DIY or Professional Van Racking? Everything you need to know before you start building

The thought has surely crossed your mind. A weekend, some plywood, a few shelves, and a handful of plastic bins, and you’ve got a van racking system at a fraction of the cost of a professional setup. It’s a tempting idea. Wood is inexpensive, you can tailor it exactly to your tools, and there’s a certain satisfaction in building something with your own hands.

But before you head to the hardware store, it’s worth pausing to consider what actually happens to a home-built interior on the road, and what the law requires of you as a vehicle owner.

What actually happens in a crash?

Let’s look at the facts. You’re driving at 50 km/h, a very common speed, and you collide. In that instant, everything in your load area is subjected to extreme forces for a fraction of a second. The crash test standard NS 2859, which System Edström tests its van racking against, is performed using a crash sled hitting a concrete wall with a full load at approximately 50 km/h. The racking must withstand forces of 25 G, that is, 25 times the force of gravity without giving way.

What does this mean in practice? At 25 G, a 5 kg power drill can generate a force against the racking equivalent to 125 kg. Copper pipes, steel toolboxes, circular saws, everything in the cargo area is transformed during a crash into potential projectiles with enough force to punch through the bulkhead into the driver’s cabin.

Plywood racking is never tested under these conditions. This isn’t because wood is a poor material in itself, but because DIY constructions have never been proven against the reality of a collision. Quite simply, you have no way of knowing what your racking can actually withstand.

What does the law say?

Load securing is not just a safety issue, it’s a legal one. While specific regulations vary by country, the core principle remains the same: the load in a vehicle must be secured so that it cannot cause injury or damage during sudden maneuvers or collisions. In many regions, this follows European standards requiring the system to withstand 80% of the load weight forward and 50% to the sides and rear.

As a driver and employer, you have a “Duty of Care” and are legally responsible for ensuring your vehicle is safe. A DIY wooden system rarely meets these documented safety standards. If you cannot prove your racking is compliant, you carry the full liability in the event of an accident.

Professionally installed, crash-tested van racking takes that weight off your shoulders. It is rigorously tested, fully documented, and engineered for maximum safety.

Contact us or Find your nearest dealer to get a custom solution for your van. We’ll help you build a setup that keeps you safe and compliant, no matter what happens on the road.