GreenVanGo
Member
1996 GMC Savana 1500 with a Gulf Stream Conversion
I got a van! After many years of owning and building adventure travel vehicles I have decided that I am ready for a conversion van (again). Based on my past overland adventures and journeys I realized that I spent 99.9% of my time and mile in 2WD and with careful route selection and ground clearance I only use 4x4 only for fun not that I would but I could lines or trails. So 2WD will be absolutely adequate for all my adventure needs.
My priorities for this new toy were: headroom, I want to be able to stand up and be able to dress without doing a serious yoga workout. Ground clearance enough to conquer trails where Honda Civics and off the showroom floor Suburbans rip their bumpers off. As close as I can get to 20 miles per gallon and 500 miles on a single fill up without spare fuel cans. Ample interior room to sleep 2-4 adults and store all the toys and gear without encroaching on interior space. Price: as cheap as I can find without the vehicle crumbling apart from rust. Affordable repairs which can be done with a quick reference on YouTube and parts that can be found in any auto parts store or junkyard. Finally something that's reliable enough to buy it, put gas in it and drive it as far as any road will take me in any direction as is with no worries .
20 years ago I had a 1990s Dodge B250 conversion van, it was amazing. After 200k miles I got bored of it and sold it for more that I originally paid for it. Couple years later I wanted another one and in a hurry picked up a early 2000s Ram Van 1500. it was fun but a little shorter than my B250, less room, less cargo capacity and less miles per gallon and shorter driving range. I sold it and have not looked back on getting a replacement until this spring.
I knew I wanted a 2500 chassis, Dodge or GMC, however I came a cross a 1500 Savana high top conversion van with 5.7l small block and 85,000 miles. Price was right and I pulled the trigger. Some of the plastic trim was cracked from the sun and age, paint was faded and peeling in places. Shocks were original and leaked out years ago providing with a breath holding boat like ride with over exaggerated yet gentle sway and lean in every turn. The final point in this decision were the brand new tires or so the owner claimed. DOT sticker read 18th week of 2021 but the owner claimed he only had 200 miles on them since he bought them. As I carefully inspected everything that could possibly be wrong with a 30 year old van the owner came out with a receipt for tires: 3 peak snowflake M+S AT tires installed 142 miles ago. I was sold.
Now I have a new to me van. I am going to run it as is on as many adventures as possible adding, removing, rebuilding it as I see fit based on lessons learned from past adventures and my perceived future adventure needs. Based on my past adventures I know interior will be rebuilt, 35" tires and a lift kit will come sooner than later.
I got a van! After many years of owning and building adventure travel vehicles I have decided that I am ready for a conversion van (again). Based on my past overland adventures and journeys I realized that I spent 99.9% of my time and mile in 2WD and with careful route selection and ground clearance I only use 4x4 only for fun not that I would but I could lines or trails. So 2WD will be absolutely adequate for all my adventure needs.
My priorities for this new toy were: headroom, I want to be able to stand up and be able to dress without doing a serious yoga workout. Ground clearance enough to conquer trails where Honda Civics and off the showroom floor Suburbans rip their bumpers off. As close as I can get to 20 miles per gallon and 500 miles on a single fill up without spare fuel cans. Ample interior room to sleep 2-4 adults and store all the toys and gear without encroaching on interior space. Price: as cheap as I can find without the vehicle crumbling apart from rust. Affordable repairs which can be done with a quick reference on YouTube and parts that can be found in any auto parts store or junkyard. Finally something that's reliable enough to buy it, put gas in it and drive it as far as any road will take me in any direction as is with no worries .
20 years ago I had a 1990s Dodge B250 conversion van, it was amazing. After 200k miles I got bored of it and sold it for more that I originally paid for it. Couple years later I wanted another one and in a hurry picked up a early 2000s Ram Van 1500. it was fun but a little shorter than my B250, less room, less cargo capacity and less miles per gallon and shorter driving range. I sold it and have not looked back on getting a replacement until this spring.
I knew I wanted a 2500 chassis, Dodge or GMC, however I came a cross a 1500 Savana high top conversion van with 5.7l small block and 85,000 miles. Price was right and I pulled the trigger. Some of the plastic trim was cracked from the sun and age, paint was faded and peeling in places. Shocks were original and leaked out years ago providing with a breath holding boat like ride with over exaggerated yet gentle sway and lean in every turn. The final point in this decision were the brand new tires or so the owner claimed. DOT sticker read 18th week of 2021 but the owner claimed he only had 200 miles on them since he bought them. As I carefully inspected everything that could possibly be wrong with a 30 year old van the owner came out with a receipt for tires: 3 peak snowflake M+S AT tires installed 142 miles ago. I was sold.
Now I have a new to me van. I am going to run it as is on as many adventures as possible adding, removing, rebuilding it as I see fit based on lessons learned from past adventures and my perceived future adventure needs. Based on my past adventures I know interior will be rebuilt, 35" tires and a lift kit will come sooner than later.
