Budget Camper
- Thread starter pmorin35
- Start date
Frenchie, I'm looking for something I can take off road here in Maine and eventually the mid west and Mexico. Not opposed to something basic and upgrading over time. Not looking for something that runs over boulders. Any thoughts about 4x4 as opposed to 2wd with good tires? Thanks.
ihatemybike
Explorer
An Astro AWD would definitely be a good choice. My van Grumpy in stock form has survived cross country trips, trails in Moab, UT, abandoned sections of Route 66, and a couple days playing in off road parks. Only modification was a platform I made for the rear cargo area that's level with the stock bench seats when they're folded forward. With the seats folded and the platform in place a full size futon mattress fits perfectly in the back and there is plenty of room for gear and spares under the platform. An added bonus is that the futon mattress is easily folder and secured (I use cam buckle straps) which allows the seats to still be used.
Here are some shoots of Grumpy in action.
Bandlands ORP Attica, IN - June 2010
http://s948.photobucket.com/albums/...ands july/?action=view¤t=0717101449.mp4
http://s948.photobucket.com/albums/ad324/jkrenegade/badlands july/?action=view¤t=SANY0080.mp4
http://s948.photobucket.com/albums/ad324/jkrenegade/badlands july/?action=view¤t=SANY0082.mp4
Moab, UT - Nov 2010
Here are some shoots of Grumpy in action.
Bandlands ORP Attica, IN - June 2010
http://s948.photobucket.com/albums/...ands july/?action=view¤t=0717101449.mp4
http://s948.photobucket.com/albums/ad324/jkrenegade/badlands july/?action=view¤t=SANY0080.mp4
http://s948.photobucket.com/albums/ad324/jkrenegade/badlands july/?action=view¤t=SANY0082.mp4
Moab, UT - Nov 2010
T.Low
Expedition Leader
I chose the Astro van because I wanted a duffle bag on wheels that i can also take on overlanding trips. We wanted a shuttle rig/base camp for biking/paddling/enduro riding trips. We've got some good 4x4 mountain trails in Washington so I modified mine slightly (relatively cheap and painless). I modified mine right away so I can't vouch for stock form off road performace, but it does fairly well now. We, along with the people we trip with, have been pleasantly suprised by it's capabilites. It really does have great on road and off road manners.
Depending on your budget and desires, since you are in Maine, search for Safari Condo Astros. They did Westfalia type packages for the Astro out of Montreal.
Depending on your budget and desires, since you are in Maine, search for Safari Condo Astros. They did Westfalia type packages for the Astro out of Montreal.
T.Low
Expedition Leader
That is key, and your answer to this quesstion could still have been more specific if you want accurate advice. While the stock Astro suprises people with it's abilities, it is not a stock xj, Disco, or Extera. Even with the work I've done to mine, I'm not taking it down the Rubicon. I stick to "Easy 4x4" rated trails. .And the IFS is awesome on the FS roads. When I talk about swapping a straight axle in, my Sportsmobile friends that have driven my van strongly reccomend against it.
TroySmith80
Adventurer
I'd think very carefully about your interior layout and space requirements before buying an astro. If it will work, that's fantastic because as T.Low and others have said, it is a great driver and very capable.
For me, i think it's too small. I have one that i drive every day for work, so i am familiar with the van. It's only about 7 feet from the back of the drivers seat, to the rear doors. I like my bed to be a few inches longer than i am, that means that the bed would take all but 6 inches of the interior length. The roof is also fairly low, which means you can't make a seat or bed platform very high, and also, for me (6'1") it cuts my visibility relatively low out the windshield. It's not uncommon to have to duck my head down a little bit in order to see up to a traffic light.
If i sound awfully critical, it's because i'm bummed. I'd love to use the astro for my camper van rig, because it's small, relatively efficient, cheap & plentiful on the used market and because they are easily modified for pretty good off-road capability. But i just don't think i'm going to be able to do it, it's too small for the kind of traveling that i want to do in it. If you only want a very basic interior, it will probably be great. Also, adding a pop top can change the picture quite a lot, because then you don't have to figure out how to make a sleeping platform inside the van.
