Van ladder racks are crucial automotive accessories for any contractor, carpenter, plumber, or even just the average Joe. A pickup ladder rack will greatly enhance the capabilities of your truck.
Benefits of Ladder Racks
No longer will you have to haul those longboards, pipes, or other objects with your tailgate down.
Minimizes the risk you pose to other drivers on the road.
Minimizes the risk of falling ladders, tools, pipes, lumber, and more!
Helps avoid unsightly scratches on your body’s paint.
Allows for maximum cargo capacity.
Cab protection.
A great way to transport more than just ladders.
Also great for hauling lumber, pipes, and other long loads without taking up space in your truck bed.
Most of our truck ladder racks work with bed liners, toolboxes, and other accessories.
As you can see, there are plenty of advantages of truck ladder racks!
There is no need to take up precious storage space. There is no need for rope, bungee cords, straps, or tie-downs. A ladder rack will help you easily and effortlessly mount your work ladder and other awkwardly long tools and accessories out of the way, maximizing your cargo load.
From expanding your fleet to simply replacing unrepairable trucks, there are many motivations that may lead you to consider buying a commercial vehicle.
Those glossy new trucks are immediately appealing to anyone. However, for some customers, new isn’t always the most practical choice, which is why used commercial vehicles also perform so strongly on our site.
What makes purchasing a used truck or van such a smart decision for so many? In this article, lets review the primary benefits of buying used commercial van:
1. Frugal
It may be the most obvious incentive, but it’s true that acquiring used trucks is significantly cheaper up-front than purchasing a new vehicle. A truck or van typically experiences its biggest drop in value in its first 12 months. This means you can often find great resale deals on commercial vehicles that are older than one year.
Additionally, depreciation is much slower after the initial first year decrease. So, if you buy a used truck and later sell it yourself, you may not have to part with it for too much less than you paid, putting good money back into your pocket (in addition to whatever profits the vehicle helped you earn).
Yes, buying a brand new commercial vehicle can be a long-term investment, but for some companies, especially new and growing businesses, saving on immediate costs can be the most important concern, helping them quickly expand their fleet, land more jobs, and make more money.
Extra Note: You can find great deals buying previously rented trucks from dealerships, as they typically like to fill their rental fleet with recent models, meaning you can get a vehicle that’s not too old from a seller who will have taken good care of it.
2. Familiar
Used trucks typically have a dependable life-cycle and performance capabilities that should be familiar to you and your drivers. Particularly if you can acquire the commercial vehicle’s telematics (digital data on engine hours, idle time, fuel economy, alerts, etc.) or records of maintenance, you can approximate how well you can expect the truck or van to work and for how many more years.
Being able to confidently rely on a used vehicle helps you to precisely plan and execute your routes and jobs, and ultimately help make your fleet more productive. Sometimes, technological and operational learning curves with new trucks may actually hinder work, along with driver concerns about even slightly dinging the new commercial vehicle. However, you can always get right to work with familiar, previously used trucks and vans.
Extra Note:Reputable dealers should be able to provide you with greater certainty when purchasing used vehicles, and you are more able to hold them accountable if they don’t deliver on what they promised you were getting with a purchased truck.
3. Flexible
Used vehicles give your company flexibility, since used trucks are readily available in a wide range of options. When purchasing new commercial vehicles, you are restricted to recent models and potentially lengthy production lead times.
With used trucks or vans, you can shop for any model produced in the past few years or even older if a vehicle has been well maintained. Additionally, you have flexibility in repairing older trucks, as brand-name parts are typically widely available from shops and individual sellers. If the commercial vehicle isn’t too much older, you can acquire parts directly from the manufacturer.
Extra Note:Affordable used trucks and vans can also be helpful to have on hand as simple backup vehicles, providing additional flexibility if an unexpected breakdown happens during an important job with a tight deadline.
4. Friendly for the environment
Members of Gen Y and Gen Z, who increasingly make up a greater share of the workforce, care about how the industry affects the environment. As such, sustainability is an emerging benefit of used vehicles.
At first, it sounds illogical that older, less fuel-efficient trucks could be called eco-friendly, however the acquisition of used commercial vehicles decreases the demand for newer trucks and vans.
Conclusion
Whether you have an immediate need for a commercial vehicle, or simply wish to plan ahead for your company’s future, it’s a good idea to know the many benefits of purchasing used trucks and vans. From affordable costs and broad availability to familiarity and eco-friendliness, used vehicles can be the perfect choice for your life and livelihood.
Choosing the Right Delivery Vehicle for Your Retail Business Fleet
With holiday sales expected to reach over one trillion dollars, and Cyber Monday projected to be the largest online shopping day in US history, a record number of retail delivery vehicles will be on the road this holiday season. To meet the higher demand, retail fleets must strive for optimum performance.
Whether buying a new fleet or upgrading an existing fleet to meet the growing demand, fleet managers need to choose a delivery vehicle that’s affordable, reliable, and practical for the needs of the driver and business. Here we provide a quick guide to help fleet managers sort out which delivery vehicle type is the right option to meet their retail delivery needs.
