Maintenance and repair costs for higher-mileage full-size vans are on the increase. According to the annual operating cost survey published in Automotive Fleet in November 1999, maintenance and repair costs for full-size vans were $37.53 per month in 1997. That number jumped to $52.40 in 1998, and rose again to $53.21 in 1999. Eric Strom, manager, North American Customer Services for GE Capital Fleet Services, said that increase is the result of a trend among fleets to overload vans. He said fleets are acquiring less-expensive half-ton vans when they should be using three-quarter ton instead. Overloading, he says, is the primary cause for increased brake wear and tire expenses for full-size vans.

Learning how to determine net payload capacity can help solve that The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) suggested the use of a simple formula to determine net payload capacity after allowing for everything installed on a truck. The formula was published for NTEA members to use when installing bodies and equipment to customer chassis, but it can also be used by fleet managers to specify new equipment.

How to Select the Right Van

To illustrate how a fleet manager can use the NTEA formula for selecting the right van chassis, AF calculated several alternatives for a popular 125-inch wheelbase van. These vans are offered as several models and GVW often may be boosted with heavy-duty options for each model.

We equipped each vehicle with recommended aftermarket bins and shelving for a plumbing and heating contractor, provided a roof carrier for conduits, a storage box for the driver, and put in a passenger seat. Also included were a spare tire and wheel and a larger-than-standard fuel tank.

The only creature comfort added was air conditioning. All vehicles are base sizes, except for the V-8 maximum one-ton version.

Looking at this example, we note that the base 1/2-ton model would be overloaded before any cargo was added and that a maximum spec 6,000 lb. 1/2 ton wold have a net capacity of only 739 lbs.

If the user could live with 1,550 lbs. net payload, then a 7,100 lb. GVW one-ton could do the job. (As a fleet manager, you have to know what loads will be carried.)

Maybe 1,300 lbs. is inadequate, in which case, the most you can do is opt for an 8,600 lb. one-ton version with a maximum net payload of 3,050 lbs.