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Vans are critical parts of the modern-day transportation world. These vehicles are commercially and casually useful for the movement of people and cargo. As vehicular demands continue to evolve, we are beginning to see vans with various features and functions, making it more difficult to keep up with different types of vans. If you’re experiencing the same struggle, this article is for you. We’ll go over 10 of the most common types of van and explain their uses and distinguishing characteristics.
10 Most Common Types Of Vans
Here’s a breakdown of the different types of vans, so you can identify which one best suits your needs. Bear in mind that vans are generally vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes, even though some people call some larger cargo vehicles (up to 7.5t) vans instead of trucks.
1. Car-Derived Van
Car-derived vans are cars that have been adapted to have the features of vans. As such, they are usually the smallest types of vans or light commercial vehicles you can buy. Their small size means car-derived vans aren’t as spacious as other vans. However, they are usually great to drive and well-equipped with various features.
Car-derived vans have similar designs to large hatchbacks on the outside, but their interior is more van-like, with no rear seats. To qualify as a car-derived van, the gross weight of a vehicle must be under 2 tonnes (2,000kg). These vehicles are usually popular among companies that offer courier services. Anyone looking to experience the capabilities of a car-derived van can hire the VW Caddy.
Most van manufacturers are beginning to release some of their vehicles as electric vans, which have battery-powered electric motors instead of internal combustion engines.
2. Microvan
A microvan is a cross between a hatchback (see here) and a minivan. These small vans originated in Japan, where some drivers prefer them due to their tax and insurance benefits. However, they are not very popular in the United Kingdom.
The body length of a microvan is under 4.2 metres (13.7 feet). These vehicles tend to have two standard doors in the front and a sliding door on each side that passengers can use to enter and exit the van. Most microvans have between five or nine seats, but you can remove the rear seats to create more space for cargo. The DFSK K-Series are examples of microvans.
Those who are more interested in minivans can check out our minivan guide to learn about these vehicles.
3. Pickup
A pickup van, also known as a pick-up truck, is a very basic van with an open back and low sides. The pick-up consists of three compartments. The front section includes the engine and the hood. The middle section is the driver’s cab, which has seating space for the driver and two or three passengers. The rear section is the cargo space.
There are also extended pick-up vans, which have an additional row of seats just before the cargo compartment. Pick-ups are suitable for business and casual use when carrying passengers and cargo. Some popular models include the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux. When buying a pickup van, you have the option of a single or double cab.
Tip: Vans are generally larger than cars, so it’s important to be mindful of your speed to properly control the vehicle.
4. Crew Van
A crew van is a great choice for anyone who needs a vehicle that can carry several passengers. These vans are characterised by an additional row of seats, making it possible for the vehicle to carry more people. In many vans, there is only one row of seats behind the driver’s cab, but a crew cab van has two rows of seats.
Due to the extra row of seats, crew vans lose the majority of their load space. Most crew vans also have additional side windows to ensure passenger ventilation in the vehicle’s rear. Ford Transit Custom and Vauxhall Vivaro are examples of popular crew van models.
5. Panel Van
A panel van is a fully enclosed vehicle used for carrying goods. Panel vans are characterised by a body that does not have rear or side windows. These vehicles are small enough to navigate through narrow roads that large vans can’t pass through while carrying a significant amount of cargo.
Tip: When purchasing or renting a van, pay attention to its size and capacity.
Panel vans are one of the most popular vans on UK roads. They are available in low, medium, and high-roof body types, and you also have the option of a short wheelbase, a medium wheelbase or a long wheelbase. Some of the most popular models of panel vans include the Ford Transit and the Volkswagen Transporter. Read more about panel vans.
6. Luton Van
A Luton is like an extended box van. This vehicle has an enclosed body that is separate from the driver’s cab. In a Luton van, the body extends over the cab area, often to create additional cargo space. Some new Luton van models have rounded sections over their cab areas to help reduce wind resistance and make them more fuel efficient.