Box Truck (aka cube truck)
Box trucks have been the workhorses of the moving and retail delivery industry for generations. If your business delivers appliances or furniture, this is probably the right fit for your fleet. Box trucks are made by adding a larger cube-shaped cargo area to a chassis cab, making the cabin and cargo areas separate (some models include a smaller door leading from the cabin to the cargo area).
Box trucks can usually carry a sizable load while still being able to maneuver crowded downtown areas or neighborhoods. The rear door is typically a roll-up door that provides easy access to the cargo. Box trucks can also be fitted with a stow-away ramp or a hydraulic lift making them ideal for delivering heavier retail items.
The downsides: Rear visibility can be challenging, but this is easily overcome with experience and the right mirrors. Since it’s a sizable heavy-duty truck, maneuverability in small areas can be tough for even experienced drivers. Their larger capacity requires a larger, more powerful engine which translates to higher fuel consumption.
Multi-Stop Truck (aka step van or walk-in truck)
If your fleet is regularly delivering larger parcels or a high volume of packages, a multi-stop truck can be a good match. These delivery vehicles are most notably recognizable as the bread-and-butter workhorse of FedEx and UPS. But they can also be a great option for small business fleets – food trucks, bakeries, and dairies to name a few.
These taller style delivery vans allow the driver to stand up comfortably inside a cargo area that is spacious and easily convertible to suit business needs. The driver can also access the cargo area from the cab or from the rear of the vehicle. They are generally lower to the ground with steps leading to the driver seat and to the rear cargo area, thus the name step van.
The downsides: There aren’t many downsides, but, like the box truck, multi-stop trucks can be tight in small areas and can have rear visibility issues.
Cargo Van
Smaller, but similar to the multi-stop truck, the cargo van is perfect for delivering small- to medium-sized parcels. Cargo vans usually have side doors and rear doors to access the cargo area. They can range in size from more compact sizes like the Ford Transit Connect to larger vans like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, which is closer in size to a multi-stop truck. Cargo vans are very versatile, and their more reasonable size makes for easier maneuvering in tight spaces.
The downsides: They are less ergonomic than a multi-stop or box truck because loading and unloading can require bending or kneeling. Cargo vans typically do not come with a separation between the cab and cargo area, which can make hauling some retail goods without modifications to the cab impractical or even dangerous.
Light-Duty Truck
Like it sounds, the light-duty truck or pickup truck is used for more lightweight payloads – up to two tons. Light-duty trucks are perfect for smaller retail deliveries. Because of their size, they are much easier to maneuver and park. They can also be more fuel-efficient than any of the previous options.
The downsides: Their capacity is limited compared to box trucks and multi-stop trucks. They come standard with an open bed, which makes hauling sensitive cargo impractical without the addition of cover.
Conclusion
Once fleet managers identify the right option for their delivery fleet, the real work begins. Finding a delivery vehicle with a decent resale value, fuel economy, durability, and reliability will take further analysis.
Roadways are a crucial means of transport in America. They provide people and sprinter commercial van to commute a wide range of locations and help them to reach their destination without any hiccups. Road transport is the process of transporting goods or people from one destination to the other via roads.
Road transportation is still the most heavily used mode of freight delivery service. Even though marine, air or rail transport would be largely used means of solution for bigger size freight services for long distances, road transport will be dominating the freight delivery service across America for a long time.
With the evolution of the transport industry and the growth of many freight delivery service companies in the world, it would be very much unclear for the person in need of transport facilities in deciding which mode of transport would best suit their requirements. Hence it is important to understand the distance, the volume of delivery goods and speed of service for deciding on which model to prefer.
Road transport is the most used of all the transport services available in the industry with the best freight delivery service. If you even use air/water/train transport for transporting goods from one country to another, you must use road transport for delivering them to their precise destination.
Advantages of road transport:
Less Capital Expense:
There are many advantages to road transport services when compared to other modes of transport. When you look at the capital required for road transport, it is very less than the other means of transport like air, water or rail. Even the charge for constructing, maintaining and operating roads is very less than that of railways and air transport.
Door to Door Service:
The unmatched benefit of road transport is that it gives door to door service for all the freight deliveries. Road transport is the only extensive system that gives transportation to the final destination. When you compare this to a rail or air transport where you need to make a delivery to the transportation terminal and get into the rail or plane after completion of several security checks. Later after reaching another terminal you have to take another mode of road transport to reach your place of destination. Also, these transportation terminals are usually not inaccessible areas as compared to road transport. With road transport, you can just load the items from your place, drive and unload it right at your required destination.
Service in Remote Areas:
Road transport is best applicable for transporting goods to and from remote areas that are not connected by other means like rail, air or water transports. The trade-off for goods between cities and small villages happens majorly via road transport.
Flexibility:
Road transport possesses has a huge benefit from other modes of transport, that is the flexibility which it provides. The routes and timings can be altered easily and quickly according to individual needs without much problem.
