I got my car license in 2009, what is the biggest van I can hire?

Iceweasel

If you hire a long wheelbase one take care and allow yourself more room turning left.

According to the van-hire agents the most common fault/error is running a rear wheel over the kerb when turning left, due to not being accustomed to such a long wheelbase.

They always check carefully for tyre and/or rim damage when you return it.

You should check for that kind of damage perhaps done by a previous hirer, before you drive off in it.

londonTiger

paddedjohn wrote: »

Got to disagree with you there,imo vans are a lot easier to drive than cars and visibility is loads better due to having a higher view point and being able to see further ahead over cars.;)

I don't see how having higher visibility helps with driving? Driving in traffic is generally easy in any vehicle. But parallel parking in typical residential road is hard if you're not used to it.

Last week I took out a zipvan to take a bunch of garden rubbish to a recycling centre. I had to park in a residential road - paralell parking was difficult. There firstly the gap was tight but doable and when I pulled the nose away from the park car to reverse, it go very close to the parked car on the other side of the road. Things like that which are very easy to do in a small car and hard in a van.

Gloomendoom

londonTiger wrote: »

take it slow, and give yourself ample time. I've used zipvan and put myself under a lot of pressure hiring out in 1.5-2hr slots.

And remember that the speed limits for most vans over 2 tons MAM are different to cars.

50mph single carriageways
60mph dual carriageways
70mph motorways

http://www.transportsfriend.org/ops/vans.html

spacey2012

Gloomendoom wrote: »

And remember that the speed limits for most vans over 2 tons MAM are different to cars.

50mph single carriageways
60mph dual carriageways
70mph motorways

http://www.transportsfriend.org/ops/vans.html

Indeed any non car derived van and traffic cops will follow hire vans as they are an easy ticket.

paddedjohn

londonTiger wrote: »

I don't see how having higher visibility helps with driving? Driving in traffic is generally easy in any vehicle. But parallel parking in typical residential road is hard if you're not used to it.

Last week I took out a zipvan to take a bunch of garden rubbish to a recycling centre. I had to park in a residential road - paralell parking was difficult. There firstly the gap was tight but doable and when I pulled the nose away from the park car to reverse, it go very close to the parked car on the other side of the road. Things like that which are very easy to do in a small car and hard in a van.

Having a higher viewpoint helps you to see further ahead of you when driving in traffic, it gives you more time to react. I have driven well over a million miles all around Europe in light commercial vehicles and now drive a van as my personal vehicle as it is easier to drive than a car.;)

londonTiger

frankly never have issues requiring me to anticipate traffic ahead, then again I don't tailgate.

Happychappy

The significant date is 01/01/1997 after this date anyone passing a Category B car test was only given entitlement to drive a van up to 3.5 tons previously 7.5 tons and a mini bus up to 9 seats, previously 17 seats? It the only benefit old farts get ; )

londonTiger

Two_Combs wrote: »

That's something you should do every time you drive.

check the context of the discussion smart !!!!

Kavanne

londonTiger wrote: »

take it slow, and give yourself ample time. I've used zipvan and put myself under a lot of pressure hiring out in 1.5-2hr slots.

Parking can be very hairy without the rear view mirror, you have to use the two wing mirrors and constantly look back and forth to make sure nobody has decided to slip in behind you - never realised how difficult for van drivers to see behind until I drove one.

Thanks! Luckily I don't need one this weekend as I thought I would, when I would have been on my own. When I do eventually need it I should have my mum about and she's driven HGV so I will def have her in the passenger seat!