When Bigger Really means Better

Your Paper Boys Rant Part # 6

When Bigger Really means Better?

Sorry ladies, this one is for the Car Guy or Girl in your home. I was talking about my work van and asking would it be easier to work from a Larger Van. I have been using a 1/2 ton Long wheel base Safari Van for the last 3 years. I have added Air Shocks in he rear for an extra 1000 #’s of load. Then  before Christmas when  we had bundles in 8 instead of 10 or 15 like normal on the Thursday, It took 5 trips of 120 bundles and 7 hours.

I start to think it is time for a Bigger Van NOW!

Or next year it will be 8 or 9 loads at an Hour each by the time I go to the dock then load and go back out to the route. 

I Love it when it Snows, so I can slow down and it takes longer to get the “JOB” done!

 

I talked with a friend in the scrap business, I said, “next time you find an over-sized van I wanted to see it before you scraped it.”   A few weeks later, I slide into a post in a carport when I am backing out and it cracks my Driver side mirror lens. I start asking around the auto wreckers want $50 for each whole mirror. I need a newer driver seat $100, New Overload Springs $300 each side. The list is starting to add up. Glass shop says $30 each if your frames are good, no one of mine is cracked making it $90 for both mirrors. I ask Chris to look for a parts Van too.

Two weeks ago my friend Chris calls, “I found a beast for your Paper Route it is a 1984 long wheel base, Chevy C-20 Getaway Camper van with large raised roof full length, 1997 Target Master Factory long block, Elderbrock 4 barrel (no pollution stuff), 1997 4 Speed Automatic same as the Safari. Camper has a set of 4 - 5 Bolt on 5″ Corvette Ralley Rims with Mud and Snow Michelin Radial X Tires 235 / 75 15 R. The two rear tires are 31″ x 10.5″ RV Tires”

That gave me an Extra pair of Winters for my Safari I was driving and closed the Deal…

Four days later he calls says, I have found your parts Safari Parts Van in Parksville .

Cool what is it, where in Parksville, when are you going?

I am a Lucky Guy!

Turns out parts van is a 1994 White Safari Shorty Van with New Upgraded Fiberglass Mono Springs, Both Good Side Mirrors, clean set of white Sheet metal w/ Metal Front Bumper and a spare fuel pump with a working gas gauge. Drivers Seat has Good Foam needs a seat cover and the new Mirrors are Powered nice Upgrade. All this for $400 Dropped off in my driveway. Life is good and it is nice to have friends the “Scrap Business”. It will still be worth $200 when  I am Done getting my parts, like spare tail lights as a nice bonus.

 

Wow, I love Snow!

It makes me slow down and it takes longer to complete my routes and I have to Pay the Tow when I do get stuck.    Fun Fun Fun!!!

 

I have been using this Safari for 3 years now, happy to find a parts van because overloading a vehicle twice a week with over 5,000 Papers that can weight over 1 Kilogram each does ware things out fast. Front brake pads last less than 20,000 kms .

 

All three vans are Chevy which is funny most of my cars are imports but they do not build a heavy duty Van Platform like the C-20 Getaway van I now have for the days when I am working on my van or when the papers are just two big for the mid size van I prefer to use.

Turns out Bigger is better I used the van it was easier to load and I found out when I get the right Ramp I will be able to roll the cages right inside this van and saved a lot of Loading Time. Did have a bit of excitement it turns out the Passenger rear side door handle is broken and does not close right, about 6 stop in to the route the door flies open and two bundles fall out on the road. I had to find a place to park then walk back and pick up the bundles. went and visited Chris He fixed the latch so it would stay closed till I found a spare handle that worked or at least had the springs that we needed. Without the side door it took longer to unload than load but I am sure when I get the ramp setup and door working right it will save time and effort on larger Paper Thursdays.