Trailtrek Glossary

Awning: Like a large blind, awnings usually wind out from 'cassettes' fitted to the side of a Veterinary Surgery. We fit side walls to create an enclosed area

Base vehicle: The vehicle - usually either a panel van or a chassis cab - that provides the base for an Animal Welfare vehicle conversion.

Blown air heating: A method of heating primarily used in our Mobile Veterinary Surgery.

Chassis cab: A combined chassis and cab from a commercial vehicle manufacturer, on which a box body can be built. These are generally larger vehicles than van conversions.

Conversion: Literally the transformation of a base vehicle into an Animal Welfare vehicle.

GRP: Glass-reinforced plastic, but more commonly known as glass fibre (not fibreglass, which is a trade name). Used for everything from bumper surrounds to side skirts to complete bodyshells

HGV: Abbreviation for Heavy Goods Vehicle varying in size from 7.5 metres to 13.6 metres and weighting more than 7.5 tonnes

Insulation: Recommended if you intend to use your Veterinary Surgery all year round. Usually some kind of foam for insulation between aluminium exteriors and backed plywood inner walls

KVA: Kilo Volt Amperes unit of measurement used to describe the output capacity of a generator

LGV: Light Goods Vehicle and generally used for vehicles under 3500 kgs gross vehicle weight.

Luton: Derived from lorries with over cab sections and refers to the section over the cab which usually accommodates a double bed in a motorhome or added cargo space in a commercial vehicle

Mains hook-up: A facility whereby you can plug into a mains electricity supply and thus avoid the need for a generator.

Operators Licence: Licence required by a person within an organisation that operates a vehicle fleet of HGV vehicles.

PDI: Pre-Delivery Inspection. A complete check of an Animal Welfare Vehicle carried before a vehicle is handed over to its new owners

PAS: Power-assisted steering.

Payload: The amount you can put into an Animal Ambulance, Animal Transporter or Mobile Veterinary Surgery. Specifically the difference between the vehicles maximum gross weight and actual kerbweight.

RCCB: Residual Current Circuit Breaker.

RCD: Residual Current Device. Part of the Mobile Veterinary Surgery electrical system which will 'trip' if there is a fault

Sandwich construction: A standard method of constructing the walls/ roof/floor for the larger chassis cab conversion options. The sandwich for a sidewall is usually of an aluminium or glass fibre exterior, backed plywood interior and insulation filler such as Styrofoam

Second (or auxiliary) battery: A leisure (as opposed to vehicle) battery for supplying power to the 12V system mostly fitted within the Mobile Veterinary Surgery range.

Tachograph: Digital tachographs were introduced into all new vehicles from May 2006 where the kerb weight exceeds 3500 kgs. To drive vehicles in which a digital tachograph is installed the driver requires a special card. Many aspects of the vehicles operations are then recorded on both the tachograph and on the Drivers personal card.

Van conversion: Fitting out the interior of a manufacturers standard van without making alterations to the vehicle body, with the exception of adding windows where required.

Warranty: Different manufacturers offer different types of warranties covering the base vehicle.

Wheelbase: Long, short or medium. Your overall length of Animal Transporter or Veterinary Surgery usually depends on the wheelbase length of the base vehicle.