Simply put panel vans are regular vans usually without rear windows, side windows or rear seating. They are primarily used for commercial transport to keep goods privately enclosed and remove visibility of valuable items, loads and tools within the van. The enclosed storage also helps minimise harsh weather affecting goods that would be otherwise vulnerable with windows.
Simply put panel vans are regular vans usually without rear windows, side windows or rear seating. They are primarily used for commercial transport to keep goods privately enclosed and remove visibility of valuable items, loads and tools within the van. The enclosed storage also helps minimise harsh weather affecting goods that would be otherwise vulnerable with windows.
They are also favoured by business owners due to the ability to advertise services across the entire van where usually windows would limit brand messaging. Some of the larger panel vans also provide rear and side loading which provides efficiency for tradesmen, alongside a practical load space. Customised storage and fittings can also be installed within the interior panels of the van for tradesmen to have a remote workshop which can be practical for engineers, electricians, plumbers etc.
It is called a panel van due to the solid panels in place where the side and rear windows usually would be located. They are also known as blind vans due to the replacement of the windows on the vehicle.
If we compare a panel van to a standard box van, there are some differences in the shape and sizing to consider. A standard box van usually has a straighter, box-like design with clearly defined sides making them a go-to option for shelving and fixture installations. Panel vans are typically smaller and usually have curvature within the design that can sometimes be obstructive to the installation of shelving and racks.
However, when it comes to the transportation of items the panel van is typically considered more functional due to factors such as the rear loading of a box van being higher than a panel van, which can sometime cause setbacks with the loading of goods, most box vans require a fixed rear step for safety reasons when loading which can be obstructive in some scenarios tradesman may face daily.
The panel van is also closer to the ground than a typical box van making it more suited for frequent loading of lighter items, which is a key consideration for commercial practicality. Both box vans and panel vans serve their purpose elegantly, however we recommend panel vans for the transportation of lighter good and frequent loading and box vans for larger and heavier transportation with less frequent loading.
Yes, the standard Ford Transit is a panel van, some other popular standard sized vans include the VW Transporter panel van. Both the VW panel van and Ford Transit panel van have stood the test of time; therefore, they are up there with the most popular panel vans out on the road, particularly favoured by tradesmen. At hirefleet we offer Ford Transit Custom panel van hire, VW Transporter panel van hire and similar.
A small panel van is a car-derived panel van that has a driving experience much more akin to a car than a larger van. During the late 1920’s Ford produced the “Model A Town Car Delivery” for light commercial transport, this has now evolved to the Ford Transit Connect panel van, one of the best small panel vans out on the roads.
Citroen panel vans, such as the Citroen Berlingo panel van are another great example of a small panel van. They can be very practical for sole traders and tradesmen that only need to carry light loads and tools with a requirement for a nimbler vehicle for built up areas with high traffic, such as busy cities with restrictive roads.
You can also find long wheel based panel vans and XLWB panel vans that offer higher loading capacity. The Mercedes Sprinter panel van, Citroen Relay panel van and Ford Transit LWB panel van are all popular choices. A long wheel based (LWB) van is simply a van with a larger distance between the front and rear wheels. We recently did a post on what is a long wheel-based van? where you can learn more. If you are looking for a Mercedes panel van LWB, Citroen relay panel van LWB or Ford transit LWB panel van at hirefleet we offer all these vehicles and similar.
We hope you have a better understanding of what is a panelled van. If you’re looking for panel van rental at hirefleet we not only offer great panel van prices but truly provide a first-class service with some of the best panel vans on the market. We also are conveniently located to serve Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire.
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