UVK is an acronym for Universal Vehicle Kit. UVK = Universal Vehicle Kit , UVKs=
Universal Vehicle Kits. It includes a SATELLITE RADIO UNIVERSAL KIT and allows
Plug and Play Receiver into your home, truck or car stereo. It Includes a
docking cradle, universal antenna, audio cables, AC adapter for home, and 12V
adapter for your mobile use. Sometimes, it is also Utility Vehicle Kit.
A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people. It
is usually a rather box-shaped vehicle on four wheels, about the same width and
length as a large automobile, but taller and usually higher off the ground, also
referred to as a Light Commercial Vehicle or LCV. However, in North America, the
term may be used to refer to any truck with a rigid cargo body fixed to the cab,
even up to large sizes.
In the UK usage, it can be either specially designed or based on a saloon/sedan
car, the latter type often including derivatives with open backs (such as
pick-up trucks). There are vans in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the
classic van version of the tiny Mini to the five metre long (LWB) variants of
the Mercedes Sprinter van. Vehicles larger than this are classified as trucks
(or lorries in British English).
Word usage and etymology
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Polish Lublin III van
The word van is a shortened version of the word which originally meant a covered
vehicle.
The word van has slightly different, but overlapping, meanings in different
forms of English. While the word always applies to boxy cargo vans, the most
major differences in usage are found between the different English-speaking
countries.
United Kingdom
British English speakers will generally refer to a passenger minivan as a
people-carrier or MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), and a larger passenger van as a
minibus. Ford makes a distinct line of vans with short hoods and varying body
sizes. Minivans are the same Vans but smaller.
United States
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Full size conversion van (1996 Dodge Ram Van)
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Full size van engine, with doghouse removed.
In the United States, a van can also refer to a box-shaped trailer or
semi-trailer used to carry goods. In this case there is a differentiation
between a dry van, used to carry most goods, and a refrigerated van (a reefer)
used for cold goods. A railway car used to carry baggage is also called a van.
The term van is also used to refer to a Minivan. However, minivans are usually
distinguished by their smaller size (190 to 200 in long), unibody architecture,
and front wheel drive powertrains. Minivans have essentially replaced the large
family station wagon, many luxury family sedans, and short wheelbased full-size
vans that do not require extreme volume, towing, or passengers beyond 7. By
comparison with full sized vans, they get good gas mileage, do not require
overheight parking, have comfortable flexible seating accommodations such as
folding middle or 3rd row seats, lowering windows on passenger doors on left and
right side, and power hatch.
However, when it is necessary to tow a large mass, such as a camper, a full size
van may be preferred for its larger engine, converted from cargo form to a
family vehicle, referred to as a conversion van. A conversion van receives a
full interior, extra seats, and comfort options such as air conditioning,
indirect lighting, premium sound system, and a video screen system. While a
minivan can tow between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds, a full size van can tow in
excess of 8,000 pounds, as well as its own weight.
Full size vans are noted for their short nose, which creates a unique engine
location. The engine block is located between the two front seats, next to the
legs of passengers. An enclosure known as a doghouse covers the engine, and
often has an inner padding, as the engine produces a lot of heat.
Japan
Early Japanese vans include the Mazda Bongo and the Subaru 360 van. The Japanese
also produced many vans based on the American flat nose model, but also
mini-vans which for the American market have generally evolved to the
long-wheelbase front wheel drive form factor first pioneered by the Dodge
Caravan. Microvans, vans that fulfill kei car regulations, are very popular for
small business.
Australia
In Australian English, the term van is commonly used to describe a minivan, a
passenger minibus, or an Australian panel van, manufactured by both Holden and
Ford at various times.
A full size van used for commercial purposes is also known as a van, however a
passenger vehicle with more than 7 or 8 seats is more likely to be called a
minibus.
Finally, the term van can sometimes be used interchangeably with caravan, which
in the U.S. is referred to as a travel trailer.
The British term people mover is also used in Australian English to describe a
passenger van. The American usage of van to mean a cargo box trailer or
semi-trailer is used rarely, if ever, in Australia.
Examples
The first generation of American vans were the 1960s compact vans which were
patterned in size after the Volkswagen Bus. The Corvair based entry even aped
the rear mounted air cooled engine design. The Ford Falcon had a flat nose with
engine mounted between and behind the front seats. The Dodge A100 had a similar
layout and could accommodate a V-8. Chevrolet also switched to this layout. The
Ford, Dodge and Corvair vans were also produced as pickup trucks.
