Which LWB van with a 4m load length do we think is the best?

What do we think/recommend folks for payload economy etc etc

Fiat Ducato for payload and fuel consumption, Citroen Relay/Peugeot Boxer for the same payload at a slightly lower price. Mercedes if you like driving fast. Ford Transit if you are short sighted, Movano if you don't like the French and a Crafter if you own your own oil well.

Is yours the Peugeot Boxer Andy? Explain re Transit lol.

Id say my sprinter lol

Mines the L3H2 Boxer so its only 3.7m internal, you need the L4 to get 4m. The advantage with that family of vans is the width between the wheel arches is over 1.4m. The Transit is as ugly as sin, it would help if you can't see properly.

We have a Renault Master with a 4.1 metre curtainside body on. Similar payload to a Sprinter /Crafter panel van.

I've driven all kinds of van and I prefer the sprinter myself

Totally agree about the new LDV sorry Transit my mistake. Isn't the payload quite reduced on the Sprinter though?

JH Logistics said:

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Totally agree about the new LDV sorry Transit my mistake. Isn't the payload quite reduced on the Sprinter though?

There a lot of arguement on the payload for sprinter, i keep mine to 1100kg myself

My sprinters payload is 1350kg but like to stick to around 1200kgs as we all know customers know there weights lol

A new LWB Sprinter has a payload of 1035 to 1129 kgs including 90% full tank, EC size driver (68kgs plus 7kg personal items) and tools, but no optional extras. Realistically 1000kgs is about it. The Citroen Relay has a theoretical payload of 1440 kgs but they give an 'in service' figure of 1290 kgs so I would say probably 1200-1250 kgs is a safe bet. Every other van comes between these two.

Took my Berlingo into Citroen last week for a service, while I was there I had a look at the Relay, looks a very good van.

The Enterprise is a great spec, I would have one but due to problems with arthritis in my left foot I am switching to automatic and Fiat is the only one in that family doing auto. I am waiting for a test drive and will get one on the 15 plate (probably).

I might have a closer look next year, thinking of up grading to bigger van.

Is that 68Kgs for a courier driver Andy. Who the ffffffffff weighs that almost a jockey innit

Oh no, its ride 'em cowboy time again, Phil

PHAX said:

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Is that 68Kgs for a courier driver Andy. Who the ffffffffff weighs that almost a jockey innit

LOL! Yeah that's what the manufacturers have convinced the EU an average van driver weighs. If they weighed me in with the van they'd assume that I'd ate the other driver.

Sprinter for driving comfort, Iveco for load length but uncomfortable driving position.

Iveco is rather agricultural in build quality compared to other vans don't you think?

Its not always about length, or what you can get between the arches. Its what you can do with it that matters.

JH Logistics said:

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Iveco is rather agricultural in build quality compared to other vans don't you think?

IVECO = In Vibration Everything Comes Off

I know someone who bought one as it was cheap... He certainly got what he paid for!

4.2m Sprinter on weighbridge with 3/4 tank of fuel somestraps and not much else weighed 2440 so in theory your load weight is below 1t People should put there hand in there pocket and the that big fiver and go on a weighbridge with all there day to day kit and themselves sat in van and weigh it then they now legally how much they can carry As for load length sprinter is better than transit due to bulkhead but find seat in transit better than sprinter cant comment others really except for the big citreon which i thought was rubbish allround

Depends on your wallet and aspirations really, i brought a sprinter knowing it would have rust issues but would last for 400,000 miles, thats parts are easy to come by and that it looks the part when touting for work, that it would do sod all to the gallon but would be comfortable to be in 12 hrs a day etc etc I wouldnt have an iveco as the build quality is ok if your a builder so dont mind things falling off. French are just french so either last forever or will drive you to dis-pear only and bankruptcy even quicker

Just changed from my fiat ducato to a sprinter - better drive - less rattles n bangs but holding my breath when it comes to fuel consumption

JH Logistics said:

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Iveco is rather agricultural in build quality compared to other vans don't you think?

Have you driven an Agricultural Tractor recently?

