Ideas & Tips – Page 6 – Commercial Van Solutions

Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips, Van Ladder Racks, wheelchair van

Road Trip Travel Tips for Safe Driving

Posted on June 15, 2020 by commercialvansolutions

The holiday season is just around the corner, and with it may come some extra days off from work (whether for yourself or your family and friends). While some use the extra days to stay home and relax, others pack their bags and hit the road for sightseeing and adventures.

For the people in your life that use a wheelchair, or perhaps it’s yourself, packing right and light is helpful for getting around. There are a lot of factors at hand for a trip to go smoothly: planning, being prepared in cases of emergency, and the right know-how will help if any delays or problems come into play. With these accessible vehicle road trip tips, you’ll be able to more easily brush off surprises on your holiday excursion.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

Chances are, you have an accessible handicap vans fitted to your specific needs. But, if you don’t have one, don’t rule one out to obtain—or more specifically rent. It’s possible to rent a wheelchair accessible car, SUV, or minivan that will ensure a comfortable ride for everyone in tow.

Since you may be spending long hours in the vehicle, it’s best to choose one that will comfortably seat you and your family. Also, be sure to ask if regular maintenance has been kept up.

Procedures like getting the oil changed and checking tire pressure are standard, but accessible vehicles also need to be serviced for debris-free door tracks, smooth van ramps, and working power seats.

Having the highest quality vehicle service will take your road trip to the next level and help ensure safe travels to wherever you go.

Plan for Everything in Your Accessible Car

Especially in the winter, your road trip plans need to be chock-full of information and supportive of your needs. While you probably already know to check for ADA approved and wheelchair access accommodations at your hotel and destination, you should also make note of accessible rest stops on the way.

When hunger, drowsiness, or any other emergencies hit, you’ll be able to identify the right places to stop at. More importantly, an emergency kit with food, water, and other basic necessities in your vehicle is a must to give you peace of mind in any scenario.

If you have specific medical or dietary needs, stow away medications and foods that will be able to sustain you, instead of making you scramble for last-minute solutions. For road trips in colder climates, a small folding shovel, basic tool kit, antifreeze, warning flares, and the like are all good items to have as well.

Engage with Everyone on the Road

If you are a person that uses the wheelchair and will be driving the mobility equipped vehicle, it can get tiring not exercising other parts of your mind.

To stay alert and focused, talk to the person in the passenger’s seat and have him or her relay directions to you. If you have a child that uses a wheelchair, giving them customized road trip games that will keep him or her entertained.

Games like Spot It or counting colored cars can make drive time a breeze and engage everyone. Driving safely is your number one concern.

Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips, Uncategorized, wheelchair van

Things to Consider When Buying a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

Posted on June 15, 2020June 15, 2020 by commercialvansolutions

There are many things to consider and think about when buying a wheelchair van. The very first would be to determine what type of vehicle is the best for you.

These days it seems just about anything can be converted to a handicap accessible vehicle, from pickup trucks to automobiles to SUV’s to motorcycles. The most popular and practical is the minivan.

These offer the most interior space, great gas mileage, fast in and out with a ramp for wheelchair passengers and easy transfer in and out of the driver seat for a wheelchair bound driver. There’s also a good variety of manufacturers and models to choose from.

The advantages of a wheelchair accessible car are they look great, get better gas mileage than a minivan, are easy to park and if you only need hand controls, you can even drive a sports car.

If you opt to go the wheelchair accessible van route, an important decision you’ll need to make to make is what type of entry the van will have. Rear entry vans and side entry vans are each more accessible under different scenarios.

Side entry vans make it much easier for handicapped individuals to get into pilot or co-pilot seats. On the other hand, rear entry vans allow disabled drivers to park in regular spaces and are usually cheaper. This type of entrance also doesn’t require any awkward maneuvering once loaded into the van.

Generally, your personal situation will dictate whether you require a specific entry.

And finally, a buyer must figure out how they will actually get themselves and their wheelchair into the van. Whether it’s a simple ramp or industrial lift, each method has its own pros and cons.

