Are you planning to hire a van for a small scaffolding job? Perhaps you are working on a self-build home or a holiday home renovation.
Scaffolding comes in a wide range of shapes and sizes and can be quite heavy. You definitely need to have a rough idea of what you will be transporting before you choose a hire van (or 7.5 tonne truck) to carry it; paying for delivery sometimes makes more sense.
Types of Scaffolding
There are two main types of scaffolding – conventional scaffolding and system scaffolding.
Put simply, conventional scaffolding is what scaffolding companies use – it is suitable for all jobs, can be built to almost any shape and size and is very strong and long-lasting. It is also requires skilled scaffolders to erect it – it is not DIY friendly if you don’t have any experience of scaffolding.
System scaffolding is designed for DIY use – it is a bit like the scaffolding equivalent of flat-pack furniture. You can buy it in kits and it comes with instructions! Most people working on self-build and DIY renovation projects will choose system scaffolding if they want to put up their own scaffolding – it is safer and easier.
This website sells both types of scaffolding and has lots of good information – it is well worth a read if you want to learn a bit about scaffolding from the experts.
What Size Van For Scaffolding?
Scaffolding tube comes in a variety of lengths.
Conventional scaffolding tube comes in various different lengths, up to 21ft (6.4m). The longest size that can be accommodated in an extra-long wheelbase panel van is 13ft (4m). If you do transport scaffolding this way, only do so in a van with a steel bulkhead and make sure you push the scaffolding tubes hard up against the bulk head. You don’t want the scaffolding tubes to come shooting forwards underneath you if you have to brake suddenly…
The size and weight of scaffolding tubes is why scaffolding for large jobs is always transported on a lorry, usually a 7.5 tonne dropside.
System scaffolding such as Kwikstage and Cuplok seems to come in shorter lengths. I think this is due to the modular way it is constructed. The longest lengths I have found are 12′ (3.6m) – so you should be able to load this into an extra-long wheelbase van without problems. Again, make sure you load the tubes so they are lying flat and are pushed up against the bulkhead.
Remember: If you are planning to transport scaffolding, make sure you understand its weight and dimensions accurately before arranging a hire van with suitable payload and loadspace dimensions. This article is provided for information purposes only and is not a definitive guide.
Click here for our guide to van sizes.