Suitable for Short Distance:
Road transport provides a faster and less costly means of transporting goods over short distances. Other modes of transport like water, air or rail may incur delays in transit of goods with loading and reloading required in multiple locations. In road transport than it can be loaded directly into a single vehicle and later transported directly to the final destination.
Lesser Risk of Damage in Transit:
As the multiple instances of loading and reloading are negated, there would be very little chance of harm to the transported goods. Hence road transport is best suited for transporting delicate goods that have more possibility of being damaged during numerous stages of loading and unloading.
Packing charges saved:
The procedure of packing the goods in road transport is very minimal while compared to other means of transport, where they would need to ensure safety for multiple loading and unloading process.
Rapid Speed:
If you need to transport goods with short notice, then road transport is much preferred that rail or water transport. With the other transports, it requires extra time to book the goods and taking their delivery.
Less total cost:
With road transport, you will not only need only less investment to start with but the capital for operating and maintenance is relatively less. When you consider all the costs of multiple loading and unloading, packaging, etc. the overall cost of road transport will be less.
Initiating own road service.
Another benefit of road transport is that if you have frequent delivery of your products or any other business-related items, then you can start your road services by your private vehicles, according to your capital investments. This will help to deliver the products without any delay regularly. Road transports also have provisions to use any type of vehicle like private cars, public buses, sharing vehicles, two-wheelers, etc. This will meet the needs of different kinds of services.
Connecting other Modes of Transport:
Even if air or rail transports may be used for long-distance transports, the end destinations in both the starting and end phase require the use of road transport. It acts as a connecting link to other modes of transport.
4 Hidden Benefits of Commercial Auto Insurance Policy
There are many benefits of commercial auto insurance. All drivers to carry adequate and approved insurance coverage. This is even more important for businesses who depend on their vehicles to deliver products and services for profit. Without the right auto insurance coverage, you could find yourself suddenly put out of business by an accident.
However, asset protection isn’t the only reason why you need commercial auto insurance. Here are several additional benefits you’ll gain from your auto coverage.
You Become a Better Credit Risk
Banks and lending institutions consider a variety of factors during the loan application process. Besides your credit score and income, lenders look at other things that could affect your ability to repay. One of them is your insurance coverage.
If you are financing your commercial van purchase, your lender will most likely require a certain level of insurance coverage. Getting a policy with greater coverage limits may be the move that makes a lender give your application a little extra consideration.
Your Equipment is Covered Too
While the details of each insurance contract vary, commercial auto insurance generally covers any equipment that’s carried in your work vehicle. So if you get in an accident and destroy your inventory, you may be able to add that to your insurance claim.
Your insurance also covers things like theft and vandalism, which is a big advantage for delivery-based businesses that work in high-incident areas.
You Might Qualify for Better Lease Terms
Businesses who lease their vehicles traditionally struggle with controlling costs. Cleaning and maintenance fees often add up to some impressive charges at the end of the agreement period. Training your drivers in proper driving techniques is an effective way to reduce the scraps and scratches that pump up your leasing payments.
However, even safe driving has its limits. Your commercial auto insurance policy can be customized to include special protections for leased vehicles that can convince sales lots to significantly lower your liabilities.
Get More Customers
In competitive markets, your business needs every possible advantage to draw positive attention. Customer service is a primary concern when buyers are looking for a place to shop. More than just a solution to their problem, consumers want to believe that the company they’re doing business with cares about their wellbeing.
Having adequate insurance coverage is an easy way to show your customers that you care. With your valid auto insurance policy, your customers know that their property and personal space will always be financially protected from any blunders or accidents.
Understand the Benefits of Commercial Auto Insurance
Now that we’ve addressed some of the major benefits of commercial auto insurance, it’s important to note that being properly and fully covered doesn’t need to break that bank. While auto insurance is definitely no place to be overly frugal, there are some cost-saving measure of which you may not be aware.
While new is the right choice for some — a shiny, fresh-off-the-assembly-line truck can certainly be tempting — there are big advantages of buying used vehicles. More “experienced” trucks and vans are going to be more affordable, and the used market offers a wide variety of options — giving you the flexibility to find the vehicle that you’re most comfortable with, and that’s best for your professional needs. To help out with your used purchases, the following are 7 tips for buying used commercial vehicles:
Understand your options.
Leading online commercial vehicle marketplaces that gives you the widest selection of trucks and vans from which to choose. Although you cannot personally inspect a vehicle through an online purchase, dealers provide comprehensive descriptions and great photos of their for-sale trucks. To look over a vehicle in-person, your choices will obviously be narrowed to dealers within travel distance.
For buyers who’d rather close a deal with a handshake instead of a mouse-click, a “Dealer Search” feature will help you find the dealers closest to you. Finally, you may consider a live auction. Bidding can be fun, but high-energy competition can drive prices well above what a used truck or van is worth — don’t get too caught up in the action.
Do your research.
