Posted in Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips, Multifunction Power Systems, Van Ladder Racks

5 Van Racking Ideas You Can Do Yourself

Posted on by commercialvansolutions

Having a mobile workshop is great and all, but it has its limitations which is mostly space. Since this is your workplace, getting the shelving right is – next to air conditioning – your number one priority.

I’m sure you know how to put the shelving in. Getting it right isn’t the problem here, but coming up with great ideas can be tricky. But you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. This article gives you 5 work van shelving ideas to get started right away. So let’s dive in.

In this article:

  1. Create a false bed with access at the rear and side doors
  2. Build a cabinet in the side door for crates and toolboxes
  3. Place your side door cabinet on a swivel foot
  4. Create a slide-out workbench
  5. Create long slide out drawers for your lengthy tools

Create a false bed with access at the rear and side doors

This is a no brainer if you’re a carpenter and need to transport large pieces of plywood. Creating a false floor definitely adds a lot of storage to your mobile workshop.

This is the perfect hiding place for large 8×4 panels.

Ensure access at the rear and side door by using panels out of ply. If you only use supporting legs on the sides with supporting beams across, you can easily slide in large sheets of 8×4 ply from the rear. Create a removable hatch at the bulkhead to have access to smaller materials from the side door.

Pros: a lot of flexible storage space for large materials.

Cons: the height you take out at the bottom can limit your standing height in the van. If you need to work inside the van, make sure you have a high roof (H2 or H3) to ensure you can stand up straigt. Or use tip number … to simply work outside.

Build a cabinet in the side door for crates and toolboxes

Building a van-high cabinet in the side door allows for easy access to your most-used tools and materials. Plan out the cabinet to fit your ‘definitely-need’ tools. A cabinet with 2 columns of wide, high shelves from the flooring up for about 3/4 should do the trick. Make sure these shelves are made-to-measure for your specific toolboxes and crates.

Above it, create a shelf for storing small materials such as cannisters, tape, hearing protection, etc. Provide this shelf with an edge to prevent anything from falling of.

Finish the cabinet by placing a column of solid plywood next to the two columns, and use this space to hang your screwdrivers and pliers from. This way, all your need-to-have tools are within reach, and you lose about 15″ in your load area. It get’s better in the next tip.

Pros: most-used tools at hand at all times.

Cons: the cabinet is bulky, you lose some space in the load area, and it’s only accessible from the outside, which sucks when it’s raining. But there’s a solution, read on.

Place your side door cabinet on a swivel foot

If you want to be able to access this cabinet from the inside as well, simply place the entire cabinet on a swivel plateau. This way, if you’re ie. working inside of your van and need your favorite tools at hand, you simply rotate the entire cabinet. The front becomes the back, and your entire toolbox cabinet is now facing the inside.

This requires some serious measuring, since the cabinet can only rotate towards the bulkhead. Just don’t forget to place a lock which secures the system in place while driving.

Pros: flexibility in deciding where you need your tools.

Cons: you need to keep the bulkhead area clear, so you can’t build an inside cabinet there.

Create a slide-out workbench

Gonna do a full length workbench? If you plan it right, you can fit a slide-out workbench at the rear or side of the van. A simple sheet of (thick) plywood with foldable legs will get the job done. This allows you to work outside and extend your working space considerably. You do however need to keep three things in mind:

  1. If it rains, you will get, and so will your equipment (you can fix this though, check out tip …).
  2. You can’t use this workbench as a regular storage shelf whenever it’s inside the van. Or you need to like to move everything on the shelf whenever the sun’s out and you feel like working outside.
  3. Also, make sure the legs are adjustable, so you can offset the height of the curb/your van when loaded. Nobody likes a slanting workbench.

If you do this right, you can fit on your miter saw.

When planning your workbench, run the slide out top over the entire length of the load area. To create the slide out system, use heavy duty rails or gliders at the sides of the worktop.

Make sure to stop the inside workbench about 40cm in from the rear. This way, the slide out top will stick out of the inside workbench for about 40cm.

Now you can mount your miter saw at the end, using the strength of the side gliders to keep the weight.

If you pull out your worktop, the miter saw comes out of the van, and rests on top of the legs. You can use it inside as well. Two birds, one stone.

Pros: easily create double the workspace, work outside when it’s sunny, operate the miter saw both in and outside the van.

Cons: you can’t use this slide out top as a regular shelf.

