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PROTECT YOUR ASSETS

panel vans are among the transport industry's most popular workhorses. Look into any haulage yard and you're likely to find at least one van standing in it. And to paraphrase the late, great Harold McMillan, today's van buyers "never had it so good". given what manufacturers are offering in terms of standard specifications and service back-up.

But with some forethought and careful speccing it's possible to make a standard van even more durable, productive and safer.

Plenty of optional extras to help a van survive in the urban jungle are available from the manufacturers themselves, not to mention the component and equipment suppliers. Invest carefully and after several years of earning their keep (providing they've been well maintained) the same vans can be dekitted, or sold on as a well-equipped vehicle.

Either way, you should realise a good return on your initial outlay.

The best way best to protect your outlay is to first check that the basic spec and the warranty meet your needs, so find out if any of the manufacturer's options would help you work more efficiently.

If your operation involves urban delivery work in tight spaces then the chances are your drivers will be bumping up and down kerbs simply to get out of the traffic stream, so kerbing damage is inevitable.

If that sounds a familiar story look beyond what the manufacturer fits as standard rubber on its product and spec your van as carefully as you would a tractor.

Michelin's Agilis tyres are designed specifically for delivery vans and they're high on impact resistance.Their characteristics and suitability are outlined in Michelin's free booklet Van Tyre Fitments (see contacts).

For 3.5-7.5-tonne GCW vans. Goodyear Dunlop offers its heavily reinforced Cargo tyre; by the end of 2005 it's expected to include microchip information technology. Heavier vans might also benefit from Continental's newcomer to the Vanco-10 range. the 195/75 IR 16 C 110/108 R. With higher inflation pressures they have up to 85kg more load-bearing capacity than standard sizes.

Its not only van tyres that need careful speccing; the same goes for bodywork, loading and load-securing systems. Most standard-spec vans lack a durable inner load lining which is why many dealers have them ply-lined beforehand, so any operator carrying heavy crates or boxes or sharp-edged stillages can use them straight away.

However, dealer conversions aren't the only route to protecting the interior of your van. Several aftermarket companies specialise in fitting ply-linings: for upwards of £350, the whole interior can be transformed in less than a working day. lithe existing tie-down trings aren't adequate these specialists f can also add cargo restraining systems such as Load-Lok.

Vantec produces panel kits and shelving for just about any size and make of van:it will fit them at its Tunbridge site or anywhere around the South-East of England.

Bolton-based The Van Liners is one of the largest firms in this

Darlington-based Northgate operates 36,000 panel vans out of 70 hire depots. Mainly Ford Transits, Mercedes Sprinters and Vauxhall Vivaros, they're all lined with plywood by Commercial Vehicle Linings of Telford. It's a permanent fitting covering the floors, sides, door facings, bulkhead and wheel boxes.

"We buy 15,000 new vans each year and that represents a lot of timber," says purchasing manager Ken Rayner, He's currently evaluating an alternative product, and from the results to date he's extremely optimistic.

The fleet also provides specially equipped vehicles to rail maintenance contractors such as Jarvis. "They're all initially prepared by the dealers, then converted by our preferred bodybuilders," Rayner adds. "But once into service, we handle all periodic maintenance."

Northgate keeps the non-specialist vehicles for an average of 28 months, after which they're replaced with new. Again CAP values are the yardstick.

"We endeavor to have the vans spruced up prior to their disposal but more often than not the buyer's transporters are lying in wait for them to arrive," says Rayner.

Newtown

Independent contract-hire specialist Newtown Vehicle Rentals runs a 5,000-strong fleet dominated by Ford Transits, Mercedes Sprinters and Volkswagen Transporters. "They're powerful, have good payloads, reliable drivelines and our clients like to drive them," says general manager Richard Marsden.

Newtown's forte is supplying contractors with extensively equipped rail-spec vans. Built up by ATT Papworth, some hold up to 212,000 of extras such as bulkheads, cabinets, tool chests and powered tools; others have air extraction systems, generators, welding gear, mobile cranes, winches and storage racks.

"These do suffer knocks and damage over a long contract but we tidy them up at the end," Marsden explains, "We stick with CAP recommendations and sell them to small subcontractors who are always looking for clean, well-maintained specialist vehicles." The panel vans are sold on after two to three years and that's when the £300 of ply-lining pays off.

