Before wrapping your work van, stop and consider the marketing goal of the van wrap, and what type of van you have, then make some decisions on the wrap coverage and its content. The first thing you should know about wrapping your work van is you might not need to fully wrap your work van. Every vehicle graphic doesn’t necessarily need to be a full wrap. Here are three options for advertising graphics on your work van.
Options for Wrapping Your Work Van
• Full Wrap
A full wrap can transform your vehicle into something new and different. Properly designed, a full wrap not only shares information, but it makes a statement. They are rolling billboards that can be both eye-catching and informative. Full wraps utilizes the entire space available on your work van and can make an impact from any angle or view. Think of a full wrap as a specialized form of advertising.
• Partial Wrap
Partial wraps are often just as effective as a full wrap on a van, and they’re less expensive. A partial wrap usually covers ¼ to ¾ of the vehicle. Unlike decals or cut letters, a partial wrap isn’t pieced together. It’s printed and applied in panels similar to a full wrap. A partial wrap is good for sharing information such as who you are, what you do, contact information, and a call to action. It can work especially well when the color of the vehicle has been coordinated with the wrap design.
• Decals or Spot Graphics
Decals, sometimes referred to as spot graphics, are placed in one area of the vehicle, usually a flat surface, such as a door, hood, or rear. Most of the time, decals include the most important company info like the company logo, phone number, website, and DOT identification (if needed). You can use multiple decals on your work van or truck for branding, calls to action, identification, and more. This is a good way of still getting your company information out there while being very cost-effective.
Know Your Work Van Specifications
It’s critical to know exactly what type of work van you have because wrapping your work van starts with knowing what type of van it is. There are many types of work vans, and each will need designs created to fit the specific van. The most common types of work vans are panel, box, full size, and step vans. However, minibus, minivans, and micro vans are also used as work vans. One of the best ways to help a graphic designer serve you and meet your needs, as well as your expectations, is to furnish the designer with accurate and complete specifications of your van.
Don’t Make These Mistakes When Wrapping Your Work Van
Placement
When wrapping your work van, sliding doors need to be taken into consideration during design. An image or letters that look great when the door is closed can change drastically when the door is open. I’m reminded of a Starbucks van with the Starbucks name on the sliding door of the van. Unfortunately, when the door opened, the letters t-a-r-b were hidden, leaving only the letters, S-u-c-k-s.
Window film graphics on your work van can be wonderful. However, they can be problematic as well. Rear windows are great for graphics, but open side windows can create unintended images. For example, I saw a window graphic of a face, where when the window was partially down, it became a forehead sitting on a jaw.
Placement of graphics can either lead to a successful wrap or an embarrassing fail, so be sure to think about where graphics will be placed on your vehicle.
TMI
Too much information is another common mistake made on work vans. If the design is too busy, with too much color, too many images, and too many words, the message will be lost in confusion.
DIY
Although small decals could be a do-it-yourself installation, anything more should be applied by professional graphics installers. Applying adhesive vinyl graphics around complex curves, under equipment, and around seams, takes knowledge, practice, and skill.
But Wait, There’s More!
More considerations include font style and size, color contrast, and message hierarchy, which are critical for a successful van wrap. You can research all of the above, or you could make it a lot simpler by contacting our team of professional designers, printers, and installers, like TKO Graphix. We can make your work van work for you.
How Can We Help You?
If you’re thinking about wrapping your work van and want graphics designed to capture attention, printed on state-of-the-art equipment, and installed by expert certified installers, we’re here to help.
If you’d like further information or advice, be sure to Contact Us.
Would you like a free estimate for your fleet or vehicle graphics? If so, you can Request A Quote.
TKO Graphix is a national fleet graphics and vehicle wraps company. Since 1985, we’ve been helping businesses, large and small, brand their fleet of tractor-trailers, service trucks and company vehicles with our full-service solutions including print production, design, graphics installation, removal, project management, and inventory fulfillment.
As a result of our high standards in quality products and production, we are proud to be certified by 3M™ and able to offer the 3M™ MCS™ Warranty, the gold standard in graphics warranties. This warranty demonstrates our commitment to excellence and gives customers a greater peace of mind.
Whether you have a fleet of a few or thousands of vehicles, we are here to lead you through the process. To get started, contact us today for a free quote.