Create long slide out drawers for your lengthy tools

If you do plan on false flooring, make sure to reserve a spot at the rear. It’s the perfect storage space for your levels and other long tools. Place the drawers at the side for keeping the main under-floor storage clear. This should give you plenty of space to still slide in loads of 8×4’s.

If you do a shallow drawer at the side door as well, you get a perfect storage for small materials or tools. This way, you make optimal usage of the entire length of the load area, and it only costs you about 40cm of the load area.

Pros: protects your fragile levels and straight edges, doesn’t cost a lot of space, the side drawer is perfect for easy access to accessoiries and small tools such as pliers or drills.

Cons: not many, you lose a narrow strip of the under-floor storage, drawers are less flexible (but more organized!).

Posted in Ideas & Tips, Multifunction Power Systems, News & Updates, Refrigerated Van

The History of Refrigerated Vans

Posted on by commercialvansolutions

Refrigerated Vans: The Past, Present and Future

Here at Cool Running Rental we specialise in providing temperature controlled vehicles for hire to specialist services that need them. Many people fail to realise the importance that refrigerated vehicles hold in today’s world, and many more people are unaware that the technology is actually older than you might think!

So why is mobile refrigeration important? Well, without it many of the simple things we enjoy in life wouldn’t be possible. For instance the mass transport of perishable foods from one place to another, the key factor in the success of Supermarkets, would be impossible without the help of refrigerated vehicles!

Another key role that refrigerated vans perform is transporting vital medical supplies such as blood and vaccines through the cold supply chain to hospitals and other places where they are desperately needed. Refrigerated vans haven’t just made our lives easier, you could say they also save lives.

But where did modern refrigerated transport start? With one, very talented man.

Frederick McKinley Jones – The “King of Cool”, and the father of modern mobile refrigeration.

Frederick McKinley Jones standing next to a refrigerated van circa 1950
Image credit: worldkings.org

Frederick McKinley Jones was a remarkable man, who battled a difficult upbringing and eventually became one of the great success stories of 20th Century America. 

Early Life

He was born in May of 1893 to parents of different races in Cincinnati Ohio, and it wasn’t long before his childhood had taken him down a difficult path. Jones’ mother had abandoned him and his father, and by the age of 7 Jones had been sent to live with a Catholic Priest in Kentucky, after his aging father could no longer care for him.

Little is known about these years in Jones’ life, apart from that his father died just 2 years after sending him away. Another year later, at the young age of 11, Jones decided to run away from Kentucky, and seek work in his hometown of Cincinnati.

Upon arriving back in the Ohio city, Jones managed to get by doing a variety of odd jobs and piecing together a wage. One of these jobs however, would be the making of Frederick McKinley Jones. He had began work as a cleaner in an automotive garage, sweeping floors and tidying tools, and over time developing a keen interest in the mechanics of motorcars.

This budding passion grew, and Jones spent several years working at the garage, steadily moving from janitor to apprentice, and eventually from apprentice to foreman. He had mastered the trade of vehicle mechanic by the age of 19, and had set himself up for greatness.

Pre-War

In 1912 Jones decided to leave the Cincinnati garage that had been his home for the better part of a decade, and set out to find work elsewhere, eventually landing at a farm in Hallock Minnesota. Here his job was to fix and maintain the farm’s vehicles, and this was also an opportunity for him to expand his knowledge of other technologies and machinery.

During his time in Hallock, America joined the First World War, and as a young male Jones was drafted to go and serve on the European continent. Jones’ service was no detriment to his learning though, as he was employed to make repairs to a wide variety of machines and other equipment.

Post War

After the war, Jones returned to the farm in Hallock and continued to learn as much as he could, this time in the field of electronics. His experience in the war had no doubt aided his learning, and before long he was embarking on a very large project. The town of Hallock had decided to fund a new radio station and they needed an engineer to fabricate the transmitter needed for the station.

Naturally Jones took to the challenge like a fish to water and before long the new Hallock radio station was operating successfully, relying every day on the remarkable talent of a man with no formal education. This new-found skill for electronics brought Jones onto the radar of a man called Joseph Numero, a leading name in the Cinema industry whose company made filming equipment. Numero hired Jones to improve the sound equipment made by Cinema Supplies Inc., based upon a device Jones had created on the farm in Hallock that could combine sound with motion pictures and revolutionised the cinema industry.

