Installing van shelving systems turns an empty van into a fully functioning service vehicle. By helping you accommodate your work tools and keeping your space organized and safe, a van shelving system makes your work day more professional and profitable.
A proper organization system facilitates intuitive handling and time saving. Shelving and storage bins are available in hundreds of different configurations of height, length and depth, giving you the chance to choose what fits both your vehicle and your workspace best.
Advantages Of Installing Van Shelving Systems
The advantages of a good van shelving system are time saving. Installing the proper system helps you be more efficient and productive by spending less time looking for tools and items.
Installing a good shelving system saves you money. The materials and features added to the car during installation are designed to protect both your work materials and your vehicle.
Customers will feel satisfied by your organization skills, giving your company a much more professional presence in the field.
The type of van shelving you choose will represent greater organization, structure and safety -making the workflow much more targeted and efficient. Every second you used to spend searching for tools can now be used to offer your customers a greater service, by helping employees structure their tasks in a more professional manner.
You can contribute to the environment and economy by choosing a lightweight racking system. This allows for an increased load capacity and lower fuel consumption, which reduces CO2 emissions.
Some manufacturers offer extended functionality by providing accessories that create a more efficient workspace. Van shelving goes further by making high quality materials that offer robust, durable and collision safe vehicle ranking conversions.
Van shelving systems are a great boost for your commercial vehicles and for your company’s image and efficiency. Consult the experts to discover more about the van shelving systems available for installation.
Camper Van Roof Racks, Ladders, Awnings & Storage Boxes
Once all the necessary aspects of your van build are planned, it’s time to start thinking about van accessories that will make van life even more enjoyable. In this lesson, we’ll cover add-ons and exterior van accessories you might consider and some things to keep in mind, including:
Van roof racks and ladders for your van
Safety add-ons like backup cameras and an in-dash GPS
Air Compressors
The Moonshade is a new, portable, lightweight awning that attaches to the outside of your van (or any vehicle). It stows away when you are driving and helps your van be more discreet if you stealth camp on occasion.
Van Roof Racks & Ladders
A van roof rack needs to be planned out before you install anything else on the roof, like solar panels and a fan. It will need to work around your solar panels and fans or be custom-built to do so, so as you’re planning your solar installation you should be simultaneously planning the rack to accommodate the panels.
Think about what you’ll want to use your roof rack for when deciding what type you want. You may want to use it to hold your solar panels, to store gear, or to have a space on the roof to sit on. One thing to consider is that roof racks add wind noise and make the van less aerodynamic which can reduce gas mileage so keep that in mind.
A ladder rack for van may also be an accessory you’ll want to consider, especially if your van of choice is a Sprinter or other high roof van. Ladder racks make it easier to get up onto the roof to store gear, check on your solar panels, or simply to enjoy the sunset.
Your van might come with a roof rack, but if it didn’t there are many aftermarket companies that make high-quality racks. If a conversion company is converting your van, talk to them about roof and ladder rack options.
Van Backup Camera
Another van accessory you might want to consider is a backup camera. Consider this an essential item if your van is long and/or if you don’t have rear windows. They’re pretty inexpensive aftermarket, but can also be installed by your dealer or conversion company.
Air Compressor
If you do a lot of off-roading, an air compressor is a valuable resource to have in your van. When driving through sand, letting air out of the tires provides more surface area to navigate otherwise tricky sections, ditto for driving on dirt roads, but then you need to refill once you are back on pavement. Having a compressor on board allows you to do this and makes it more feasible to comfortably tackle this type of terrain.
Air compressors can also come in handy for topping off bike tires and for vehicle recovery. When we were off-grid in southern Utah, our friend had a serious flat tire on her van. We were able to use our compressor to blow up her tire enough so she could drive to our campsite where she put on her spare.
Van insulation may sound like a boring topic, but if you’re converting a camper yourself, then it is one of the most important things to do correctly. Choosing the wrong type of insulation, or not using it correctly, can lead to uncomfortable temperatures inside your rolling home. Being too hot or too cold is annoying and can really lower morale on your trip. This is especially true if it interferes with your sleep.
Installing van insulation is one of the first steps in a conversion, so you will want to do your research before starting your build. It is also tough to go back and add insulation once your build is complete. You would basically have to deconstruct your whole van to add it in and then rebuild, something you definitely want to avoid. This is a process you want to get right the first time.
What Is Van Insulation For?
Van insulation is the first defence against the outside temperature. Without it, your camper is little more than a tin can, and heat will escape, or enter very quickly. You will also find it challenging to keep your van warm when the heater is on, as all of the heat will escape through the walls. The same goes for keeping it cool inside if you have an air conditioning unit.
Proper insulation is especially important if you plan on travelling in colder climates or anywhere you might want to wear a coat outside. You don’t want to have to wear a jacket inside too! Even if you plan on only using your camper in warm climates, you will probably find it gets cool enough at night to warrant installing insulation, and you will want it to stop your van getting too hot.
