Most vans are used as straight carriers hut some have more specialised roles, and that entails custom equipment reports.
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Van customising has never been as popular as it is today, with racking companies reporting booming business as more users realise the benefits of even a modest investment. At one end of the scale are relatively inexpensive items, such as front and rear light protection cages, while at the other are steel racking systems with drawers, shelves, generators and washing facilities.
The most basic customising gives the van added protection from damage and theft. Plywood floor and wall liners dampen internal noise and, by protecting the body from knocks, enhance residual values. Mesh window and door guards help deter intruders, while fullheight bulkheads enhance load security. Shelving improves operational efficiency by reducing time looking for delivery items.
At its most sophisticated, customising can transform the humble panel van into many guises, including a workshop with
workbenches, tools and power supply.
There are two types of van racking system: bespoke and modular. Bespoke systems, with the interior specially designed for the operation, are expensive and probably only justifiable by large fleets. Modular systems have helped popularise van customising, are quick to install and versatile enough to suit a wide variety of uses.
lf van-racking appeals, there are two routes to take. Some van manufacturers, including LDV, offer on-line customising. Citroen, Ford, Renault and Volkswagen are among those offering customising options through the dealer network, usually in partnership with one of the van racking specialists.
All the van racking companies have kits for most models, from car-derived types to highroof, long-wheelbase models, including the new Transit. The choice of layout options can be bewildering, so take advantage of the help offered by the manufacturers. H-Modul, for example, produces data sheets for the most popular vans, each showing 16 possible lay outs. H-Modul says showing customers the possibilities helps them pinpoint which design best suits their operation, while still giving the option to customise further.
Some companies, including Autopia Vanquip and Sortitno, have computer-aided design while Telford-based Quality Industries (QI) is hoping to link its Internet site to van dealers. The idea is that buyers can view the
QI site at the van dealers, and plan their equipment layout accordingly.
Modular systems, although less expensive than bespoke, are not necessarily cheap. There's plenty of competition in the market, so prices are keen, but with van racking systems price is also an indication of quality and, as always, you get what you pay for.
Premium modular systems cost between II,000 and £2,500 for a full racking system in a standard panel van. Price depends partly on the type of layout—cupboards cost more than a tool rack, for example—but top-of-therange kits will last the life of two or three chassis. Cheaper systems are less durable and have fewer accessories. It is the accessories, according to H-Modul, that deliver the real benefits.
No van racking system is complete without accessories," says managing director David Barber. "They turn a basic racking systern into a fully functional workshop and storage facility." Racking systems help protect equipment from damage, he points out, and assist in stock control procedures.
There is a huge variety of boxes, cupboards, bins, sliding shelves and racks. Attention to detail can make all the difference. The doors on Sortimo systems, for example, all fit flush, so there is no risk of snagging things on door handles. H.Modul sells a ball-bearing drawer runner so heavily loaded that the drawers open easily, even when the vehicle is on a slope.
Weight is always an issue with van racking systems. Aluminium shelves, drawer fronts, drawer inserts and tool boards have been introduced by HModul to reduce weight. Sortimo's latest range uses powder-coated high-tensile steel that helps reduce thickness and weight without comprising rigidity. It is said to be 20% lighter than the previous racking.
Sortimo claims its Soboflex laminated birchwood sub-floor is unique. The screws for the racking system fasten into pre-mounted fixings in the floor, eliminating the need to drill holes, so there is no risk of invalidating van manufacturers' anti-corrosion warranties. The floor also absorbs kinetic energy in the event of a crash, limiting damage to the van floor and to equipment.
The Q I Solutions range is new and is aimed at van dealers and small fleet operators. Special features include a sliding rack, designed for one-handed operation. This allows it to be steadied with a free hand when, for example, the van is parked on uneven ground.
CUSTOMISED BODIES
For sonic operations, the most effective customising is to specify a chassis-cab with separate bodywork. Citroen and LDV were among the first to recognise that bodies are as important to productivity as the chassis. LDV has a
dedicated SVO operation for this purpose and manufactures several as on-line options, including an aluminium Luton body for Convoy longwheelbase .
models. It may
not be as smart as a GRP body, but LDV says the fact that it is less damage prone, easier to repair and more than 1600
cheaper than a GRP body Bri-Stor's Easi-Load appeals to many operaladder mounting tors. Citroen says its willsystem.
ingness to develop body work designs such as the Fame high-cube low-floor box body has helped increase sales of Relays in the UK.
More recently, Renault and Volkswagen have followed the trend. Renault is promoting its Accord Technique list of approved bodybuilder and converters for Kangoo and Master vans. The range of bodywork includes minibus, refrigerated vehicles and dropsiders. Volkswagen is targeting specific sectors of the chassis-cab market, such as refrigerated bodywork for home deliveries.
The Australian-designed Razorback body for Transporter chassis has won sales with emergency services and local authorities. The Razorback replaces the chassis behind the cab; the whole of the load platformlowers hydraulically to the floor (GM 4-20 Oct r999).