What if I’ve I’ve never driven a van before?
Driving a van, particularly a modern van is a far cry from what it used to be, so if you’ve never driven anything other than a car, but have heard stories about the vans of old, you’re likely to be pleasantly surprised by just how easy it is to adjust. At Priory, we update our fleet often, so whichever model you choose, you’re not going to end up with the tired old vans of yesteryear, instead, you’ll drive away in a modern rental van, equipped with up to date modern conveniences.
What do you need to drive a van for?
If you’re considering hiring a van, chances are that you already have a purpose in mind. You might have bought some furniture on ebay, you might be moving house, you might be a business owner with more to deliver than your estate car will contain. Whatever your reason to rent a van, you’ll be able to find a van to hire in our extensive fleet. Whether you choose a small model for economy and convenience, or one of our cavernous LWB or Luton vans, for some serious load lugging, we’ll have a van to match your needs. If you’re not sure which would be best for you, feel free to ask for advice. Whichever you drive away, you’ll find the drive more similar to your car than it is different.
Mastering the controls – The skills you have are all you’ll need
When driving a vehicle you’ve never driven before, it’s natural to need a few minutes to adjust, don’t worry though, this isn’t because it’s a van, it’s just because it’s different to what you’re used to. If you can drive a manual car, then you can drive a van. The controls are the same as you’d expect to find in a car and work in the same way. You might be surprised to find that for certain models of Ford Transit, the dashboard layout, the steering wheel and the stereo are almost identical to that found in a Ford Mondeo of similar age. If it helps, don’t think of a van as separate to a car, think of it as just being a larger version, with a better driving position.
The key to successful van driving – Relax
One of the key things you’re likely to notice when you hire a van, especially so if you’re accustomed to driving a petrol car rather than a diesel, is the gearing and power delivery. This is a necessity for a commercial vehicle designed to carry heavy loads. If your usual driving style includes lots of accelerating, braking and overtaking, you’ll likely notice straight away that vans aren’t geared for quick maneuvres. The key to driving a van is to relax. While vans are capable of motorway speeds, they won’t be breaking any records for acceleration, nor should they. To get the best out your fuel economy, use that unrivalled driving position to plan your maneuvres well in advance. Accelerate gradually, brake gently and in plenty of time (especially if you’re fully loaded), use your indicators well in advance and don’t forget to smile. Van driving should be relaxed driving.
Choose a rental van and try one for yourself
At Priory, we have an extensive fleet of commercial vehicles of all shapes and sizes, available for short term hire or long term hire at a price which will surprise you. If you have a need for a van, don’t hesitate to get in touch and find out for yourself just how easy it is to hire a van and drive a van.