When you’re purchasing a van for your business, you will need to consider the full-size cargo van dimensions. Cargo vans are designed with storage in mind but the size of the exterior and the interior have a major bearing on which van is the best fit for your business.
Whether you own a delivery business or need a professional van to serve as a mobile workshop van, understanding van dimensions help you to make an informed decision about which cargo van is best for your business needs. And there’s a significant gap between the external and internal width.
The first thing to remember is that the external width includes the wing mirrors when they are folded. This gives you the minimum width you can shrink your van down to. This becomes important if you need access to narrow alleyways to deliver heavy items such as beds, wardrobes, heaters, white goods etc.
The exterior dimensions also help you to determine how well the van handles and whether you may have problems parking. Payload should also come into your thinking.
The greater the payload, the more the van costs to run. You, therefore, have to offset fuel costs against the earnings you can make from your cargo. It’s also worth bearing in mind the cost to the environment.
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Why Full Size Cargo Van Dimensions Matter
Most van manufacturers measure the dimensions for the interior cargo area from the belt – which is the widest section of the van. If you want to know what the full dimensions or the cargo space are, you have to factor in the space that is lost by the wheel arches.
The dimensions of the interior can be important for delivery businesses. You need to know what the dimensions of a cargo van are, so you can work out whether the goods you carry will fit in the van. But you also need to consider payload.
The bigger the van, the bigger the payload. However, bigger vans also use more fuel so are not necessarily more cost-effective. Most delivery companies and service professionals prefer medium-sized vans that have more space but are more cost-effective to run.
The configuration and features of a cargo van will impact the overall cost. When considering what the dimension of a cargo van is, look at the average size of cargo van dimensions. This will help you to determine when the purchasing costs and running costs support your potential revenue.
Enhancing full-size cargo van dimensions
When you purchase a cargo van, it’s worth noting that a lot of space in the cargo area goes unused. The full-size cargo van dimensions will typically give you between 120-220 cubic feet of storage space.
However, most businesses don’t utilise nearly half of the available space. The most cost-effective solution is to install van racking solutions. By installing false floors and custom shelving you can increase your storage capacity and organise your van so it’s more practical.
The first thing to look at is width. How wide will the space be for loading goods on and off the van? This also gives you an idea of much cubic space you will be able to use – with or without van racking. Knowing the floor measurements gives you an idea of which van racking solutions you can install.
Cargo vans with a high ceiling are ideal for installing custom shelving. Providing you don’t have any low lying bridges to pass under, larger H-dimensions mean you will be able to house more cargo. Which means more earning potential.
Cargo vans are listed by manufacturers as H-1, H-2, H-3. One is the lowest, or standard roof height and three is the highest.
