[sunshine windows]

This one is really a question for Ian Giles.

I read on another post (What is a cowboy?) that you have a Nissan Primastar.
I was wondering if you have ladders on this vehicle and how often you use them. Are they a pain in the butt to get on and off because even though i'm going to be going wfp soon i will still need constant use of my ladders for certain jobs until i can find enough wfp freindly jobs to replace the ones that aren't.

I have an 'A' frame 13 rung ladder with splayed legs. oooh er missus  . Approx 22' open i think.  Will this still be ok to put on the roof rack of one of these vans.

Anyone else who has a similar vehicle. Vivaro or Traffic, feel free to chip in.

Regards,
Lance

[EasyClean]

An alternative to using the long double 'A' on a roof rack is to use a small triple ladder and hang it on wall mounting ladder brackets inside the transit size van. The advantage is it's very quick and simple to access.

[pjulk]

I have a 3.5 mtr double on my transit roof.

But i may only use it once or twice a week so most of the time its paddlocked up.

But i use my small pointer to undo the locks and then it just slides out.

I could not go back to ladder work full time with a transit it takes to long to get them off.

Paul

[sunshine windows]

Somebody please put my mind at ease that it's a piece of cake getting the ladders off a Vivaro.

Lance

[Paul Coleman]

Somebody please put my mind at ease that it's a piece of cake getting the ladders off a Vivaro.

Lance

I find that it helps if I stand on the rear bumper and need the side door open to undo the restraints.  I can just about reach from ground level to lift the ladder off though but it's a stretch.  I'm 6' 1" tall.  Not sure about this but there may be variation in roof heights. so make sure you have the lowest one if that's so.

BTW.  I have a Trafic but understand that they are the same as Vivaro.

[trevor perry]

just have a roll bar on back of roof rack my ladders pull of easily on my primestar and easy to put back on no lifting above head just place at back of vehicle and push on.

[RO-Sheen]

I've got a Trafic but use wfp 99% of the time. The occasional time I need to use my trebles I use a 3 step ladder to get it down of the roofrack and undo the ladder clamps. Im 6' tall by the way.

Most of the time my ladders live in the garage!

[neil100]

I have a fiat ducato which is higher then a vivaro van.

I do not have any problems getting the ladders off. I have a twin roller at the back. You will need a roller on your roof rack because it makes an amazing amount of diffrence. You just push them up and away they go.

I open  the side door and stand on the van floor when undoing the ladder clamp. I only use one clamp, I then lift off my A ladder, Go to back of van stand on rear bumper step and pull ladders down. Not that much harder then a car roof rack.

Nel.

[P®oPole™]

It takes me about 30 secs to get my light set of my vito, I can literally jump and pull myself straight on top of my roof in a couple of seconds without toucjhing the sides of my precious van, blink and you would miss it. I can then walk all the way down my Wilco roofrack, it has a mesh walkway thing, jump down rollers on the back. Wilcos are the best around, well in the south without doubt.

Triples and double 14" points clamped down, light double 12" bungeed. I stand by that claim 30secs and that light set is off and I'm walking.

ProPole

[windows_chepstow]

This one is really a question for Ian Giles.

Lance

Lance,

I'll answer on Ian's behalf.  He doesn't carry ladders on the roof of his vehicle.

I think he's a telescopic set of ladders that he uses for access, but keeps them in the back.

I'm sure I remember Ian telling me that he generally refuses to climb a ladder these days.

However, it doesn't seem that long ago when I used to see him stood on the window sills of a large three story building; squeegying away; looking like he didn't have a care in the world.

He's changed!

He's also got me covering some of his work next week (again) while he's off swanning in Spain somewhere!!!!

 

[Mike Jones]

Open the side loading door and stand on the van floor you can reach off ladders etc off no problems from a transit type van.

[EasyClean]

It takes me about 30 secs to get my light set of my vito, I can literally jump and pull myself straight on top of my roof in a couple of seconds without toucjhing the sides of my precious van, blink and you would miss it. I can then walk all the way down my Wilco roofrack, it has a mesh walkway thing, jump down rollers on the back. Wilcos are the best around, well in the south without doubt.

Triples and double 14" points clamped down, light double 12" bungeed. I stand by that claim 30secs and that light set is off and I'm walking.

ProPole

Mine are hung up inside my van and it takes me 5 seconds!!!

[P®oPole™]

Wow sorry Easy 

must be a small set, small van or you have no bulk head and they come through into your cab and nearley knock you out every time you turn a corner.

