3.5 t panel van (Sprinter/Crafter class, long, high roof)
Practical reference values
- length
- ~4.3 m
- width
- ~1.8 m (1.35–1.38 m between the wheel arches)
- height
- ~1.9 m
- EUR pallets
- 6 EUR pallets (not stacked)
- payload
- ~1 t
The van is the vehicle for small, urgent shipments: parcels, spare parts, samples or a few light pallets, driven directly with no transshipment. With vans, weight usually runs out before space does, so check the payload on the sheet before looking at the pallet count.
Practical reference values. We confirm the exact dimensions in the quote. Honexpres organises transport with this vehicle, on request.
Values from the type's sheet
Panel van
Visual only Status in the library: In review
Illustration only: we show no values for this type until they are verified.
Legal limits. Legal limits of dimensions and mass are not properties of a vehicle: they depend on the country, the road and the permit, and are checked along the route. They are not shown here as a universal rule.
How the pallets fit
Indicative Honexpres drawing generated from the reference dimensions. Not a manufacturer drawing.
How it is loaded
- rear (hinged doors ~1.55 × 1.84 m)
- side (sliding door ~1.31 × 1.82 m)
- by hand / pallet truck
- Loaded through the rear doors or the sliding side door, by hand or with a pallet truck.
- The width between the wheel arches decides how many pallets fit per row.
- Very tall pallets and side loading by forklift do not suit a van.
- Some vans have a tail lift or shelving, which reduces the payload.
Suitable for
- Urgent spare parts for a production line
- Samples and trade-fair materials
- A few light EUR pallets
- Bulky parcels for city deliveries
- express / urgent
- parcels and spare parts
- samples
- 1–6 light EUR pallets
- urban distribution
Not suitable for
- cargo > ~1 t
- tall pallets > ~1.8 m
- side loading by forklift
- oversized cargo
Comparison with related types
| Parameter | 3.5 t panel van (Sprinter/Crafter class, long, high roof) | 7.5 t rigid truck (curtain or box) | 12 t rigid truck (curtain or box) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usable length | ~4.3 m | ~6.1 m | ~7.3 m |
| Usable width | ~1.8 m (1.35–1.38 m between the wheel arches) | ~2.45 m | ~2.48 m |
| Usable height | ~1.9 m | ~2.4 m | ~2.5 m |
| EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | 6 EUR pallets (not stacked) | 15 EUR pallets | 18 EUR pallets |
| Reference payload | ~1 t | ~2.5 t | ~5.5 t |
Detailed specifications
Detailed specifications
| Parameter | Value | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usable length | ~4.3 m | manufacturer | S-VW-CRAFTER-HD |
| Usable width | ~1.8 m (1.35–1.38 m between the wheel arches) | manufacturer | S-VW-CRAFTER-HD, S-ADAC-RENTAL |
| Usable height | ~1.9 m | manufacturer | S-VW-CRAFTER-HD |
| Volume | ~14 m³ | manufacturer | S-VW-CRAFTER-HD, S-ADAC-SPRINTER-317 |
| EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | 6 EUR pallets (not stacked) | manufacturer | S-VW-CRAFTER-AT |
| Industrial pallets (120 × 100 cm) | 4 industrial pallets | Honexpres calculation | |
| Loading metres | n/a (width < 2.4 m) | Honexpres calculation | |
| Reference payload | ~1 t | Honexpres calculation | S-ADAC-SPRINTER-317 |
- Usable length: VW Crafter 35 long wheelbase, high roof: 4,300 mm at floor level.
- Usable width: Crafter: 1,832 mm max, 1,380 mm between the wheel arches. Permitted exception to the single-value rule: the width between the wheels decides the pallets.
- Usable height: Crafter FWD 1,961 mm; RWD/4MOTION 1,861 mm.
- Volume: Crafter 14.4 m³ (FWD); Sprinter long, high roof 14 m³.
- EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm): Declared by VW for the long wheelbase. Geometric calculation: 6 if the first 2 rows stand 2 abreast in front of the wheel arches; 5 if the wheel arches start further forward.
- Industrial pallets (120 × 100 cm): Calculated: 1 pallet per row (1.2 m across the width), 4 rows of 1.0 m.
- Loading metres: LDM does not apply to panel vans; they are planned in pallets and kg.
- Reference payload: Sprinter 317 CDI long, high roof: 1,145 kg (3,500 − 2,355 kg). Rounded down: shelving, a tail lift or other equipment reduce the payload.
