Practicality, efficiency, and sustainability are keys to the success of modern businesses. If your daily operations abundantly revolve around transportation, the same benchmark applies to the commercial vans you use.

While there is no shortage of van models with innovative features and designs to keep up with the growing needs of businesses, they are no replacement for customization.

By customizing a commercial van, you can upgrade or redesign the vehicle in a way that fully meets the requirements of your business. Moreover, it can also help make the vehicle safer for you and your crew. A customized van also looks more professional and works in the favor of your brand.

So, what are the customization options available for commercial vans? Let’s take a look-

1.  Customizing Van Interiors

You and your crew would be spending a good amount of time inside the van. Thus, it makes sense to start with customizing the vehicle interiors. Today, the van interiors are a lot more than mere storage spaces. You can convert it into a fully functional mobile office or even a mobile retail outlet.

Here are some of the interior customization options for a commercial van-

Shelves and Storage

One of the biggest inconveniences for businesses that use vans for day-to-day operations is the available storage space. With customization, you can ensure every inch of the storage area is utilized to the maximum.

You can now find an extensive range of shelving units that can help enhance the storage space of your van. You can also consider customized drawers and cabinets to securely store all your tools, equipment, and inventory.

Cargo Area Partition

Many of the van models don’t feature a partition between the driver’s cabin and the cargo area. You can consider adding this partition to prevent objects from shifting forward during transit.

You can also find custom partitions with built-in storage to expand the storage capacity of the cargo area. If you’re concerned about rear visibility after installing the partition, you can also customize it to feature a window.

Custom Seating

Replace the existing seats with the latest seating options that come with ergonomic capabilities to enhance driver and passenger comfort, especially on longer journeys.

Look for seating options equipped with lumbar support, height adjustment, and heaters for a more ergonomic and enjoyable driving experience.

Mobile Office

Why just work from home when you can work from anywhere? Thanks to modern technologies, you can conveniently convert your van into a mobile office.

For building a fully functional office inside the commercial van, you can consider adding foldable desks or workbenches and adjustable seating arrangements for a comfortable and productive working environment.

Flooring Upgrades

Safety is a significant concern in any outdoor commercial environment. The flooring of the vehicle deserves special attention in this regard.

To enhance the safety of your commercial van, you can look for a durable and non-slip flooring option. Custom rubber mats designed as per the dimensions of your van can improve safety, protect the floor from wear and tear, and also reduce vibration and noise.

Custom Lighting

Lighting is another aspect that is vital to safety. This is especially true for those who regularly work in dimly lit areas or during the night.

Lighting options like task lights, motion-activated lights, and LED light strips can be strategically placed to ensure the work area is properly illuminated.

2.  Customizing Van Exteriors

Exterior customization can also help enhance the efficiency and productivity of the commercial van. Moreover, the exteriors are also valuable for branding purposes as it is the first thing that passersby and customers notice. Here are some ways to customize the exteriors of your commercial van-

Roof Racks

Roof racks are an effective way to further expand the load-carrying capacity of your commercial van. The rack can be used for carrying equipment, pipes, ladders, etc. that is difficult to store inside the vehicle.

If you want to install a roof rack, you must also add a ladder system to ensure your crew can conveniently access the roof as and when required.

Tire Upgrades

Upgrading the tires of your van is one of the most effective ways to enhance overall performance and safety. The latest tires come with improved tread patterns to offer better traction on the road and improve handling.

Moreover, the tires also play a vital role in the load-bearing capacity of the vehicle. If your van regularly carries heavy loads, upgrading the tires can prevent premature tire wear and ensure optimal performance.

Paint or Wrap

Commercial vans are powerful marketing tools. You can customize them in many different ways to promote your brand and make it stand out in the traffic.

For instance, you can consider painting the van as per your brand guidelines. Another option is a graphical wrap with your brand colors and logo.

Exterior Lighting

Just like interior lighting, you can also think about customizing the exterior lighting of your van. You can now find a wide range of spotlights, undercarriage lighting, and LED light bars that could assist your workers when working in poorly lit environments.

