Ford Transit Custom, Mercedes-Benz Citan, and coming soon, the new Mercedes Sprinter – just some of the van models that will be launched in the next year. Van manufacturers try to minimise changes to the load area in new models, because customers like to transfer racking from one vehicle to another come de-fleeting time. Even so new models are an opportunity for racking manufacturers and suppliers to show their latest racking ideas and there were a number of those on show at the recent CV Show at the NEC.
The Show served as a launch pad for Tevo, which launched new lightweight racking there.
‘By introducing ultra-high strength steel into our vehicle racking systems, we have reduced the weight even further but still retained the system's strength and load capacity,’ said Paul Railston, Tevo’s commercial director.
The problem for van manufacturers is containing weight. Safety and emissions equipment has added to the kerb weight of most vehicles, particularly those around 3,500kg gross vehicle weight. With Euro 6 legislation due to take effect in the next year, weights are likely to creep up further as vehicles will have to accommodate the weight of exhaust aftertreatment systems. Most heavy vans will probably carry the urea additive AdBlue to help reduce NOx emissions, which will add further to weight too. Reducing the weight of items such as racking will help to combat the weight rise. For Tevo, most of the products will be made from advanced steel.
‘After careful consideration, we came to the conclusion that ultra-high strength steel is the optimum material to use if you want to achieve the combination of reduced weight, high strength and crash protection,’ says Paul Railston. Tevo says that ultra-high strength steel is four times stronger than mild steel.
US-based Prime Design was also at the CV Show and is principally a roof rack manufacturer. The company specialises in the AluRack lightweight aluminium roof rack range and Ergorack ladder racking systems. The company has recently launched AluRack ranges for the Ford Transit Custom, Mercedes-Benz Citan and Toyota Proace. Other recent products include a new light bar and beacon fitting system – a channel that will fit on the existing vehicle fixing points, avoiding any need for drilling.
Bri-Stor was also exhibiting its Elite system for the Transit Custom at the CV Show, including racking, lining and roof equipment. The company was also showing its new steel hardtop, fitted to a Ford Ranger. The Ranger was fitted out with other Bri-Stor products, including a heavy-duty drawer, which can hold up to 100kg. The hardtop had recently undergone durability testing at the Millbrook proving ground.
Load Choker is not a racking system but a load restraint aid, invented by Australian truck driver Anthony Bourne. It’s a simple device, designed originally for trucks carrying specialist loads, but also suitable for vans. Bourne was frustrated by the difficulty of tensioning load restraining straps or chains enough to prevent specialist loads from moving. It enables a strap or chain to be looped against itself, or “choked”, helping to lock it when tensioned. Load Choker makes a version for straps and chains and the simple device looks similar to a belt buckle, enabling a strap to be looped through the choker and back on itself around the load to the other side of the choker, then back down to the ratchet, effectively locking the strap against itself to prevent slippage.
Racking manufacturers and their customers will benefit from the provisions of the Van Enhancement Scheme negotiated by the SMMT, Vehicle Certification Authority (VCA) and Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA) earlier this year. The European Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) scheme came into force for N1 category vehicles (up to 3,500kg GVW) at the end of April. Under the scheme it seemed that basic modifications, including fitting ply lining and basic racking, may have needed approval, but the Van Enhancement Scheme means that these basic modifications will not now need type approval. According to the SMMT, this will remove the need for type approval from some 200,000 vans each year and reduce the administrative burden relating to 40,000 others.
Commenting on the scheme, Bott’s UK Group managing director, Clive Woodward, said, ‘Fleet operators working with VCA-approved converters can have assurance that their limited conversions meet minimum VCA/VOSA standards for WVTA. Bott and other leading conversion companies in the industry have pushed for this solution and the DfT has shown that consultation works. The scheme now needs to be implemented, tested and later refined in-line with experience gained.’