The standard or full size vans appeared with Ford's innovation of moving the
engine forward under a short hood and using pickup truck components and
taillights. The engine cockpit housing is often called a dog house. Over time,
they evolved longer noses and sleeker shapes. The Dodge Sportsman added a plug
to the rear of a long wheelbase to create the 15 passenger van. They have been
sold as both cargo and passenger models to the general public and as cutaway van
chassis versions for second stage manufacturers to make box vans, ambulances,
campers and other vehicles. Second stage manufacturers also modify the original
manufacturer's body to create custom vans for the general public.
In the 1970s, songs like "Chevy Van" and nicknames like "sin bin" became part of
the culture as owners transformed them into rolling bedrooms and lounges.
Conversion vans became a large market with plusher accommodations than factory
seats.
Dodge ended production of their full-size vans in June of 2002 (as 2003 models),
and replaced it with the Dodge Sprinter, which is based on a narrower, more fuel
efficient European design pattern with a 150 hp diesel turbo I5. Typical
versions of the Sprinter are taller than other unmodified vans (tall enough to
stand in), with a more slanted (aerodynamic) profile in front. They have been
adopted primarily for delivery and lightweight Class-C van cab motorhome
applications.
Usage
In urban areas of the United States full-size vans have been used as commuter
vans since 1971, when Dodge introduced a van that could transport up to 15
passengers. Commuter vans are used as an alternative to carpooling and other
ride sharing arrangements.
Many mobile businesses use a van to carry almost their entire business to
various places where they work. For instance, there are those who come to homes
or places of business to perform services or to install or repair appliances.
Vans are also used to shuttle people and their luggage between hotels and
airports, to transport commuters between parking lots and their places of work,
and along established routes as minibuses.
Vans are also used to transport elderly and mobility-impaired worshipers to and
from church services or to transport youth groups for outings to amusement
parks, picnics, and visiting other churches.
Step Van
Another type of van, peculiar to North America, is the step van, so called
because of the ease with which one can step in and out of it. Widely used by
delivery services, courier companies and the parcel division of US Mail and
Canada Post, they are often seen driven with the door open, especially in big
cities.
Rollover safety
Recently, the larger passenger versions have appeared in news stories for having
a tendency to roll over, particularly in the case of inexperienced operators.
The van body is taller than the cab and bed of the pickup that uses the same
style frame and powertrain resulting in the basic van having a higher center of
gravity than a similarly loaded pickup from which it is derived. The suspension
is also higher because of the extreme weight capacity of 15 passengers of
between 150 and 200 lb each which may be over one ton of passengers alone. The
seats in the passenger version raise the load, passengers, above the floor,
further raising the center of gravity (and often shifting it rearward). The
bench seats allow passengers to slide if safety belts are not used. In the
United States it is common for only the front seat passengers to use their
safety belts, perhaps because belted passengers feel they can still lean and
shift a large amount. However, the NHTSA, cited below, has determined that
belted passengers are about 4 times more likely to survive in rollover crashes.
Safety can be greatly improved by understanding the unique characteristics of
12- & 15-passenger vans and by following a special set of guidelines developed
for drivers, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA). A summary of this information is available at Reducing
The Risk of Rollover Crashes in 15-Passenger Vans.Among other things, this
document advises that carrying 10 or fewer passengers (preferably towards the
front of the van) greatly reduces the risk of rollover crashes, and it suggests
that repeated operation by the same drivers tends to increase their ability to
handle these vehicles more safely over time. Car rental companies have also
started adding stickers to warn renters about the difference in handling while
compared to standard cars. Items should not be added to a roof rack of an
already top-heavy vehicle.
