Protecting Your Refrigerated Van This Summer
Summer is the season for road trips and family holidays, but it can also be a stressful time when you’re in charge of transporting perishable food. You want to make sure your refrigerated van is protected so your food stays safe and cold.
The hot, humid Summer season can be a dangerous time for refrigerated vans. The intense heat of the sun and the fact that they are often parked outside in public places make it easy for refrigerated vans to encounter damage or malfunction. But you can take steps to reduce the amount of damage your refrigerated van will experience this summer.
How To Protect Refrigerated Vans
Here are some tips on how to protect your refrigerated vans this summer:
Before you even get in your truck for delivery, think about where you’re going and how long it will take to get there. If you’re travelling through heavily trafficked areas or areas where there are lots of stoplights, it’s best not to leave early in the morning or late at night when it’s still hot outside. Ideally, plan your route so that you can arrive at your destination after sunrise or before sunset—or at least when there are fewer cars on the road.
Make sure your refrigerated unit has proper ventilation. A well-ventilated unit will allow hot air to escape and cold air to circulate.
Maintaining Your Refrigeration Van
Keeping your coolant level full is just as important as checking your tyre pressure. Over time, coolant can evaporate from your engine — which can cause overheating issues — or even worse, lead to engine failure altogether! Make sure that you check the coolant levels at least once a month during the Summer months so that you know when it’s time for an oil change or other routine maintenance services.
Replace old parts with new ones. Check belts, gaskets and hoses regularly and replace them if they are worn out or cracked because they can cause leaks that lead to rusting of the cooling system.
Use an insulated cover. When you’re not driving with your refrigerated van uncovered, use an insulated cover that has vents to allow air flow through the back window area. This will help keep temperatures down inside while still allowing fresh air in through the vents.
Tyres play a big role in how well your ride performs. If your tyres are low on air or worn out, they will have a negative impact on how well your vehicle performs in all conditions. The same goes for your refrigerated van — if you don’t keep up with tyre maintenance, it could lead to some major problems on the road.
Check the temperature gauge frequently to see if there are any fluctuations in temperature levels within your refrigerated van. If there are any fluctuations in temperature levels, then check for leaks and fix them immediately before they become larger problems that may cause damage to other parts of your unit such as wiring or electronics.
Keep windows tinted. Tinting your windows can help keep the temperature inside your van from rising too high. If you have tinted windows, be sure to check them regularly for peeling or cracking. If these problems arise, get them repaired right away so that the damage doesn’t get worse over time.
Always keep your vans cool. A fully charged battery and a full tank of fuel will help ensure that your refrigeration unit works properly in extreme temperatures.
Make Sure Everything Is Working Properly
Make sure everything is hooked up correctly and working properly before pulling out onto the road. If there’s a leak somewhere, it could cause damage to other parts of the van as well as potentially cause a fire hazard.
When loading up your refrigerated van with cargo, make sure you leave plenty of room for air circulation at all times. If there are no vents or windows on the vehicle, consider drilling holes into the side panel to allow airflow through the cabin.
Adjust the thermostat in your van so that it reads between 38°F and 40°F every hour of operation. This will keep the temperature stable for longer periods of time throughout the day.
When possible, park in shaded areas where there’s no direct sunlight shining onto your vehicle’s roof or sides — this will help keep heat out of your cargo area during peak hours when temperatures are highest.
Covering the roof of your van with a sunshade will help cut down on heat buildup inside the vehicle. A sunshade can also help protect against damaging UV rays that may cause discolouration or fading on your equipment.
For Refrigerated Vans, Call BHRV
If you’re looking for a refrigerated van for your business, call on none other than BHRV. We have new and used vans available, so no matter your needs and requirements we’re confident in saying that we can help. We also have advice on how to protect your car in the Winter months too.
Simply speak to our team today to find out more about our refrigerated vans for sale. We will be happy to help in any way we can.