local Ford dealer for 24 hours.
|
|
|
|
Go for a Luton with Taillift, also choose carefully who you hire from. Make sure you check over the van with them and note down EVERY LITTLE mark and knock, take at least 10-15 minutes on this, also make sure you check the oil and water with them or get them to sign to say it was checked before hire, don't forget tyres - I hired a transit last week for a day - a national chain - and one of the front tyres was below the limit on tread - they even tried to argue the point with me about it, but I flatly refused to take it. Also check mileage allowances - I almost got caught this time, Was hiring from a company I had hired from before, made booking, went to collect and was informed they now have a 100 mile a day allowance, then 8ppm, was not mentioned on phone when booked, so argued about it and what with the tyre problem they dropped the charge (did about 200 miles in the day). You really have to be careful with hire companies. I used to hire vans at least once a week in a previous job and they will really try it on if they think they can get away with it.
And dont forget to check it back in with them and go over the bodywork again in detail, some time spent here could possibly save you alot of time and money later!!
|
>>reduction what with the tyre problem
So you drove a van with a duff tyre?? ;)
Good point about bodywork. Certainly in London, the cheapest vans come from the non-national chains who have a few scruffy vans. Means they're pretty relaxed about the odd scratch here or there.
I hired an absolute shed some time ago from onevanone or 1van1 or whatever they're called. Six months old, not a single intact panel, cracked windscreen, oil half an inch OVER-filled. They said 'we can't really fill out the damage form, you're not gonig to get charged as we wouldn't be able to identify minor damage!'
|
So you drove a van with a duff tyre?? ;)
Nope, I refused to take it out and as a result I got a right old shed, but at least it was road legal!!! :o)
|
|
Just a little bit of advise regarding tail lifts,they take the weight of the vehicle well up,a friend has an iveco luton for his furniture business and he has to be very careful about loading as the whole lot can easily come in over the permitted 3 @1/2 tonnes when loaded,vosa are very wise to this and will pull you if you look loaded and the fines are very heavy indeed when you get to court.
|
|
|
|
