These are the best high roof cargo vans on the market that offer the most interior height:
- Ford Transit High Roof – 81.5” (110.2″ overall)
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter High Roof – 79.1” (108.9” overall)
- Freightliner Sprinter High Roof – 79.1” (107.5” overall)
- Nissan NV High Roof – 77” (105” overall)
- Ram ProMaster High Roof – 76” (99” overall)
Even super tall people (up to 6′ 7”) should be able to comfortably stand up in the tallest cargo van on this list.
Note that I’ve only included the cargo vans that have high roof versions, as some models are only offered with a standard roof height.
And to further expand on this topic, in this article I’ll cover:
- A detailed look at the best high roof cargo vans
- The pros and cons of a high roof cargo van
- The tallest items that you can fit into a high roof cargo van
1. Ford Transit High Roof
- Roof height – 81.5” (interior), 110.2″ (overall)
- Engine – 3.5L V6 gasoline
- Drivetrain – RWD, AWD
- Max GVWR – 11,000 lbs
- Starting price – 40,795
The Ford Transit is still the best-selling cargo van in the United States, according to a recent commercial van sales report.
This legendary Ford model is very customization-friendly as it offers lots of room for various interior additions such as bins, shelves, racks, storage utility, and other tools.
There are 3 different versions of the Transit of varying lengths and height, represented by 3 specific numbers that represent the length of the vehicle:
- 150 – Regular (18.5 feet); Short wheelbase; Only low and medium roofs are available
- 250 – Long (20 feet); Long wheelbase; Available in all roof heights
- 350 – Extended (22 feet); Long wheelbase; Available in all roof heights
Note that there are only 2 wheelbase options available, despite the 3 body lengths of the Transit.
There are also 2 additional roof sizes to choose from, apart from the high roof version:
- Low roof – 56” interior (83.2” overall)
- Medium roof – 72” (100.8” overall)
This best-selling work van is a very capable workhorse as well, since the high roof, extended 350 variation offers a whopping 487.2 cubic feet of cargo space.
In terms of added features, these are some of the tech gadgets the Transit offers:
- Tire pressure monitoring system
- Roll stability control
- Post-crash alert system
And it finally has an AWD option, which is accompanied by the two powerful 3.5L gasoline engines, especially the upgraded EcoBoost 3.5L unit.
2. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter High Roof
- Roof height – 79.1” (interior), (108.9” overall)
- Engines – 2.0L turbo gas, 2.0L diesel, 3.0L V6 turbo diesel
- Drivetrain – RWD, AWD
- Max GVWR – 12,125 lbs
- Starting price – $39,205
The Mercedes Sprinter is a posh work van with plenty of badge appeal that’s unmatched by its rivals. It also has a well-deserved reputation for reliability and not needing so long between services, so its higher purchase price is worth it if you value these things.
This premium vehicle has a few tricks up its sleeve as it boasts class-leading GVWR and payload capacity figures.
There are two wheelbase and 3 lengths available:
- 233.5″ (144″ wheelbase)
- 274.3″ (170″ wheelbase)
- 290″ (170″ extended wheelbase)
Moreover, in addition to the really tall high roof version, the MB Sprinter is also available with a standard roof that provides 67.7” cargo height (97.9” overall height).
It’s also worth mentioning that the 4500 model in the high roof and extended wheelbase variant has a jaw-dropping loading capacity of up to 532 cubic feet.
However, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter also shows its true premium colors where it really matters – on the list of safety features that include:
- Active brake assist
- Blind spot assist
- Crosswind assist
- Attention assist
- Hill-start assist
- Active lane keeping assist
- Active distance assist Distronic
It’s currently available with 7-speed and 9-speed (only for the gasoline model) automatic transmissions, as well as an optional 4×4 drivetrain.
3. Freightliner Sprinter High Roof
- Roof height – 79.1” (interior), (107.5” overall)
- Engines – 2.0L turbo gas, 2.0L diesel, 3.0L V6 turbo diesel
- Drivetrain – RWD, AWD
- Max GVWR – 12,125 lbs
- Starting price – $39,205
This is definitely one of the top high roof cargo vans out there, although Mercedes recently announced that they’re discontinuing the Freightliner Sprinter.
Basically, Mercedes-Benz has previously allowed Dodge and Freightliner to sell the Sprinter under their own branding with the only main differences being cosmetic and branding.
This makes the Freightliner Sprinter an attractive option on the used cargo van market with its fancy tech and German engineering.
There is a standard roof heigh in addition to the high roof version and two lengths:
- Standard wheelbase – 144” long
- Extended wheelbase – 170” long
Although the Freightliner is slightly less practical than its MB cousin, it still boasts the incredible 469.4 cubic feet of cargo space.