The most important step in buying any used sprinter commercial van is to find out as much as you can in order to determine if it’s the right purchase for you. The three main aspects of inquiry are to (1) inspect the truck or van, from the structural and mechanical pieces to the tire treads and the mileage, (2) learn the vehicle history, including use, maintenance, oil change, and repair records, (and always search through public records using the vehicle’s VIN to find traffic records and its accident history), and (3) research the owner/dealer through background checks and word-of-mouth reputation.
Consider technology.
If a truck is more advanced than you or your drivers are accustomed to, operational learning curves could slow down productivity. On the other hand, some features will help you work smarter and faster, so you’ll want to strike a balance between innovation and familiarity. And, of course, you’ll want to be sure that any commercial vehicle you purchase is able to meet state and federal requirements, including safety requirements and emissions standards.
Care about appearances.
It can be easy to dismiss the look of a used truck or van, as long as it works. But if a dealer hasn’t taken care of the outside of the vehicle, have they really taken care of the inside? Use caution when evaluating worn-looking trucks. Also, remember that commercial vehicles seen by the public can be your company’s best — or worst — advertisement to potential clients. If a used truck really does run well, but just doesn’t look appealing, can it be refurbished to give your business a more professional image?
Evaluate the TCO.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) can be found with a simple equation: add purchase cost and ownership costs (tires, fluid and lube changes, maintenance/ repairs/ part replacements, insurance), then subtract resale value. Researching a vehicle’s condition and history (as described above) will help you forecast when and where problems may arise and the average cost of maintenance and repairs.
And remember that a vehicle is likely close to requiring a major engine overhaul once it hits 700,000 miles. Doing the math and establishing an acceptable TCO that fits your financial situation will give you specific criteria for evaluating used trucks and vans.
Get the paperwork.
Ask for proof of ownership/the vehicle title to be sure you are buying from the registered owner. You don’t want to purchase a stolen truck, and the original invoice could quickly provide the assurance you need. When buying used, you should also obtain a title transfer and a bill of sale. If the truck or van shows up with undisclosed problems — or doesn’t get delivered at all — you have plenty of evidence to pursue refunds or legal recourse.
Seek a warranty.
Especially if you have lingering questions about a used vehicle, strongly consider getting an official warranty or vehicle guarantee. Most dealers will offer some kind of warranty, but individuals, who often sell trucks for lower prices than a franchise dealer, likely will not provide guarantees. So the availability of warranty options is something to keep in mind as well.
Gone are the days when you had to choose between blitzing through the backcountry in a cramped off-road SUV and taking to the perfectly paved roads in an massive recreational vehicle. That is to say, you can certainly still do both of those things, but you can also combine them in the form of an adventure van.
These killer hybrids are perhaps the best way to enjoy the amenities of an RV with the capabilities of something a bit more rugged – if you know which one to choose.
Luckily, even within such a seemingly small sample space, there are a bevy of different options for adventure vans to cater to your specific needs. If you want a small-scale luxury camper – it’s already been built. If you need a movable basecamp on a 4×4 off-road chassis – well, you’re certainly not the first.
The point is, adventure vans are one of the best ways to get out into the wilder parts of the world without giving up all modern amenities across the board. So, if you’re looking to hit the road and you want to buy an all-inclusive vehicle, convert one you already own, or just rent one for a few days, the following 15 options are the best adventure sprinter commercial van out there.
Fiat Ducato Base Camper Van
Here in the states, we know Fiat mostly as a Mini competitor that builds small, european-looking vehicles. But, as you can see in their Ducato Base Camper Van, they’re a lot more versatile than that. They’re capacious, spatially efficient, and loaded with amenities.
And those amenities include things like multi-country roadside assistance, a 5-language user app, a network of service shops, and a mess of creature comforts and modern technology. These vans are also Bluetooth and navigation-enabled, feature rotating captain-style driver and passenger chairs, and have plenty of onboard storage.
Hymercar Camper Vans
If the Fiat van option seems nice, but you’d rather go with something a little more luxurious, you should have a look at the offerings from Hymercar. These after-market adventure vans feature an expandable layout for more sleeping comfort, room for anywhere from 2-4 full-grown people, and even come with the option for a built-in onboard bathroom.
And if you’re not fond of Fiat, you can always roll with their Mercedes-Benz Grand Canyon S chassis. They even have a refrigerator and freezer, so you can keep all your food and drink for the trip cold and better kept.
Tiger Adventure Vehicles
It might be a little bit of a stretch to call the offerings from Tiger “adventure vans,” but they don’t quite fit into the RV category either. A part of that is their size, but it’s also because of their sheer capabilities.
Honestly, these vehicles are more rugged than most factory-built SUVs or even the donor pickup trucks from which they are built. And that bodes very well for anyone looking to get off-road with their adventure van. Available in three formats – the Bengal, the Mayan, and the Siberian – each a bit bigger and more rugged than the one before it, these monstrous mobile homes are all hand-built in South Carolina and feature a full galley, bathroom amenities, spacious floor plans, and more.
Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo
As any car enthusiast might tell you, buying from a third party modification shop can be a risky endeavor – even if they’ve got good reviews or a long history. If you need absolute confidence in the quality of your adventure van, you might want to buy direct from a brand – like Mercedes-Benz.
Their luxury camper, called the Marco Polo, isn’t the most rugged or spacious option, but it’s comfortable, looks good, and still boasts plenty of onboard tech and amenities. They include generous seating, a kitchenette with a functional two-burner gas stove, a sink, a refrigerator, and a number of power outlets so everyone onboard can keep their high-tech gear charged fully.
And, of course, if you want a little bit more out of the performance of your Benz, you can opt for an AMG-tuned package.
Outside Van Core Van
One of the coolest things about the offerings from Outside Van is their versatility in their options. Their packages all start with a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van – which is a spacious and capable vehicle in its own right – and then they offer a multitude of different packages from there, including a long list of optional customizations.
But, if you’re just looking for the basics, you don’t even have to bother with the list; you can just opt for one of their Core Van offerings and get all the necessities you need to get you and your companions out on the road. Just keep in mind that, with the price of the van itself included, these packages run near the $100,000 threshold.
Outside Van Custom
If you’ve got the cash and you’re not in a hurry, Outside Van also offers completely bespoke custom options when it comes to adventure vans. That means you can get one built to your exact specifications (having chose the options from their long-list of available upgrades, of course) that’s unlike any other on the road right now.
If you can afford it, but you’re not feeling all that creative – you can still get a super unique one by picking and choosing from their collection of one-off vans they’ve already built. Hell, they’ll probably even surprise you with a completely singular vehicle that you don’t have to design at all, if you throw enough scratch at them.
RB Components Sawtooth Adventure Van
There’s no rule dictating that interior luxury and external fortitude are mutually exclusive – as evidenced by this offering from RB Components. Called the Sawtooth, this beefed-up adventure van is built upon a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van (the obvious most-popular donor vehicle for adventure conversions), but the similarities to the original vehicle stop at the silhouette.
This upgraded version features a 3,000-watt power system, solar panels, a 69-gallon fresh water system, a custom stainless steel enclosed shower with hot water, an electric awning, bamboo wood tables and a BBQ exterior mount – and that’s the short list. It also comes with beefy Toyo off-road tires, an air spring kit, and a water-fording-friendly snorkel intake.
You might have started a new business, perhaps your business is expanding & you need a new van, or you just want to replace an old one. Whatever your situation, choosing the right vehicle for your requirements is important.
You need the right van with the correct equipment for now & the future. So how do you make your mind up? Take a look at this handy guide to help you through the decision-making process
How will you be using your van?
Think About Payloads
Considering your daily business needs will help you decide what size van will suit you best. If you’re transporting supplies from your local merchant to site, you need to consider the size, weight & volume of your typical load to decide on the ideal payload for your van.
What is a van payload?
Payload is the maximum load a van can safely carry as specified by the manufacturer.
Here are some typical weights & sizes to help give you an idea:
A bag of dry sand -1330kg per cubic metre
A Euro pallet -1200mm x 800mm
Baled hay – Up to 225kg per cubic metre
A bag of cement – 25kg or 50kg
A sheet of MDF – 2440mm x 1220mm x 15mm weighs 30-37kg
A bag of potatoes – 50kg
A tin of 5L paint – 7kg
An overloaded vehicle could land you a fine & more, so it’s vital to consider the size, weight & types of cargo before you choose your van.
What Is Load Space & Why Is It Important?
Once you know the weights you’ll be transporting, you also need to calculate how much load space you’ll need. Load space is the available space inside a van that is designed to carry a load & is usually provided in litres or square metres.
If you know you’ll need to transport small tools or parts then a medium or small van might suit you, while if you know you need to transport several Euro pallets you might require a larger vehicle.
Think about how the load will be accessed. If you have a heavy load you may need access to the cargo area with a fork-lift truck. Access to the side of the van may also be important if you work in towns.
Finally, consider any special requirements the load may have. For example, a catering business may require temperature control.
How Many Seats Do You Need?
Calculate the maximum number of passengers you will carry. You may need a row of seats in the vehicle if your business involves teams, or if you are going to be using the van during the evenings & weekends with the family.
Think about driver comfort too. Most vans are pretty comfy these days, but if you spend all day in the van then it may be worth investing in a higher trim level for a little extra comfort.
Easy Access
Are there any access restrictions to consider where you will be working? For example, if there will be narrow streets or height restrictions then city vans with dual sliding doors that allow for curbside loading would be a good choice.
Type Of Journey
It’s also important to consider what types of journeys you’ll need to make. Short trips around urban areas put different demands on a van than long motorway trips.
Where will the load be carried?
How often will the van be at full capacity?
How frequently will you be using it?
Remember to think outside the box when you are considering how you will use your van. If you only carry large loads occasionally you might want to consider getting a smaller, more economical vehicle & hiring a bigger van as & when. Equally, a small van might be great value now, but think about your business needs in another year. Will a smaller vehicle still be suitable then?
