MAN TGE Dropside Review

The MAN TGE Dropside at a glance

If there’s one van that could be considered the jack of all trades, then the MAN TGE would certainly be one of them. Available in various body types including a panel van, crew cab and chassis cabs (that can also be crew), versatility is most definitely offered with the TGE to suit your needs regardless of your trade.

In this review, we will specifically be looking at the MAN TGE Dropside van, which is ideal for people who work in various trade sectors, including landscapers, scaffolders and those who work in light construction or forestry.

Starting from £29,304 to buy outright, or £349 plus VAT when bought on finance at Van Sales UK, the MAN TGE Dropside excels when it comes to driveability, comfort, loading capabilities and overall convenience, making it ideal to suit both your personal and professional needs.

Engines and Spec

The chassis cabs of the MAN TGE are available with the option for front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive in either 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic (for the larger two engine sizes) transmission. There are then different engine sizes offered depending on which transmission you opt for, these ranging between 75kW, 90kW, 103kW and 130kW.

Running on diesel, this van certainly packs a powerful punch, and you can expect a torque of between 300-410 Nm to help you keep up with busy rush-hour traffic – whether that’s cruising on motorways or accelerating from traffic lights in urban areas – and navigating steep and rough terrain.

In terms of payload, the largest offered by the chassis cab that is used for this dropside van sits at 1,566kg for the 3.5 tonne GVW and an astonishing 3,334kg for the 5.5 tonne GVW, with both of these being for the standard length van – though for those such as scaffolders or forestry workers who may require extra length rather than the highest payload, there are also long and extra-long wheelbases available.

Interior

When using a dropside van to carry your tools and materials, you want to ensure that not only do they fit, but that they’re secure. With the MAN TGE Dropside, this won’t be an issue you’ll need to worry about thanks to the lashing eyes that allow you to securely tie down any loads, while the lockable hinged aluminium board walls keep everything safely stored and protected whilst allowing you easy access to your heavy items.

Having these hinged doors is ideal when working with large and heavy materials, whether that be logs, bags of aggregates or scaffolding poles, since it allows you to more easily access these no matter where they are placed in comparison to if you had to get them out of a panel van. There is also a step included on the tailgate panel of this van to further improve ease of accessibility.

As for convenience and comfort inside the cab, it boasts a modern design with ample storage solutions and a digital infotainment system that is available in three different optional functionality packages depending on your connectivity requirements. This is particularly useful for those who are self-employed and/or work as contractors that simultaneously treat their van as a mobile office.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Available in 4-wheel drive – perfect for those in forestry, landscaping or construction who commonly drive across rough terrain.
• Available in three different load lengths to suit requirements based on specific trade.
• Modern interior and comfortable to drive.

Cons

• Some useful features are only available as optional extras (e.g. additional storage, power sockets and connectivity packages).
• Not suitable for those who require their equipment and materials to be covered and protected from the weather.

The Verdict

If you work in forestry, landscaping or construction and are looking for a van that can traverse rough and uneven terrain whilst offering ample space to carry the large and heavy materials used in your line of work, all whilst keeping access to these easy for you to load and unload, then the MAN TGE Dropside is especially well-suited for you.

With a number of vehicle sizes, lengths, engines and transmissions available all for this dropside van, it is extremely customisable to suit your individual needs as best as possible.

Can’t justify the price of purchasing it outright? Not to worry – at Van Sales UK, we have the brand new for 2023 MAN TGE Dropside in stock and available for hire on zero-deposit finance from only £349 plus VAT, including manufacturer’s warranty and roadside assistance.

If you’re interested and would like to learn more, then don’t hesitate to enquire now. We welcome part exchange and offer all our vehicles with free UK delivery.