Types Of Insulation
There are many different types of insulation that you can use in a camper van. Some factors in choosing what is right for you include, price, efficiency, how environmentally friendly the product is and how you plan on installing it.
We’re going to go through several types of van insulation to help you decide what will work best for your camper.
1. Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation is the most efficient form of insulation that you can find. It creates a thick, even layer of insulation that expands to fill every crevice on the surface it is applied to, creating an airtight seal in all areas.
This means there won’t be any draughty spots and that you can insulate even the trickiest places. Spray foam insulation also creates a moisture barrier, ensuring no damp will build up behind your walls, due to condensation.
On the downside, spray foam insulation isn’t something you can do on your own as it requires specialist equipment. Therefore, you will need to hire a company to complete the task for you, which will be considerably more expensive than any other DIY solutions.
Another hurdle unique to spray foam insulation is trimming the foam down once it has been installed, to create a flat surface to build on. This process can be time-consuming, tricky and messy.
2. Foam Board (e.g., Celotex)
One of the most popular van insulation types is a foam board product such as Celotex. These rigid boards of insulation are easy to work with, as you can cut through them with a saw to fit the space you are working with.
Celotex comes in different thicknesses, so you can adjust accordingly depending on how much van insulation you desire. It is a very efficient product that is relatively affordable.
While the rigidity makes Celotex easy to use, it does mean it is not suitable if your camper walls are even slightly curved, which is the case for many vans.
If your insulation isn’t flush with the wall of your van, you will create an air pocket, meaning the insulation is less effective and moisture could build up. If your walls are straight, then you will need to build a frame to secure the foam boards in place.
3. Roll Insulation (e.g., Rockwool)
If your van does have curved walls, then Rockwool is a good van insulation solution. The easiest way to install this insulation is as you construct the wall.
As your build can feed the insulation behind your wall panels, so they hold it in place. This means you do not need to create a whole frame just for the insulation. Roll insulation is the most affordable insulation option as it is widely used and is easy to source.
However, although roll insulation is an efficient product, you may need to use more Rockwool to achieve the same level of insulation as the foam boards, as it is not as dense.
4. Sheep’s Wool Insulation
If you are conscious of the environment and are looking to convert your camper in the most sustainable way possible, then sheep’s wool insulation could be the option for you.
This product works much in the same way as roll insulation but is more environmentally friendly as it uses only natural fibres, from sheep. It is also renewable as the sheep need to be sheered every year and it can be recycled at the end of its life, or made from recycled products.
The main downfall to using sheep’s wool insulation is that it is much more expensive than other forms of insulation, except for spray foam. This is often the case with sustainable products, and if you can afford it then, in my opinion, the pros outweigh the cons.
5. Foil Insulation
Foil insulation is a good form of van insulation when used in conjunction with other products. The idea of foil insulation is that is reflects heat back into your van. This won’t be sufficient as your only form of insulation but might help he overall effect. It is cheap and easy to work with.
Insulating The Floor
Insulating the floor of your campervan is essential to keeping your tiny home warm. We somehow forgot to insulate our floor and regret it massively every time the cold weather kicks in.
Many heaters in campers are stored at floor level, and without insulation, much of this heat instantly escapes through the thin floor.
Any type of van insulation can be used on the floor of your camper, but I think foam boards would be most effective due to their rigidity. This solid platform would make a great base to lay your flooring on and would be easy to work with.
Van insulation for light commercial vehicles have become an increasingly essential component in the overall build of a new van for many fleets. Simply throwing parcels, materials and tools into the back of a van can be dangerous and inefficient, though there are many companies that still do just that.
Properly designed and crash-tested racking systems, both internal and external, provide van operators with a safe method of carrying goods and tools, with less risk of harm, both to the vehicle and to its occupants, in the event of an accident. Racking manufacturers can also easily demonstrate the efficiency benefits of decent storage systems.
When a tradesperson such as a plumber spends five minutes at every visit searching through the van for tools or spare parts, that lost time can soon add up. If they make six visits each day for instance, that can be 30 minutes lost, or 2.5 hours over a five-day week. Racking can be a financially effective solution.
So, what should you consider when assessing the racking market?
Plan the installation. What do you need to carry, will it fit on shelves or in drawers, do you need additional specific storage systems within the main shelving, such as plastic drawers or tool boxes?
Is overall weight a major consideration, can you work with regular steel racking or do you need a lightweight aluminium or composite racking system to keep weight to a minimum and boost payload?
Check the weight limitations of the racking itself, most manufacturers will publish the weight capacity of shelving, drawers and locker systems. Is it sufficient to carry your heavy tools or materials?
Can you install the system in-house, or would you be better off using a professional installation business that can plan, assemble and install the complete system, adding vehicle electrics, signwriting and graphics and internal lighting?
Does the racking layout ensure that the van is loaded in a way that maintains vehicle stability – don’t just have racking on one side of the van holding all of the heavy materials and tools.
Do you need flexibility, will the racking system be re-used when you change vehicles and can it be reconfigured to work with a range of van models?
