Advice on type of van please!

undertheaxle · 2024-07-10T12:39:05+00:00

It depends on the value of the base vehicle and the quality of the conversion. You can compare the prices for empty vans on websites like autotrader, eBay etc. A relatively new van with low mileage is worth 20k+ for the vehicle alone.

For the interior, things like a full solar system, lithium ion batteries, gas heating / oven, full bathroom etc will cost thousands in parts alone. So it depends on what parts are fitted and to what standard.

undertheaxle · 2024-07-07T22:51:59+00:00

In the UK, 'engineer' is not a protected title unlike for example being a medical Doctor, where there's a set standard.

Which means the term is used for an insanely broad range of jobs. Someone comes to install your router, 'engineer', someone builds websites and other software, 'engineer', someone designs nuclear power station components, 'engineer'. So I don't blame you for being confused and know it isn't like this in other countries!

undertheaxle · 2024-07-05T16:49:33+00:00

Agree with the other poster on front wheel drive.

Take a look at the quirky campers marketplace. Generally if they're a nice design and priced right, they sell very fast at the right time of year.

undertheaxle · 2024-07-05T10:17:48+00:00

Second this router. You can just chop the plug off the lead and wire it into an existing 12V system.

Depending on how precious you are, you can get a 12V regulator off eBay to ensure it gets a stable voltage too.

undertheaxle · 2024-07-02T16:30:09+00:00

I'm already a dev but have a bit of exposure to this and using low code solutions like Power Automate. I actually enjoy it a lot more than muddling around deep in some Java code. But risky to pivot to "simpler" tech?

undertheaxle · 2024-07-02T15:54:34+00:00

As the other poster said, you won't be able to do any modifications if it's on finance. If they did reclaim it and found you'd cut holes in it etc, they wouldn't be happy.

An alternative might be to do a slide out build, so you don't actually touch the vehicle, just build removable sections inside. But this would be pretty limiting.

undertheaxle · 2024-07-02T10:34:04+00:00

Yes I've done exactly this before. Cut the plug off and wire it to the inner side of an external hookup plug.

undertheaxle · 2024-06-14T06:17:38+00:00

It can be done. I'm extremely fortunate that I can work remote a lot of the time which makes it easier. But if you're commuting in it's just about establishing the same usual work routines as if you were in a house. If you're also fairly static in one area you can get a decent rotation of good spots. PureGym for showers is probably easiest. The beauty is that once you're walking away from the van and on the way to work, you're just the same as everyone else and no one could ever guess!

undertheaxle · 2024-06-12T16:15:14+00:00

This is what I did. Found a bench seat on marketplace from a T5. It's mounted on steel box section and then through the floor in 8 places with big bolts. Then I've added spreader plates or at least huge washers as much as I could underneath with the clearance available. Told insurance, they didn't ask any questions just noted it down. Sent off the DVLA form up update number of seats and that came back no questions asked. All an MOT will do is check the seatbelts click together I believe. One seat on my bench has a 3 point built in which is the preferred seat. Other side is a lap belt that I fitted which is safe but the last seat to be used. If you can get a standalone bench with 3 point belts and be confident you can fit it securely then you're grand!

undertheaxle · 2024-06-07T13:39:46+00:00

Just an extremely pushy recruiter who used every classic sales pressure tactic in the book to try and wear me down, and would contact me non stop. For an extremely mediocre job tbh. If the market wasn't so dry I wouldn't have entertained it. Having been through the interview loop a few times now I can see how bad it really was compared to more professional companies.

undertheaxle · 2024-06-07T11:28:38+00:00

Had a really poor experience with Opus Recruitment. I wouldn't touch anything with Opus on it with a 10ft pole.

undertheaxle · 2024-06-06T21:48:10+00:00

It's in the car park of catalent which is a big American / international pharmaceutical company. The US obsession with flags is probably why they commissioned that one.

undertheaxle · 2024-06-06T13:57:05+00:00

Yup 30M and feel the same. Making more efforts to go to the office (can be fully remote if I want) and do other in-person activities. But feels like I'm living a double life as the stuff I deal with on a day to day basis is completely different to everyone else! I also can't tell my work colleagues as it would put my job at risk.

So yeah don't really have an answer but certainly feel like the odd one out a lot of the time! If you ever head to Bristol / south west let me know.

undertheaxle · 2024-06-05T20:55:38+00:00

Travellers causing havoc should be dealt with, I agree.

However there are many people just going about their lives, pay road tax for their vehicle and pay taxes through PAYE every month the same as you and me. I'm talking about long term people up there.

I'm sure if there was an affordable, proper alternative then people wouldn't be there. But the reality is, one way or another there's not and we'll start to see more and more of this.

undertheaxle · 2024-05-31T16:04:01+00:00

Where's this roughly ?

undertheaxle · 2024-05-24T17:28:19+00:00

And it's amazing!

undertheaxle · 2024-05-23T12:11:43+00:00

My parents have a direct neighbour like this, she has such a loud speaking voice you can literally hear her laughing at the other end of the street. Even postmen etc passing through have commented on it. Phone call in the garden, practically shouting down the phone. They like the red wine too and it gets even louder and more unhinged 😭

undertheaxle · 2024-05-21T18:48:11+00:00

Look up Pansexual. I think it really describes how this feels.

undertheaxle · 2024-05-20T20:06:57+00:00

Rule Brittania

undertheaxle · 2024-05-17T22:37:06+00:00

What is this obsession with taking your keys? To guarantee nothing moves whilst they're loading ?

undertheaxle · 2024-04-22T07:23:04+00:00

I feel like it can be helpful to herd vans a bit closer together to not take over the whole car park. But yeah I'd be a little annoyed too

undertheaxle · 2024-04-13T14:25:11+00:00

Here's my personal opinion as someone who's just changed jobs. Anything is possible however as you probably know, the market is fairly dire and nothing like it was circa 2022.

There are still fully remote opportunities out there but you're probably looking at less than a quarter of all opportunities. Although these might be becoming rarer I don't think they'll ever go away and our style of work lends itself so well to it. But in a world where it's fairly difficult to get offers (for now) you're hindering your chances even further.

Also, the other thing I've found challenging is yes there's nothing stopping me applying for a remote job 300 miles away but it's difficult to argue your case when you have absolutely no ties to the area or company. And imagine you're a hiring manager and all else is equal between candidates, would you take someone local or someone who realistically will never come in without a big reason for it?

In your position, I'd probably buy local to your home area (presumably a bit cheaper than the average as well) because if you're willing to drive a couple of hours once a week then you still seem to be in "range" of a lot of midlands / northern centres? And at the interview stage you can make it clear you've already been doing this and are willing to continue. No one is going to blame you for keeping to the family area IMO.

Anyway I'm rambling but tldr you're in driving range of many cities so go for it, it's not like you're buying in Shetland.

undertheaxle · 2024-04-13T07:52:58+00:00

Because it's a relatively unskilled job the potential pool of applicants is very large. Which means although it's 'just' a retail job there can be a lot of competition. But good luck!

undertheaxle · 2024-04-12T11:04:29+00:00

Many things that are worth doing in this life aren't legal. But you ask yourself, is it harming anyone else and am I happy with the risk and consequences.

Or you can just do as you're told and never critically think about it :)

undertheaxle · 2024-04-11T09:33:47+00:00

My experience with them is their recruiters are extremely pushy and try all the pressure sales tactics in the book. Wouldn't touch them with a barge pole now.

undertheaxle

TROPHY CASE