Curtain Sider Vans Explained: Who Are They For?

A curtain sider does not simply give you a large load area. Its real advantage is access.

Instead of reaching everything through the rear doors, you can pull back the side curtain and access different parts of the load bed. A forklift can approach pallets from the side, while drivers making several deliveries can reach the goods they need without unloading everything behind them first.

That can save a considerable amount of time for the right business. But if your deliveries are already easy to complete through the rear, a curtain sider may add complexity you do not need.

Here is how curtain side vans work, where they make sense and how they compare with Luton, box and low-loader vans.

What is a curtain sider van?

A curtain sider is normally built on a chassis cab such as the Renault Master.

Behind the cab is a large, flat load platform with a solid roof, front bulkhead and supporting frame. One or both sides are enclosed by strong flexible curtains rather than fixed metal or composite walls.

When the curtain is closed and tensioned, it protects the load from normal road spray and weather. When opened, it exposes a large section of the load bed.

This makes a curtain sider particularly useful for:

• Palletised goods
• Boxed stock
• Wholesale deliveries
• Retail distribution
• Event equipment
• Multi-drop delivery routes
• Loads handled by a forklift
• Goods that need to be collected from different points along the load bed

It combines some of the weather protection of an enclosed body with much easier side access.

How does the side curtain operate?

The curtain runs along the upper body rail and is secured along the side of the load bed.

To open it, the driver releases the tensioning mechanism and lower fastenings. The curtain can then be pulled along its rail and gathered towards one end of the body.

This opens a much larger area than the sliding door on a normal panel van.

The exact system varies between body builders, but drivers should be shown:

• How to release and tension the curtain
• How each buckle or fastening works
• Where the curtain should sit when open
• How to check the curtain before driving
• How to secure the load independently of the curtain

A curtain that has not been tensioned and fastened properly can flap, wear prematurely or create a road safety risk.

Side loading versus rear loading

Imagine six pallets loaded in two rows.

In a Luton or rigid box van, the pallets are normally loaded through the rear. To reach a pallet near the front, you may need to remove the pallets behind it first.

With a curtain sider, the driver can open the side next to the required pallet. A forklift can remove it directly without disturbing the rest of the load.

That is the main operational benefit.

Side access can help when:

• Deliveries are not unloaded in the same order they were loaded
• Different customers need different pallets
• The loading site has a forklift but no loading bay
• Goods need to be collected during the route
• Several parts of the load must remain accessible
• The rear of the vehicle cannot be positioned close to the unloading point

Rear access is still useful. However, the curtain means it is no longer the only way into the body.

Typical body dimensions and payload considerations

Curtain side bodies are conversions, so their dimensions and payloads depend on the chassis, body builder and rear-access equipment.

The Renault Master LL35 Advance CITYMAX Curtain Side featured by Van Broker UK has:

• A load length of approximately four metres
• A side aperture more than two metres high
• Space for up to six full-size pallets
• Wide side access for forklift loading

You can see the actual body and side-loading process in Van Broker UK’s Renault Master CITYMAX Curtainside video:

Being able to fit six pallets does not mean you can legally carry six pallets of any weight.

Payload must account for:

• The curtain side body
• The driver and passengers
• Fuel
• A tail-lift or roller shutter
• A pump truck
• Straps and load-restraint equipment
• Any tools carried
• The goods themselves

A tail-lift adds useful capability, but it also adds weight. That normally means less available payload than an otherwise identical van without one.

Before ordering, ask for the payload and axle limits of the completed vehicle—not just the bare chassis. If your loads vary, use a weighbridge to confirm the vehicle’s working weight.

GOV.UK advises operators to distribute weight evenly, keep heavier goods low and use appropriate restraints. An overloaded van can affect braking, handling and individual axle weights. Read the official van loading guidance.

Palletised and boxed goods

Pallet distribution is one of the clearest uses for a curtain sider.

With the curtain pulled back, a forklift can approach the load bed from the side and place a pallet closer to its intended position. The driver does not have to move it through the whole body from the rear.

This can be helpful for:

• Packaging suppliers
• Food and drink wholesalers
• Building-product distributors
• Manufacturing businesses
• Print companies
• Electrical wholesalers
• Retail stock deliveries
• General light haulage

The same advantage applies to large boxed products that are awkward to turn inside an enclosed body.

However, weight remains more important than the number of pallets. Six pallets of lightweight packaging are very different from six pallets of tiles, bottled drinks or construction materials.

Multi-drop delivery use

A curtain sider can make multi-drop work more efficient because individual sections of the load remain accessible.

A delivery plan might place:

• The first customer’s pallet near the rear
• The second delivery towards the middle
• The third delivery near the front
• Collections in space deliberately left along the opposite side

If the route changes, side access makes it easier to adapt. The driver may not need to unload several pallets just to reach one that has moved up the schedule.

That said, easy access does not remove the need for a proper load plan. As goods are removed, the remaining load must stay secure and the weight should remain sensibly distributed.

This is especially important on multi-drop routes, where gaps appear between pallets as the day continues.

Event, retail and wholesale applications

Curtain siders are not only for pallet networks.

They can work well for event companies carrying:

• Flight cases
• Staging components
• Display equipment
• Bar systems
• Exhibition materials
• Lighting and audio equipment

They can also suit retailers and wholesalers moving roll cages, boxed stock or display units.

Side access allows different groups of equipment to be reached without emptying the whole vehicle. This can be useful when several teams are unloading at once or when equipment needs to be placed in a particular order.

For higher-value goods, however, consider whether a flexible curtain provides enough theft protection for where the van will be parked.

