Curtain sider vans: who are they actually for?

Instead of dragging everything in and out through the rear doors of the vehicle, you can simply pull the curtain back along the length of the body and use either a forklift, a pallet truck or a pair of hands to load or unload. For the right job, it can change the efficiency of the whole day.

Curtain siders started out just on artics and rigids, but the same idea now runs down to 3.5 tonne chassis cabs, so a smaller operator can have curtain side access without stepping up to an HGV.

Who do they suit

Realistically, anyone loading pallets. If your goods come wrapped on a pallet and a forklift meets you at both ends, side loading saves a lot of shunting.

If you have deliveries with a tight turnaround. Curtains open in seconds and you can reach the middle without unpacking the front.

Long or awkward items such as lengths of timber, plasterboard, glass, framing and cladding. These can go on and off the side far more easily than through a rear door.

Who they do not suit

If your vehicle load needs to stay properly weatherproof and secure, a hard-sided box or Luton gives you more protection. Curtains keep the worst of the weather off but they are not the same as a locked steel wall.

However, if you rarely load anything from the side, you would be carrying the weight and cost of a feature you will not use.

How they compare

If you compare a curtain sider van against a Luton, you do trade some security and a fully enclosed body for far quicker side access. Similarly, weighing this up against a box van, it's the same trade off. Against a flatbed or dropside, you will gain better weather protection and keep the quick loading element. It really comes down to what you move and how you load it.

If you are weighing one up, look at the internal load length, the payload once the curtain frame and any tail lift are accounted for and the condition of the curtains and straps, since they do take a lot of wear and tear.

On Vangoo's platform you can see the condition upfront on every curtain sider listed, so you know what you are buying before you commit.