When it comes to choosing the right commercial vehicle to serve your business, the choice between buying a pickup truck or a van can be a hard one. Pickup trucks are awesome and you can’t argue that they possess more style and attitude. On the other hand, cargo vans are very utilitarian and offer up many compelling reasons business owners might be on the fence about choosing a pickup truck instead.

While each segment provides different things, they are both workers at heart. But which is the better commercial vehicle? Here are three reasons pickup trucks are better than work vans.

1. They are cool enough to lead a double life

Most people out there don’t want to drive around the commercial fleet van all day on the job and then take it out to dinner, too. A pickup truck on the other hand can lead a double life. The right pickup truck will offer the utility needed for your business and then get cleaned up and go out on the town. Much like the drivers of such a truck, these pickups are only good for one thing.

A pickup truck can look great in the city and then wake up in the morning, put its hard hat on, and get down and dirty. If you are worried about having a vehicle that is designated for the business, you can always slap a sticker on the doors to lend a more professional appearance. This is one good reason that a pickup truck is better.

2. Higher payload and towing capability

While cargo vans are very robust in their abilities, there aren’t any that can haul a load over 10,000 pounds. For a Chevrolet Silverado or a Ford F-150, this is just another day in the life. If you will be consistently heavy hauling and towing 10,000 pounds or more, get a pickup truck.

Each configuration offers different capabilities, just like the cargo vans. However, pickup trucks are undeniably stronger and more adept at handling a heavy load. While pickup trucks and work vans share DNA, they each evolved quite differently. Trucks are more capable in terms of hauling and towing and there’s just no getting around it.

3. More widely available 4×4

Another reason many turn to the pickup truck over a work van is there are many more with 4×4 capability. For many people, getting to the job means driving on a dirt or gravel road. While a couple of the vans offer available 4×4, every pickup truck offers 4×4 on at least one or more trim.

If you need a commercial vehicle with more off-pavement or off-road capability, a pickup truck is better than a commercial van. Properly equipped, pickup trucks offer the cargo utility plus the rugged capability of an all-terrain vehicle. If your business needs a vehicle to haul people and gear off the paved road, you’ll definitely want to choose a pickup truck instead of a cargo van. There are few things more counterproductive than getting stuck with your tires spinning in the dirt, your commercial vehicle loaded down with equipment for a job you can’t even get to.

Work van or pickup truck?

While both options are compelling in their own right, pickup trucks drive a strong argument in their case as commercial vehicles. We love cargo vans, but sometimes there are jobs that need the capability of a pickup truck. If you want something with more capability for heavy hauling or travel off-pavement, a pickup truck is the better choice. Plus, pickup trucks can double as both your commercial companion and a personal family vehicle.