Curtain sider versus Luton van

A Luton van has a rigid box body, normally with extra storage space extending above the cab. Loading is usually through the rear, often with help from a tail-lift.

Choose a curtain sider when reaching different parts of the load is important.

Choose a Luton when enclosed volume, rear loading and protection for bulky items matter more. A Luton with a tail-lift is often better for furniture, appliances and equipment moved using wheeled handling gear.

Curtain sider versus box van

“Box van” is a broad term for a chassis cab fitted with a rigid rectangular body. A Luton is one type of box body, but not every box van has a large over-cab section.

A rigid box body usually offers:

• Better physical security
• Stronger protection from the weather
• Large flat areas for business branding
• More control over the internal environment
• Better suitability for fragile or higher-value stock

A curtain sider offers better access along the length of the body.

If your goods are always loaded and unloaded through a warehouse loading bay, a box van may be the simpler option. If forklifts regularly approach from the side, the curtain sider has a clear advantage.

Curtain sider versus low loader

A low loader has a lower floor than a conventional Luton or box van. This reduces the step into the load area and can remove the need for a tail-lift for some types of work.

Low loaders are particularly useful for:

• Furniture removals
• Home deliveries
• Wheeled flight cases
• Light but bulky goods
• Items moved by hand or trolley

The main access point is still normally at the rear.

A curtain sider has a higher load platform but gives a forklift access to much more of the body. It is normally the stronger choice for palletised goods, while a low loader often works better for manual handling and high-volume domestic deliveries.

Rear-access options

Van Broker UK’s Renault Master CITYMAX Curtain Siders are available with different rear setups.

Standard rear access

A simpler rear closure can suit businesses that mainly load from the side and want to preserve as much payload as possible.

Roller shutter

A roller shutter opens upwards rather than swinging into the space behind the vehicle.

This can be useful at loading bays or in tight yards where there is limited room for rear doors. It also avoids doors being caught by wind while open.

Tail-lift

A tail-lift allows pallets, cages and other heavy items to be lowered when there is no forklift or loading bay at the destination.

It makes the vehicle more self-sufficient, although the lift reduces available payload and needs inspection and maintenance.

Full-enclosure tail-lift

A full-enclosure tail-lift arrangement combines powered rear loading with a closure across the full rear aperture.

This may suit delivery work where the rear is used frequently and the operator wants a wide, powered loading platform. Check the exact closure, platform capacity and finished payload before choosing this version.

The best rear setup depends on how often you load from the rear and what equipment customers have at their premises.

Load security and weather protection

The curtain provides weather protection, but a standard curtain should not automatically be treated as a load restraint.

Pallets, cages and other goods may still need straps, barriers, nets or another approved securing system. The right method depends on the load, the body’s rating and how closely the goods fit together.

The DVSA states that there is no single restraint system suitable for every vehicle and load. Operators must choose a system that prevents goods from sliding, toppling or bouncing during the journey. Read the DVSA load-securing guidance.

This is particularly important on multi-drop routes. A load that was tightly packed at the start of the day may no longer be secure after two pallets have been removed.

Drivers should check:

• Curtains and fastenings before leaving
• Straps and anchor points
• The load after each delivery
• Weight distribution
• Signs that a pallet has moved
• Whether the remaining goods can fall when the curtain is opened

Open the curtain carefully. If a load has shifted and is pressing against it, releasing the curtain could allow goods to fall.

When is a curtain sider unnecessary?

A curtain sider may be unnecessary if:

• Everything can be loaded in delivery order
• Rear access is always available
• You rarely carry pallets
• The van mainly carries loose tools
• Goods need the security of rigid walls
• Your loads require temperature control
• Loading sites do not have space along the vehicle’s side
• Your work involves furniture or other bulky items moved by hand
• You need maximum possible payload more than side access

A conventional panel van, Luton, box van or low loader may be simpler and more cost-effective in these situations.

Do not buy a curtain sider simply because it looks larger. Buy one because its access arrangement removes a real problem from your delivery process.

Questions to ask before ordering

Before choosing a curtain side van, establish:

1. What are the dimensions of your largest regular load?
2. How many pallets do you normally carry?
3. What does each pallet weigh?
4. Will forklifts load from one side or both sides?
5. Is there enough side clearance at delivery locations?
6. Do customers have forklifts or loading bays?
7. Will you need a tail-lift?
8. What capacity must the tail-lift handle?
9. Would a roller shutter work better in tight spaces?
10. What is the completed vehicle’s usable payload?
11. How will every part of the load be restrained?
12. Will valuable goods be left inside overnight?
13. Does your route involve frequent collections as well as deliveries?
14. Would a Luton, rigid box or low loader be simpler?

These questions matter more than the headline body volume.

In stock: Renault Master LL35 Advance CITYMAX Curtain Side

Van Broker UK currently has multiple Renault Master LL35 Advance CITYMAX Curtain Siders in stock and ready to go.

The CITYMAX body is designed around productive pallet and delivery work, with approximately four metres of load length, a side aperture more than two metres high and capacity for up to six full-size pallets, subject to their weight.

Rear configurations are also available with:

• A tail-lift
• A roller shutter
• A full-enclosure tail-lift

The best version depends on whether your customers have forklifts, whether you need rear access and how much payload the load requires.

View the Renault Master LL35 Advance CITYMAX Curtain Side offer or watch the CITYMAX walkaround video.

Ask about the in-stock CITYMAX Curtain Siders

Tell us what you carry, how it is loaded, how many deliveries you make and what equipment is available at each destination.

Van Broker UK can confirm current Renault Master CITYMAX Curtain Sider availability, compare the rear-access options and help establish whether the body suits your load and delivery process.