This friendship with Numero would soon turn into Jones’ greatest success. In 1938 Jones invented the first truly portable air cooling unit that was designed for vans (where all the predecessors had been mounted on trains due to their size). Originally designed for businesses transporting perishable foods, Jones’ units gathered success quickly as they allowed small shops to sell their wares much further-a-field, as opposed to before where they had only been able to service their immediate localities.

Following the successes of Jones’ invention, his friend Numero decided to sell Cinema Supplies Inc., and together they partnered a new company: the US Thermo Control Company, which later went on to become the Thermoking that we still use today!

The patent drawing for Jones' refrigerated van
Image credit: worldkings.org

World War 2

Like many other technology companies, the Thermo Control Company (TCC) found themselves benefitting from the necessities of war. With the outbreak of conflict in Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia the Army’s needs for rations, both food and medical, grew at an alarming rate. Jones and Numero were well suited to this growing need, as their vans could preserve supplies and take them further to the Army’s hospitals, or right onto the front line.

Specialist logistics units sprang up across the Army, including the aptly nicknamed “Penguin Fleet”, whose job it was to transport blood, medicine and food to ensure that the fighting lines were well provisioned, and the wounded received the treatment they needed. This vital service that TCC’s refrigerated vans were serving was well compensated, and by 1949 TCC had grown to be worth $3million, a mighty sum equivalent to 10 times that number today!

How have modern vans changed?

In truth, modern refrigerated vans haven’t changed their core mechanics much since Frederick McKinley Jones’ pioneered the technology. The units have become smaller and more efficient, and the insulation of the vans has become more effective, but the core concept remains the same!

The major modernisation in refrigerated vans has come in the vehicles that they are based on! As time has progressed, the trusty “white van” has become more and more accessible to smaller businesses, and with them the refrigerated conversions.

Commercial suppliers like Mercedes and Volkswagen have helped to create an industry aimed solely at providing transport for these small to medium sized companies, and combined with the modern Thermoking refrigeration units the transport of perishable goods has never been easier.

Where is the future of refrigerated vehicles headed?

With the advancements in electric vehicles, it is no surprise to see that refrigerated vans aren’t far behind the curve.

Nissan have already released their e-NV200 which can be readily converted, and we’re very excited to see what can be done with Mercedes’ eVito, as we have already used the traditional engine Vito to great effect!

Posted in cargo van, News & Updates, Refrigerated Van, Van Ladder Racks

WAYS TO CUT YOUR FLEET OPERATION COSTS

Posted on by commercialvansolutions

The trucking industry is at a crossroads. Freight demand is at an all-time high. Reports in June 2018 of online freight board had 600,000 loads posting per day, up from just 250,000 on a typical day. Yet the number of available, qualified truck drivers to handle this freight has dropped to an all-time low.

American Trucking Associations reported the industry is expected to hit a shortage of 174,000 truck drivers by 2026. Managing fleet truck cost in this type of climate requires you to switch gears, starting with these key areas.

Focus on Fuel Economy

Fuel is the biggest expense of any trucking company, no matter the fleet’s size. Fuel costs eat up almost 40 percent of conventionally powered fleets using all diesel and no new fuel-efficient technologies. Ideally, you will want to upgrade your fleet to include late-model trucks or retrofitted engine systems that are more fuel efficient.

Tractor and in-cab technology, including automated driving features and fleet software, can help your drivers reduce fuel consumption even more by controlling their driving behaviors.

Perform Preventative Maintenance

One major way for managing the cost of fleet trucks is through ROUTINE TRUCK MAINTENANCE. In fact, truck maintenance is required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as part of trucking regulations. The FMCSA states:

“Every motor carrier shall systematically inspect, repair, and maintain, or cause to be systematically inspected, repaired, and maintained, all motor vehicles subject to its control.”

In addition to basic engine maintenance, this includes having truck accessories and parts that are in proper working condition for safe operations. Along with helping your fleet meet Department of Transportation regulations, preventative maintenance extends the lifecycle of your equipment.

However, there is a modern take on how often preventative maintenance should be conducted to be cost-effective. Check your truck warranty to see what the manufacturer recommends for preventative maintenance, such as oil changes and tuneups. Note that by choosing a synthetic oil, you can extend preventative maintenance intervals from 3,000 to 6,000 or 7,000.

Reduce Miles Driven

Choosing the shortest and fastest route possible to deliver freight is the goal of every fleet manager. This satisfies shipper deadlines while increasing the amount of freight that can be picked up per driver.

All of that equates to greater profits, which can offset truck fleet costs. Yet there is a new way of managing fleet truck cost by reducing the number of miles traveled on fleet trucks. It all starts with truck tracking technology using GPS.

