GMC 1500 AWD Van
- Thread starter 86cj
- Start date
southpier
Expedition Leader
86cj
Explorer
We took the GMC back in some National Forrest camping.
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Things went well including the weather, we slept great on the double layer of sleeping pad. The Skeeterbeater window nets kept us well ventilated and bug free. One layer of Reflectix against the window does a really good job on the sun's heat, giving a few more hours of sleep in the AM. So far we are seeing 15mpg avg and have not done a Hwy only MPG test, at 2000 miles there is no warranty issues to report.
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I was nervous and careful about ground clearance while driving the two tracks and had more issues with roof height and trees, skidplates might have to come before a lift.
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Things went well including the weather, we slept great on the double layer of sleeping pad. The Skeeterbeater window nets kept us well ventilated and bug free. One layer of Reflectix against the window does a really good job on the sun's heat, giving a few more hours of sleep in the AM. So far we are seeing 15mpg avg and have not done a Hwy only MPG test, at 2000 miles there is no warranty issues to report.
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I was nervous and careful about ground clearance while driving the two tracks and had more issues with roof height and trees, skidplates might have to come before a lift.
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Teamoatmealpie
Observer
Question on the rubber floor mat, where did you purchase and did you have to cut it to fit?
Thanks
TOP
Thanks
TOP
86cj
Explorer
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The room up front is great and the console on the doghouse is an option so more room could be made, going into the back is easy. I can't compare it to older GM vans but it's a lot better than a mid 90's Ford van.
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The mat is an Adrian steel cargo van mat, I bought it from National Ladder & Scaffolding who were great to deal with (nice guys). It comes cut for the wheelwells only and reaches to the back of the front seatseat base. It is a nice sturdy mat and works well but is not real thick like a truck bedmat or the cheapest option.
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I spent some time on the road with the Dynamat on the sheet metal and the Dynaliner under the door panels (.25" on front doors .5" on the rest). The ride is very quiet and the doors sound Real Solid. The new Polk front component speakers sound clean powered by the stock radio, this rear door has a dual cone 8 OHM speaker that is awful.
86cj
Explorer
Update
We finally put some real miles on the AWD GMC and could not be happier with the Van.
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A trip to northern Maine fall camping gave us a chance to realize how well a Van works compared to the Tent camping we also enjoy. We had 2 long days of driving planned and pulled the Van into camp at 9:15 PM by 9:25PM we were in bed, we woke to rain in the AM and were on the road in 15 min. We did have some apprehension about buying a fullsize Van, but the thought of packing up a tent in the rain and the time saved made it rapidly fade away that early wet morning.
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The mileage at 70-75 mph is 16.5 mpg dropping to 14.8 mpg in the mountains. (12.8mpg if you use the remote start while in bed to run the rear heater alot....
...) The 5.3 and 3:73 gear did better than I expected in the mountains, it pulls the heavy Van 70mph up most grades at 2100 rpm in OD with the cruise on.
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The AWD and BFG A/T's did allow us to go down some big hills to remote river campsites and not slide on the mud and leaves into the trees . The GMC AWD 1500 may be just enough for our back country needs, we will see............
We finally put some real miles on the AWD GMC and could not be happier with the Van.
.
A trip to northern Maine fall camping gave us a chance to realize how well a Van works compared to the Tent camping we also enjoy. We had 2 long days of driving planned and pulled the Van into camp at 9:15 PM by 9:25PM we were in bed, we woke to rain in the AM and were on the road in 15 min. We did have some apprehension about buying a fullsize Van, but the thought of packing up a tent in the rain and the time saved made it rapidly fade away that early wet morning.
.
The mileage at 70-75 mph is 16.5 mpg dropping to 14.8 mpg in the mountains. (12.8mpg if you use the remote start while in bed to run the rear heater alot....
...) The 5.3 and 3:73 gear did better than I expected in the mountains, it pulls the heavy Van 70mph up most grades at 2100 rpm in OD with the cruise on..
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The AWD and BFG A/T's did allow us to go down some big hills to remote river campsites and not slide on the mud and leaves into the trees . The GMC AWD 1500 may be just enough for our back country needs, we will see............
Jet-Unit
New member
I also have an Express AWD 2010. The one I have is a cargo. There is no insulation around the back Wheel fenders. I dont know if you have the same problem. When I drive during a rainy day, I hear all the water that hitting the inside fender. I dont know if I put Gravel Gard inside the fender if it will reduce the noise. What do you guys think about it??
Accrete
Explorer
Our 1500 AWD conversion began with a stock/stripped cargo chevy and we heard all the road noise mentioned in the above post. This disappeared after installing the flexfoil (POST EDIT... product is called "Reflectix"...see my post 31 below. Sorry!) over wells/walls...and of course we hear none of it now that the bed platform has been in place.
On the AWD in wet conditions as an FYI... we were volvo XC owners for two generations of models. Loved the AWD in our wet conditions on the Oregon Coast. The Chevy AWD van has performed and exceeded our expectations of a "Van" in harsh (forestry roads) and wet (highway/street) driving since fall of 2010. We are grateful we went this way as this is one of our daily drivers (wife loves the idea of having a Bed & Bath no mater where we go! and it's her DD).
On tire size and all...we do have 10ply stock sized tires and are having the 2" (maxed to 3") lift kit from BoulderOffRoad tomorrow and Rhino Lining on rockers/wells next week (we are removing the flexiflares).
Cheers,
Thom
On the AWD in wet conditions as an FYI... we were volvo XC owners for two generations of models. Loved the AWD in our wet conditions on the Oregon Coast. The Chevy AWD van has performed and exceeded our expectations of a "Van" in harsh (forestry roads) and wet (highway/street) driving since fall of 2010. We are grateful we went this way as this is one of our daily drivers (wife loves the idea of having a Bed & Bath no mater where we go! and it's her DD).
On tire size and all...we do have 10ply stock sized tires and are having the 2" (maxed to 3") lift kit from BoulderOffRoad tomorrow and Rhino Lining on rockers/wells next week (we are removing the flexiflares).
Cheers,
Thom
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Randall Dee
Huge Member
Congrats on the van. I'm envious. I'm currently in the market for a 1500 AWD and have been following this thread and the other 1500 AWD threads. I keep going back and forth on a cargo vs a passenger. The extra windows would be nice but so would the panels for privacy. The ducting for the heat/ac looks like a big plus. I have a few questions....
Did you install the rubber floor mat over the carpet or did you remove it or maybe leave the padding? And how hard/easy are the interior factory wall panels to remove/replace?
Thom.....I'm in Portland and have followed your build thread as well. I'm assuming you just ordered the lift kit from Boulder and are having a local shop do the install or do you have to send the van to CO?
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