Choose the lowest cargo van roof that gives you enough room to work, lets your largest equipment through the doors and clears the places you drive and park. A low roof is worth comparing if overhead access is tight. A medium roof adds working room for frequent trips into the cargo area. A high roof is worth a closer look if you spend time working inside or regularly load tall equipment upright.
Measure three heights before choosing a roof
Outside height. Measure from level pavement to the highest point of the van as it will travel. Include racks, vents and anything carried on the roof. Compare that measurement with the lowest posted clearance along your regular route, including parking garages, covered loading areas and shop entrances. Leave room for changes in grade and uncertainty in the measurement. If clearance is tight or unclear, plan a different route or parking spot.
Usable height inside. Measure from the finished cargo floor to the lowest obstruction where you expect to stand or move gear. Flooring, liners, lights and other equipment can reduce usable height. Try the aisle in your work boots and check the spots where you reach for tools.
Clear door opening. Measure both height and width at the narrowest points of the door you plan to use. Measure your tallest item the way you actually move it, including its wheels, dolly or packaging. Check that it can turn and pass shelving once inside.
Low vs. medium vs. high roof on the Ford Transit
This example compares 2019 Ford Transit cargo vans with the nominal 148-inch wheelbase, the nonextended body and single rear wheels. The figures are factory specifications in inches. Use them to compare roof options, then measure the van you are considering with its equipment installed.
Dimension | Low | Medium | High |
|---|
Exterior height | 83.2 | 100.7 | 110.1 |
Maximum cargo height | 56.9 | 72.0 | 81.5 |
Rear opening height | 49.5 | 64.9 | 74.3 |
Side opening height | 49.6 | 63.0 | 63.0 |
Ford’s 2019 Transit cargo van specifications, page 24
Consider a rolling cabinet that is 70 inches tall with its wheels. The medium-roof Transit has 72 inches of maximum cargo height, but its 64.9-inch rear opening is too short to roll the cabinet in upright. The high-roof version has a 74.3-inch rear opening, while its side opening is still 63 inches. For that cabinet, the rear door is the one to measure first.
Roof labels vary by manufacturer. For the 2023 ProMaster, Ram lists cargo heights of about 66 inches for Standard Roof, 77 inches for High Roof and 86 inches for Super High Roof. Compare dimensions for the model year, roof and body configuration on your shortlist. Ram’s 2023 ProMaster cargo specifications
Choose a roof for the stops you make every day
Low roof. Start here if most stops involve grabbing small parts or tools from the door and your route includes low entrances. Include the roof rack and its load when checking clearance. If you regularly spend time in the aisle sorting gear, try that task during your walk-through.
Medium roof. Consider this if you step inside frequently to reach shelves or organize tools, and your usual stops allow the extra outside height. Check headroom where you work and where you step through the doors. A medium roof can rule out a parking garage you currently use. In the Ford example, 100.7 inches of factory exterior height already exceeds a posted 8-foot clearance of 96 inches.
High roof. Consider it if your crew spends much of the day retrieving equipment from inside or if your load needs to stay upright. Check which door provides the necessary clearance and whether you have room to open it at the jobsite. Check payload separately for the van with its equipment, crew and cargo.
Bring your measurements when you shop
For a Las Vegas or Henderson service route, note the lowest clearance you regularly encounter, the height and width of the largest item you load, and how much room you need where you work inside. Bring those numbers when you compare vans.
Browse our used cargo vans or contact Sahara Commercial Automotive to discuss the space and access your work requires. You can also call 702-254-2277.