What Are The Different Types Of Vans?
If you haven’t leased a van before then chances are you won’t know your panel van from your crew van & can only guess at the benefits of a car-derived van! Don’t worry, you are not alone. Take a look at our jargon-busting info below:
Panel Vans
Panel vans are the most popular & versatile van type on our roads. With a wide range of body styles they provide a good balance between load carrying ability & ease of driving.
Panel vans are used by many trades including electricians, plumbers & are popular with delivery firms.
Medium Panel Vans
The Ford Transit Custom is the nation’s favourite medium panel van along with the Mercedes Vito, VW Transporter & Vauxhall Vivaro.
Large Panel Vans
Larger vans such as the Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit, VW Crafter & Citroen Relay offer a range of larger payloads & vaster load space options.
Small Panel Vans
Small panel vans are ideal for sole traders or light delivery trades, & include the Ford Transit Connect, Vauxhall Combo Cargo & Citroen Berlingo.
Car-Derived Or Compact Vans
A van built on the platform of a car, with the rear seats removed to create loadspace. It is often used for light deliveries or by self- employed tradesmen who don’t need to carry too many heavy tools.
The most popular car-derived compact vans include the Ford Fiesta Sport Van.
Small Or Light vans
Carrying more than a car-derived van, the small van is easier to maneuver, generally more fuel efficient & easier to drive than a panel van. Small vans are favoured by trades with low load requirements & are favoured in a wide range of trades such as by plumbers, photographers & florists.
Popular small vans include the Citroen Berlingo, Ford Transit Connect & Volkswagen Caddy.
Crew Vans
Crew vans offer an extra row of seating behind the front seats for additional crew carrying capacity. They are usually a modified panel van & are also known as a double cab. The additional passenger capacity makes them ideal for businesses such as road gangs/scaffolders.
A wide range of vans offer crew options including the Renault Trafic & the Ford Transit Custom Minibus.
Specialist Vehicles
Some businesses require specialist commercial vehicles to cope with day-to-day operations. Our van range includes the following specialist body types:
Luton Vans: Popular with removal firms, Lutons are a box type body extending over the top of the cab for extra load space.
Refrigerated Vans: Refrigeration elements keep the contents of the van cool. Often used by catering firms or florists.
Curtain-side Vans: The van’s sides are made from canvas to facilitate easy loading. Great if access to the entire side of the vehicle is needed.
Tippers: A hydraulic ram pushes the front load area up. Useful for carrying heavy materials like aggregates which need delivery direct to site. Not to be confused with chassis cab vans or a conversion van.
Drop-sides: An open top with shallow sides that drop down for easy access. Often used in building/horticulture where bulky items need transporting.
How Do I Choose Van Size?
Now you know what type of van suits you best, you’ll need to consider what length & heights are best. Make a list of all the tools & equipment you carry, including for those bigger jobs where you have to transport more kit. This will help you determine the dimensions & load bearing capacity you need in your new van.
What Is A Van Wheelbase?
The distance between the front & rear axles has a big impact on the length & therefore the capacity of a van.
There are three options:
Short wheelbase
Medium wheelbase
Long wheelbase
The length of wheelbase will determine how much storage capacity you have & affect your van’s manoeuvrability.
On the Vanarama website the length of a wheelbase will be denoted by ‘L’ on van descriptions. For example, an L3 Ford Transit Van will be the tallest option available.
Don’t forget to consider extra equipment when you choose your wheelbase. If you need grabs, hoists or a tail lift for example, the wheelbase must be able to accommodate these.
Choosing The Right Van Height
Van manufacturers offer three different roof heights; low, medium & high. These & the different wheelbases are not always a standard size. So always double check sizing if you are comparing different vans.
Much like the lengths, the heights of a body type will be denoted by ‘H’ on van descriptions. For example, an L3H4 Ford Transit Van will be the longest & tallest option available.
Usually anything above an H2 is considered a high top van & should offer enough space to stand if necessary inside the load space.
The best body type will normally be the smallest one to do the job as this will be the most fuel efficient. Before selecting a low, medium or high roof there are some things to consider:
How much will your van need to carry?
Is it likely to run empty or light?
Are the loads high-volume/low-weight or vice versa?
Will you need specialist loading/unloading capabilities?
Are there any height or length limitations where you will use the van?
Wheels & Tyres
Few manufacturers will specify a tyre preference when customers order a new van, but there is usually an option to upgrade to alloy wheels. Alloys can also play a small part in your van better representing your business & making a strong first impression.
Cabin Comforts
Van cabins have improved a lot over the last 10 years. When you choose your van, make sure the cabin includes all the features you need to make driving & working in it a more comfortable experience – if it doesn’t, consider upgrading to a higher trim level.
The highest trim level of most panel, small & compact vans offer luxury features such as heated seats, infotainment systems, cruise control, climate control & music options like Apple Carplay or Android Auto.