Luton vans are highly popular among delivery companies because they’re lightweight and have high load capacities. The Ford Transit and Renault Master are examples of Luton vans.
You can learn more about what a Luton van is on our site or even hire one of our Lutons.
7. Box Van
As the name suggests, box vans are shaped like cubes. These vehicles have a spacious load area that is separate from the cab. However, there may be a door that connects the cab to the cargo area in some cases. Generally, a box van combines the designs of a small cargo truck and a regular panel van.
Box vans are the preferred choice of delivery companies and courier drivers due to their high load capacity. You can access the cargo area in box vans through the rear doors and some come with tail lifts to facilitate loading. Some popular box vans are the Volkswagen Crafter and Mercedes Sprinter.
If you’re interested in box vans, find out all about them. Moreover, you can hire one of them.
8. Dropside Van
A dropside van is a type of flatbed van with an open cargo space. These vans have hinges on the sides that allow the side of the van to pivot down, making loading and unloading easier. Dropside vans are multi-purpose vehicles used to carry irregular-shaped items such as plant equipment and building materials.
The dropside van shares a lot of similarities with a chassis cab. In fact, you can convert chassis cabs into dropside vans. These vehicles are popular among companies that carry bulky items, so maybe you want to hire a dropside van if you are one of them.
Tip: Secure the items properly to prevent them from falling out when transporting cargo in an open-bed van.
9. Tipper
A tipper van is essentially an enhanced version of a dropside van. A tipper has a hydraulic ram that you can use to raise the front area of the vehicle so that its contents pour out. Tipper vans are popular among those in the building trade because they make it easy to transport and unload aggregate materials.
Most low-cost tippers only tip backwards. However, some three-way models can tip in any direction. Like pickup vans, tippers are available in single and double-cab van types.
10. Minibus Van
A minibus is a large van-based passenger-carrying vehicle. Some would argue that a minibus falls in its own category, but we included it because of its noticeable similarities with some other van types on the list. The smaller minibuses have up to seven seats, and the large ones can transport as many as 16 people.
Minibuses share similar designs with combi vans, and they are popular among commercial organisations that use them for staff transportation. In many countries in Africa and Asia, some people use the minibus as a commercial vehicle known as a minibus taxi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Box-Type Van?
A box-type van is a van that has a cube-shaped load area independent of the cab. A box van has a large cargo space, and due to its high storage capacity, many delivery drivers and couriers prefer it to other regular vans. People also use box vans as ice cream or refrigerated vans to transport items that need to stay at a certain temperature.
What Are The Normal Vans Called?
Normal vans are called panel vans. Panel vans are the most popular van types in the UK and are commonly used in most trades. These vehicles are lightweight and fully enclosed yet capable of carrying a large amount of cargo. The compact design of the panel van allows it to navigate through tight roads, making it great for delivery. It comes in various sizes, ranging from the small van and medium van to the large one.
What Is A Small Van Called?
A small van is called a microvan. A microvan combines the features of a hatchback with those of a minivan. Microvans are usually around 4.2 metres (13.7 feet) long, with seating space for up to nine people. They have two sliding doors on both sides that passengers can use to enter and exit the vehicle. A microvan is perfect for use as a city van in cases where you need to navigate through heavy traffic and narrow roads.
What Is A Big Van Called?
A big van is called a full-size van. This term describes large vans you can use as cargo or people carriers. Full-size van types have boxy shapes with very spacious interiors. Full-size people carriers are popular among plumbers and electricians, often carrying more than nine passengers. Full-size cargo vans, on the other hand, are a favourite of delivery companies due to their spaciousness.
Conclusion
Vans are one of the most diverse automobile classes, making it difficult for a regular person to fully understand the types of vans and their uses. The sizes of these vehicles also vary greatly, from small and medium vans to large ones. Thankfully, if you’ve followed this article to this point, you’ll know the most popular types of van, so you can decide which is most suitable for you.
