Why aren't 4x4 vans common?
Discussion
Question is the title.
Every tradesman in the UK seems to drive around in either a Transit Custom type van, or a crew cab pickup. Both vehicles are extremely versatile, the crew cab being a very capable vehicle off the beaten track with a good amount of driver/family space seperate from the cargo, however you just can't beat a small van for versatility of having a work space in the back with room for nicely organised tools & equipment.
My question is, why has nobody tried to combine these vehicles? You get big 3.5tonners in 4wd flavour (big Transits, Sprinters & particularly Iveco chassis cabs are very capable). However nobody seems to offer this in tradesman van size (something that will fit in a normal parking space & drive into a multistory/through a drivethrough). I am wondering why, as it seems to be the biggest complaint amongst tradesmen around here (rural Scotland), is you either pick a transit which you can nicely organise a toolbox in, or a crew cab which will get you through all snow and as far off road as you will ever be expected to go, but with a crappy load area (good for hay bales/pallets, bad for tools). The only manufacturer who seems to offer close to soft road capability is PSA with their fancy terrain response FWD diff. There are also 4x4 conversions sold aftermarket, but are pricey and rare.
Every tradesman in the UK seems to drive around in either a Transit Custom type van, or a crew cab pickup. Both vehicles are extremely versatile, the crew cab being a very capable vehicle off the beaten track with a good amount of driver/family space seperate from the cargo, however you just can't beat a small van for versatility of having a work space in the back with room for nicely organised tools & equipment.
My question is, why has nobody tried to combine these vehicles? You get big 3.5tonners in 4wd flavour (big Transits, Sprinters & particularly Iveco chassis cabs are very capable). However nobody seems to offer this in tradesman van size (something that will fit in a normal parking space & drive into a multistory/through a drivethrough). I am wondering why, as it seems to be the biggest complaint amongst tradesmen around here (rural Scotland), is you either pick a transit which you can nicely organise a toolbox in, or a crew cab which will get you through all snow and as far off road as you will ever be expected to go, but with a crappy load area (good for hay bales/pallets, bad for tools). The only manufacturer who seems to offer close to soft road capability is PSA with their fancy terrain response FWD diff. There are also 4x4 conversions sold aftermarket, but are pricey and rare.
Don't 4x4 require some common sense and mechanical sympathy, as well as avoiding fitting different brands of cheap junk tyres on each corner? I can't see that working out very well on a vehicle that is traditionally driven by neaderthals and gets ragged to within an inch of it's life on a daily basis.....
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