It died

[AHPP]

.

 

 

[topchippyles]

2 hours ago, Moose McAlpine said:

 

My preference is Sprinters. I have a 2015 one now, and have had 2 before, and an original Crafter (Sprinter in drag) before that. Had a beautiful 2013 Sprinter 313, never a single issue with it. Joint second choice i'd have a newer Transit or Crafter. (Transit's probably better than a Crafter in price and base spec, but can feel a little flimsy.)

 

The newer Renault Masters decent vans, don't have too many of them with issues. They're actually a nice van to drive, but they do have a horrendous cruise liner-esque turning circle.

 

Wish i never sold this one:

 

 

Current workhorse:

 

One million percent agree superb vans and trucks. Pricey on certain parts compared to transits ect but bomb proof built. All the tesco/asda/argos/iceland delivery vehicles are merc sprinters and most ambulances around the uk because they are the best.

[AHPP]

 

What kind of van do you need, what price range, and how involved do you get with machanical stuff?

Panel, box, maybe chassis cab. Confident on servicing, brakes (including new pipes etc). Can change suspension, driveshafts, CVs etc. Never done one but I could do a clutch, gearbox or engine swap. Pulling injectors would make me nervous.

[Moose McAlpine]

8 hours ago, AHPP said:

Panel, box, maybe chassis cab. Confident on servicing, brakes (including new pipes etc). Can change suspension, driveshafts, CVs etc. Never done one but I could do a clutch, gearbox or engine swap. Pulling injectors would make me nervous.

 

All in all a Transit or Iveco is probably your best bet in that price range. Transits aren't without their faults but are generally quite easy to maintain. Even the timing chain is relatively straight forward and the whole front comes off quite easy if you want full unhindered access.

 

I used to do them with only the fan and shroud removed and it's not difficult if you're fairly capable. They use normal (non-self-adjusting) clutches and external slave cylinders so clutch replacement is quite simple. They do quite like a front coil spring, which is a miserable job and bottom ball joints which aren't too bad. Front wheel bearings/brake discs are always an experience and may be better left to a garage. The 2.4 Ford engines rarely have injector issues and the injectors come out easy.

 

Mechanically the Ivecos are more robust. They generally don't have engine issues. The 2.3 is torquey, much like the 2.4 Transits. The 3.0 is a beast. If you can find one in good nick it may have an edge over the Transit as they have such a solid chassis and running gear. They do drive nicely and often have a 7t train weight. Proper ladder chassis is good for having a chassis cab adapted to your needs. Ivecos carry weight well, probably better than Transits do. Just bear in mind they can have issues with electrics/wiring and you may need a good garage who do commercials mostly if it needs diagnostics.

 

Early Crafter could be a good option, Sprinter chassis with a VW engine. The 2.5 is another good torquey engine, pretty solid. An issue is that it's all Merc electrics with a VW engine and VW engine management. Can make diagnostics awkward. Some engine parts are VW-only, while chassis parts are generally cheaper from Merc. 

 

If it's for tree surgery i'd avoid the Renault Masters. Decent vans, generally reliable. A 5k one will probably be pretty worn out. Turning circle's enormous, tractions awful, they don't carry weight well. Councils love them, they're fine bumping up kerbs and collecting bags of leaves. They're not much good overloaded with chip.

 

You can get a Sprinter for 5k. But a 5k Transit or Iveco will undoubtedly be better than a 5k Sprinter.

[AHPP]

 
All in all a Transit or Iveco is probably your best bet in that price range. Transits aren't without their faults but are generally quite easy to maintain. Even the timing chain is relatively straight forward and the whole front comes off quite easy if you want full unhindered access.
 
I used to do them with only the fan and shroud removed and it's not difficult if you're fairly capable. They use normal (non-self-adjusting) clutches and external slave cylinders so clutch replacement is quite simple. They do quite like a front coil spring, which is a miserable job and bottom ball joints which aren't too bad. Front wheel bearings/brake discs are always an experience and may be better left to a garage. The 2.4 Ford engines rarely have injector issues and the injectors come out easy.
 
Mechanically the Ivecos are more robust. They generally don't have engine issues. The 2.3 is torquey, much like the 2.4 Transits. The 3.0 is a beast. If you can find one in good nick it may have an edge over the Transit as they have such a solid chassis and running gear. They do drive nicely and often have a 7t train weight. Proper ladder chassis is good for having a chassis cab adapted to your needs. Ivecos carry weight well, probably better than Transits do. Just bear in mind they can have issues with electrics/wiring and you may need a good garage who do commercials mostly if it needs diagnostics.
 
Early Crafter could be a good option, Sprinter chassis with a VW engine. The 2.5 is another good torquey engine, pretty solid. An issue is that it's all Merc electrics with a VW engine and VW engine management. Can make diagnostics awkward. Some engine parts are VW-only, while chassis parts are generally cheaper from Merc. 
 
If it's for tree surgery i'd avoid the Renault Masters. Decent vans, generally reliable. A 5k one will probably be pretty worn out. Turning circle's enormous, tractions awful, they don't carry weight well. Councils love them, they're fine bumping up kerbs and collecting bags of leaves. They're not much good overloaded with chip.
 
You can get a Sprinter for 5k. But a 5k Transit or Iveco will undoubtedly be better than a 5k Sprinter.

Very helpful. Thanks. Which are the best of the mini lorries like the Cabstar?

[Moose McAlpine]

Just now, AHPP said:

Very helpful. Thanks. Which are the best of the mini lorries like the Cabstar?

 

They're all miserable hateful things that will consume your will to live and destroy your spine.

 

(But probably the Canter.)

[AHPP]

 
They're all miserable hateful things that will consume your will to live and destroy your spine.
 
(But probably the Canter.)

Still on the subject of old/cheap ones, how are the mini lorries for getting through MOTs for things like rust? Panel vans can be bad for corrosion within 30 cm of a prescribed area.

[Will C]

On 31/01/2022 at 21:43, Moose McAlpine said:

 

My preference is Sprinters. I have a 2015 one now, and have had 2 before, and an original Crafter (Sprinter in drag) before that. Had a beautiful 2013 Sprinter 313, never a single issue with it. Joint second choice i'd have a newer Transit or Crafter. (Transit's probably better than a Crafter in price and base spec, but can feel a little flimsy.)

 

The newer Renault Masters decent vans, don't have too many of them with issues. They're actually a nice van to drive, but they do have a horrendous cruise liner-esque turning circle.

 

Wish i never sold this one:

 

 

Current workhorse:

 

Sod the vans show us more of the 356 in the last pic 😎

[eggsarascal]

On 31/01/2022 at 18:50, Moose McAlpine said:

 

I wouldn't buy a Ducato/Boxer/Relay.

 

Awful things, crap build quality, crap clutch pedal, crap to drive, awful design and ergonomics, flimsy, etc.

 

Go out to loads of them at work. 

They are base vehicles for many top end converters, I had a Merc 45 (work van) many years back, it spent more time in the workshop than it spent on the road. 

 

Luck of the draw me thinks.

[Moose McAlpine]

43 minutes ago, eggsarascal said:

They are base vehicles for many top end converters.

 

They are, for a number of reasons. Mostly being front wheel drive, and that you can buy one that's just the cab and about 12" of chassis behind it, so easy for the conversion with a low floor.

 

They're still shite vans though.