Right Van for The Job?
What is the right work van for the job?
Commercial vans, trade vans or a work van, as we call them, come in many shapes and sizes. Safety, efficiency and practicality are the key considerations during the search phase. Understanding what you are trying to achieve with the work van will help you identify a work van that works.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself when considering a work van:
What is a practical size work van?
Parking ease, size of the construction site, work van style points, the amount of van shelving and the size of the vehicle storage system are all key considerations for a practical size work van.
What will be carried in the work van?
A work van can be like a cargo van. One day a tradie will be carrying a sheet of plywood, the next day thousands of screws and nails, the next day both. Consulting a van fit-out specialist will help you select an effective false floor, van shelving, and vehicle storage systems to make a work van that works for you. We are van fit-out specialists that deal with trade vans and commercial vans on a regular basis.
Does the work van meet your payload capacity needs?
The payload is a crucial consideration because it will determine the safety of the work van, the fuel efficiency (the cost to your business), and the maintenance costs to your business. Choosing the wrong work van can incur hefty fines and long-term vehicle damage. There are three crucial weights to consider when selecting a work van.
GMV: Gross vehicle mass or maximum loaded capacity
Payload: Load carried by the vehicle exclusive of what is necessary for its operation
Kerb Weight: Vehicle weight when it’s not loaded with passengers and luggage. It includes a full tank of fuel.
To calculate a vehicle’s payload capacity use the following equation. These numbers can be accessed on manufacturers’ sites. We have provided a brief list below:
The payload capacity of your work van should be a top consideration, from both a practical investment decision and a safety point of view. An overloaded vehicle is an unsafe vehicle because weight affects stability and braking effectiveness.
We are van fit-out specialists that deal with trade vans and commercial vans on a daily basis and we can provide expertise around effective solutions to meet your work van needs.
Does the work van have enough effective space for my needs?
We have 3D models of the interiors of most of the work vans available in New Zealand and Australia. These models provide us with digital information to assess the size of the false floor, van shelving options, and the vehicle storage systems needed before the van fit-out process even begins!
How long will the vehicle fit out take and what will it cost?
Van fit-outs and vehicle storage systems vary greatly in the time taken to construct. You can reasonably expect four to six weeks for simple work van fit-outs. We will be able to assess your needs and apply our digital approach to provide more precise timeframes.
What style points do I want a work van to earn?
Style is important for a tradie. Slick commercial vans, trade vans or work vans can be a branding point of difference that raises awareness for your business. A slick work van will make a tradie more effective and an effective tradie will make the van shelving and vehicle storage systems a talking point on site. Workvan makes work vans that make little builders the big kids in the sandpit.
The following commercial vans and trade vans are commonly used as a work van in New Zealand and Australia: