One of the main benefits of a dropside van is the access it gives you to the load. The sides can be lowered for loading and unloading large or bulky items, while the open body makes it easier to reach goods from the side as well as the rear.
Dawsongroup vans offers dropside models from manufacturers including Ford and Mercedes-Benz, with different body and loading configurations depending on what your business needs to carry. Options can also include equipment such as tail lifts, company decals and high-visibility markings.
You can compare dropsides alongside other large vans in the current fleet. Dawsongroup currently lists both Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter dropside models.
Ford Transit dropsides are available in different configurations depending on how goods will be loaded and where the vehicle will be used.
The current range includes the Ford Transit 350 L4 dropside with folding sides for easier access to the load bed, as well as a tail-lift version where mechanical lifting support is useful at the rear of the vehicle. Dawsongroup vans also currently lists a Ford E-Transit dropside for fleets considering an electric option.
You can compare these with other body styles across the Ford Transit range or view the wider Ford van fleet.
Dropside vans are useful where goods need to be loaded from more than one side of the vehicle. Folding sides open up the load bed for forklift access and can make long or bulky items easier to handle than they would be through the rear doors of a panel van. Dawsongroup’s current Ford and Mercedes-Benz dropside listings both highlight the long flatbed and folding sides for forklift loading and unloading.
Before choosing a vehicle, check:
Body dimensions vary by model, so check the current vehicle specification rather than assuming every dropside provides the same usable space.
Payload is just as important as the size of the load bed. A larger body does not necessarily mean a vehicle can carry more weight, and equipment added to the vehicle can reduce the payload available for goods.
The current Ford Transit L4 dropside illustrates this. The standard version and tail-lift version have the same 4,145mm by 2,200mm load-bed dimensions, but the listed payload falls from 1,096kg to 861kg once the tail-lift configuration is added.
When comparing dropside van hire or dropside van lease options, check the payload of the specific vehicle and allow for passengers, tools and fitted equipment as well as the goods being carried.
Dropside vans work well where bulky goods, materials or equipment need to be loaded and unloaded regularly during the working day.
The right vehicle will depend on the size and weight of the load, how it needs to be handled and the access available at each site.
As well as adding a dropside van to your fleet, you will have access to Dawsongroup vans’ planned and unplanned maintenance and servicing support. Our nationwide support network helps reduce downtime and keep vehicles available for work.
