Van full of stuff, Holland -> England

On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:58:04 GMT, jim@jibbering.com (Jim Ley) wrote:

>Hello,
>
>Anyone have any experience of getting a van full of stuff from Holland
>(Utrecht) to England (Kingston-upon-Thames) There's not a huge amount
>of stuff, easily fit in a small transit - but there are 3 good
>bicycles, so it's reasonably bulky (if packed properly)
>
>Currently it seems the best bet would be to hire a van in the UK, take
>it to holland empty and drive it back full - which would be almost 600
>quid (with guesswork on prices on petrol) this still seems a lot,
>anyone any experience of other options?

It used to be possible to take bikes by air free. Things have almost certainly
changed.

It depends if you want to return to Holland afterwards.

It used to be possible to rent white vans cheap at weekends in NL.
Most people I knew wanting to do the same as you rented the van in NL rather
than in UK.
Hint: It is not illegal to clock a speedo in NL, vehicle hire companies are
frequently victims of customers clocking hire cars in NL. Clocking hire cars is
of course illegal.

You could try to get your stuff to UK on a truck with a partial load.
--

Martin

On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:02:58 +0200, Tom P <tombnbnb@freenet.dd> wrote:

>Jim Ley wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> Anyone have any experience of getting a van full of stuff from Holland
>> (Utrecht) to England (Kingston-upon-Thames) There's not a huge amount
>> of stuff, easily fit in a small transit - but there are 3 good
>> bicycles, so it's reasonably bulky (if packed properly)
>>
>> Currently it seems the best bet would be to hire a van in the UK, take
>> it to holland empty and drive it back full - which would be almost 600
>> quid (with guesswork on prices on petrol) this still seems a lot,
>> anyone any experience of other options?
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Jim.
>I did the reverse operation 2 years ago - drove a van full of stuff from
>N. England to Germany. After looking at all the alternatives, I rented a
>Mercedes van in Germany, drove it over empty via Calais ferry,loaded up
>and drove back, all over a long weekend.
> I rented in Germany because that is where I was starting from. You'd
>have to research the price differences to see if renting out of NL is
>more economical in your case.
>The rental was from Sixt, and the van was a Vito, IIRC, with the low
>roofline. Very pleasant to drive, with all mod cons. The van was exactly
>the right size for the job.
> The one drag on the trip was the tollbooths at Dartford, and here I
>get my soapbox out- you would think that the Brits would make some
>concession to European drivers and have at least just one tollbooth for
>LH drive vehicles?? No way, Jose. Handbrake on, engine off, clamber over
>the central console, window down, ignore the car horns behind you..

At least the boom didn't come down and knock you out like it did to a colleague.
I can't remember the details other than that an ambulance took him away leaving
a blonde bimbo he had given a lift sitting in the car.
--

Martin

Martin wrote:
> On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:02:58 +0200, Tom P <tombnbnb@freenet.dd> wrote:
>
>> Jim Ley wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> Anyone have any experience of getting a van full of stuff from Holland
>>> (Utrecht) to England (Kingston-upon-Thames) There's not a huge amount
>>> of stuff, easily fit in a small transit - but there are 3 good
>>> bicycles, so it's reasonably bulky (if packed properly)
>>>
>>> Currently it seems the best bet would be to hire a van in the UK, take
>>> it to holland empty and drive it back full - which would be almost 600
>>> quid (with guesswork on prices on petrol) this still seems a lot,
>>> anyone any experience of other options?
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Jim.
>> I did the reverse operation 2 years ago - drove a van full of stuff from
>> N. England to Germany. After looking at all the alternatives, I rented a
>> Mercedes van in Germany, drove it over empty via Calais ferry,loaded up
>> and drove back, all over a long weekend.
>> I rented in Germany because that is where I was starting from. You'd
>> have to research the price differences to see if renting out of NL is
>> more economical in your case.
>> The rental was from Sixt, and the van was a Vito, IIRC, with the low
>> roofline. Very pleasant to drive, with all mod cons. The van was exactly
>> the right size for the job.
>> The one drag on the trip was the tollbooths at Dartford, and here I
>> get my soapbox out- you would think that the Brits would make some
>> concession to European drivers and have at least just one tollbooth for
>> LH drive vehicles?? No way, Jose. Handbrake on, engine off, clamber over
>> the central console, window down, ignore the car horns behind you..
>
> At least the boom didn't come down and knock you out like it did to a colleague.
> I can't remember the details other than that an ambulance took him away leaving
> a blonde bimbo he had given a lift sitting in the car.

