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Adam P

  • Posts: 1448
small van needed - opinions
« on: February 25, 2010, 12:14:11 am »
as some may remember i'm thinking of one day adding carpet cleaning to the list of services i offer myself. i know many have different opinions on me doing this but that's for another thread so if you wish to talk about that, can you try and post it there.

this thread is hopefully for peoples thoughts on the size of van we are looking at one day buying. we are looking at vans like kangoo, partner, berlingo, connect etc, as they seem fairly decent size for us as well as at a price we like.

we looked at a partner the other day which had an extra row of seats which could easily be taken out and also folded, allowing 5 staff to be driving around, and the full space in the boot when needed so ideal for us.

as we haven't started carpet cleaning yet it's hard to know how much space we are going to need and how future proof the van will be. we are thinking of a portable machine like ashbyes ninja.

although we will be carpet cleaning, this machine wont always be with us, so only taken as and when needed, and then stored in house so more secure. because of this we are thinking instead of getting a van, we could instead get a van car (not sure on a better way to describe it) like a renault kangoo. this'll give us cheaper insurance, though more expensive petrol, and be automatic which is prefered as then my partner then can also drive it. i am yet to see one but what are peoples views on using a car for this? i'm concerned that we will get less storage space in an already small van, less advertising (though perhaps fixed with window adverts), and less security (but perhaps not an issue as machine will be stored inside when not in use).

i'd appreciate any advice on not only the choice of style of vehicle, but also opinions on the vehicle, if they are known as being unreliable, expensive to fix, etc.

many thanks

AJB

  • Posts: 781
Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #1 on: February 25, 2010, 08:20:00 am »
Because of the size of the wand, you won't be able to use
an extra row of seats, you will need to lose one of them.
The machine will probably fit in, but you also need chem's
hoses and various other paraphenalia.
In my Synergie one of the middle row of seats is folded
forwards to allow the wand in.
www.ajbcarpetcleaning.co.uk
At the end of the day a Satisfied Customer is all that counts, They'll come back and so will their friends!!!

derek west

Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #2 on: February 25, 2010, 08:38:45 am »
carpet cleaning machine, hoses, wand, stair tool, upholstery tool, grooming brush, snail blower, bucket, array of chems, spotter kit, terry towels, floor sheets, array of small brushes, rotary machine, bonnets, hoover, agitater, Have i missed anything?

in a car?????????????????????????

Get real.



robert meldrum

  • Posts: 1984
Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #3 on: February 25, 2010, 08:47:00 am »
Derek

It's a case of trying to carry an army of people around for existing house cleaning and include carpet cleaning without adding another vehicle..................the implications are obvious to people who've been there and tried it.............but he's not listening.

I had a business 25 years ago which required teams of cleaners to be transported around. Carpet cleaning was added but an additional vehicle was used otherwise it would never have happened.


derek west

Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2010, 08:53:11 am »
simple answer then

trailer.

sorted

don't mention it.

NEXT! ;D


james roffey

Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2010, 08:59:41 am »
I have a citroen dispatch and love it  :)
Sliding doors both sides so good access and space i only run a portable but even with this 50 ft hoses, chemicals, fan, vac,envirodri  etc it only just fits :P
How anyone can use a car is beyond me ??? even a smaller van it would be a pain you would have to stack the stuff.

Griffus

  • Posts: 1942
Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2010, 02:55:57 pm »
We've just added a Citroen Dispatch. The main reason being was the three seats in the front (albeit tight) and plenty of load space in the back.

Carried out an EOT a few weeks back, including carpets. This followed a builders clean miles away.

It was a longish day but carried the three of us and all gear comfortably.

I have since divided the rear load space using ply making the area much more usable. Apart from the larger jobs where staff numbers are what count, I can't think of anything we do that this couldn't cope with.


Adam P

  • Posts: 1448
Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2010, 03:50:44 pm »
carpet cleaning machine, hoses, wand, stair tool, upholstery tool, grooming brush, snail blower, bucket, array of chems, spotter kit, terry towels, floor sheets, array of small brushes, rotary machine, bonnets, hoover, agitater, Have i missed anything?

in a car?????????????????????????

Get real.

atm we have vacuums, a steam cleaner machine, loads of chemicals, cloths, mops, buckets, uniform, paper work, a variety of tools, and 4 cleaners in a nissan micra. if that works there is a good chance that we can also fit a portable carpet cleaner machine with the minimum requirements in a small van/car like the renault kangoo.

Derek

It's a case of trying to carry an army of people around for existing house cleaning and include carpet cleaning without adding another vehicle..................the implications are obvious to people who've been there and tried it.............but he's not listening.



i think it's a case of you not listening :) the vehicle will carry an army of people around, and then when needed, fold the seats up giving a much larger boot to carry the carpet cleaning machine. simples.

i think the trailer idea is good but iirc my license doesn't allow for trailers.

