I have a SWB Vivaro, I used to have a LWB Vivaro when I was a delivery driver.

The LWB wasn’t too bad in car parks. If I wanted to keep out the way, I would reverse into a bay were there was a kerb behind so the front wasn’t overhanging but there wasn’t many car parks that were that pushed for space.

Wished I’d have got a LWB instead of a SWB now.

Are these people just minted or do they work remotely on the road ?

Suppose years ago it could have been travelling from one place to another bouncing between casual / seasonal work

I suppose it depends on how fast you need to get moving again.

I’ve gone overkill on my car. It came with a space saver which I have changed for a full size spare and I’ve a trolley Jack to speed things up.

This is on a driving school car so last thing I want is to be stuck at the side of the road with a student trying to fill the tyre with Jizz or having a test cancelled as the space saver is not the same size as the other wheels.

I will try and make this one, I really enjoyed the JennRide a couple of years ago.

Project Kansas are on the A9 in Scotland at the moment.

They have till 6 am in the morning to get to JoG to beat Ben’s record, think they may do it.

I can’t figure out how they block every street off? Or do they?

They don’t block every street they pass off, at the finish the last Km or so will be barriered off but on route the police motorbikes work on a system where they stop at major junctions, stop the traffic, then the next motorbike comes along, first one moves off and so on.

Minor side roads are not covered. Guess they presume motorists will see all the police passing and stay were they are. There is a police X5 immedialy in front of the peloton.

I’m a big fan of this race and I went to Kelso for the finish but this years edition is boring.

Day 1 – bunch sprint, Day 2 – bunch sprint, Day 3……..

I don’t know the areas well enough to know if it’s going to get any more exciting in the next stages.

If it’s been stood it could be a build up of surface rust on the disc.

Rust will be obvious when you take the wheel off also have a look how much pad is left.

First car I admired was the General Lee.

In terms of ” real ” cars I always wanted as a kid was a Xr3i

Cheers Paton

I didn’t think the Tour website would be so detailed.

Wtf is wrong with people.

Very valid point Neal, coming on here makes me wonder that.

I think there is a difference between spotting a deflating tyre or a brake light that’s out as that would be obvious to any member of the public and pointing out someone’s tyre thread is getting low.

If someone pointed it out it me, I’d just think nosey so and so and forget about it but how does the nosey neighbour know that the guy is not getting rid of the car soon, planning to get new tyres etc.

Hang on tight for M6 junction 33 heading south.

This year is the first time I can remember it not coming to the north west, I’ve been watching since 2012 but it’s only fair that it’s spread out over the years.

Despite the tour being put up in status, the main issue is transfer times. This was made very vocal by the teams a couple of years ago.

One stage finished on Hartside Cumbria and the next stage was Stoke I think. Some teams were not getting to the hotels till 10 pm. This wasn’t helped by the fact it finished on the top of a hill were there is only one road between Penrith and the North East and the team buses were parked on the Hawes side and they couldn’t get back towards Penrith due to the finishing line still being in situ.

They had to travel towards Carlisle then drop back down.

Still a great race though. I’m going even though it means travelling this year.

Mines gone up 25% and nothing’s changed.

I’ve rung round and my renewal is the best price by far. Seems it’s just gone up for no reason.

I used to be dipping into my overdraft regular a few years ago. Basically, I wasn’t paying myself enough from the business.

Stayed out of the overdraft and my credit rating has gone up.

I wouldn’t be without a van now.

I’m not bothered about speed, the van is so much easier to throw the dog in, get the bikes in do tip runs and it reminds me of when I was a white van man :wink:

Insurance is through Brentacre, mods declared ( alloys and extra Windows ) £398 per year

Good garage guide, never heard of it

It’s not exactly an independent service, it’s run by an oils company, Forte, who push for engine flushes etc

As far as I know, it’s offered by their reps, the garage pays a fee to be registered, is supplied with various posters floors mats, overalls etc all emblazoned with Good Garage Scheme.

The garage then supposedly adheres to a voluntary code of conduct.

I would have more faith in it if it was run by an independent body, not a company who makes it money out of selling products to garages. Are they going to potentially lose a garages custom, who probably spends thousands per year with them, for a complaint from a member of the public ?

I’ve a cracking garage but it’s in Bolton. If you want the details let me know.

Cheers OP

I dont really need the set but that’s a bargain so I will just keep it in the van for emergencies

My mate refuses to take his VW in due to these stories of things going wrong

Genuine question, these Micky taking bids of £70k + are they from fake accounts ?

I always thought that bids on E Bay were legally binding ?

Thanks

How many Mk1 Cortinas or Escorts do you see on the road?

A bloke near me has 2 Lotus Cortinas

Everyday, he picks his wife up from work, 4.30 on the dot, in one of them. Rain, hail, sleet or snow he is there.

The cars are seriously worth more than his house.

I got one a while ago at about the same price and these things are massive.

Like has been said, they have drop down panniers. I’ve not used mine yet as I have full panniers, but I got it because it was a good deal.

I’ve tried it in the bike as I have the correct rack so it just clips in and the only thing I found was it covered the rear light on my seatpost completely so, when I use the bag, I will have to move the rear light.

I think it’s all about circumstances.

Due to using my car for work, it has to be a small hatchback and kept clean hence why I’ve had vans for 3 years. So much easier for me to chuck the bikes in, dog in, and it’s somewhere to shelter and get changed in after a ride.

