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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: tunnie on 19 November 2013, 09:56:40

Title: White Van Man for the day
Post by: tunnie on 19 November 2013, 09:56:40
Hired this at the weekend to move out of my flat, now in Kingston until we get the house.

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/803897/Misc/2013-11-16%2009.36.09.jpg)

61 plate 3.5 ton Luton Transit, when I first picked it up, my god how it bounces around  :o

Rides a lot better with some decent weight in the back, but empty the ride is appalling. Liked the arm rest, general driving it was not bad, but it made a lot of noise, at 70 could barely hear yourself speak.

Did around 130 miles in it in total, to around £35 of diesel. So not too bad I thought, but after a very, very long day off emptying my flat, unloading van at Kingston and another drop off I was nackered. Climbed into the 3.2 at around 11PM after a long day, bum warmer on, popped it in D, drove down same roads as earlier in the Transit. Was like riding around in silk compared to before, silky smooth power, silence driving. Ahhhh.

It's put me off a diesel manual though, I found myself constantly changing gear and such a narrow power band.  :o
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: Entwood on 19 November 2013, 10:10:42
Hired this at the weekend to move out of my flat, now in Kingston until we get the house.

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/803897/Misc/2013-11-16%2009.36.09.jpg)

61 plate 3.5 ton Luton Transit, when I first picked it up, my god how it bounces around  :o

Rides a lot better with some decent weight in the back, but empty the ride is appalling. Liked the arm rest, general driving it was not bad, but it made a lot of noise, at 70 could barely hear yourself speak.

Did around 130 miles in it in total, to around £35 of diesel. So not too bad I thought, but after a very, very long day off emptying my flat, unloading van at Kingston and another drop off I was nackered. Climbed into the 3.2 at around 11PM after a long day, bum warmer on, popped it in D, drove down same roads as earlier in the Transit. Was like riding around in silk compared to before, silky smooth power, silence driving. Ahhhh.

It's put me off a diesel manual though, I found myself constantly changing gear and such a narrow power band.  :o

Looks very similar to what I'll be driving tomorrow to move daughter from Cardiff to home ... :(
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 19 November 2013, 10:12:52
A bit more tricky to reverse as well, judging by the state of the concrete bollard....  ::)  ;)
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: tunnie on 19 November 2013, 10:13:55
Plan a lot of time, it will sit happily at 60ish without too much trouble. At  70mph there was a considerable increase in engine & cabin noise, but overall happy with it. As I'm used to fueling the 3.2 with petrol, i thought it was quite economical  ;D

I also see why people use gloves on diesel pumps, my hands stank all day!

Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: tunnie on 19 November 2013, 10:15:12
A bit more tricky to reverse as well, judging by the state of the concrete bollard....  ::)  ;)

Not me, honest, was always like that. It has huge mirrors, it felt a bit alien not being able to look out the back. But I reversed it into GrandmaT's driveway, with a very narrow gate, parked it with ease.
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: YZ250 on 19 November 2013, 10:44:25
We hired a lwb high top Transit van when my daughter moved house and I loved driving it so much that I didn't want to give it back.  ;D I love the high driving position.  :y
It went really well, was economical for something the shape of a brick and it even had parking sensors.  :y You don't get the tail-lift on the van though.
After driving a few Luton vans years ago I have a fear of this design as I find them wobbly compared to the van.  :-\
I even sneaked off from Newent last year to have a look around the custom van centre with a view to buying one.  ::) ;D




Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: bigegg on 19 November 2013, 10:47:01
You got one that does 70!?!  :o
Mine does 60 downhill, with a tailwind.


Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: tunnie on 19 November 2013, 10:53:30
You got one that does 70!?!  :o
Mine does 60 downhill, with a tailwind.

Could have got 85 out of it I think, 70mph, 3k revs, cruised ok at that speed, just loud!
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: 05omegav6 on 19 November 2013, 10:56:00
A bit more tricky to reverse as well, judging by the state of the concrete bollard....  ::)  ;)

Not me, honest, was always like that. It has huge mirrors, it felt a bit alien not being able to look out the back. But I reversed it into GrandmaT's driveway, with a very narrow gate, parked it with ease.
You noticed that too ;D

Plan a lot of time, it will sit happily at 60ish without too much trouble. At  70mph there was a considerable increase in engine & cabin noise, but overall happy with it. As I'm used to fueling the 3.2 with petrol, i thought it was quite economical  ;D

I also see why people use gloves on diesel pumps, my hands stank all day!
Rental vans tend to be the cheaper, lower powered versions, hence gutless. Plonking a bloody great shed on the back adds quite alot of drag, which does the underpowered engine no favours ;D
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: omega3000 on 19 November 2013, 15:21:54
2 pedals is all you need , just like a bicycle  ;D
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 19 November 2013, 15:24:54
You got one that does 70!?!  :o
Mine does 60 downhill, with a tailwind.

Could have got 85 out of it I think, 70mph, 3k revs, cruised ok at that speed, just loud!

3K revs at 70, kin ell thats underpowered.

The Ford diesel is a little agricultural and lacking in torque below 2k rpm.
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: tunnie on 19 November 2013, 15:40:20
You got one that does 70!?!  :o
Mine does 60 downhill, with a tailwind.

