Find me a van then...

[weeksy]

I wanted to put up a little update.

Couple of times the van threw up this on start-up.
52578247310_cfa2e3e327_k by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

It then leaves the warnings on while you drive.

After the 3rd instance i pinged an email to Anchor vans.

15 mins later i get a call from Calvin the sales guy i bought it from
"Are you in today we'll come and get it now"
"ummmm might be a problem as i need a van over Xmas holidays"
"yeah that's ok, we were bringing you another van anyway to borrow, another Custom so it's the same as yours"
"ok, ace..."

So it was dropped off...
4 hours later
"van is fixed, was a wire which had either rubbed or been eaten by mice, we've sorted it, can we drop it back today"

So the van came back and is all good.

But i wanted to highlight the difference between their service and others i've used. Speaking to the drop-off guy, it wasn't the fact it was my mates place, nor the fact it was nearby/close for them... it's just how they do it at Anchor Vans.. "if something isn't right, we sort it"

massively impressed.

[G.P]

^^^ Jesus! for a second there I suspected the worst!

Sounds like you're getting it nicely sorted.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I thought to myself "It'll be replaced between Xmas and New Year"

[weeksy]

^^^ Jesus! for a second there I suspected the worst!

Sounds like you're getting it nicely sorted.

LOL due to the service from the place i'm really not worried. The Vito was different in the context that when something went wrong, neither the fix was forthcoming, nor the thought it would be.

This was literally "yup, we'll sort it..."

That's all i want in life. Solutions if there's a problem.

[Mr Moofo]

If you're ever planning on going up crappy lanes and across muddy fields for the cycling events then a big improvement you can make to your chances of not needing recovery are to fit some off-road oriented tyres.

I fitted these 235/65/17 General Grabber AT3 108H to some 17x7 wheels to our T5 and even though it's front wheel drive it can cope with a fair bit of mud and wet grass inclines. This is the van fitted with them after a trip from Newbury to Manchester a few years back when there was snow covering most of the motorways until past Birmingham. During that week it was easily making its way across the back roads round our way with a foot of snow on them...


van.jpeg

I haven't done this on the Vivaro yet as I'm not sure I need that capability in both of them and it does make the driving feel a little slower/heavier. Having said that the VW has been across Europe down to the south of France twice with that tyre set on it and it was absolutely fine. It just doesn't feel quite a light as the standard wheels and tyres.

I would assume some winter tyres may have the same sort of effect - but maybe not for driving up Barry Knows Best

[Pirahna]

The least aggressive all terrain tyres seem to be Yokohama Geolander. I had BFG's on the Crafter which despite their looks weren't noisy and didn't seem to damage fuel consumption too much.

Don't forget to check the load rating if you decide to change tyres.

[dern]

If you're ever planning on going up crappy lanes and across muddy fields for the cycling events then a big improvement you can make to your chances of not needing recovery are to fit some off-road oriented tyres.

I fitted these 235/65/17 General Grabber AT3 108H to some 17x7 wheels to our T5 and even though it's front wheel drive it can cope with a fair bit of mud and wet grass inclines. This is the van fitted with them after a trip from Newbury to Manchester a few years back when there was snow covering most of the motorways until past Birmingham. During that week it was easily making its way across the back roads round our way with a foot of snow on them...


van.jpeg

I haven't done this on the Vivaro yet as I'm not sure I need that capability in both of them and it does make the driving feel a little slower/heavier. Having said that the VW has been across Europe down to the south of France twice with that tyre set on it and it was absolutely fine. It just doesn't feel quite a light as the standard wheels and tyres.

I would assume some winter tyres may have the same sort of effect - but maybe not for driving up Barry Knows Best

I've had winter wheels on a bmw and they were superb but I don't think that they'd do mud like these. Also the GG AT3 are winter rated too with the alpine and m+s ratings for europe.

[Mussels]

Mud and snow seem similar but need very different tyre features, rain tyres with sipes work very well with snow but do little for mud.
The Grabber AT tyres I had were good with snow, good with rough ground but clogged up too easily for proper muddy conditions.

[Horse]

Don't forget the sticker saying no tools left in this van overnight.

Any real point/deterrent ?

Don't, it more or less says that theres tools kept in the van overnight cos damn nearly every one I see with the sticker has gear in on a night.
And as mentioned, try to avoid stickers that show your hobbies.

Get several stickers, for really expensive brands.

Then, when at the hotel, put them on other vans Yours will be left until last

[Horse]

Should has got a black one and put a 'Private Ambulance' sticker on the back

I knew someone who was working with police, checking legality of vans or similar.

They stopped one of those, driver offered them the opportunity to check in the (loaded) back.

They declined, sent him on his way.

[weeksy]

Due to the potential mud, mess, bacon

I thought i'd get some seat covers... rather than the £25 universal ones i went slightly more up to the £60 and fully fitted ones. They're not completely wonderful, but they're a good 9/10. It'll at least mean we can not worry about destroying the inside as much as we might before.

I know 90% of it wouldn't matter to 99% of people... but the van isn't going anywhere soon, so will keep it nice for me and the laddo.

2022-12-29_11-17-15 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[dern]

Security installed today on the van... Happy

OK so you can still open it with a can opener but it's as secure as a van gets

Did you get someone else to do it? That's my job on Friday to install the locks on mine.

Fuck yes... you didn't see how many holes he made.... and that was only the correct number and sizes. lol.

No way i was doing that myself matey.

Not wanting to put you off.... but it's a job for a grown up... and i'm not one.

You’re right, it’s a fucking pain in the arse not helped by the ambiguous instructions and cold weather. I’ve done the back door and half the sliding door and will wait until it’s slightly warmer before continuing.

[Couchy]

Those seat covers say trend, thought yours was a limited spec ?

[weeksy]

Is it? Dunno.

2023-01-02_09-28-25 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Testing layouts still before heading out riding

[ChrisW]

I'd be really tempted to build in a couple of captive shelving units above the arch boxes. Could be quite useful.

[Yorick]

I'd put a motorcycle tyre between them and tie them against one side of van.
That'll give you loads of room on other side.

[Couchy]

Is it? Dunno.

2023-01-02_09-28-25 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Testing layouts still before heading out riding

Needs wheel clamps on bulkhead then you can move them a lot closer to each other only using half the space then

[weeksy]

Bars will still get in the way of eachother

[Yorick]

Bars will still get in the way of eachother

Loosen them off. In my garage I have 3 bikes hanging off 2 x 18" bars.

[Pirahna]

In the Caddy (sadly no pics) I used to take the front wheels out and had fork clamps mounted on the floor (ply floor so it was easy). Doing it that way with the bars turned you'll easily get 4 bikes side by side. There's some very clever stuff around now if you're prepared to pay. I had kit from this lot in the Crafter, it was well worth it:

https://loadedbikes.co.uk/