[keyser soze]

seriously thinking about buying a back up van ... just to cover me when my van breaks down like its been doing a lot lately ..anyone else do this ?

[Elfyn]

Wouldn't you be better off spending the money on buying a reliable van?

[Stoots]

Something I've been pondering lately. Had no end of trouble with mine since Christmas. Its cost me 7 work days already.

Thought about buying a new reliable van but your talking 10k plus vs  buying something for a grand or whatever that won't depreciate.

There really is no such thing as a reliable van, they are all capable of failing at any time.

[keyser soze]

i agree by getting a new van would be good ...but  there has always been an issue when it goes in for service, tyres. mot ...loads of times I've always thought having a second van for back up would be ideal. maybe utilise it by having a part timer in it ..

[Tony dunmall]

I have spare van it's currently used 2 days a week, by one by subs rest time sits

It's an old 07 plate ford connect T220 done 70k one owner From new cost £3000 inc

I've got a grippa 500litre set up For two man

Too be fair if my main van  is off road it there for three days for me which is just enough to cover what's needed
But it's cheap to run one tank fuel a month and £40 insurance and parked on secure parking £20 month it's makes good money each week on two days it's used so I felt it's good idea

Also it's old enough to hopefully insure my daughter in middle this year she'll be driving a year by then and doesn't matter if she nudges something. But will be good to get her driving at work, she can be more independent on the tools if she's wishes
Next year I'll update it to a trend version with better spec

So yes I like to have a spare van it's a Luxuary but well worth it

[Johnny B]

My first thought was instead of putting the money into another van, if you like your current van then why not get it properly sorted so it will be more reliable?

Another school of thought maybe could be to buy a better van and keep your current one as a spare.

I've recently changed mine (reluctantly but necessary) and this thread has given me something to think about in the future.

John.

[ObiwanK]

Something I've been pondering lately. Had no end of trouble with mine since Christmas. Its cost me 7 work days already.

Thought about buying a new reliable van but your talking 10k plus vs  buying something for a grand or whatever that won't depreciate.

There really is no such thing as a reliable van, they are all capable of failing at any time.

Yeah, all are capable of failing but there is such a thing as a reliable van. Its one that doesnt fail because its serviced and looked after.

[keyser soze]

I have spare van it's currently used 2 days a week, by one by subs rest time sits

It's an old 07 plate ford connect T220 done 70k one owner From new cost £3000 inc

I've got a grippa 500litre set up For two man

Too be fair if my main van  is off road it there for three days for me which is just enough to cover what's needed
But it's cheap to run one tank fuel a month and £40 insurance and parked on secure parking £20 month it's makes good money each week on two days it's used so I felt it's good idea

Also it's old enough to hopefully insure my daughter in middle this year she'll be driving a year by then and doesn't matter if she nudges something. But will be good to get her driving at work, she can be more independent on the tools if she's wishes
Next year I'll update it to a trend version with better spec

So yes I like to have a spare van it's a Luxuary but well worth it

I've just bought a 220 transit connect 07 as a back up van. its top spec air con heated windscreen fog lights . a real nice van I'm getting it set up for one man system . see how it goes.... i bust my bumper on vivaro as well as few other problems . i now can get it all sorted out and not worry about losing time now ..

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

we dropped our old 54 plate expert to a spear van its got a 650 in it and just sits there doing northing two man set up that's dead slow (1.9d) but it will see 300k without putting a spanner on it

we have a good friend that's a window cleaner and we take half the insurance money and tax  off him a year so he can use it if his van dies so for 280 a year hes covered , we just leave it sat there in the unit most of the time and run back and fourth to the shop for milk when needed in it to keep it going

he used it for three weeks last year and was well happy ,

[dazmond]

Working from my car with a backpack and 4 barrels  has saved me losing out  on £3800 this year.OK not ideal but it's a good little back up system to get me out of a tight spot.
personally I wouldn't buy another van as a spare.surely  your van doesn't break down that often?

As I now have a brand new Van I'm expecting many years of relatively trouble free motoring.😀

When/if it does breakdown I know I have a good emergency system ready to spring into action.

[Elfyn]

There really is no such thing as a reliable van, they are all capable of failing at any time.

I'm on my 5th van and I haven't had any problems with any one of them. I do all my own servicing.

[Smurf]

Sorry to hear about your van problems.

Don't want to pry into your finances but you could also consider doing what dazmond has done. Lease a new van instead if that is an easier way for you to get another van.

[the king]

just buy a toyota hiace they never go rong probly the only van thats 99 percent relible  the rest have issues gear box injectors the list goes on