Great vlog mate, thanks for telling us ya numbers for the week and breaking it Down. It seems like it's a small van world on the cx at the moment lol. Hopefully the closer we get to Xmas the more it will pick up.
Don't see point in tramping in van onless you guarantee job for next day and you only couple of miles away that night travel lodge will always do a deal
Ye I only used to do it to cut down dead miles, as all my work was off the CX so at subcontracting/backload rates. I did get to stay in some cool places though, especially in the summer, not so much fun in the winter even with a night heater! Not really enough money in it if relying on CX for all work to stay in hotels etc, also they can be far from your tip and if finishing late I used to find it easier and more convenient to just tramp somewhere close.
I was thinking of doing this type of job for a bit of side work from my full time job as I live in the Swindon aera did you find there is much work in the aera or would I be better off in Bristol thanks for sharing your experience I have subscribed and will continue to watch your videos thank very much
Ye Swindon is a reasonable place, however Bristol is a busier. It's hard to make it work out doing it part-time, mainly due to the cost of the insurance and the CX subscription, although you don't have to join the CX.
Have a look at britstops If you get stuck for sonewhere to park overnight as britstops are pubs that let you stay in their car park overnight if you buy a meal and a pint etc
@@vanontherun2843 Ive not used them but UA-camr Wandering womble And Urban motorhome Are both familiar with how britstops work etc they would know the answers to any questions etc But as i am a big fan of vanlife people living in vans were being moved on in first lockdown but many i think stayed in closed pubs carparks in their vans etc with landlords permission etc
I was working late in a factory on my own back in my youth, and around midnight I heard voices in the alley outside which was secured private ground with 12’ high wall and padlocked gate, so I knew they were up to no good. When I heard them coming in through the roof, I turned the burglar alarm on and they scarpered. I’d called the Police after hearing the voices and explained there situation : high wall, locked gate, probable attempted burglary, and after the roof attempt and them clearing off I called the cops again to find out where they were. They said they’d done a drive by and the gate was still locked so moved on - f-ing useless! So may be an idea to fit an alarm to van you can trigger from within if you feel threatened?
The van has an alarm but I don't think it's activated when I'm in the back. I lock all the doors but then open the rear on the key fob, climb in then lock them manually from within. Yes sadly there are some not so nice people in society 🙁.
Just started watching your videos, thanks for sharing your experiences. I've been running for 6 months with a small van, so it's interesting to see yourself and other vloggers (Goldmember, Beardy, Steve Bradley, Danny Boy, Pete) giving their insight into this crazy lifestyle. I'm too old to do the tramping malarkey, but you mentioned an app or website with details of camper van sites - could you advise please ? A just in case I end up in the arse-end of nowhere contingency (I do have an airbed and a sleeping bag in the van for emergencies !)
great video Have a look at youtuber Urban stealth campervan man He has put a hot shower in his van and has a diesel night heater in his van etc but more vans could be better equiped for tramping if they look at Vanlife Or Vantour In youtube etc showing what facilities can be put in vans etc espicially using solar panels etc
@@vanontherun2843 What counts as lwb on the cx? A lwb vivaro is smaller than a transit L2 or L3 and a sprinter lwb is bigger again. I've got a transit 350 L3 H3 and berlingo, I'm almost ready to give it a go but I'm unsure about which van to use - or both. Thanks
Thanks so much for making and sharing this. Very insightful. I'm just about to start down this path. I'm going to watch your next tramping vid now. All the best!
Great video. Really helpful. Already looking forward to the next one. Do you think the size of your van limits jobs or is better because it's cheaper to run and insure? Also, how close is it to being back to how it was pre-lockdown? Thanks Tim
Every van size has it's good and bad points I guess. I get 45+mpg out of mine so I can make money off small van jobs at 65p and there are way more of them on the CX than any other van size. I aim for SWB and occassionally get MWB jobs. I have thought about changing to a slightly bigger van, if I was starting again I'd probably get an L3H2 Citroen Relay/Peugeot Boxer.
Sorry missed your 2nd question. It's not where it was in early March but it's a lot busier than during the lockdown. It's hard to gauge how they compare as I'm off on my travels so don't see so many jobs for my home area.
I agree, pros and cons to all sizes isn't there. A luton with tail lift has been what I've been looking at most closely, but I worry that it wouldn't be any good for doing multi drop like Amazon Flex as a backup plan. Thanks again for the videos, really useful for those like myself. Tim
How can you make a living at 60p a mile? Staying away from home and sleeping in a van, I would want to be well paid, otherwise why do it? It sounds like a mugs game to me.