Increase Truck Tracking Capability

Tracking fleet trucks enables you to pinpoint drivers on a route in real time. As a fleet manager, seeing your drivers in motion enables you to make smarter dispatching decisions when sending out orders.

Drivers can increase their capacity to pick up last-minute freight while over the road. This is much preferred to sitting and waiting on a load to pop up or deadheading back empty, both of which incur a loss for your company.

More importantly, truck tracking is becoming a standard in the trucking industry. Your competitors are offering GPS freight tracking for their shipping customers. Furthermore, customers appreciate having the ability to monitor their freight when in transit. This increases customer confidence in shipping with your company, which again, helps you offset expenses.

Select the Right Trailer

Another tip is to purchase refrigerated truck rental and trailers that are designed for specific haul types. For example, if you are transporting oversized freight, you need flatbed trailers that are equipped to handle this excessive weight.

You can also invest in curtainside trailers or dry van containers that offer multipurpose for hauls. This gives you the ability to have trailers that provide the most use and value for your investment. Avoid purchasing a trailer for a single haul; look into renting equipment.

Posted in Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips, Multifunction Power Systems, Refrigerated Van

HOW TO KEEP A REFRIGERATED TRUCK CLEAN AND IN GOOD CONDITION

Posted on by commercialvansolutions

As a business owner of a refrigerated trucks hauling fleet, you understand the importance of purchasing the best equipment. After all, your bottom line depends on your ability to provide fast and efficient reefer hauling services.

Another less evident issue involving reefer hauling is keeping a refrigerated truck in good condition. For transporting foods in particular, you must also maintain clean refrigerated medium box trucks to comply with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

Learn how to keep your reefer fleet of trucks clean and in good condition with these maintenance tips for refrigerated trucks.

Utilize Truck Washes

A truck wash is your greatest ally in keeping your small refrigerated box truck in pristine hauling condition. For a medium box truck, target areas for the trailer wash-out include the floor, walls, drain holes and door crevices. The refrigerated box truck wash-out process must be documented to comply with regulations. In addition, if the trailer is made using wood, this needs to be treated to meet the Food Safety Modernization Act rules.

For reefer trucks, search for a truck wash that also provides reefer trailer wash-out services. An alternative is to handle cleaning your refrigerated trailer after every load. For the majority of truck drivers and trucking companies, the most cost-effective solution to maintaining a clean reefer truck is by outsourcing truck wash services.

Protect Refrigeration Units

The power source of a refrigerated trailer is the cooling unit. Increase the efficiency and lifespan of your equipment with a single move — turn off the cooling unit when loading and unloading freight. As the doors to a small or medium-size refrigerated box truck are constantly opening, the temperature is fluctuating inside the truck.

This puts extra work on the engine, which causes your drivers to use more fuel. In addition, when warm, humid air enters the truck, this could condense on the evaporator coil, interrupting the airflow and causing the unit to kick into defrost. By making this one change, you can save your company money and improve the lifespan of your reefer trucks.

Perform Routine Maintenance and Inspections

Refrigerated truck maintenance and service by a professional truck leasing company is another way to keep your truck in good operating condition. Maintenance protects against wear and tear and is the best way to identify early signs of malfunction. However, you should also do your part to perform truck inspections for your reefer fleet.

Each of your drivers should be conducting pre- and post-trip inspections. This is key to ensuring the refrigerated truck units are operating in optimal performance. Even the slightest temperature fluctuation can cause a driver to lose his or her freight to spoilage. By monitoring the truck temperature and refrigeration unit periodically on every delivery, your drivers provide front-of-the-line protection against truck breakdowns.

Maintain a Quality Reefer Fleet

Along with maintaining FDA compliance for refrigerated food hauling, a clean trailer speaks volumes about your trucking company. Maintain your medium box trucks and refrigerated trailers in the same way that you will maintain your customers’ freight. A clean reefer truck also allows your drivers to safely transport freight for your shipping customers. This provides your company with job security — all thanks to keeping your refrigerated truck in good condition.

Posted in Ideas & Tips, Multifunction Power Systems, News & Updates, Refrigerated Van

SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRANSPORT: WHY CHOOSE A REFRIGERATED TRUCK?

Posted on by commercialvansolutions

There are many circumstances under which you might need a refrigerated truck rental. Normal trucks are not climate controlled and you might have perishable items that require a specific level of temperature while being transported. Refrigeration is important to keep the products in good shape until they reach their destination.

