Downsize van?

I've had a couple of combos and even smaller vans once you work out how to load it your usually alright but if you own a bigger van now and your downsizing you might get a bit peed off.

I used to hate having to organise the whole back of my van just to get a sheet of 6x3 board or a few bags of skim in there, roof rack did help but not in the rain.

the long wheel base small vans are appealing but park one up next to a transit there not much smaller
 
jamesthefirst said:
You dont want to be putting boards on roof racks with our weather.
I started out with a bedford rascal, i called it the sooty van. :)
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a mate of mines dad had one as a company van, big bloke looked like Nick the Greek off lock stock and two smoking barrels driving it. he hated it 3 times he writ it off and each time the company fixed it and give it back to him
 
zolco said:
Seen 1 or 2 on eBay, going for a few k but it was only a shell. I don't think I would fit in one anyway. Only thinking getting one so the Mrs could use it in the meantime when I don't need it, so could get rid of her car finally
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yeah they are full on resto jobs for sure :D I fitted pretty well in mini's good fun to drive as well :D
 
Danny said:
yeah they are full on resto jobs for sure :D I fitted pretty well in mini's good fun to drive as well :D
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I speak as one who was around when they were current, and had to use a couple. They are fcuking sh1t in every way imaginable.

Cramped, uncomfortable, noisy, cr4p electrics, rust like a Transit dipped in sea water, and one of the most dangerous vehicles to be in if they're involved in a bump. They fold like wet cardboard and in a front or side impact you're sitting in the crumple zone, in a rear impact the fuel tank is in the crumple zone. o_O

They feel like fun to drive because your 4rse is six inches off the road. In reality they are slow, don't corner particularly well and due to the suspension design 'skip' on a bumpy corner. Take a look at a classic rally now and you'll see plenty of Mk 1 or 2 Escorts and no Minis.
 
Num1spread said:
So I'm gonna take a guess and say u don't like mini cars[emoji23][emoji23]


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Horrible things. A couple mates had minis back in the day, around that time I had an Imp Stiletto, then progressed onto a Mk3 Cortina. Both of which destroyed the myth of minis being quick or handling better than other motors of the time. To be fair the Cortina needed some modifications to stop it cornering on it's door handles. :D
 
imago said:
I speak as one who was around when they were current, and had to use a couple. They are fcuking sh1t in every way imaginable.

Cramped, uncomfortable, noisy, cr4p electrics, rust like a Transit dipped in sea water, and one of the most dangerous vehicles to be in if they're involved in a bump. They fold like wet cardboard and in a front or side impact you're sitting in the crumple zone, in a rear impact the fuel tank is in the crumple zone. o_O

They feel like fun to drive because your 4rse is six inches off the road. In reality they are slow, don't corner particularly well and due to the suspension design 'skip' on a bumpy corner. Take a look at a classic rally now and you'll see plenty of Mk 1 or 2 Escorts and no Minis.
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lol agree to all of that but I loved them :D

My buggy was made of one originally
 
Danny said:
lol agree to all of that but I loved them :D

My buggy was made of one originally
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I know people think they're great even with their faults, but then that's true of a lot of cars/hobbies. Just the same with bikes, some people spit when they see a Honda, others think they're the best thing ever.

The nostalgia factor is a big part of it now. People have a car/bike as a hobby or weekend toy and they think it's great. People old enough to have had to use them as daily transport remember cold winter mornings when the b4stards wouldn't start and the inside of the screen froze over.


Danny said:
I am doing a clutch in the buggy at the moment... engine out job...
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I forgot 'horrible to work on' didn't I? :LOL:
 
imago said:
I know people think they're great even with their faults, but then that's true of a lot of cars/hobbies. Just the same with bikes, some people spit when they see a Honda, others think they're the best thing ever.

The nostalgia factor is a big part of it now. People have a car/bike as a hobby or weekend toy and they think it's great. People old enough to have had to use them as daily transport remember cold winter mornings when the b4stards wouldn't start and the inside of the screen froze over.




