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Rescue01

Member Since: 17 Jul 2015
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 105

New van for work advice

I’m currently using my 110 Hartop for my gardening business but think a van would be better for transporting my Mowers,Chipper and now Log Splitter.

I have been out the motor trade for over twenty five years so I’ve not been keeping up to date with stuff

I’m thinking of potentially a Citreon Dispatch but the bigger size of say a Renault traffic might be better.

I know that Citreon and Peugeot share the same platforms.Transits are probably out due to costs.Im looking for a reliable vehicle and aren’t sure what’s problems are going around,I know wet belts are a issue with lack of servicing.It will be second hand and around the £17K max mark.

What’s people experiences??

Thanks.

17th Apr 2025 4:24pm

revd

Member Since: 20 Apr 2024
Location: England
Posts: 236

My lad has a Nissan Interstar (-Renault Master Clone) decent turn of speed -2.3 TD, big advantage over Transit class is the ability to stand up inside and far more room up front for a comfortable seating position

17th Apr 2025 5:59pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20754

MAN and Iveco might be worth a look, I’m not sure what they are like but just a suggestion.
They tend to be larger.

Have you ever thought of a box trailer? WeWillWin🇬🇧🇺🇸
⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪

17th Apr 2025 8:03pm

Ianh

Member Since: 17 Sep 2018
Location: Essex
Posts: 2269

It’s not regular servicing that’s the main issue with wet belts.

The issue is that wet belts are an engineering abomination that are an obviously stupid thing to do unless you want to dramatically shorten the life of the engine!

My advice is to avoid any vehicle with an engine that has a wet belt.

17th Apr 2025 9:11pm

Rescue01

Member Since: 17 Jul 2015
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 105

Thanks chaps. I’m looking for folks experience in running some of these vehicles and what engine types have known issues to look out for.

I already have a decent trailer but some jobs can be a pain to bring a trailer.

18th Apr 2025 5:15am

RobKeay

Member Since: 19 Jul 2009
Location: Stafford
Posts: 1596

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey

All vans have their ups and downs. The fords do drive the best. The sprinter vans give us the least amount of trouble. Bodies do rust abit, but that can be sorted cheaper than a new engine. One of our sprinters has 160k miles on it and is great still.

Just had an id buzz that’s great but no good for van for everything.

So we are tree surgeons and also a team of grounds maintenance. Tree work we have a few sprinter tippers and one transit tipper. Maintenance two customs one with over 100k miles and another new plus the id buzz. I’d recommend these over the French or Vauxhall they just simply drive better.

We have had a ford engine go bang but fortunately they even get good money with a knackered engine.

18th Apr 2025 11:49am

Rescue01

Member Since: 17 Jul 2015
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 105

Thanks Rob

18th Apr 2025 6:09pm

GAT

Member Since: 20 Apr 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 120

Hi, long time since our days in the dessert

I’ve run Sprinters X2, Transits X3 and Crafters X3 within my own business over the last 15 years and before that driven various Transits and French vans over the years for companies vans.

As has been said they can all have there issues. My personal choice would be the VW crafter followed closely by the Sprinter. Steer as far clear from Ford as possible!

I loved the Crafter so much as my daily work van I bought one for my camper conversion in exactly the same spec.

Click image to enlarge First Edition 90 in Pangea Green. (Gone)
P400 110 in Tasman Blue.

18th Apr 2025 11:54pm

Rescue01

Member Since: 17 Jul 2015
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 105

Thanks for that mate. I have just replied to you over on the other site

Don’t worry what happened in the desert 🐪 stays there

19th Apr 2025 7:11am

Oldyellar

Member Since: 04 Sep 2015
Location: Central
Posts: 411

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey

Transit is the best of a bad bunch! For 17k, that will get you in a 22ish Transit with a wet belt that you should change straight away then oil every 5k after and you will be OK.

19th Apr 2025 10:01am

Rashers

Member Since: 21 Jun 2015
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3600

We run a very large fleet of Vauxhall Vivaro’s and Movano’s at work.
Same van as the Renault and Nissan but much more popular.
Our vans do not get any special treatment and because we buy most of them, we run them for 10 plus years without too many serious problems. Ok they do have the odd breakdown but that is to be expected.
I love the transit for its drivability but if I had my own business, I would struggle to justify the price hike from a Vivaro to a Transit.

19th Apr 2025 10:32am

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