Representative models (manufacturers and lines)
| Load length floor (mm) | 4,300 |
|---|---|
| Load length min. (mm) | 4,051 |
| Load width max. (mm) | 1,832 |
| Width between wheel arches (mm) | 1,380 |
| Load height (mm) | FWD: 1,961; 4MOTION_RWD: 1,861 |
| Volume (m³) | FWD: 14.4; 4MOTION_RWD: 13.6 |
| Side door w x h (mm) | 1,311 / 1,822 |
| Rear doors w x h (mm) | 1,552 / 1,840 |
| Overall length (mm) | 6,836 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 4,490 |
| Overall height (mm) | 2,590 |
Source: VW Crafter Kastenwagen Hochdach — dimensioned technical drawings (PDF) · accessed 2026-09-26
| EUR pallets declared | mittellang: 4; lang: 6; lang_ueberhang: 6 |
|---|---|
| Volume (m³) | mittellang: 9.9–11.3; lang: 14.4–16.1; lang_ueberhang: 16.4–18.4 |
Source: VW Crafter — load volume and number of EUR pallets · accessed 2026-09-26
| Vehicle length (m) | 5.93 |
|---|---|
| Load length (m) | 3.27 |
| Volume (m³) | standard_roof: 9.5; high_roof: 11 |
| Vehicle height (m) | standard_roof: 2.35; high_roof: 2.64 |
Source: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Panel Van — technical data (IE) · accessed 2026-09-26
| Overall length (mm) | 6,967 |
|---|---|
| Overall width (mm) | 1,993 |
| Overall height (mm) | 2,616 |
| Volume (m³) | 14 |
| Kerb weight (kg) | 2,355 |
| GVW (kg) | 3,500 |
| Payload (kg) | 1,145 |
Source: ADAC Autokatalog — Sprinter Kastenwagen Lang Hochdach 3,5t 317 CDI (ab 02/24) · accessed 2026-09-26
Legal limits Requires legal validation
Requires legal validation
- Maximum gross vehicle weight: 3.5 t maximum authorised mass
09 §1.1 (motor vehicle: max length 12 m) · Category B driving licence for ≤3.5 t (source: ADAC rental pages; Directive 2006/126/EC UNVERIFIED in this session)
Exceptions and limitations
- Weight runs out before space does: 6 EUR pallets × ~170 kg ≈ 1 t. Above ~1 t → 7.5 t truck.
- The short / medium versions have 3.3–3.5 m and 9–11 m³ (4 EUR pallets, VW) [S-MB-SPRINTER-IE][S-VW-CRAFTER-AT].
- The rear-wheel-drive / 4×4 version loses ~10 cm of internal height [S-VW-CRAFTER-HD].
- The “3.5 t light truck with curtain / box body” version (chassis cab): example Sprinter 313 Koffer 4.23 × 1.99 × 2.0 m, 16.8 m³ [S-ADAC-RENTAL] → 6 EP calculated; “8 EP” needs ~4.2 × 2.2 m, “10 EP” ~4.8 × 2.2 m (INFERENCE, UNVERIFIED on a body data sheet).
- It cannot be loaded from the side by forklift; the sliding door only allows parcels or a small pallet truck (INFERENCE).
Sources and verification
Confidence level: high — Dimensions from the VW dimensioned drawing and the Mercedes-Benz / ADAC data; the payload is a single manufacturer value (Sprinter), and for the Crafter it is UNVERIFIED.
- ADAC Autovermietung — van and truck rental fleet (Sixt/Hertz/Europcar/Avis) · ADAC Autovermietung · accessed 2026-09-26
- ADAC Autokatalog — Sprinter Kastenwagen Lang Hochdach 3,5t 317 CDI (ab 02/24) · ADAC · accessed 2026-09-26
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Panel Van — technical data (IE) · Mercedes-Benz Ireland · accessed 2026-09-26
- VW Crafter — load volume and number of EUR pallets · Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge (AT) · accessed 2026-09-26
- VW Crafter Kastenwagen Hochdach — dimensioned technical drawings (PDF) · Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge (DE) · accessed 2026-09-26
Reference dataset 2026.09.27-1
When do I need a bigger vehicle than a van?
When the goods exceed the van’s payload or the pallets are too tall. The next step up is usually a small truck.
Can a van carry dangerous goods?
Only in small or limited quantities, after checking the ADR data. See ADR transport.
Services using this type
Road freight
full or part loads, Romania and the EU
Groupage / less than truckload (LTL)
a few pallets, shared with other goods
Express transport
urgent loads, with a dedicated vehicle
Air freight
urgent cargo, for tight deadlines
Alternatives
7.5 t rigid truck (curtain or box)
~6.1 m · ~2.45 m · ~2.4 m · 15 EUR pallets · ~2.5 t
12 t rigid truck (curtain or box)
~7.3 m · ~2.48 m · ~2.5 m · 18 EUR pallets · ~5.5 t