Has anyone done a do it yourself conversion on a newer (2000+) Chevy van? I have a 2001 Custom Hightop van. It's a great van and we use it for camping and other activities. I would like to convert it to 4x4 to get a little farther off the beaten path. I've taked to a couple companies, but no one that I can find offers a kit for anything newer than 1996. One company does conversions of newer vans in house but they charge about double my budget. I've wondered how different the frame of a 2500 truck is and if the body of the van could be moved to moved onto a truck chassis or if I could move the front suspension, axles, transmission and transfer case to the van. I have a complete shop with a lift, welders, torches ect available. I'm just trying to figure out what approach to the project is best.
And before you ask, the reason I don't have a 4x4 or AWD to begin with is because this paticular van was a hand me down. My parents bought a brand new van becuase this one stopped running. It was sitting in there yard and they told me I couold have it if I got it running. I fixed it up over a week and we have been using it regularly for about 2 years. It's been driven from Coast to Coast 3 times. I don't want to go too extreme with it. I just want to be able to have 4x4 and fit some 32x12.5 tires under it. I would like to be able to use it on most of the Trans-American Trail.
And before you ask, the reason I don't have a 4x4 or AWD to begin with is because this paticular van was a hand me down. My parents bought a brand new van becuase this one stopped running. It was sitting in there yard and they told me I couold have it if I got it running. I fixed it up over a week and we have been using it regularly for about 2 years. It's been driven from Coast to Coast 3 times. I don't want to go too extreme with it. I just want to be able to have 4x4 and fit some 32x12.5 tires under it. I would like to be able to use it on most of the Trans-American Trail.
