Choosing Between a LWB & SWB Van - VanStyle

LWB & SWB Vans, Choosing the Right Size Wheelbase

So, you’ve narrowed down your choice of new van to a Ford Transit, or perhaps a VW Transporter or even a Ford Transit Custom. You know what engine you want and have decided that you’ll opt for the highest trim level so you get all those bells and whistles that feature in the brochure.

But, one question remains. Do you need a Ford Transit LWB? Will the Transit Connect LWB be necessary or will a SWB van be preferable? It sounds fairly simple but deciding if you need a short wheelbase van or a long wheelbase van needs some careful consideration.

What is the maximum length I can put in the loadspace?

Probably the most important consideration. If you regularly carry lengths of pipe, conduit or maybe other building materials, the chances are you’ll want to carry them in the van interior rather than on a roof rack where you’ll have to secure them and where they will be open to the elements and theft. Whether you are considering a new Volkswagen Crafter, a Vauxhall Movano or even a Mercedes-Benz Vito, you need to make sure that the vans load area is long enough for your needs.

Let’s take a typical medium-sized van such as the latest Ford Transit Custom. It’s available as the Transit Custom SWB or the Transit Custom LWB (or, L1 and L2 as Ford prefers to name them). The Custom SWB has a maximum load length of 2602mm up to the bulkhead, whilst the Custom LWB can take 3002mm. You regularly need to carry 3-metre lengths of pipe so, it’s clear that you’ll have to opt for the Transit Custom LWB. But – look closer and you’ll find that the van has an opening in the lower section of the bulkhead allowing longer loads of up to 3075mm to be carried in the short wheelbase van with the area under the passenger seat being utilised. There may well be no need to opt for the long wheelbase version at all.

I carry lots of parcels – I don’t know if I need a LWB van or a SWB van…

Most manufacturers quote the ‘load volume’ available in their vans as cubic metres (although to complicate things there are two ways of calculating this – the VDA or SAE methods, so, if you’re looking at online spec sheets, make sure you’re comparing like for like). But, there are a few things to bear in mind. You might have decided that the volume you get with a Transit LWB van is ideal, especially when you’re comparing it to the figure quoted for a VW Transporter LWB. But, check out the roof height. The Transit LWB might have a large internal height that you just can’t use. Those load volume figures assume that the entire loadspace is being filled from top to bottom, and from front to back, sometimes even including that area under the passenger seat. For those where volume is critical, but who don’t want to buy a LWB van when a SWB van will do the job, perhaps the only answer is to ask the dealer if you can try a van for a day, putting your unique load in.

Which will carry more weight? A lwb van or a swb van?

There’s no easy answer to this as it can vary. In theory, an unladen Ford Transit SWB will weigh less than a Ford Transit LWB. A heavier van equals a lower payload. But, that assumes that the van has the same Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). Some manufacturers will give their larger vans a higher GVM, This can mean that the LWB van is able to carry more weight than the SWB version. Once again, it’s a case of checking the data sheets available online.

Are SWB vans and LWB vans the same in specification apart from the load volume they can carry?

Usually, although on some smaller vans, the LWB van may have an additional side loading door on the driver’s side which isn’t included in the specification for the SWB version.

I would like to add some styling to my new van to make it stand out from the crowd – will the wheelbase make a difference to what is available?

There are many styling options available for the majority of new (and used) vans on the market. There may be some differences in availability from model to model but suppliers such as Vanstyle have comprehensive, clear listings on their websites allowing you to see just what options are open to you.

I might just opt for the Ford Transit Custom LWB, just to be sure. Are there any aspects I need to be aware of?

Operating a van larger than you need isn’t always ideal. Bear in mind that if buying new you will be paying a premium over the SWB version, and, with small and medium vans often the LWB van has a lower second-hand value than the SWB, so you could be taking a financial hit at both ends.

If you’re operating around town, you’ll be aware of how tricky parking and manoeuvring a van can be. You’ll find parking spaces for a LWB van even harder to find than for a SWB van, and it’s easier to damage a longer van during a working day that involves some tight twists and turns, especially in inner city areas. Getting damage repaired isn’t cheap, not to mention the downtime that this can incur. If you regularly carry a lot of weight, opting for a larger than necessary van can lead to you being tempted, on occasion to unknowingly overload it. Not only is this unsafe, it’s also illegal.

There’s a plus side though. There may be occasions when you do need some additional volume, perhaps for a one-off job, maybe to help someone move house or to collect that large piece of second-hand furniture you’ve just bought. Previously, you may have had to subcontract the work, done multiple trips or even had to hire a van. Having that extra capacity may well save some money in the long run.

So, it’s fairly simple then. Just a choice between the two.

Well, almost. Although small and medium vans are usually offered as a short wheelbase van or a long wheelbase van, larger ones often have even more options. Take the Ford Transit. You can choose from the L1, L2, L3 and L4 lengths, not to mention the three roof heights on offer. There’s a similar number of options with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter which goes up to an L5 but, strangely doesn’t offer an L1… Once again, the key here when comparing manufacturers is checking the data, as one man’s long wheelbase may well be another’s medium wheelbase!

Take a look at your styling options

Here’s some useful links to the styling options for vans mentioned in this article:

• Ford Transit Custom
• Ford Transit
• VW T6 Transporter
• VW Crafter
• Mercedes Sprinter
• Mercedes Vito
• Vauxhall Movano