Where did you get 60p a mile from? Currently I try to average 68p a mile loaded and unloaded across the week. I hope in time this will go up but they are tough times. You are right being away from home week after week is a big compromise but I quite like it and I'm in a position to do it. I hope once things pick up I can stay at home more.
@@vanontherun2843 I am trying to work the numbers out. If your vans fuel costs are about 11p per mile that leaves you 57p gross profit for every mile you cover. Assuming maintenance, tyres, insurance, equipment and van replacement costs of around 10-12k per annum then just to cover those conservatively estimated costs you need to do 17-20,000 miles or more and thats not including any dead miles ( which must be quite high). You won't get any paid holidays so to earn say £60k you would have to drive over 120,000 miles per year. That also brings you in to VAT territory which means 20% will disappear to HMRC. It seems that the high number of vans available reduces the amount of work and the revenue at the same time. I would love to do a job like yours but just can't see how you make it pay better than a regular job considering the financial risk you are taking.
@@mrdeafa25 I'm doing a series on my costs, first 2 are up and I'm hoping to do the 3rd this week. It's very complicated and doing the videos is helping me work through it. It is beneficial to be VAT registered, an extra 20% is added to your invoice which is no issue as you do work for businesses not private individuals.
@@mrdeafa25 working as I do for 48 weeks a year I hope to earn an equivalent salary of about £30k, hopefully more but probably less this year due to Covid. Your right it's not mega bucks and I earnt more in my old career but I actually enjoy it, at least so far.
@@vanontherun2843 It doesn't come close - very hit and miss. I've been on it 6 months and not had one job, although TBF most of that was during lockdown.
Thanks for the vlog ,great insight into what you do, I'm stuck in a factory so this looks exciting to me!
Excellent vid buddy nice to see what the industry is really like.
Great vlog mate, thanks for telling us ya numbers for the week and breaking it Down. It seems like it's a small van world on the cx at the moment lol. Hopefully the closer we get to Xmas the more it will pick up.
Defo, I think things are still picking up after the lockdown, fingers crossed we don't need to do it again!
Don't see point in tramping in van onless you guarantee job for next day and you only couple of miles away that night travel lodge will always do a deal
Ye I only used to do it to cut down dead miles, as all my work was off the CX so at subcontracting/backload rates. I did get to stay in some cool places though, especially in the summer, not so much fun in the winter even with a night heater!
Not really enough money in it if relying on CX for all work to stay in hotels etc, also they can be far from your tip and if finishing late I used to find it easier and more convenient to just tramp somewhere close.
Great vlog, very insightful. I’ve been considering doing this so it’s extremely helpful.
Do you have to be VAT registered to use the CX?
That spot looks like a dogging location
Hi, how much a mile would you add for ADR? Is there a percentage people add per mile etc, thank you
😂😂😂😂 the swimming 🏊♀️
I was thinking of doing this type of job for a bit of side work from my full time job as I live in the Swindon aera did you find there is much work in the aera or would I be better off in Bristol thanks for sharing your experience I have subscribed and will continue to watch your videos thank very much
Ye Swindon is a reasonable place, however Bristol is a busier.
It's hard to make it work out doing it part-time, mainly due to the cost of the insurance and the CX subscription, although you don't have to join the CX.
Thanks for the reply and advice all taken onboard much appreciated
Have a look at
britstops
If you get stuck for sonewhere to park overnight as britstops are pubs that let you stay in their car park overnight if you buy a meal and a pint etc
Cheers that looks like it could be very useful, do you have to buy a guide book though or is there an online/interactive version?
@@vanontherun2843
Ive not used them but
UA-camr
Wandering womble
And
Urban motorhome
Are both familiar with how britstops work etc they would know the answers to any questions etc
But as i am a big fan of vanlife people living in vans were being moved on in first lockdown but many i think stayed in closed pubs carparks in their vans etc with landlords permission etc
Thank you for sharing such good info, very kind of you.
Just come across u pal here new subby off me take a look over at my vlogs nice blog pal
I was working late in a factory on my own back in my youth, and around midnight I heard voices in the alley outside which was secured private ground with 12’ high wall and padlocked gate, so I knew they were up to no good. When I heard them coming in through the roof, I turned the burglar alarm on and they scarpered. I’d called the Police after hearing the voices and explained there situation : high wall, locked gate, probable attempted burglary, and after the roof attempt and them clearing off I called the cops again to find out where they were. They said they’d done a drive by and the gate was still locked so moved on - f-ing useless!
So may be an idea to fit an alarm to van you can trigger from within if you feel threatened?
The van has an alarm but I don't think it's activated when I'm in the back. I lock all the doors but then open the rear on the key fob, climb in then lock them manually from within.
Yes sadly there are some not so nice people in society 🙁.
