A Few Terms to Remember When Buying a Refrigerated Van for Your Business
Buying a refrigerated van for your business is obviously not like buying a van for the family. There are actually many different types of refrigerated vans and different features they may offer, which can make the process more complicated. Becoming familiar with some terminology you'll come across when you're in the market for a refrigerated van can help with your decision; note a few of those terms here so you can ensure you get the right van for your business needs.
Chiller conversion
A chiller conversion van has a thick layer of insulation added to the sides and is good for when you need to keep items cool but not frozen. It may or may not come with a cooling unit in the back; if you have freezers or refrigerators that you will be plugging into the back to transport your items, you may not need that added cooling unit. For items like flowers and prepackaged foods, a chiller van may be sufficient.
Semi-freezer and full freezer conversion
Semi-freezer vans are different than full freezer; each will offer a certain lowest temperature available. Semi-freezer vans may become as cool as minus ten degree Celsius, whereas full freezer vans may become as cool as minus twenty degrees Celsius. The semi-freezer vans will also have thicker insulation than a chiller van, but this insulation may not be included in the rear or side doors. A full freezer van will be thickly insulated in all sides, and this also includes the doors.
Note the temperature you need to maintain for a freezer van before deciding; for items like ice cream that cannot vary by more than a degree or two, you may need a full freezer van. For items that need to be kept frozen but not in a deep freeze such as foodstuffs, a semi-freezer may be sufficient.
Plug-in standby
A plug-in standby is a good choice for a van where you'll hold frozen or chilled goods overnight. This allows you to plug in the refrigeration unit to an electrical socket where the van is parked, so you don't need to power off the van's battery or run the van and keep its battery charged. A plug-in standby is also good for when you use your van for more than transport; if you're parked at an event, you may be allowed to plug in to an outlet to keep the van cargo area chilled, which also eliminates the wear and tear on the van's battery.
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