I don’t need a camper so I’ve done a removable bed and basic camping stove etc which means I can use the van for tip runs etc. It’s saved me the cost of skips etc a few times whilst doing stuff at home.

Mines a Vivaro, the only reason I didn’t get a VW is the price. I know they hold their value well, but I didn’t have £8-9 k sitting around and got a similar age vivaro for £4 k

I always do but I’m a tight so and so.

Like has been said, I use the self serve so I can monitor the price as I’m scanning. You have to be careful in Sainburys though if you get any 2 for 1 deals etc, you have to total it up then press ” go back ” then it takes the discount off. Wonder how many people have not pressed ” go back ” and paid loads more without realising,

I do my main shop at Aldi which doesn’t have self serve so I always check the receipt.

Loads of times in the past I have been overcharged at Morrisons

Solo for me.

Last time i rode with someone was about a year ago whilst commuting home, a colleague didn’t know the way so tagged along. He’s a nice lad, but it felt weird having someone to talk to.

I prefer being alone in life in general anyway.

I don’t know about fitting seats, but an average price to have a window fitted is about £150 so working out the seats and how many windows against buying a ” normal ” van and one already fitted.

Can I ask, as a total noob, what’s involved in wiring this in?

It’s basically just power to the camera, power to the screen and a cable between the 2.

I’m geeky installing stuff and I’ve mounted the screen where the interior mirror would be and the camera is alongside the high level brake light. Took me about 4 hours stripping bits of trim off etc. I’ve also tapped into the reversing lights so that the screen only comes on when in reverse but you can have it on all the time of you want.

Just bear it mind there are some lines on the camera red, Amber, green to tell you how close you are to things that you can’t get rid of so would be annoying if you had it running all the time.

But for £18.40 you can’t go wrong, even if you get someone to wire it through.

The main joy of being freelance/self-employed is that you don’t have to even register any of this crap.

You’re just the bloke that comes in, does stuff, and goes home, while getting paid more than everyone else, so nobody likes you anyway

Its ace!

+1

Don’t think I could ever work with anyone again,

Don’t worry about Reversing Sensors, get one of these. Best £19 I’ve spent.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-3-TFT-LCD-Monitor-HD-IR-Night-Vision-Reversing-Camera-170-Car-Rear-View-Kit/222120723940?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I have 2, ones my work number, the other personal.

Even being Self Employed you need to get away so the work phone gets turned off. Still get E Mails and social media enquiries through to my personal phone from my business but I can cope with that as I can deal with them the day after.

Turning the work phone off stops messages coming through at 2am and people ringing at midnight. If they are disrespectful enough to contact me at that stupid o clock, I don’t want their custom anyway.

Instead of a car battery, I got this :-

http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/garage-equipment/battery-chargers-jump-starters/phaze-4-in-1-jump-starter

Lot easier to carry about, has a light on it, USB ports and cig lighter type outlets

Like has been said, be careful for going the wrong way.

I’m just outside of Wigan and 2 junctions I know of are near Wigan Pier and another just after Chorley at the Walton Summit branch. If you don’t know it, at the Walton Summit branch, you have to go over the footbridge to stay on the canal.

Another thing to think of, but I don’t know if there is anyway of finding out in advance, is angling contests. I once went up the canal towards Chorley and it was awful as there was a massive amount of fishing going on and their rod things were blocking the towpath.

Forgot that: I’ve also done this, 10 mins to fit.

Mines got one but I didn’t fit it. The guy I got my van off only deals in Vivaro / Trafic / Primastars and I think he fits these to everything he sells.

Definatly get the timing belt or chain done.

Chains allegedly don’t snap but in reality, they strip the teeth off the gear wheel thing which throws the timing out and smashes the valves into the Pistons.

Gearboxes can be cheese and the gear link ball joint can come off. A clamp can be bought for about £8 to keep it together.

Everything else listed can go wrong. But get a good one and they are really nice to drive and don’t rot away like a Transit would.

Someone has tried scamming me today.

I received a Text that said it was from Barclays, you know how it comes up with the name before you open it, that part said Barclays,

It read ” did you make a payment of 1100.00 GBP – DateAGuy.com If no, please call immediately on 0843 289 8403 for a refund ”

Needless to say, I rang the number out of curiosity and it answered ” welcome to customer service ” so I put it down.

Barclays fraud said it quite common to receive texts like this. The fraudsters hope you will call them then they put you through various questions to get your details.

I’ve not done much MTBing recently.

I got an hybrid and tend to use that most. My MTBing has never been more than Bridleways and bits of XC and I’ve never been one for jumping off rocks etc so the Hybrid can do a bit of that and on road as well.

Went out on the road bike a few weeks ago and it felt like a rocket compared to the hybrid. Think I’ve just got bored of riding local stuff on the MTB. Might have to chuck it in the Van one day and have a mooch to the Lakes or somewhere and get my interest back.

Nope.

I have 2 weeks off work at the beginning of September and the weather has been good st that time for the last few years.

In the van, I use Google maps and I have a Brodit mount so it’s secure.

On Google maps, it’s great to be able to see the traffic jams coming up. In the car, I use a Tom Tom again with a Brodit mount, which is really good but I only use it for work with the students as the new Driving Test is coming up.

I miss not having traffic updates when using the Tom Tom compared to Google.