Why are hire vans bulkheads all blocked off?

[bull996]

I need to hire a van for 10 days this summer, no problem there.

Except that all the companies I have spoken to all have thr front area of the van blocked off from the back.

the issue is that I will be taking fragile stuff as well as dogs and need to be able to see from the front into the back.

Is it a health and safety thing for ALL van hire places, or is it worth me keeping looking?

[thinfourth2]

Not a huge problem as both dogs and squishy stuff makes noise when broken

[bull996]

thinfourth2 said:

Not a huge problem as both dogs and squishy stuff makes noise when broken

lol, well thats true!!!

[Shaw Tarse]

Have you got a mate you can put in the back to keep an eye on important stuff?

[Graebob]

Just pack it correctly and don't drive like a loon. I'd be very surprised if you could find a hire van without a bulkhead as most will be newish and come from the factory like that for increased rigidity and load security.

Alternatively put the stuff in the cab.

[Tuvra]

I hired a SWB sprinter without a bulkhead last week, definatley available. This one was an 08 plate.

[jamiebae]

If you can manage with it a full bulkhead makes things a lot more civilised in the cab. Less noise and more chance of the heating/ventilation system working effectively.

[ferkle]

Its only a little van, but I have a 10 plate Combo parked outside courtesy of a local van hire place. I wish it did have a bulkhead - I have 35 monitors and 35 voip phones waiting to punch me in the back of the head on the way to Scotland tomorrow. How big are the dogs, and how much fragile stuff to you need to take?

[bull996]

ferkle said:

Its only a little van, but I have a 10 plate Combo parked outside courtesy of a local van hire place. I wish it did have a bulkhead - I have 35 monitors and 35 voip phones waiting to punch me in the back of the head on the way to Scotland tomorrow. How big are the dogs, and how much fragile stuff to you need to take?

I can see why they have them-its much safer for you when carrying that kind of gear.

Dogs are 2 german shepherds, and the fragile stuff is food, including wedding cake.

If I cant see the dogs, they will eat the food lol.

[JohnnyRims]

bull996 said:

ferkle said:

Its only a little van, but I have a 10 plate Combo parked outside courtesy of a local van hire place. I wish it did have a bulkhead - I have 35 monitors and 35 voip phones waiting to punch me in the back of the head on the way to Scotland tomorrow. How big are the dogs, and how much fragile stuff to you need to take?

I can see why they have them-its much safer for you when carrying that kind of gear.

Dogs are 2 german shepherds, and the fragile stuff is food, including wedding cake.

If I cant see the dogs, they will eat the food lol.

Dare I say it - two trips?

[Flanders.]

I've never had a work van with out a Bulkhead. Thankgod .

[geeteeaye]

bull996 said:

I can see why they have them-its much safer for you when carrying that kind of gear.

Dogs are 2 german shepherds, and the fragile stuff is food, including wedding cake.

If I cant see the dogs, they will eat the food lol.

So you'd spend the trip watching the dogs while looking at the road from time to time?

[bull996]

The Mrs would be dog watching!!

Cant do 2 trips, its 220 miles each way and we are there for a week!

Not to worry, I shall look for something else.

[jake15919]

bull996 said:

The Mrs would be dog watching!!

Cant do 2 trips, its 220 miles each way and we are there for a week!

Not to worry, I shall look for something else.

Simple answer. Dogs up front Missus in the back. Perfect unless she is even less trustworthy when confronted with cake.

[carreauchompeur]

It's like that conundrum where you have to get chickens, foxes and corn in a single boat over to an island... I can see why you wouldn't want to combine German Shepherds and wedding food!

[R60EST]

On some vans the upper section of the bulkhead has an easily removable panel usually just held in place by a series of torx bolts or similar , remove it for the journey and refit before returning the van

[Flanders.]

ALso op, on alot of vans the two passenger seats have quite a big storage area under them. We have loads of gear under there, might be able to put some of the food in there?

[JamesNotJim]

We recently ordered 15 new vans. Direct from Merc to our spec (larger engine than is usually in this body, double slide doors and no bulkhead) through Northgate.
Only when they arrived at our offices 12 weeks later did we find out there are legal issues with rental vans (Even long term) having no bulkheads. We have gone through a ball ache of having to sign disclaimers for removing the bulkhead and replacing with our own bespoke set ups. (Fitted by qualified coach builders).

[Dyl]

What you need is something like this:



Dogs in the back seat. Cake in the pick-up bed. Or t'other way round.

Dare I say it...

Simples!

[Johnnytheboy]

What size of van are we talking? The default setting for a Transit-sized van is to have a bulkhead.