Choosing the right van for your daily business needs is probably a more crucial purchasing decision that you might think. Although each style and size of van is designed to perform certain general tasks, your cargo capacity requirements and maneuverability options can prove highly influential in helping you decide which van is best.
It can help to run some comparisons, such as comparing the RAM Promaster vs.Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, for instance. It can also help to follow some essential tips and guides to steer you toward selecting a van that will prove to be a reliable and helpful business partner on a daily basis.
Here are some key pointers to consider.
Size and capacity matters
The best starting point in your search for a suitable van would be to create a checklist of all the tasks you expect your van to perform and what sort of loads you will be transporting on a regular basis.
It pays to think about payloads that are relevant to your business. If you are involved in the construction industry, for example, you may well need to carry around some heavy equipment and building materials, like sand and bags of concrete.
That means you need a van that is big enough and strong enough to cope with a typical payload for your type of business.
Think about load space
Having the right amount of load space is equally important. As well as knowing what sort of weights you will be transporting, you should also calculate how much load space you are likely to need.
There is nothing more frustrating than having to make additional runs because you can’t get everything on board at the first time of asking.
You can usually accurately estimate how much load space you need and find a van that meets your payload and space requirements.
What sort of seating capacity do you need?
You might only need to travel solo every day. If that’s the case, you can take advantage of extra space in the cabin. Alternatively, you might have a need to carry work colleagues. In this case, you will want a full complement of seats at your disposal.
As well as working out what seating configuration you need, it also makes sense to think about comfort. If you are going to be in the van for long periods, you might want to invest in a higher trim level for greater comfort.
What sort of door configuration do you need?
Ease of access is something to think about with your van. If you are likely to be parking and unloading in tight spots where loading and unloading access could be challenging, you might want to think about a van with a sliding side door.
Having this option gives you more curbside options.
What does a typical journey look like for you?
You might think that getting a bigger van than you need will cover all bases and give you the most options. That might be true to a certain extent, however, there’s not a lot of point driving around a larger and heavier van that is half empty a lot of the time.
Running a bigger van than you need is not a great option when it comes to fuel economy. Try to envisage a typical day for loads and passengers etc. That will help you find a van that fits your needs more often than not, but is as economical as possible to run.
Understand your van options
Another important consideration is to have an understanding of the different types of van available and what each one is mainly designed to do.
Generally speaking, you get two main types of van. A compact or cargo van.
As the name suggests, a compact van is designed to be used in urban settings where you might be doing lots of small deliveries and need something that is agile, easy to maneuver around streets, but still has a reasonable payload capacity.
By comparison, a cargo van is larger and more suited to bigger payload tasks. Bothe of these main van types also have lots of different configurations and design options, so you can find one that suits your daily needs, from a size and usefulness perspective.
Learn about the wheelbase
It helps to have an understanding of what a van wheelbase is and what it is telling you about the vehicle.
You can get vans that have a short, medium, or long wheelbase. The bottom line is that the length of the wheelbase will give you an accurate estimation of the sort of storage capacity and level of maneuverability each one offers.
It stands to reason, for instance, that a van with a short wheelbase will be smaller and nimbler than one with a long wheelbase, which is aimed at carrying larger payloads.
Think about height
The height of the van you choose is another relevant factor to consider. Some vans are notably taller and longer than others. That could be an issue if you are trying to navigate your van through certain spaces or sites.
If you have specific height requirements, based on the goods you regularly transport, make sure you choose a van that is tall enough to cope.
What sort of cabin comforts do you want?
Although cabin comfort should not be your top priority when choosing a van, it does help to know that you can drive around feeling as comfortable as possible.
If your budget will stretch to a better specification, you might well come to appreciate that purchasing decision after spending a good few hours in your van each day.
If you can make your driving and working experience even a little bit more comfortable, it’s worth thinking about cabin comfort when selecting a suitable van.
Once you have gone through all of these key considerations you should be able to find a van that meets all of your needs and budget.
Talk to your van dealer and ask as many questions as you feel you need to. They will be happy to help, and the end result will be a van that you drive away with that meets all of your business and driving needs.
Speak Your Mind