Best van for courier work?

i am trying to find out who thinks the best van is and if we can come to an agreement to which van is best

i personally think 4m sprinter newish one

What you really need is a Tardis, it holds more than a van and can arrive before it has set off.

Personally I use a LWB Boxer as I can't see the point of paying for a badge and any van is only as good as it's maintenance.

By the way you will never get people to agree which van is best.

A tardis is good lol i hadn't considered that

This all depends on what your customer wants. I know some companies that only have work for small vans and others that only need larger vans, so to be fair it's all depends on your customer.

Very good answer elscl

On a personal note, i have just changed to a 4m sprinter because i get more work from my end user customers more than the small van, so now i don't don't have the hassle of trying to find someone to cover this work for me as much, but it is a bit of a gamble. However i do have a good bunch of vendors that i do work for who have all been notified of the change and hopefully the gamble will pay off in time

Business is all about gamble sometimes u make it sometimes it wasnt quite right hope your a winner ELSCL

My main customer wanted a van that could take 3.5m lengths so in that sense the decision was made for me, I opted for the lower capital cost route with the Boxer notwithstanding the fact that per mile operating costs seem to be the same for most large vans.

GET A CAR

Explain why you think a car is best AJM

24h limited said:

---

Explain why you think a car is best AJM

I can use it when I go on holiday, I go to church in it, I use it for shopping, I use it for courier work and I use it for taxi work and it's not white.

Very good point , there isnt much work for cars really, maybe i am wrong

24h limited said:

---

Very good point , there isnt much work for cars really, maybe i am wrong

Plenty of car work on here, but i think that is for another discussion altogether lol

Yeah there is a bit of a "thing" about it all isnt there

Damn! We nearly got through a topic without mentioning the dreaded cars!

Lol andy

Its all a gamble really.

I have a guy in an LWB who covers small van work in it as well. Is it financially viable? Depends how you work it. If you get a small van you can't do big van work, but if most of the stuff you do is for small vans then so what. With the best will in the world you can't cover everything, that's what exchange sites are here for.

The biggest gamble tho, is using a car that ain't insured properly

Yup cars are targeted alot by police i would of thought

I asked my local garage. Quote - LDV back breaker cheap and cheerful. Vauxhall probs with drive shafts and steering boxes. Mercedes can be expensive on some parts. The rest about the same. Opted for a Renault Master lwb good payload. I can also quote for mwb loads if required. If not buying new make sure you have full service history. Un quote.

Size isn't everything - or so the story goes. Personally I am only interested in the price, I once delivered a box that sat on my LWB Boxer's passenger seat but it paid £1 a mile.

Makes sense andy if client is willing to pay then take it

Speed Couriers Nationwide Ltd said:

---

Its all a gamble really.

I have a guy in an LWB who covers small van work in it as well. Is it financially viable? Depends how you work it. If you get a small van you can't do big van work, but if most of the stuff you do is for small vans then so what. With the best will in the world you can't cover everything, that's what exchange sites are here for.

The biggest gamble tho, is using a car that ain't insured properly

I see your point rob. I have seen a fair few that actually do small van work as well as the bigger stuff in there sprinters. I suppose it beats sitting at home quoting on work that you probably won't get anyway because they want it done for peanuts. I also do know some do small van jobs just to get out on the road and hopefully pick other work up once that's done. As you say, its a gamble, but then again so is life every time you get in your van

I delivered a large envelope for Royal Mail Sameday in a lwb into London W1. I told them it would have to be a large van rate. They agreed. I later found out that they had charged the customer £2.20 pplm.

Saddlebow Deliveries said:

---

I delivered a large envelope for Royal Mail Sameday in a lwb into London W1. I told them it would have to be a large van rate. They agreed. I later found out that they had charged the customer £2.20 pplm.

Matters NOT what they charged! All that does matter is you get what you want, if not don't do it!

Have a 57 plate Combo 2000 1.7cdti. 235k on the clock! Will carry 625kg 50+mpg if your careful. Drives like a car. Dare I say it has never let me down! But seat is uncomfortable!

Is a Tardis as I often get more in than I think will fit.

Ought to point out the diff sounds like a bag of nails, rad fan isn't working so have to open windows with heater on full blast in traffic, and one of the rear disc back plates has rusted away. Any buyers?

If I need to buy a small van I would get another!

Have been thinking that 95% of the work I do would fit in an estate and at 65mpg for a volvo v40 those nice comfy seats are appealing!