Description
Dial in the exact arc you need for that odd-shaped lawn corner with a Rain Bird VAN nozzle. The center collar twists for variable-arc adjustment from 0° to as wide as 360° (model-dependent), and the stainless steel screw on top fine-tunes flow and radius. The textured base and collar grip easily even with wet hands — no special tools, no driver-slip during the tweak. Fits any Rain Bird 1800 series spray body, 5000 series rotor body, and standard shrub adapter.
Why Installers Pick VAN Nozzles
- Variable arc — one nozzle covers any wedge from 0° up to 330° (6/8 ft) or 360° (10/12/15 ft); no more juggling 90° vs. 180° vs. 270° fixed nozzles in the truck
- No-tool arc adjustment — twist the center collar by hand to widen or narrow the pattern
- Stainless steel adjustment screw — sets flow and trims radius (good for hitting a fence-line without overshoot)
- Captured screw slot — the driver doesn’t slip when adjusting on-grade
- Physical left-edge indicator — feel the fixed left edge so you can index the pattern correctly under the dial
- Ships with a removable blue inlet filter (.02″ × .02″ mesh) — holds radius adjustment under dirty municipal water
- Drop-in compatible with all Rain Bird 1800-series pop-ups, 5000-series rotors, and standard shrub adapters
Pick Your Throw Radius
The VAN family covers 5 throw radii. Pick the one that matches the longest dimension of the zone you’re trying to cover (radius, not diameter):
- 6 VAN (model 6VAN) — 6 ft throw, 0° to 330° arc — tight strips along sidewalks, foundation beds, small bumpouts
- 8 VAN (model 8VAN) — 8 ft throw, 0° to 330° arc — narrow side yards, hellstrips between sidewalk and curb
- 10 VAN (model 10VAN) — 10 ft throw, 0° to 360° arc — standard residential front-lawn corner zones
- 12 VAN (model 12VAN) — 12 ft throw, 0° to 360° arc — wider lawn sections, large bed coverage
- 15 VAN (model 15VAN) — 15 ft throw, 0° to 360° arc — long property frontages, larger residential lawns
Sizing tip: Head-to-head coverage means the throw of one nozzle reaches the next nozzle on the zone. So a 10VAN should land water on a sprinkler ~10 ft away. If you’re short on coverage, go up a size; if you’re overshooting onto the driveway, dial down the screw or go down a size.
Where They Shine
- Odd-shaped lawn corners and bumpouts — the variable arc dials in instead of forcing you to pick a fixed-arc nozzle and live with overspray
- Hellstrips and curb-strip plantings — narrow throw radii (6/8 ft) cover without watering the street
- Small bed zones and shrub borders — 6/8 VAN on shrub adapters gives precise coverage without misting the leaves
- Service-call retrofits — replace a worn or wrong-arc nozzle without pulling the whole pop-up body
Specifications (All Sizes)
- Series: VAN (Variable Arc Nozzle)
- Inlet: Standard Rain Bird female nozzle threads — fits 1800 series, 5000 series, and shrub adapters
- Construction: Glass-filled engineering plastic body, stainless steel adjustment screw
- Inlet filter: Blue, .02″ × .02″ mesh, removable
- Operating pressure: 15 to 30 psi (1.0 to 2.1 bar)
- Optimum pressure: 30 psi
- Adjustment: Twist center collar for arc, stainless screw for flow/radius
- Approximate weight: 1 lb per pack
- Warranty: Rain Bird trade warranty
Per-Size Throw and Arc
- 6VAN: 6 ft radius, 0°–330° arc
- 8VAN: 8 ft radius, 0°–330° arc
- 10VAN: 10 ft radius, 0°–360° arc
- 12VAN: 12 ft radius, 0°–360° arc
- 15VAN: 15 ft radius, 0°–360° arc
Install Notes
- Unscrew the old nozzle, screw the VAN on hand-tight — no Teflon tape needed (the inlet is a self-sealing female thread)
- Set the left edge first — turn the collar fully counter-clockwise, then point the fixed left edge at the start of your wedge
- Open the arc by turning the collar clockwise until the right edge lands where you want it
- Fine-tune the radius with the stainless screw — clockwise to reduce throw, counter-clockwise to open it back up
- Match the pressure — below 15 psi the spray pattern collapses, above 30 psi misting wastes water
Stop by Garoppo’s to pick up a handful, or order whatever zone-count you need for the next install.