Choosing The Right Dropside Van For Your Business
Do you run a building firm or landscaping company? Need to carry heavy loads and keep them accessible? Want easy access to the back of your vehicle so you can unload goods quickly and safely? If so, a dropside van could be just what you need.
A dropside van has an open cargo area with folding (drop) side panels to keep loads safe. They are tough and reliable, making it easy to load and unload materials. Dropside vans are used extensively across many different industries and are a very popular option, particularly within the construction sector.
If you’re in the market for a new work van, this post will discuss the uses and benefits of dropside vans to help you decide whether they’re a good fit for your business.
Benefits of Dropside Vans
Dropside vans are light commercial vehicles (LCVs) with an open load bed at the back and a standard van cab at the front.
The name comes from the hinged sideboards that drop down to allow easy access to the load.
They make it easy to load and unload quickly and safely by hand, forklift or other means. They also enable you to carry loose loads such as sand, soil or rubble without losing the contents.
Benefits of dropside vans include…
Ease of loading and unloading
Keep the sideboards folded up and you can carry loads safely. Fold them down and you have free access to a flat load bed.
Each sideboard operates independently so you can raise or lower one or all sideboards as required.
You can load and unload by hand, forklift, lift loader or whatever method you choose.
Load capacity
Despite being a light commercial vehicle, dropside vans offer a great payload capacity.
They can carry up to four pallets at a time, but the specific weight limits will depend on the type of van that you choose.
A dropside van can carry pallets, dumpy bags, sacks, timber, bricks, loose sand and rubble – any load the length, width and weight capabilities allow.
As the sideboards fold down, you also have access to a flat-load bed you can use for anything.
Practical design
Dropside vans are built to be strong and durable. The load bed in the back will usually be made of tough steel with lighter, robust, sideboards.
Sideboards lock securely into place to keep loads safe and fold 180 degrees or more to allow easy access. They are often manufactured from tough aluminium so are hard wearing but easy to use.
Load beds are typically non-slip but are available in a wide range of shapes, sizes and configurations.
Dropside vans can also have other beneficial features such as folding steps, load covers, lashing rings, hooks and other accessories depending on your needs.
Uses of Dropside Vans
There are as many uses for dropside vans as there are makes and models.
You can specify a wide range of characteristics, including:
- Single or double cab
- Long or short wheelbase
- Basic working dropside or custom van
- Variable interior trims and technology options
You can buy or lease a stock dropside van, or customise one to fit any specific needs for your business. All you need to do is ask when you order!
The industries that use dropside vans include sole traders and limited companies to large housebuilders or civil construction firms.
As these vehicles are so flexible, you’ll find dropside vans in use across the country, in all kinds of situations.
Typical uses include:
- Building and construction
- Warehousing and transport
- Furniture and large item deliveries
- gardening and architecture
- Roofing and scaffolding
- Any business that needs to move heavy or bulky items
5 Benefits of Leasing a Van
Why buy a van when you can save the upfront cost and lease one instead?
There are many benefits of leasing versus buying one outright, but here are the top five reasons to lease a dropside van:
1. Low monthly payments
There’s no denying it’s tough out there and making ends meet can be a challenge. That’s why leasing a dropside van is a great option for improving your cashflow.
You pay one low monthly cost to lease a brand-new van. A predictable outgoing that’s usually cheaper than a loan or commercial vehicle finance.
2. Lower upfront cost
Saving a large enough deposit to buy a van can also be a challenge. There is an initial payment cost to van leasing, but again, it’s still cheaper than purchasing one outright.
You can often choose 3, 6, 9 or 12-month initial payments to help manage those upfront costs.
3. Brand-new van at an affordable price
How else can you get a brand-new van for so little? You will often have the option to buy a standard van from stock or customise your van to suit any particular needs you may have. It’s the most affordable way to drive a new van.
4. Maintenance can be included
Many dropside van lease contracts can include maintenance and servicing as part of the price. That’s two fewer things to worry about and two fewer costs to manage!
5. Tax efficient
Leasing is tax efficient. You can reclaim 100% of the VAT paid on business vehicles and offset the lease to tax too. If your lease includes maintenance and servicing, those costs, plus any excess mileage, can also be claimed back.
Work with your accountant to see just how tax-efficient leasing a dropside van can be.
Dropside Vans and Their Benefits
There’s one key reason you see so many dropside vans on the road, and that’s because they are so good at what they do.
Whatever business you’re in, whatever you need to transport, if it’s bulky or heavy, a dropside van is what you need.
They are simple yet effective, and their flexibility means they can speed up safe loading and unloading, streamlining jobs and improving the productivity and efficiency of your business or fleet!
