Electricians - what do you rate highly when searching for a work van?
Is it looks or practicality? Is it cool to drive a Ford or are Vauxhall better? Does it matter how long it takes to get from 0-60? Mind you, no one wants a sluggish van which is a hill crawler!
What type of racking is best? And should you opt for a big van or small van.
Simple questions asked to electricians - and of course there is lots to say on this subject!
Forget fancy new vans and flashy advertising, electricians tell it how it really is - which vans eat gear boxes; is it really a good idea to buy brand new if you're going to get nothing but trouble?
Small is good - and older models just keep on going and are not fuel hungry. Essential advice in this day and age. If you're an electrician about to embark on a career working for yourself, you don't want to be spending a small fortune on your van - after all you work to make a living!
Ease of use is also top of the list - sliding doors are seen as important - who wants to be climbing over materials and equipment to retrieve what you need from the front end!
Back to racking - slide out racking is good as well as a pipe tube! By the way, racking is totally essential if you want to remain organised! It is worth finding out how easy it is to rack your van out - Some electricians employ a carpenter to do this for them - work out what you're willing to spend if you're van doesn't come already racked.
Also, don't forget a roof rack may well come in handy for ladders (unless you have a fold up hinge variety!)
How is cabin comfort rated? are full electrics needed or a waste of money? We reckon an automatic de-icing windscreen would be great invention! Seat covers may well be handy too - in this job, work wear doesn't stay clean! What about head room? Driving a small van has long been a head ache (quite literally!) for tall electricians, is a hi-roof the way to go? 12v outlets can be handy if you fancy having a kettle in the back! Watch out for battery draining adapters though!
Locks are another essential feature of any electricians van. The last thing you want is your tools to be stolen by a thief picking your locks. Many electricians opt for additional lock protection. Thieves will always strike at any opportunity and even though you may be secuirty conscious when your van is parked up at home, how will you ensure the security of your equipment when out and about?
Electricians are definitely passionate about what van they drive - and there is a wide range mentioned - Ford, Citroen, Vauxhall are all widely mentioned. Not just makes, but also shapes, new shapes vs old shapes, reliability - one thing that will upset any electrician is the cost of parts and uneconomcal tyres!
Or how about letting someone else worry about the maintenance and servicing and take out a lease van over 3 or 4 years? The beauty of this is you can pick a new model of your own choosing and if you're not happy you can hand it back after the lease ends and try out something else! Lease 2 or 3 vehicles and you will soon have an informed opinion over what is a good van and what isn't!
Electricians are undecided about sign writing - many love it and others loathe it.
There is one issue that remains unsolved - and that is a way of clearing out your van at the end of the day and ensuring 'your small tool shop' remains organised!