Moreover, you can also be creative with the exterior lighting of your business van to make a lasting impression on the passersby.

Off-Road Enhancements

Challenging terrain is an everyday affair for many businesses. You can equip your van with a variety of off-road enhancements to ensure that it is prepared for extreme conditions.

Reinforced skid plates, heavy-duty tires, and lifted suspension are some of the upgrades you can consider for your commercial van.

Custom Grille

Adding a custom grille to a commercial van also offers various benefits in terms of functionality and aesthetics. For instance, there are grille models that are optimized for improved airflow and better ventilation. Grill designs with larger openings and mesh patterns can also improve the engine cooling efficiency of the van.

Moreover, with a custom grille, businesses can incorporate their colors, logo, and other branding elements for a distinct look.

3.  Technology Upgrades

Technological advancements have transformed vans from what they used to be a decade ago. The innovations have significantly improved the safety, efficiency, and customization possibilities of commercial vans. Here are some tech upgrades you can add to your business van-

GPS and Fleet Tracking

If you have a transportation or delivery-based business and are looking for ways to enhance the efficiency of your daily operations, you must consider integrating your vans with GPS and fleet tracking systems.

With the help of these systems, you can track the location and performance of your vans in real time. Apart from operational efficiency, they also contribute to improved route planning and fuel optimization.

Communication and Connectivity

You can also equip your commercial van with communication systems, like Bluetooth or two-way radios to enhance efficiency and coordination for mobile teams.

A Wi-Fi hotspot is another feature you should consider adding to keep the team connected and boost productivity.

Backup Cameras and Sensors

To improve safety and reduce the risk of accidents, you can consider equipping your commercial van with backup cameras and sensors. These technologies make it easier for the driver to have a clear view of their surroundings, especially in tight and crowded areas.

For added safety, you can also install systems that come with features like collision detection and lane departure alerts.

Security Systems

You can take the security of your commercial van to the next level by equipping it with exterior cameras and surveillance systems. These systems act as a deterrent and also offer valuable footage in case of incidents.

If your crew regularly carries expensive equipment, cargo, or sensitive documents, you can add an extra layer of safety with smart locking systems and biometric access controls.

Solar System

Want to make your fleet more environment-friendly? Consider installing a solar system on your commercial van. Solar panels harness energy from the sun, making it a clean and renewable power source.

The electricity generated by the solar system can be adequate for managing the electricity needs of lighting, HVAC systems, and other electronic devices installed in the van.

Voice-Activated Controls

Voice-activated controls enable hands-free operation, ensuring the driver stays focused on the road even when accessing various features available in the van. This can significantly reduce distractions, improve safety, and offer a more convenient driving experience.

With the help of these systems, drivers can control communication, navigation, AC/heater temperature, and certain other vehicle features.

Are You Planning to Customize Your Commercial Van?

If you’re looking to get your commercial van customized, these are some of the interior, exterior, and tech upgrades you can consider. Ensure that you choose a reputed van customization service provider like Swiss Vans for optimal results.

From interior upgrades, splitters and custom grilles to alloy wheels, we offer a wide range of customization options to choose from. We also offer our exclusive WASP and Hornet packages for all the popular van models from leading brands like Volkswagen, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, and more, providing businesses with tailored solutions as per their requirements.

Contact Swiss Vans today to know more about our van customization services.

Most people looking for a van in the UK, either for commercial or personal use, often struggle with whether they should purchase or lease the vehicle. Both the cases have their own pros and cons that should be thoroughly analyzed to make the right decision.

In this article, we’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of buying vs. leasing a van to help you decide-

Buying a Van

Pros

1.  You Own the Van

The biggest advantage of buying a van is the ownership it comes with. Unlike leasing where you’re basically renting the van for a specified period, buying gives you ownership of the vehicle.