Whether the wheelchair accessible vehicle being considered is an individual’s first purchase or twenty-first, staying up to date on the latest technology and vehicle prices is essential to get a good deal and the best conversion for that person’s particular lifestyle.

cargo van, Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips, Van Ladder Racks

5 REASONS TO BUY A VAN WITHOUT A BUSINESS

Posted on June 12, 2020June 12, 2020 by commercialvansolutions

Businesses and tradespeople typically use vans and other light commercial van (LCV) for work-related activities, whereas cars are normally purchased for the daily commute or leisure activities.

Due to their size and structure, vans are well-suited to carrying large and heavy loads, making them a better and more efficient vehicle of choice for businesses. Often overlooked by non-business owners, vans could also be a viable option for traditional car buyers.

We’ve compiled a list of reasons why you should consider buying a van even if you aren’t a tradesperson or own a business.

VERSATILITY

Although vans might look rigid from the outside, they’re actually very flexible in terms of what you can do with the space inside. Depending on the size of van, they either come with two or three seats in the front; if you need to transport more people, you can add a second row of seats increasing the capacity to five or six people.

These extra seats are easy to add and remove so you can have more storage space or seating depending on what you’re doing. Choosing a van with six seats gives you at least one extra seat over most cars and the passengers in the second row will have more space compared to the majority of seven-seater cars.

The space behind the cabin is very versatile and can be converted into almost anything you can think of. Small modifications include installing hooks or shelving for a more organised area, or you could do something bigger by transforming the space into a fully functioning living area with electricity, running water and space to sleep.

TOWING CAPACITY

Normally used for carrying heavy loads, vans are built to be able perform under strain and stress which makes them perfect as towing vehicles whether you need to transport a caravan, trailer or horse box.

Even a medium-sized van can have a towing capacity up to 2.5 tonnes, whereas some large vans offer towing capacities up to 3.5 tonnes thanks to their higher maximum rear axle weights.

Most vans don’t have a rear view mirror; to compensate for this, they have much larger door mirrors so that the driver still has a good view of everything behind them. This is also a massive advantage when you’re towing, especially as vans are typically wider than cars, so you might not need to install towing mirrors.

SPACE FOR FAMILY ADVENTURES

Estate cars, saloon cars and some larger SUVs provide a lot of boot space so that you can pack everything you need for a family trip with accessories such as roof racks and boxes for additional storage solutions.

However, if you choose a van, there’s a massive load area that can securely store bikes for the whole family alongside the camping equipment without needing any exterior accessories for a weekend away at the campsite.

All of your possessions and equipment are safer in the back of a van, especially if it’s a panel van without windows looking into the cargo area. Everything can be locked out of sight and you can add heavy duty locks for extra security.

EASY ACCESS THROUGH SLIDING SIDE DOORS

Travelling with small children can be a stressful experience, particularly if you only have a three-door car and have to battle with a folding front seat and a wide open door to get them into the car seat in the back.

Most vans come with at least one sliding side door – some are available with twin sliding doors – which makes accessing car seats in the second row much easier.

Despite their wider dimensions, sliding doors also make it easier to get in and out of the van when it’s parked in a car park bay which are notoriously slim. If you don’t have a second row of seats in place, the sliding side door is useful for loading and unloading at the roadside.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

Although this isn’t a benefit for everyone, a van is the easiest type of vehicle to modify when wheelchair accessibility is needed. They naturally have a high roof which can accommodate a passenger in their own wheelchair.

The sliding side door and 180° opening rear doors provide different accessibility options and the interior can be configured to optimise for storage or passenger space.

A wheelchair accessible vehicle provides the wheelchair user with a more comfortable travelling experience because they don’t have to transfer themselves from the wheelchair onto the seats in the vehicle.

Vans are well-rounded vehicles that may fit your lifestyle better than most larger cars, especially if you have a family that you take on lots of adventures, whether that’s camping in a tent, riding bikes in the woods or staying in a caravan.

It’s clear that vans aren’t just for businesses and tradespeople; in fact, if you have a multi-purpose lifestyle, buying a van just makes sense.

Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips, News & Updates

8 Famous Vans From History And TV

Posted on May 23, 2020 by commercialvansolutions

GRUAU VANS are present everywhere: real life, movies, history; they are so common we don’t even notice them anymore so here is a quick overview of 8 vans that have marked history.