What size are they? what van have you got them in? I know I cant fit any workable set of ladders in my van except teliscopic obviously.

Angry that you havent got a wilco or something mate!!!!

[dai]

Told you a milk crate was a handy bit of kit. Dai

[P®oPole™]

Lol dai 

Ok, ok I was wrong they do have there uses

ProPole

[EasyClean]

Wow sorry Easy 

must be a small set, small van or you have no bulk head and they come through into your cab and nearley knock you out every time you turn a corner.

What size are they? what van have you got them in? I know I cant fit any workable set of ladders in my van except teliscopic obviously.

Angry that you havent got a wilco or something mate!!!!

Hi Propole,
do i detect some jealousy?
I've got tripple 8ft ladders with wheels on the end to roll them up the wall (easier), literally hung on ladder brackets fitted inside my van which also has a bulkhead fitted inside a SWB Iveco Daily.
One of the reasons I bought the Daily is because some of my commercial work requires ladders for access so it's not possible for me to get away from ladders even though the majority of my work is WFP.
I can just get my ladders in the van horizontally with 1 inch to spare plus carry a 650 litre tank with comfort knowing I'm under the weight limit. The SWB Iveco Daily High Roof allows me to walk in without ducking my head to get all my poles in horizontally with ease and length of room. It's a bit heavy on diesel but very practical for work purposes and built like a tank. Because it's a short wheel base parking isn't too much of a problem.

[P®oPole™]

  jealousy thats what you have mate over my roofrack

Iveco Daily, if its a new one very nice Im impressed. Although I wouldnt drive a 650 around in a lorry, I wouldnt think twice to sit a 1000ltr thermo or pro7 in that.

I doubt its anything but new, if your website is anything to go by, your in no position to own a new but you know what they say "dont judge a book by its cover"

 : ::)8ft are you sure it goes straight in, the length of the van?


ProPole

[EasyClean]

hi Propole,
My van suits me fine with my ladders inside for easy convenience. My 650 litre tank is accompanied with an indirect boiler from a boat specialist which I installed to take the heat from the van's engine to heat my water by means of 2 heat exchangers. I appologise for the lack of style from my website if it appears very basic, I did it all myself and I'm no whizzkid with a computer. Fortunately for me I am very good at picking up new customers and have very good customer recommendations which beats all other media advertising. No one has ever shown me how to do anything or helped me before so until I found this window cleaning forum i had to figure everything out the hard way for myself. I have a lot of respect for you and several other members on this website and appreciate the bantem and also the help and ideas that are put on here.

[P®oPole™]

  my appologies Easy, the website is not that bad, better than not having one.

Same with me mate when I first started I had to work everything out for myself even everything I know about wfp I've learnt myself. I remember reading about your water heater thing did you set that up? you seem like quite a clever bloke mite I add, how exactly does that work, any pics?

ProPole

[EasyClean]

my appologies Easy, the website is not that bad, better than not having one.

Same with me mate when I first started I had to work everything out for myself even everything I know about wfp I've learnt myself. I remember reading about your water heater thing did you set that up? you seem like quite a clever bloke mite I add, how exactly does that work, any pics?

ProPole

I'm fortunate that I have an engineering background when it comes to metalwork as I'm skilled in all types of welding, fabricating, tinsmithing and blacksmithing. Basically if I can't buy it in the shops I can make it from the raw materials through time and effort.

Trouble is being a window cleaner with chronic arthritus I can never seem to find the time for anything nowadays as I'm always busy. I was up to 650 customers last month but have reduced down to 500 now in preparation for the winter!

Getting back to my water heater thing. Basically I've secured a 75 litre indirect boiler into my van with twin coils. One coil connected to the radiator on my van and the other one I intend to connect up to 2 solar water panels which I'll be mounting on the roof of my van. I also have a 2kw immersion heater element fitted inside the calorifier tank should I need additional heat (ie. large new clean the next day).

I manage to get sufficient heat through the heat exchanger in the calorifier tank during the day as a lot of my work is spread out because I tend to clean the larger properties and the ones you won't find on any maps as they are out in the countryside down little country lanes but well worth the time spent driving from location to location.

I've got my calorifier tank set up so that I can draw heat directly from it to my WFP equipment or I can circulate it around my tank whilst I'm driving along. I didn't have a clue about plumbing when I bought the calorifier tank but after many, many hours reading on the internet I figured it all out. 

I'm still learning things now and will never stop as I like a challenge. There's nothing better than being thrown in at the deep end to appreciate it all!
I can't send any photos as I've lost my camera somewhere but you're always welcome to come and have a look at my setup!