Here are the top reasons you need refrigerated trucks for your business.

Products that Require Refrigeration During Transit

Some products require continuous refrigeration to stay fresh or effective. These include fruits and vegetables, freshly cut flowers, dairy, meat, and seafood, as well as chemical, hazardous, and pharmaceutical products.

It is ideal to use a refrigerated truck to transport these items, as you can maintain the right temperature throughout the journey. It’s better to pay for the service of a refrigerated transport carrier than to incur losses due to spoilage and damage.

Adhesives and Artwork

Most adhesives become ineffective when exposed to extremely high temperatures. Similarly, valuable paintings and other works of art require effective temperature control, as extreme heat can ruin them.

A range of other delicate products will benefit from being transported in a refrigerated truck. This type of shipment offers complete protection for all materials and items that are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Refrigerated trucks also provide a clean transport environment for your shipments.

Transporting products is part of the operational processes of many companies. Whether you ship perishable items or dry goods, it’s important to make sure they will reach their destination fast and in good condition.

It is ideal to consult a reputable trucking service provider when you need to ship any product that requires temperature control. Depending on the shipment size, the prevailing climate conditions, and the distance, trucking companies can advise you on the type of truck that suits your needs.

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

Road Trip Travel Tips for Safe Driving

Posted on 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.

Posted in Commercial Van, Ideas & Tips, Uncategorized, wheelchair van

Things to Consider When Buying a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

Posted on 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. 

Posted in cargo van, Commercial Van, News & Updates, Van Ladder Racks

Why choose a van instead of a car?

Posted on by commercialvansolutions

Cars are a great way to get around but they’re not always the most practical option. If you have a large family, love exploring the great outdoors, or enjoy road trips and staycations, van life may offer the flexibility you’re after.

  • Vans offer more freedom than cars
  • Insurance can be just as affordable
  • Smaller models make a transition easier

Owning a van certainly offers you much more freedom. Whether your passion is for outdoor sports such as kayaking, cycling and surfing, weekend camping trips or even hobbies such as fishing, a sprinter commercial van allows you to embrace what you love. Regular staycationers and roadtrippers will benefit from the extra space.

The cost of a van can put some drivers off. But there are many small models available and ways to get cheaper van insurance to make it affordable.

What should I consider when buying a van?

If you’ve bought a car before, purchasing a van shouldn’t be too different. Start with your budget and decide what you want a van for. This will tell you what size of van you need and whether it’s best to buy new or second-hand. Fuel economy, van insurance and maintenance need to be considered within your budget too.

If you’re buying a second-hand van, make sure you take a test drive to check it’s in a good condition and the price is fair. Mileage and engine size impact van insurance costs.

Buying a van:

  • How you’ll use your van
    This will help you find the right model for your needs
  • Insurance Group
    Mileage, engine size, and weight influence your insurance group and quote
  • Van access
    Do you need rear or side access?  
  • Loading regulations
    Every vehicle on the road in the UK has a ‘plated weight’. Estimate the weight of your gear and check you’re safe

Is van insurance more expensive than car insurance?

Van and car insurance work in the same way, just the type of vehicle being insured differs. The same factors influence both policies. These include:

  • Age of the driver
  • Location where the vehicle is kept
  • Make and model
  • Engine size
  • Level of cover required

Just as the cost of insurance usually increases for a 2.0-litre saloon compared to a 1.2-litre model, the same is true for vans.

The vehicle’s use also affects van insurance quotes. If you’re planning to use it for work and store tools, materials or other valuable goods inside it, commercial van insurance will be required. This will normally be more expensive as it has to cover the extra value of any equipment.

If you’re only using a van for domestic use, standard van insurance should be fine.

Can I drive a van on my car licence?

Yes, if you have a standard car driving licence then you can drive a van up to 3,500kg. To drive a larger van that weighs up to 7,500kg or tow a trailer with your van, you will need to take extra tests if your driving licence was issued after January 1st 1997.

Make sure you have the right driving licence – otherwise you can be fined up to £1,000 and receive 3 or 6 penalty pointson your licence.

How do I get cheaper van insurance?

