Choosing a refrigerated van is an important decision, and leads to cost savings, better efficiency in your business, and a more reliable service to your customers.
Here at CoolKit we’re committed to making that choice as easy as possible, so in this blog we’re comparing box vans and panel vans for you to see which option is best for your business.
1. Load space and insulation
Panel Van
In a panel van, the walls curve up toward the top to follow the general shape of the van. Though many businesses find this perfectly adequate, it can pose an obstacle to bigger loads.
Box Van
In a box body van, the shape is more user-friendlywith straight, clearly defined wall facets. This makes the box-body a potentially better choice for businesses that want shelves or loading racks. The internal height of a box body van makes it easier to stand and place trollies, resulting in more efficient use of the full load space. This uniformity makes the box van more consistent in height, width, and length.
2. Door configurations
Panel Van
The door configuration on a panel van is typically set by the manufacturer of the van in question.
Box Van
With box body vans, there’s more flexibility on the back door configurations, allowing for greater freedom in customising the van to suit your purposes.
3.Rear step
Panel Van
Due to its size and setup, a rear step is typically optional on a panel van.
Box Van
A box body van must have a fixed rear step option to guarantee safety when loading and unloading the vehicle, especially due to its height from the ground.
4. Thermal insulation
Panel Van
Each panel van will have a different conversion specification. This is because the insulation needs to follow the contours of the van’s interior exactly, in order to guarantee quality-assured insulation.
Box Van
Thermal insulation on a box body van is not dictated by the van’s shape, as its shape is a lot more regular and uniform than a panel van. In many instances, this makes a box body van a better thermal performer.
5. Size and weight
Panel Van
Gross vehicle weight impacts how panel vans are managed. As the gross weight increases, it typically needs a double rear wheel to handle the weight. This means that if a panel van exceeds 3.5 tonnes, pallets could only be loaded from the side entrance, rather than from the back.
Box Van
Due to the nature of its construction, a box body van isn’t subject to the same strict limitations, making it often the better choice in this instance.
6. Height from the ground
Panel Van
Panel vans are lower to the ground, making them great for multiple drops in shorter time intervals. It’s easier to get smaller, lighter loads in and out of the vehicle more quickly, making it a prime choice for multiple, high-frequency deliveries.
Box Van
A box body van is higher from the ground, making it well suited to loading and unloading bigger, heavier drops with the use of a loading bay. Lower frequency, longer-distance deliveries would be better served by a box body van.
7. Wheel boxes
Panel Van
The wheel boxes of a panel van are always inside the load space, so business owners may encounter some difficulties in loading and unloading, depending on the size of the van. It doesn’t mean that it will be a problem in every case, but it’s always worth checking for this issue before making a purchase.
Box Van
With a box body van, the box itself sits on the sub-frame of the chassis, so there is no intrusion of wheel boxes into the loading space.
8. Purchasing and value
Panel Van
If time is of the essence, panel vans are available in stock here at CoolKit, which means there is a far quicker lead time before they can be on the road – generally only a matter of days.
Box Van
Meanwhile, box body vans are made to order, which means they take an average of a few weeks to be ready and on the road. (Exactly how long depends on the extent of customisation.)
9. Economy
Panel Van
Due to the shape of a panel van, it is marginally less air resistant than a box body van. Over time, this aerodynamic shape results in the panel van having a much better fuel economy than a box body van. It also means that the panel van has a much smaller carbon footprint.
Box Van
Alone, the box body’s chassis is lighter than a normal panel van’s, and when this chassis is attached to a relatively lighter box, the vehicle’s payload improves over the panel van’s. By using a chassis it’s possible for business owners to customise the size of the box to suit their individual requirements.
Read our blog on efficiency and economy of refrigerated vehicles
10. Lifetime
Panel Van
Panel vans generally come at a lower cost. If converting, this often means the cost is balanced out by the fact that the conversion is specific to that van only, which impactsits lifestyle.
Box Van
Although it has a higher cost for conversion, the box on a box body van can be reused, giving it a handy ‘second life’ option that gives it better long-term value for money.
Should I Buy a Box Van or a Panel Van?
There are several aspects that both vans share, which include:
- A slab side door is available on both
- Temperature recorders can be fitted on either van
- CurtAir or PVC strip curtains can be fitted on both
- Either van can be fitted with a tail lift
Neither van is inherently better than the other – it all comes down to the specific needs of each individual business. View our full range of box body vans, or start browsing our panel vans including fridge vans and freezer vans that we have in stock.
If you’re still struggling to make the decision, our experts here at CoolKit are always happy to provide a helping hand or a word of advice – just give us a call on 01282 688 045 to speak to a member of our team.
