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Get your kit on
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Page 57
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Discover which van racking system is best for your operation.
Words: Sharon Clancy
A panel van is a versatile beast, adaptable for all sorts of operations. from parcel deliveries to service engineering. And van racking and roofing systems have the ability to turn that blank canvas into an efficient working environment. No more searching for the box with those small parts or parcels. No tangle of air-line leads.
The modular designs of van racking systems make customising your van for a particular task affordable. Shelves, workbenches, cupboards and storage bins can all be arranged to create an ergonomic interior. Accessories include compressors. jacks and vices, as well as roof-mounted beacons and work lights, and hand-washing facilities. Having so many options can make it difficult to decide exactly what's right for your set-up. To help you here, some of the van manufacturers and racking companies have put together kit options for particular vans and models and for a number of different types of operations.
Do watch your weight, though. By the time you have installed a racking system, tools, spare parts and other necessary equipment, it is very easy to get close to or even exceed the legal gross weight of the van. The latest systems combine steel and aluminium to reduce weight without compromising strength.
Safety
Surprisingly, there is no UK safety standard that van racking systems have to meet. The Commercial Vehicle Racking Association (CVRA), run in conjunction with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, has been working with the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to draw up guidelines. "There are two safety issues. In-use safety to ensure employees are protected when working in the van, and safety in the event of a crash," explains Andrew Humphrey, group managing director of Bri-Stor and chairman of the CVRA.
The TRL is still due to publish its report on van racking and storage systems, but the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has already used some of these findings in its Safe Loading of Vans booklet, which costs £3.50 to non-members.
Essentially, the advice is end-users have to know what storage system they want and the type of goods that are to be stored. "There is no universal answer because every user wants a slightly different racking system, admits Humphrey. "Users have to talk to suppliers to make sure the racking is fit for the purpose it is intended."
The one test that does exist, however, is United Nations' ECE R17, commonly called the sledge-test. This entails mounting the van on a sled and simulating a head-on collision at 50km/h (31 mph), creating a 21g impact. However, as Tevo points out, although the results will demonstrate what happens in an accident, there are no specified criteria, such as amount of permitted deformation, to measure the results against. Sortimo, whose Globelyst system is tested to German TtiV standards, says the sledge test should demonstrate that any energy from the impact is absorbed by the van equipment, with only a small amount passing to the van body
Roof-storage systems Ground-level roof-storage systems are a popular way to eliminate potential health and safety risks if you have to climb up on the van roof, and they can improve productivity, too. Bri-Stor says engineers can typically save five to A 01 mobile 10 minutes per visit with its Easi-Load ladder storage system.
Don't forget that the van roof has a maximum load capacity, which is typically 100kg. Roof-storage specialist TrukRax also advises checking that the individual roof bars in a kit are strong enough to support the load being carried and to check the dimensions and weight of what is being transported. TrukRax's SideLoader is designed to allow the user to unload from the side at ground level if there is insufficient space at the rear.
Prime Design, which claims to be the US market leader in ground-operated ladder roof racks, is now targeting UK operators. Its design incorporates a hydraulically operated long handle, which reduces the effort required to push the frame down and up to the roof. The system weighs 35kg, and loading of the ladder takes just 47 seconds, the company claims. There is an inclined system, which is for longer ladders. That eliminates the need to lift the ladder off the roof, and can be fitted on vans up to 3m high.
Kitting out your van
All the van manufacturers have agreements with one or more racking companies, so check what's on offer from your van dealer. Alternatively, you can buy direct from the racking companies and either fit it yourself or use one of the fitting centres.
Bott
Many systems use the existing fixing points on the van, eliminating the need for any drilling.
The latest Modulo system has been developed for small vans, such as the Citroen Berlingo. The steel racking preserves interior space by following the contours of the van wall and by having shallower shelves and drawers than on Bolt's Normline and Vario systems. There is still floor space to take a Euro-pallet-size load. Normline has steel racking, while Vario makes greater use of aluminium and plastics to save weight.
Bri-Stor With about a 15%-20% share of the van racking market, Bri-Stor is probably the UK's largest supplier of van racking systems. The Euro-Stor range has been re-engineered with high-tensile fine-gauge steel that saves about 20% weight and with a typical payload improvement of 30kg. It comes in fixed or sliding rack formats, both pull-tested to ensure the integrity of the internal fixings.
01 Van Systems 01 Van Systems has developed a workshop conversion for vans that can accommodate specific storage systems for essential components and equipment and a userfriendly workbench. It includes a non-slip phenolic floor, polypropylene liners, dead locks, internal rear work lights, a fire extinguisher and sliding deck that pulls out at the rear to provide a large workspace for on-the-spot tasks, such as cutting or welding.
Sortimo Sortimo's Globelyst racking system incorporates a floor that "floatsso it is better able to absorb crash forces and a honeycomb spaceframe structure for the racking designed to minimise weight without compromising durability The latest accessory is the T-BOXX. Made from high-grade plastic, at 2.3kg, it's a third lighter than the company's sheet-steel case. It has a transparent lid for viewing contents.
Tevo Tevo's steel and aluminium racking systems have been tested at the Millbrook proving ground. Tevo has a kit booklet, showing workshop and storage options for the most popular makes and models of light commercial vehicles. There are 24 kit options, with up to 70 permutations. •