The Panel Van – taking a standard vehicle, and making it something special
A panel van conversion has a lower initial cost when compared with some other styles of vehicle conversion, mainly because there is a lot of good quality empty second hand vehicles available for sale which are suitable for you to still have a bespoke catering conversion to suit your needs.
These vans are particularly well suited for navigating inner city traffic as these vans were primarily designed for delivery drivers to move goods to all locations – a suitable choice for street food traders.
It ticks all the boxes with regards to the basic requirements for a vehicle conversion and is available in different lengths and heights, so depending on your food offering or equipment required a little thought may need to be given to which one you go for.
Normally to maximise on internal space a long wheelbase, ‘high top’ panel van would be recommended but perhaps you would prefer a Medium wheelbase. Call us and let’s plan your new conversion together.
Who is the Panel Van an ideal solution for?
- Any food offering that you sell direct to the consumer
- Mobile shop that can take your products from location to location
- Merchandising or promotional vehicle wanting to gain additional awareness of your product or brand
- You – if convenience and ease of setting up ready to trade and having everything you need for your business all in one vehicle
- It is easy to drive so it will suit you if you are based in a city or have a small pitch space
- This style of van can provide you with a comfortable working space and if you choose the high roof top option then with the additional headroom that model offers you would increase the ability to get full height refrigeration appliances inside that can sometimes be prohibitive with the likes of the vintage style conversions and smaller style vans
What type of business is the Panel Van ideal for?
- The Panel van is well suited for any type of trading format or event such as street food trading, festival and event catering and country fayres
- The van can be dressed and finished externally in any way you choose, perhaps a paint job and some graphics that will get your customer spending more with you
- Roof signboards and menu boards can also be added making you more visible to your consumer
- Businesses that want to have between 1 and 4 team members working in the vehicle
So what do we do different when converting this style van?
- We follow all the same processes as normal completing the design first to make sure your preferred layout will work in the vehicle of your choice, making sure everything fits and the design flows;
- Our designers calculate the gas requirements to ensure you have a suitably sized gas bottle housing – keeping you compliant
- Check the overall weight capacity to ensure you will remain safe and legal when fuel, a driver and stock is accounted for
- Make sure this vehicle will do exactly what you want it to – make you money
- A large hatch opening is a popular option allowing your customer to watch their products being prepared
- Insulating the walls help stop unnecessary condensation especially when it’s a cold winters day and you are busy cooking on the hot equipment
- Lining the walls of these vehicles internally to provide you with smooth panels that make for easy to wipe clean areas – after a hard day’s work, we aim to make keeping the vehicle clean easy
- These vehicles have sufficient width to give your team good sized work / prep counters whilst maintaining a sufficient walkway to make passing one another safe.
Easy to clean, saves you time and helps standards
With every conversion or build we complete it is designed with the end user in mind, getting to know your way of working or what you want as the end result helps us to ensure that the product you get meets all of your needs and that it has no limitations. At the end of a busy shift – as of course you will be busy you want the quickest and easiest area to clean down and get prepared for the next day or next event and you want to be able to do this as thoroughly as possible, as with all of our builds we work hard to eliminate hard to reach areas where food waste can get in to and clean down as quickly and thoroughly so you can be satisfied to know you have had a good day from start to finish.
Ventilation, extraction, gas and electrics
You must get this right, for performance, safety and certification.
- We design the right degree of ventilation and extraction to get rid of all the gases and grease, safely and efficiently. When we know what output capacity you need, we can advise what ventilation will work best
- That also applies to gas and electrical supplies, we’ll design these to match your requirement
- With the NICEIC electrical certification and access to the Gas Safe mobile catering safety certification we’ll make sure your gas system is 100% adequate and your electrical installation is safe
Branding of your panel van – looks and appearances are everything
It is the external that will attract you your work, first appearances matter. People will remember what food you sell but they will also remember what the van they chose to buy from looked like. Stand out from the crowd and make your shop window the best dressed.
There are so many options and ways to do this and with some careful consideration the options are endless, roof signboards and side menu boards can be fitted and shaped so that when you open you change the shape of the van.
Additional graphics or paint, so many options for you to consider and all of which we can help you with – A one stop shop for all your needs so that when you leave us you really are ready to start to trade!
Good branding and clear menus will attract more customers. The appearance of the unit and the way your food can be displayed can have a huge positive impact on your average value sale.
What else has the Panel Van got to offer…
- As with all vehicle conversions, generally there are just one set of costs for one vehicle, so insurance, MOT and annual maintenance etc.
- With a little bit of knowledge any one of your team will be safe to drive it with a standard driving licence, so no additional testing required
Who might the Panel Van not be suitable for?
Did you want something that was a little quirky, if so, check out our vintage vehicles.
Worried a panel van might not be big enough, check out our GT Supa van or Supa Truck
If you are likely to trade from a single location and you have the facility to be able to park your unit long term, one of our shipping container options may work better for you
Where do you start with sourcing a van?
You have options when it comes to sourcing a suitable Panel Van.
- We can help you with find a suitable vehicle, having worked with lots of our previous customers we know what to look for and what not to look for so let us help you source and supply a vehicle through our trusted network of dealers.
- Alternatively, should you want to start to source the van yourself, call us anyway so we can help and advise you on what would and wouldn’t work. We can check out your choices and advise of any potential problems or additional costs which may be incurred due to elements of the van of your choice
To talk through what you would like to be converted, call us now on 01536 202 944.
Here’s what we promise we’ll do for you
The 4Sure 11 point Rock Solid Guarantee
(You’ll love No 11)
- If you’re not happy with your design when it’s finished, whatever you’ve paid at that time, just ask and we’ll refund it.
- Our products are always easy to operate, with no sharp edges or poor workmanship. If you don’t agree or you find sharp edges, we’ll fix what’s wrong for free.
- Our design process will always identify more money-making opportunities than you planned for.
- Your safety is our No 1 concern (actually it’s our No 1 concern only just ahead of you making profits from your unit). You’ll have every relevant safety certification when your unit is ready to leave our workshop.
- You’ll always benefit from talking to us, even if you don’t buy from us. We’ll always give you our best advice and we won’t be too salesy (but we don’t mind if you decide to buy).
- When we agree a completion date, it’s a drop-dead date.
- We never skimp on the quality of materials we use. Never.
- If you want your unit to be ready to go when it leaves our workshop, that’s what it will be, ready to go, straight to the pitch.
- Our support doesn’t end when you get your hands on your finished product. We’re there for any help, advice or guidance you need. Just call, we’ll help.
- You’ll realise we have to put a time limit on our guarantee against defects in parts or workmanship but we give you an industry leading no quibble full 2 years (we ask that you return the unit to our workshop)
- We always stand behind points 1 to 10, but here’s my personal guarantee, from Gary Wagstaff, owner of the business:
“If you order a catering unit from 4Sure and there’s anything you’re unhappy about, at any time, just call me and we’ll fix it.”