What is the best van for window cleaners?

Start with the working day, not the biggest tank

Record water used on a representative round, distance between customers, access to a refill and the occasions when two people work together. Include the jobs you genuinely intend to accept, such as larger commercial windows or additional exterior-cleaning work. Do not assume a particular tank capacity provides a full day: nozzle choice, technique and the work itself change consumption.

A smaller tank can leave useful capacity for tools and make a compact vehicle viable, but a refill detour can cost working time. A larger tank avoids some stops but carries its weight every time it is filled. Compare those trade-offs before paying for a bigger van or committing to a permanent installation.

350, 500 or 650 litres: what does the water weigh?

For practical planning, fresh water weighs approximately one kilogram per litre. A full 350-litre tank therefore contains about 350kg of water; 500 litres is about 500kg; 650 litres is about 650kg. These are water-only calculations, not the mass of a complete system and not a statement that any particular van can carry it.

As a deliberately hypothetical budget, take 500kg of water, 150kg for an empty tank, frame and installed equipment, 160kg for two people, and 100kg for other tools and consumables. The additions total 910kg before any items omitted from that list. The equipment and people figures are assumptions, not supplier specifications. Replace every one with actual weights and account for the manufacturer's base-weight definition so you neither omit nor double-count people or fuel.

Ask for a written dry installed weight covering the tank, frame, battery, filtration, pumps, reels, hoses, floor protection and storage. A product page listing tank capacity or dimensions is not a complete weight certificate. Pure Freedom, for example, lists several tank sizes and separate system components: the water capacity alone is plainly not the entire installation.

Compact van or medium van?

A compact panel van can be a sensible purchase for a solo operator when the full working load, tank arrangement and refill plan fit. Compare candidates such as Transit Connect or Berlingo by their exact derivative and conversion proposal. Do not infer carrying ability from the number of seats, the vehicle's overall size or a model-wide advertised maximum.

A medium panel van such as Transit Custom, Trafic or Primastar offers a different layout brief when a larger installation, extra reels or another operator needs space. These are candidates for investigation, not a promise that every engine, gearbox or body carries the same tank. Ford explicitly cautions that headline range figures may come from different versions. Obtain the current specification and the converter's assessment for the vehicle you would actually order.

A longer body can improve access around a tank without increasing the legal load available. Conversely, a shorter higher-capacity derivative may be more useful than a long van that is already heavy. Try the daily loading sequence and the tightest parking space on the round before deciding that extra length is worth it.

Tank security and axle weights are part of the purchase

Have the tank, frame, mounting and vehicle compatibility assessed together. DVSA says load restraint must suit the particular load and vehicle; a heavy item is not secure simply because it is difficult to move by hand. Do not treat ordinary floor lining or an improvised fixing as evidence that a full tank is safely installed.

A baffled tank is designed to reduce water movement, but that does not replace suitable attachment to the vehicle. Ask the system supplier for the installation requirements, compatible body and mounting arrangement, and confirmation of the finished conversion. Keep the documentation with the vehicle records and disclose the alterations to the insurer.

Check total and individual axle weights with the normal crew, equipment and a full tank. Being below the van's gross limit does not prove that both axles are within their limits. Have the layout checked before installation, then verify it on a suitable weighbridge. Recheck after substantial changes rather than assuming the original allowance remains available.

Make it easy to work from every day

Plan where wet hoses and poles go after the final job, how reels are reached without unloading unrelated equipment, and how filters or batteries can be serviced. Check side-door access as well as rear access. Keep regularly handled items reachable and plan secure storage for loose equipment, not merely the fixed tank.

If you also carry a pressure washer, vacuum or generator, give the converter its dimensions and weight separately. A window-cleaning layout and a mobile-valeting layout are not interchangeable simply because both carry water. Changes to fuel storage, electrical equipment or ventilation need specialist assessment rather than assumptions based on this buying guide.

Buying new or used, diesel or electric

For a used van, inspect the load floor, previous fixing points and evidence of water ingress or corrosion before transferring a system. Obtain the installation documents and check whether the existing system is suitable for continued use in that vehicle. A tidy cab is not proof of a sound conversion. Our used Transit Custom guide covers the vehicle checks separately, avoiding a second generic inspection checklist here.

For an electric candidate, assess the exact payload and your loaded route with the supplier, including colder days, charging access and any equipment power demand. Do not turn an official unloaded range figure into a guarantee for a tank-equipped round. A diesel can suit longer mixed routes; an electric can suit predictable work with dependable charging. Compare the working pattern rather than treating either as universally best.

Ownership can be useful when you intend to retain a specialist fit-out and keep the vehicle for years. You retain the resale value when you own it and are not subject to a lease contract's mileage or hand-back conditions. Any active finance agreement may require permission for alterations; buying is not automatically the cheapest option for every business.

Give Damian a useful sourcing brief

Send your required water capacity, the converter's dry installed weight and layout, number of people, other equipment, daily mileage, refill access and purchase budget. Add the maximum body size you can park and whether you need a new or used van. That is much more useful than asking for any medium van with a big payload.

Call Damian at National Auto Sales to discuss sourcing the vehicle for purchase. Installation approval remains with the appropriate specialist. Damian can discuss limited-company van finance enquiries and explore an introduction to an independent funding provider. Approval is not guaranteed.