Two Syncro racking solutions for electricians compared
A Master vs. a Crafter: two electricians’ racking systems compared
Today’s comparison is between two large vans with Syncro racking for electricians. Both solutions use interior space in similar ways but are quite different in components and functionality.
Renault Master L2 H2: The racking occupies only the forward half of the left wall. No other racking or accessories are installed in this van.
Volkswagen Crafter L3 H2: The racking occupies almost the entire left wall. The right wall and the bulkhead are both equipped with cargo retaining systems.
This type of single-wall configuration offers the following advantages:
- Concentrating the racking on one side leaves a wide passageway and plenty of floor space for carrying bulky cargo and materials.
- Additional racking and accessories can always be installed at a later date!
Other racking solutions for electricians
Let’s start from the beginning: bodywork liners
If any component is essential in Syncro van transformations, it’s the liners. Syncro racking installers leave you free to choose but always recommend installing at least partial protection for your van’s bodywork. There are many reasons for this, but the main purpose is to protect your van’s delicate body panels against the dents, scratches and perforations that lead to the onset of rust.
In this comparison, our teams covered exactly the same surfaces in both vans: the floor and the walls.
Both the Master and the Crafter are fitted with marble-look plywood floor liners with protective steel profiles at the doors and protective cups for the holes that permit use of the original anchor rings.
To line the walls, the owner of the Master chose panels of honeycomb polypropylene while the owner of the Crafter preferred panels of galvanised and grey-painted steel.
A wheel arch liner has also been added to the Crafter. This consists of a sheet steel top cover and a marble-look plywood vertical panel.
Explore the different lining materials available from Syncro:
Just how different can one wall of racking be?
When the racking comes from Syncro System, the answer is… infinitely different! Because the Syncro catalogue is amazingly varied, and because each component can be matched with any other and installed at any height. In this case, while sharing the same basic idea of installing all the racking on the left, the two customers made very different choices.
Renault Master L2 H2: The racking only occupies the wall between the wheel arch and the bulkhead. The only item that runs the full length of the van is the top tray, which has an access door at the rear, near the rear pillar. Access to contents is easy, both from the side and through the fold-down door.
The one column of racking consists of an open floor-level compartment with hooks and lashing strap and five shelves with non-slip mats, internal space dividers and raised rear panels to stop items falling down behind the racking.
Volkswagen Crafter L3 H2: In this case the racking occupies most of the wall, with only a small area left free at the rear door. The racking ends in a full-length top tray. Below are Multibox cabinets with a total of 27 pull-out transparent containers. Then come three metal drawers with automatic latches, mats and dividers, three pull-out trays carrying a total of six cases and three configurable shelves like those in the Master.
The two floor-level compartments are equipped in different ways. The one over the wheel arch is partly enclosed by a patented lift-and-rotate door while the forward compartment is fitted with a strap-type case transport kit.
The right wall: plenty of space and lots of potential
The right wall of the two vans is almost identical. In the Master it is completely free while in the Crafter it is equipped only with two bars, a Syncroblock bar with a movable telescopic hook at the top and a milled bar with a lashing strap at mid-height.
This choice of accessories and liners suggests that the owner of the Crafter plans to use this space to transport bulky cargo and materials. In the case of the Master, the absence of accessories might well be temporary, while the owner waits to determine the ideal configuration based on observations of daily operations.
What’s the point of free space in a van?
It sounds like a silly question, but the answer can be quite complex.
In the case of both these vans for electricians, no racking has been installed either on the bulkhead or on the right wall. In the Crafter the bulkhead has been fitted only with two Syncroblock slider bars towards the top, themselves equipped with movable, telescopic hooks. The bulkhead of the Master has been left completely free.
This strategy:
- Improves flexibility. Makes it easier to adapt the van to different needs over time, without having to remove racking or solve problems of space.
- Lets you convert the free space into a work area if needed.
- Allows you to transport cargo and equipment safely by adopting the necessary precautions and using suitable lashing systems.
- Makes it much easier to move around inside the van!
Don’t delay. We’re eager to help.
We’ve been making and installing van equipment since 1996.
We’ve transformed over 100,000 vans worldwide.
We’ve earned the full trust of our customers.
We put customer satisfaction first!
Contact Syncro now for a no-obligation consultation. You’ll get the most out of your van and work more effectively too!