Rover Sunbeam Ambulance (WWI)

Even though this vehicle takes us back to some of the darkest hours of our history, it brought great relief to those who saw it as it was a sign of rescue. Imagine yourself in a cold winter in the North of France hidden in the back of a trench wounded and seeing that magnificent vehicle having this red cross on a white background, I am certain that you would have cried of joy.

Yes, ambulances were the first vans to be massively used and still are, they may not have the looks of nowadays but they definitely had an impact on the development of this type of vehicle.

Credit: 1914centenary.com

Volkswagen Type 2 (1950-1979)

The Volkswagen Type 2 has been the van of a generation and the symbol of the “hippie generation”. Unique by its design and very simple by its conception, it was originally built around the “beetle” 1100 Volkswagen air-cooled flat-four-cylinder ‘Wasserboxer’ engine located in the back of the vehicle. Not very powerful but almost indefatigable the engine was said to be repaired just with a piece of tape, a hammer, some sealant and pliers.

Credit: pixshark.com

The Mystery Machine, Chevrolet G-10 (1^st Generation, 1964-1966)

You know it from the cartoon Scooby Doo, it has marked your childhood or your children’s. This van was probably their first exposure to American vans and particularly the Chevrolet G10, emblematic model from the ‘Sixties’.

Credit: angelfire.com

The A-Team Van, GMC G-20 (1964-1996)

The famous American TV show ‘A-Team’ made this van extremely famous, icon of the pop culture. Everyone will surely remember B.A. Barracus and his famous quotes such as: “You pancaked my van! I’m gonna kill you, fool!” while speaking to “Howling Man” Murdoch or his fear of planes and helicopters, so, for sure you remember the Barracus’ black and red stripes van.

Doc Brown’s Van, GMC Value Van

One of the most famous vans ever used in many movies such as “Back to the Future” and “Cast Away” this van is very common to most of the US public services (postal services, SWAT …)

Doc Brown’s used it to transport the plutonium to power the Delorean time converter and the DeLorean itself.

The Mutt Cuts Van, 1984 Ford Ecoline

Made famous by the movie “Dumb and Dumber”, the Mutt Cuts van has become an icon for all the fans of Jim Carey’s movies. Closer to the giant dog than to the van behind it, this van is probably the main character of the movie even before the movie superstars.

Ecto-1, 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor

Famous for its use in the Ghostbusters movie this vehicle originally used as an ambulance. Known as “Ectomobile” or “Ecto-1” this limo-style ambulance conversion left its footprint (or more exactly tyreprint) in our children memories.

Only Fool and Horses van, 1964 Reliant Regal

A symbol for many of us of British car manufacturing and the main character of the mythical BBC television sitcom show nowadays broadcasted on UKTV and Gold.

Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips, News & Updates

Does Your Van Need Upgrading?

Posted on May 23, 2020 by commercialvansolutions

Have you been thinking about changing your commercial van recently? Here are some reasons that should encourage you to think about it seriously.

You are keener to go for a drive than your van

If you are finding your trusty old van which has never let you down, is sometimes not so keen to start, maybe ask yourself why. It is not unknown for vans to exceed the 200,000 miles mark; however this will not be without its costs. Already far exceeding the expected mileage for a car, if your van is touching the 150,000 mark then it is to be expected that parts are going to need replacing. Starting problems such as sensor errors, worn timing belts and starter motor issues can start to cost a lot of money. Not only does a newer van mean you are less likely to need these replacement parts; but a newer van is also cheaper in running costs and insurance.

The mechanic either sighs or rubs his hands together on your approach

Are you finding your van needs to go to the garage more often? The British Public are well known for attaching significance to possessions such as their van, and pay the money to keep them running as long as possible. Add up the costs of the repair bills over the last few months, along with road tax and insurance costs and you will probably find a newer van is a sounder investment.

You now know your breakdown provider on a first name basis

The same as we do, the older a van gets, the more she starts to show her age. Vans are probably one of the most reliable vehicles around, they are designed to cover the thousands of miles that come with being a commercial vehicle. However has your old faithful started to become a little sluggish to start or the warning lights keep coming on? If you are finding you are regularly calling your breakdown provider, and knowing ‘Dave’ the mechanic is on his way, then now is probably the time to thinking about swapping your van. If you don’t want to go for a brand new van, there is a good selection of used vans in Swindon, through Austen Trading.

