Recent content by coguzzi

there are pros and cons to each platform. I have always been a van guy and have had 6 VW vanagon syncros (the 4x4 version) and what i always thought would be a holy grail, the 7.3 diesel 4x4 econoline with pop top. got the econoline when i grew tired of always working on my syncros. never did...

Found some time this weekend to do some exploring/hiking with the clients of the last custom van i built for them. They have really pushed this van to its limits in the few years its been done, ranging from +40C to -40C (104F - -40F) from Nova Scotia to all along the east coast US (2x). It gets...

definitely peaking my interest

I guess i lied, i never did design my van in a transit 148 extended, only an updated long version i built previously (and also had on order) and was much different being a shorty. BUT, i did have the 148 extended transit here last week and did some comparison. Transit 148 EXTENDED vs...

That is a good question, and i really wanted to focus on building Transits for people after the AWD came out. Ironically i have transit coming this week ill be spending some time on so next week might have a better idea. Ford really had the opportunity to take away some of the limelight from...

Havent had anytime to do anything to the van this winter, did a major home reno project that took all my time. snow conditions sucked this year, when it did snow it rained on it, so didnt even use the van for skiing. About all i did with it was haul over size supplies for the next green house...

I've had many syncros and still have a soft spot for them. When i got tired of more wrenchin than using i put a four wheel camper hawk full camper slide in on my existing 1st gen tundra. Hawk eventually moved to a RAM 2500. i think 1st gen tundras are one of the best trucks ever made but the 3/4...

So back door finish i started talking about a while ago. I have several ideas for back here, but the base of everything starts with a nice L-track system to attach things i have planned. and easily switched out from trip to trip depending on what activity that trip includes. I personally prefer...

Something i have been planning since day 1 on this build is tying my 2 passions together. I have a love for vans/overland vehicles but also a love for motorcycles (mostly dirtbikes/dual sports but also vintage or fast sport bikes). I've done several trips in the past where the van/vehicle is a...

After spending many nights in the van and generally having a good summer for a change, its time to finish the items that ended up on the back burner so we could enjoy the rig. #1, finishing the back doors. Long story short, technically this is not the van we had ordered, our ordered one had rear...

and the other times wearing a raggety old flannel that should have gone to the trash long ago (days i spaced on the shop shirt). flannel is now been in the trash for a while

So i got really behind on my time lapse video stuff because i just wanted to finish the thing! I've been slowly plugging away at editing it down, figure it is about 900 hours worth the time lapse (tons of photos to go through). got it down to about as short as i can to keep it still relevant, so...

I now have 25 nights and 8000km/5000miles on the van, hasnt been sitting still any more (did manage a trip in the Jeep to Maine in there as well). After the WI trip we took the dogs up to one of their favorite places to go swimming, Lac St Jean. Got to test the VC 4.3 on some washboard roads...

brought back my import allotment (24-12oz) of new glarus and wife is happy. fish fry, ol fashioneds, polka, proving WI curds are better than QC, frozen custard at Kopps, butter burgers, beer brats--did the whole thing

Trial by fire, i now have 4000km/2500 miles and 14 nights in the van. i was kind of under the gun to finish it and go help my mother in Wisconsin who fell down the stairs and banged herself up pretty good. Nothing like finishing something and jumping in it for a long trip-ha. BUT, i can report...