Fleet and Commercial Body
Cargo Van Bulkhead and Partition Installation
Typical range
$400 to $2,500
Shop hours
2 to 10
Labor rate
$210/hr
The short answer
Bulkhead and partition installation separates the cargo area from the cab on vans and cutaways using solid, window, or door-equipped partitions with correct anchoring. Work runs $400 to $2,500, or 2 to 10 hours at $210 per hour plus the partition. In shop install only.
01
What this work actually involves
A partition is a crash barrier first and an organizer second. In a hard stop, unrestrained cargo behind the seats travels forward with the full energy of the vehicle, and the partition is the only thing between a stack of parts bins and the back of a driver head. That is why the anchoring method matters more than the panel itself. A partition fastened into thin unreinforced sheet metal tears through under load. We anchor into factory reinforcement points and floor structure, with backing where the manufacturer kit does not provide it.
The second consideration is what the van actually does. A last-mile parcel or service van working dense Orange County and LA basin routes may need a door partition so the driver can pass through to the cargo area without walking around the vehicle in traffic, which on a route with 120 stops saves real minutes and real exposure. A contractor van hauling long stock needs a window partition or a mid-height design to preserve rear sight lines. A van carrying loose or hazardous material needs a solid full partition with a sealed perimeter. Picking the wrong style is the most common thing we end up replacing.
Fitment is model-specific. Sprinter, Transit, ProMaster, and the domestic cutaway platforms all have different roof heights, floor profiles, and factory anchor locations, and a partition designed for one will not anchor correctly in another regardless of how close the width looks. We use platform-correct kits, seal the perimeter so the cargo area does not pump dust and noise into the cab, and integrate with any shelving already in the van. In shop body, paint, structural, and equipment install only. Engine, drivetrain, and DOT inspection work are not performed.
Systems and brands we work on: Adrian Steel, Ranger Design, Weather Guard.
Location: All work is performed at our Yorba Linda facility. We do not offer mobile, roadside, or fleet route service.
02
What the job includes
- Solid, window, and door-equipped partition installation on vans and cutaways
- Platform-correct fitment for Sprinter, Transit, ProMaster, and domestic cutaway bodies
- Anchoring into factory reinforcement points and floor structure
- Backing plate fabrication where the kit hardware lands on unreinforced sheet metal
- Perimeter sealing against dust, noise, and exhaust intrusion into the cab
- Mid-height and partial partitions where rear sight lines must be preserved
- Integration with existing shelving, racking, and floor systems
- Cutaway and box body bulkhead installation between cab and cargo area
- Headliner, trim, and seat belt anchor clearance verification
- Removal and disposal of failed, damaged, or incorrectly fitted partitions
03
When you need this service
- A cargo van running loose tools and parts with no barrier behind the seats
- A partition that rattles, flexes, or has loosened at its anchor points
- Torn or elongated sheet metal at a partition mounting hole
- Dust, fumes, or road noise coming into the cab around a partition perimeter
- A driver walking around the vehicle in traffic because there is no pass-through
- A partition blocking rear visibility on a van that needs it for backing
- A partition from a previous vehicle installed in a platform it does not fit
04
How we do it, step by step
- 01
Use case review
What the van hauls, how the driver works the route, and whether rear sight lines or pass-through access matter more. That answer decides solid, window, or door style.
- 02
Platform and fitment confirmation
Van platform, roof height, wheelbase, and factory anchor locations confirmed against the specific partition kit before anything is unboxed or drilled, since near-fit partitions never anchor correctly.
- 03
Anchor point survey
Factory reinforcement points located, along with wiring, fuel lines, and brake lines running behind the panel and under the floor at every single intended fastener location.
- 04
Backing fabrication where needed
Where kit hardware would land in unreinforced sheet metal, we fabricate backing plates so a loaded cargo area cannot tear the partition out of the wall.
- 05
Installation and sealing
Partition set square and anchored to specification, then the perimeter sealed so dust, noise, and fumes stay behind it instead of migrating into the cab.
