# Mobile grooming vans for North Vancouver and West Vancouver ProVanWorks builds heated mobile grooming vans at our Langley shop for groomers on the North Shore. North Vancouver and West Vancouver have some of the steepest residential streets in the region, and the upper neighbourhoods near the mountains can get heavy snow while the waterfront gets rain, so a North Shore van has to work well parked on a cold slope. ## How much snow do the upper North Shore neighbourhoods get? Far more than the waterfront. Upper Lonsdale, Lynn Valley, Edgemont and the British Properties in West Vancouver sit against the mountains, and they often get snow when Lower Lonsdale and Ambleside see only rain. The highest streets can be hard to climb on a snow day, and snowbanks narrow them further. A ProVanWorks grooming van is set up for an hour parked on one of those streets in the cold. A small diesel, gas or electric heater under the seat drives in-floor and in-wall heat, the thermostat holds the temperature, and the hot water is built to keep working in very low temperatures. The driving side is up to you: good winter tires, and a route that saves the highest stops for after the plows. The [cold-weather design](/mobile-grooming-vans/cold-weather-design/) page has the details of the heating system. ## Where do North Shore groomers park the van? Parking is often the hardest part of a North Shore route. Houses in the upper neighbourhoods tend to have steep driveways and narrow streets with no sidewalk, and many West Vancouver homes sit well above or below the road. Lower Lonsdale and Ambleside have apartment buildings with parkades that are too low for a grooming van, so you will usually be at the curb. Pick the flattest stretch of road you can so the tub drains properly and the table sits level. A ProVanWorks van does not need a hose or extension cord from the house, which matters when the front door is two flights of stairs above the street. The railing at the cargo door also helps on a sloped street with traffic going by: you can leave the door open for air while the dog stays inside. ## How do North Shore groomers get to and from the Langley shop? Every trip to the North Shore crosses Burrard Inlet. From Langley the usual route is Highway 1 west through Burnaby and over the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge. West Vancouver groomers can also come through downtown Vancouver and over the Lions Gate Bridge, though for most the Second Narrows is more direct. The bridges are where traffic backs up, so plan to collect the van midday. Most North Shore groomers pick up the van at the shop and drive it home, which is a good first test on the hills. If you would rather have the van brought to you, read how [delivery across Canada](/delivery-across-canada/) works and ask when you request a quote. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do North Shore trail dogs need a bigger water supply? Usually, yes. Dogs that hike Lynn Canyon, Mount Seymour or the Capilano trails often come in muddy and need a long rinse before the bath. A ProVanWorks van carries a large fresh water reservoir in the utility area at the back and a separate grey water tank, so a muddy day does not end early. ### Can I keep the van comfortable on a hot day in West Vancouver? Yes. The van has two fans in the cargo area, one at the front and one at the back, and the front fan is also the [air conditioning](/van-fan-and-ac-installation/) fan. Optional windows in the work area can open for fresh air when the weather is mild. ### Can I charge the van's batteries on the North Shore? Yes. The auxiliary battery bank charges from Level 2 EV chargers, so a lunch stop near a public charger can top it up. See [power and EV charging](/mobile-grooming-vans/power-and-ev-charging/) for how the system is set up.