Could have got 85 out of it I think, 70mph, 3k revs, cruised ok at that speed, just loud!

3K revs at 70, kin ell thats underpowered.

The Ford diesel is a little agricultural and lacking in torque below 2k rpm.

This little green arrow lit up on the rev counter, every time it went over 2k rpm  ???

Each time I changed it went out, so I think it wanted me to change up after 2k  ;D
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: Kevin Wood on 19 November 2013, 15:42:31
I remember hiring one of those to pick up my Westfield kit way back in 1999. The drive to Dudley and back was the longest day of my life. It felt like it'd be quicker to push the damned thing up some of the hills on the A34. :o

EDIT: Oh, and the guy at the hire place said "You got one of the good ones there. Goes like a rocket compared to some of them."
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: zirk on 19 November 2013, 16:15:32
Managed to Total one them on a sharp bend quiet a few years back, was in between proper Jobs and was working as a Juke Box Engineer at the time, my Co Car had crapped out and was given one of them for the weekend to get me home and back, what they forgot to tell me was that there was a row of Fruit Machines all strapped to one side in the back.

Sharp bend, OS wheels in the air, all too quicly and the rest is history, including the Van and the Machines, managed to walk away without a stratch though via the front windscreen.  :-[ ::) 
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: ronnyd on 19 November 2013, 16:19:48
Used one some years ago when my youngest moved to Glastonbury. As you say, it,s ok loaded but when empty
it seems to want to bounce off the road. Great fun though and a bit of an adventure as well.
Sadly it didn,t work out for him due to a heart problem so moved back a year later. This time i hired a Sprinter,
went like stink. :D
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: Gaffers on 19 November 2013, 16:23:11
I have reserved a Sprinter for my move.  As it's only a few miles I can do several tips and avoid a lot of the stress.  50% of the house is packed up already but I still have a few things I need to shift.....isn't gumtree great?!  ;D
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: plym ian on 19 November 2013, 18:39:16
Used to drive one at work for a few years. Not bad to drive but get a gust of wind blowing on the side you know about it :)
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: MR MISTER on 19 November 2013, 19:06:54
I hired a luton with tail lift for a trip from Liverpool to Wakefield. It was fine until we hit the climb up over the Pennines. 70,65,60,55,50,45, down to 4th, 40, 35, 30 down to third and starting to worry a bit. Stayed at about 30, in third, engine getting warm, being overtaken by irate truck drivers.
Hit the top and sailed past all the truck drivers who looked double irate. ;D
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 19 November 2013, 22:07:06
I hired a luton with tail lift for a trip from Liverpool to Wakefield. It was fine until we hit the climb up over the Pennines. 70,65,60,55,50,45, down to 4th, 40, 35, 30 down to third and starting to worry a bit. Stayed at about 30, in third, engine getting warm, being overtaken by irate truck drivers.
Hit the top and sailed past all the truck drivers who looked double irate. ;D

Sounds like you were well overloaded!  :o  A load of lead flashing, alloy wheels and a few copper cylinders will soon do it!  ;)  ;D
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: MR MISTER on 19 November 2013, 22:10:23
I hired a luton with tail lift for a trip from Liverpool to Wakefield. It was fine until we hit the climb up over the Pennines. 70,65,60,55,50,45, down to 4th, 40, 35, 30 down to third and starting to worry a bit. Stayed at about 30, in third, engine getting warm, being overtaken by irate truck drivers.
Hit the top and sailed past all the truck drivers who looked double irate. ;D

Sounds like you were well overloaded!  :o  A load of lead flashing, alloy wheels and a few copper cylinders will soon do it!  ;)  ;D
Nah. Furniture only. The fickin thing was brand new but was well underpowered. I mentioned it when I took it back (yes, I took it back), but just got the shrug of the shoulders.
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: 05omegav6 on 19 November 2013, 22:44:17
Available from 85 bhp to 200 bhp :y

Most rental stuff is 100 bhp or less ;D
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: albitz on 19 November 2013, 23:29:44
Got a VX Movano with a 6 speed box at work. That goes quite well for a van.
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: Vamps on 19 November 2013, 23:41:44
We hired one of those LDV 15 seat minibuses a few years ago for work, not sure what engine was in it but it was painful to drive full up, so slow it was almost a hazard...... :( :(
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: 05omegav6 on 19 November 2013, 23:44:47
We hired one of those LDV 15 seat minibuses a few years ago for work, not sure what engine was in it but it was painful to drive full up, so slow it was almost a hazard...... :( :(
Ford Transhit 90bhp running gear...
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: Vamps on 19 November 2013, 23:48:06
We hired one of those LDV 15 seat minibuses a few years ago for work, not sure what engine was in it but it was painful to drive full up, so slow it was almost a hazard...... :( :(
Ford Transhit 90bhp running gear...

That would explain it, it was total sh**........ ::) ::)
Title: Re: White Van Man for the day
Post by: 05omegav6 on 20 November 2013, 00:11:41
Build quality was pretty shit too iirc ::) On balance it's probably a good thing they no longer exist :-\