Locks

[Sol]

I know those, they are the high security dead-bolt mortice type of lock and very good. Armaplates are a big plus on a van too.

Maybe put stickers on saying "Guard Dogs in Transit" - I can't imagine anyone fancying trying to lead a Police Alsatian away for example!

But I understand what you mean. Maybe a big "Maggie's Cleaning Services - only mops and buckets left in this van overnight" (how many neds like cleaning implements....) or "Human Waste Samples in Transit - Biological Hazard"

I think the plain van is no bad thing, but security locks imply something is in there - no one buys a big safe then just keeps the biscuits in it.

Very nice van - clean as a whistle. There are various "No Tools or Equipment kept in this van" type ones available.

[Wilf]

Paint it black and have "Funeral Services Transport" sign written on the sides? 

 Maybe I should cancel the cam belt change and do that instead, haha!

[Wilf]

I know those, they are the high security dead-bolt mortice type of lock and very good. Armaplates are a big plus on a van too.

Maybe put stickers on saying "Guard Dogs in Transit" - I can't imagine anyone fancying trying to lead a Police Alsatian away for example!

But I understand what you mean. Maybe a big "Maggie's Cleaning Services - only mops and buckets left in this van overnight" (how many neds like cleaning implements....) or "Human Waste Samples in Transit - Biological Hazard"

I think the plain van is no bad thing, but security locks imply something is in there - no one buys a big safe then just keeps the biscuits in it.

Very nice van - clean as a whistle. There are various "No Tools or Equipment kept in this van" type ones available.

That was my thinking too, having the locks and armaplate suggests I’m carrying something! That’s also why I asked them to take the roof rails off, hoping it would look like I wasn’t a builder etc. I actually like the guard dog idea, I think I might go with that, though I like Pedronicus’ suggestion too 

I’ve wanted a van for ages and I’m really happy with it, though slightly nervous as I’ve never spent that much on a vehicle before, but it does drive nicely. It has a small dent and scratch on the other side that I’m getting fixed in a few weeks. It’s only done 54000 and full service history but I’m getting the cam belt done in a few weeks too. It’s scratched inside in the back but I’m contemplating respraying that myself. Replaced the wheel trims as one was missing (sold those 3 to the dealer) I’ve got a new rubber mat on order and ordered the plugs, d rings and screws from the site you showed me the other day. Hopefully that’s all I’ll have to spend for a while!

[Sol]

Aye! I bought mine a year ago for £5k, with 60k miles on it, spotless and one owner from new.

Done 4k miles in it so far, and I've put a windscreen washer pump on it, £7.50, a heater resistor, £12.50, Michelin Vector IV tyres on (all weather) at £560, OEM XTR roof rails (£100), and the other day, a full clutch kit at £365.

Never say never haha

[Pedronicus]

In the wife's fully kitted out dog van we carry two German Shepherds, both trained to Police dog standards.  She takes part in Working Trials where the top stake involves chase and bringing down the crim on his toes, escorting a crim, seeing off an attack on the handler by the crim, tracking a crim and searching for discarded articles.  Also clearing a 6ft scale (high jump) and a 9ft long jump (the dogs not the missus!).  We can get stickers to go on the vehicle advising of 'Guard Dogs in Transit' more to advise rescuers in an accident than ward off any scrotes (but you would have to be a bloody brave, foolish one to try and nick one of the dogs from the van).

[Wilf]

Aye! I bought mine a year ago for £5k, with 60k miles on it, spotless and one owner from new.

Done 4k miles in it so far, and I've put a windscreen washer pump on it, £7.50, a heater resistor, £12.50, Michelin Vector IV tyres on (all weather) at £560, OEM XTR roof rails (£100), and the other day, a full clutch kit at £365.

Never say never haha

No timing belt done yet? I couldn’t decide if I should or not but I’d rather get it done now I guess, every car I’ve bought previously it’s the first thing I’ve had done. The dealer put 4 new tyres on for me before I went to view as they were in the advisories of the recent mot. It cost me just over 6k but no vat luckily! 6 months warranty too.

[Wilf]

In the wife's fully kitted out dog van we carry two German Shepherds, both trained to Police dog standards.  She takes part in Working Trials where the top stake involves chase and bringing down the crim on his toes, escorting a crim, seeing off an attack on the handler by the crim, tracking a crim and searching for discarded articles.  Also clearing a 6ft scale (high jump) and a 9ft long jump (the dogs not the missus!).  We can get stickers to go on the vehicle advising of 'Guard Dogs in Transit' more to advise rescuers in an accident than ward off any scrotes (but you would have to be a bloody brave, foolish one to try and nick one of the dogs from the van).

My first dog was a German shepherd x rottie, always felt safe with her. She wasn’t trained as a guard dog but I was her person and I know she would have literally died for me. We used to have the police contract when I managed boarding kennels for their dogs. The gsds might have been able to take a man down and look scary, but they had awful general obedience haha. I was actually more careful around the spaniel sniffer dogs who were so ball obsessed I wouldn’t have put it past them to rip your face off if you dared pick their ball up haha! Yeah that’s actually a good point anyway about having some kind of sticker about the dogs in case of an accident.

[Sol]

Mine was vat free too, that's why I went for that one.

Timing belt is soon, it's 9 years old this December so not there yet. I had planned to swap it for a new shape ST this year. The wife says that since I had to do the clutch, the new car will have to wait.

Now, where do I sign up for the obedience trials.....she needs some training....shhhh