How do you find your LWB van?

I am about to buy a LWB transit and want to know how people doing maintenance rounds find them for size.

Do you ever really wish you had a SWB van instead? Does the extra thought that goes into parking spaces matter? Turning circle - is it close to the tight circle of the SWB? Also, in your experience, Hi roof or Med roof? Any real-world disadvantages of either?

I pretty much have to get a LWB, need a T350 and very few MWB ones come up for sale. If I got a Hi roof I'd have more storage plus using the ride-on mower in the van would be easier as I can stand up and get out once I park it in. There will be shelving down at least the door side and racks down the other side for tools.

Hi Dan, as you probably know, I have a 2004 Transit long wheelbase semi-high roof van. So, to address your points:

Do you ever really wish you had a SWB van instead?

No - because I would constantly cursing myself and thinking 'I bought the WRONG van'. I carry all kinds of kit in my van, racked out as it is now, two mowers fit side by side in the middle compartment, leaving a space in the rear to put waste in, be it bagged or loose.

I have a removable door between front and rear compartments so i can walk through from the middle to rear or put long lengths of wood inside the van.

My REALLY long pole pruner fits in too, as does the Henchman (on its side) - this avoids having a roof rack, which apart from being ugly would increase drag - plus the fact its quite a long way up there to put anything on a roof rack.

Does the extra thought that goes into parking spaces matter?

Well, a long wheelbase doesn't fit in a parking space at the local supermarket, the B&Q OR Homebase. You need about a 'space and a half'. Easy if you can find two back to back spaces that are both empty. For a previous job I used to drive the length and breath of the country in either a Mercedes Sprinter Luton or an LWB Hi-top Renault Master (great van but lots of bits fell off - quite frequently) - so I suppose I have got used to not being able to park in a standard space - I find you soon get used to it!

Turning circle - is it close to the tight circle of the SWB?

Never having driven a SWB, I wouldn't know for sure, but I would guess not. My previous van (a Nissan Vannette) could just be turned around at the end of my cul-de-sac without having to put in a shunt, the Transit needs backing up to turn round.

Also, in your experience, Hi roof or Med roof? Any real-world disadvantages of either?

Personally I find my medium roof is fine, Hi Tops are fairly rare and in my opinion don't actually give THAT much more usable space. The Renault Master I used to drive was Hi Top, on the delivery job it was on that was relatively useful as different shape/size items were frequently being loaded. With my Transit van racked out as it is (there are photos on another thread somewhere - about vehicle racking), i find it is quite a rare occasion that I need to actually stand up inside the van.

Hope this answers a few of your questions!

Replies

Classic Gardens January 6, 2012 at 4:59pm

W have an 07 lwb med roof rwd. I wouldnt want another van. At first i was wary of the size but after a month you forget about it the turning circle is what you would expect from a van of that size, and i can get in and out of any gap that a swb can.

Regarding the roof I'm 5'9 and can just stand up. The reason i stayed away from the hi roof was the drag causes you to burn up more fuel and they always rust at the top.
Adam Pilgrim January 6, 2012 at 5:22pm

Hi Dan, as you probably know, I have a 2004 Transit long wheelbase semi-high roof van. So, to address your points:

Do you ever really wish you had a SWB van instead?

No - because I would constantly cursing myself and thinking 'I bought the WRONG van'. I carry all kinds of kit in my van, racked out as it is now, two mowers fit side by side in the middle compartment, leaving a space in the rear to put waste in, be it bagged or loose.

I have a removable door between front and rear compartments so i can walk through from the middle to rear or put long lengths of wood inside the van.

My REALLY long pole pruner fits in too, as does the Henchman (on its side) - this avoids having a roof rack, which apart from being ugly would increase drag - plus the fact its quite a long way up there to put anything on a roof rack.

Does the extra thought that goes into parking spaces matter?

Well, a long wheelbase doesn't fit in a parking space at the local supermarket, the B&Q OR Homebase. You need about a 'space and a half'. Easy if you can find two back to back spaces that are both empty. For a previous job I used to drive the length and breath of the country in either a Mercedes Sprinter Luton or an LWB Hi-top Renault Master (great van but lots of bits fell off - quite frequently) - so I suppose I have got used to not being able to park in a standard space - I find you soon get used to it!

Turning circle - is it close to the tight circle of the SWB?

Never having driven a SWB, I wouldn't know for sure, but I would guess not. My previous van (a Nissan Vannette) could just be turned around at the end of my cul-de-sac without having to put in a shunt, the Transit needs backing up to turn round.

Also, in your experience, Hi roof or Med roof? Any real-world disadvantages of either?

Personally I find my medium roof is fine, Hi Tops are fairly rare and in my opinion don't actually give THAT much more usable space. The Renault Master I used to drive was Hi Top, on the delivery job it was on that was relatively useful as different shape/size items were frequently being loaded. With my Transit van racked out as it is (there are photos on another thread somewhere - about vehicle racking), i find it is quite a rare occasion that I need to actually stand up inside the van.

Hope this answers a few of your questions!