So you’re considering buying a van! Congratulations. It seems like you’re not the only one. As reported by the BBC earlier this year, van sales have been soaring amid the home delivery boom brought on by lockdown.
While some are buying vans for businesses, others are choosing to buy one, convert it and go travelling – and after the last few years we’ve all been through, we don’t blame them. There are also others who are considering living in a van full time – a response to our growing housing crisis, but that’s a whole different discussion…
Anyway, for whatever reason you might be thinking of buying a van, here are some considerations when choosing the right one for you.
NEW OR USED?
The first and the most obvious thing that you should consider is the price of the van and your budget. Can you afford a new van, or is a secondhand vehicle more in your price range?
SMMT recently reported that all van types have seen a big price rise, so it may be with considering a used van to mitigate the overall rising cost here. If you decide to get a second-hand van, you might be able to get a more affordable one. Moreover, buying a secondhand van means you may be able to drive a ‘better’ vehicle than your budget may otherwise have allowed.
That said, and while buying secondhand is usually cheaper, it should be noted that vans lose a ton of value as soon as they’re driven out of the lot.
However, generally speaking, it’s not just the price tag on a used van that tends to be cheaper when you’re buying secondhand; insuring your second-hand van will usually be a less costly process than buying insurance for a brand new model, too.
Read: 5 IDEAL tips for keeping your business van safe
THE HEIGHT OF THE VAN
The next thing you’ll want to check is the roof height of the van you’re considering. Choosing a van with the wrong roof height could be one of your biggest regrets. To help you decide what roof height is appropriate for your own unique needs, you should consider both what you’ll be transporting in the van, and what bridges and tunnels you might be going under in your local area and beyond.
WHAT’S THE PAYLOAD?
The payload of a van is any load (weight) carried by a vehicle, including passengers. The experts from Your New Can dealership explain that it’s important to know what payload your van can handle.
As a brief breakdown, small vans have a maximum payload of around 667 to 1000 kg, medium vans range from approximately 750 to 1600 kg, and larger vans clock in between 1000 and 1600 kg, roughly.
Some of the best vans for a larger payload include the Citroen Relay, the Peugeot Boxer and the Renault Master. Speaking of size….
THE SIZE OF THE VAN
Before you go to your nearest dealership, you’ll need to think about what you’re going to be using the van for. What you’re going to use the van for will affect the size of the van you’re going to need.
If you’re going to be using your new van to drop off and pick up your children along with any sports equipment, you might want to consider getting a small van. These tend to cost less to both purchase and run. Moreover, they are more manoeuvrable than larger vehicles – ideal if you need to fit into that small parking space!
Medium-sized vans available are helpful if you have more than the average load to transport daily. If you require a reference for this size of a van, a Chevy Astro is a good example of a medium-sized van.
If you’re looking to get a new van for business, such as construction or mobile business, then you’ll want to get a larger vehicle.
Or perhaps you’re considering turning your van into a mobile home? The rear seats in a large van can fold into a bed, and plenty of storage options already fit with it. Large vans are a great starting point that can be easily modified or take on extra additions.
If you’re considering living in your van full-time, then you might want to get an extra-large van. An extra-large provides more space for storage and comfortable living areas. These vans are extra long or extra wide, or both.
It’s important to note here that there are certain restrictions on converting a van into a campervan. Let us direct you to the DVLA site for more information on that.
WHAT TO CHECK BEFORE BUYING A NEW VAN
It doesn’t matter how much research you did beforehand; investing in a new van can still be a risky step. It’s impossible to know for sure if you’ve made the right choice until you’ve properly driven your van but there are some basic checks you can make before you sign on the dotted line.
You’ll want to do some checks in and around the van. Firstly, you’ll want to check for leaks, the transmission fluids and the oil. Any transmission fluid or oil leakage should be considered a red flag.
Next, you’ll want to check if the van makes any weird sounds. You might not be able to figure out where the sound is coming from, but at least you’ll know that there may be something wrong with the van.
The next things that you should thoroughly check are the brakes and the tires. You don’t want just to do a quick glance. With tires, you’ll need their tread. You might be able to use a low tread as a negotiating chip when it comes to discussing the price.
And with that, we hope you’re ready to hit the open road in comfort and style. Have a safe journey!