And thanks to the Mercedes-Benz platform and parts, the Freightliner Sprinter has a number of high-tech safety features:
- Blind spot assist mirror
- Active brake assist
- 360 degree camera
- Traffic sign assist
- LED performance headlights
The Freightliner is also available with the very modern 9G-Tronic automatic transmission courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.
4. Nissan NV High Roof
- Roof height – 77” (interior), (105” overall)
- Engines – 4.0L V6 gas, 5.6L V8 gas
- Drivetrain – RWD
- Max GVWR – 9,900 lbs
- Starting price – $33,190
The Japanese-built Nissan NV comes with a ladder-type frame, a truck-like design and some pretty big gasoline engines.
Although it recently became official that Nissan will be waving goodbye to its NV vans, the NV high roof is still one of the most competent workhorses in this segment.
The very tall and boxy frame makes this a very practical choice, although it’s only available in one length: 20 feet and a 146” wheelbase.
This massive work van also boasts a maximum towing capacity of 9,400 lbs thanks to the powerful 5.6L unit, which is logically quite thirsty as well.
Opting for the high roof version will give you a total cargo capacity of 323 cubic feet, and there’s also a standard roof version (84″ overall height).
The NV might not have a plethora of fancy safety features, but it still comes with more than enough tech including:
- Electronic brake assist
- Vehicle dynamic control
- Anti-lock braking system
- Zone body construction
Another thing to keep in mind is that the Nissan NV is the most affordable cargo van on this list.
5. Ram ProMaster High Roof
- Roof height – 76” (interior), (99” overall)
- Engines – 3.6L V6 gas
- Drivetrain – FWD
- Max GVWR – 9,350 lbs
- Starting price – $37,315
Ram’s full-size ProMaster cargo van is a great all-rounder with one of the tallest cargo interiors in its high roof guise.
There’s a standard roof height too, while the cargo area width and load floor height are class-leading, making the ProMaster really practical.
This vehicle can be customized in many different ways through the various official upfits meant to suit various businesses and contractors, such as:
- Electricians
- Telecom
- HVAC
- Plumbers
- Construction
- Deliveries/catering
Additionally, there are 3 wheelbase variations and 4 cargo lengths to choose from:
- 8 feet length (118” wheelbase)
- 10 feet length (136” wheelbase)
- 12 feet length (159” wheelbase)
- 13 feet length (159” extended wheelbase)
The ProMaster is loaded with plenty of modern technologies as well, including some really smart gadgets that are typically found in premium cars:
- Digital rearview mirrors
- Blind spot monitoring with rear cross path detection
- Forward collision warning
This cargo van offers an impressive 4,680-pound maximum payload and a maximum towing capacity of 6,910 lbs.
The Pros and Cons of a High Roof Cargo Van
Although a high roof cargo vans provide obvious benefits like people being able to comfortably stand up inside them. This helps you spend more time in there and be more comfortable, as you don’t have to bend your back all the time.
However they still have certain drawbacks that you need to know as part of choosing which high roof cargo van is best for you.
Let’s now take a closer look at the pros and cons of high roof cargo vans:
The Pros of a High Roof Cargo Van
- Even tall people can stand up fully vertically inside a cargo area
- The extra height increases the overall cargo space of the vehicle, meaning you can fit very tall items inside
- Lots of customization options since the higher ceiling can be used to build a custom work space that can suit various business needs
The Cons of a High Roof Cargo Van
- Can be harder to drive and maneuver (especially in very windy conditions)
- Reduced aerodynamics (due to the extra drag of the high roof), which negatively affects fuel economy
- Won’t fit in some parking garages, drive-throughs, and car washes due to the excessive height
Note that if these cons are a real deal-breaker for you, then a standard or medium roof cargo van might be the better option for your needs.
The Tallest Items that Fit in a High Roof Cargo Van
These are some of the tallest items that you can fit into the massive 81.5-inch high cargo area of the cargo van with the highest roof:
- Full size mattress (75” long)
- Queen size mattress (80” long)
- King size mattress (80” long)
- Large closet system (up to 80” high)
- Large refrigerator
- Standard wardrobe
Depending on the wheelbase and overall length of your work van, you might fit even longer or taller items, but you’ll have to lay them horizontally (on the cargo area floor).
Conclusion
The best high roof cargo van on the market right now is the legendary Ford Transit with a class-leading interior cargo height of 81.5”.
This means that you can fit some really tall items inside, such as a standard wardrobe, a large closet system, and even a King size mattress.
The impressive interior height also means that most people (including really tall individuals) should be able to stand up inside without any problems.
All of this makes a high roof cargo van ideal for certain businesses and individual contractors, especially due to the superior customization that the high top offers.
However, the tall roof also means that the overall height of the cargo van can be a problem when trying to park in certain garages or just maneuver around areas with a height limit (e.g. a drive-through).
Also, keep in mind that not all cargo van models have a high roof version – some are only available with a standard roof design.