Aside from the vehicle, van insurance will likely be your second-highest expense. When choosing a model there are a few things you can do to make it more affordable:

  • Apply for van insurance quotes early
    Research has shown that getting a quote the day before a policy starts can cost more than organising it 3 weeks before
  • Buy a second-hand van
    Generally, older vehicles are cheaper to insure as the purchase price is lower
  • Drive a small van
    The less powerful the engine and smaller the van, the lower the risk and the cheaper the insurance
  • Limit your mileage
    More driving means more risk of a claim, so try to give an accurate estimate of how many miles you expect to drive in a year
  • Improve your security
    Even if your van is used for personal reasons and left empty overnight, adding an alarm, immobiliser and tracker makes it more secure and cheaper to insure

Once you’ve decided on the van that’s right for you, get a van insurance policy to make sure you’re fully covered.

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

5 REASONS TO BUY A VAN WITHOUT A BUSINESS

Posted on 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.

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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. 

Posted in cargo van, Commercial Van, News & Updates, Uncategorized

The best cargo vans for small businesses

Posted on by commercialvansolutions

So you’ve just started a new business. Now you need a vehicle. Maybe you need to haul stuff around town, or maybe it will even be your mobile office. You need a cargo van that’s dependable, and able to do the job, but why stop there?

Today’s cargo vans offer much of the same tech available in passenger cars. From Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to adaptive cruise control, you can have it all, plus room for tools, merchandise, or whatever else you need to haul. When it comes to the best cargo vans for small businesses, these are our top picks.

Ford Transit

The Ford Transit has been the go-to van for businesses around the world for decades, but it’s only been on sale in the United States since the 2015 model year. The Transit marked a major change from the old Ford E-Series, with a more space-efficient design and downsized engines for better fuel economy.

The Transit is getting a major update for the 2020 model year that adds more tech features to that solid foundation. A standard WiFi hotspot can support up to 10 devices, and works up to 50 feet away from the van. The 2020 Transit is also available with tech from Ford’s passenger cars, including the Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and driver aids like autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and post-collision braking. Ford’s Sync AppLink also allows drivers to use certain apps without plugging in their phones.

On the power side, the 2020 Transit is available with a 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine. Ford claims this engine will produce more torque than the outgoing 3.2-liter inline-five diesel, while returning better fuel economy. Two gasoline 3.5-liter V6 engines – one turbocharged, one naturally aspirated – are also available. For 2020, Ford’s ubiquitous 10-speed automatic transmission is standard across the board – offering a wider spread of gear ratios than any other full-size van. All-wheel drive is also available as an option for the first time.

Ford Transit Connect

Ford was the first automaker to bring a modern small van to the United States, and the current-generation Transit Connect is still a great option for small businesses. It’s a perfect fit if you need to haul cargo, but don’t need a full-size van.

With its relatively low seating position and compact proportions, the Transit Connect drives more like a car than a traditional van. Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection (Ford also offers a more basic 2.5-liter four-banger for fleet customers). For 2020, the Transit Connect also gets several new driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and autonomous emergency braking.

The Transit Connect has plenty of connectivity tech, too. Like the larger Transit, it’s available with a WiFi hotspot that can support up to 10 devices, as well as Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless phone charger.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

It may be surprising to learn that a manufacturer famous for luxury cars also makes commercial vehicles, but Mercedes’ Sprinter is the preferred choice of large companies like FedEx and Amazon.

The recently-redesigned Sprinter borrows some tech from Mercedes’ passenger cars. It was actually one of the first vehicles to get the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system, which includes natural-language voice recognition and a voice assistant that responds to the prompt “Hey Mercedes.” Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available as well, and the larger optional touchscreens have pinch-and-zoom capability.

If you’ve got more than one van, Mercedes also offers a data-management platform to help you keep track of them. A built-in modem allows owners to track everything from a van’s current location to its maintenance records. That makes it easier to schedule when vans will be used, and when they will be taken out of service for maintenance work. It’s also presumably a way for nosy bosses to keep tabs on van drivers.

Nissan NV200

The Nissan NV200 is a compact van that tries to maintain some of the feel of larger vans. Its tall seating position and cab-forward design will likely be more familiar to drivers stepping down from full-size vans than the rival Ford Transit Connect and Ram ProMaster City.

Like the Ram, the Nissan has asymmetrical doors that can open up to 180 degrees. Interestingly, Nissan took the opposite approach to Ram, placing the narrower door on the driver’s side so it doesn’t get ripped off by passing cars. Maybe someone should just figure out a way to make van doors smaller.

The NV200 is a bit light on tech, but it does offer better warranty coverage than its rivals, at five years/100,000 miles for both the basic and powertrain warranties. The passenger version of the NV200 has also proven to be pretty rugged in New York City taxi service.