A garden sauna collection is a popular winter job, and it is easy to underestimate. Kits arrive as long timber staves, heavy bundles of boards and a separate heater. A second-hand barrel sauna may even come fully built. Either way, the van you pick decides how smoothly the day goes. We supply van hire in Warrington from our Cockhedge depot. This guide covers which van suits each type of sauna and what to sort out before you set off.
Planning a Garden Sauna Collection From Start to Finish
Start with the seller’s paperwork. A new kit comes with a parts list, and it should give the length of the longest stave. Ask for the number of packs too. For a second-hand sauna, find out whether the sauna is already taken apart or still standing in the garden.
Those answers decide everything else. A flat-pack kit is long but fairly narrow. By contrast, an assembled barrel sauna is wide and round, and it needs an open deck. So gather the details first, then ring us and describe the load. That way we can match it to the right vehicle from a fleet of over 70 vans.
Flat-Pack Kits in an XLWB
Most new saunas come flat packed. The staves are long, smooth and easy to scratch, and they need to lie flat. The extra long wheelbase van has a 4.3 metre load length, which suits most kit timber. Better still, it keeps the wood dry, which matters in November rain.
Lay the stave packs on the floor first, against the bulkhead. Then put the bench boards and door on top, with blankets between them. Keep the glass door upright if possible, wedged against a side wall. Pack the small parts box last so you can find it at the other end.
Think about the route into the garden too. Long staves have to go down a side passage or through the house. So measure the narrowest gate before you buy. If the packs will not turn the corner, you may need to split them and carry the boards in a few at a time.
Assembled Barrel Saunas on a Flatbed
An assembled barrel sauna will not fit through a pair of van doors. Instead, the flatbed dropside van carries it on an open deck. Lower the sides and four or five people can slide it on from the edge. Ideally, the seller has a forklift or a telehandler to do the lifting.
Strap the barrel at both ends and put wedges under its curve so it cannot roll. Also, sheet it over if rain is forecast, because wet timber swells. Bring your own straps, sheets and wedges, since we do not supply them. On the drive home, take bends gently and check the straps after a few miles.
Heaters and Stoves Travel Separately
The heater is the most valuable part of the load. Electric heaters are compact but heavy for their size. Wood-burning stoves for saunas are heavier still and have a flue kit too. Keep the heater in its box and strap it upright, close to the cab wall.
Do not stack timber on top of the heater box. Meanwhile, keep the sauna stones in their sacks on the floor, because loose stones roll everywhere. An electric heater will also need a qualified electrician to wire it in. Book that visit now, so the sauna does not sit unused for weeks.
Planning Permission and Base Preparation
Check the rules before you buy. Many garden buildings count as permitted development, but size, height and position all matter. The GOV.UK guide to planning permission rules explains where to start. If you live in a listed building or a conservation area, check with your council as well.
Next, prepare the base before the garden sauna collection, not after. A level concrete pad or a solid timber frame both work. If the base is not ready, the sauna ends up stacked on the lawn under a tarpaulin. Wet staves warp, and that makes the build much harder.
Winter Timing and Short Days
Our depot opens Monday to Saturday from 8am to 4pm and is closed Sunday. In winter, the light fades around the time we close. So collect the van at eight and head straight to the seller. That leaves daylight for unloading on a wet garden path.
Frost and wet leaves make paths slippery in November. Clear the route and grit any steps before the van arrives. Meanwhile, lay boards over soft lawn if you need to roll anything across it. A sack truck sinks quickly into wet grass, and a dropped stave pack can split a board.
Many sauna buyers live east of town along the A57. If that is you, our page on van hire Rixton covers that village. Likewise, van hire Hollins Green covers its neighbour. For a similar winter job, our guide to collecting a hot tub in a hire van has more loading tips.
Booking Your Garden Sauna Collection
Bring your photocard licence and a DVLA check code when you collect the van. All our vehicles are 3.5 tonnes or under, so you can drive them on a standard car licence. There is no deposit on most vehicles, and free secure parking lets you leave your car on site.
If your delivery date is fixed, book early. Booking at least two weeks ahead earns 10% off selected vehicles. So look at our van hire special offers before you call. Also, have the seller’s address and loading details to hand.
Tell us whether your sauna is a kit or already built, and how long the longest piece is. We will then suggest the right van. Call Warrington Van Hire on 01925 396 222 to reserve a van, or fill in the form on our contact us page.
