Kombi as a 'trades van'

[Jay]

So since losing my job, I've gone self employed, however I'm finding the kombi a bit difficult. I neednsome sort of storage/racking.

I really don't want to swap it in, as I love it. I also don't want to take the bulkhead out as I can reverse my van right up the the wall on the drive so everything is secure.

Show us what you've done to yours, or can you recommend a company who supplies kits.

Merry christmas

 

[Gavinda]

This is the setup in my kombi, 3 years now as a heating engineer and couldn't be happier, the big drawer fits all our tools with space to spare, the smaller drawer hold fittings and spares with space underneath for 3m lengths of pipe. All made by us using various ally sections and ply covered in 2mm rubber.

 

[Alster]

I’m a domestic appliance engineer and I’ve used the Festool/systainer boxes- they will lock together easily and good quality-when we are using it for personal use i can empty the van in about ten minutes. Can’t show you a pic at the moment as it’s empty for the hols! I’ll post a pic when i re load at the beginning of January.

 

[T6ARF]

I saw this on Instagram recently. Treat yourself and your van to an Ovano and as you’re self employed it’ll be tax deductible?

 

[Alster]

They are the boxes i use but without any fancy sliding drawers!

 

[T6ARF]

They are the boxes i use but without any fancy sliding drawers!

It looks a great system with the boxes…. very neat and tidy!

 

[BuilderJay]

I’ve got a Transit Custom at the moment but I have a lwb Sportline on order. All my tools are Festool and have used there drawer system with my own build 25x25 powder coated steel tube along with phelonic ply which I routed the ends and knocked in green arcade edge trim.
You can adapt this to fit in the sides of your van up to the rear bench seat/bulkhead. You can always cut out a hole in the bulkhead to slide in longer things. Lots of ideas around but only you know the set up you need.

 

[Salty Spuds]

So since losing my job, I've gone self employed, however I'm finding the kombi a bit difficult. I neednsome sort of storage/racking.

I really don't want to swap it in, as I love it. I also don't want to take the bulkhead out as I can reverse my van right up the the wall on the drive so everything is secure.

Show us what you've done to yours, or can you recommend a company who supplies kits.

Merry christmas

My last 3 work vans were fitted with Sortimo racking, can’t fault it. They will tailor it to your van.

 

[Salty Spuds]

…All my tools are Festool…..

View attachment 139775

Who smuggled the Makita chop saw in?

 

[BuilderJay]

Lol I have a Kapex too but the Makita I can throw around on site easier as a third of the price!
The kapex is for precision work. The makita for cutting and pitching roofs and cuts up old timber along with nails.

 

[Jay]

Thanks for the pics guys. Going to see what I can mock up tomorrow. Shame I had to sell the cnc router for buisiness start up funds.

Think I'm going to put some shelves in for parts boxes and power tools and see where I got from there. Desperatly don't want to swap vans as this is fully loaded and I love it, even with its egr issues.

 

[Jay]

My last 3 work vans were fitted with Sortimo racking, can’t fault it. They will tailor it to your van.

But it comes with a massive price tag too

 

[Gavinda]

Im sure the sortimo racking is good quality but it always looks like there's lots of wasted space as it never fits the van perfectly, I'd much rather custom make something or at least adapt an existing system to make use of every square inch. I think some sort of pull out platform or drawer is the way to go in a kombi with bulkhead.

 

[Salty Spuds]

But it comes with a massive price tag too

My last set cost me £3k, it had 5 years of hard work & I sold it for £1500 when I sold the van, by which time it was written off the books. So not a bad investment.

 

[Murdoch]

I’ve got a SWB kombi with sortimo racking in the back section. Can’t fault it.

to keep the noise down and allow the aircon to work better in the summer or the heater in the winter I’ve fitted a wooden board to the end of the racking (with a window in it)

works perfectly for me, haven’t got any photos ATM

as for costs my racks cost my business about £2k

 

[Scruffy]

Treat yourself and your van to an Ovano and as you’re self employed it’ll be tax deductible?

Ovano? Have you won the lottery? And have you got 6 months to wait. Find a decent chippy and show them a few pics from the internet, or have a go yourself.

 

[DXX]

A Tesco delivery van storage system looks pretty good.

 

[Jay]

A Tesco delivery van storage system looks pretty good.

Will lie in wait for my neighbours next delivery.

The sortimo stuff does look great, and I appreciate it's an investment. However just can't justify that sort of lay out whilst in the early stages of business.

Priced up the wood to make some, holy sh1te prices are ridiculous.

In the end I've stumped up for some plywood cnc cut ones. This should give me a chance to see how well I get on with the kombi.

Thanks for your input guys. Happy new year.

 

[Murdoch]

I’ve got a SWB kombi with sortimo racking in the back section. Can’t fault it.

to keep the noise down and allow the aircon to work better in the summer or the heater in the winter I’ve fitted a wooden board to the end of the racking (with a window in it)

works perfectly for me, haven’t got any photos ATM

as for costs my racks cost my business about £2k

a photo, the wooden bulkhead allows me to use the rear seats if I want them too

 

[Alster]

Ready for work!