Welcome to the
second installment of VMAC’s three-part blog series centered around
Cullen Diesel, the Detroit Diesel and MTU distributor for BC. Cullen
Diesel mechanics are factory trained and certified in Detroit Diesel and
Mercedes engines, and often work in challenging and remote locations in
the logging, marine, mining, and industrial sectors.
Dennis Miskow, Branch Manager of Cullen Diesel’s Vancouver Island, BC
Dennis
Miskow, Branch Manager of Cullen Diesel’s Vancouver Island, BC
operations took some time to speak with VMAC about Cullen’s fleet, and
his decision to choose a Mercedes-Benz 4×4 Sprinter in
Part 1 of the Van Series Air Compressor blog.
In Part 2 of the series, Dennis explains why he chose a VMAC
UNDERHOOD40 Van Series Air Compressor (VR40) instead of a gas drive air
compressor, what he likes about the VR40, and his advice to anyone
considering a VMAC UNDERHOOD for their commercial van upfit.
Selecting A Van Air Compressor: UNDERHOOD or Gas Drive?
When
it was time to upgrade an aging service truck, Dennis Miskow ended up
choosing a Mercedes-Benz 4×4 Sprinter van. Next, he planned the upfit
with Sterling Fleet Outfitters, a commercial van and truck equipment
upfit company. Dennis was pleased to find this upfitter was very
experienced in cargo van upfits and had plenty of options specifically
designed for Cullen’s Sprinter van. When it came time to choose the air
compressor, Dennis took the time to reflect on the performance of Cullen
Diesel’s current gas drive air compressor.
“We knew that the gas
drive had lots of problems. It was bulky, it was space-sucking, it was
dirty, and we had to fix it constantly,” explains Dennis. “We were so
used to it, we just accepted that it was a high-maintenance piece of
equipment that we had to deal with.”
Unfortunately,
these problems are not uncommon for many mobile mechanics. However,
with the surge in popularity of commercial vans comes an increase in the
development of specialized equipment, like the VMAC UNDERHOOD40 Van
Series Air Compressor, the only air compressor that has been
specifically engineered for commercial vans. The under-the-hood
placement saves space in the cargo area and solves common safety issues,
like toxic fume exposure and risk of gas fires, faced by many operators
with standalone gas air compressors installed in the cargo area. With
the VR40, the only space required in the cargo area is 1.7 cubic feet
for a combined air/oil cooler and air/oil separator tank.
“My
mechanic specifically asked for a VMAC UNDERHOOD Air Compressor for the
van,” say Dennis. “Because we’d been experiencing problems with our
older gas drive air compressor, I was happy to get him what he was
asking for.”
Dennis worked with VMAC National Sales Representative
Darren Darnley to get the Cullen Diesel Mercedes-Benz 4×4 Sprinter van
upfitted with the UNDERHOOD40 Van Series. “Darren was great to work
with. He was the point-person, and he gave the same high level of
service we would give to our customers,” notes Dennis.
Like with
any investment in new equipment, Dennis did have some concerns, mainly
about cost. “The Van Series Air Compressor is more expensive than a gas
drive air compressor, and I also wondered if the UNDERHOOD was too much
power for our applications, as it’s rated for up to 40 CFM.” However,
once the UNDERHOOD was installed on the van and his mechanics were using
it, he had no more doubts.
UNDERHOOD40 Van Series Air Compressor Benefits
After
having the UNDERHOOD40 Van Series Air Compressor for three years, it’s
easy for Dennis to list his top three benefits of this air compressor:
- Space Savings
- “Having the air compressor under the hood saves space inside the
van, and gives it a clean, open look. There’s less clutter inside.”
- Quieter Operation
- “We don’t have a noisy air compressor on a truck right at ear level anymore.”
- Professionalism
- “Having the van’s equipment and tools organized gives it a
clean, professional look. Having the VMAC air compressor tucked away
under the hood is part of the professional look we’re going for, and it
feels like one less thing to worry about.”
As Dennis mentioned in Part 1 of the blog series, adding another
commercial van to the Cullen Diesel fleet is in the plan. “I want to get
another van, and when we do, it absolutely will have another VMAC
UNDERHOOD40 Air Compressor on it,” says Dennis.
Subscribe to the
VMAC Blog to continue reading about Cullen Diesel’s experience with a
service van, and the specialized equipment it comes with. In part three
of the series, which will be released next, Dennis will share what a
typical service job with Cullen Diesel entails, and how the UNDERHOOD40
Van Series Air Compressor is enabling his mechanics to work more
efficiently. You can also go back to read part 1 of the series:
Cullen Diesel Chooses Mercedes-Benz 4X4 Sprinter Van Over Service Truck.
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