Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.
LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry
LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.
For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.
Replies
We used to have a merc van,lovely drive but had to get rid because they are very prone to rust.Currently have a peugeot boxer and have had no problems with it for the last 5 years.It will take 2 mowers,2 strimmers,blowers ,hand tools etc and still have room for 6 ton bags.Its galvanized so no rust only regret not getting med roof(got to crouch when in the back)If you type in which van in search top right of this page there is loads more information
Thanks for the heads up Paul
paul mcdermott said:
Can't recommend the Hiace enough, if it fits your size requirements. The LWB version is worth the extra.
There's a reason they fetch top money used: they just don't break down. I bought mine at 90K miles, and now it's 150K. In that time, outside of service items, it's had one central locking switch at £40, and a diff bearing that cost a whopping £250. Original clutch, and it's driven like a kart, not a van. That's 150K miles, with less than £300 outside of regular servicing: I have to pinch myself every morning!
The sloping sides do restrict the interior room, I have to break the mower handle down to get it in sideways, but it's plenty big enough for most needs. The real plus is that, emptied out, it's an absolute hoot to drive. :-)
Having come from a landscaping background and now major in maintenance, how do you guys manage without a nice little tipper?! The biggest problem I see now is waste disposal and our little Cabstar tipper takes just over 1 ton of green waste every 2 weeks (prob 15 or so stuffed-full bulk bags) for £40. A van is a pain!
Colin Hunt said:
I'd ask it the other way around: how do you fit all the expensive tools in to a tipper without getting them nicked?
I have an 8x5 trailer, and load it up over the week until there's a decent load for the tip. In the meantime the tools are safely locked inside a proper van! :-)
I think that you need to have the capacity to carry a full day's waste in the van as part of a normal day, as otherwise the trailer is a pain to park, and a theft risk itself.
What mpg do you get wiht the HIACE if you dont mind? I run a berlingo and get 40mpg but obviously its a very small van - not much of a problem as I plan my waste disposal around the end of the day so gardens where alot will be produced are always last task of the day.
Still, keep wanting a trailer but some estates are a nightmare with BAD parking on both sides of the road - towing would make my life even harder!
transit.
mine has been pretty much faultless beside servicing the only items needed have been front and rear brakes, front wheel bearing and clutch master cylinder
With the usual tools on, and roof bars with a ladder, I get 30-33 from the Hiace. Caning it drops that down slightly, treating it very gently adds a little, but within that sort of range. I don't think that's too bad in the real world, it's 150K miles but religiously serviced. Motorway runs really do drop the mileage: it's happy at 80, but nearer 25MPG, and towing the large trailer makes a big difference, of course.
It's worth looking out for a LWB, as with all the mid-sized vans. The extra 30cm doesn't sound much, but I find it's well worth it for the extra flexibility. I want rear doors next time, rather than a tailgate, as you can't load bulk bags in to mine. Not that I often need to, but perhaps once or twice a year I'd like to be able to pick up a bag of compost or bark, and I have to either take the trailer or get a delivery.
David Cox said:
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
of 4 Next