Even if you purchase the van through a loan, every monthly payment will get you closer to own a vehicle. Once the loan is fully repaid, you’ll be the rightful owner of the van. So, the purchased van is yours to keep and can be a valuable addition to your personal or business assets.

2.  Freedom to Customize the Van

When you’re the owner of the van, you have complete freedom to customize it the way you like. This is especially useful when you need the van for commercial use as you can customize it according to the preferences and specific needs of your business.

Be it adding some specialized equipment, interior modifications, or branding, ownership provides complete flexibility to tailor the van as per your requirements.

3.  Zero Mileage Restrictions

When you take the van on lease, the lease contract will feature a fixed mileage for which you can use the vehicle during the lease period. Go beyond the mileage limit and you’ll be required to pay an additional fee depending on the extra miles. But with ownership, there are no such mileage restrictions.

You have complete freedom to use the van as much as required without worrying about any mileage limitations or extra costs.

4.  No Other Extra Charges

Lease agreements also generally come with a host of other restrictions, which if you’re not fully aware of, could lead to significant expenses. For instance, if you’d like to terminate the lease before the decided lease period, you’ll have to pay a penalty fee.

There are other restrictions related to excessive wear, maintenance, etc., that could make the entire process of leasing more expensive. But you don’t have to worry about these restrictions or penalties if you own the van.

5.  Cost Savings Over Time

While the initial upfront cost of buying a van is higher than leasing, ownership can result in significant cost savings over time. Once the loan is fully repaid, you no longer have to worry about any monthly payments.

On the other hand, if you’re leasing the van, there will be an ongoing monthly payment as long as you use the vehicle.

Cons

1.  Higher Upfront Payment

One of the most significant reasons why many people prefer leasing a van is the higher upfront cost of purchasing. In the UK, you’re required to pay at least 10% of the van cost as a down payment when buying it through a loan. The down payment could be as high as 30% in some cases depending on loan eligibility.

For most people with limited capital, this higher upfront cost is a significant barrier. In comparison, leasing is considerably cheaper.

2.  Maintenance Costs

When you’re the owner, you’re fully responsible for anything and everything that goes wrong with the vehicle. Apart from the routine maintenance costs, there can also be expensive unexpected repairs as the van ages.

Irrespective of whether you’re using the van for commercial or personal use, these repair costs can put a considerable dent in your finances.

3.  Higher Insurance Costs

While you’ll have to pay for insurance irrespective of whether you’re buying or leasing the van, the premiums are generally higher with ownership. The owner is completely responsible for comprehensive coverage and potential liability of the vehicle.

Depending on the usage, make, and model of the van, the insurance premiums could be a significant ongoing cost with van ownership.

4.  Long-Term Commitment

As a van owner, you’ll commit yourself to the same vehicle for several years. In most cases, you’ll be using the vehicle for at least 5-7 years. But what if during this period, the transportation needs of your business start to change? Or what if you’d like to upgrade to a newer van with improved features?

You’ll then have to get into the time and effort-consuming process of selling the existing van and then purchasing a new one. In most cases, buyers are unable to recover the initial investment of the existing van.

5.  Van Depreciation

Another significant downside of buying a van is depreciation. With time, the market price of your van will fall due to depreciation. This will impact the resale value of the vehicle.

It is generally said that vehicles lose at least 15%-30% of their market price in the very first year. From the second year onwards, it continues to lose 10%-15% of its value every year on average.

Leasing a Van

Pros

1.  Lower Initial Deposit and Monthly Payments

If you’re concerned about the high down payment of purchasing a brand-new van, leasing can be a better option. Apart from the down payment itself, even the monthly payments of a lease are considerably lower than monthly loan installments.

The affordability of van leasing makes it a preferred choice for many people who want to acquire a van for personal or commercial use in the UK.

2.  Access to Newer Van Models

As discussed above, van buying requires you to commit yourself to a single model for many years. But with leasing, you can drive newer models with the latest features and technologies without the long-term ownership commitment.