You actually need more space

It may be just a case of you are finding that you just do not have enough space for your work equipment. Smaller vans are great, and a lot cheaper in running costs than a larger van. If you are however, finding the space in your van is more like a jigsaw puzzle, it is time for a change. Overloading a smaller van not only is difficult to find what you need, but also has safety implications. If you exceed the payload on your van you could also risk a large fine.

Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips, Van Ladder Racks

11 checks to do before buying a van

Posted on May 18, 2020May 18, 2020 by commercialvansolutions

Buying a new gruau van might seem like a good idea to some people, but the truth is, a used van can still be reliable and save you a lot of money.

If you are thinking about buying a used van, here are tips to help you find a second van that is right for you.

Do a thorough research

The best place to start looking for a used van is online. Try to compare prices of similar models and find the model that is ideal for you at a price that is friendly too. Doing some research online will also help you to determine the approximate amount of money that you need to buy a good van. In addition, you will also learn about the different models of vans available.

Buy from a reputable dealer

It’s always in your best interest to make sure that you are buying from a reputable van dealer. Austen trading has been in this business for almost two decades now. This means that you can trust them with your money. If you choose to buy from a private dealer, it’s very important that you do some checks to make sure that the person you are dealing with is legit.

What kind of work was the van doing?

The truth is it is not easy to determine the kind of work that the van was doing previously, especially if you are buying from a broker. In this light, it is very important to consider buying vans that were being used by companies. It’s easy to find out the kind of work that a business van was doing. Again, if you prefer a private dealer, make sure that you know what the van was used for before buying.

Test drive before buying

The best way to ensure that the van you are buying has all the features that you are looking for is to test drive it. This is also the best way to determine its reliability.

Mechanical checks

When test driving the van, you should also perform some mechanical checks. The following are some of the most important things to consider when carrying out mechanical checks.

Brakes – The best way to check the brakes is to try an emergency stop.
Mileage – Make sure that you check the mileage of the van before buying. Also, ensure that the interior of the van is in good shape.
Tyres – Make sure that the tyres of the vans are not worn out. The tyres must also be road legal.
Engine – It’s also important to have a quick look at the engine. Only buy the van if the engine is in good shape and has been used wisely.
Gears – While you are out for a test drive, it’s in your best interest to check how efficiently the gears change.
Lights – All the lights should be in good shape otherwise do not buy.

Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips, Refrigerated Van

How To Fix Your Van’s Overheating Engine

Posted on May 18, 2020 by commercialvansolutions

Your exterminator van‘s engine features a cooling system to prevent it from overheating during normal operation, but a surprisingly large number of items can cause this process to go awry. An overheating engine can suffer permanent internal damage such as a cracked engine block or cylinder head, so it’s important to get the issue resolved as soon as possible.

Below are some of the main items you will want to review:

Blown Head Gasket

A blown head gasket is one of the most common failures that result in overheating. The head gasket forms a tight seal that allows for the combustion process inside the cylinder head and engine block. Regular heating and cooling of the engine can cause the gasket to fail over time. Along with being a quite common cause of overheating, a blown head gasket is fortunately easy to detect as well. If your engine is running very rough when you start your van, a gasket fail is likely the cause.

Bad Thermostat

If your thermostat becomes stuck, it will constantly think the engine is cold, and coolant will not be able to flow to the radiator. A sure sign of a bad thermostat is that your engine will usually overheat within 15 minutes, and you will hear a loud banging sound from hot and cold coolant attempting to mix in the radiator.

Cooling Fan

Your van’s cooling fan will be located behind the radiator. The cooling fan moves air through the radiator and helps remove heat from the engine at low speeds. You can attempt to spin the wheel by hand and ensure that it can rotate freely. If the fan is hard to turn or you hear rough noises, the fan will need to be replaced.

Plugged Radiator

Your radiator can fail via three different potential problems. The most obvious issue is external blockages from dirt and debris from the road, which prevents air from freely flowing through. Your radiator can also become blocked internally, which will require removing the radiator cap and inspecting internally with a flashlight for blockages. The final issue you may experience with your radiator is a coolant leak.

