Conversions – Suppliers 2020

Date: Friday, January 3, 2020

What Van? Fit for Purpose – A Guide to Conversions Suppliers in 2020

A light commercial vehicle conversion can cover myriad changes and additions to the model that rolled off the manufacturer's production line - from the installation of racking and storage solutions to the interior of a panel van to the fitting of a bespoke body or load area to the chassis, as is the case with the most popular body builds, such as tippers, dropsides and Luton vans.

Around four out of five vans in the UK have undergone some form of modification, although that figure is not reflected in the number registered as conversions because some minor changes-such as additional racks and storage compartments-will have been handled by the operators themselves.

Nevertheless, businesses are increasingly choosing to have conversions carried out at the point of purchase so that the vehicle is ready to go to work immediately, rather than opting to have the alterations carried out when they have already taken delivery of it.

There has been a shift towards manufacturer-approved conversions since April 2013 when European Whole Vehicle Type Approval legislation came into force to encompass the safety requirements for panel vans, chassis cabs and platform cabs.

Conversions are examined and approved by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

The Van Enhancement Scheme relieves operators of the administrative burden of achieving full Type Approval for small-scale alterations such as ply-lining and basic racking, as they have no impact on the van's safety.

But whatever your requirements, whether you need to carry heavy building materials or are looking for a lightweight storage system for your tools, it is vital to find the solution that matches your requirements and this guide highlights some of the best products available to help you select the option that suits your requirements.

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