This can be highly beneficial for businesses that abundantly rely on their van fleet for their day-to-day operations and want to maintain a reliable and modern fleet.

3.  Switch or Purchase the Van

Most lease agreements allow you to either return the van or purchase it at the end of the lease. If you’d like to upgrade to a newer model, you can do so once the lease ends. Alternatively, if the van has become a critical part of your daily operations, you also have the option to buy it.

The flexibility to upgrade to a new van or purchase the leased van is another reason that makes leasing an excellent choice, especially for commercial applications.

4.  Lower Repair Costs

When you lease a van, it is generally covered under the manufacturer’s warranty throughout the lease period. In other words, you can avoid significant repair costs if you maintain the vehicle as per the terms and conditions mentioned in the lease agreement.

Moreover, many van leasing companies offer a variety of add-ons like maintenance packages, roadside assistance, and more to offer enhanced convenience.

5.  Tax Benefits

Leasing a van in the UK for commercial use can also offer a variety of tax benefits. For instance, businesses generally claim back a certain portion of VAT applicable on lease payments and deduct these payments as a business expense.

The tax benefits can offer considerable savings and enable companies to improve their bottom line.

Cons

1.  You Don’t Own the Vehicle

The biggest drawback of van leasing is the lack of ownership. Unlike loan installments where each installment increases your equity in the van, monthly lease payments only contribute to van usage. Once the lease ends, you have to return the vehicle or enter into a new lease.

On the other hand, if you purchase the van through a loan, you become the owner once you fully repay the loan amount.

2.  Mileage Restrictions

Another significant disadvantage of van leasing in the UK is the mileage restriction. If you exceed the mileage limit mentioned in the lease agreement, you’ll have to pay a penalty. And it is not always easy to know how many miles your van will be driven in a year when signing the lease agreement.

When you purchase the van, there are no such restrictions and you’re free to drive the van for as many miles as you want.

3.  Wear and Tear Penalty

While lease agreements generally allow for normal wear and tear, you can be penalized for any damage that is beyond normal. If you don’t maintain the van as per the provisions of the lease agreement, the penalty can be steep in certain cases.

Thus, if you go ahead with a van lease, ensure that you also purchase the add-on maintenance package or insurance offered by the lease provider.

4.  Long-Term Cost

While the monthly lease payments are lower than loan installments, they’ll still amount to a significant sum in the long run. In many cases, the lease amount you pay over the years could be higher than the cost of purchasing the same vehicle.

So, if you’ll be using the van for several years and don’t mind the long-term commitment to a vehicle, buying can be a more cost-effective option.

5.  Limited Customization Options

Leasing agreements generally have restrictions on van customization. While they might allow you to make minor changes to the vehicle, significant customizations are generally not allowed. In a way, this restricts your ability to personalize the vehicle as per your requirements.

Needless to say, if you purchase the van, you have complete freedom to customize the van the way you want.

Should You Buy or Lease a Van?

As you can see there are several pros and cons of buying vs. leasing a van in the UK. The selection between the two should ultimately depend on your specific needs and finances.

While ownership comes with equity build-up, customization freedom, and unlimited mileage, the higher initial cost can be a major deterrent. On the other hand, leasing offers benefits like lower upfront and monthly costs and access to newer models but it also comes with mileage restrictions, customization limitations, and no ownership.

Thoroughly analyze these pros and cons to make the right decision. If you’re unable to make a decision, let the experts at Swiss Vans help you out. As one of the leading van sellers and leasing specialists in the UK, you can rely on our expertise to decide whether you should buy or lease a van. Contact us today to know more.

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, it’s not surprising to hear about the use of AI-powered safety features in vehicles. Manufacturers are prioritising the driver’s safety by introducing features that mitigate or avoid a crash in many different situations. For instance, Ford has advanced their automotive technologies to include safety features such as Pre-Collision Assist With Automatic Emergency Braking.

