October 25, 2021 at 12:30 PM

Here at Avondale, you will see a wide range of used vans available to meet the needs of a range of business uses. Commercial vehicles can either ferry goods or are used as public transport vehicles and either way, the vehicle must meet some standards, such as weight requirements, to be categorized as a commercial van. Get acquainted with the different types of commercial vehicles could help you choose the right fit for your requirements.

Types of Commercial Vans

1. SWB / LWB Panel Vans

Panel vans are the most popular types of vans and are what you will see the vast majority of tradespeople using for business due to their ability to store and transport equipment and materials and their ease of use and suitability to driving in town. SWB and LWB stand for short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase vehicles and these terms explain the distance between the front wheels' center point and the rear wheels' center point and usually do not denote the vehicle's length. 

Benefits of LWB?

1. They offer a smoother ride — As a rule of thumb, the larger the distance between the wheel-bases, the longer it will take between the front and rear wheels to hit dips and bumps in the road, ensuring an even drive through bumpy roads.

2. Longer vehicles have more space — When transporting big things, the longer or larger the vehicle, the more carrying capacity it will have for goods.

3. They are maouverable - for their size, LWB vans still maintain a level of manouverability, this makes them great for everyday use for tradespeople and is excellent for delivering a wide range of goods in residential areas.

Benefits of SWB?

1. Provide better driving flexibility — Short vehicles are better equipped for narrow streets, three-point turns, and heavy traffic and are not restricted to specific roads or terrain than LWB.

2. Tighter handling — SWBs can quickly negotiate sharp corners because of their tight handling and their short nature.

3. SWBs offers a sporty feel — While a tight wheel offers comfortable turning, gears holding for longer on automatic transmissions and sharper throttle response makes an SWB the ideal vehicle for fast acceleration and speed maintenance.

Examples of this style of van include the Ford Transit and Peugeot Boxer.

2. Crew or Kombi Van

If you need a vehicle that can carry both passengers and cargo, a kombi van is the best solution as it can ferry at least five passengers and has a cargo hold. They are the category between conventional panel vans and van-based MPVs or minibusses and have an additional row of seats at the back. They are a good choice for someone who needs a passenger vehicle that can double up as a personal family vehicle and has more cargo capacity than a double cab pick-up truck.

Many panel vans are also available in the form of kombi vans, although they usually range depending on the body lengths, engine, and gearbox options. Such models are primarily built to a similar standard as a panel van, and you should not expect passenger car levels of refinement. Some kombi van is furnished with leather seats, carpets, and an ample kit that makes them more appealing as family wagons.

Among the most popular of this type of van is the Volkswagen Transporter.

3. Shuttle or Bus

These are passenger ferrying vehicles that shuttle passengers, and are commonly used as mini-buses for hire or by schools and colleges, for example. They are primarily designated to carry the maximum capacity of passengers, and some have cargo holds in case passengers have luggage. Many of them have a capacity of between 8 and 14 passengers, and size does not determine a shuttle bus. 

4. Luton Van

They have large bodies enough for furniture, office, or home appliances, such as boxes. The vehicle is large enough to fit big things comfortably. Using a Luton van is strategic because it minimizes the number of trips you have to make whenever you move office spaces of your home. In addition, these vans have enough space and ensure that you do not have to dismantle furniture to fit into the moving vehicle, except for the largest pieces.

5. Tipper

Tippers are heavy-duty truck chassis fitted with an open-top body that is mostly used for carrying bulk materials, such as crushed rock, aggregate, and soil in construction sites. The body tips up to deposit material, and the hinged tailgate can either be a one-piece (on muck away/aggregate tippers) or two-piece (on asphalt tippers). They also have a two-piece tailgate to control the dropping of asphalt into an asphalt paver hopper and ensure the remaining asphalt in the body does not cool. An air cylinder often opens these tippers where drivers do not always leave their vehicles on a dangerous construction site. In the United Kingdom, tipper trucks are usually 3 or 4 axles. The latter has a total transport weight capacity of 32 tons and can transport up to its full capacity at a time. 

6. Small / Car Derived

These are categorized depending on weight, and they weigh 2 tonnes when fully loaded and differ depending on the vehicle's design. As a rule of thumb, these vehicles resemble small cars but look different inside and function as a van. With one of these you will find there are no back seats, as these make way for a large storage area which is floored up to the front seats. 

These are perfect for those who don't need a lot of storage but still need more than a car, and provide the same sort of fuel economy you can expect from a small hatcback.

Summary

When working at a construction site or carrying some equipment with you to work, a spacious vehicle will serve you very well. If you need to carry your tools to work, the right vehicle can make all the difference. Many people in construction jobs need a large vehicle with a lot of cargo space for their work tools and materials. Many businesses use trucks and vans when a job requires more than just a navigational personal car. However, you don’t always have to use a van or a pick-up truck to transport work tools, as you can always find a suitable vehicle that suits your specific needs. Before picking the right vehicle, the most important thing is that the one you choose fits your needs and depends on the job in question. If you are looking to buy a commercial vehicle, it is best to know the different types available in the market and the right laws that apply to them before buying them.