Flexibility and space are vital and for most, the medium-sized panel van will do the job. But for those that do want to be able to work comfortably inside their van, a high roof option will help and a long wheelbase version will provide even more space to comfortably carry tools and materials.
The Vauxhall Vivaro
The Vivaro’s side sliding door allows easy access to the floor and shelving in the front of the cargo area, eliminating the need to crawl over stuff from the back doors.
The Sportive trim comes with a Flex Bulkhead. There’s a door to access the rear area of the cab. It can be propped open on occasions if you need to transport large lengths of wood up to 12 feet long. The cab divider also provides a safety barrier between the load and the cab. This van keeps tools organised, dry, and out of sight, which is better than using a pickup truck.

Ford Transit LWB

Volkswagen Transporter

Nissan NV200

Citroen Dispatch

For example, hands-free sliding doors that can be accessed with a simple foot motion. Very useful for carpenters trying to load awkward cargo. The loadspace bulkhead also gets a handy flap at the base, allowing you to utilise the vehicle’s full-length by sliding pipes, planks of wood or a ladder under the front passenger’s seat.
Renault Trafic

There are so many competitive vans on the market now, so I would really research the options first. Look at the cost of each of the vans combined with their fuel consumption and efficiency. The best place to start is to take into account your typical jobs as a carpenter and establish key features of a van that will suit your needs. A solo self-employed carpenter will probably look for value for money or a van that will retain its value plus have enough space in the back. No one wants to purchase a van that will guzzle the petrol. If you are starting up or running a big business then maybe going for the more traditional long wheel based transits will be more suitable. You have a slightly bigger cab in the back to store more of the larger tools required for bigger jobs.
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