Specifying a fully equipped CCTV inspection van involves more decisions than most contractors expect, and those decisions are interdependent. The crawler determines the camera. The camera determines the cable requirement. The cable requirement affects the drum. The drum affects the vehicle layout. By the time all of that is settled, a contractor who started with a clear brief can find themselves deep in a specification that has grown beyond what they originally needed, or fallen short of it.
Rausch UK has developed a structured range of five van packages designed to give contractors a clearer starting point.
“Buying a fully equipped CCTV inspection van can become unnecessarily complicated. We wanted to give customers a much clearer place to start. The five packages make it easier to understand the different levels of capability, and from there we can focus on what the customer actually needs the vehicle to do.” Tom Baxter, Managing Director, Rausch UK
Five clear starting points
The packages; Starter, Core, Pro, Advanced and Elite, each combine a vehicle layout, operator workspace and inspection equipment suited to a different level or type of work.
Starter is a practical entry point for crawler inspection, combining a compact operator setup with the Cubix 300 cable drum, FW90 crawler and KS60 HD pan-and-tilt camera. It is designed for contractors coming into this type of work who need a reliable, well-specified system without unnecessary complexity.
Core steps up to the FW135 crawler and KS135 HD camera, giving contractors greater reach and capability for larger-diameter pipework while retaining a compact vehicle footprint.
Pro builds on that platform with a full operator office and workstation, the Rausch deployment crane and improved storage. It is a complete mobile working environment designed for inspection teams operating on a full-time basis.
Advanced introduces the Elka 600 HD integrated reel and deployment system, with its telescopic swivel arm and chain winch, alongside the FW135 and KS135 HD. It is built for higher-volume programmes, longer pipe runs and larger infrastructure projects where deployment efficiency and throughput are priorities.
Elite brings together the full capability of the range: RCA 5.0 full-HD control and recording technology, the Elka 600 HD with up to 500 metres of camera cable, and both the FW90/KS60 HD and FW135/KS135 HD crawler systems in a single, comprehensively equipped vehicle.
Built around the customer
The packages are starting points, not fixed specifications. No two drainage contractors work in exactly the same way, and Rausch UK can adapt any of the five packages to suit individual requirements. Equipment can be added, removed or changed. A smaller crawler can be incorporated into packages that do not include one, and lateral-launch inspection capability can be added to any vehicle fitted with an Elka drum.
For contractors with more specific needs, Rausch UK can also design and build a fully bespoke CCTV inspection vehicle from scratch, configured around the way the business actually works; whether that means a particular internal layout, specialist capability, additional storage or a vehicle built around the requirements of a specific contract.
“The packages are there to simplify the process, not limit the customer. They give us a clear starting point for the conversation. If a customer wants to change the specification, we change it. If their requirements are completely different, we can build the vehicle around them.” Tom Baxter, Managing Director, Rausch UK
A range of finance options is available for customers looking to spread the cost of their vehicle investment.
Taking the decision off the page
Alongside the package range, Rausch UK is building a dedicated high-specification demonstration van that will travel directly to contractors around the country.
The vehicle is configured to showcase the complete breadth of Rausch inspection capability in a single working environment: both the FW90 and FW135 crawler platforms, HD camera systems, the Elka 600 HD with 500 metres of cable, and full lateral-launch capability. It is, in effect, a working version of the Elite package that contractors can put through its paces before making any commitment.
The thinking behind it is straightforward. Assessing equipment from a brochure or a specification sheet can only tell a contractor so much. Being able to see the image quality first-hand, operate the crawler systems, work within the operator environment and experience the lateral-launch capability as a whole is a materially different basis for a purchasing decision.
It also addresses something that tends to get overlooked in the buying process: the operator who will use the van every day is often not the person who signs off the purchase. A specification that looks right at the management level can turn out to suit neither the operator nor the work.
“The demonstration van will allow customers and their operators to use the equipment before they invest. It is about making the process more practical, transparent and focused on what genuinely works on site.” Tom Baxter, Managing Director, Rausch UK
That experience can then shape the final specification - whether that means selecting one of the five packages, adapting a package to suit specific requirements, or commissioning a fully bespoke build.
Support beyond the build
Choosing the right vehicle is only part of the investment. Rausch UK supports customers after delivery with operator training, servicing, repairs and technical assistance from its UK operation, ensuring contractors have the support they need to keep their equipment working.
The result is a buying process built around clarity: five defined places to start, the flexibility to adapt any specification to the way the business actually works, and the option to put the equipment in the hands of the people who will use it before making the final decision.
To discuss the Rausch UK van range, arrange a demonstration or enquire about a bespoke build, contact the Rausch UK team or visit www.rausch-uk.com.
[This article appeared in Issue 341 of Drain Trader magazine, September 2026].