Van Hire Dictionary

Our attempt at simply explaining some of the van hire jargon.

3.5t / 3.5 tonne (3500Kg) - this refers to the maximum loaded weight of a van plus load. Pretty big one!

7.5t / 7.5 tonne (7500 Kg) -  this refers to the maximum loaded weight of a large van/small lorry plus load. You need Category C1 on your driving licence to drive one of these.

Barn doors - a barn door rental van refers to the way the doors open like barn doors. Makes the van easy for rear end loading.

Box van - a van with a box body is often called a Luton van. A box body van is when the load area is like a box mounted over the rear wheels so there are not wheel arches using up valuable load space.

Crew Cab - a van with 2 rows of seats.

Dropside - a van with sides that drop down to allow easy side loading. Ideal for loading difficult shaped loads or building materials.

Extra-long Wheelbase / Wheel base ELW – very long vans that have a load area 4.2 metres long. Extremely popular as they carry masses of stuff (including long carpet rolls) and yet are still under 3.5 tonne limit so an be driven on car driving licence

Load Space - the inside space of a van available to carry loads.

Long wheel base LWB - vans that are longer than short wheel base vans and can thus carry more load.

Luton – a Luton van is a 3.5t van with a box body. Ideal for diy house moving and shifting large loads. The load area extends over the cab.

(Maximum) Laden weight - the maximum weight allowed of the van including load.

Medium Wheel Base MWB - medium length van.

Panel van (or panelvan) - a form of van, usually based on a family car chassis. Panel vans are widely used for transporting goods. They have less cargo space than box vans but have better agility and manoeuvrability, making them easier to drive.

Payload - the load of a van - usually meaning the total weight of the van and the load.

Roller door - by contrast to barn doors a roller door rolls up exposing the whole of the back of the van for loading goods into the cargo area.

Short wheel base SWB - name given to shorter vans. They are easier to manoeuvre but you cannot get as much in them as you can with Medium or long wheel base vans.

Single Cab - van with one row of seats.

Side Loading Door SLD - the sliding side door on the near side of practically every make of panel vans. Offers versatile loading and unloading.

Tail lift - mechanical platform that some Luton vans have to help you raise loads from the ground to the back of the van.

Tailgate - the hinged vertical panel at the rear of some vans.

Unladen weight - the weight of an empty van.

Wheelbase / Wheel base - horizontal distance between the centre of the front wheel, and the centre of the rear wheel.The longer it is the more load the van can carry.