A while since I updated. This thing continues to impress me. I've done 17k miles in it now since Feb last year when I got it, so 52k in total.
It's been exemplary as far as reliability is concerned. I had concerns about a coolant leak, as I've had to top it up twice, but, for whatever reason, that seems to have cured itself. It uses no oil between services, although I change the oil and filter every 5 or 6 k between scheduled visits to Ford. I've piled the mileage on this year as I've been working away much more often than most years. I joined Costco and started using their diesel, which the hearse seems to like. That, and a combo of me taking it a bit more easy on the throttle combined to see a single tank almost crack 600 miles, which I find amazing for something this size, full of kit and with a roofrack. On that tank it averaged 46.6 per gallon.
It went in to Ford in Southampton for a service at 48k miles, and had all filters and the oil changed. The bill was just over £400 after some negotiation. They initially wanted about £70 more than the dealer I had intended to use near Newcastle ( where I live ), but I was working away when it was due. I initially got £40 off the bill, then, when it was finished they realised that the girl giving me a lift in to collect it was a regular customer and knocked another £30 off! I felt it ended up being a good deal given the work done and a stamp in the book. They pointed out a minor weep from the offside gearbox/driveshaft seal and detached bumpstops on the rear shockers, neither of which I was especially concerned about.
I had it 4 wheel aligned at my go to place in Southampton, not because it felt like it needed it, but because I could and I don't really get charged due to knowing the guy who runs the place. As expected, from the tyre wear pattern, it was almost still in factory spec, only requiring a tiny tweak.
After a few days working on the Isle of Wight, I was on the ferry back to Southampton. As I was coming back to the van, I observed a guy in a Transporter open the passenger door and hit my drivers door. He clearly was hoping to get away with it as he quickly closed the door and started to walk away. I was already in a strop about the way my week had gone. I lost my temper and basically went into orbit. Having established that I was in front of him in the queue to get off the boat, I told him I'd block the exit and keep him there until he squared me up for the damage. Occasionally having a rough geordie accent and the appearance and demeanour of an escaped mental patient with a history of violence does work in my favour, and the bloke duly got his hand in his pocket. I have a Newcastle supporting friend in Southampton who is a dent guy, he took that dent and 3 other very shallow dents in the drivers side rear quarter out for £40, £20 less than I took off the guy on the ferry, so we spent the rest on beer!
My main concern recently has been the possibility of it getting stolen or damaged if it gets broken onto. The place I stay in Southampton is a nice area, but has recently become a constant target for vans. There's nothing of value in mine as I'm a decorator, but scumbags are like as not to break in anyway to find out, and then you still have a damaged van to contend with. To that end, I decided to investigate ways of dissuading a perp from having a go at it.
After a nose around on google, I bought a 125db Vanmate remote alarm with optional extra siren. It's battery operated, but has the option of being permanently powered from a usb source, so I ran a cable in from the cab, mounted the PIR on the sliding door, pointing at the tailgate, so it sees movement at both doors. I mounted the additional siren just above the sliding door, so it gets you right in the ear if the door is opened. For £42 all in, I'm happy with it, but decided that, as good as it is, it will only deter someone who has already damaged the van getting in, which is exactly what I'm trying to avoid.
To that end, I did some more research and settled on a battery operated 110db Cruxer remote bike alarm with 7 position vibration sensor. It's rechargeable via usb and I'll probs wire it permanently. I mounted the siren just above the sliding door, just above and behind the sliding roller hinge. This has given additional security, in as much that a gentle tap at the top of the door, where it would likely be attacked, has the effect of the alarm giving off a warning chirp. If it continues to be attacked, it goes off.
I'm really impressed with this, and it was only £20! It is super sensitive, but hasn't given any false alarms. It turns out if I buy another I can pair both sirens to work from one remote, and pair the other remote as a spare, so I'm probably going to do this and mount another siren on the tailgate. Then move the Vanmate into the cab, as I don't have a factory alarm on it as standard.
The one downside of all this is that I now have an extremely cluttered keyring, as in addition to the van key, there is the garage remote, a disklock key, my ladder clamp keys and now the two additional remotes for the alarms.
Wow, long post, sorry!