Anyone know what this van for sale is about?

colm_mcm

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=140950&B=&PS=1&PP=

Saw this on e-tenders this morning.

Looks like a ferocious waste of money. Done 300 miles, never used and in storage for 5 years.
Anyone know what it was for? It would have cost a bomb.

Make: Mercedes

Model: Sprinter 519cdi – High Roof, Extra-Long Wheelbase, 1 Number sliding side door with vision panel with a second vision panel on the offside of the vehicle

Colour: Red

Odo: 305 Miles

Year: 2014 (141 CW 1059)

This vehicle was originally purchased in 2014 & registered to Carlow County Council with the intention of converting it to a multi-agency support vehicle. It has remained in dry storage from the time it was delivered to Carlow following its purchase.

The vehicle will be delivered complete with the following equipment which was supplied as part of the intended conversion.

2 number rotational Captains seats – Front seats

1 Number 4KW Fischer Panda 5000i Silent Power Diesel Generator C/W Inverter

( (https://www.fischerpanda.de/))

1 number full length Broadview Awning – fully enclosed hospitality area complete with sides.

( (https://www.vehicle-awnings.co.uk/motorsport-awnings))
1 Number Woodway night owl Mast Light incorporating scene lights and LED command beacon.

( (https://www.woodwayengineering.co.uk/nightowl.html))
2 number Full width Light Bars Front & Rear (Premier)

( (http://premierhazard.co.uk/emergency-services/))
Full length roof Rack

12V Siren, PA Siren & 2 number 100W speakers & 1 number Data Recorder. (RSG)

( (http://www.rsg-ontop.com/))
1 number Antaras universal power charger 800 + remote status indicator

( (http://www.antares.co.uk/upc-charger-800.html))
Fully computerised Hydraulic jacking system with electronic self-levelling kit (HPC)

( (http://www.hpc-hydraulics.nl/products/levelling-systems))
Automatic Electrically powered side step (AVS)

( (http://www.avssteps.co.uk/))
16 Number Scene Lights – 7 X Blue, 5 X Amber + 4 X LED Strip Lights (LABCRAFT)

( (http://www.labcraft.co.uk/))

Note: The equipment listed above was supplied with the vehicle and will have to be installed & commissioned by a competent vehicle conversion specialist if intended to convert to a command unit, support or similar type vehicle.

The vehicle & Equipment shall be sold as seen.

elperello

Looks like somebody went and purchased it without a proper plan for it's use.
Probably meant for use at fires, major incidents, search and recovery scenes etc.

Could be a bargain.

elperello

https://www.carlowlive.ie/news/home/360180/council-issue-statement-on-sale-of-a-mercedes-van-in-dry-storage-since-2014.html

Read it and weep

colm_mcm

elperello wrote: »

https://www.carlowlive.ie/news/home/360180/council-issue-statement-on-sale-of-a-mercedes-van-in-dry-storage-since-2014.html

Read it and weep

That’s bizzare.

elperello

colm_mcm wrote: »

That’s bizzare.

You will sometimes see with state agencies that coming near the end of the year if money is left over they will buy a vehicle.
It's a kind of no no to not spend all your budget and a vehicle or two is a handy way out.
Not saying that happened in this case but is that reg. near the end of year for Carlow?

Agent Coulson

Suit a builder grand that van get it on the cheap and spray it a different colour.

colm_mcm

elperello wrote: »

You will sometimes see with state agencies that coming near the end of the year if money is left over they will buy a vehicle.
It's a kind of no no to not spend all your budget and a vehicle or two is a handy way out.
Not saying that happened in this case but is that reg. near the end of year for Carlow?

That’s 141 so from early 2014. It would have had to be built especially too.

Silent Running

Would make an animal of a camper.

KevRossi

I reckon they made a balls out of ordering it in 3.5t + guise.

Then realised that to 'train' people to use it and to keep these people ready to use it would cost too much in the long run, so they're just cutting their long term losses here. Will probably order a sub 3.5t GVW van now.

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Suit a builder grand that van get it on the cheap and spray it a different colour.

Most of the equipment would be unusable to them. It should be serviced and DOE'd and advertised here and in the UK (as long as it is usable in the UK). If not then a camper would be the best resort for it.

colm_mcm wrote: »

That’s 141 so from early 2014. It would have had to be built especially too.

Possibly ordered at the end of 2013 and paid for out of 2013 funds or else out of an allotment of one off funds or grants.

1874

hardly unknown, i heard the hse had a large number of fitted out ambulances they did not need or could not use rotting somewhere rather than just give them to another organisation, that would surely suit coast guard, civil defence or fire brigade somewhere on this island.

Atlantic Dawn

At a best case it would probably need a good €1500 spent on it to bring it up to speed, could be a good buy, the need for a C licence for it though is a pain.

colm_mcm

Silent Running wrote: »

Would make an animal of a camper.

That’s why I clicked on it. 5 ton rated van though so as per article would need truck licence.

Silent Running

colm_mcm wrote: »

That’s why I clicked on it. 5 ton rated van though so as per article would need truck licence.

Which I have, but my campering days are behind me now, sadly.

elperello

Whoever drew up the tender should have split the equipment from the van.
A lot of that gear is specialised and has only a limited market but the van will attract a lot of buyers at the right price.

colm_mcm

Taxed privately at some stage too (€1494)

contrary_devil

elperello wrote: »

https://www.carlowlive.ie/news/home/360180/council-issue-statement-on-sale-of-a-mercedes-van-in-dry-storage-since-2014.html

Read it and weep

Wouldn't you think that whoever was responsible for speccing the vehicle would have done their homework on the necessary driving licence requirements, in this day and age of the wonderful world of the internet it wouldn't be a difficult task.

KevRossi

contrary_devil wrote: »

Wouldn't you think that whoever was responsible for speccing the vehicle would have done their homework on the necessary driving licence requirements, in this day and age of the wonderful world of the internet it wouldn't be a difficult task.

The same extra long wheelbase in a 3.5t variant with a high roof is 2350 kg empty. That is without any equipment, including the extra windows. Add in all the equipment and 4 passengers, fill with diesel and it's going to be close to it's 3,500kg max weight.

That van wieighs about 2560 with no extras from the factory, so would be hard to get a camper version out of it if you wanted to change the papers to a 3.5t version.

Will possibly go to a charity in the UK such as Lifeboats or Mountain Rescue.

BattleCorp

contrary_devil wrote: »

Wouldn't you think that whoever was responsible for speccing the vehicle would have done their homework on the necessary driving licence requirements, in this day and age of the wonderful world of the internet it wouldn't be a difficult task.

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

At a best case it would probably need a good €1500 spent on it to bring it up to speed, could be a good buy, the need for a C licence for it though is a pain.

Would it not have made sense to train up a few drivers for it and put it into use? It's not exactly rocket science. Anybody qualified to drive a fire truck would be able to drive it.

Odelay

BattleCorp wrote: »

Would it not have made sense to train up a few drivers for it and put it into use? It's not exactly rocket science. Anybody qualified to drive a fire truck would be able to drive it.

The council have plenty of staff on driving road gritting trucks and pickup trucks for trees down during storms. Why can’t one of them drive it? It’s not a first response vielchle only a command van, it could arrive 30 mins after an incident.

Joe Daly

contrary_devil wrote: »

Wouldn't you think that whoever was responsible for speccing the vehicle would have done their homework on the necessary driving licence requirements, in this day and age of the wonderful world of the internet it wouldn't be a difficult task.

It seems to be when you are spending tax payers money just flog it you wont be made accountable.