In the past your plumber’s van was something you would rather not see. An old and rusty van (normally a Ford Transit) with a dents and scratches that made it look worse than it really was. These days, plumbers’ vans are a far cry from that old picture, offering highly sophisticated kits, comfortable cabins and a wide variety of mechanical options. Competition in the commercial vehicle sector has pushed up standards and variety, offering the driver high levels of comfort and attention to detail.

New vans combine high levels of comfort with commercial focus, offering good combination of space, ruggedness and comfort for the driver. There is a wide array of loading space (from 3 to 17 cubic meters) that can be further tailored to the plumber’s needs. Sliding doors are common, with some vans offering a second sliding door for added flexibility and access to the loading space.

The back of the van can be customized either as a tailgate or a double rear door setting. Another useful customization offered is a reduced angle cab door opening clearance to allow the users to hold on the handle even if the door is fully opened thus minimizing the risk of hitting the wall or other objects.

Most traders’ vans sold in the UK at the moment are using a diesel engine. The main reason for their success is their fuel efficiency and high torque in the low rev range, helping in towing heavy loads. Developments in diesel engine design and assembly in recent years have made them smooth, quiet while keeping their advantage as longer lasting, cheaper to maintain and highly reliable powertrain systems. These developments apply to passenger cars as well as commercial vans.

Diesel particulate filters now remove carbon particles from the exhaust using physical filters. This improves the quality of the fumes and reduces the amount of carbon being expelled from the engine.

The biggest single improvement in diesel engines in recent years was the development and deployment of the common rail system. Similar in operations to direct injection in petrol engines, the common rail system has improved the smoothness and quietness of the engine and consequently the quality of the ride. Another useful benefit of the common rail system is an improved fuel economy together with an increased torque.

An alternative system is now being introduced which injects fuel at much greater pressure than conventional diesel engines. There are now several vans with engines adopting the new technology which offers improved efficiency and flexibility.

Most new vans now offer at least five gears and some come with six. Automatic and semi automatic (’clutch-less’) gear boxes have become more popular in recent years as they are more relevant for UK’s heavily congested roads and town centres.

Most modern vans now offer creature comforts that were not available even in luxury cars only a few years ago. Air conditioning, cruise control and satellite navigation are either standard or available as options. The quality and smoothness of the ride has also improved a great deal making long journeys feel less tiring.

Another important improvement is the increased level of safety in modern vans. Most light commercial vehicles now come with a driver’s air bag as standard and some offer passenger airbag or other airbags as options (e.g. curtain and side airbags). Vans are also offered with ABS (Antilock Braking System) and ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme). Both of these electronic systems can save lives by keeping the vehicle stable through controlling the power distribution between the wheels or by taking control of the breaking system in difficult breaking conditions (such as icy or wet roads).