Small service van build

[Robbie260]

⁹In an attempt to do something with my self in my time off, get myself some extra work and to help with my land rovers restoration and get my tools out the house, I decided I build my self a little service van in-between teaching my sister to drive in it. So it all starts with the sale of my golf and the acquisition of this little fiat fiorino van.

So started by getting some halfords cabinets in the sale with my trade card they were quite cheap

So there is 3 halfords advanced cabinets a mid one and two side lockers originally i had the portable tool box on top of the halfords mid chest but it wasn't holding the weight so I have taken it and moved it to the side door where I'm going to make a plinth for it to sit on and hopefully store the trolley jack under. The racco boxes hold various assorted parts and I wish I'd checked b and q before I bought them as you can get the exact same set for half the price there. The dewalt box is ratchet strapped to the top of one of the cabinets and contains my power tools.

Though as you can see this left the van sitting on its ****. So two New springs were acquired for the rear made by mad springs got through upcountry 4x4.

An aborted attempt was made to change them but I realised I needed new Bumpstops, (which had turned to mush with the bad loading, and my sisters rather too energetic driving over speed bumps during lessons) so work was haulted until they arrived. Didnt get any pics of actually fitting the new springs as was doing at the side of the road so didn't have time to stop to take photos. Here they are installed and the new stance.

Work continues.

 

[Nick DV]

The first thing I'd do, especially if you have already put your tools inside, is make it secure. Just make sure you do as much as you can to the sliding door to make it secure as they can be 'peeled open' and pulled off easily. unfortunately, it happens all to often

 

[dobbslc]

I had a Ford Courier van that sat on it's **** all the time I had it (they all seem to be the same) one day I came back to it to find one of the rear springs in 3 pieces on the ground! It had broken while I was at work!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

The first thing I'd do, especially if you have already put your tools inside, is make it secure. Just make sure you do as much as you can to the sliding door to make it secure as they can be 'peeled open' and pulled off easily. unfortunately, it happens all to often

A possibility, but maybe less likely in Fort William than many locations.

 

[Robbie260]

The first thing I'd do, especially if you have already put your tools inside, is make it secure. Just make sure you do as much as you can to the sliding door to make it secure as they can be 'peeled open' and pulled off easily. unfortunately, it happens all to often

Thanks nick appreciate the advise. Its as @slim_boy_fat says unlikely where I live but to prevent the doors being peeled in going to put some ratchet straps with brackets in to hold the doors closed in the event it is parked up somewhere less hospitable. Tying them back to the driver protection cage.

I had a Ford Courier van that sat on it's **** all the time I had it (they all seem to be the same) one day I came back to it to find one of the rear springs in 3 pieces on the ground! It had broken while I was at work!

Yeah none of the small vans take weight in any way well but its unfortunately what I have to work with. You do wish they would get progressive springs like I bought and installed from the factory. I think they would find a lot bigger market for them then. Have got the pickup for anything really heavy but trying to keep it more flexible as well. Its annoying to consume its entire load bay with stuff. The van cost less than a new canopy for it too.

 

[dobbslc]

Wow how much are the canopies!!???
That looks a really nice tidy van.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Just make sure you do as much as you can to the sliding door to make it secure as they can be 'peeled open' and pulled off easily. unfortunately, it happens all to often

My neighbour has the Bipper which I think is the same van...his got broken into during the first lockdown. They left his tools but stole the toilet paper he had left in the back...no evidence of how they got it open either...on his the spare wheel is under the back...he's had at least 2 spares taken which must be annoying because you'd only notice when you need the spare!

 

[Nick DV]

They left his tools but stole the toilet paper he had left in the back.....................................

Have these lowlife scumbags got no morals?

 

[Barking Mat]

My neighbour has the Bipper which I think is the same van...his got broken into during the first lockdown. They left his tools but stole the toilet paper he had left in the back...no evidence of how they got it open either...on his the spare wheel is under the back...he's had at least 2 spares taken which must be annoying because you'd only notice when you need the spare!

