Gig Van

[John Bell]

I am considering having my Transit 190 ELWB Hi-Cube 2.5 diesel engine re-built before next April, when the MOT expires, by someone reliable that only re-builds Transit engines.

It's only done 97k for an R reg, but does burn oil and smells grim.
The hoses have burst twice since I bought it 4 years ago, (just perished), both times up hill on the M25 at full bore and the overheating must have done some damage.

As far as I am aware, the new emission laws for this size of vehicle, have been delayed by a couple of years.
I would rather keep my Transit for 2 more years, than spend a lot of dosh on a newer van.

Any comments from road runners would be very helpful.
Cheers, John.

[soundmanjim]

Hi john

if you go to this link and put your reg number in, you'll see if LEZ applies to you - it does to me, (end of next year) which is why im running mine into the ground and buying a newer one when it finally goes.

lezlondon.tfl.gov.uk/lez/vehicles/default.aspx

If your looking for a diesel vehicle, it needs to be built on or after 1st January 2002 for it to be EU 3 approved (meaning the engine emmisions).

theres going to be a lot of hacked off people around in the next year or so - which is also why there are so many cheap vans for sale around london and the south east!

some vehicles are LEZ compliant or have certificates that are older, normally ex london Sprinter Ambulances, theres one up for sale aroun d the corner from me at £2750 on an R with lo miles - i still think thats a bit steep.

[John Bell]

Thanks Jim, according to the site, my van will be non-compliant on 4/10/2010, but not subject to the LEZ until then.
I may as well keep my Transit until then, unless I get made redundant again.
Hopefully, someone will organize an elephant graveyard style motorway crawl, for the many thousands of vans taken off the road.
We could totally ring the M25 with white vans and have a google earth picture made to mark the occasion. John.

[soundmanjim]

update - this from LEZ central -

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has announced his intention to suspend the third phase of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which was due to affect vans and minibuses from October 2010.

The proposed changes to the scheme will be subject to public consultation and will need to be confirmed by the Mayor once he has reviewed the outcome of the consultation.

Details of the proposed changes and the associated consultation will be published on Transport for London's (TfL's) website in due course and operators will have the opportunity to respond to the proposals at this stage.

TfL is advising operators of vehicles affected by the third phase of the LEZ that they should not take any action until the outcome of the consultation is confirmed.

The first two phases of the scheme - affecting lorries, buses and coaches - are unaffected by the proposals and remain in operation.

[John Bell]

Thanks for the up-date Jim. There's hope for the old gig van yet.
Cheers, John.

[John Bell]

Hi all, my old Transit is no longer on the road, as it will cost too much to rebuild the engine to pass even the current emissions test and the MOT has now expired.

So I am now looking for a newer, long wheelbase, high roofed van, for up to £5k.

Any suggestions on what I should be looking for or avoid?
Cheers, John.

[soundmanjim]

well i thought i knew the answer to that one john. im pretty stauck at the minute as mine is now starting to go home, and im in a similar position, right in the middle of a tour thats going over 100 dates including europe.
im currently looking at vw crafters and mercedes 311's, as these seem to be the ones all the hire firms are using, hoever, ive discovered a few pitfalls (see my other post today entitled 'van bother'), so once ive had some input on that i will make my descision. im looking to buy a late van i can convert myself or have converted into a splitter - and am hoping to go the lease - purchase route with it, seeing as im not exactly minted at the moment!

[John Bell]

I have decided to look for either an IVECO Daily or a Volkswagen LT or a Renault Master, 3.5 tonne LWB versions, around 2005-2006 reg, as a replacement gig van.
I have seen pictures of very clean one's that could have been to the moon and back.

I only have 4 weeks until Chinnor X111, but hopefully I will find a good one that will last me another 2 1/2 years. I am assuming that by the time I am 60, my ears will have dropped-off.

I have £7k in savings and hopefully that will be enough.
John.

[John Bell]

I finally purchased a Volkswagen LT 35 2.5 TDI MWB high roof, on a 55 plate, for £6K.
It's only slightly smaller than my old Transit and can carry just over 1.5 tonnes.
It's metallic silver and looks like new, inside and outside.
It has 8x anchor points in the fully ply lined and carpeted load area, so I will be able to stack my gear higher and secure it with ratchet straps. John.

[soundmanjim]

nice one john.
i just bought (well a month ago) an '06 Iveco Daily 35S12 and have already converted it, and its going good - i'll bung some pics up soon. just got back from Glasto and it did the trick there - and it didnt get stuck in the mud!

[stevepie]

Dear Mr Guiness Tester ......... Jim ; get some fotos of the new truck up soon .... got v busy summer ( Madness ) so could poss use you. Regards, Steve

[soundmanjim]

blimey. you and every other b*gger!!
im out all year near enough - off to sweden tomorrow; last week got a go on a pm5D at Roskilde, and a big old Midas at se random festival in Rotterdam.
keep me informed - i do occasionally get a few days off!