Beekeeping cars

[Swarm]

I would do the same but it's not that simple. The plastic shelf sits between the outer and inner bodywork, there is a void beneath until both parts are spot welded and if you can get your fingers far enough down into this void you find the water is filling this area as well and has nowhere to go and it looks like the rear outer panel needs to be removed to gain access for a remedy. Any time you change a bulb, the whole light unit has to come off the vehicle, meaning the seal is also being removed each time. Unless you regularly remove the interior panels to check, the first you know of the problem is the soaking wet carpet

 

[Amari]

the first you know of the problem is the soaking wet carpet

Carpet? No such flippery in my Berlingo...

Quite possibly you could sell it now for more than you paid for it.

James

You'd have to make me a very good offer

They are a good vehicle but a very poorly designed rear light seal means a problem with water ingress that soaks the boot. The door slams also allow water into the same area, a convenient shelf behind the rear quarter panels where it collects in pools before running into the car.

Fortunately, no such problem yet

 

[Newbeeneil]

I'm sometimes a bit rough but I'd have considered drilling a couple of drain holes

I did the same to my first car (a 1962 mini) that was taking on gallons via rust holes in the top of the front wheel arches. My passenger got tired of bailing his footwell out so I drilled a few holes in the floor pan. Worked a treat

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

just get a LWB Mitsubishi L200 and be done with, seven hives in the back or 35 shallows and still room for five people in the cab

Have you seen Chris Mantons rece posts regarding their L200’s, plus I wouldn’t mind a tenner for every top end rebuild I’ve done on one of those.

 

[Wilco]

My 2012 Honda Jazz has taken 4 hives - with bees. easily. If pushed I could put another on the passenger seat..
The rear "Magic Seats" fold flat to give a smooth floor - in 30 seconds (ditto putting upright) ULEZ and 43mpg in 70% urban driving. Wide opening doors. Dirt cheap to run, maintain and insure.

Ideal for a hobby beekeeper - see also bigger Honda Civic,

A second vote for the 2012 Jazz, also known as the Honda Tardis. Agree about space for 4 hives with ease. Has had a hen coop on the roof, about 8 poly nucs in it, ducks, hens and let's not mention sheep. Last week crammed 9 pallets in it.

Copes with field driving well, I'm on 57mpg for a mix of urban and dual carriageway driving. 143k miles and still going strong. Made a mockery of the Surrey SUV lot last time it snowed properly too.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

A second vote for the 2012 Jazz, also known as the Honda Tardis. Agree about space for 4 hives with ease. Has had a hen coop on the roof, about 8 poly nucs in it, ducks, hens and let's not mention sheep. Last week crammed 9 pallets in it.

Copes with field driving well, I'm on 57mpg for a mix of urban and dual carriageway driving. 143k miles and still going strong. Made a mockery of the Surrey SUV lot last time it snowed properly too.

My mk3 focus is like that, amazing the amount that can be crammed in when we are off to the market, bought it brand new while still on the transporter. It should hit 200,000 next month, one clutch, one injector, two front wheel bearings, two timing belt kits and one front spring that's all the work I've ever done on it apart from the every 5000 mile oil change.
The Last MOT suggested it's in need of rust control around the rear seat belt mounts, which is strangely where the mk2 rot away.
Now I'm on beefarmer wages I'll ensure it sees me out, especially as its £20 @ year road fund.
We also have a Skoda fabia estate with no rear seats & that has transit capacity, but that one tends to be a little fragile on times.

 

[Bassett]

I would recommend that you waited for a Berlingo to show up. I use a MPV version 1,6 TDI 48/50 Mpg with a plywood tray which can be removed to replace seats back in if needed. Reg 2010 is not ULEZ compliant. Low loading for easy hive moving etc. Sliding doors. The new version is Electric only if you want to push the hive out.

I'ved been using a 2004 berlingo van and purchased this in 2011.
This is classed as commercial vehicle and the road tax is my only negative point but like having to sideways opening rear doors with windows ( loose bees head to these during transit) also easy to open one or both and a side door to get to my tools etc.

 

[SteveM]

Has anyone tried out/considered the Dacia Duster?- I was thinking of the 4WD version.

 

[madasafish]

Has anyone tried out/considered the Dacia Duster?- I was thinking of the 4WD version.

Friend of mine had one - diesel 2016?.
He liked it: was driven in it - seemed ok.
But tailgate latch was not protected and you could bang head on it: heads cut easily. - especially bald men...(I tend to bang my head on things.. not a professional headbanger tho)

 

[vicwillmington]

Hi so assuming a Unimog is not feasible we have used a series (10ys)of Peugeot Partner Teepee successfully, however this year the electrics have scrapped the last one so we have bought older with an Escort(92) Chairman by Gowrings. Check them out, ramp , you can walk or wheel hives in or out. Economical and modestly priced. You can drive them anywhere and we do in Devon.

