What is a double cab van?
A double-cab van is a commercial vehicle consisting of two rows of seats, allowing you to transport both staff and equipment. In practice, this means you have a second row of seats behind the driver and co-driver for additional passengers. The cargo area is located behind this double cab, separate from the seats. This type of van combines the comfort of passenger transport with the practical loading capacity you need for tools and materials.
What is the difference between a single and double cab van?
The main difference is in the number of seats and the ratio of passenger to cargo space. A single-cab van has one row of seats with room for up to three people (driver plus two passengers). The entire space behind this row of seats is available for cargo. In a double cab van, you have two rows of seats, which means you can carry more people, but sacrifice some cargo space.
In practice, you see this difference mainly in daily use. With a single cabin, you maximise the loading capacity, which is useful if you mainly transport goods and are rarely on the road with a whole team. You choose the double cab if you regularly drive several colleagues to project sites and want everyone to travel in comfort.
Another practical difference is the separation between working and sitting space. With a double cab, the cab stays cleaner because tools, materials and dirty work remain in the separate cargo area. With a single cab, everything is closer together, which means your cab can get dirty faster if you regularly transport dusty or dirty materials.
What type of work is a double cab van best suited for?
A double cab van is ideal for businesses where team transport and equipment transport go hand in hand. Think of construction companies driving a crew of four to six to a building site, complete with tools and materials. Instead of using multiple vehicles, solve it with one van.
Installation companies also benefit greatly from this type of van. A mechanic rarely drives alone, and with a double cab you take colleagues along while you carry toolboxes, pipework and other supplies in the cargo space. The same goes for landscaping companies that work with a team and need to transport garden tools, plants and materials.
Service companies in engineering, such as electricians or plumbers who work with several mechanics, often opt for a double cab. You drive to customer sites together, save fuel costs by not having to drive multiple cars, and still have enough space for your professional equipment. For transport companies purely focused on goods transport without staff, a single cab is usually more suitable.
How many people can you carry in a double cab van?
In a double cab van, you can usually six to seven people transport, including the driver. The most common configuration is three seats in the front and three or four seats in the second row of seats. The exact capacity depends on the make and model you choose.
In terms of safety, every seat must have an approved seat belt. This is required by law and is also checked during the MOT inspection. All occupants must be able to sit safely with a three-point seat belt, which means that you cannot just let extra people ride on the cargo floor.
For business use, it is good to know that your company car can stay up to 3500 kg if you stay within this weight class. This means you can drive with a normal B driving licence. Do pay attention to the maximum load capacity: the more people you take with you, the less weight you can carry in terms of materials and tools without exceeding the permitted total mass.
What are the pros and cons of a double cab van?
The biggest advantages lie in the versatility and cost efficiency. You solve team transport and material transport with one vehicle, which means you need fewer vehicles in your fleet. This saves costs for purchase, insurance, road tax and maintenance. Moreover, you drive to project sites with one vehicle instead of several, which saves fuel costs and makes parking easier.
Another advantage is the comfort for your team. Everyone sits comfortably with plenty of legroom, and the separate cargo area ensures that the cabin remains clean and pleasant. Employees appreciate this, especially on longer trips to customer sites or projects.
The disadvantages are mainly practical. You lose cargo space compared to a single cab, which means you can carry fewer materials or tools. For companies that need to transport large volumes, this can be a problem. Fuel consumption is also higher due to the extra weight of the double cab and passengers. Finally, the purchase price is higher than for a comparable single-cab van.
So you need to carefully weigh up what is more important for your operations: maximum cargo capacity or the ability to take your whole team with you. For many companies, the convenience of travelling together outweighs the loss of cargo space.
How Van Den Hurk helps find the right double cab van
We understand that choosing the right double cab van depends on your specific business situation. That is why we take the time to work with you to see exactly what you need. How many employees will you take with you on average? What materials do you need to transport? And what is your budget?
Our range of double cabins includes various makes and models, both new and used. Thanks to our large stock of around 400 commercial vehicles, you will always find a suitable solution with us. You can come to us for:
- Personal advice from consultants who know the business inside out
- Flexible financing options such as purchase or financial lease
- Stock alert service that automatically notifies you when your ideal van arrives
- Transparent pricing with no surprises
- Complete guidance from advice to delivery
Feel free to drop by our showroom in Helmond to view and compare various double cab vans. Or check our current range online at www.vdhurk.nl. Do you have a specific model in mind that is not available right now? Then turn on the stock alert and you will hear immediately when we receive a suitable van. Contact us and we will be happy to help you find the perfect double cab for your business.