Bad Pump

The coolant pump helps circulate coolant through the engine and radiator. A pump can either develop a leak due to a bad seal (which can cause squealing or grinding noises), or the pump impeller can come loose and stop pumping. Your pump will need to be replaced either way.

Low Coolant

Liquid coolant is required at an appropriate pressure and amount to keep your van’s cooling system in working condition. You can check your coolant by allowing the engine to cool off, and removing the radiator cap. You should notice a small amount of pressure released, this is normal. You can gauge your coolant to see if you are running low, which may indicate that your engine has a coolant leak.

Conclusion

This information will hopefully help assist you in diagnosing the overheating problem in your van. Remember to always consult your own vehicle’s manual for specifics, and contact a professional if you are unsure how to safely complete any repairs yourself.

Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips, Van Ladder Racks

How to Get The Best Possible Trade-in Price for Your Van

Posted on May 15, 2020 by commercialvansolutions

Trading in your old van for a new one can help you to save considerable amounts of money off one of the biggest purchases for your business.

By deciding to sell your van to a dealership, you need to accept that you won’t get as much money as if you sold it privately. The main reason for this is because the dealership has to sell that vehicle on themselves and have their own margins to consider.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t get a fair price for your van. Moreover, selling to a dealership takes away the stress and time consuming process of selling privately.

There are a number of things that you can do to ensure you get the best trade-in price possible for your van.

KEEP A FULL SERVICE HISTORY

The manufacturer’s recommended servicing schedule will outline when you should have your van serviced. Usually, this will be every 12,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.

Keeping a full service history shows the dealership that the van has been well looked after and shouldn’t need any mechanical work before they sell it on.

It’s also a strong selling point for them to tell potential customers. A missing service history can reduce a vehicle’s value by as much as 10%. That reduction will be passed onto you rather than being swallowed by the dealership.

Similarly, having more than three months remaining on the MOT adds more value. Ideally, you want to have more than six months left for a stronger trade-in position.

GENERAL CONDITION OF THE VAN

Turning up to the dealership with a van covered in mud and bird poo, with rubbish lining the base of the windscreen and a dirty load area doesn’t give a good impression.

You should look after the van from the moment your drive it off the forecourt to keep its resale value as high as possible for when you eventually come to sell it.

Throughout ownership the van is likely to receive scratches, dents and other minor flaws no matter how carefully you drive it. When they happen, it’s important to fix them as soon as possible.

The least you can do is have it professionally cleaned inside and out to give it the maximum kerb appeal when you drive into the dealership.

REMOVE CUSTOMISATIONS

Even though it’s important to sign write your van with your company information and branding, it’s something that is completely personal to you and your business, and would make it almost impossible for a dealership to sell without removing it themselves – the costs for which will be taken out of the price of the van given to you.

If you have your company name plastered over the side of the vehicle, or if you have had it kitted out with leopard print seats and a tiger print exterior, the trade-in price will be severely affected.

Buyers tend to prefer vehicles that offer them a ‘blank canvas’ that they can make their own. Replace jazzy interiors with a more neutral design and remove any loud patterns or personalised logos on the side of the van.

Similarly, if you’ve made any technical modifications, like a special amplifier for extra loud revs, it’s best to take it off before having the van appraised.

You can always offer modifications like this as optional extras that you can add on for more cash – or you could save them for the next van you buy for yourself.

KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR VAN IS WORTH

Although this doesn’t directly impact the trade-in value you’ll be offered, knowing how much your van is worth gives you a stronger position in the negotiation with the dealer.

Using online valuation tools and marketplaces (e.g. AutoTrader), you can get a sense for how much you will be offered to trade-in and how much it is likely to be sold for. Remember that trade-in prices will be less than private or retail sale prices.

Once you have a ballpark figure of what similar cars are worth, do an honest assessment of your own vehicle taking into consideration its age, mileage and condition.

Formulating the minimum amount that you will accept as a trade-in price will ensure that you’re getting a value that works for you.

