New Van!

[MSL]

I just traded in my comically small car for a Nissan NV200. I'm getting the shelves and bulkhead put in on monday.

I put in a wooden bench that I had along with a seat just to see how it would feel to try and work in it. I'm 5'8 and I'm glad I'm not 5'9 because I have about an inch clearance from the ceiling when I'm sitting in it. All said I'm happy with it.

I got my license exam coming up in September so hopefully I'll be able to put it to good use.

[billdeserthills]

Congrats on getting your new van! I wrecked my old van a year ago & replaced it with a Nissan NV 3500 high top van & it has been great.
Mine actually has power everything plus it's a one-ton high top van and it still cost less than a 1/2 ton chevy cargo van woulda. I think Nissan makes a great vehicle, I have been very happy with mine.

[MSL]

I hope its durable. People say they can get 250k out of a ford or chevy cargo van, I haven't been able to see how long the nissans last. Its a real change for me though, my last car was a Scion iQ, which is basically a smartcar. I feel like a ninja driving this thing. Everyone used to stare at me in that little tiny car, now no one pays me any attention.

[GWiens2001]

Congrats, MSL. Best of luck, and may the upgrade pay for itself many times over.

Gordon

[billdeserthills]

I hope its durable. People say they can get 250k out of a ford or chevy cargo van, I haven't been able to see how long the nissans last. Its a real change for me though, my last car was a Scion iQ, which is basically a smartcar. I feel like a ninja driving this thing. Everyone used to stare at me in that little tiny car, now no one pays me any attention.

I can personally vouch for it's ability to smash into things and keep on going. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure after getting my van and they weren't joking about how that medication can alter your driving. After 30 years of backing up correctly, I put my Nissan into reverse and just clean forgot about the looking behind you part, before backing into a vehicle. I managed to back into a wall as well, so I can def vouch for it's ability to take a hit. Far as the back-up sensor goes, well it beeps all the friggen time, so that's not what i consider a proper warning. I guess I would be money ahead to add a back-up camera to mine before my next wreck. I will tell you the shelving they put into my van is really light-weight and very crummy. No way is it going to last. I really like using used office equipment in my vans, especially 2 or 3 drawer vertical file cabinets. They are very well built and few things can take the abuse I can dish out. I just spent $10 on a used two-drawer vertical file and one drawer holds more locks than a shelf unit, plus they can all be easily kept in place and are easy to access later. Check out the cost of actual shelving/cabinets made for a van and you will see some sky-high scary prices. Even at retail cost the vertical file cabinets are very reasonably priced and if you keep in mind that those big drawers can easily hold 100+ pounds of paperwork, they'll also hold more locks than you can physically stuff in them. I just add a one or two drawer File Bar and put a padlock on to keep the drawers closed.

[MSL]

Do you have to secure that kind of stuff to the walls or floor, or will weight just keep it there?

That little bench that I stuck in there just to see what one would look like isn't bolted down or anything and it hasn't moved or tipped or anything, so I'm thinking about doing something similar.

[billdeserthills]

Do you have to secure that kind of stuff to the walls or floor, or will weight just keep it there?

That little bench that I stuck in there just to see what one would look like isn't bolted down or anything and it hasn't moved or tipped or anything, so I'm thinking about doing something similar.

I actually go to the welder and get some pieces of scrap metal, he doesn't charge for scrap. Then I make double sure using the scraps of metal as washers, with grade 5, 3/8" carriage bolts, that no matter what kinda accident, no matter what speed I'm driving, there is No Way that cabinet is going to tear out & hit me or my passenger. Not fastening stuff down to the floors/walls is really just looking for trouble, when you are using heavy stuff. The van I used prior to getting the new van hit a tree soo hard that part of the engine wound up in the driver's compartment, and I had replaced the motor mounts the month prior. Don't wait to get in a terrible wreck, to find out just how securely heavy stuff needs to be bolted in.

[2octops]

The NV series is good stuff. Congrats on the new toy!

When it comes to building one out, make sure everything is secure and can not move or else it will when you least expect it to. Nothing worse than hitting a bump and hearing an ITL slam onto the floor.

We floor our vans with 3/4 plywood and basically build a cage in the back of the van from steel and everything is either mounted to the cage or directly through the floor. Our vans could literally flip over and nothing would move except for tool boxes and some inventory.

Sheet metal screws through the factory body framing will NOT support the weight of cabinets or shelving.

Our vans have a U shaped countertop that covers both sides and across the back. This stabilizes the load from shifting side to side. The framing for the counter top is bolted or welded in place to the floor and then everything is attached to that.

A cage is a good idea to keep small things from flying up into the cab if in an accident, but I have a friend that wrecked a van and his code machine broke lose, busted through the cage and landed in his passenger seat. Make sure your machines are securely bolted so they can NOT break free.

[MSL]

Something I've noticed already is that I'm invisible now. My last car was a Scion iQ, which is basically a smartcar. People would stare at me while driving. No one looks at me now. In fact they don't seem to notice me at all. I've had a few people almost merge into me. I guess they think I'm just going to get out of their way.

[2octops]

Something I've noticed already is that I'm invisible now.

That's not entirely a bad thing. Our vans are unmarked passenger vans with blacked out windows. Nobody knows who we are or what we do. A lot of customers appreciate not advertising that they are having a security contractor working on their building for one reason or another.

Another nice thing is we blend in in a parking lot which makes us less of a target for thieves to smash a window in hopes of grabbing something they can sell quickly.

If you want to be noticed, just have an obnoxious wrap applied. Obnoxious is not a bad thing for advertising. It's eye catching and draws attention much better than bland, block lettering and a phone number.

[billdeserthills]

Something I've noticed already is that I'm invisible now. My last car was a Scion iQ, which is basically a smartcar. People would stare at me while driving. No one looks at me now. In fact they don't seem to notice me at all. I've had a few people almost merge into me. I guess they think I'm just going to get out of their way.

Just goes to show how badly you need that new wrap on your new van for your advertising

[billdeserthills]

Something I've noticed already is that I'm invisible now.

That's not entirely a bad thing. Our vans are unmarked passenger vans with blacked out windows. Nobody knows who we are or what we do. A lot of customers appreciate not advertising that they are having a security contractor working on their building for one reason or another.

Another nice thing is we blend in in a parking lot which makes us less of a target for thieves to smash a window in hopes of grabbing something they can sell quickly.

If you want to be noticed, just have an obnoxious wrap applied. Obnoxious is not a bad thing for advertising. It's eye catching and draws attention much better than bland, block lettering and a phone number.

Congrats, You beat me to it by one minute!

[MSL]

I was thinking about just going with magnets. Figured I could take them off when I don't want people to think I have tools in there.

[2octops]

Just say no to magnets.

That is quiet possibly the most unprofessional looking thing you could do for your business.

Have you considered dry erase markers?

[MSL]

Really? They're all over the place here. In my condo complex there's got to be 4-5 vans in there at any time and they've all got big magnetic signs.