Do you really need a new van?
Avoid the Monday morning chaos
Picture this. It’s Friday afternoon and you’ve downed tools. Time to switch off, have a brew and get on with whatever the weekend has to offer.
Almost.
First, you’ve got to empty your van to stop any would-be thief from robbing you. Then you need to do a bit of organising, otherwise you’re facing a chaotic Monday morning.
As you fight through the clutter, you tut and think, “If I got a new van, with a bit more space, it’d be a lot easier to stay organised.”
And you might be right.
On the other hand, a new van with more space might mean more mess to sort through. But you don’t let that thought hang around. Not on a Friday afternoon when you’ve already downed tools for the weekend.
Why would you want a new van?
There are a few reasons to change vans:
You want to go bigger, because you need more space.
You want to go smaller, because it’s cheaper to run.
You want something with a bit more security, because you’re worried about your tools getting stolen.
Or you might be affected by one of the clean air zones (CAZs) being brought into towns and cities around the country.
Let’s say you’re getting hit with a daily CAZ charge - that goes away with a hybrid fuel van. Sure, your lease cost will be higher, but you’ve done the maths and, so long as you drive efficiently, you might even save a few quid each month. Maybe your lease is up soon anyway, so why not kill two birds with one stone?
If you’re not getting hit in the CAZ, however, there’s a chance you might not need to change vans at all. In fact, as the home of the Organised Trades, we reckon a new van could be a big cost that is easily avoided.
So, do you really need a new van?
Before you go ahead and call your local dealer, have a read through this and think about whether a new van really is what you need.
Van size
Going with the example at the top of this post - van size is probably one of the biggest reasons trades want to trade up their van.
Now, if you’re regularly running out of space, then maybe a bigger van is necessary. Here at the Organised Trades, we’ve come across all sorts of people who need an H3 L3 because they can’t fit all their materials in. Yes, parking is a pain in the arse. But it can be cheaper to run a bigger van than it is to fork out for regular deliveries.
On the other hand, we’ve come across trades who think they need a bigger van, because they think it’ll be easier to keep on top of the mess. Usually though, all you get with a bigger van is a bigger mess to sort out of a Friday afternoon.
If this is you, we’ve got a much better (and much cheaper) solution, which will help you get organised, work more efficiently and, ultimately, save you a van load of cash along the way. No prizes for guessing that we’re talking about van racking.
Economy
Perhaps you’re looking to downsize to a more fuel efficient option. You forked out for a H2 L2, thinking you’d need the space, only to find your gear rattling around a half empty van. Not only are you carting around a load of air, you’re also risking your tools and equipment getting damaged as they slide about the floor. Worse still, that loose gear is risking the health and safety of yourself and anyone else that rides in the van with you.
As a member of the Organisation for Responsible Businesses, we’re on board with better fuel economy. But if your gear is clattering about in the back of your van, you definitely need to get it secured. A smaller van is one option, of course, although all that means is less space for your stuff to bounce about. In our experience, van racking is easily the better option.
Security
It seems like the criminals are always one step ahead when it comes to van security. Manufacturers bring out new systems and the criminals find ways around them. You slap an extra lock on the van, they get a bigger tool to break it off. You empty your van every night after work, and the one day you forget, some toerag gets away with all your gear.
In all likelihood, a new van won’t be the silver bullet that keeps the fiends at bay. Most of our security-conscious customers opt for something like a Van Vault slider or box, which offers a much harder challenge to the would-be tool thief.
Unfortunately, there’s not much on the market to stop the most determined criminals, but Van Vault’s solutions do a great job of deterring the chancers. At Whitebox, we can install them alongside (or underneath) your racking, to make sure they’re safe, secure and properly fitted.
ULEZ and other clean air zones
Let’s be honest, if your van isn’t compliant (and many aren’t), then you’re going to face extra costs. It’s a kick in the teeth for hardworking trades who are already forking out a load of extra cash each month. There are conversion kits out there - we’ve got no experience with them, and we’re not going to endorse anything we haven’t tried ourselves - but otherwise, it’s change vans or pay the price.
If you’ve already made the leap and placed an order, you’ve probably noticed that it’s taking a while. It’s frustrating, especially if you want to get organised now. Which is why we’ve teamed up with System Edström to offer free van racking transfers if you get your new van within 18 months of the install. The offer is for like-for-like racking and excludes extras like Van Vault boxes - although we can move those over to your new van as well, at a very reasonable price.
Don’t wait to get organised
Whether you need a new van or not, van racking can help you get organised, work more efficiently and save time and money.
And with Whitebox, you don’t have to wait for your new van to get your racking installed.
Speak to us about your ideal System Edström van racking solution and start getting organised now. Then, if you change your van within 18 months of the install, we’ll transfer your racking for free. It’s quick and easy, and it can save you a lot of money in the long run.
