LWB / Extended Van?

[Benzoid]

Another Newbe question.

Do most van operators use a long wheel base (in GM Vans) or Extended Ford van? Would a normal size van work?

How about sleeping? Can you get a cot or something to sleep on if you have 2 pallets on board?

I suppose most loads for a van would be 1 day trips so sleeping under load might not be a big problem.

Thanks!

-Mike

 

[redytrk]

http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/layover-lounge/33124-sleeping-solution-van.html

 

[piper1]

There is no such thing as too much space. Even tho you might not need to sleep under load, you may want to stretch out a bit if you are waiting for part of the load or waiting to be unloaded. You'd be amazed what you can end up with on board to be prepared for things (not counting Moot's preparedness reaction course!).

 

[dhalltoyo]

Probably 50/50 day/night runs.

Drive all night and you will definitely want to sleep.

If you have two skids it is probably unlikely that they will stacked evenly to permit laying a board across the top. Moreover, the height may not allow for enough room to let you squeeze between the roof and the top of the freight.

If you go with the extended wheelbase (GM rides better due to the distance between the front/back wheels), and you can sleep across the width of the van (left to right), there is just enough room ahead of a two skid load to accommodate sleeping.

In essence, the room...the better! Moving freight in the van, sleeping in the van and sitting in the van may cause you to develop a condition know as "sardinitis". You will begin to have hallucinations where you see yourself covered with oil and wedged between two saltine crackers.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Also known as Tuna itis...Items may be closer then they appear.

 

[Moot]

Sardinitis or Tunaitis, well I'll be kippered! This malady has a name.

Ken and David, how long after purchasing your new vehicles did the symptoms of this disease begin to disappear? I have found that the stooped back is beneficial to locating and retrieving pennies, chewing gum and cigarette butts.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Sardinitis or Tunaitis, well I'll be kippered! This malady has a name.

Ken and David, how long after purchasing your new vehicles did the symptoms of this disease begin to disappear? I have found that the stooped back is beneficial to locating and retrieving pennies, chewing gum and cigarette butts.

Still suffering somewhat...still can't be backed into a corner....but pennies are harder to pick up...

No man should be seen on his knees pulling up his pants...casts a bad picture...so I opted for the high roof.

I have been working out...I can now balance that 6 pack on my stomach!

 

[MCBuggyCo]

Another Newbe question.

Do most van operators use a long wheel base (in GM Vans) or Extended Ford van? Would a normal size van work?

How about sleeping?
Thanks!

-Mike

A longer van gives you more options but the standard size can work in a pinch. However, I recently delivered 47 boxes of elevator buckets to a grain coop in Minnesota. I was in an extended Express and though there was little weight to speak of I was so loaded I could not recline the seat and I was lucky to close the rear doors! This would have never fit a standard van. If you can choose always choose big but if you already have a standard van you can make it work.

Who sleeps?

 

[blizzard2014]

I drive a chevy express van and when I go home for vacations, I have to move my mattress into the closet because I have panic attacks whenever I can't lay on my back and touch the ceiling when I stretch out my arms. Too much room scares me!!

PS. That bending gig is great! Living in a cargo van is almost like doing yoga. You have to squeeze around the freight to get the load straps on, and you have to contort your body in all kinds of weird positions just to get dressed in the morning. Let's not even mention bringing a girlfriend into the van for a romantic evening out in a Flying J parking lot. In that case, you better know how to stoop like a pro!!

Bend it like Becka!