The GPS is accurate to 100 mm (4"). CVT (Continuously variable transmission) gearboxes.The JCB Fastrack has 4 wheel steer, 4 wheel suspension, a suspended cab and a suspension seat.

Had my sprinter on the weighbridge last week at a vosa checkpoint, and weighed in at a nice 2140kg with a full tank of diesel so payload is 1360kg

S & C Haulage Limited said:

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Had my sprinter on the weighbridge last week at a vosa checkpoint, and weighed in at a nice 2140kg with a full tank of diesel so payload is 1360kg

Which model is it?

Its a 02 plate 311 lwb as my profile pic

The newest 313cdi is 280kg heavier.

Id rather keep my mark 2, looks good, great on fuel and very reliable oh and not to mention it having a better payload.

A much better payload.

Hi Guys, I have just put 10,000 miles on a new Citroen Relay. I have previously run a Sprinter and a Transit. The Relay is much lighter than the Mercedes, and uses less fuel, especially empty. The Relay is similar to a MWB Sprinter in length but the wheelbase is longer. Combined with front wheel drive this gives it the turning circle similar to that of HMS Ark Royal. The brakes are absolutely awful, and then when the abs takes over you can forget about stopping any time soon. Above 50mph the handling becomes frightening , and above 70mph is terrifying. Going uphill, fully loaded, and cornering on a wet road, the front differential will try to kill you. The van is not six months old but on a cold morning is sounding a little sad. I have nearly knocked myself out head butting the over head shelf. The heater struggles to produce a warm breeze. It makes a deafening sound if you try to drive without a seat belt. It makes a deafening sound if you drive with the hand brake on. The handbrake needs two attempts to fully release it. It makes a deafening sound if you drive with a door open. It thinks the rear doors are open for a few yards every mile, even when you have slammed them ten times. The Relay costs almost half of a Sprinter, and that is because it is half the van the Panzer is.

Nightrider said:

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Hi Guys, I have just put 10,000 miles on a new Citroen Relay. I have previously run a Sprinter and a Transit. The Relay is much lighter than the Mercedes, and uses less fuel, especially empty. The Relay is similar to a MWB Sprinter in length but the wheelbase is longer. Combined with front wheel drive this gives it the turning circle similar to that of HMS Ark Royal. The brakes are absolutely awful, and then when the abs takes over you can forget about stopping any time soon. Above 50mph the handling becomes frightening , and above 70mph is terrifying. Going uphill, fully loaded, and cornering on a wet road, the front differential will try to kill you. The van is not six months old but on a cold morning is sounding a little sad. I have nearly knocked myself out head butting the over head shelf. The heater struggles to produce a warm breeze. It makes a deafening sound if you try to drive without a seat belt. It makes a deafening sound if you drive with the hand brake on. The handbrake needs two attempts to fully release it. It makes a deafening sound if you drive with a door open. It thinks the rear doors are open for a few yards every mile, even when you have slammed them ten times. The Relay costs almost half of a Sprinter, and that is because it is half the van the Panzer is.

Indeed, I was talking to a van driver earlier who's been told his Vito will be replaced with a Fiat. He wasn't happy. He asked the company how many of the 10 French LWBs they bought 3 years ago are still on the road. Answer: 3 or 4. He asked how many of the Sprinters they bought 6 years ago are still on the road. Answer: 6. His Vito was on 250k. Only thing wrong with it is it's getting a bit old (he wasn't a courier).

How many of the 6 Sprinters that should be.

JH Logistics said:

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What do we think/recommend folks for payload economy etc etc

Jon, another thing worth mentioning which I've said here before, is arrange for an extended test drive with the vans that make your shortlist. Add it to your insurance and use it for a couple of days to see what you think.

JRG Express said:

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JH Logistics said:

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What do we think/recommend folks for payload economy etc etc

Jon, another thing worth mentioning which I've said here before, is arrange for an extended test drive with the vans that make your shortlist. Add it to your insurance and use it for a couple of days to see what you think.

Good advice.