Don’t Forget Running Costs
For any commercial van, running costs are a key consideration. When choosing your new van it’s important to take into account:
We have been researching, viewing and testing sprinter commercial van for the last two months and it’s been a rollercoaster of an ordeal.
So we’ve put together some tips on finding the right van and verifying that it is “the one” for you, as many vans will be flawed, from excessive rust to a hidden and dark history.
1. Front wheel vs. rear wheel drive
To begin your journey you’ll need to decide on the base of the van you want to convert. There are many makes out there, but the majority will either be based on rear wheel or front wheel drive. There are of course also four wheel drive options, but these are rare and expensive.
Front Wheel Drive Vans
Some FWD vans include Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay and Renault Master. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros
Higher internal height and width in cargo bay
Better fuel economy
Greater under floor space for water tanks etc
Cheaper purchase costs
Cons
Less grip in hazardous conditions
Less power under load
Shorter overall body lengths
Higher maintenance costs
Rear Wheel Drive Vans
Some RWD vans include Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Ford Transit and Iveco Daily. Again, the pros and cons:
Pros
Better grip
Generally longer internal load areas
Cheaper to maintain (most of the time)
More power – generally RWD vehicles have larger engine options
Cons
Less internal height due to a higher standard floor height
Higher loading/entry height
Worse fuel economy
Higher initial cost
If you look at many specialist motorhome builders they will use FWD vans more often than RWD ones.
With that being said, we opted for a Mercedes Sprinter because I’m a really tall human being at 6’ 5” and wanted to have a full length bed parallel to the van. Also we loved the feel of the Mercedes and the enhanced build quality, even if there might be higher maintenance and initial costs from a “premium” van.
2. Checking for rust
Rusting vans are something to absolutely avoid, and looking around the outside panels of the van is not enough. You need to fully examine the van’s structure. Start your search at the back of the van and check the suspension on both the supports and joins. These should be fully intact and show no flaking. You’ll need to learn the difference between surface and structural rust.
I’ve marked two examples in the picture above.
Then move up to the wheel arches, and then get right under the centre of the van to the drive shaft and the exhaust. If at any point you see any major degradation from rust you should avoid the van.
On the inside of the van, check for rust around the ceiling joins in the cargo bay. It’s really rare not to find any signs of rust at all, especially on vans older than 3-4 years, but it’s important to understand where rust can occur and to judge its severity.
Rust is really hard to treat. If body panels are rusted you can get replacements, but if drive shafts, suspension or exhausts are rusted it’s a much more difficult and expensive job getting them replaced.
3. Checking for mechanical issues
Always always always conduct a road test. I spoke to a couple of van dealers who said they didn’t do road tests. Without testing the van, you have very little leverage in negotiations, so you really need to get behind the wheel! On your road tests you need to check the following:
Turbo charger – do this by accelerating hard uphill and listening to the engine carefully. You should hear no loud whistling/whining or knocking sounds.
Brakes – perform an emergency stop, checking that the van does not veer to the left or right.
Engine test – You can grab an OBD engine testing tool on amazon for $16 which can check all diesel engines for warning codes as long as the van is younger than 2006. This is a must for everyone to own.
Clutch – Sometimes hard to fully understand on a short road test, you should have plenty of give on the clutch when fully depressed and a short biting range preferably near the top of the release. If you’re buying an automatic van this is obviously irrelevant!
4. Lease or Private Van
Many vans are bought by lease companies who lease them to courier companies who use them for 1-3 years before taking them back in and selling them on.
Lease vans generally are not very well looked after. The drivers will push them to their limits. At this point, you need to be very thorough in your search. You need to make sure you know the history of the van, so any lease van with no service history is almost always a no go!
You’re going to get the best deals on lease vans, but could get unlucky. We’ve gone for a 2-year- old ex-lease with service history every 3000 miles so (touch wood) it should do just fine.
5. Colours
Changing the colour of your van after buying it is a costly exercise. A full re-spray is $4000+, whereas a wrap is around $1500-2000. So if you buy a van in a colour you hate, be wary that to change it you’ll need to spend a lot.
White vans make up 87% of listings on Autotrader, so sellers may charge a premium for a silver/black/blue etc but it may actually be more cost effective to buy up front in the colour you want!
6. Extras
If, like us, you’re buying a 7m long wheelbase panel van there are some critical optional extras, such as parking sensors and/or a reversing camera. I don’t know how we’d cope without a reversing camera.
Another extra to consider is air conditioning, as aftermarket air con costs a lot of money ($1500+), and if you’re going to be travelling to hot climates often, getting a van with inbuilt air con is vital for comfort on the road.
7. Age
It goes without saying that newer vans have more modern conveniences. It really is worth noting the difference between the models you’re considering by year.
For instance in 2014, Mercedes Sprinters went through some big changes. They had a completely new design with a new aggressive front end, as well as major changes to the anticorrosive coatings that come as standard on mechanical parts. Crosswind and hillstart assist were also added to make tricky driving conditions that little bit easier.
