A refrigerated van can make it easier for you to deliver flowers and baked goods, or other such items that may get damaged by too much heat while in transit. You may also be legally required to transport certain food items and pharmaceuticals in a refrigerated vehicle, even if your delivery route is very short.

There are a wide number of refrigerated vans from which you might choose, and you can even buy a normal van and retrofit it with insulating materials and the refrigeration equipment you need. Before you decide on any vehicle for your business, however, note a few mistakes you'll want to avoid when it comes to selecting a refrigerated, van so you know you get one that works well for your needs in particular.

Retrofitting

Before you decide to retrofit a standard van with insulating materials and equipment, note if the materials needed to create insulation might reduce the interior space too much. This is especially important if you buy a thick liner of some sort that gets attached to the van's interior. This liner may reduce the interior space so much that you don't have enough room for shelves or freezers, or for larger flower arrangements, wedding cakes, and the like. Take actual measurements of the van's interior and not the thickness of the insulating liner or any type of spray before deciding this is the right choice for your van.

Temperature monitoring

If you will be transporting items that are legally required to stay at a particular temperature, consider a van with actual temperature monitoring. Don't assume that a van with a good system of fans and coolers will always maintain the right temperature in the cargo area, as excessive heat outside the van or any type of malfunction of that cooling system can allow the van's interior to get too hot. With actual temperature monitoring, you reduce the risk of your cargo being spoiled in transit.

 Van size

While you want to ensure any retrofitting of the van allows for needed cargo space, you also don't want a van that is overly large. A smaller van may be easier to fit in crowded parking lots and parking structures with short overhead clearances, and will mean better gas mileage, something to especially consider if you're often driving through stop-and-go traffic. A small van also mean less power consumption for keeping the cargo area properly chilled. Choose a van that is just large enough for your business needs, but don't assume that bigger is better when it comes to your new vehicle.