Axle weights - The combined weight that each of the van’s axles is permitted to carry, split between the front and the rear axles.
Barn doors - Rear van doors that open as barn doors would.
Box van - A van that has an enclosed box or cube-shaped cargo area that is separated from the cabin.
Braked towing weight - The maximum weight your van can tow if the vehicle or trailer being towed has its own braking system.
Bulkhead - Also known as a partition, it is a wall-like structure that separates the cabin area from the loading space of the van.
Cabin - The area that houses the front seats for the driver and passengers.
Car-derived van - Vans that have based on car platforms without any rear passengers seats, creating load space in the rear of the van.
Chassis cab - A van with just a cab and chassis rails. This allows for bodies to be fitted behind separately to become either a Dropside, Tipper or even a Luton.
Crew Van/Combi van – Perfect for carrying load and people with additional seating behind the cabin that is typically accessible via a sliding side door.
Dropside - Vans with side panels that can be opened below the load bed to provide greater accessibility.
Frails - External racking attached to the side of the van to hold large objects like glass windows or doors.
Fridge van - A van with refrigeration units inside which allow for the transportation of goods that need to be maintained at specific temperatures.
Gross vehicle weight (GVW) - The maximum combined weight of the van, passengers and its load.
Gross train weight (GTW) - The gross vehicle weight, combined with the weight of the trailer that it is towing.
Kerb weight – Your van’s weight including a full tank of fuel and all standard equipment but excluding any passengers or cargo.
Load height - The height of the space available in the van for cargo to be loaded into.
Load length - The length of the space available in the van for your load.
Load space - The space inside a van that can carry a load. This is typically measured in cubic feet.
Load width - The width of the space available to carry a load in your van.
Luton - A large box van with a cargo space that extends over the driver's cabin, creating extra shortage potential.
Payload - The weight that a van can carry safely, not including the weight of the van itself.
Panel van – Vans with paneled bodies instead of side windows.
Pickup van – Known for their excellent towing capabilities and off-road ability. They typically have enclosed cabins with a large open and secure load space behind it.
Plated weight – The maximum weight of that it is illegal to exceed.
Tailgate – A rear door that is hinged at the top of the van and opens horizontally.
Tipper – A chassis van that comes fitted with an underfloor tipping system that allows you to tip heavy loads from the rear of the van.
Towing capacity – The maximum weight your van can legally tow.
Wheelbase - The distance between the centre point of the front wheels and the centre point of the rear wheel. There are short, medium, long and extra-long variants.
Unbraked towing weight - The maximum weight you can tow if the vehicle or trailer you’re towing is unable to brake independently.
Common van abbreviations
Manufacturers will often use abbreviations to describe the differences between their vans, so here is a handy guide to help you remember.
L/R = Low Roof
M/R = Medium Roof
H/R = High Roof
H1 = Low Roof
H2 = Medium Roof
H3 = High Roof
H4 = Extra-High Roof
SWB or L1 = Short wheelbase
MWB or L2 = Medium wheelbase
LWB or L3 = Long wheelbase
XLWB or L4 = Extra-long wheelbase