Editors note: On the other hand, buying an older van with fewer sensors and a simpler engine means any maintenance and repairs can be done by anyone who is mechanically minded.This is something to consider if you’re driving into isolated places especially.
8. Patience
A good rule of thumb is to not buy the first van you see. Don’t buy a van that has any major rust or dodgy history. Ultimately the time you put into your research up front and combing through ads over several weeks will ensure you get the most trustworthy and suitable van for your buck.
The hours spent hunting the classifieds will be worth it, I promise! Best of luck on your van hunt, and feel free to get in touch if you need any pointers!
Choosing a new sprinter work van for your business can seem overwhelming with the amount of options that are out there. We are going to take a look at the pros and cons of the different types available and a couple of examples of each.
Before looking at what types of vans are available, we’re going to briefly discuss the definition of what a van actually is. Unfortunately, it is a little bit of a grey area. HMRC, the DVLA and the ABI all have slightly different classifications as to what can be classed as a van, for tax, licensing and Insurance purposes respectively.
Fortunately, the vehicle manufactures themselves categorise the vehicle at point of sale so you can gain clarification at this point. It will also state on the vehicles V5 what the vehicle is.
Types of vans
There is a massive variety in the types of van available from car derived vans to refrigeration vans but we are only going to take a look at the ones which will be useful for you.
Car derived vans
Ford Fiesta van photo credit | Ford Transit courier van photo credit
The clue is in the name with this type of van, its car which has been converted into a van essentially. They have a maximum loading weight that shouldn’t exceed 2 tonnes. Car derived vans are great if you work primarily in an urban area. Their smaller size makes parking and navigating narrow streets easier, and generally they are cheaper to run and purchase than a larger van.
There used to be two main rivals when it came to the car derived vans: the Ford Fiesta Van and the Vauxhall Corsa van. Due to a number of factors, both manufacturers stopped selling the respective models. Ford, however, have done a recent u-turn and re-released the fiesta van, meaning they are now the only option if you are buying a new car van.
Ford are also offering the Transit Courier, a van smaller than their existing city van, the Transit Connect, based on the Fiesta platform but with more van like styling and practicality.
City van
Ford Transit Connect van photo credit | Citroen Nemo photo credit
City vans are similar in size to a car sized van but with a more practical body type. Just like car derived vans, city vans can make a great choice for those that are working in a heavily built up area, whilst offering a little more flexibility in what they can carry.
When it comes to choosing a new city van, it’s important to understand that a lot of the manufactures now platform share. What this means is that the vans are essentially the same. In some cases the van may be exactly the same and essentially a badge engineering exercise has taken place, in others the vans may share the same chassis but have manufacturer specific engines in them etc.
Ford offers their Transit Connect, which quite often comes out at the top of best van lists. VW offer their Caddy which nearly always comes out on the top of owner satisfaction surveys. Away from these two popular models, alternatives consist of the Fiat Fiorino and the Citroen Nemo, which are slightly smaller or the Vauxhall Combo, the Citroen Berlingo, or the Peugeot Partner.
Panel van
Ford Transit photo credit / VW T6 photo credit
The most popular type of van in the UK is panel van. This is the type of vehicle most people think of when someone says the word van. Available in arrange of different sizes, from SWB low top vans that have a similar footprint to a saloon to LWB high top vans that can rival a box van in carrying capacity.
The Transit van is iconic of panel vans in the UK as a whole, and with good reason. Having been the UKs no 1 selling van since its launch in the in 1965, it has gone from strength to strength with hundreds of varieties available.
It has been the humble panel van variant though that has kept it at the top of the charts. New Transits have become increasingly car like, both in their cab and in their driving.
In 2nd place is the VW Transporter. Commanding a premium over the cheaper Transit, Transporters, like their smaller Caddy relative consistently come out at the top of any owner satisfaction survey.
Alternatives are not to be sniffed at either, platform sharing is again common throughout the sector, with the latest Citroen Dispatch, Peugeot Expert and Vauxhall Vivaro all sharing the same underpinnings, whilst the Renault Traffic and Nissan NV300 share theirs.
Other types of vans to consider
Nissan electric van photo credit
Whilst diesel is still the fuel of choice for the overriding majority of vans, electric vans are slowly starting to make inroads.
If you work in a built up area and long distances aren’t part of your daily route, consider an electric van, you’ll benefit from lower fuel bills and VED whilst still maintaining the practically of a conventional van
4×4 vans, whilst a small segment of the overall van market, have their place for those that want to keep moving whatever the weather. Whilst not as off road capable as dedicated 4x4s, such as a pick up, if you work somewhere particularly prone to icy roads or snow they may be a sensible choice.
Ford Fiesta van photo credit | Ford Transit courier van photo credit
Ford Transit Connect van photo credit | Citroen Nemo photo credit
Peugeot Partner photo credit | VW Caddy photo credit
Ford Transit photo credit / VW T6 photo credit
Nissan electric van photo credit
Commercial Van Solutions 