Driving refrigerated vans to an event can be the best way to make sure that cool products remain at the optimal temperature. But choosing the right van for the occasion can be challenging. There are specific elements that must be reviewed before picking up that ideal vehicle. In this latest post, our experts explain more on the process with their three tips for choosing a refrigerated van.

Ensure the Vans Go Under Regular Maintenance

Before working with a rental company and choosing a refrigerated van, it’s important that you find out how much maintenance the company completes on their vehicles. Are they able to ensure that your refrigerated van is maintained regularly and won’t break down on the road? What kind of assurances can they provide on the performance of the vehicle?

This is particularly important when renting a refrigerated van compared with renting other vehicles, as refrigerated vans must be assured to retain a specific temperature throughout the journey. Any issue with a small component in the vehicle can ruin the transported goods.

Consider the Size of the Vehicle

When it comes to choosing a refrigerated van for your event needs, bigger isn’t always better. If you’re transporting goods that must be tightly packed, such as medical supplies and food items, then a smaller van can help you to keep the goods in optimal condition.

Before making a decision on a vehicle, make sure you have time to review the sizing of the interior of the vehicle before you rent. You might also consider visiting the facility and discussing vehicle sizing with a specialist. Oftentimes, companies have a number of sizing options designed to meet the demands of all renters.

Book Well in Advance

A common mistake many event planners make is waiting until the last minute to book transportation. While it makes sense to wait until you’re sure that other elements are in place, such as the venue and the attendees, you should ensure that special transportation requirements are met well before the event takes place.

Vehicles such as refrigerated vans are in high demand throughout the region. Renters across Ireland are seeking out these vehicles for both event needs and the commercial transportation requirements. Making sure the vehicle is secured before the event can help streamline the planning process going forward.

Where Has the Refrigerated Vehicle Come From?

Until recent years the ability of transporting frozen foods was extremely difficult, this was all down to the stringent legalities concerning food distribution. Large trailers attached to Lorries were the main source for such deliveries of frozen foods and goods by road, which were mainly utilized by the corporate shopping chains.

This has now changed due to the manufacture of the refrigerator van and freezer equipped vehicles. The demand was so great for such requirements that the likes of Vehicles have become recognized as one of the leading suppliers of refrigerated vans within the UK. This is alongside providing a whole team of conversion specialists who will adapt and convert your existing vehicle, so it can transport frozen foods.

This in turn has seen significant increase in within the food and catering industries. It has given local firms a whole new lease of life by giving them the ability to diversify their businesses and offer additional catering services. Weddings, parties and corporate events are just some of the sectors that are now booming from the creation of the refrigerated vehicles.

This will continually increase within the UK as we seek out new restaurants and caterers to satisfy our appetite for takeaway foods. One thing is definite and that is the freezer equipped vehicles are here to stay and will continue to be an invaluable tool within our society.

This will continually increase within the UK as we seek out new restaurants and caterers to satisfy our appetite for takeaway foods. One thing is definite and that is the freezer equipped vehicles are here to stay and will continue to be an invaluable tool within our society.

The use of Commercial vehicles is growing eight times faster than other parts of the auto industry because they’re so useful and versatile.

If you’re reading this, you want to get the most out of your van, and we’re here to help. Read on for some shelving ideas that will help you make the most out of your van space.

1. Adjustable Shelving

Adjustable shelving can make the most out of your van space without locking you into one single solution.

With adjustable shelving, you can change the size of your shelves easily, making your van space versatile and able to work with a variety of things you may need to store.

2. Locking Drawers

If you have equipment that you need to keep a little more secure than what other shelving solutions may afford, locking drawers may be the solution for you.

Locking drawers are great for keeping items safe and locked away, so if you need your cargo van to safely store items, consider locking drawers.

3. Paintbrush Rack

If you’re in an industry where paintbrushes need to be safely and cleanly transported, a magnetized paintbrush rack may be just the thing you need to make the most out of your gruau van.

Magnetized paintbrush racks can easily store your brushes in a way that optimizes the space of your van.

4. Ladder Racks

If the inside of your van is getting too crowded, consider having a ladder rack installed. A ladder rack will free up space inside by allowing you to store big bulky items, like a ladder, on the outside.

5. Custom Shelving

If none of these van shelving ideas seem quite right for you, then consider putting together a custom shelving solution.

There are countless combinations you can put together inside and outside your van to create the perfect solution for your space and storage needs.

We guarantee there is a combination of options out there that will fit the exact needs you’re looking for.

Under the Australian Governments “Clean Energy Future Plan” synthetic greenhouse gases, like the HFC based refrigerants commonly used in transport refrigeration units, now attract a Carbon price per tonne calculated on their individual Global Warming Potential (GWP).