In any case, by no means am i trying to talk you out of it. Just speaking as an owner of an Astro, to let you know that you should plan carefully for the available space before pulling the trigger on a purchase. It may well be the perfect rig for you.
For me though, it will probably be the AWD Express van, and i'm really, REALLY hoping a suspension lift solution can be created for that, similar to what is done with the Astros.
For me, i think it's too small. I have one that i drive every day for work, so i am familiar with the van. It's only about 7 feet from the back of the drivers seat, to the rear doors. I like my bed to be a few inches longer than i am, that means that the bed would take all but 6 inches of the interior length. The roof is also fairly low, which means you can't make a seat or bed platform very high, and also, for me (6'1") it cuts my visibility relatively low out the windshield. It's not uncommon to have to duck my head down a little bit in order to see up to a traffic light.
If i sound awfully critical, it's because i'm bummed. I'd love to use the astro for my camper van rig, because it's small, relatively efficient, cheap & plentiful on the used market and because they are easily modified for pretty good off-road capability. But i just don't think i'm going to be able to do it, it's too small for the kind of traveling that i want to do in it. If you only want a very basic interior, it will probably be great. Also, adding a pop top can change the picture quite a lot, because then you don't have to figure out how to make a sleeping platform inside the van.
In any case, by no means am i trying to talk you out of it. Just speaking as an owner of an Astro, to let you know that you should plan carefully for the available space before pulling the trigger on a purchase. It may well be the perfect rig for you.
For me though, it will probably be the AWD Express van, and i'm really, REALLY hoping a suspension lift solution can be created for that, similar to what is done with the Astros.
Accrete
Explorer
i don't know if our van works into a _budget_ category...but it was within our budget : ) a year end deal (~$27K) on a 2010 AWD Express van that is ready for trails and camping.
we have the interior outfitted with a froli sleep system bed, with ample storage under. a porta poti-shower and gear for two weeks camping all neatly organized.
PS...our total cost at project completion (june 2011) is ~$32K. That seems quite reasonable for a rig that can do what this one can!
we have the interior outfitted with a froli sleep system bed, with ample storage under. a porta poti-shower and gear for two weeks camping all neatly organized.
PS...our total cost at project completion (june 2011) is ~$32K. That seems quite reasonable for a rig that can do what this one can!
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Ray Hyland
Expedition Leader
Awesome! I'd love to see more pictures and learn more about this van.
Also I am curious, if it is AWD, does it have high and low range or only high? Not that that is an issue, just curious.
thanks
Ray
Also I am curious, if it is AWD, does it have high and low range or only high? Not that that is an issue, just curious.
thanks
Ray
ihatemybike
Explorer
The AWD Chevrolet Express uses a computer activated single speed transfer case. From what I understand 2 speed transfer cases can be swapped in like what is done on the Astros. I've heard that lifts are a bit harder though.
Accrete
Explorer
yuppers on the above post/reply.
in practical terms, what i'm seeing in trials is the van is a real gem on wet/icy roads such as what we get here on the oregon coast with a nice set of mountain-snowflake tires. . . and does fine on easy trails and beach stuff like we ride. We had a chevy327packingToyotaFJ40 in our Rubicon days, a Tacoma TRD 4x4 v6 in our civilized off roading days, and now this AWD in our easy-exploring days. It was a nice progression for us.
i do have a few more images at the build thread and will be uploading more if it would stop raining! summer, yea right. ( : note, i created the build thread over at the sportsmobile van site to make things more in context with other such builds...but my heart belongs to expo! : )
in practical terms, what i'm seeing in trials is the van is a real gem on wet/icy roads such as what we get here on the oregon coast with a nice set of mountain-snowflake tires. . . and does fine on easy trails and beach stuff like we ride. We had a chevy327packingToyotaFJ40 in our Rubicon days, a Tacoma TRD 4x4 v6 in our civilized off roading days, and now this AWD in our easy-exploring days. It was a nice progression for us.
i do have a few more images at the build thread and will be uploading more if it would stop raining! summer, yea right. ( : note, i created the build thread over at the sportsmobile van site to make things more in context with other such builds...but my heart belongs to expo! : )