PAY ATTENTION TO SEASON AND LOCATION

Vehicle buying and selling has a range of complexities that most of us don’t consider. For example, Dealer 1 might offer you a lower price for your van because they already have something similar in stock. Dealer 2 on the other hand has just sold a similar model after only one week on their forecourt making it highly desirable. As a result, Dealer 2 is likely to offer you more money than Dealer 1.

In certain areas, you might find that your van is more desirable, so you’re able to command a higher trade-in value. Similarly, there are certain months (i.e January) where buyers are more willing to splash their cash on a new van compared to others (December, for example).

Get to know the market in your area so you can approach the right dealerships at the perfect time of the year to get the highest trade-in value for your home delivery van.

Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips, Refrigerated Van

What is a refrigerated van?

Posted on May 15, 2020 by commercialvansolutions

A refrigerated van is exactly how it sounds, it’s a van that contains the same properties as a refrigerator. These kinds of vans are used to transport items that need to stay at a certain temperature – a good example of this is foods that need to stay cold to keep them fresh.

How do Refrigeration Vans work?

They work in the same way that household refrigerators do, they use an insulated airtight compartment to absorb heat and dissolve that heat outside the compartment to ensure the inside contents stay cool.

Every refrigerated van has a condenser, much like your refrigerator at home, and this is designed to condense hot gas into liquid while the rest of the heat is dissolved into the atmosphere. The liquid is cooled and then travels to the evaporator.

The evaporator is inside the space where items are kept and is similar to the condenser in appearance. The liquid enters the evaporator through a valve and then is evaporated at a low temperature as all heat is absorbed. Fans circulate air inside the space where the goods are, in order to keep the temperature regulated and cool.

The gas produced from this returns to the compressor. The compressor is the centre of the system; it takes the low pressure gas from the evaporator and compresses into hot, high pressure gas. This gas is then pushed out of the condenser for the process to start all over again.

Insulation

Unlike household refrigerators, a refrigerated van travels outside for long periods of time in varying degrees of weather. The hot sun paired with the heat the vehicle generates to run can mean disaster for items that need to stay cool!

Therefore, the most essential part of a refrigerated van is its insulation. High-density polymer foam is the most commonly used form of insulation for refrigerated vans, as it contains loads of little air bubbles that prevent heat from entering the space where items are kept. The insulation should be thick and high quality – the better the insulation, the more heat you can prevent from getting inside the compartment.

What type of refrigerated van is for me?

You must first consider what you or your business will need a refrigerated van for, as this will give you an insight into the type that would be best and what temperatures you need to be able to transfer your items in. You should also consider how long your items will need to be in the van for before making your decision.

There are four main types of refrigerated van, these are ‘conversion’ vans which means they are regular vans which have been converted into refrigerated vans using various materials.

Insulation-only van

This type of van contains a thick layer of insulation in the loading bay, usually made out of styrofoam or polystyrene. Since there is no refrigeration, this type of van is not ideal for transporting perishable goods such as food items. This van would be a good choice for businesses like florists who want to keep a consistent temperature inside the van but don’t need to worry about chilling their items.

Chiller conversion van

This type of van is similar to the insulation-only van as it has a thick layer of insulation inside, however, it differs because a chiller conversion van containers a chiller too. Usually, this type of van can chill items to as low as 0 degrees and as high as 8 degrees, which is ideal for many food products. A chiller conversion van is a versatile option for any business that wants to ensure their items will stay at the same, optimum temperature throughout a long journey.

Semi-freezer conversion van

A semi-freezer conversion van has a much thicker layer of insulation than the previous types of vans and has its own freezer unit. With a semi-freezer conversion van, temperatures as low as -15 degrees are achievable, which makes this the perfect type of van for businesses who want to transport frozen goods.

The kind of van has some extra features too – the ‘reverse cycle defrost’ means that your goods can be automatically defrosted by reversing the actions of the condenser and evaporator. This only takes seconds! The ‘hot gas defrost’ uses the hot gas produced in the system to quickly defrost your items as well – these are handy features if your goods require fast defrosting.

Full-freezer conversion van

The final van is similar to the semi-freezer conversion van in the way that it has a thick layer of insulation of about the same size (approximately 75mm). It also has the same defrosting capabilities, meaning your products can be quickly and easily defrosted via the ‘reverse cycle defrost’ and the ‘hot gas defrost’.

