Do You Need a Rolling Workbench/Warehouse?

Full- and midsized cargo vans may be the answer to haul parts and tools to the job site and give you a warm, dry place to keep your on-location projects moving along.

Tired of working in the snow and rain? Do you find yourself tripping over parts and tools? Need more power for towing or room for stowing? Perhaps it’s time you parked your pickup, moved up to a full-size cargo van or stepped into a new midsize Mertis.

Already established as a go-to service vehicle, cargo vans offer indoor comfort, carrying capacity and overall convenience that make them a smart choice for installers looking to bring a work space and organized parts supply to any job site.

Ready to kick some tires? Here’s a look at some of the new models for 2016:

Ford Transit

Let’s start with 2015’s top-selling Ford Transit. New for 2016 is a dual-sliding door option, available on its medium- and high-roof models. Delivering the most flexibility in its class, the Transit offers 58 vehicle configurations in 2016, up from 47 on 2015 models, along with a variety of wheelbases and body lengths to match your business needs:

130-inch wheelbase, 126-inch load floor with low (83.6 inches) and medium (100.8 inches) roof heights
148-inch wheelbase, 143.7-inch load floor with low, medium and high (110.1 inches) roof heights
148-inch wheelbase/extended body, 172.2-inch load floor with high (109.4 inches) roof height

The Transit’s cargo volume ranges from 246.7 cubic feet (regular wheelbase and low roof) to 487.3 cubic feet (long wheelbase/extended and high roof) with a payload capacity ranging from 3,060 pounds (single rear wheels) to 4,560 pounds (dual rear wheels, 148 inches extended). Ladder racks on the roof can carry up to 420 pounds. Maximum GVWR is 10,360 pounds with a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 pounds.

Engine options include standard 3.7L Ti-VCT V6 with advanced twin independent variable cam timing, 3.5L EcoBoost or 3.2L Power Stroke turbo diesel. The 3.7L V6 Transit is also available with a compressed natural gas (CNG)/propane gaseous engine prep package that includes hardened exhaust valves and valve seats for improved wear resistance and durability.

Mercedes-Benz Mertis

The new kid on the block for 2016 is the midsize Mertis. The van has been available in Europe since 1996 and joined the U.S. market in October. The Mertis has a starting MSRP of $28,950 and is powered by a four-cylinder gasoline engine (208 hp/258 ft-lbs) with an optional ECO Start/Stop mated to a 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission.

Wheelbase: 126 inches
Cargo volume: 186 cubic feet
Payload capacity: 2,502 pounds
Towing capacity: 4,960 pounds
Length: 202.4 inches
Width: 88.3 inches (including mirrors)
Height: 75.2 inches
Maximum roof load: 331 pounds
GVWR: 6,724 pounds

Sprinter

The time-tested Sprinter has more airbags and a smaller fuel tank (24.5 gallons) in 2016 but otherwise remains basically unchanged. Both the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner 2500 and 3500 models are available with a 144-, 170- and 170-inch extended wheelbase.

All 3500 models (9,990 GVWR [standard]; 10,140 and 11,030 GVWR) feature dual rear wheels with optional high roof (144-inch wheelbase) and super high roof (170-inch and 170-inch extended wheelbase).

Engine options include the 2.1-liter, four-cylinder BlueTEC turbo diesel with seven-speed automatic transmission (standard) and 3.0-liter V6 BlueTEC turbo diesel with five-speed automatic.

Model 2500 (GVWR 8,550 pounds)

Length: 233.3-289.8 inches
Height: 94.5-114.3 inches
Width: 95.5 inches (with mirrors)
Maximum payload: 3,512 pounds (standard)
Maximum interior height (no trim): 66.6-87.3 inches
Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds

Model 3500 (9,990 GVWR)

Length: 233.3-289.8 inches
Height: 107.3-115.4 inches
Width: 95.5 inches (with mirrors)
Maximum payload: 4,456 pounds (standard)
Maximum interior height (no trim): 77.8-87.3 inches
Towing capacity: 7,500 pounds (standard);
5,000 (170-inch extended models)

Model 3500 (10,140 GVWR)

Length: 233.3-289.8 inches
Height: 107.3-115.5 inches
Width: 95.5 inches (with mirrors)
Maximum payload: 4,750 pounds (standard)
Maximum interior height (no trim): 77.8-87.3 inches
Towing capacity: 7,500 pounds (standard);
5,000 (170-inch extended models)

Model 3500 (11,030 GVWR)

Length: 233.3-289.8 inches
Height: 107.3-115.4 inches
Width: 95.5 inches (with mirrors)
Maximum payload: 5,507 pounds (standard)
Maximum interior height (no trim): 77.8-87.3 inches
Towing capacity: 7,500 pounds (standard);
5,000 (170-inch extended models)

Nissan NV

Nissan offers three models of cargo vans (NV1500, NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD). Power options range from the 261 hp (281 ft-lbs) 4.0-liter V6 offered on the standard roof NV1500 to the 317 hp (385 ft-lbs) 5.6-liter V8 offered on the NV3500 standard or high roof.