Just started watching your videos, thanks for sharing your experiences. I've been running for 6 months with a small van, so it's interesting to see yourself and other vloggers (Goldmember, Beardy, Steve Bradley, Danny Boy, Pete) giving their insight into this crazy lifestyle. I'm too old to do the tramping malarkey, but you mentioned an app or website with details of camper van sites - could you advise please ? A just in case I end up in the arse-end of nowhere contingency (I do have an airbed and a sleeping bag in the van for emergencies !)
Hi Clayton, it's called Park4Night
It is good but to be honest sometimes it's easier just to find a quiet residential street.
great video
Have a look at youtuber
Urban stealth campervan man
He has put a hot shower in his van and has a diesel night heater in his van etc but more vans could be better equiped for tramping if they look at
Vanlife
Or
Vantour
In youtube etc showing what facilities can be put in vans etc espicially using solar panels etc
you need about £220 min a day
Thanks for sharing the figures. Do you reckon and medium van like yours or large van?
I am in a LWB van now, it was a good decision for sure to size-up from my old SWB.
@@vanontherun2843 What counts as lwb on the cx? A lwb vivaro is smaller than a transit L2 or L3 and a sprinter lwb is bigger again. I've got a transit 350 L3 H3 and berlingo, I'm almost ready to give it a go but I'm unsure about which van to use - or both. Thanks
I like how you broke the numbers down, well done mate good video
Cheers mate, I plan to do a video on working out costs once I've written it down and worked it out properly, it's all in my head at the moment!
Thanks so much for making and sharing this. Very insightful. I'm just about to start down this path. I'm going to watch your next tramping vid now. All the best!
Thanks mate. I am also fairly new and found this video really useful. Can't wait to see the next one.
How much after costs...this is the main thing people want to know
Great video mate. Next time I'm tramping il have to have a dip in the sea.
Haha ye I made the most of the opportunity, not often things work out like that.
Great video. Really helpful. Already looking forward to the next one.
Do you think the size of your van limits jobs or is better because it's cheaper to run and insure? Also, how close is it to being back to how it was pre-lockdown?
Thanks
Tim
Every van size has it's good and bad points I guess. I get 45+mpg out of mine so I can make money off small van jobs at 65p and there are way more of them on the CX than any other van size. I aim for SWB and occassionally get MWB jobs. I have thought about changing to a slightly bigger van, if I was starting again I'd probably get an L3H2 Citroen Relay/Peugeot Boxer.
Sorry missed your 2nd question. It's not where it was in early March but it's a lot busier than during the lockdown. It's hard to gauge how they compare as I'm off on my travels so don't see so many jobs for my home area.
I agree, pros and cons to all sizes isn't there. A luton with tail lift has been what I've been looking at most closely, but I worry that it wouldn't be any good for doing multi drop like Amazon Flex as a backup plan. Thanks again for the videos, really useful for those like myself. Tim
How can you make a living at 60p a mile? Staying away from home and sleeping in a van, I would want to be well paid, otherwise why do it? It sounds like a mugs game to me.
Where did you get 60p a mile from?
Currently I try to average 68p a mile loaded and unloaded across the week. I hope in time this will go up but they are tough times.
You are right being away from home week after week is a big compromise but I quite like it and I'm in a position to do it. I hope once things pick up I can stay at home more.
@@vanontherun2843 I am trying to work the numbers out. If your vans fuel costs are about 11p per mile that leaves you 57p gross profit for every mile you cover. Assuming maintenance, tyres, insurance, equipment and van replacement costs of around 10-12k per annum then just to cover those conservatively estimated costs you need to do 17-20,000 miles or more and thats not including any dead miles ( which must be quite high). You won't get any paid holidays so to earn say £60k you would have to drive over 120,000 miles per year. That also brings you in to VAT territory which means 20% will disappear to HMRC. It seems that the high number of vans available reduces the amount of work and the revenue at the same time. I would love to do a job like yours but just can't see how you make it pay better than a regular job considering the financial risk you are taking.
@@mrdeafa25 I'm doing a series on my costs, first 2 are up and I'm hoping to do the 3rd this week. It's very complicated and doing the videos is helping me work through it. It is beneficial to be VAT registered, an extra 20% is added to your invoice which is no issue as you do work for businesses not private individuals.
@@mrdeafa25 working as I do for 48 weeks a year I hope to earn an equivalent salary of about £30k, hopefully more but probably less this year due to Covid. Your right it's not mega bucks and I earnt more in my old career but I actually enjoy it, at least so far.
Great video cheers have you tried sdcn platform a monthly subscription
I hadn't hear of it to be honest, how busy is it compared to the CX?
@@vanontherun2843 It doesn't come close - very hit and miss. I've been on it 6 months and not had one job, although TBF most of that was during lockdown.