A VW CRAFTER FOR SERVICING HYDRAULIC TAIL LIFTS

A work surface is essential in a van used for maintenance work, as it gives operators the autonomy they need to work at customers’ premises. After all, there’s no point in carrying a large quantity of tools, spares and parts if you don’t have a work surface to use them on! With a properly made workbench:

• You save the time wasted returning to base to perform small jobs that require a stable work surface.
• You convey a more professional image and finish the work more quickly.
• You work inside your van just as well as in your main workshop.
• You can tackle any job under any conditions.

The van shown on this page is a Volkswagen Crafter L3 H3 fitted out by Syncro System for a company that services hydraulic tail lifts – the lifting platforms installed at the back of vans and trucks to load and unload heavy goods without the use of ramps, forklifts or hoists. These lifts require regular maintenance to ensure safety and to avoid problems with their hydraulic or electrical systems. Tail lift technicians have to undertake all kinds of work, so in addition to the workbenches mentioned above, they need a wide range of tools such as sockets, ratchet wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers and drills, as well as hydraulic components like hoses, fittings and seals, and electrical items like multimeters, cables, relays and fuses. The van seen here has been fitted with racking on both sides in the form of open and closed storage and generous workspaces.

Let’s take a closer look!

Other racking solutions for the Crafter

Other racking solutions for maintenance technicians

Interior liners are essential to protect your van’s bodywork against dents and scratches, to provide effective support for racking and accessories, to make cleaning easier, and to brighten up work areas.

The floor of this Crafter is covered with a floor liner in marble-look plywood, with stainless-steel anchor ring cups and edge profiles to keep damp and dirt out and keep the plywood in tip-top condition. Then walls are lined with panels of lightweight honeycomb polypropylene.

The van’s owner did not require liners for the bulkhead or roof, but these are always available from Syncro workshops, and are specially tailored to the Crafter.

Other lining solutions for the Crafter

There is no shortage of work surfaces in this Crafter for servicing tail lifts.

• On the left is a large workbench in marble-look plywood with a raised back to stop items falling down behind.
• On the right is a second workbench, also in marble-look plywood but smaller in size.
• Also, on the rear-facing side panel of the right-side racking is a fold-away vice bench with built-in support and metal vice. When extended, this useful accessory forms a third, practical and strong work surface.

The left of this Crafter is divided into two sections: a work area consisting of a large workbench, 10 drawers and a floor-level compartment with a lift-up door; and a tool storage area consisting of a floor-level case compartment with end plate and lashing strap, and a stack of five configurable shelves.

Note that the front of the shelving is perfectly vertical at the central aisle despite the contours of the wall reducing space at the top of the van. This is due to the amazing flexibility of Syncro racking, which can be constructed from elements of different depth to suit the shape of the van body.

On the Crafter’s right wall is a floor-level compartment with a door and a series of shelves, four configurable and two open, all used to house equipment that ensures the van’ s operational autonomy. The open shelf on the right houses a compressor pump head while that on the left houses an Ecoflow power station, held securely in place by a lashing strap.

A compressed air tank, connected to the compressor beneath, is installed between the top shelf and the roof. A second workbench and a fold-away vice bench complete the configuration on this side.

If so, contact Syncro now to arrange a no-obligation consultation for your own van.

With thirty years of experience behind us in fitting out working vans, we shall have no trouble in finding the best possible solution for your needs. What’s our aim? To help you work better and to save you time, money and anxiety thanks to an orderly van with everything to hand.