First arb vehicle - van or truck? New or used? Buy or lease?

[padman]

I used to lease all my vehicles with full maintenance in my old business. I knew then every month the cost of that vehicle whatever happened. I also then knew what I had to turn over each month to cover my all costs, wages etc.. FOR ME that was good. No hidden expenses.

 

Need a bigger van now so may go down that route again.

[doobin]

chances are if you are just starting out you will have time on your hands, if the truck breaks down you just have to push the job on a few days- helps if your handy with mechanics.

 

 

This. A pound saved is as good as a pound earned

 

Finance on new is all very well but you have to be honest with yourself re the actual cost in depreciation. Sometimes it's negligible, sometimes less so.

 

I doubt the OP, just starting up, is in a position to afford finance on new either.

 

Like Matt says, everything's a gamble. My LDV is faultless. My Berlingo less so.

[onyx landscaping/fencing]

personaly I think that new is a waste of money unless you have a massive turnover. my first movano I paid £3400 for just under 2 years ago its on a 56 plate and a tipper. in that time I have MOT'd it twice and it dose 30k+ miles/year all in it has had just over £800 spent on it in that time. my seconed movano we have had for just under a year its a 54 plate drop bed that we paid £1700 for it dose 25k+/ year and the only thing it has needed is a pair of tyers. both of these vans have earned there money time and time again

[njc110381]

I'd never buy a brand new truck. Good used with a decent history is the way to go. If you go out and spend £20k on a new one it'll be worth £10k in a couple of years. If you buy something used that costs five grand per year to keep on the road, you're very unlucky indeed! I've had my Ranger for four years now. It cost me £5k and I've spent another £1000 in servicing/repairs until recently. After that time it's just handed me a £500 bill for a bit of work that needed doing, but that's no big deal.

[Owen Green]

Another vote for an old truck here, got my ldv a couple of years ago for £1500, with a tool locker and high sides, needed kingpins and a bit of welding, and it hasn't cost me anything in repairs since aside from a new battery!

[Goaty]

I,m with goaty, on my second Partner (berlingo in disguise) , use it for small jobs, towing grinder, jobs where I only need tools, pricing etc. Also have a tipper transit but little van is sound.

Started out with astramax and trailer and its true, with practice you can get a serious amount on a 8' trailer. Personaly I dont like mesh sides, instead I had alloy scaff poles x3 on either side, makes loading easier amd lift poles out to roll load of the side.

 

hook a couple of ropes on to the tie hooks on one side, lay ropes over trailer bed, load trailer and leave rest of rope on top of load.

At tip take poles out one side where the ropes are hooked on , get hold of ropes and pull. load rolls over the side.

 

Blooming heck we are the same. I use a similar idea. Except I wrap the load with the straps laid underneath, then put a couple more over the load on the trailer securing hooks.I thought I invented it. Also I stab the "Bale" with fork tines on loader and just stack to the side in yard to keep it tidy. Dread to think of the weight sometimes. It takes a bit more time and care loading but saves fuel and traveling time.

[Old Mill Tree Care]

I won't buy used again.

I won't buy new either.

Next time I'll get new stuff on finance.

It works out best financially if you look at all the tax benefits.

Just stick with the same brand so that you can transfer the chip box. Simple.

[Shipwrecked Bones]

I have read all of your comments, so much great advice from everyone! I'm gonna keep snooping around for a good deal on something!

 

[Homegrown]

I have read all of your comments, so much great advice from everyone! I'm gonna keep snooping around for a good deal on something!

 

 

We have a 14 year old double cab transit with MOT for sale. It's very tatty but been reliable, just used as a site truck these last few years 133k miles done must be worht around 400 quid as a doer up.

[Billy]

Get a tidy old tipper for around £1k, you don't need anything more. Save the rest or spend it on tools/chipper etc