Van Dictionary & Jargon
Short wheel base vans are shorter between the wheels, in other words they aren't very long.
LWB
Long wheel base vans are longer in length than standard vans. ELWB / XLWB
Extra long wheelbase, the largest type of van short of a box van generally available. It has a very long length typically the cargo area is over 4m.
Luton
Luton vans, also known as box vans have a box body that often extends over the cabin. These are ideal for house moves due to their size and payload capacity.
Capacity
This is the storage space of a van typically measured in cubic meters, the room in the back.
Transmission
Automatic or manual, most vans rented in the UK are manual.
Tail lift
Some larger vans such as the Luton will come with a tail lift, this is a hydraulic or electrically powered lift at the rear of the van to make it easier to lift items into the van.
Payload
This is the maximum weight a van can carry, as a rough guide this will be between 750kg and 1500kg.
Maximum Laden Weight
The weight of a vehicle including its payload.
Wheelbase
The distance between the front and the rear wheels. 3.5 tonnes
The maximum laden weight of most large vans, 3500kg.
Barn Doors
The name given to the type of doors some vans have which each open to the side.
Roller Doors
These doors roll up like a shutter, and are often found on Luton vans, and can make loading easier as they don't get in the way in tight confines.
Side Loading Door
Most standard vans have side loading doors as well as rear doors to facilitate loading of small but heavy items.
Box Van
A van which has a box body, such as the Luton van. Normally the largest types of van available.