The GWP assigned per kilo to R404a refrigerant is 3260kg. This means that 1kg of R404a equates to 3.26 metric tonnes of carbon.

When this is applied to the current carbon tax price of $23.00 per tonne it means that every 1kg of R404a refrigerant attracts $74.98 carbon tax.

Example: 3.26 x $23 = $74.98

This new tax goes on top of the existing import levy and the cost price per kilo of refrigerant.

Due to the growing costs surrounding the supply and storage of refrigerants there has been a significant price increase to the most common refrigerants used in the refrigerated transport sector.

This increase will not affect your normal unit servicing cost as there is no refrigerant lost during these services. This increase will only affect breakdowns or repairs which involve refrigerant loss. Due to this it now becomes essential to put into place a preventative maintenance program on your fleet to reduce the risk of a small gas leak spiralling out of control & costing you a full charge of refrigerant.

The Government’s purpose through this tax is to give the industry a price driven incentive to reduce harmful HFC refrigerant leaking into the atmosphere.

Companies has built a reputation for providing their customers with added value and cost savings through our products and parts, through the great services we offer and the thorough fleet management programs we provide. Following this trend and with the increased refrigerant pricing in mind we have under-taken some comprehensive research into the main causes and the key indicators of refrigeration leaks in a transport refrigeration system.

Prevention is better than Cure!

What we discovered is that customers who remain on schedule with their regular servicing and those who have adopted our programmed fleet checks were 228% less likely to develop a gas related issue which cost them a full charge of refrigerant than those who only initiated repairs when something went wrong. When refrigerant was used in customers who regularly maintain their fleet it was mostly in much smaller quantities due to early detection.

The significant increase in refrigerant price should create the need for fleet owners and managers to re-consider how they maintain and operate their refrigerated vehicles so that they can limit their exposure to the expense of refrigerant loss.

We have adopted an innovative approach to reduce refrigerant leaks in their customer’s fleets; we have trained our technicians at identifying the key indicators of refrigerant loss through our programmed fleet inspections, we use only quality products like our Manuli Refrigeration hose and fittings and we run a comprehensive scheduled fleet maintenance program proven to reduce breakdowns and gas related leaks which will significantly reduce maintenance costs.

We have a strong commitment to preserving the environment. All our trained technicians are fully licensed to handle refrigerants and understand the environmental impact associated with the release of HFC’s. We take refrigerant leaks seriously which is evident when we perform fleet checks and repairs on refrigerated delivery vehicles.

Today, it is extremely important to align yourselves with a refrigeration service provider like Thermal Mark who has implemented a program designed to reduce your breakdowns, lower your vehicle down-time and reduce your leak rates.

Understanding the basics of refrigerated trucks can one of the long way in knowing the options available in the trucking services. To know more details please contact us.

We know this site is about vans, but you can’t always take your van to the supermarket, or maybe the parents, or a family day out. Sometimes you need a car.

And like a van, you need to make sure the car will stay on the road and not let you down.

And that’s where car warranties come in.

If you’re buying a new or used car you will be presented with a range of different warranty types. It can be confusing when you’ve not read up on the differences between them and there is a risk that you will end up either taking out an expensive warranty you didn’t need or ending up with a warranty that doesn’t provide enough cover. To make things clearer, we’ve rounded up the three main types of car warranty and explained the difference between each below.

Manufacturer warranty

Every new car comes with a manufacturer’s warranty. Usually these will last between three and seven years, covering most types of fault except for wear and tear. This is because most new cars shouldn’t break down or suffer faults in their first few years and if they do, the manufacturer is willing to accept some level of responsibility.

Often there will be a set of rules that need to be followed for the warranty to remain valid, such as making sure the car is serviced on time and at a reputable dealer. In the policy you should also check:

• The limit per claim
• If an excess is required
• Servicing schedule
• Limits for annual or total mileage
• Full cost of repair or just parts/labour

Once the new car warranty is up you can get an extended manufacturer warranty if desired. For example, a Hyundai warranty lasts for five years. It’s only when this has run out that you will need to think about taking out another type of warranty.

Used car warranties

The first thing to check when buying a second-hand car is whether the existing warranty is still included. If the car is less than three years old or has a long manufacturer warranty, then it might be, and you only need to check that it hasn’t gone over the mileage or any other limits.

When considering a used car warranty, it’s worth comparing how much it will cost in total against the price of any potential repairs that might need to be made. Your average repair bill may be less than this, but it depends if you want to risk driving without a warranty or not? It will provide peace of mind if your car needs to go to the garage. A used car warranty will sometimes be included as standard when buying through a reputable dealer, or an optional extra.

Extended warranty

Every extended warranty will be different but the best ones cover against mechanical and electrical damage for the engine, transmission, steering and suspension. It’s worth browsing those available and deciding whether it’s best to buy through the manufacturer or an independent seller depending on what you want.

