Time to make the change into a van

[dazwalsh]

Hi guys, so my POS ford focus estate is on its last legs and isn't really cut out for the abuse I give it so its time to venture into the world of VAAAAAANNNS

So I need it to have 3 seats for when I drop the two little ones off at school, and to be able to load 3 meter lengths of copper/wood etc but I don't want a stupidly huge thing.

SO im looking at the Dispatch/expert/transit custom sort of size and was wondering what other PH's thought of their vans in this size and what to avoid and what essentials it needs.

Also whats with the ply lining? is that literally to protect the metal or does it help drown out clattering of stuff etc?

Thanks in advance

Van newbie

[A500leroy]

Transit connect with a rear seat conversion?
If not a vw transporter

[ruff'n'smov]

Get a crew cab Vivvy with a rack on for the 3mtr stuff.

Love mine the last 2 ...never let me down.

[LouD86]

Van Dealer, hope I can help

3 metre length, so 9ft9 from memory? A standard wheelbase Expert etc won't get them in, without taking the bulkhead out, unless you have the pipe tube into the cab. They don't all have this mind.

If you only need 3 seats max, Im thinking a rear seat conversion is pointless. A well maintained, 2 litre DCi Trafic/Primastar/Vivaro LWB will do the job you want brilliantly, will return an avg of 35mpg, and with a bulkhead in are quite quiet. Nice vans.

Any questions you have, feel free to PM me, ill try and help! Im not toting for business, just rather help a PH'er out with any advice you need

[magooagain]

Ply lining is a good thing. If anything falls over while driving you could end up with a nasty outward dent.

[bakerstreet]

If you have the cash, then a Transit Custom is worth a look. One of the best interiors for a van IMO

Also, the traffic/vivaro is wort a look, but the interior is pretty dated compared to the transit custom.

[VEX]

Saw the new Vaxh/Renault/Nissan Vivario/Traffic thing on the road last month, so ugly compared to the Transit Custom. Not a major change from the outgoing model, just more angular at the front and almost identical at the rear.

Not impressed tbh when compared to the complete style change of the custom.

V.

[ruff'n'smov]

LouD86 said:

Van Dealer, hope I can help

3 metre length, so 9ft9 from memory? A standard wheelbase Expert etc won't get them in, without taking the bulkhead out, unless you have the pipe tube into the cab. They don't all have this mind.

If you only need 3 seats max, Im thinking a rear seat conversion is pointless. A well maintained, 2 litre DCi Trafic/Primastar/Vivaro LWB will do the job you want brilliantly, will return an avg of 35mpg, and with a bulkhead in are quite quiet. Nice vans.

Any questions you have, feel free to PM me, ill try and help! Im not toting for business, just rather help a PH'er out with any advice you need

A Vivvy LWB won't get 3m in it unless no bulkhead it's a 2.85 floor.and with no bulkhead it's a noisy old bugger