Joe H

Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2010, 04:20:58 pm »
I think the 4 makes of vehicles you mentioned are good vans and should prove reliable and not overly expensive to run.

However, my opinion is you need some sort of restraining device separating all that loose equipment from the passenger area - be it just the standard seating in the front or if there is a second row of seats. If the 2nd row are removable/foldable then this becomes difficult.
I wouldnt loke to be in a vehicle packed with loose heavy objects if there was a crash. In such an event, even light things like a bucket hit with a great force.
You have a responsibility.

I would get a decent size van made for the job of carrying a crew and people.
Something like a transit or vivaro size.

You are in business - these vehicles are tools of your business.

derek west

Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2010, 04:27:30 pm »
sounds like someone is underestimating carpet cleaning, good luck and i do hope the inferior job you do of the carpets without the necassary extras that are paramount to doing a good job, doesn't bring down the other side of your, (what looks like) a very successful general cleaning business.

CarPete Cleaning

  • Posts: 196
Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #10 on: February 25, 2010, 05:05:03 pm »
I have a Peugeot Partner van and find it a little small for all my carpet cleaning gear.  I have to be very organised and only have on the van what I need for that particular day.  Wish I had bought something a little larger, maybe a despatch or expert.
Hope this helps.
Pete
Pete Callis
Affordable Quality
www.carpetecleaning.com
NCCA m2102

suffolkclean

  • Posts: 908
Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #11 on: February 25, 2010, 05:13:18 pm »
You are looking for a vehicle that can carry a crew of cleaners + the carpet cleaning gear as well as all the general cleaning gear maybe you should go for your HGV License!!

As I already said in a previous post you will need 2 vehicles to do this!! As we do at the moment:-
Cleaners in 1 car with large boot full of buckets, vacuums, cleaning cloths & chemicals = YOUR 5 CLEANERS
Another Vehicle = VAN Full of all the carpet cleaning gear.

Barbara

Adam P

  • Posts: 1448
Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2010, 05:28:58 pm »
You are looking for a vehicle that can carry a crew of cleaners + the carpet cleaning gear as well as all the general cleaning gear maybe you should go for your HGV License!!

incorrect. we are looking for a vehicle that can carry a crew of cleaners, then another day just a carpet cleaning machine and all the gear, hence the reason we'd take out/fold the seats.

I have a Peugeot Partner van and find it a little small for all my carpet cleaning gear.  I have to be very organised and only have on the van what I need for that particular day.  Wish I had bought something a little larger, maybe a despatch or expert.
Hope this helps.
Pete

it certainly does help. looks like i may need a bigger van, or saying that we can just split the equipment into 2 vehicles if it was ever needed. definitely something to think about.

sounds like someone is underestimating carpet cleaning, good luck and i do hope the inferior job you do of the carpets without the necassary extras that are paramount to doing a good job, doesn't bring down the other side of your, (what looks like) a very successful general cleaning business.

are you suggesting that CarPete Cleaning does an inferior job to you because of his van? a well organised van should be able to hold a hell of a lot, as does our nissan micra when it's organised.

i think the best bet is if we can wait long enough we should look at the carpet cleaning machines and then get a van after that so that we are better informed. something like a kangoo does seem ideal for us as they come in 2 types, the car type and the van type, so we could get both and have a fleet of vehicles all matching :)

derek west

Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #13 on: February 25, 2010, 05:35:35 pm »
i know pete well, top man with the right equipment to do a proper job, ask him if he just has a carpet cleaning machine. you need all the accessories including an agitater, a rotary, these 2 machines alone will take up the same room as the carpet cleaning machine. tryin to help here chief but sounds like i may aswell leave ya too it as i'm not saying what you wanna hear. good luck fella.

Adam P

  • Posts: 1448
Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #14 on: February 25, 2010, 05:42:58 pm »
i know pete well, top man with the right equipment to do a proper job, ask him if he just has a carpet cleaning machine. you need all the accessories including an agitater, a rotary, these 2 machines alone will take up the same room as the carpet cleaning machine. tryin to help here chief but sounds like i may aswell leave ya too it as i'm not saying what you wanna hear. good luck fella.

that's correct, i want to hear useful advice, not "get real" "NEXT QUESTION", "you'll be doing an inferior job" as this advice is useless to a newbie to carpet cleaning. i'm asking for useful advice that i can use, like what pete has given, like what joe has given, and pretty much everyone else, i can now use that advice so that when i come to a decision i'm better informed. when i think of your advise it all seems very unhelpful, in fact rather rude. imo it's you who isn't hearing what they want to hear so you're leaving. just my opinion of course, but there is some great helpful people here, then some people who appear to have been in the business far too long that they no longer appreciate what it's like for someone trying to get into it.

derek west

Re: small van needed - opinions
« Reply #15 on: February 25, 2010, 05:46:04 pm »
1 year and 8 months.
leave ya to it, again good luck