There is certainly no shortage of racking suppliers providing a wide range of systems, or types of racking layout. As with any addition to the base vehicle, weight can be an issue for some users, as any increase in van mass will cut into available payload, but there are many lightweight aluminium and composite solutions on offer to minimise this.
Companies such as Sortimo, System Edstrom, Modul-System, Bri-Stor, Bott and Van Guard all offer a broad range of racking solutions, designed to meet the needs of various trades and van operators. Van Guard’s Trade Van Racking range, for instance, is constructed of lightweight aluminium to keep weight down. Every Van Guard unit has passed an ECE Reg 17 crash-test however, to ensure driver safety in an accident.
A simple, modular design makes it easy to change the design to suit different trades and the Trade Van Racking range is easy to move between different van models. Options include shelving dividers, non-slip matting, plastic bins and unit height extensions, to allow fleets to customise the system to suit. Van Guard also offers a wide range of roof bars, roof racks and pipe carriers.
Joining these established players, hardtop and 4×4 accessory specialist Truckman has launched a racking fit-out service, to provide a bespoke storage solution to small fleet managers and sole traders in particular. From racking to vehicle security, graphics and specialist electrics, the conversion service will also provide ply lining, inverters, electrical charging systems and other racking accessories.
Truckman’s Aluca racking range is available for a wide variety of vans and pickups and is claimed to be up to 20% lighter than some competitors. It too has been crash-tested and comes with an eight-year warranty, which should see it used in at least two van generations.
Truckman recently introduced the Decked range of drawer solutions for vans too. Developed in the US, the Decked range was originally introduced for use in pickup beds. However, it has now attracted a number of van operators looking for a similar solution. Truckman has developed the drawer system to work with Ford’s Transit as well as the Ducato, Relay and Boxer vans from Fiat and PSA.
The system has two bed-length drawers that can be rolled out to provide access to tools and equipment. It also comes with four integrated storage bins for smaller items such as fasteners and tools. Made from recycled high-density polyethylene, the Decked system can hold up to 1,000kg on its raised deck, which is supported by a galvanised steel frame.
Self-assembly and installation
While there are undeniably benefits when talking to a racking specialist, to design a system that will work well for a specific application, it is also possible to fit your own racking, using pre-designed no-drill kits. Bott’s Smartvan system is an example that, despite having been fully safety tested, can be installed independently, using the van’s built-in fixing points, so there is no need to drill into a van body or chassis. Smartvan can accommodate options including roof racks, pipe tubes, van vaults and lighting systems too.
A racking and storage solution can involve external elements as well as internal shelving. Rhino Products has recently added a redesigned pipe carrying system, called PipeTube Pro, to its offer. This is the first major update to the firm’s PipeTube pipe, conduit and trunking roof box. It incorporates a PVC lining material to protect against the oxidation of copper pipes with the aluminium of the tube.
Nose cones at the ends of the PipeTube Pro have also been redesigned to improve aerodynamic performance and improve anti-theft performance. The locking mechanism is now housed within the product and there is an O-ring seal to reduce water ingress. PipeTube Pro is available in 2m and 3m lengths with a universal fitting for a range of van makes.
Trades that use a lot of power tools may also be interested in systems such as the Vantainer line-up, from German firm Tanos. Made from aluminium, with a typical system weighing just 50kg, the Vantainer Case System allows trades to store all tools, accessories and consumables in a series of stackable boxes. This means there are less shelves required, providing more space and payload.
Cases can be easily removed, to allow workers to transport tools and materials to the working site and the flexible shelving requires no fixing or drilling of the van to install, making it easy to fit and remove.
Power provision
Many racking providers can handle far more of the vehicle conversion than simply fitting shelving, undertaking signwriting, interior coatings, adding power systems and undertaking electrical engineering. Bri-Stor has developed a mobile power system, called EasiPower, that can be used in both diesel and electrically-powered light commercials.
EasiPower is a 2.5kW lithium battery pack from Clayton Power that can be used to provide 230V and 12V simultaneously, to drive ancillary equipment or electric power tools. Weighing just 28kg, the EasiPower pack can be recharged from the mains, from a solar charger or from the vehicle’s electrical system. A mobile phone application provides remote monitoring of power levels.
Bri-Stor recently demonstrated the system on a Renault Trucks Master Z.E. showing how the charger can be used to operate electrical tools without depleting an electric van’s traction batteries. The power pack can also be removed from the van to provide remote electrical power, for site operatives and trades.
Buying trends
If you don’t have the facilities to self-install, racking specialists are not the only suppliers that customers can turn to. The majority of van dealers will either be able to call upon a racking firm’s services through their own workshops, or the van manufacturer may provide basic racking systems as part of its accessories offer.
One of the benefits of using the dealer or the van manufacturer to provide the racking directly, is that in most cases it should then be possible to include that additional equipment as part of the van purchase or finance deal. This spreads the cost and ensures that the system in use conforms to the van manufacturer’s specification.
Commercial Van Solutions 