While in the market for a commercial vehicle, what safety features should you look for before engaging sellers? Swiss Vans understands the crucial role that commercial vehicles play in keeping UK businesses on the move. We’re committed to helping business owners ensure the safety of their drivers and cargo.

In this article, we’ll discuss the advanced safety features designed to elevate the efficiency and safety of commercial vehicles in the UK.

Interpreting the Safety Features on Vehicles

Once a vehicle’s been sold on the idea of advanced active safety features, the challenge of interpreting the manufacturer’s offerings kicks in. Different manufacturers use unique naming systems, but the logic behind the safety feature is standard across the board.

Surprisingly, there are two broad categories of safety features in vehicles, whether private or commercial vehicles: passive and active.

Passive Safety Features

The passive safety features lie silently in monitoring mode and will kick in whenever there’s a trigger, such as a collision. Airbags, shatter-proof windshields, and seatbelts are all standard passive safety features that both passenger and commercial vehicles have.

Active Safety features

The active safety features, on the other hand, are in operation mode, helping the driver to avoid accidents while driving. These include lane assist, blind spot detection, and collision warning. Most of these active safety features are present in passenger vehicles but are also being introduced in commercial vehicles.

Top 9 Advanced Safety Features on Commercial Vehicles

Lane Keeping Assist and Drive Monitoring System

If a driver unintentionally drifts out of the lane with the turn signal off, the Driver Monitoring System notifies them. This advanced safety feature works in tandem with the Lane-Keeping Assist to provide corrective steering input to keep the vehicle within its lane. This also reduces the possibility of roadside swipe accidents.

These features are currently implemented in the Ford Transit, offering corrective steering if an unintended lane departure is detected.

Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)

VSC is an important feature that improves stability in case of adverse road conditions or sudden manoeuvres. This advanced safety feature applies selective braking to each wheel separately, therefore helping prevent skidding and maintain control.

Vehicle Stability Control is a powerful feature that plays a vital role, especially on heavy-duty trucks. It’s currently available in the MAN TGX trucks, one of the most robust commercial trucks for long-distance hauling in the UK.

Driver Alert Monitoring

Most heavy commercial truck drivers spend a lot of time on the road, which can be increasingly exhausting. This not only affects their overall health but also poses risks on the roads. Luckily, most modern commercial vehicles are implementing the Driver Fatigue Monitoring feature. Iveco Daily has this feature implemented to analyse the driver’s behaviour and detect signs of fatigue.

Whenever the system detects fatigue, it prompts the driver to have a rest to improve their optimal alertness on the road.

Blind Spot Detection System

When navigating the busy city streets, it can be challenging to monitor certain spots, especially for large commercial trucks and vans. With a blind spot detection system, the sensors keep track of areas that drivers cannot see in the mirror.

There are three types of blind spot detection systems; sensor-based, camera-based, and radar-based. The sensor-based detection system employs ultrasonic sensors mounted on the vehicle’s sides and back. These sensors detect and warn the driver when an object gets near the vehicle.

The camera-based system offers a real-time feed of objects that enter the blind spot zone. Most drivers prefer this detection system because it offers visual feeds for the driver to make their own judgement. The radar-based detection system utilises radar sensors to identify the speed and distance of objects within the blind spot.

The Volkswagen Crafter uses a camera-based detection system that also keeps track of the speed of nearby objects. The system monitors traffic sign recognition to detect local speed limits to help the driver set the vehicle’s limiter as required.

Crosswind Assistance

During inclement weather, crosswinds can seriously impact the vehicle’s stability. If your drivers move through harsh weather dominated by strong crosswinds, you might want to choose a commercial vehicle with Crosswind Assistance. This is a passive safety feature that works by making automatic adjustments to the steering and the brakes when cruising through strong crosswinds.

Crosswind Assistance keeps the vehicle on course and provides a safer driving experience when the weather conditions fluctuate. One of the best commercial vehicles that Swiss Vans recommends to tackle crosswinds is the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The vehicle comes with a robust Crosswind Assistance safety feature that compensates for strong crosswinds.