The irony.

Comic thieving, 'They stole my bog roll !', I'd have been chuffed.

 

[duncans]

The irony.

Comic thieving, 'They stole my bog roll !', I'd have been chuffed.

IZAL by any chance

 

[Barking Mat]

IZAL by any chance

Nobody steals tracing paper.

 

[duncans]

Nobody steals tracing paper.

deff slides mate hahaaaaaa

 

[Robbie260]

Wow how much are the canopies!!???
That looks a really nice tidy van.

Canopies are pretty pricy, unfortunately the one I have has been rather chopped about electrics wise and hacked up so its not worth much to sell on. The canopies can cost upwards £1700 for basic ones and ones with opening sides etc that id be after and colour matched are well over £2500. The van cost less than that. Thanks it was a nice one.

My neighbour has the Bipper which I think is the same van...his got broken into during the first lockdown. They left his tools but stole the toilet paper he had left in the back...no evidence of how they got it open either...on his the spare wheel is under the back...he's had at least 2 spares taken which must be annoying because you'd only notice when you need the spare!

Aye its the same, hopefully nothing will happen to mine but you never can tell unfortunately.

 

[Mick Annick]

A possibility, but maybe less likely in Fort William than many locations.

Ah, Fort William, home to the first love of my life, I wonder where Catriona is now...

 

[8ob]

I know a few guys that do mobile repairs and servicing, they have all ended up in hitop transits. I think its one of those things where you need so many tools and stock to make it work you will outgrow the smaller van in no time.

Bob

 

[premmington]

I know a few guys that do mobile repairs and servicing, they have all ended up in hitop transits. I think its one of those things where you need so many tools and stock to make it work you will outgrow the smaller van in no time.

Bob

+1 for the above.

We have two MWB semi high roof VW Crafters as service vans - we can stand up in them and use a vice at a bench inside.

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If you do any jacking - you need lots of wood - hard wooden blocks - sheets of 3/4 ply wood to make jacking pads under trolley jacks - and half sheets of 10mm ply for working on shingle drives and mud. I have done a lot of this over the years - the more wood you have in the van the better...

I even finish the 10mm "crawing boards" with polyurethane varnish or danaish oil on one side so I can wipe the water oil or muck off them easily

Forget a canopy - trust me - it's the floor that is the enemy!

 

[Robbie260]

I know a few guys that do mobile repairs and servicing, they have all ended up in hitop transits. I think its one of those things where you need so many tools and stock to make it work you will outgrow the smaller van in no time.

Bob

Probably but will start small and work up to that. Ideal situation would be a trailer for the pickup. But don't have a place to store it. Bare essentials kept in the pickup always trailer hooked up for larger jobs.

Ah, Fort William, home to the first love of my life, I wonder where Catriona is now...

Probably know someone she is related too.

 

[Robbie260]

+1 for the above.


We have two MWB semi high roof VW Crafters as service vans - we can stand up in them and use a vice at a bench inside.

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If you do any jacking - you need lots of wood - wooden blocks - sheets of 3/4 ply wood to make jacking pads under trolley jacks - and half sheets of 10mm ply for working on shingle drives and mud. I have done a lot of this - the more wood you have in the van the better...

Wanted a crafter or merc sprinter 4x4 but while good, both were rather pricy and I think the neboiurs would complain about a very large van. So had the pick up for bigger stuff off the beaten track and the small van came round which will get used for cars and road or yard stuff.

 

[premmington]

Wanted a crafter or merc sprinter 4x4 but while good, both were rather pricy and I think the neboiurs would complain about a very large van. So had the pick up for bigger stuff off the beaten track and the small van came round which will get used for cars and road or yard stuff.

We used to have Merc Sprinters - the 2.0 VW Crafters are a lot better.

 

[Robbie260]

We used to have Merc Sprinters - the 2.0 VW Crafters are a lot better.

The new crafters are nice looking vans though I think I'd go to man for one instead of vw if I were to have got one. If im right the old crafters were just rebodied sprinters.