How do you like the snoot on this little step van? It’s a bit out there, literally. Well, unlike most step vans, this one is front wheel drive. If you’re good with your steel wheels, you’ll recognize these as being from a Dodge Caravan. Yes, the UMC Aeromate has a Chrysler minivan drive train up there, which allows for a low floor and light weight. And a long nose..
It’s hard to find much info on these; at least good factual info. One guy on the web claims they were built by Harley-Davidson. Not. The are the result of a joint venture or some other type of cooperation between Utilimaster, a van and truck body firm, and Chrysler. Utilimaster was at one time owned by H-D, so that’s where that tidbit comes from.
These came in both four and six cylinder versions. presumably the four was Chrysler’s 2.5 (or possibly 2.2), and hooked up to the three-speed Torqueflite transaxle. The six was the 3.3 V6, which might have come with the same three speed automatic or possibly the four-speed, a very troubled gearbox in its early years.
The oldest reference I can find is to a 1990 model, and the youngest is for a 1993, so presumably (again) those were the likely beginning and end for the Aeromate.
The body is all-aluminum, which means its both light and durable. And replacement components for the Chrysler drive train are fairly easy and cheap to come by. So although there aren’t many left, the remaining ones may well be around for some time.
The Aeromate concept is virtually identical to the Grumman KubVan: a compact, aluminum mini-stepvan, with an automotive FWD drive train up front. In the case of the Kubvan, it used a VW diesel Rabbit drive train. That was in 1983 or , almost a decade before the Aeromate. Only 500 KubVans were ever built, and less than 100 remain. Makes you wonder why Utilimaster thought the same basic idea would work the second time around.
Curiously, I found this Aeromate just a few blocks from the KubVan. It’s a bit bigger, but apparently was no more successful. Step vans are a shrinking part of the market, as so many other small van options have proliferated. But there’s something about the purity of these two small step vans that has lasting appeal, even if this one’s nose is too long.
Related: CC 1983 Grumman KubVan: Tiny, FWD, VW Diesel Power, and Very Rare
I see an unmarked white one 2 or 3 times a week on my way to work. I was wondering what it was because it almost looks custom built. However, I seem to remember similar ones may have been used for mail delivery.
There was a somewhat long-nosed vehicle used by the post office; I was always under the impression it was either an update of the Grumman LLV or something that they were considering replacing the LLV with. As the LLVs are still in service, whatever that was turned out to be short-lived.
This is what I thought of when I saw picture 2.
The Nissan NV has a nose similar to this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_NV
Saw one at a McDonald’s Tuesday morning…faded red with a BIG chunk of the hood missing over the left front wheel. I probably hadn’t seen one in years prior to that.
I’m going to assume this is one of Barry Koch’s masterful parodies. There’s simply no way an actual manufacturer could do EVERYTHING wrong while expecting to make money on the product.
I remember seeing a few of these in the service area of the Dodge/Jeep/Eagle dealership where I worked in the 1993-95 time frame. The parts guys hated these but I’m not sure why.
Good article and there are a scant few of these in the Portland Area. Some are used as food trucks.
IIRC this van was in a horror movie from the 80’s…anyone remember which movie?
I used to work on one of these regularly about 10 yrs. ago. An electrical contractor had it in his small fleet and we serviced their vehicles. It was always overloaded, doing a job better suited to a E250. It was a 91 or 92 model. Amazingly we never replaced the transmission. The rear axles are a torsion bar and box affair straight out of trailer supply catalogue fitted with caravan spindels and brakes. Driving it loaded(as usual) beat you to death as the rear of the van bounced up and down like a pogo stick. At least the piano hinged hood would open staight up for great engine access.
The paint distribution business I worked for in the early Nineties acquired four of these when a large Mercedes Benz dealer/customer that went BK. The ‘mates became mobile demonstrators for our technical reps. Two had the V6 and two came with the 2.2 turbo four; all with the 3 speed auto transaxle. We overloaded them. The V6 models travelled more miles through grades and high temperatures. Surprisingly, they both failed after a few years. The two turbo four vans held their own until the company decided they were no longer needed.
