There are plenty of situations where you need more space than a car can offer, but hiring a large van feels like overkill. You might be collecting a piece of furniture, moving a few boxes, carrying tools to a job or picking something up from Facebook Marketplace. In these situations, SWB van hire can be a very practical middle ground.
At Hire2You, our short wheelbase van options include the Peugeot Expert and Vauxhall Vivaro, giving customers across Kent a manageable van that is large enough for many everyday jobs without stepping up to a much larger vehicle.
We are based in Medway and provide vehicle hire to customers throughout Kent.
You can view our van hire service to see the vehicles currently available.
What exactly is an SWB van?
SWB stands for short wheelbase. It refers to the distance between the front and rear axles of the van and is generally used to describe the shorter version of a particular van model.
For someone hiring a van, the technical definition is less important than what it means in practice.
An SWB van gives you a useful amount of enclosed load space while remaining relatively compact compared with larger long wheelbase vans. That can make a noticeable difference when you are driving through busy streets, parking outside a property or manoeuvring into tighter spaces.
It is one reason short wheelbase vans are popular with both private customers and tradespeople.
Our SWB vans: Peugeot Expert and Vauxhall Vivaro
At Hire2You, our SWB fleet includes Peugeot Expert and Vauxhall Vivaro vans.
Both are the sort of vehicle that can handle a wide range of everyday transport jobs without being unnecessarily large.
You could use an SWB van for:
- Collecting furniture
- Moving boxes
- Transporting tools
- Small house moves
- DIY projects
- Business deliveries
- Collecting large Marketplace purchases
- Carrying equipment between jobs
The important thing is to think about what you are actually transporting rather than automatically choosing the biggest van available.
If your load is relatively compact, an SWB can save you money compared with hiring something substantially larger.
When is an SWB van better than an LWB?
This is probably the most useful question to ask before booking.
If you are moving a handful of boxes or collecting a couple of pieces of furniture, an SWB is often perfectly adequate.
Once the load becomes longer, taller or more substantial, an LWB starts making more sense.
For example, imagine you are collecting a sofa and a few boxes from a private seller. An SWB could be ideal. If you are moving the contents of an entire flat, however, you may quickly find yourself wishing you had more room.
Hire2You also offers Citroën Relay LWB vans for customers who need additional load space.
You can compare the available options on our full vehicle fleet.
Why smaller does not always mean worse
There is sometimes a tendency to think that hiring the biggest van possible is the safest option.
It isn’t always.
A larger vehicle can mean higher hire costs and, depending on the job, a less convenient driving experience. If you are spending half the day travelling around Kent collecting individual items, a more compact van can be easier to live with.
An SWB can also be a sensible choice for someone who does not regularly drive vans.
You still get considerably more usable space than a normal car, but without immediately jumping into one of the largest vehicles in the fleet.
SWB van hire for tradespeople
Short wheelbase vans are not just for moving house.
They can be particularly useful for tradespeople who need additional transport for a particular job but do not want to hire a larger commercial vehicle.
A plumber might need extra space for equipment. A decorator could use one for materials and tools. A maintenance worker may need to transport equipment between several properties.
It can also be useful as a temporary second vehicle when a business’s usual van is unavailable.
For occasional work, hiring can be a much more practical solution than committing to another vehicle permanently.
How much does SWB van hire cost?
At Hire2You, our SWB vans start from £49 per day.
That gives customers a relatively affordable way to get access to additional load space when they need it, whether that is for one day or a longer period.
Of course, the cheapest van is not necessarily the cheapest overall option. If an SWB is too small for your job and forces you to make several journeys, the additional fuel and time can quickly outweigh the saving.
Think about the complete job rather than just the daily rental price.
SWB van hire across Kent
Hire2You is based in Medway, but our customers are not limited to Medway.
We provide vehicle hire for customers across Kent, including areas such as Maidstone, Sittingbourne, Ashford and Canterbury.
That makes an SWB van a useful option whether you are collecting furniture locally, travelling between jobs or moving items around the county.
If you are not sure whether a Peugeot Expert, Vauxhall Vivaro or larger van is right for what you are doing, it is worth asking before booking. Giving us a rough idea of the items you need to transport can make choosing the right vehicle much easier.
Is an SWB van right for you?
There is no single van that is perfect for every job.
An SWB is a good option when you need extra space but do not need the capacity of an LWB or Luton. It is particularly useful for smaller moves, furniture collections, tools, equipment and everyday business transport.
For larger loads, our Citroën Relay LWB vans or Renault Master Luton vans may be more appropriate.
The key is simply getting the size right.
If you need SWB van hire in Kent, take a look at the Hire2You fleet or get in touch with the team to discuss what you need to carry.