Kitchen Fitting Van – Worktops, Units and the Old Kitchen Out
Plenty of households want a new kitchen in place before Christmas. Whether a homeowner is fitting it themselves or a self-employed fitter is running the job, the right kitchen fitting van makes the whole project smoother. For anyone looking at van hire in Warrington, the key question is simple. Will the worktops fit?
A kitchen arrives as dozens of flat-pack boxes, a few long worktops and often new appliances. Then the old units, sink and tiles all need to go. This guide walks through the vans at the Cockhedge depot that handle each stage, using the real load dimensions.
Choosing a Kitchen Fitting Van by Worktop Length
Worktops decide the van. Standard lengths are often 3m, while longer runs and breakfast bars commonly use 4.1m lengths. Those numbers rule out several vans straight away. The short wheelbase Transit Custom has a 2582mm load length, so even a 3m worktop will not lie flat inside. That van suits small parts, tools and fixings, but not the main delivery.
The long wheelbase high roof van has a 3399mm load length. As a result, 3m worktops slide in flat with a little room to spare. If every worktop in the order is 3m or shorter, that van works well as a kitchen fitting van. It also takes boxed units stacked high, thanks to 1885mm of internal height.
Why the Extra Long Wheelbase Suits 4.1m Worktops
Once a 4.1m worktop appears on the order, the extra long wheelbase van becomes the obvious choice. The VW Crafter offers a 4300mm load length, the longest panel van load space in the fleet. A 4.1m worktop lies flat on the floor and the rear doors still close. That matters, because a worktop hanging out of the back is never an option.
The Crafter also gives 2140mm of internal height and 1780mm of width. So tall larder unit boxes stand upright alongside the worktops. Do check the width between the wheel arches, though, before deciding how many worktops can sit side by side. For most single-kitchen jobs, this is the kitchen fitting van that gets everything home in one trip.
Protecting Worktop Edges and Unit Boxes
Worktops are surprisingly fragile at the ends and along the front edge. A knock against a wheel arch can chip a laminate edge or crack a solid surface. So keep the original packaging on until the worktop reaches the kitchen. Then add cardboard corners or folded blankets over each end before loading.
Lay worktops flat on the floor first, with the finished face upwards. Next, stand flat-pack unit boxes along the side walls, heaviest ones nearest the bulkhead. Avoid stacking boxes directly on top of worktops, because the weight concentrates on small areas. Finally, tie the load back to the rails, so nothing slides forward under braking. The guide on protecting furniture in a hire van has more wrapping ideas.
Two Trips With a Kitchen Fitting Van
Most kitchen jobs follow the same pattern. First, the new kitchen comes in. Then, once the fitter strips the room, the old kitchen goes out. Planning both trips around one hire saves time and avoids a skip sitting on the drive for weeks.
In practice, the first day usually covers collection from the supplier and unloading into a garage or spare room. Strip-out follows, often over the next day or two. After that, the same kitchen fitting van carries old carcasses, doors, worktops and the sink to the tip. Hiring for several days or a full week keeps the van on hand for both runs. If a new fridge freezer or range cooker is part of the order, read how to move large appliances with a hired van before collection day.
Loading the old kitchen needs a little thought too. Take doors and drawer fronts off first and stack them flat. Then break carcasses down where possible, because whole units waste space. Old worktops go in last along one side, ready to come off first at the tip. Before returning the van, sweep out any tile dust and screws.
Hiring for a Self-Employed Fitter’s Week
Self-employed fitters often run their own small van for tools and fixings. However, a whole kitchen rarely fits inside it. Hiring a larger kitchen fitting van for the week of a big job solves that without changing vehicles for good. The fitter collects on Monday at 8am, does the supplier run and keeps the van on site all week.
That approach also suits back-to-back jobs before Christmas. Once one kitchen is in, the same van can collect the next customer’s order on the way home. If the work keeps coming, the guide on short term vs long term van hire explains the options. Either way, a three-seat cab means a labourer can travel with the fitter too.
Kitchen Fitting Van Jobs in Stockton Heath and Grappenhall
South of the river, plenty of kitchen jobs start on tightly parked residential streets. Customers using Stockton Heath van hire often deal with the busy village centre on London Road. Parking a long Crafter outside a terraced house there takes some planning. So it helps to ask neighbours the evening before, or unload early before the street fills up.
Further east, customers booking Grappenhall van hire usually find more room on driveways. Even so, the river crossings into town get congested at peak times. Heading back from the depot before the school run, or after it, saves a slow crawl with a full load.
Timing a Kitchen Fitting Van Around Opening Hours
The depot at Cockhedge Shopping Centre on Tilley Street opens Monday to Saturday, 8am to 4pm, and closes on Sunday. For a self-employed fitter, an 8am collection means the van can reach the supplier as soon as the trade counter opens. Meanwhile, the fitter’s own car stays in the secure on-site parking for the day.
Homeowners fitting their own kitchen often prefer a Saturday start. With the depot shut on Sunday, the van then goes back on Monday before 4pm. That gives a full weekend for unloading, stripping out and the tip run. Before collection, check what to bring when collecting your hire van. Most vehicles need no deposit.
To book a kitchen fitting van well before the Christmas rush, call 01925 396 222 or send an online enquiry. The team at the Cockhedge depot will match the van to the worktop lengths and the job.