This passive feature activates in Sprinters when they attain 50 mph by applying subtle adjustments to the vehicle’s direction and braking.

Emergency Braking System (EBS)

The EBS advanced safety feature is a powerful game-changer when it comes to preventing collisions. The system employs sensors that identify obstacles or other objects that can potentially collide with the vehicle. It then automatically applies the brakes if the driver delays responding in due time. The feature is especially helpful during high traffic or when there are unexpected road hazards.

The Emergency braking System is common in most large vans, such as Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. When the system detects traffic ahead, it warns the driver in advance and then proceeds to apply brakes if there isn’t sufficient distance and time to act. This system relies on camera and radar technologies to monitor the proximity of other vehicles and act promptly if the driver delays to do so.

Adaptive Cruise Control

Although it acts similarly to the Emergency Braking System, the Adaptive Cruise Control offers more than just traditional cruise control. It does this by auto-adjusting the driving speed based on the traffic situation. In short, this feature helps maintain a reasonable following distance to avoid potential accidents.

Where necessary, the Adaptive Cruise Control feature can cause the vehicle to stop completely. It’s one of the most powerful features to look for if you traverse busy city roads. An ideal choice of commercial vehicle to go for that has powerful Adaptive Cruise Control is the Ford Transit Custom.

Ford Transit Custom stands out as the first commercial vehicle to implement intelligent speed assist. The vehicle achieves this by combining its adaptive cruise control with a front-facing camera that monitors the speed limit signs once the Adaptive Cruise Control feature kicks in.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

While you may be familiar with the TPMS system on your saloon or SUV car, it’s not so common in commercial vehicles. Well, that’s a thing of the past now, because several different manufacturers include TPMS in their commercial vans.

The TPMS safety feature is crucial for maintaining the right tyre pressure, which is essential in promoting vehicle stability. This is an active safety feature that continuously keeps track of the tyre pressure and offers real-time alerts. The driver can then address the issue on time to prevent blowouts.

A Tyre Pressure Monitoring System is common in most commercial vehicles in the UK, but it’s a legal requirement in passenger cars. Ford Transit, Volkswagen Transporter, Renault Master, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are some of the vans with TPMS.

The availability of the TPMS may vary, therefore, it’s important to check the trim level and the manufacture year to be sure. Swiss Vans offers a wide range of vans with these safety features. We have expert teams that can also help you find the right van with not just the TPMS, but a collection of other advanced safety features to keep your drivers safe on the road.

Traffic Sign Recognition

Just like the name suggests, this is an advanced safety feature in commercial vehicles that detects and reads road signs. It’s powered by a forward-facing camera that scans the speed limit signs as you drive. The system then displays an icon of the scanned sign to make the driver aware of it and act where necessary.

For instance, if the Traffic Sign recognition system detects a sign with a speed limit of 50 mph, the icon display will start flashing if the driver exceeds the limit. This advanced safety feature is very common in most commercial vehicles, including Ford Transit Custom, VW Crafter, Renault Master, and Vauxhall Movano.

Choosing The Right Commercial Van With Advanced Safety Features

At Swiss Vans, choosing an ideal commercial vehicle means factoring safety as well in the picture. We understand the success of your business operations relies on maintaining a reliable and secure fleet. We’re committed to providing the best guidance and best-class commercial vehicles that promote the safety of your drivers, goods, and overall business.

When it comes to finding the perfect vehicle for your business, consider the environment your drivers will be cruising in, mostly. For instance, if your business mainly serves urban areas with busy streets and traffic, consider a vehicle that has blind spot detection, Emergency Braking System, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

If your drivers operate during inclement weather or over long distances, consider a vehicle with Vehicle Stability Control, Driver Alert Monitoring, and Crosswind Assistance. Let our experts help you find a commercial vehicle that combines just the right advanced safety features that meet your driver’s safety requirements.

