IVECO Daily keeps Squily’s Moto in the power band

A mobile workshop, breakdown rescue vehicle, delivery van and everyday commuter all rolled into one — Squily’s Moto has found the sweet spot with its new IVECO Daily 35S van.

John Lizamore from Squily’s Moto with his IVECO Daily 35S van.

Squily’s Moto owner John Lizamore says the IVECO Daily 35S ticked all the boxes for his growing motorcycle service and repair business.

For boutique motorcycle service and repair business Squily’s Moto, the working week can be anything from a full nut-and-bolt restoration to a roadside rescue, a long-distance delivery run, or helping keep riders moving at motorcycle events.

Towing Muscle

That sort of work asks a fair bit from a vehicle. It needs room, towing muscle, easy loading, decent comfort and enough versatility to handle whatever rolls through the workshop door — or what needs to be collected from the side of the road.

For Squily’s Moto owner John Lizamore, the answer came in the form of an IVECO Daily 35S 16m³ van.

What began as a hobby, with John repairing motorcycles for friends, has grown into a proper business offering full rebuilds, restorations, general servicing, accessory fitment and event support. Along the way, John retrained to gain his mechanical qualifications, and with the support of his wife Stephanie, Squily’s Moto has continued to grow.

The business has also expanded into sales, with John appointed as a local dealer for motorcycle brands including Thumpstar and Rieju, as well as Segway ATVs.

With that growth came the need for a more capable vehicle. John’s utility had done its job, but the demands of the business had outgrown it.

“There were very few vans available that were suitable for what I wanted — the Daily ticked all of the boxes for me,” John said.

Among the biggest drawcards were the Daily’s generous load volume, standing-height roof, airbag rear suspension and 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity.

For a motorcycle business, loading height matters. So does interior space. The Daily’s low chassis and electronically controlled rear air suspension allow the rear of the van to be lowered by around eight centimetres, making it easier to load motorcycles and ATVs.

IVECO Daily 35S van used by Squily’s Moto as a mobile motorcycle workshop and recovery vehicle.

Squily’s Moto’s IVECO Daily 35S has become a mobile workshop, recovery vehicle, delivery van and everyday business vehicle in one.

Low Chassis Height

“The Daily has a low chassis height and with the rear electronically-controlled airbags, you can further lower the height by around eight centimetres to make loading and unloading motorbikes and ATVs easier,” John said.

“And when the van is empty you also get a much more comfortable drive — we have a lot of poor roads around here.”

The standing-height roof has also made a big difference, giving John more room to work safely and comfortably inside the van.

“The standing height roof makes it much more comfortable and safer to get motorcycles on board and to access any tools we need as well,” he said.

Motorcycles and ATVs are loaded using removable ramps, while larger or heavier equipment can be brought on board using an onboard winch. And because Squily’s Moto operates in a regional area, the Daily is not just reserved for motorcycles. Ride-on mowers, augers and other small machinery also find their way into the back of the van.

Under the bonnet, the Daily’s 180hp and 430Nm engine, matched to an eight-speed fully automatic transmission, gives John the pulling power he needs. With a 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, the Daily has also taken the stress out of towing the business’s tandem trailer.

“With the utility, hooking up to our tandem trailer raised concerns that we’d be close to the legal tow limit; with the Daily there are no worries and it tows so much better than the ute,” John said.

The Daily’s low chassis and electronically controlled rear air suspension help make loading motorcycles and ATVs easier and safer.

Motorcycles or ATVs being loaded into the rear of an IVECO Daily 35S van.

Affordable to Operate

Running costs are just as important as capability, especially for a small business covering big distances. John said the Daily has proven affordable to operate, including regular long-distance trips to Perth to collect new motorcycles.

“We will often drive it to Perth to pick up new motorcycles, and this is a 1400 kilometre round trip — it doesn’t cost that much in fuel,” he said.

John also praised Perth IVECO and sales consultant Craig Maddox for helping match the van to the needs of the business.

“Craig had outstanding product knowledge — he listened to what we needed and made excellent recommendations,” John said.

“He also helped organise our signwriting; I’d tried to do this locally but was getting mucked around, Craig organised it for us in an afternoon — he went above and beyond for us.”

For Squily’s Moto, the IVECO Daily is more than just a van. It is a workshop on wheels, a recovery vehicle, a delivery unit and a daily driver — the sort of tool that lets a small business keep its engine right in the power band.