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Van or Trailer

virgovoyagervirgovoyager Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi, I'm in the early stages of setting up a garden/general outdoor home help business and trying to decide, with limited funds, whether to go with a trailer or a van, to transport gardening tools/mower and garden green waste.  Any thoughts on the pros and cons of either, gratefully received.
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  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Our local man uses a van but if you’re going into it big time you may need a trailer for a ride on mower, having said that you can buy ramps and use a transit.  Matter of choice I suppose, you need to think of parking with a trailer. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I'd go for a van. If you're working on a job and you have stuff in a trailer parked on the road, how do you secure it? 
    A van will also keep every out of the weather too.
    Devon.
  • Chris-P-BaconChris-P-Bacon Posts: 943
    If it was either/or I'd plump for a van.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I'd go for a van as well. However Bath has just introduced a daily charge of £15 for commercial vans that don't meet the emissions criteria and I believe other cities are thinking about doing it as well, including Bristol, so may need to factor that into your choices if you live anywhere near a big city.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • NorthernJoeNorthernJoe Posts: 660
    If you're looking at keeping a new vehicle for some time make sure they're euro5 or preferably euro 6 rated. Right now LEZs are mostly on for euro5 vehicles IIRC but ULEZs are in n place and likely to come into place in cities across the UK. Those I believe need euro 6 vehicles.

    Also, I'm heard there's at least one French area similar to a national park that's designated a ULEZ. It could be the case places like the lake District become one in the future?


  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    I'd always go for a trailer, lockable box type preferably.  If you see contractors on site, they're usually spread out around their van/trailer with Workmates, trestles, tools etc. all over the place.  If there's suddenly a need to pop off to buy another box of screws, bag of cement or lunch, it's a terrible faff having to tidy it all away so that you can move a van, whereas a trailer plus impedimenta can be left as is.  I'm assuming most work will be around domestic/commercial sites where someone can keep an eye on stuff?  This was brought home to me when going for a fishing holiday in a camper van.  Every time we wanted to move it, all the crockery etc. had to be secured, when a caravan would have been far more versatile.  Variation on a theme?
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    PS -  Box trailers are far easier to attach a board to, to advertise your business on site and as you drive around.
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    edited April 2021
    nick615 said:
    I'd always go for a trailer, lockable box type preferably.  If you see contractors on site, they're usually spread out around their van/trailer with Workmates, trestles, tools etc. all over the place.  If there's suddenly a need to pop off to buy another box of screws, bag of cement or lunch, it's a terrible faff having to tidy it all away so that you can move a van, whereas a trailer plus impedimenta can be left as is.  I'm assuming most work will be around domestic/commercial sites where someone can keep an eye on stuff?  This was brought home to me when going for a fishing holiday in a camper van.  Every time we wanted to move it, all the crockery etc. had to be secured, when a caravan would have been far more versatile.  Variation on a theme?
    That reminded me of my sister and her family who usually go camping,with a tent, with a trailer on the back of their car.
    A couple of years ago they went camping and hired a camper van.
    It was only when thy wanted to get some fish and chips that they realised they had to put everything back in the van so they could drive to the chip shop or leave someone to 'guard' all the stuff unpacked round the van and when raining that was not something anyone wanted to volunteer for!
    So I would suggest a lockable trailer and if funds permit later you could have a van to attach it too.
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • virgovoyagervirgovoyager Posts: 2
    Thanks all for your comments. 

    After doing the math, I opted for the trailer route.   

    At the moment I can not afford the cost of keeping two vehicles, taxed, insurance etc. 

    Until I have a better idea that I can build a client base gardening, if I have no work gardening, the trailer would sit in the garage not costing anything, whilst the van would still need to be paid for!  

    The age of the vans in my price bracket mean't they would be the older type, which would have been okay if I could have serviced it myself!  However, that would be beyond my capabilities.   I needed something reliable, hence new tow bar and trailer. 

    Although, I am still a little worried with having to find parking for it!!!

    Thanks all for your help.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    I'm sure you've made the right decision, but one word of caution.  Make sure the car(?) you'll be towing it with can handle the weight you intend putting on the trailer.  There are laws on the subject and violation could invalidate your insurance.  Check your current policy.  It'll almost certainly cover a trailer of some sort, but will have a weight/size stipulation.  Trailers are also prime targets for thieves so keep yours secure.
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