Nightrider said:

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Hi Guys, I have just put 10,000 miles on a new Citroen Relay. I have previously run a Sprinter and a Transit. The Relay is much lighter than the Mercedes, and uses less fuel, especially empty. The Relay is similar to a MWB Sprinter in length but the wheelbase is longer. Combined with front wheel drive this gives it the turning circle similar to that of HMS Ark Royal. The brakes are absolutely awful, and then when the abs takes over you can forget about stopping any time soon. Above 50mph the handling becomes frightening , and above 70mph is terrifying. Going uphill, fully loaded, and cornering on a wet road, the front differential will try to kill you. The van is not six months old but on a cold morning is sounding a little sad. I have nearly knocked myself out head butting the over head shelf. The heater struggles to produce a warm breeze. It makes a deafening sound if you try to drive without a seat belt. It makes a deafening sound if you drive with the hand brake on. The handbrake needs two attempts to fully release it. It makes a deafening sound if you drive with a door open. It thinks the rear doors are open for a few yards every mile, even when you have slammed them ten times. The Relay costs almost half of a Sprinter, and that is because it is half the van the Panzer is.

Just to add, the van came with a factory GPS, it was difficult to enter post codes, and then it would try to phone somewhere to find out the traffic and weather. I work in a very weak signal area, and it would then say it was unable to plot the route. I went through all the settings, and could not fix it. When it came loose I tried to adjust it, and the cheap crappy stand snapped. The handsfree bluetooth is unfathomable. The dashboard computer claims the oil level is low when it is full, and that my average speed is 0.0 mph. The range display varies by +/- 50 miles as you change gear and speed. The pillars behind the windscreen are about a foot wide, and combined with the wing mirrors this gives you a blind spot of about two feet. The factory under seat storage consists of a washing up bowl from poundland jammed under the drivers seat. The power socket turns off with the key, so you have to restart the gps 100 times a day. Altogether it is the worst van I have ever driven, including the Sherpa, and I would rather drive a Sprinter with 200,000 on the clock. OK, rant over, and relax...

Nightrider said:

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Nightrider said:

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Hi Guys, I have just put 10,000 miles on a new Citroen Relay. I have previously run a Sprinter and a Transit. The Relay is much lighter than the Mercedes, and uses less fuel, especially empty. The Relay is similar to a MWB Sprinter in length but the wheelbase is longer. Combined with front wheel drive this gives it the turning circle similar to that of HMS Ark Royal. The brakes are absolutely awful, and then when the abs takes over you can forget about stopping any time soon. Above 50mph the handling becomes frightening , and above 70mph is terrifying. Going uphill, fully loaded, and cornering on a wet road, the front differential will try to kill you. The van is not six months old but on a cold morning is sounding a little sad. I have nearly knocked myself out head butting the over head shelf. The heater struggles to produce a warm breeze. It makes a deafening sound if you try to drive without a seat belt. It makes a deafening sound if you drive with the hand brake on. The handbrake needs two attempts to fully release it. It makes a deafening sound if you drive with a door open. It thinks the rear doors are open for a few yards every mile, even when you have slammed them ten times. The Relay costs almost half of a Sprinter, and that is because it is half the van the Panzer is.

Just to add, the van came with a factory GPS, it was difficult to enter post codes, and then it would try to phone somewhere to find out the traffic and weather. I work in a very weak signal area, and it would then say it was unable to plot the route. I went through all the settings, and could not fix it. When it came loose I tried to adjust it, and the cheap crappy stand snapped. The handsfree bluetooth is unfathomable. The dashboard computer claims the oil level is low when it is full, and that my average speed is 0.0 mph. The range display varies by +/- 50 miles as you change gear and speed. The pillars behind the windscreen are about a foot wide, and combined with the wing mirrors this gives you a blind spot of about two feet. The factory under seat storage consists of a washing up bowl from poundland jammed under the drivers seat. The power socket turns off with the key, so you have to restart the gps 100 times a day. Altogether it is the worst van I have ever driven, including the Sherpa, and I would rather drive a Sprinter with 200,000 on the clock. OK, rant over, and relax...

