A box truck is a two-piece commercial vehicle consisting of a cab with a separate box-shaped cargo area that’s attached to the frame. They’re also known as box vans or cube vans due to their shape.Most box trucks have an entirely separate loading area that is inaccessible from the cabin, although some models come with a cargo area that’s grafted to the cab, making for direct access.
Box trucks are tailor-made for transporting large and heavy objects such as boxes, furniture, and other appliances.This is possible due to their flat sides, square shape, and sheer amount of space that helps a 26-feet box truck carry a payload of up to 10,000 pounds.
The maximum cargo capacity of a 26′ model is around 1,800 ft³, which is roughly 5 times more than what you can fit in a heavy-duty van.Having a bigger cargo area means that you can transport stuff with fewer trips.
Being able to quickly and easily load/unload can be a real deal-breaker if you’re transporting bulky items.This is where a box truck’s rolling rear door comes into play by greatly simplifying the loading and unloading process.This functionality is further amplified by the very tall and wide opening to the cargo area that makes fitting cumbersome and awkward-shaped objects a breeze.
Box-shaped commercial vehicles offer heaps of exterior space that you can use for advertising purposes.The large flat sides of a box van can serve as a blank canvas for displaying various ads.
A cargo van is a one-piece vehicle that looks quite similar to passenger vans as both have a sliding side door and two rear doors.However, cargo vans have empty cargo space instead of seats at the back, and most of them don’t have windows in the rear cargo area.Some cargo vans even offer direct access to the load section from the cabin, depending on the model and modifications.
Cargo vans drive and handle more like traditional vehicles as they respond to driver input in a similar way to cars.They’re also more maneuverable, easier to park, and can fit into tighter spaces.All of this is in contrast to the much more truck-like driving dynamics of a box van that requires some getting used to.
It’s no wonder that cargo vans are cheaper than box trucks due to being more compact, lighter and relying on smaller engines.The price ranges for brand new cargo vans vary from $25k to around $45k, with diesel-powered units costing more.Note that used models are also much more affordable than their boxy counterparts, despite the specifications and equipment levels.
A cargo van would typically offer better MPG than a box truck due to weighing less and having more economical engines.
Compact cargo vans such as the 2.0L gasoline Ford Transit Connect can easily achieve 24 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway.
Even larger models such as the Mercedes-Benz Metris can deliver 19 MPG (city) and 23 MPG (highway), which is still more economical than a box truck.
These are the three primary differences between the two commercial vehicle types:
The most notable difference between a box truck and a cargo van is their design.Box trucks utilize a two-piece construction where the cab and the cargo are usually completely separated, while cargo vans have a one-piece design, in which the cab and cargo area are attached.
Cargo vans have a “nose” because the engine is mounted in front of the steering wheel, which is not the case with cabover box trucks.A cabover truck is a box truck variation that doesn’t have a “nose” at the front since the engine is located underneath the front seats.Also, some cargo vans have windows in the load area, while box trucks are windowless at the back.
Cargo vans are much more compact and smaller than box trucks in both exterior and interior dimensions.For example, a typical high roof cargo van model will be76-inch high, 55-inch wide and have a143-inch interior length.
While some of the largest box trucks are 102-inch tall, 102-inch wide and 26-feet long.Box trucks are also much heavier, with an average empty weight of 10,000 lb, as opposed to roughly 4,000 lb empty weight for the average cargo van.The larger body of the box truck allows for an additional passenger seat at the front as most have 3 seats, while cargo vans usually have only 2.
Box trucks come with much bigger and more powerful engines than cargo vans to help them haul massive payloads.For example, the Ford E-Series box truck model relies on huge V10 and V8 engines, while the Ford Transit cargo van comes with a smaller 3.5-liter V6.The larger engine displacement and extra power of these box-shaped vehicles also mean they're less fuel-efficient.
It's hard to say which of the two commercial vehicle types is better as it depends on your needs. So just tell us your requirements and we will give you a professional advice.
Choosing between a box truck or a cargo van depends on which vehicle type suits your needs better.Here are the main factors to find which one is the right commercial vehicle for you:
Consider how large and heavy the items you’ll be hauling will be, as there’s a world of difference between transporting plastic cups or heavy stone.Box trucks have superior cargo capacity and payload. If you need to transport very tall pieces of furniture and multiple really heavy stuff like refrigerators or washers, then a box truck would make more sense.But if you’re going to haul smaller objects then a cargo van will do more than a competent job.
The scale and type of your business are other crucial factors to take into account when choosing between the two.If you own a truck company or have a large-scale professional moving service, then opting for a box truck would be a no-brainer.But if the vehicle will be used by an electrician, plumber or HVAC technician, then the more compact work can probably be a better idea.
Think about the driver skills of the person that’ll be behind the wheel of the vehicle.Driving a box truck requires more effort as these vehicles are less maneuverable and harder to park.A cargo van can be the better option due to its car-like handling and maneuverability, especially if the driver isn’t experienced in driving commercial vehicles.
Consider the distance that the vehicle will have to cover when hauling cargo.If you’ll do a lot of long-distance hauling a box truck might work better as it should be able to transport everything in a single trip.Whereas a cargo van will shine in local, in-town hauling where its driveability and fuel economy give it the edge.
Your budget might eventually tip the scales in favor of the more affordable vehicle type of the two – the cargo van.Brand new cargo vans cost between roughly $25,000-$45,000, which is within the price range of most small-to-medium Class 3 and 4 box trucks.Thus, a smaller 12′ box truck can be more expensive than a well-equipped cargo van that offers similar cargo capacity and possibly even a higher payload.
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