Volkswagen Crafter hits the road with P&H Snacksdirect

The UK’s largest direct to door provider of snacks, Palmer & Harvey’s Snacksdirect is one of the first businesses in the UK to have bought the new Volkswagen Crafter. Six Volkswagen medium wheelbase Crafter box built vans will be based in Haydock and operate throughout the north west, supplying commercial premises with a wide range of leading brand products.

Derek Jones Bodyworks of Kettering designed, built and fitted a lightweight 12 ft body to the six Volkswagen Crafter chassis cabs. Each van also has an Aerodyne air management kit fitted to improve performance and fuel consumption. A purpose-built internal racking system has also been installed to carry Snackdirect’s extensive range of products.

The Snacksdirect Crafter vans are powered by 2.5-litre five-cylinder TDI engines delivering 109 PS. Employing a common rail fuel injection system and diesel particulate filter, the engines offer durability, frugal fuel consumption and low emissions.

David Rowntree, Logistics Manager for Snacksdirect, said: ‘We chose the Crafter chassis cab because of its payload capability and impressive safety features. The vehicle’s low repair and maintenance costs which result from extended service intervals were another factor that strongly influenced our decision.’

Recently launched in the UK, the Volkswagen Crafter, which replaces the LT model, is the largest van in Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ range. Although even bigger than the LT, the Crafter’s engine range – with outputs of 88, 109, 136 and 163 PS – and the six-speed manual gearbox produce fuel consumption figures that are comparable to those of its predecessor.

To give maximum control and road holding the Crafter is fitted with an excellent range of standard safety features including ABS, Traction Control System (TCS) and advanced Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP) with load-adapting capability. Additionally, there is an optimised safety cell for driver and passenger along with a driver’s airbag, once again, fitted as standard.

The visually distinctive Crafter is available in three wheelbase options, four load compartment lengths (from 2,600 mm to 4,700 mm) and three roof heights; and as a panel van, chassis cab and double cab. Both the chassis cab and double cab versions can also come with an optional dropside. This level of choice combined with the Crafter’s size make it suitable for a wide range of conversions.