Yeah, yeah but what do you really think?

Which all goes to prove... One mans meat is another mans poison.

I had nothing but trouble with one sprinter I bought, and lost a fortune on it! Have had a few on long term lease, and I do not like them! Also they rust like hell! Same with a Renault Master [my fault as I bought a tiptronic, big mistake as dealers could not fix it after it packed up, just as the 60K warranty ran out] lost a fortune again. Great van to drive though, and would consider a manual version again.

Ford Transit, probably worst van I ever bought. Major engine failure after

Nightrider said:

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Hi Guys, I have just put 10,000 miles on a new Citroen Relay. I have previously run a Sprinter and a Transit. The Relay is much lighter than the Mercedes, and uses less fuel, especially empty. The Relay is similar to a MWB Sprinter in length but the wheelbase is longer. Combined with front wheel drive this gives it the turning circle similar to that of HMS Ark Royal. The brakes are absolutely awful, and then when the abs takes over you can forget about stopping any time soon. Above 50mph the handling becomes frightening , and above 70mph is terrifying. Going uphill, fully loaded, and cornering on a wet road, the front differential will try to kill you. The van is not six months old but on a cold morning is sounding a little sad. I have nearly knocked myself out head butting the over head shelf. The heater struggles to produce a warm breeze. It makes a deafening sound if you try to drive without a seat belt. It makes a deafening sound if you drive with the hand brake on. The handbrake needs two attempts to fully release it. It makes a deafening sound if you drive with a door open. It thinks the rear doors are open for a few yards every mile, even when you have slammed them ten times. The Relay costs almost half of a Sprinter, and that is because it is half the van the Panzer is.

Oddly yesterday i was pulled up somewhere ( lights or roundabout waiting ) and i heard a clunking noise and thought here we go its going to die in bloody traffic, however i couldnt feel any vibration so thought odd and im doing the twisting head thing trying to suss whats happening . I worked out the fault which turned out to be a relay curtain side was along side and i could hear the skeleton shagging in a dustbin effect from his engine over mine ! Someone said transits , my experience is zero on the latest except to say the release of the LWB has apparently been delayed due to elec issues ,,,, thats a great start . The previous model was nothing special and broke alot , The one before was even worse and dont mention a clutch or that bloody oil seal to a transit owner unless you want to see tears or blood. Its a shame really as the one previous and all subsequent years were tough old things that could be abused to within a inch of its life and even when broken would still manage to somehow limp home

For some reason only half of what I wrote posted. but suffice to say that what suits one will not suit all.

Best van we have had is the Fiat Ducato, experienced nothing like 'Nightrider' mentioned with the Citroen. 3 years warranty [2 years UNLIMITED mileage] 30k service intervals. Handles superbly, takes well over a ton in weight, comfortable and pulls like a train, [130ps, HD uprated suspension model] Only problem was a 2 min dealer fix when warning 'open rear door' light came on.

Whilst on vans subject best small van seems to be our little Peugeot Bipper, now 4 years old, over 300k miles and drives as it was when new.

RAPID LIGHT TRANSPORT LTD. said:

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Which all goes to prove... One mans meat is another mans poison.

This is true.

Also they rust like hell!

The new ones shouldn't be so bad Mercedes have finally anti corrosion treating the panels. Whether we'll see 64 plate sprinters on the road in 10 to 15 years time though may now be due to horrendously expensive computer/electronic repairs.

JRG Express said:

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RAPID LIGHT TRANSPORT LTD. said:

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Which all goes to prove... One mans meat is another mans poison.

This is true.

Also they rust like hell!

The new ones shouldn't be so bad Mercedes have finally anti corrosion treating the panels. Whether we'll see 64 plate sprinters on the road in 10 to 15 years time though may now be due to horrendously expensive computer/electronic repairs.

Ffs I spent ages typing that message with space not working properly cause the text box doesn't work right. Loads of words missing now.

Mtvan please fix android support its one of the reasons I drift away from this site. I had to type this on another app and copy paste