- 06
Integration and clearance check
Seat travel, seat belt anchors, headliner trim, and any existing shelving all checked for clearance, and door partitions cycled repeatedly to confirm they latch and clear the seats.
- 07
Function check and release
Anchors torqued and rechecked, rear visibility verified from the driver seat, and the installation documented so the rest of the fleet can be built to match.
05
Pricing and posted rates
| Item | Rate or range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical job range | $400 to $2,500 | Varies with extent of damage and parts availability |
| Shop hours | 2 to 10 | Quoted after teardown, not before |
| Body and paint labor | $210 per hour | 2026 posted rate |
| Paint supplies | $55 per paint hour | Calculated automatically on every estimate |
| Body supplies | $5 per body hour | Calculated automatically on every estimate |
| Parts | 100% markup under $100, 35% over | Special order parts require a non refundable deposit at order |
| Deposit | 50% at authorization over $2,000 | Additional 25% when parts arrive on jobs over $10,000 |
| Sales tax | 7.75% on parts and materials | Labor is not taxed |
Insurance billed jobs may be billed at carrier negotiated labor rates that differ from the posted retail rates above. See all posted rates.
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Vehicles we do this work on
Vehicle
Cargo Vans
Cargo vans on Transit, ProMaster, Express, and Sprinter platforms carry trade tools, parts inventory, and route freight. Rear door
Vehicle
Sprinter Vans
Mercedes Sprinter vans run last-mile routes, trade service, and camper conversions across Southern California. Sliding door tracks
Vehicle
High-Cube Vans
High-cube vans trade a tall roof and maximum interior volume for a large flat sail area and a roofline that clears almost nothing.
Vehicle
Electric Delivery Vans
Electric delivery vans including the Rivian EDV used by Amazon Logistics have a floor-mounted battery pack, bonded composite body
Vehicle
Parcel and Furniture Delivery Trucks
Walk-in step vans and parcel bodies are aluminum-bodied, low-stepped, and cycled harder than any other commercial vehicle on the r
Vehicle
Paratransit Vans
Paratransit vans carry a wheelchair lift or ramp, a lowered or reinforced floor, and securement track that is loaded in tension by
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Questions about bulkhead and partition installation
Frequently asked questions
What does a van partition installation cost?
Work runs $400 to $2,500, or 2 to 10 hours at $210 per hour, plus the partition itself. A platform-correct solid partition with factory anchor points sits at the low end. A door partition with fabricated backing, perimeter sealing, and integration into existing shelving sits at the high end. Parts carry 100 percent markup under $100 and 35 percent over $100.
How long is the van down?
Most partition installations are a same-day job, typically three to six hours. Add time if backing plates have to be fabricated or if the van already has shelving that needs to be shifted to clear the partition. If you are outfitting several vans, send them on a rotation and we will build them identically so a driver can move between units without relearning the layout.
Which partition brands do you install?
We install Adrian Steel, Ranger Design, and Weather Guard partitions, plus other manufacturers your fleet already standardizes on. If you supply the partition, we will install it. If we are specifying, tell us the van platform, the roof height, and what the vehicle hauls, and we will identify a partition that anchors correctly rather than one that merely fits the opening.
Solid, window, or door partition. Which should we use?
Solid gives the best barrier and the best dust and noise separation, and it is right for loose material, hazardous cargo, and climate-separated cargo. Window preserves rear visibility, which matters on vans that back into tight spaces. Door lets a driver pass through without exiting into traffic, which pays for itself on high-stop-count routes. Match it to the route, not to the catalog price.
Do you do any mechanical work on the van at the same time?
No. In shop body, paint, structural, and equipment install only. Engine, drivetrain, or DOT inspection work is not performed here. Partitions, shelving, flooring, racking, and body work are what we do, and all of it happens at our Yorba Linda facility. We do not run route service or send technicians to fleet yards.
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Ready to move on bulkhead and partition installation? Bring it to Yorba Linda.