Mobile grooming vans for New Westminster

How steep are New Westminster streets for a grooming van?

Very steep in places. The city rises from the Quayside waterfront and Columbia Street up through downtown to Uptown and Queens Park, and several of the streets running uphill are among the steepest you will drive with a loaded van. Freezing rain or a light snowfall can make them slick quickly, even when the rest of Metro Vancouver is only wet.

Where you can, park on a cross street rather than facing straight up or down the hill, so the tub drains and the grooming table sits close to level. Once you are parked, a ProVanWorks van holds its heat in an insulated cargo area: a small diesel, gas or electric heater under the seat sends heat through in-floor and in-wall pipes, and the thermostat keeps it steady while you work. The cold-weather design page explains how the heat is spread around the van.

Will a grooming van fit in New Westminster's back lanes?

Sometimes, but plan on the street first. Queens Park, Glenbrooke North and the West End have heritage houses on small lots, and the lanes behind them are narrow, with power poles, fences and garages close on both sides. A full-size van can be awkward to turn into them and may block a neighbour's garage while you work. Downtown and Sapperton have apartment buildings where parkades are too low for a grooming van.

Street parking in front of the house is usually easier, and check with the City of New Westminster about parking a commercial vehicle on residential streets. The railing at the cargo door is useful on these tight streets: you can keep the door open while you lift a dog in and out, and the dog cannot slip out toward traffic.

Does a small city route still need big water tanks?

Yes, because New West stops are close together and you can fit more dogs into a day. Ten minutes between clients instead of thirty means more baths before lunch and more water used. A ProVanWorks van carries a large fresh water reservoir and a separate grey water tank in the utility area at the back, and the hot water system works in very low temperatures. The water system page has more on how the tanks are set up.

How far is New Westminster from the Langley shop?

Not far. New West sits on the Fraser across from Surrey, and from Langley you can come across the river from Surrey or take Highway 1 over the Port Mann Bridge and cut back through Coquitlam. Most New Westminster groomers pick up their van at the shop, where we go through each system with them first. To see a van being built, email info@provanworks.com.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to plug into a client's house in New Westminster?

No. A ProVanWorks van runs on its own auxiliary battery bank, heater and water supply, so you never need a cord or hose from an old house with limited outdoor outlets. The battery bank charges from Level 2 EV chargers between appointments.

Is the lighting good enough for dark winter afternoons?

Yes. Lights are spaced about every 30 cm along the work area so there are no shadows on the dog, which helps on short December days when the light is gone by late afternoon.

Does a New Westminster grooming van need air conditioning?

Yes, for summer. On a sunny July afternoon, a van parked on an Uptown street with the dryer running heats up fast, and there is rarely shade on the steep blocks. The front fan in a ProVanWorks van also runs the A/C, and the same thermostat controls heating and cooling. Read about van fans and A/C.