Most extended warranties will only last for about 12 months, though it’s possible to find some that cover anywhere from one month to five years. This makes it simple to renew every year with the insurance. Plus, you can get extended warranties to cover aspects such as your tyres and car battery, that won’t be included in most regular policies.

Now you hopefully have a better understanding of the main types of car and refrigerated van warranties available and can choose the best option for you.

IF you’ve ever spent valuable time searching through the back of a Citroen Berlingo for a two-gang back box or rifling among stacks of plastic pipes for a right-angle connector in a Renault Traffic this may well be the article for you.

If you’ve ever stabbed yourself on a gripper-rod reaching for a carpet stretcher in the back of a Mercedes Sprinter, or discovered your safety goggles broken under a pile of timber in a Ford Transit then you might just be thinking about organising your tools and materials in a more systematic way and looking for some van racking storage space-saving tips.

It may be that you have rigged up some storage solutions already, perhaps by installing a modular toolbox into the back of a Volkswagen Transporter to keep your mechanic’s tools and parts in order, or by rigging up hooks to store gardening or power tools on the inside walls of your Vauxhall Vivaro, but perhaps now you are looking to streamline your operation even more effectively and looking for a fully professional storage solution for your fully professional business.

After all, not only does a purpose-built racking and storage system make your life easier, it sends a clear signal to customers that you are serious about your business, and that instills confidence. Another important issue may well be security, and we will take a look at some ways of helping to keep your tools safe when in the vehicle.

How can internal van racking save time and money?

Whether it’s cabinets, van boxes, or racking accessories, the increase in usable space that can be achieved with purpose-built van storage will mean you can carry more and still keep everything in order.

Keeping components, tools, and materials properly sorted, with a place for everything and everything in its place means that you can spend less time searching for the right tool for the job and more time actually doing the job.

Regardless of your particular trade or profession you will almost certainly have tools which you want to have to hand when you need them. In some cases they may be delicate or easily damaged, which means you don’t want them loose in the back of the van mixed up with materials or site waste. In addition, you will want to know that your tools are secure, both on-site, and when parked up.

While the ultimate security for keeping your tools safe overnight is to remove them from the vehicle that may not always be practical. A secure van box will add a level of deterrent and protection for your tools, should the van itself be broken into. When on site, van boxes will keep your tools safe from being ‘borrowed’ by other contractors while they are not in use.

Racking and storage

Racking and storage can be provided for your specific van make and model in a wide range of configurations and customised with a range of racking accessories to your particular trade requirements. Whether you need to store an assortment of pipes for plumbing, or timber sizes for carpentry there is a setup that is just right for you.

Similarly, you may well have an assortment of spare parts, and or fixings which need to be kept in order. Having the right storage drawers in appropriate sizes built to fit your specific requirements and your make and model of van, whether it’s spare parts in a Peugeot, or bolts and washers in a Mercedes, the range of storage drawers can be tailored to your particular van’s make and model.

However, perhaps the greatest cost saving of all which can be achieved by using internal van storage systems is the ability to use a smaller van to do the same job. By making best use of the space available it may be possible to go from a long wheelbase to a short, or even switch to a smaller van format and still get the job done with potential fuel savings alone running into thousands per year.

How to maximize space in all work vans

So let’s look at some van shelving or racking storage space-saving tips.

If we’re starting from an empty van, then it’s just a matter of deciding which components to install. With a huge range of aluminium or beech ply racking and storage in a choice of configurations including deep tray or angled shelves, drawers and more, and with a selection of accessories including hooks rubber matting, and holders for specific items such as spray bottles, sealing guns, hoses, etc. you may need to make a list of the equipment and materials that you regularly expect to carry.

Don’t forget cabinets or van boxes for your most precious tools or delicate kit. Of course, if you are starting with a van that is already filled with your equipment in a disorganised heap then the first job is to clear everything out and take an inventory of what you actually use. This may well take some time but will save you vastly more time in the future. Whether you install cabinets or van boxes or bays of racking, and which van racking accessories you need, will depend very much on the nature of your trade.

If you use a very wide range of small components, then you will probably be looking for a large number of small drawers. Alternatively you may simply need one or more strong and secure van boxes for power tools while the rest of the van space will be used for transporting materials such as timber. It may help to plan and draw a sketch of how you want to lay things out.

At this stage you may have to make the biggest decision of all, and that is whether a new storage system means you can work with a smaller van. If so, you will have made the biggest potential saving of all! One important consideration is making sure the items you use most frequently are the most easily to hand. Once you have everything installed it’s just a case of putting everything back in the new storage and discovering the delights of being able to go to the back of the van and get whatever bit you need without the tedious rummaging.