The story I heard was that the engine/transaxle combo were acquired by UMC through Chrysler Marine, rather than the automotive division. Somebody at Chrysler found out and put a stop to it. UMC decided to stop production rather than re-engineer the Aeromate.
Here’s a photo of the Zap-Em Aeromate van sued in the first “Men in Black film.’
Knew someone who did HVAC service in one of these. Japanese pickups were more my speed but seemed to work well for him. I remember it as being a 2.2 instead of a 2.5 but probably am suffering from brain flatulence. It was a one ton I recall for sure and memory tells me it was priced right. No reason for the concept not to work and it seems that it is making the rounds again from ram to nissan.
Very minor detail: Chrysler’s (first) electronic nightmare transmission was known as Ultradrive, not Ultramatic.
Harley-Davidson of Ventura, CA has one in full Bar/Shield livery. I think it is used as a parts gopher/delivery van. Might also be used to haul bikes, but I doubt a full-dresser would fit.
I also own a Harley decked out UMC 1993 was buffalo Harley delivery van love it has 62,467 miles only ( Dan from cheektowaga,NY)
End of the day, there probably is a 500 or so a year market for something like these. That being said, these are rolling proof that rare does not mean valuable.
We have 1990 Aeromate. We are looking for some help with the A/C system?
What make wheels are those. Have a 89.
Any automotive A/C repair shop should be able to deal with it.
This is our Utilmaster Areomate. 1989, 4 cylinder non-turbo.
Richard F Ban
Are you interested in Selling your Aeromate
Looking for a parts source. Pulled this 89 with a 2.5 out of the woods. Has not run in 25 years. Will need a new gas tank, brake parts. Anyone know if the pump is in the tank ?.Any source of a repair manual ?.
Fuel tank is 1988 to 1995 dodge caravan 20 gal with fuel pump in the tank.V6
4 cyk is a 17 or 18 gal tank but the 20 gal will work.
They are less then $100 new.
Brake parts are also same year Dodge Grand Caravan,same with front struts.
I am looking for 1993 fuel tank and pump
I have an 89 that won’t go in reverse. Anyone know which 3 speed automatic I need to get to replace it??
I think it’s probably safe to say it’s the Chrysler three speed transaxle as used in the minvans and many other of their FWD vehicles.
Hi, I am looking for a hood for a umc aeromate. Do you have any idea where to find it?
Looking to find a some info to get the suspension fixed. Anyone have info on it?
It is all dodge caravan stuff,same year.
The rear axle assembly can be located from a trailer supply place and then put the dodge hubs in.
I have a 1991 areomate for sale outside Knoxville tn
how much Richard?
Is your 1991 for sale? I also have a 1991 Aeromate V-6 the motor blew and put another in and now the fuel pump went out and just bought a new one
Loved seeing this post. We have on that we are converting to a food truck. 92
Picked this one up a week ago for an icecream truck. Just starting to sand off all that darn pink. I think I might have found a new remanufactured transaxle for it.
I have a 93 aeromate I used for work, now doing a camper conversion. 42000 miles original.
I also have all information on this, wiring diagrams, part #s, everything. Got it straight from Utilimaster in Elkhart IN
Does anyone know the part number for the motor mounts. I have a 1990 4 cylinder non turbo
I have a 1991 Aeromate and need to replace the radiator it has V-6 engine does anyone know which radiator will fit
Late reply
1992 dodge spirit radiator and cooling fans for replacement.
Others may work but that’s what I matched mine up to.
It`s rather attractive, but in a bizarre way. Ditch that color, and I`d own one.
I have a 1994 aeromate that needs axle assembly replaced, what will interchange and where can I find one
I am working on a 1994 Aeromate with the 3.3L V6 engine. Owner took all of the heater hoses off and doesn’t know how they were routed. It has a 4 hose heater control valve. Need a schematic on how they are ran to engine and heater core. Any help would be appreciated. The folks at Utilimaster are very helpful but their parts manual only goes up to 1992. This van has a pressurized coolant tank that doesn’t appear to be used in 92.