How come the boom came down? Did he drive through and stop?

On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:32:26 +0200, Tom P <tombnbnb@freenet.dd> wrote:

>Martin wrote:
>> On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:02:58 +0200, Tom P <tombnbnb@freenet.dd> wrote:
>>
>>> Jim Ley wrote:
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> Anyone have any experience of getting a van full of stuff from Holland
>>>> (Utrecht) to England (Kingston-upon-Thames) There's not a huge amount
>>>> of stuff, easily fit in a small transit - but there are 3 good
>>>> bicycles, so it's reasonably bulky (if packed properly)
>>>>
>>>> Currently it seems the best bet would be to hire a van in the UK, take
>>>> it to holland empty and drive it back full - which would be almost 600
>>>> quid (with guesswork on prices on petrol) this still seems a lot,
>>>> anyone any experience of other options?
>>>>
>>>> Cheers,
>>>>
>>>> Jim.
>>> I did the reverse operation 2 years ago - drove a van full of stuff from
>>> N. England to Germany. After looking at all the alternatives, I rented a
>>> Mercedes van in Germany, drove it over empty via Calais ferry,loaded up
>>> and drove back, all over a long weekend.
>>> I rented in Germany because that is where I was starting from. You'd
>>> have to research the price differences to see if renting out of NL is
>>> more economical in your case.
>>> The rental was from Sixt, and the van was a Vito, IIRC, with the low
>>> roofline. Very pleasant to drive, with all mod cons. The van was exactly
>>> the right size for the job.
>>> The one drag on the trip was the tollbooths at Dartford, and here I
>>> get my soapbox out- you would think that the Brits would make some
>>> concession to European drivers and have at least just one tollbooth for
>>> LH drive vehicles?? No way, Jose. Handbrake on, engine off, clamber over
>>> the central console, window down, ignore the car horns behind you..
>>
>> At least the boom didn't come down and knock you out like it did to a colleague.
>> I can't remember the details other than that an ambulance took him away leaving
>> a blonde bimbo he had given a lift sitting in the car.
>
>How come the boom came down? Did he drive through and stop?

I think he stopped and got out because he was in a LHD car.
--

Martin

Runge12 wrote:
> Oh how interesting
Thanks Runge we always appreciate your valuable and erudite judgement
and commentary, not to mention invaluable material contribution to the
topic at hand.
>
> "Martin" <me@address.invalid> a écrit dans le message de
> news:uj7m94dlvb91ad7k6da4rb5r8cbaptv8vu@...
>> On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:02:58 +0200, Tom P <tombnbnb@freenet.dd> wrote:
>>
>>> Jim Ley wrote:
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> Anyone have any experience of getting a van full of stuff from Holland
>>>> (Utrecht) to England (Kingston-upon-Thames) There's not a huge amount
>>>> of stuff, easily fit in a small transit - but there are 3 good
>>>> bicycles, so it's reasonably bulky (if packed properly)
>>>>
>>>> Currently it seems the best bet would be to hire a van in the UK, take
>>>> it to holland empty and drive it back full - which would be almost 600
>>>> quid (with guesswork on prices on petrol) this still seems a lot,
>>>> anyone any experience of other options?
>>>>
>>>> Cheers,
>>>>
>>>> Jim.
>>> I did the reverse operation 2 years ago - drove a van full of stuff from
>>> N. England to Germany. After looking at all the alternatives, I rented a
>>> Mercedes van in Germany, drove it over empty via Calais ferry,loaded up
>>> and drove back, all over a long weekend.
>>> I rented in Germany because that is where I was starting from. You'd
>>> have to research the price differences to see if renting out of NL is
>>> more economical in your case.
>>> The rental was from Sixt, and the van was a Vito, IIRC, with the low
>>> roofline. Very pleasant to drive, with all mod cons. The van was exactly
>>> the right size for the job.
>>> The one drag on the trip was the tollbooths at Dartford, and here I
>>> get my soapbox out- you would think that the Brits would make some
>>> concession to European drivers and have at least just one tollbooth for
>>> LH drive vehicles?? No way, Jose. Handbrake on, engine off, clamber over
>>> the central console, window down, ignore the car horns behind you..
>>
>> At least the boom didn't come down and knock you out like it did to a
>> colleague.
>> I can't remember the details other than that an ambulance took him
>> away leaving
>> a blonde bimbo he had given a lift sitting in the car.
>> --
>>
>> Martin
>>
>