 

[JamezF]

Escort(92) Chairman

A Popemobile!

James

 

[pargyle]

I did the same to my first car (a 1962 mini) that was taking on gallons via rust holes in the top of the front wheel arches. My passenger got tired of bailing his footwell out so I drilled a few holes in the floor pan. Worked a treat

My first car (a 1959 Frogeye Austin Healey Sprite) had enough rust holes in the floor to allow any amount of water that came in from anywhere to get out, on rainy days the hole around the rear spring hanger would provide a nice cold spray of water up on to the passenger who also had to avoid the spray of water that came in between the removable side screens and the corner of the hood where there was a bit of rubber seal missing. I was once stopped heading South on the M1 around Northampton by the police as it had a rear brake light out - Only one for a change - Mr Plod was looking around the car and looked down and said - 'I can see my feet through your floor son - where are you going ?'. Portsmouth I said .. he gave me a look that said you've got to be joking and he said 'Good luck' and he and his sidekick got back in their car and pushed off. Those were the days ,,,,

Much later on I had an SD1 Rover that leaked so much water through the tailgate seals that one winter it froze and a friend's child, who wanted to travel in the luggage area (those were the days !) whilst climbing into the boot, slipped on the ice and broke his leg !

 

[aniaqeun232]

It's unfortunate to hear about your Fiesta, but I'm glad you received the final payment. It can be quite a challenge to find a suitable replacement, especially when considering specific needs like transporting beekeeping equipment. Car prices can indeed be a significant factor in the decision-making process.

 

[Michael Palmer]

My other truck is a Jeep. 5x8 trailer.

 

[elainemary]

Bought an automatic VW Caddy 18 months ago. Cost £3.25k with 80k miles on the clock. My dad was a big fan of VWs which has been passed onto my ‘beetle’ & VW ‘splity’ crazy family.

The Caddy is an ex council van used for joinery, so good service history. Has made a massive difference, so much easier than beekeeping in a car and no longer get into discussions about propolis on the seats or sticky surfaces! Use it for going to the tip and the garden centre too. Fun to drive. Had some bee vinyls made which I’ve stuck on the side to promote planting more for bees. Highly recommend

 

[The Poot]

Bought an automatic VW Caddy 18 months ago. Cost £3.25k with 80k miles on the clock. My dad was a big fan of VWs which has been passed onto my ‘beetle’ & VW ‘splity’ crazy family.

The Caddy is an ex council van used for joinery, so good service history. Has made a massive difference, so much easier than beekeeping in a car and no longer get into discussions about propolis on the seats or sticky surfaces! Use it for going to the tip and the garden centre too. Fun to drive. Had some bee vinyls made which I’ve stuck on the side to promote planting more for bees. Highly recommend

I remember you getting the van - I’m glad it’s worked out for you. Like the vinyls

 

[Fellstoflats]

Has anyone tried out/considered the Dacia Duster?- I was thinking of the 4WD version.

We ran three at the chalet company I worked for in France. Excellent cars, 4wd very capable- I drove one for approximately 3ks up a piste at night once..

Pretty tough, they coped with loads of staff, with varying levels of mechanical sympathy, and never went wrong.

One coped remarkably well being reversed at speed into a BMW X5 (only a broken rear light cluster- X5 in a bad way), and another was crashed into whilst parked by a VW Caddy (superficial panel damage).

I'd buy one.

 

[SteveM]

We ran three at the chalet company I worked for in France. Excellent cars, 4wd very capable- I drove one for approximately 3ks up a piste at night once..

Pretty tough, they coped with loads of staff, with varying levels of mechanical sympathy, and never went wrong.

One coped remarkably well being reversed at speed into a BMW X5 (only a broken rear light cluster- X5 in a bad way), and another was crashed into whilst parked by a VW Caddy (superficial panel damage).

I'd buy one.

Thanks, there is a new model in 2024, with improved safety ratings etc. Seems to be the only way to buy a new 4WD at a relatively low price.

 

[Fellstoflats]

Thanks, there is a new model in 2024, with improved safety ratings etc. Seems to be the only way to buy a new 4WD at a relatively low price.

Ours were 2018 and older, when I left in 2021.

Basic spec was very good- some had heated seats, nav, Bluetooth etc as standard.

Get some steel wheels and AWD tires on it, and I think you'll be very pleased.