Model NV1500 (8,550 GVWR)

Length: 240.6 inches
Width: 99.5 inches (with mirrors)
Height: 83.9 inches (standard roof)
Maximum payload: 2,752 pounds; 2,645 (SV)
Cargo volume: 299.7 cubic feet
Towing capacity: 7,000 pounds

Model NV2500 (9,100 GVWR)

Length: 240.6 inches
Width: 99.5 inches (with mirrors)
Height: 83.9 inches (standard roof); 105.5 (high roof)
Maximum payload (standard roof, V6): 3,301 pounds (S); 3,159 (SV); 3,144 (SL)
Maximum payload (standard roof, V8): 3,144 pounds (S); 3,002 (SV); 2,987 (SL)
Maximum payload (high roof, V6): 3,138 pounds (S); 2,996 (SV); 2,981 (SL)
Maximum payload (high roof, V8): 2,991 pounds (S); 2,849 (SV); 3,783 (SL)
Cargo volume: 234.1 cubic feet (standard roof); 323.1 (high roof)
Towing capacity: 7,000 pounds

Model NV3500 (9,900 GVWR)

Length: 240.6 inches
Width: 99.5 inches (with mirrors)
Height: 83.9 inches (standard roof); 105.5 (high roof)
Maximum payload (standard roof, V8): 3,937 pounds (S); 3,795 (SV); 3,780 (SL)
Maximum payload (high roof, V8): 3,783 pounds (S); 3,641 (SV); 3,626 (SL)
Cargo volume: 299.7 cubic feet (standard roof); 420.5 (high roof)
Towing capacity: 7,000 pounds

Chevrolet Express

The 2016 Chevrolet Express features a 4.8-liter Vortex V8 gasoline engine with optional 6.6-liter, Duramax turbo-diesel V8 that delivers 260 hp and 525 ft-lbs of torque, as well as a CNG option (282 hp/320 ft-lbs). Mated to the Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmission (standard), the Express is offered in regular (135-inch) and extended (155-inch) wheelbase models.

New for 2016 is OnStar 4G LTE connectivity with Wi-Fi hotspot that connects to seven devices and navigation radio with Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system.

Model 2500 (8,600 GVWR)

Length: 224 inches; 244 (extended)
Width: 79.2 inches
Height: 84.6 inches; 84.3 (extended)
Maximum payload: 3,247 pounds; 3,013 (extended)
Cargo volume: 239.7 cubic feet (regular wheelbase)
Towing capacity: 10,000 pounds

Model 3500 (9,600 GVWR)

Length: 224 inches; 244 (extended)
Height: 84.5 inches; 84.1 (extended)
Width: 79.2 inches
Maximum payload: 4,120 pounds; 3,899 (extended)
Cargo volume: 284.4 cubic feet (extended)
Towing capacity: 10,000 pounds

FIAT-CHRYSLER Ram ProMaster

The 2016 Ram ProMaster (1500, 2500 and 3500 models) features front-wheel drive and 4,420 pounds of payload capacity. The 1500 is available in low-roof and high-roof options with 118- and 136-inch wheelbases. The 2500 high roof is available with a 136- and 159-inch wheelbase, while the 3500 high roof is available with a 159-inch wheelbase and 159-inch extended wheelbase.

A 3.6-liter, 24-valve V6 gasoline engine with six-speed automatic transmission is standard on all models with a 3.0-liter ECO diesel option.

Model 1500 (8,550 GVWR)

Length: 195 inches (118 wheelbase); 213.1 inches (136 wheelbase)
Width: 82.7 inches
Maximum payload: 3,990 pounds (low roof, 188-inch wheelbase); 3,920 (low roof, 136-inch wheelbase); 3,810 (high roof, 136-inch wheelbase)
Towing capacity: 5,100 pounds

Model 2500 (8,900 GVWR)