Summary

Advanced safety features have become an essential part of most commercial vehicles nowadays. As the UK commercial vehicle landscape evolves, these advanced safety features continue to enhance road safety significantly. They increasingly help protect drivers as well as businesses from losses that come from accidents. Embrace these advanced safety technologies to ensure a more efficient future for your drivers and other road users.

Team up with Swiss Vans today and let us help you find the right commercial van with advanced safety features that meet your business needs.

Thinking about exploring a unique alternative workspace that suits your work-from-home model? With the workspace increasingly becoming dynamic, flexibility, convenience, and mobility are an integral part of professional success. Converting your van into a mobile office is a fantastic idea that’ll give you the comfort and freedom to take your workspace anywhere with you.

A mobile workspace empowers you with on-the-go productivity, sought after by many. And an office van renovation makes the perfect sense to help you achieve just what you need. Swiss Vans understands the increasing need to not just go remote, but also mobile. With our office van conversion, you could be enjoying the breeze in the remote countryside while still able to work. In this post, we’ll show you how to achieve that.

What Do You Need For An Office Van Renovation?

To most people, conversion simply means creating a living space inside a cargo van. Well, here’s another conversion that can make your work-life balance even more exciting. When it comes to office van conversion, it entails making slightly different changes to make your van more suitable for work.

Create more windows

Your home office typically is set in a well-lit room with plenty of natural light and fresh air coming in. That is, at least, if it’s a standard office setup that isn’t a studio for photo or video shooting. To replicate a similar appeal as your home office, your mobile van office needs windows at the back and on both sides.

When it’s airier and more well-lit, it creates a natural glamour that makes it feel like a real home office rather than just another van on the move.

Walls Insulation

Just like a camper van has insulation, the same goes for your van office. Insulating the walls shields you from the temperature fluctuations and noise that might make it unconducive for work. Plus, it also lets you create a more appealing look while removing the ordinary van interior look.

Electrical System

Any workspace needs a wall outlet to plug in your office equipment and devices. For this, you’ll need a powerful battery system and solar panels to tap the energy from Mother Nature. This not only provides a sustainable energy source but also ensures that you don’t rely on your van’s battery for powering your office equipment.

Since you’ll have a separate battery, you’ll also need an inverter for DC to AC conversion for use with your devices.

Lighting

Even though your van is well-lit from the brilliance of natural light, you’ll still need your own lighting. This lets you keep your workspace illuminated even when there isn’t enough sunshine. Choose LED lights since they’re brighter and conserve energy better than ordinary lights.

Install ambient lighting to make your van office’s atmosphere comfy and inviting. Task lighting is essential for illuminating specific areas, such as your desk.

Heating and Cooling System

You’ll need a workspace that you can use all year long during different seasons. For that, an efficient heating and cooling system is essential to keep the temperature more accommodating.

Communication Systems

Even when away from home, you’ll need to be connected to the outside world via the internet. Equip your van office with a Wi-Fi router and signal boosters to stay seamlessly connected. This allows you to join meetings with your colleagues or clients and stay up to date with your email inbox while chilling in the wild.

Workspace Design and Furniture

Now, this is where the real work is. You need to create a workspace design that mimics a real office to cultivate the work mood even when you don’t feel like it. Plan the design layout well so you can also use it for other purposes when not working.

Install functional furniture fixated on the walls for safety and convenience. Make the desk, seats, and storage cabinets classy, just like your home office. Ensure the seat is ergonomic for long work hours. If possible, consider going for a multipurpose seat that can double as a bed. This will mean that your desk should be foldable to create a bit more space.

You don’t need to worry about the nitty-gritty of your workspace design; Swiss Vans has experienced van conversion experts to do this for you.

Camper van In a Mobile Office – Is it Feasible?

When we talk about an office van renovation, you’re probably thinking about what makes it so different from a camper van conversion. Why not just convert your van into a camper and work in it as you move? The difference is that a van office is specifically built for work, right from the workspace design and layout, to functionality and more.

