Mobile grooming vans for Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities

How much more snow do Burke Mountain and Westwood Plateau get?

A lot more than the valley floor. The upper neighbourhoods of Coquitlam sit high on the mountainside, and it is common for Burke Mountain or Westwood Plateau to have snow on the ground while downtown Port Coquitlam has rain. The streets up there are steep and winding, and some of them are hard to climb until the plows have been through.

For a groomer, that changes how the day is planned. You need good winter tires, and you may want the hillside stops later in the day. Once you are parked, a ProVanWorks van keeps the work area warm with a small heater under the seat (diesel, gas or electric) that feeds in-floor and in-wall heat, and the thermostat holds the setting while you work. The winter mobile grooming guide has more on planning routes around snow.

How far is the Langley shop from Coquitlam?

Not far. The shop is across the Fraser from the Tri-Cities, and most groomers come over the Port Mann Bridge on Highway 1. Outside rush hour that is a short drive from Coquitlam Centre or Port Coquitlam, and only a little longer from Port Moody.

Because the trip is easy, most Tri-Cities groomers visit at least once during the build and then pick up the van at the shop, where we run through every system with them before they leave. Email info@provanworks.com to set a time.

How do Tri-Cities groomers work day to day?

Each of the three cities gives you a different kind of stop. Port Moody has steep streets above the inlet and condo towers around Suter Brook and the SkyTrain stations. Port Coquitlam is flatter, with more single-family streets and easier curb parking. Coquitlam mixes towers at Coquitlam Centre and Burquitlam with large hillside houses on the Plateau and Burke Mountain, where many driveways slope hard toward the street.

Tower parkades are usually too low for a grooming van, so expect to park outside. On the hills, look for the flattest stretch of curb you can find, since a tub drains and a table sits better when the van is close to level. The ProVanWorks van carries a large fresh water reservoir and a grey water tank, and its auxiliary battery bank charges at Level 2 EV chargers, so you do not have to come down off the mountain for water or power partway through the day.

Frequently asked questions

Will a grooming van get up Burke Mountain in the snow?

That depends mostly on your tires and how recently the road was plowed. ProVanWorks builds on diesel, gas or electric vans, and every one of them needs proper winter tires for Coquitlam's upper streets. On heavy snow days, many groomers move hillside clients to the afternoon.

Can I get my grooming van wrapped at the Langley shop?

Yes. ProVanWorks designs and installs van wraps at the same shop, so a Tri-Cities groomer can pick up a van that already carries their branding. The shop also sprays bed liners for pickups and work vans, the same trip over the Port Mann.

Does a Tri-Cities grooming van need air conditioning?

Yes. The Tri-Cities sit further inland than Vancouver and get warmer summer afternoons, and a van parked on a sunny Port Coquitlam street heats up quickly with a dryer running. A ProVanWorks van's front cargo fan also runs the A/C, on the same thermostat as the heat. Read about van fans and A/C.