Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Van shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Van offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Van at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Van? Wrong! If the Van is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Van then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Van? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Van and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Van wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Van then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Van site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Van, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Van, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
van 213 vansA
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
Lublin van vanThe word
van is a shortened version of the word
wikt:caravan which originally meant a covered vehicle.
The word
van has slightly different, but overlapping, meanings in different forms of
English language. 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
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
refrigeration 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 vehicle 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 Australia 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 Type 2. The Corvair based entry even aped the rear mounted air cooled engine design. The Ford E-series 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
Citroën
Daihatsu
Dodge
Fiat
- Fiat Ducato
- Fiat Punto
- Fiat Scudo
- Fiat Ulysse
Ford Motor Company
Freight Rover
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 van N57, N58, N59, N60, N61, N63, 501, 503, 521/522
GAZ
GMC Truck
- GMC Gaucho
- GMC Gypsy
- GMC Rally STX, Wagon
- Chevrolet Astro
- GMC Savana
- GMC Vandura 1500, 2500, 3500
Honda
Hyundai
Isuzu
Iveco
Kia
LDV
Mazda
Mercedes-Benz
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Opel/Vauxhall
Peugeot
Plymouth
Renault
SEAT
"Silvagni"
Subaru
Suzuki
Toyota
Vauxhall
Volkswagen
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
See also
van 213 vansA
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
Lublin van vanThe word
van is a shortened version of the word
wikt:caravan which originally meant a covered vehicle.
The word
van has slightly different, but overlapping, meanings in different forms of
English language. 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
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 refrigeration 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 vehicle 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 Australia 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 Type 2. The
Corvair based entry even aped the rear mounted air cooled engine design. The
Ford E-series 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
Citroën
Daihatsu
Dodge
Fiat
Ford Motor Company
Freight Rover
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 van N57, N58, N59, N60, N61, N63, 501, 503, 521/522
GAZ
GMC Truck
Honda
Hyundai
Isuzu
Iveco
Kia
LDV
Mazda
Mercedes-Benz
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Opel/Vauxhall
Peugeot
Plymouth
Renault
SEAT
"Silvagni"
Subaru
- Subaru 360
- Subaru Domingo
- Subaru Sambar
- Subaru Traviq
Suzuki
Toyota
Vauxhall
Volkswagen
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
See also
- Ambulance
- Campervan
- Conversion van
- Panel van
- Sedan Delivery
VANS UK | HOME
VANS, the original skate shoe, since 1966 vans has been committed to delivering authentic performance boarding shoes that reflect individual style of riders around world, original ...
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