Who says you can be a tradesman and make use of your van for work and leisure? We spoke to Steve Taylor, owner of ST Plastering in Nantwich, about how he uses his dream van for both work and personal use.

What van do you own and how long have you had it for?

I own a VW Transporter T5.1, long wheel base in white. I’ve had my van for 5 years now.

Why did you choose this type of van over other makes and models?

I knew I wanted this van from the start because it’s a VW. It looks good and is a really great quality van.

Is your van converted to any level for your trade needs?

Yes. It has been converted from a panel van to a combi. This just works much better for my needs, both work and personal. The initial panel van just wasn't exactly what I wanted so I decided to convert it and add windows etc. 

Is there anything you would change about your van? If so, what?

I would definitely add more BHP (break horsepower) to my T5.1. This and a complete re-map would really make it the perfect van.

Do you use your van personally, as well as for work?

Yes. It's a great van for my work but using it for personal use is also ideal as it can double up as a campervan and elimitnates the need for a car! 

If so, in what ways do you use it outside of work?

I use it for a lot of purposes but mostly outside of work it’s used as a standard day van or for camping. Since getting it converted to a combi, it’s perfect for road trips as it’s comfortable, spacious and could be slept in if needed. We recently used it for our annual Christmas trip to Wales. 

What would be your dream van?

I have my dream van already, the T5.1 is exactly what I wanted. I would just perhaps like it to be a few years younger.

Head over and follow ST Plastering HERE.