questorfla
New member
It is pretty much all there from the start. But even with the Explorer package, at 2005 and with 67K miles on it, there are a lot of things that I want to 'modernize' and a few things that were never meant to be in something this small.
So, this is a 'project' of sorts and i can only hope i picked a good vehicle to start from. Before I get started on the "toys", i would appreciate any advice of the basic power-train and suspension. I probably need to get new tires for the rear and would like to be able to get a little more height than what it currently has. The van probably has the original factory shocks that i would like to replace and if anyone has done this to something similar, what brand would be best to look at? If i can manage to fit everything i want into the van, I would guess that the weight load would be similar to 6 adult passengers, though there will only be two people, myself and my wife.
I think i will need to pull out the electric recliners in order to save weight and build in a normal bed support frame with storage underneath for clothes and etc. Removing the other two passenger seats from the center and allowing the two front seats to be able to make a 360 degree swivel would get the most use of the space. (just my thoughts and not sure it an even be done like that)
I have to find a place to mount a small generator, an extra battery pack, a small fridge and microwave, and lastly an electric A/C. (Couldn't stand sleeping in there at night without one.)
I have some ideas about the solution for the A/C and will post them as soon as i am sure I am not completely Nuts :Wow1:
Next (and Very Important) is I want to switch to ALL LED lighting everywhere, including the headlights and such. Any advice along those lines would be appreciated. I can find a hundred different ones on AMAZON but have NO idea which one wil work and which would be nt even as good as the standard factory lights. Same for the interior. i tried replacing a few of those small swivel lights in the ceiling with LED's but still got nothing close to what I need to be comfortable trying to do anything inside at night. I would rather pump 1500 lumens into the interior via LED and use black-out shades so i don't look like a UFO in the dark. :wings:
Since this is an older model, it has no on board GPS or satellite radio. I am currently looking at a Pioneer Head with connections for backup camera GPS and the works. The TV in this vehicle was sort of 'dead" and i found a nice Samsung 24" that appears to be the right fit (will know for sure tomorrow)
One nuisance right now is that i cant get the OEM clickers to work on the door locks. Hoping that is a fuse. Maybe I will get lucky and find the dead TV is also a fuse but i dont think so.
OK, Pretty long for a first post. I hope someone has time to read this and offer some suggestions.
Thanks:ylsmoke:
So, this is a 'project' of sorts and i can only hope i picked a good vehicle to start from. Before I get started on the "toys", i would appreciate any advice of the basic power-train and suspension. I probably need to get new tires for the rear and would like to be able to get a little more height than what it currently has. The van probably has the original factory shocks that i would like to replace and if anyone has done this to something similar, what brand would be best to look at? If i can manage to fit everything i want into the van, I would guess that the weight load would be similar to 6 adult passengers, though there will only be two people, myself and my wife.
I think i will need to pull out the electric recliners in order to save weight and build in a normal bed support frame with storage underneath for clothes and etc. Removing the other two passenger seats from the center and allowing the two front seats to be able to make a 360 degree swivel would get the most use of the space. (just my thoughts and not sure it an even be done like that)
I have to find a place to mount a small generator, an extra battery pack, a small fridge and microwave, and lastly an electric A/C. (Couldn't stand sleeping in there at night without one.)
I have some ideas about the solution for the A/C and will post them as soon as i am sure I am not completely Nuts :Wow1:
Next (and Very Important) is I want to switch to ALL LED lighting everywhere, including the headlights and such. Any advice along those lines would be appreciated. I can find a hundred different ones on AMAZON but have NO idea which one wil work and which would be nt even as good as the standard factory lights. Same for the interior. i tried replacing a few of those small swivel lights in the ceiling with LED's but still got nothing close to what I need to be comfortable trying to do anything inside at night. I would rather pump 1500 lumens into the interior via LED and use black-out shades so i don't look like a UFO in the dark. :wings:
Since this is an older model, it has no on board GPS or satellite radio. I am currently looking at a Pioneer Head with connections for backup camera GPS and the works. The TV in this vehicle was sort of 'dead" and i found a nice Samsung 24" that appears to be the right fit (will know for sure tomorrow)
One nuisance right now is that i cant get the OEM clickers to work on the door locks. Hoping that is a fuse. Maybe I will get lucky and find the dead TV is also a fuse but i dont think so.
OK, Pretty long for a first post. I hope someone has time to read this and offer some suggestions.
Thanks:ylsmoke: