Looking for the right van for a furniture moving business? You will likely want a vehicle that’s going to do a lot more than carrying around a dining room table. The New Zealand market has a number of exceptional vans that provide the right level of cargo space, fuel consumption, and reliability. Here’s a look at six of the top vans to consider for a furniture moving business.
Estimated price: $75,690
Perhaps one of the biggest sellers out there is the ever-popular Ford Transit High Roof Extended. This large van gives you a total cargo capacity of up to 11.4 cubic metres and a payload rating of up to 2,345 kg.
However, this van is rather versatile. It comes with swing-out doors which gives you 180 degrees of clearance for moving cargo into and out of the vehicle. Finally, the Ford Transit Connect offers an alarm feature if the driver exceeds the speed limit.
This large van actually gives you some respectable fuel consumption numbers.
You can expect to get 10.2 litres per 100 km from a standard 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine. When it comes to reliability, RepairPal.com gives the Ford Transit Connect a 3.0 out of 5.0 rating.
Cargo space - Up to 11.4 cubic metres
Fuel economy - 10.2 litres per 100km
Max consumption - Up to 2,345 kg
Reliability - 3.0 stars out of 5.0
Estimated price: $69,990
For those looking for one of the highest quality cargo vans for a furniture business, there is the ever-popular Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van. This is a large van that is ideal for big furniture moves. Cargo capacity is rated at 16 cubic metres and the max payload rating is a generous 3054 kg. Also, the Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van is available in three different sizes and two roof heights to give you all the choices that you need to find the right vehicle for your business.
While the Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van is big in size, it is not small when it comes to fuel consumption. In fact, this large van can give you up to 8.2 km per litre on the highway. Finally, the Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van gets a reliability rating of just 2.0 out of 5.0 from RepairPal.com.
Cargo space - Up to 16 cubic metres
Fuel consumption - 6.3 litres per 100km
Max payload - Up to 3054 kg
Reliability - 2.0 out of 5.0
Estimated Price: $52,599
When you want a smooth-riding, reliable delivery van, then you really can’t do better than the popular Toyota Hiace ZX Panel Van. Powered by a standard 2.8-litre turbo diesel, you get a rather respectable fuel consumption of 7.2 litres per 100km. Also, the cargo capacity is decent with a rating of 9.3 cubic metres. May payload is rated at 1,050 kg.
Now, let’s talk about what Toyota is really good at - reliability and build quality.
The smooth-riding Hiace is going to be really valuable if you are transporting fragile furniture. Also, the excellent build quality means that you will be spending less on long-term maintenance costs.
Cargo space - Up to 9.3 cubic metres
Fuel consumption - 7.2 litres per 100 km
Max payload - 1,050 kg
Reliability - 4.0 out of 5.0
Estimated price: $53,999
The Renault Master Long Wheelbase is built for business. While there are a number of sizes available, you will want to go with the Long Wheelbase model for your furniture business. The largest model gives you up to 13 cubic metres of cargo capacity while a max payload of 2,128 kg. Additionally, the Renault Master is powered by a 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that provides a fuel consumption rating of 8.3 litres per 100km.
Now, let’s talk about reliability.
The Renault Master is known for having pretty good reliability. While it is not on the level of the Toyota Hiace when it comes to refinement, you are getting a solid van that would be a welcome addition to any fleet.
Overall, the Renault Master Long Wheelbase is a solid choice that should give you all the cargo space that you need.
Cargo space - 13 cubic metres
Fuel consumption - 8.3 litres per 100 km
Max payload - 2,128 kg
Reliability - 3.0 out of 5.0
Estimated price: $56,111
When you want a solid delivery van with low maintenance costs, then you will want to consider the Iveco Daily Van.
This van comes standard with a 2.3-litre diesel engine that delivers up to 7.5 litres per 100 km. You also get a decent amount of cargo capacity with a rating of 9.0 cubic metres. However, the Iveco Daily Van can hold lots of payloads with a max rating of 1,900 kg.
The Iveco Daily Van was updated in 2019 with a smooth ride and some much-needed technology updates. Reliability is fine and you should be able to get some decent maintenance costs on this model. Finally, the van comes with an optional 210 horsepower powertrain if you are looking to get a little more power out of your van.
Cargo space - 9.0 cubic metres
Fuel consumption - 7.5 litres per 100 km
Max payload - 1,900 kg
Reliability - 3.0 out of 5.0
Estimated price: $41,990
When you want a delivery van at an affordable price, then you will want to check out the LDV Deliver 9. This is the largest van offered in the LDV delivery line and provides you with a max cargo capacity rating of 9.6 cubic metres. Max payload is rated at 1500kg. Power comes from a standard 2.0-litre engine that delivers a fuel consumption rating of 7.6 litres per 100 km.
While LDV is the most affordable van on the list, you may be surprised to find out it is also among the most reliable.
According to commercialfleet.org, the LDV line of vans have the lowest amounts of incidents versus other commercial vans in its class. That makes the LDV Deliver 9 a smart choice for furniture delivery companies on a budget.
Cargo space - 9.6 cubic metres
Fuel consumption - 7.6 litres per 100 km
Max payload - 1500kg
Reliability - 4.0 out of 5.0
Now that we have six excellent choices for the delivery van business in New Zealand, you may be wondering which choice is ideal for your business. With that in mind, here is what we would recommend:
With its low price and excellent reliability, the LDV Delivery 9 is going to be a great choice if you are just starting out. You should be able to secure low payments for the van and its reliability means that you won’t be paying for excessive repairs down the road.
If you are a growing or big furniture moving business - with large clients - then you will want the big capacity that a Mercedes Sprinter Panel Van is going to offer. Yes, it is among the highest-priced of the six. However, the extra cargo capacity may actually make it the best economical choice for your business.
If your business is handling lots of volumes, then you will want a van that you know will last. Toyota has a reputation for creating bulletproof vehicles. You can be sure that a Toyota Hiace in your fleet will last.
When shopping for a van for your furniture business, there are several things that you should consider. However, there are four factors that should be at the top of your mind. Here’s what you should prioritize in your van search
Will you need lots of space? Of course, you can find large vans or small vans for your furniture moving business. You will want to make sure that you find the van that will give you the space that you will need for most of your jobs.
Also, your business needs to watch its bottom line. Therefore, you will want to consider the fuel consumption rating. Additionally, fuel consumption range is important when it comes to reducing the amount of “downtime” spent at the petrol station.
You also want to make sure that your fleet stays on the road. Therefore, you will want to consider the long time reliability of the van.
Finally, consider the overall cost of ownership. Here, you will want to factor in the purchase/lease price along with the fueling, maintenance, and repair costs.
There are a number of excellent cargo vans available in the New Zealand market. Be sure to compare each van that you feel will be right for your furniture moving business. The right level of research should help you make the best decision. Hiring a man-with-a-van?
Wise Move is New Zealand’s leading moving service, helping thousands of customers with home moves, furniture removals, car and motorcycle transport, and more. Since 2017, we’ve been delivering reliable, affordable, and well-reviewed moving services in just a few simple steps. Our focus has always been on making moving as simple and effortless as possible for our customers.