But that doesn’t mean that you can’t have the two integrated into one. It’s very possible to have a camper van that also serves as a mobile office. It only takes proper design planning and execution.

With this setup, you can have it as an office during the week, a sanctuary that supports your hustle. On weekends, you can go on an adventure with the van as your bedroom on wheels. And as winter kicks in, simply park the van at a nature spot, turn on the heating and work on your project quietly as you sip a hot cup of coffee.

The Fiscal Side of Your Van Office Renovations

We’ve talked about how cool a van office is, but one undeniable fact is that it’s going to cost you money. So, how much will it cost? Working with experienced van conversion experts from Swiss Vans, you don’t have to break the bank.

Swiss Vans conversions come in all types of budgets to handcraft beautiful van offices that meet your requirements. Depending on what you’d like to be included in the van office, we can help you secure a custom quotation from our van conversion experts.

Choosing the Right Van for Your Van Office Conversion Project

What are some of the best vans to consider for your mobile van office conversion? Considering the various sizes of vans can help you get a rough idea of what van to choose for the conversion. While other factors such as fuel consumption matter, what matters the most is the size of the van. Generally, vans are categorised according to two factors; wheelbase and height.

Long Wheelbase (LWB): Large-sized Vans

If you want a two-in-one setup comprising a mobile office and a camper, the long-wheelbase vans make the best base vehicle. They offer plenty of space to accommodate your office and other customizations needed by a camper. You also get more freedom to organize the interior space how you love it.

Under the large-sized vans, we have the straight-sided and angle-sided bodies. The vans with straight-sided bodies are boxier but with a little shorter wheelbase. The walls provide plenty of usable space, which you’ll find useful in your mobile office. Some of the best examples of these vans you might want to consider include the Citroën Jumper, Fiat Ducato, Ram Promaster, and Peugeot Boxer.

You’re probably familiar with long-wheelbase vans with angle-sided bodies. Their walls are tapered, reducing the internal width by a small margin. Examples of angle-sided body vans include the Man TGE, Volkswagen Crafter, and Mercedes Sprinter.

Things to Consider Before Starting Your Conversion Project

Keep the overall weight under 3.5 tonnes

If planning to convert a long-wheelbase van into a mobile office or even a camper, take note of the total weight of the conversion. It shouldn’t go beyond 3.5 tonnes because these vans carry more weight at the base already. Also, it would mean that you’ll need to upgrade the van to be able to support the additional weight.

You’ll have to upgrade the vehicle’s components such as the suspension to support the gross vehicle mass (GVM). These changes can bring more expenses to your van office conversion project.

You may need to upgrade your driving licence

Adding more could make it much heavier, and that would mean changing your driving licence. You may need to go for additional driving lessons and test drive a 7.5-tonne truck. This is especially important if your conversion will be above the 3.5-tonne limit.

However, Swiss Vans still recommends going for the lessons even if you won’t exceed this weight limit. It’ll prepare you to handle a heavier and larger van than you’re used to.

Find a longer parking space

Driving a long-wheelbase van also means you’ll need to deal with the issue of parking. If you’ll be based in urban areas most of the time, you need to find longer parking spaces. But this shouldn’t be an issue because owning a mobile van office has more pros than cons.

To deal with the parking issue, you may install parking sensors to guide you when needed.

Find a van with advanced safety features

Also consider going for a van that has advanced safety features, such as a blind spot detection system. Long-wheelbase vans tend to have blind spots that are difficult to monitor. But with a detection system and rearview camera, it should be easy to drive the van.

Bespoke Van Office Conversion By Swiss Vans

When it comes to your van office conversion, it’s crucial that it’s done by experts, right from the design to completion. Before the actual work commences, have the conversion company present 3D drawings of the design. This helps you picture the proposed design and justify the quotation you’re given.

Surprisingly, Swiss Vans, a company that offers some of the best-selling vans across the UK, also has a network of office van conversion experts. When you finally decide to kickstart your project, you can find affordable van finance and be able to convert the van into a mobile office, all in one point.