Sizing a van around what you are moving
List the largest items with rough length, width and height, and give an estimate of total weight, because bulk and payload limit a van in different ways. Mention anything awkward, such as a wardrobe that cannot be dismantled or long timber. Describe loading at both ends, including stairs, lift access, distance from the kerb and whether anyone will help lift.
Picking a suitable van
Start with the load, then choose the van. A small van works well for boxes, tools and light collections; medium and long-wheelbase vans suit furniture, stock and trade equipment; and a Luton is the better choice for bulkier items on a house move. Subject to dates, driver details and availability, the range includes the Volkswagen Caddy, Ford Transit SWB, VW Transporter Automatic, Ford Transit MWB and Ford Transit LWB. Make, model, transmission, seats, payload and licence position are all confirmed at quote stage, so treat these vehicles as a guide to the kind of hire on offer rather than a guaranteed reservation of a particular model.
Recording the Size of Awkward Items
Before you pick up the phone, it is worth deciding which items on your list actually need measuring. Anything long, tall or irregular, such as a dining table, a chest of drawers or a rolled rug, deserves a note of its length, width and height, taken at the widest point including handles and feet. Write down whether each piece can be dismantled, and keep a separate count of the boxes, bags and loose goods that make up the rest of the load. If some belongings are going to a different address from the others, mark which ones. When you ask for a quote, you can share these figures and ask which van sizes the team would consider for that list, whether any single item stands out as needing a closer look, and what other details they would want before suggesting a vehicle.
Planning Around Hobby Equipment and Dates
Hobby gear often behaves differently from ordinary household goods, so it pays to plan it out on paper. If you are transporting a model railway layout, canvases, dive gear or cycling equipment, note the quantity of each type, its packed dimensions, and whether anything is delicate or must travel at a particular angle. Alongside the equipment list, settle your hire dates: whether you need the van for a single day, a weekend, or a longer stretch, and whether there is any flexibility if your plans move. Where someone at the destination will receive the items, add their contact details to your notes. Questions to raise include whether the dates you prefer are usually workable, how changes to the hire period are handled, and what the team needs from you to confirm a booking.
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Last checks before booking
Before the hire is confirmed, go over the key points: whether the vehicle is available, the driver requirements, mileage, insurance, the delivery or collection arrangements and any extras you have asked for. Make sure payload, loading height, tail-lift needs, driver details, deposits and insurance excess are confirmed before you settle on a van size. A clear request gives the date, the length of hire, a rough route, the delivery or pickup address, the passengers or load you expect and any special requirements that might affect which vehicle is suitable.