Models of vans by manufacturer
Chevrolet
* Chevrolet Astro
* Chevrolet Beauville
* Chevrolet Ben Milan
* Chevrolet Corvair 95 Greenbriar
* Chevrolet Express
* Chevrolet G10/G20/G30
* Chevrolet Lumina APV/Oldsmobile Silhouette/Pontiac Grand Sport
* Chevrolet Nomad
* Chevrolet Sport Van
* Chevrolet Supercarry
* Chevrolet Venture/Pontiac Montana
Citroën
* Citroën 2CV
* Citroën Berlingo
* Citroën C15
* Citroën Jumpy
* Citroën Jumper/Citroën Relay
Daihatsu
* Daihatsu Atrai
* Daihatsu Hijet
* Daihatsu Extol
* Daihatsu Delta
Dodge
* Dodge A100
* Dodge B Series B100, B150, B200, B250, B350
* Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan
* Dodge Coachman
* Dodge MB Series MB-250, MB-350
* Dodge Ram Van
* Dodge Ram Wagon
* Dodge Sportsman
* Dodge Sprinter
* Dodge Tradesman
Fiat
* Fiat Ducato
* Fiat Punto
* Fiat Scudo
* Fiat Ulysse
Ford
* Ford Aerostar
* Ford Econoline
* Ford E100 (Falcon) 1961-1967
* Ford Escort (1968-2002)
* Ford Freestar
* Ford Club Wagon
* Ford Transit
* Ford Transit Connect
* Ford Windstar
Freight Rover
* Freight Rover Sherpa
* Freight Rover 200 Series
* Freight Rover 300 Series
FSC
* Żuk A 03, A 05, A 14, A 09, A 11, A 15, A 07, A 18, R, M, A 151 C, A 16 B
* Lublin van
FSO
* Nysa N57, N58, N59, N60, N61, N63, 501, 503, 521/522
GAZ
* Gazelle
GMC
* GMC Gaucho
* GMC Gypsy
* GMC Rally STX, Wagon
* GMC Safari
* GMC Savana
* GMC Vandura 1500, 2500, 3500
Honda
* Honda Acty
* Honda Elysion
* Honda Life
* Honda Mobilio
* Honda Step WGN
* Honda Vamos
Hyundai
* Hyundai Entourage
* Hyundai Grace
* Hyundai H-1
* Hyundai Starex
Isuzu
* Isuzu Oasis
* Isuzu Como
* Isuzu Filly
Iveco
* Iveco Daily
Kia
* Kia Bongo
* Kia Carstar MPV/Kia Joice
* Kia Towner
* Kia Pregio
LDV
* LDV Pilot
* LDV Convoy
* LDV Cub
* LDV Maxus
Mazda
* Mazda Bongo/Bongo Brawny
* Mazda Bongo Friendee
Mercedes-Benz
* Mercedes-Benz Vaneo
* Mercedes-Benz Vario
* Mercedes-Benz Viano
* Mercedes-Benz Vito
* Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
* Mercedes-Benz V-Class
Mitsubishi
* Mitsubishi Delica/Delica Space Gear
* Mitsubishi Minica
* Mitsubishi Town Box
Nissan
* Nissan Caravan
* Nissan Interstar
* Nissan Kubistar
* Nissan Primastar
* Nissan S-Cargo
* Nissan Silkroad
* Nissan Vanette
Opel/Vauxhall
* Opel Combo
* Opel Corsavan
* Opel Astravan
* Opel Movano
* Opel Vivaro
Peugeot
* Peugeot Boxer
* Peugeot Expert
* Peugeot Partner
Plymouth
* Plymouth Voyager
Renault
* Renault Kangoo
* Renault Master
* Renault Trafic
SEAT
* SEAT Alhambra
"Silvagni"
* Silvagni Richard Van
Subaru
* Subaru 360
* Subaru Domingo
* Subaru Sambar
* Subaru Traviq
Suzuki
* Suzuki Carry
* Suzuki Supercarry
* Suzuki Every
* Autozam Scrum
* Bedford Rascal
* Holden Scurry
* Maruti Versa
Toyota
* Toyota Dyna
* Toyota Granvia
* Toyota Hiace
* Toyota Liteace
* Toyota Master Ace Surf/Van Wagon
* Toyota Regius Ace
* Toyota Succeed
* Toyota Toyoace
* Toyota Voxy
Vauxhall
* Bedford Beagle
* Bedford CF
* Bedford Chevanne
* Vauxhall Combo
* Vauxhall Corsavan
* Vauxhall Astravan
* Vauxhall Rascal
* Vauxhall Vivaro
* Vauxhall Movano
Volkswagen
* Volkswagen Caddy
* Volkswagen Crafter/LT
* Volkswagen Transporter/Eurovan/Vanagon
* Volkswagen Type 2 ("VW Bus")
Alternative propulsion
Since light trucks are often operated in city traffic, hybrid electric models
are useful:
* Dual-Drive Sprinter - Mercedes Van equipped with hybrid drive systems
* Electric 35-50 q
* Micro-Vett Hybrid Daily
Wheelchair accessible
Some vans can be converted into wheelchair accessible vans for mobility impaired
people:
* Wheelchair Gateways
* Wheelchair Van Information
The following vehicles may be used in yards or in historic city centres:
* Graf Carello Transporter
* Aixam Mega
* Alke' ATX
* Tasso Domino
Contact Information
Call our office today to set up an appointment. Learn more about how we can
help you, and learn more about the other services that we can offer you. All
messages we receive will be answered as soon as possible. We look forward to
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