Car Suggestions - Pipe Carriers, Ladders

[vwes59]

Hi,
It's got to a point that our poor car just isn't cutting the mustard anymore. It was never designed to be used as an electricians car. Up to now I've managed, but I've got much bigger jobs coming up needing to work at height, transporting conduit and so on, so it has to go.

With family restrictions I can't go with a van or pickup, as my as my daughter would love one, but it has to be a car, specifically either an estate, SUV or MPV.

So I wondered if anyone out there uses their family car for work, and if so, have you been able to fit pipe carriers and ladders to its roof. Love to hear people's recommendations.

We used to own a Qashqai+2 and that was like a Tardis with what we could get inside, but it's roof just doesn't seem to suit long straight carriers, so that's probably out. I'm tempted by a Freelander 2, much flatter roof, downside it's a diesel, and I've been bitten once before when a diesel car goes wrong (£3k repair bill for a DPF which effectively wrote it off), so not keen to repeat that.

 

[Strima]

Why not a crewcab van?

 

[telectrix]

VW....long roof, loads of room inside,...... and you can also go on holidayin it.

 

[cloverman]

Like Strima has said ! I have a crewcab van, one of my best decisions I have to say on the transport front ! I had several vans over the years and although I also had use of a car it become a bit of a pain having to come back to swop over vehicles to pick grandkids up etc,.

 

[vwes59]

Looks like we've found a car that'll do the job, a 2006 Honda CR-V that has a side opening boot. After 2006 they switched to the usual hatch back design.

 

[nicebutdim]

If the Honda doesn't work out, and you're happy with a car of that age, the Vectra C estate is basically a shed on wheels. Huge load space, big square opening and a long flat roof - I replaced mine with an Insignia and still mourn the loss of practicality.

 

[UNG]

Seat Alhambra / VW Sharan

I have a 2004 Seat Alhambra currently has 195,000 on it and is a nice motor take row 2 & 3 seats out and you have a massive load space, seats can be removed or replaced in minutes and used in different configurations

 

[telectrix]

Jeep Cherokee 4L straight 6 petrol. sod the climate.

 

[brianmoooore]

I've always used a car for work, but with a towbar, and a trailer behind when necessary. For the first twenty years it was a Mini saloon (original type), with half a matching Mini van towed behind it. The car had a roof bar, and so did the van, and could easily carry the longest ladders and the 6m lengths of pipe/conduit that were standard at the time, with no overhang. Load secured firmly at the front, and with a little bit of slack at the back.

 

[rsgaz]

Where abouts in the country are you? I have a second hand trunking/conduit 3m tube for sale if you're interested? I bought a longer van and don't need it any more.

 

[Ned Gibbons]

I've always used a car for work, but with a towbar, and a trailer behind when necessary. For the first twenty years it was a Mini saloon (original type), with half a matching Mini van towed behind it. The car had a roof bar, and so did the van, and could easily carry the longest ladders and the 6m lengths of pipe/conduit that were standard at the time, with no overhang. Load secured firmly at the front, and with a little bit of slack at the back.

Just bare in mind if you passed your test after 1997 you might need to do an extra driving test to pull some trailers.

 

[brianmoooore]

Don't think that's true any more. Now it only applies to trailers above a certain weight.

 

[brianmoooore]

Just looked it up. No extra licence required up to 3500 kg total weight of car and trailer.

 

[telectrix]

my van is 3500kg if fully loaded. it has a warning sticker saying a tacho may be required with a trailer.

 

[DJAndy]

Just looked it up. No extra licence required up to 3500 kg total weight of car and trailer.

It's the gross laden weight they go on. My 2.9T pick-up + a 750kg trailer is over 3.5T so needs B+E and a tacho (unless covered by an exemption such as transporting tools & materials I am personally using up to 60 miles from base).