Check with mill supply and a company called Stepvan parts.
A lot of the interior controls and heater controls lighting,early 80s GM etc. are the same as used in step vans.
I also purchased new chrome headlight bezels from them,surprised that they were available.
I have a 1992 that also has the pressure tank mounted in the center above the back of the motor.
Hi Richard, Would love to know how the heater hoses are routed on your 92. My 94 has a remote coolant tank and a 4 way heater valve. Would like a pic of where heater control valve is mounted and how the hoses attach. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks
You can go to any trailer supply place,they are just tourqe axels with 3500 gvw,you can upgrade to 5000#.
All they really did was weld the dodge caravan hubs on for the bolt pattern.
The Utility master web site has the rear axel assembly specifications that you can print out,I was quoted $800 for the assembly ready to go.
The rear bearings and hubs need to be kept greased,the replacements are 1989 to 1995 dodge caravan which are getting hard to find.
My boss has one of these a coworker drives. Wierd looking but a good work truck. Lots of open space, can stand up inside. Space for toolboxes & materials galore. Sliding doors make easy access. Height could be a problem in parking decks.
Hi gents I have a 1989 that I bought a couple months ago as an ice cream truck not knowing what kind or truck or it’s background.
I’m glad I came across this session actually I was looking Accessory parts I need the Sideview mirrors and door window knobs Any of you know any parts catalog or webpage to find these accessories
I have a 1992 areomate with over 300,000 miles on it,3.3 liter.
The oil pump is starting to get weak so I found a 1993 Caravan with 110,000 that I am going to swap motors.
I use it for service calls and everybody that sees it seems to like it it is hard to even get fuel sometimes without people asking about it.
In regards to the rear axel assembly,I did some research and looked at torsion assemblies at the trailer place,to upgrade to 5000# which requires either they build to order based on the downloaded specifications from utility masters web site,$800
Or the 3500# like what is in there was roughly $500 and have the drop parts and hubs removed from your existing axels and welded to the new one.
I think it is easier to move up to the 5000# and use spindles that are newer as the caravan spindles and hub supply is dwindling fast.
Richard,
Would love to know more about the custom rear axle assembly.
My 1993 has a bent axle.
Thx,
Twana
I have ’93 Aeromate. Put 3 engines in it. My third machanic finally realized it needed a purge container. The purge container was removed before I bought it. Third motor is running fine now. Almost a half million miles on it now.
Mine’s a ’93 Aeromate, 3.3l v6. I put new head gaskets, new (right end) crankshaft seal, injectors, etc. Still needs more work, but I’m using it. Needs new rear suspension.
The engine castings are marked 1992.
Gets about 14.x mpg around rural town, about 16.x mpg highway.
I think it’s got around 140k miles on it, but I know it’s on it’s second transmission (Actually the differential had come apart and locked up on the previous owner!)
It’s got the pressurized coolant tank ( fits a 1990 Jeep Cherokee if you need a new one!) and the radiator was for the Dodge Dynasty (presumably from the 1992-1993 era)
The rear axles are definitely unavailable if as far as exact replacement, but I think a new custom trailer axle could be fitted.
No AC – but the spot is there on the engine, I’ve thought about putting it in but really don’t need it in my climate. I might put one in so I have an onboard air compressor.
It needed new front parking/turn signal lights, and could not find reasonably priced drop in replacements so I enlarged the hole in the fiberglass with a jig saw and put in rubber grommet style replaceable trailer lights. Looks just fine. Getting all the lights working on an old vehicle really makes a big difference.
have a 92 electrical nightmare on my hands love the van but cant seem to keep it on the road… looking for original wiring diagram i have everyting but the two pages in an original l black umc binder
seems like its missing fuse and relay box
Let me know if you find one. Mine also shuts off sporadically and we can’t seem to figure it out .
I have 94 Aeromate and wanted to replace the rear shocks with a load handling Air adjustable. Anybody know what brand makes one for it? Or any ideas on how to level slight sag on the rear torsion suspension?