The main difference with the full-freezer conversion van is that it has reinforced rear and side doors, and the freezer can keep goods much cooler – temperatures can get as low as -20 degrees! If you’re looking to let the inside temperature get as low as -25 degrees then you’ll need to look at a van with much more insulation (about 100mm) and an exterior with a specific kind of heavy door to ensure the inside temperature doesn’t fluctuate.

How can I purchase one?

You can purchase a refrigerated van in the same way you can purchase a regular van – usually through a reputable dealership or private seller.

Consider what you’ll be needing the van for – are your transporting items that need to simply be kept at a consistent temperature? Then an insulation-only van may be the easiest choice for you. Maybe the goods you are transporting are meat and dairy products that need to be chilled, in which case a chilled conversion van is probably the right way to go.

Another thing you’ll need to think about is whether it’s worth buying the van or leasing it instead. If you’re not 100 per cent sure that a refrigerated van is what you need for your business then it makes sense to hire or lease one first. That way, you can give it a test run and see how it works with your goods. If it turns out it’s not right for you, then that will be a lot of money and hassle saved!

Leasing a refrigerated van

If you decide that leasing will be the best option for you, then it’s time to do your research! There are a wide range of reputable companies that offer refrigerated van leasing, whether you need the van for the short term or long term, and can suit whatever requirements you have.

Leasing a van for a long term period could work out to be the most efficient thing for your business; you can often hire the latest models of vans and so you can be sure that they’ll be working well and are in top condition. However, leasing or hiring a refrigerated van means that the van is not your own and does put you under restrictions and time frames that you must keep to.

Getting a refrigerated van on contract hire

Another option you have is to get your refrigerated van on contract hire. Contract hire is a different form of leasing in which you drive the van over a fixed period of time – usually over a few years. You are given a predetermined annual mileage allowance for the driving period and a monthly rental fee. Like regular leasing, the van is not your own and will be returned to the company after the contract period is over. The amount that needs to be paid per month will depend on the size of the van, the length of the contract and the amount of mileage that was agreed between you and the company.

With contract hire, a maintenance package can also be purchased to cover the cost of any maintenance that the van might require. Getting a refrigerated van on contract hire is great for businesses that want a brand new van in the latest model, but don’t want the hassle that comes with getting rid of the van after the contract period has ended.

However, you’ll need to be sure you can calculate the estimated mileage for the refrigerated van before you decide to go for contract hire, and you must be sure on the term agreed because ending the contract early can be very expensive!

Buying a used refrigerated van

With all their capabilities, it’s no surprise that refrigerated vans aren’t cheap! If you’re looking to buy one new you could be spending more than £20,000 – and that can end up being very costly if you need a whole range for your business.

Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips

Is an electric van right for you?

Posted on May 8, 2020 by commercialvansolutions

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve likely heard all the talk of electric vehicles – and how they could come to play a vital role in the UK’s vehicle market. But if you’re looking to buy or lease a van, should you consider making the change? As with any big purchase, there are lots of things to consider.

First, the good points. Electric vans are – first and foremost – far better for the environment than their fossil fuel-guzzling counterparts. But that’s not all. They’re also incredibly cheap to run, and more and more charging points are popping up across the country, making it easier to top up your vehicle on the go. Moreover, there are also financial incentives in place that can help make the initial purchase more affordable. And with an emissions-free van, you’ll be able to breeze through the planned Ultra-Low Emissions Zones with ease. What’s more, they’re also virtually silent – providing a more pleasant experience for both drivers and residents when your vehicle is passing through a quiet neighborhood.

But what’s the catch? Of course, the big concern is when and how you will keep your vehicle charged. And with home charging stations taking hours to fully charge an electric van, there are obviously some obstacles in the way of long-distance travel. While there are some petrol stations that also offer electric charging points, you’ll need to meticulously plan your journey to take these into account. On top of that, electric vans are expensive – even when taking advantage of the various financing options. And if you decide to sell on, it’s worth bearing in mind that there is currently not much of a market for second hand electric vehicles.

So, as you can see, there are both pros and cons to purchasing an electric vehicle. If on the other hand you are looking for sprinter work van then commercial van solutions is your ultimate destination.