"They're de-fleeted, power-washed and vacuumed, seats, carpets and trim thoroughly valeted. and then sold through either trade or private outlets," he reports, "A sparkling appearance makes a huge difference, so disposal isn't a problem." sector:its team travels the country fitting a vai iety of van lining kits, as well as adding beacons, shelving, ladder racks and glass frails.

Many operators might prefer a lighter,more aesthetic looking van interior, such as the polycarbonate and polypropylene linings offered by LDVThey're easy to hose out and, like its racking system options, can be added on-line, Bri-Stor also offers a wide range of laser cut polypropylene panels that, it says. are more durable than ply.splinter-free and don't need drilling. Simply plug them into existing holes in the body structure to shield side walls from nasty dings and dents.

Van floors can take a hell of a battering but if lining out seems an unnecessary step you can still treat the metal itself. New Venture Products of Faringdon supplies a metal treatment called Protecta-Kote which is said to be highly abrasion resistant. non-slip and bonds to most materials. It's especially useful on tail-lifts, rear bumpers or in pickup load-beds but could also he a good idea in a service van or crew bus. After a time (and the regular impact of hefty service fitters thumping down on them every day) van seats will become tatty and uncomfortable,so choose good fabrics when buying new, monitor their condition and replace or recover them as necessary.

Tek Seating ofTunbridge Wells can provide complete replacement seats and seat coverings. Given that prevention is better than cure it's also worth considering fitting loose extra covers from new: they're available from the likes of Scot Seats Direct of Fenwick and UK Covers, which will supply a complete set for a Transit for £52.95.

Loose loads and tools ratting around inside a van will damage the bodywork and could put the driver and passengers at risk so it's almost essential to spec an appropriate bulkhead. You can choose from full-height steel panels, half-height barriers, walk-through partitions or shallow frames. Hatcher's clever 3-in-1 bulkhead. Made for most popular high and medium-roof panel vans, it weighs 75kg,stows into 250mm of load space and costs £1,395.This clever sliding divider can separate loads,provide crew seats or even a place to sleep and takes just two hours to fit, or remove.

While clumsy handling can ding and dent bodywork,safety is also important when it comes to loading and off-loading.There are many helpful devices available, from simple loading ramps to electric/hydraulic lifts and hoists. Fiat offers useful rear or side loading ramps that fold sideways when not needed; Portaramp of Thetford offers a range of lightweight ramps that are well worth a look. If you need a crane near the side door for occasional loading, take a look at the 100kg hoist also offered with Fiat's Ducato. But if you're forever loading heavier objects in the rear, Penny Hydraulics' 250kg Loadlift might be more suitable.

Clambering in and out of a van to unload can be a real pain, especially if it's got a low roof and you're continually having to bend double.

If you have this problem you should consider load/unloading kit such as the Spoorlos system from Dutch manufacturer SPH.This has a sliding bulkhead that pushes packages rearwards, leaving space behind for return goods.

External racks

Don't let your staff stow ladders loosely inside the van, or risk life and limb struggling to lash them to flimsy racks, when there are some excellent racks available that can be operated from ground level.

Linx Homes has opted for Bri-Stor's EasyLoad system on 17 new Transits for its housing association work teams: other ladder-rack suppliers including Bott, H-Module and QI Van Systems.

Heavy-duty bumpers

Careless reversing damages vans too, so check whether your van is being supplied with a robust rear bumper. If not, take a look at Hope Technical Developments' Safe-T-Bar.

This offers worthwhile, economical rear-end protection, which is why major fleets like DI-IL and Royal Mail swear by it.A non-slip surface can be added to help operatives working on muddy sites.

Security

The quickest way for van bodywork to be badly damaged is to have someone try to break into it.While immobilisers and alarms help to deter a casual break-in, a determined thief will typically attack a van around the door lock area.

Van-Fit Direct runs a nationwide network of mobile workshops supplying and fitting security equipment such as locking systems and alarms to dealers and operators.

Extra deadlocks represent good value for money as they're not only virtually impregnable. but also highly visible so they discourage opportunist thieves — a major consideration if tools or other valuables are kept in the vehicle.

Where theft of the vehicle itself is more of an issue slam locks ensure that the door is loc as soon as the driver leaves the vehicle, an only be opened again with specific keys.

Van-fit Direct has also formed partners with several security systems manufacturers, including alarms specialist Laserline a Arrnaplate UK, manufacturers of Armap Lock Protection systems.

All Van-fit Direct operators are able to them locally and can supply an engineer anywhere in the country. •