In 2018, the construction company I worked for switched from trucks to vans. We'll explain in this article why that was a genius decision and why you might consider vans over trucks for your work, and why a van is probably better even for personal use.
In order: Ford F-150, Mercedes Sprinter Van, Ram Pro Master, Chevrolet Silverado HD, Ford E-Transit
We ❤️ Trucks
The top 3 selling vehicles of 2023 were all trucks (F-150, Silverado, Ram Pickup). There is no doubt that people love trucks. They look great, provide much better utility over an SUV or sedan, they hold their value quite well (depreciating only about 25% over 5 years). They are also very capable off-road and can tow a lot of weight.
When you see trucks on the road, how many of them are actually being used for purposes that only a truck can do? Not many. They are used to haul kids, groceries, and the occasional piece of furniture. For most people, they are used as a status symbol, as a way to show off. Let's be honest, trucks are not the most practical vehicle for most people.
This article is not going to go into detail about the advantages of trucks. The advantages are pretty obvious. We aren't likely to see a Firevans instead of Firetrucks — or a van with a crane attached — or a snow plow. Trucks are great for what they do, but most people (or even businesses) don't use them for those purposes.
Changing Minds Is Hard
When our home-building construction company announced that they would be selling off most of our F-150 fleet, it was met with anger, annoyance, and disbelief. The company had been using trucks for 12 years and nobody could believe that management thought that vans would be a better option.
Over the next 6 months the company sold off our 9 light-duty trucks and replaced them with new Dodge Ram Promaster City and Mercedes Sprinter vans. Within 2 years after it was announced, the jury was in and the verdict was clear: vans were better.
We had a wide variety of professions using them as well. Everybody from electricians, plumbers, home serviceman, laborers, site supervisors, even a heavy equipment operator/mechanic was assigned one. Nobody wanted to go back to a F-150. The vans were capable vehicles that served our needs better than the trucks did.
How much better would this be in a van?
New drawer system byu/Capital_Ad_2686 inworkwagons
This post is basically what we experienced at our company. All the important tools and toolbags would be in the rear of the cabin. Then the bed of the truck would be for things like shovels and materials. The van is a much better setup for this kind of work.
Electrician in F350 byu/3deezprint inworkwagons
The Perks of Vans
A Spacious "Office" to Work In— Sitting in the back of a van is like being in a small office. You can do a lot of work in the back of a van that you can't do in the back of a truck. You can stand up, walk around, and have a place to sit and work. You can also have a place to store your tools and equipment. The van is a much more comfortable place to work than the back of a truck.
- Next Level Organization — Unlike truck beds that tend to devolve into chaos after a few weeks, vans offer ample storage space and are easier to keep tidy. We customized our vans with shelves and drawers, ensuring everything had its place. The result? A clean and organized environment that made work more enjoyable.
- Enjoyable to Drive — The smaller vans are nimble vehicles. The Promaster City is a small van that is easy to drive and park. The Sprinter is a bit larger but still very easy to drive. Vans have large windshields and sloped hoods that make them feel smaller than they are.
- Endless Configurations — Most manufacturers offer numerous configurations for their vans. You can have just 2 seats upfront, or add another bench seat in the back. You can have a high roof, or a low roof. You can have a long wheelbase, or a short wheelbase. You can have a van that is 4x4, or one that is front-wheel drive. You can have a van that is gas-powered, diesel, or one that is electric. The possibilities are endless
- Security! — Vans are very secure. If you are keeping thousands of dollars of tools in the back, you can easily add deadbolts to the doors, and cages to the van to keep your tools safe. You can also add alarms and GPS tracking to the van to keep it safe from theft.
1 of 7
Vans Can Tow
Vans, while not as powerful as trucks, still offer respectable towing capabilities. Although they fall short of trucks in terms of maximum towing capacity, they can handle quite a bit. For instance, our Sprinter vans can tow up to 5,000 lbs (or 7,500 lbs with the diesel option). This capacity is more than sufficient for pulling a fully loaded 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer. Even the Promaster City can manage towing an 80% loaded 5x8 trailer. Most manufacturers provide towing packages for their vans, typically priced between $500 and $1,000, which include a hitch and wiring.
Below is a chart of the towing capacity for vans being manufactured today — For reference, the F-150 has a towing capacity of 10,000 lbs.
1 of 2