Hello!

[Grabasandwich]

Hi everyone. I just bought a used 2017 TC cargo for a work vehicle. It has 63,000 km, and looks to be very well kept by the previous company that owned it. I found some business cards under the passenger seat for Tyco Integrated Fire & Security, which is a pretty big company, so they probably have high standards for vehicle maintenance. They also had it decked it out with Adrian Steel shelving, drawers, ladder rack, padlock brackets on the sliders and rear doors(!?) ...and a huge 1000w pure sine wave inverter!

 

In 14 years of contracting for the phone company, I've used small sedans, minivans and trucks, and wanted something with proper shelves etc for a long time. It was only in the past few months that I had to seriously consider whether to fix up my tired 2008 Sierra 2wd, or buy a white cargo van. The company I was employed by told us that the phone was giving us a year to get a white vehicle 10 years old or less. Then they laid us off and re-hired us as sub-contractors, and not long after that, sold our division to a big international company. The safety standards of the new company are much higher, so it was coming down to the wire for me to be properly equipped.

 

My 2008 Sierra 2wd is tired and needing new tires and mechanical work, so I decided it was too far gone. Plus, it's horrible on fuel, so when I saw the ad for the TC (before pictures were even added!) I nervously decided to take the plunge. I overthink everything, and rarely rush into things, but I'm so glad I did! Today was only my second day using it, and I'm not even fully organized yet, but holy crap this thing is AWESOME! I've found a few quirks already, but nothing major.

 

Anyway, I don't want to ramble on. Thanks!

[PhotoAl]

Welcome!  Nice van in my favorite color :-) I have a 2016 TC Wagon Titanium in white.   Ive used it for all kinds of stuff from hauling a small trailer with wood to rebuild the deck, haul my scooter to the racetrack, haul my mother-in-law around, haul furniture and appliances and even carry my twin grandkids in.  It's no sports car but does handle nicely and is nimble around town and doesn't need a lot of space.  I love the extra headroom which means its possible to actually move around inside.  My daughter has a Honda Odessey which is bigger but doesn't have the headroom and is mushier driving but is a bit smoother on long trips.

 

As for your business situation I understand the company desire to control safety and appearance but not so sure about making everyone an independent contractor.  I can see advantages and disadvantages to being an independent contractor.

 

I see you are from the Canadian Prairie provinces, that is an area on my bucket list to visit on my motorcycle (in the summer of course).  Last year I made it to Minot ND but this year didn't even think about it but did make it to South Dakota in June and again in September.  I actually traded motorcycles in Sioux Falls SD in September.  Totally off topic but I think entertaining.  Left Alabama in late August on my way to Idaho and Montana on my BMW F800GT motorcycle.  This was the 5th long trip on that bike in the two years since I purchased it (used).  At the end of the second day as I pulled off the interstate in Grand Island Nebraska had a massive failure of a rear wheel bearing!  That motorcycle has a single sided swingarm with a hub in it.  the hub has a left and right wheel bearings with the pulley for the belt drive on one side and the brake disk and mount for the wheel on the other side.  The hub is eccentric so that belt tension can be adjusted by rotating the hub.  One of the bearings in a needle bearing and the other a ball bearing.  The ball bearing failed so badly the wheel was wobbling.  The only indication I had of impending failure, which I realized after the fact, was 34 miles earlier I made a hard stop and used more rear brake than usual.  I noticed that the rear felt unstable almost like it locking up and skating around but the bike has ABS.  When I pulled off the interstate 34 miles later it made a lot of loud metallic popping noises and occasionally the bike would twitch.  Had just finished 34 miles at 85mph (speed limit 80mph)!  Fortunately the KOA was very close to the exit and was able to ride there.  It was 7PM and all the shops were closed - but they have fabulous pizza so didn't go hungry.  No BMW dealers in town, no BMW repair shops in town, they had a HD dealership and maybe one shot that could have worked on a Japanese bike.  New hub was $995 plus shipping but availability was uncertain - 7 to 8 days before shipping for one place.  Thought well maybe I could trade it broke for the new Yamaha I was planning on getting after the trip.  Found one in Sioux Falls SD.  They would trade but BMW would need to be fixed.  So got on eBay and found a used complete swingarm including the pulley and brake disk in place.  It was only $550 plus $93 for 2nd day shipping.  Ordered it and got my wife to send the title and checkbook.  When she said yes that meant approval!  The owner of the KOA let me use his shop area to swap the swingarms which was a pretty simple task.  Put bike on center stand remove rear wheel, rear brake caliper unbolt rear shock and loosen 2 pinch bolts holding the swingarm pivot shaft in place.  The belt came off with finger pressure.  3.5 hours at a very leisurely pace and it was ready to go!  Loaded the bike up and rode to Sioux Falls SD - 250 miles and traded for a new Yamaha Tracer GT.  It was exhilarating and nerve-racking to ride in and move all my stuff over to a new bike and then ride away.  After I traded rode 110 miles to Yankton SD where I was staying.  Hung around in the are for 3 days and had the 600 mile service before I headed home.  I spent 6 days in Grand Island and 4 days in Yankton plus getting there and back.  Wasn't the trip I planned but still a very memorable adventure.  Met a lot of nice people and had a fun (mostly) time.  I spent $100 on tools at Harbor Freight in addition to what I was carrying.  Many of the tools I gave to the KOA as I had no room.  Another side note the hub has a stub shaft that fastens the wheel mount and the pulley together.  It has a 45mm nut.  Another reason to go with replacing the swingarm.  The swingarm I bought was in excellent condition and looking at wear marks on the pulley had much less miles than my bike - mine had 31,000 miles and I guess the replacement had 5,000 miles or less.  As to the cause of the bearing failure IMO it was a belt that was too tight.  The belt was replaced at 24,000 miles and seemed to be too tight.  I tried to contact the dealer but their voice mail was messed up and I left on a 5,500 mile trip in June.  Had the 30,000 mile service done just before I left but they did not notice anything - or didn't check belt tension or bearings.  When I bought the bike I also purchased a 3 year unlimited mileage service contract for $1,500.  I added up the cost of all the services I had done in 26 months and it was $5,000.  First motorcycle I've had totally maintained by the dealership.  As for my new Yamaha, I'll be doing the maintenance.