How to Customise a Used Van to Meet Your Business Needs

Whether you’re a start-up or an established business looking to expand your fleet, customising a used van can be a cost-effective way to get a vehicle that is tailored to your specific needs. With some savvy shopping and creative customisation, you can turn a standard used van into a mobile office, delivery vehicle, or even a mini campervan for weekend getaways. Read on for tips on finding the right van and customising it to suit your business.

Choosing the Right Used Van

The first thing you need to do is find a used van that meets your basic requirements in terms of size, engine, mileage, and overall condition. When searching for vans for sale Ayrshire or in other areas, a used van dealership can be enormously helpful. Reputable dealers thoroughly inspect, service, and warranty the vans they sell. By working with a dealer, you can find a van that fits your needs and has been thoroughly checked over mechanically.

Consider the van’s intended use and choose accordingly. For example, lots of short trips around town call for good fuel economy and manoeuvrability, while long highway trips require power and comfort. Measure your cargo to determine the minimum interior dimensions needed. If you’ll be driving employees, make sure to get a van with enough seats and consider comfort features like climate control.

Customising the Interior

Once you’ve found the right used van, it’s time to customise the interior to meet your business needs. Here are some ideas:

• Shelving and Storage – Install shelves, racks, and bins to organise tools, supplies, and inventory. Sturdy, modular plastic systems allow you to customise storage to fit your cargo. Secure larger items with straps or cargo nets.
• Workspace – Transform your van into a mobile office by adding a desk or fold-down worktable, complete with supplies like pens, paper, and a charging station. Include a comfortable driver’s seat and even a passenger seat that swivels to face the workspace.
• Creature Comforts – Make the van a pleasant environment for employees with amenities like USB charging ports, climate control, sound insulation, sliding windows, and downlights. Add a small refrigerator or cooler to store food and drinks.
• Branding – Use decals, magnets, or paint to display your company name, logo, phone number, and website on the van’s exterior. This turns your vehicle into a rolling advertisement.
• Technology Upgrades – Install a backup camera for safer reversing, a hands-free calling system for safer driving, and a GPS navigational system to help drivers find destinations efficiently. Extra power sockets allow the use of laptops, tablets, and other electronics.

Customising the Exterior

Along with branding the van’s exterior, consider these exterior upgrades:

• Storage and Accessories – Add exterior racks and attachments to transport ladders, pipes, lumber, or oddly shaped items that won’t fit inside the van. A roof-top storage pod creates extra space for bulky cargo. Toolboxes provide secure exterior storage.
• Lights – Supplement the factory lights with extra headlights for improved visibility and off-road driving. Install a light bar to brightly illuminate your workspace at night.
• Towing Equipment – If you need to tow trailers, add a tow hitch, wiring harness, and extended side mirrors suited to the van’s towing capacity. This allows you to transport additional cargo and equipment.

Customising a used van allows entrepreneurs and tradespeople to create affordable vehicles tailored to their business needs. Follow the tips above to choose the right van and customise the interior and exterior to optimise it for your work. The result will be a specialised van that meets your cargo, passenger, and functionality requirements.