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LITTLE EARNERS
Page 62
Page 63
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CM has been driving a couple of rather
unusual Mercedes
Benz vans of late.
Cohn Barnett and Julian Milnes report on a Vito reefer and a Vario with permanent four-wheel drive.
If reputations are hard to earn and easy to lose in the transport industry, then operating in the temperature-controlled sector, with its additional parameters, can only add to the task. Arrive with perishable goods in sub-standard condition, and the chances are you won't be getting the call for a re-order. But who do you turn to when bringing such a vehicle on board? Well, you have two broad options.
You can visit a specialist, which will fit out your van with refrigeration and insulation equipment. or you can go straight to a van manufacturer that provides a conversion service. Several brands offer ready-to-roll products, and the benefit is that you have a factory-approved product —therefore a degree of reassurance in case things go wrong.
Amona the marques offering this service is Mercedes, whose Vito is available with a conversion by German refrigeration specialist Kerstner. It has a range of features designed to help maintain temperature — for example.the insulation value is 0.27W/m2k (or,to put it another way, it has the equivalent insulation properties of masonry approx 45m thick) and there are double seals on the compartment doors.These all meet the required ACP and HACCP standards. And the doors have builtin ducts for releasing the excess pressure out of the cargo area when they're shut.
Getting the temperature correct is the job of the stylish, roof-mounted refrigeration unit. which operates independently from the Vito's engine. As a result there are no emissions to breathe in when you're loading and unloading, and the system is guaranteed to start, as an electronic safeguard against a flat battery is fitted. A digital control unit. mounted centrally in the rootlining,is what the driver uses to set the required temperature and monitor any changes.
Access to the back is either by twin sliding or rear-opening doors.A quick glance inside shows it's a quality set-up— there's a solid feel to the lit and finish of the panelling, while the aluminium rub-strip and flooring are strong enough to take the knocks. The load dimensions allow Euro pallets to be accommodated without fuss and the removable shelving, which can be customised to suit different requirements.comes complete with bracing bars to stop the goods from shifting when the van's in motion.
On the move, the Vito comes across as capable, if rather uninspired. Its rear-wheeldrive layout allows the front end to get on with the job of steering,but feedback isn't great and the seating position had me further back than I'd like. Its engine doesn't add to the package either, feeling listless and delivering its torque over a short range.
However its fuel economy scored high with 38.05mpg for a laden run,which measures strongly against the competition.
And its cab design is on the money. providing plenty of storage and easy-to-read dials.The steering wheel is multi-adjustable, as is the driver's seat, while access is good for those on multi-drop work. If you're in a hurry, the suspension set-up allows flat cornering and plenty of grip in any condition, while absorbing bumps and creases without fuss.