Driving a van

[john_h]

Hi folks,

im basically wondering and preparing myself for this. my mates want to hire a van from B&Q as they are going to buy loads of stuff and it wont fit in the car, the cost is theirs, im just driving.

ive checked it all out and i meet the criteria in terms of age, licence etc.

what im wondering is, is it much different to driving a LWB 3.5t ford transit to driving a car? i know there is more weight etc so braking distances will be longer but like corners etc....any tips?

this will be my first time driving a van, biggest ive gone is LWB Land Rover...

thanks in advance

[JazzJPH]

Not that much difference really, you're higher up so it's easier to see everything. As long as you're good with spacial awareness you should be ok.

It's the manouvres that prove to be dodgy with the longer vehicles (compared with manouvring a car) but it doesn't take much to get used to.

Is it a pickup body or a full van? Tall or normal Tranny style?

[john_h]

just a tall, long wheel base ford transit....the types you see pikeys in. heres a link

Hertz On Demand Rental Cars by the Hour. 24/7. Convenient. Hassle Free.

should show you a B&Q van

[alf1415]

Like Jazz said not much difference but be aware of the height if ya going anywhere near a car port or lean to.

[john_h]

thanks alf, nah only place is the car park to a mates house...staying clear of anything overhead.

[stevoxsi]

You'll be fine. I've been doing it for years, just remember the extra length!

[john_h]

Originally Posted by stevoxsi

You'll be fine. I've been doing it for years, just remember the extra length!

cheers stevo... should be no worries, learning to drive PCV for arriva soon so i got to learn one way or another haha

[jmkent]

Originally Posted by john_h

cheers stevo... should be no worries, learning to drive PCV for arriva soon so i got to learn one way or another haha

Don't go admitting you'll be a bus driver.... one of the worse drivers on the roads!!!

Absolutely no worries driving a van... transits are hardly much wider than a car really. They'll drive just the same, probably even faster these days
Just be good with your mirrors... no looking out the back .... I've always used wing mirrors rather than looking round out rear window, and it makes driving vans second nature... I was even parking 10t trucks at work after passing at 17 before buying my first car

[john_h]

Originally Posted by jmkent

Don't go admitting you'll be a bus driver.... one of the worse drivers on the roads!!!

im not just yet, starting to learn in a few weeks...so ill learn how to be more of a cun....on the roads

Originally Posted by jmkent

Absolutely no worries driving a van... transits are hardly much wider than a car really. They'll drive just the same, probably even faster these days
Just be good with your mirrors... no looking out the back .... I've always used wing mirrors rather than looking round out rear window, and it makes driving vans second nature... I was even parking 10t trucks at work after passing at 17 before buying my first car

thanks for the tips, that not looking out the rear kinda sounds like land rovers...no point in lookin as you cant see out...sounds really simple, i thought there would be a massive difference...

[trem1]

Vans are pretty much cars with no rear windows(ok some have got windows but you cant see sh*t out of them cos the bit in the middle is obscurred)
best advice john is watch when your turning tight and give a little bit more room, the biggest/most common mistake agency drivers make at our place is turning too soon and catching bollards etc just in front of the rear wheels.

when you gonna be driving it so i can come and laugh at you whilst following in my van laughing and pointing