I forgot 'horrible to work on' didn't I? :LOL:
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oh god as an every day car I hated my mini... I am cursing the damn mg engine in my buggy at the moment but thats why we do it :D
 
Cornelius said:
So I was chugging around in my van the other day (2005 Vito) and I was thinking I'd like a smaller van something easier to drive and better on fuel. Something like a connect size or like the old combo size. Does anyone successfully work out of a smaller size van? I was thinking roof rack for plasterboard and a tube for my straight edges and beads, can you get long wheelbase smaller vans? Or even a small van with enough room for two passengers in the front? Any suggestions?
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Don't do it...... just don't,

I used to use escort vans all the time as you could fit 6foot straight edges on floor but doing domestics it is always full and normally end up emptying it to get to certain things..... just stressful b*ll***s, roof rack...... yeah great whistling along in the wind doing your head in. I often think of a small van and dream and then remember the reality of what's in the van. I have a 05 fiat Ducato which is quite tall and it's really not that bad on fuel, and compared to others it's crap.

Just think of all the extra time you lose loading and unloading..... is it worth it? Plus having a van is also handy to have for other reasons.
 
I got a trafic and need something bigger its always full
 
I have transit connect and it's not good..my old Escort van was way better. The roof rack is to high, and I'm 6 foot tall. Roof rack bars to close together. Sills rust so must be treated early on which is easy job I guess but nobody dose it. It's a pallet van so small high and square storage in back which is useless for a tradesman. Stupid door catches at back means I keep catching my head on them, as u bar bits stick out and the locking system drives me mad. It's a right pain just to lock the cab while keeping the back unlocked. They all have the rubber falling off around doors to.
 
Wayners said:
I have transit connect and it's not good..my old Escort van was way better. The roof rack is to high, and I'm 6 foot tall. Roof rack bars to close together.
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The plumber who does work for me has a connect. On one job we had to go through a roller door and my Vivaro with a rhino rack on just cleared it by 20mm or so. I had to shove the roller up another inch to clear the rack on his connect.

We were really surprised as the connect looks much lower.
 
Natwasere said:
Don't do it...... just don't,

I used to use escort vans all the time as you could fit 6foot straight edges on floor but doing domestics it is always full and normally end up emptying it to get to certain things..... just stressful b*ll***s, roof rack...... yeah great whistling along in the wind doing your head in. I often think of a small van and dream and then remember the reality of what's in the van. I have a 05 fiat Ducato which is quite tall and it's really not that bad on fuel, and compared to others it's crap.

Just think of all the extra time you lose loading and unloading..... is it worth it? Plus having a van is also handy to have for other reasons.
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loved my escort van
 
Danny said:
loved my escort van
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I had a head on crash in my escort van 14 years ago with some idiot(sparky) on the wrong side of the road . People were asking us if they got anyone out of the wreckage and we said yeah us . Saved my life.
 
Danny said:
loved my escort van
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Used to have a mark4 with the rs turbo bodykit on in escos cossy blue..... I loved that one, still slow as s**t though, got ripped by the boss everyday and ended up scrapping it cos of welding needed underneath (wish I kept it now though)
 
I got a sofa with 2 chairs in the back of my Escort once. Could not shut doors all the way though. Had double bed on roof at same time as was clearing out the big stuff from Tewkesbury flooded house, as got roped into it. They were long in the back unlike the connect!
 
Wayners said:
I have transit connect and it's not good..my old Escort van was way better. The roof rack is to high, and I'm 6 foot tall. Roof rack bars to close together. Sills rust so must be treated early on which is easy job I guess but nobody dose it. It's a pallet van so small high and square storage in back which is useless for a tradesman. Stupid door catches at back means I keep catching my head on them, as u bar bits stick out and the locking system drives me mad. It's a right pain just to lock the cab while keeping the back unlocked. They all have the rubber falling off around doors to.
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Think you might need a new van pal.


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Downsize van?

No matter how big your van is you always need a bigger one. That's a custom L2 H2


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A flatbed pickup would be handy for occasional use, and if I had a spare £12k I think this'd be the one. Link Removed
 
I crashed my escort van over shot a junction cos I had like 40 bags of finish in the back and could not stop :D A mate dragged me out the ditch and I carried on to tesco to get some beer :D

Nice wallowy van that chugged along :D
 
Why would you want a smaller van? Your just opting for more hassle surely, unless you've got a small driveway.
 
I'm sick of driving mine it's full of tools that don't normally get used I just keep everything in there to get it out of the garage.
 
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