About Vehicle Transporting

There are a vast amount of van roof racks and van roof bars to choose from in the market today and prices can vary quite considerably. There are various factors to take into consideration when choosing van accessories but two of the most important things to consider before purchasing is that the roof bars or rack will suit purpose and will fit your vehicle.

The idea of van roof racks or roof bars is to allow an additional load to be transported outside of the vehicle safely and therefore the bars must be strong enough to support the items they are intended to carry and also the load must be able to be securely fastened to ensure it can be carried without movement or risk of loss. In most cases you can purchase additional van accessories such as load stops or ladder clamps which can be used in conjunction with the roof bars or racks to ensure that the load can be carried safely without any risk of movement or loss.

Another factor to consider prior to purchasing is how easy the rack or bars will be to fit. If the racks or bars are designed specifically for a vehicle type it often means they do not require drilling in order to fit which can help save time and mean you can often fit yourself but also the racks or bars will be easier to remove without any remedial work required should you wish to keep any accessories should the vehicle be sold. There are a variety of van roof racks available which are ‘one-man fit’.

Some racks have roof rollers incorporated into them which again is additional safety feature allowing for easier loading of items but you can also usually purchase these items separately if required.

And lastly price will also be something that needs to be taken into account but you should view roof racks or roof bars as a tool of your trade and therefore should ensure that the quality of bars you purchase will be proportionate to the amount of usage they will receive.By Shelley Meaden

If you’re planning on moving some equipment around, using a self-drive van hire is a cost effective solution you can use to get you where you need to go without having to make a pile of micro trips.

It’s a good idea to think about how far you want to go. If you are just moving across town, then it is fairly easy to hire a vehicle, load it up, drive it to the new place, unpack and then deliver it back to the company again. However if you are planning to move across the island, or to another island you’ll need to check if there is the option for one way hire. There can be an additional charge for this, so make sure you add that into your budget right from the outset. Sometimes you may need to pay the cost of returning it home.

Working out what size vehicle you need is the next step. You may find that a car isn’t going to be big enough, and that you can’t hire a truck as no one you are moving with has a truck license. Even though it may mean you need to take two trips, or use a rental vehicle as part of your moving plans, you should be able to get a large amount of your belongings into a van. Before you try to pack it, ask how much volume it will hold and do a little measuring to get an idea of what you’ll be able to fit into a self-drive van hire.

If you are planning to use it in the warmer months, or heading into autumn, you may find that more people are also moving around that time and it is harder to get a last minute booking. So it is a good idea to book it for the date you have planned as soon as you can. Most people tend to move at the start or finish of a month, so if you’re planning to move in the middle you may find it easier to find an available rental. Using it mid week will also make it easier.

Whatever you do, get insurance. It’s a good idea to pay that little bit extra and buy a higher level on insurance for a lower excess. Driving on unfamiliar roads can be a little tricky at times, so the extra insurance on a self-drive van hire will give you the peace of mind you need to ensure you have a hassle free move.

Guardian is a provider of clean, safe, flexible and affordable solutions for all your personal and business storing needs. With 4 convenient locations in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga and lots of unit size options, Guardian is ideal for temporary storing if you’re between homes. Also for business or commercial storing you don’t need to waste valuable commercial rental space using it for storing your archived documents and records. Let Guardian take care of these with their specially designed facilities and racks for easy storing solutions and retrieval.

And to get your stuff there or move from A to B we have a fleet of immaculately presented, modern and easy self-drive van and removal trucks which are ideal for your next DIY move! Most of of our trucks can be driven on a car license, many are even automatic.By Euan Armstrong

When you think ‘White Van Man’ you probably think of a balding man, with a slight beer belly wearing a plaster-coated t-shirt and worn out denim jeans.

This is the stereotypical view many of us have of the infamous white van man. They aren’t often held in high regard as we usually place them as the drivers that tailgate us along the motorway, cut us up on roundabouts and throw rude gestures our way.

So – you may or may not be surprised to hear the following,

Aviva recently carried out a large motoring survey and gathered some surprising results. This new research suggests that white van men are the ‘smartest’ ‘sexiest’ and most successful drivers on the road.

Out of all the drivers who were questioned in the survey, they were the least likely to have a degree, but the most likely to read a book, be interested in politics and they are the least likely to watch reality TV. The majority of all the bikers who were surveyed said that they never read a book.

The research also revealed that 50% of these drivers were most likely to own their own business, whereas 83% of sports car drivers work for somebody else – so they are an entrepreneurial lot!

In addition to all this, van drivers actually believe that their van is an asset when talking to members of the opposite sex…

So, has your opinion of the ‘white van man’ changed over the past decade or so, as they certainly believe it has. Was this representation ever actually true – or was it just a myth… are BMW drivers the new ‘white man van’?
By Lucy Penn

There could be numerous reasons why someone would need to rent a full size van. They may need to relocate across town, transport a large number of people with ease or replace a van while theirs is being mechanically tuned up. What type of full size van you hire would depend on the purpose for hiring the van. Despite this renting a full size van is as easy as renting a normal car with most car rental companies supplying a number of different makes and models to suit every taste.

Why rent a van?
There are various advantages to renting a full size cargo van over a moving truck or SUV. A full size cargo van is smaller and thus easier to drive and maneuver in urban areas. They do not require a special license to drive making them accessible for hire to all. Cargo vans are perfect for transporting excess furniture to storage, moving your possessions to a new house, taking products to an exhibition, transporting products for work such as flowers, mail etc. They are rear opening allowing easy access and usually sport about 200 plus cubic feet of storage space.

Renting a full size passenger van also has many advantages. Having a vehicle that can transport 12 -15 people enables you to take large groups anywhere and use less fuel. Passenger vans are great for people who have large families or when a number of families are travelling together. They are also useful for work, school and camp related activities as they can accommodate more passengers than your standard car or full size SUV. All passenger vans come standard with all the basic conveniences such as automatic transmission, cruise control, CD players and air- conditioning.

How to rent a van
Whether you are renting a full size van for vacation transport, to replace a work car for a short period or to move your possessions your best option is to explore the many rental companies for the best prices and deals. You also need to make sure that rental companies in your area offer the type of van you are looking for. In general passenger vans are easy to find and rent but access to a cargo van will depend on your area. To make sure that you are able to have either a passenger or cargo van on the required days you need to reserve it in advance. Most rental companies prefer that you do this and will not take responsibility if there are no vans available on the days requested if not reserved in advance. You will need to specify a pick-up and drop off location as well as the dates of your rental period. As always rental companies will offer a list of extra’s that can be obtained for a small fee. Lastly the rental company will require your personal details and payment option.

When hiring a van make sure that you have considered what it will be used for and how long you will need it. Always research to find the best possible prices and deals as this will ensure that your rental experience is a positive one.By Peter Coaldrake