GMC 1500 AWD Van
- Thread starter 86cj
- Start date
Accrete
Explorer
I've only encountered packed and wet sand on the beach in my hometown of Warrenton (off the Peter Iredale beach access road and surrounding area). Since i'm a rational very married husband...i don't dare get my wife's daily-driver stuck as the tide comes in
86cj
Explorer
View attachment 229144
I spent some time worrying about the road manners before lifting the AWD GMC due to it's excellent handling and ride. The front lift keys and stock shocks with spacers work just fine, I agree with other people that the front ride is actually better on bumpy roads, I have felt no harshness typical of cranked torsion bars. The stock rear springs are Very soft and made to work in tandem with the progressive bumpstop, when a lift block is used the spring now bends further into negative arch "not good" until it finds the bumpstop, unless you lower the bumpstop the same amount as the block. If you put longer shocks on they might stop the spring before the bumstops do when they hit their collapsed height "not good". I choose a set of rear springs that give 3" lift and offer much more wheel travel combined with better weight control, the rear Bilsteins seem well matched. The van still rides like a half ton and the composure on really poor roads at speed is even better than stock.:ylsmoke:
I have not towed with the van yet but intend to flat tow my Jeep LJ, it was ordered with the rare 3:73 gear. I would not recommend much tongue weight though, you just don't have the extra GVWR it's got little GM 10 bolt axle bearings.
Soft sand should not be an issue, momentum and stopping on little down grades is more important than 4 high vs AWD.....In the past I mostly used 4 low in the sand to keep auto trans temps down not because it worked better, I am going to put a factory trans cooler from a 3/4 - 1 ton GM van on the AWD GMC and not worry about sand.......
I spent some time worrying about the road manners before lifting the AWD GMC due to it's excellent handling and ride. The front lift keys and stock shocks with spacers work just fine, I agree with other people that the front ride is actually better on bumpy roads, I have felt no harshness typical of cranked torsion bars. The stock rear springs are Very soft and made to work in tandem with the progressive bumpstop, when a lift block is used the spring now bends further into negative arch "not good" until it finds the bumpstop, unless you lower the bumpstop the same amount as the block. If you put longer shocks on they might stop the spring before the bumstops do when they hit their collapsed height "not good". I choose a set of rear springs that give 3" lift and offer much more wheel travel combined with better weight control, the rear Bilsteins seem well matched. The van still rides like a half ton and the composure on really poor roads at speed is even better than stock.:ylsmoke:
I have not towed with the van yet but intend to flat tow my Jeep LJ, it was ordered with the rare 3:73 gear. I would not recommend much tongue weight though, you just don't have the extra GVWR it's got little GM 10 bolt axle bearings.
Soft sand should not be an issue, momentum and stopping on little down grades is more important than 4 high vs AWD.....In the past I mostly used 4 low in the sand to keep auto trans temps down not because it worked better, I am going to put a factory trans cooler from a 3/4 - 1 ton GM van on the AWD GMC and not worry about sand.......
86cj
Explorer
I spent some time worrying about the road manners before lifting the AWD GMC due to it's excellent handling and ride. The front lift keys and stock shocks with spacers work just fine, I agree with other people that the front ride is actually better on bumpy roads, I have felt no harshness typical of cranked torsion bars. The stock rear springs are Very soft and made to work in tandem with the progressive bumpstop, when a lift block is used the spring now bends further into negative arch "not good" until it finds the bumpstop, unless you lower the bumpstop the same amount as the block. If you put longer shocks on they might stop the spring before the bumstops do when they hit their collapsed height "not good". I choose a set of rear springs that give 3" lift and offer much more wheel travel combined with better weight control, the rear Bilsteins seem well matched. The van still rides like a half ton and the composure on really poor roads at speed is even better than stock.
I have not towed with the van yet but intend to flat tow my Jeep LJ, it was ordered with the rare 3:73 gear. I would not recommend much tongue weight though, you just don't have the extra GVWR it's got little GM 10 bolt axle bearings.
Soft sand should not be an issue, momentum and stopping on little down grades is more important than 4 high vs AWD.....In the past I mostly used 4 low in the sand to keep auto trans temps down not because it worked better, I am going to put a factory trans cooler from a 3/4 - 1 ton GM van on the AWD GMC and not worry about sand.......
god that van is beautiful. I am on the lookout for one now. I do need to tow 7k though say 7 times per year but I have an really nice car trailer so should be just fine. I can pull it with a half ton truck so this should work, it'll never tow like a diesel anyhow. i think the set up of your van is perfect and that is what I am after looks and function wise.
boardrider247
Weekend warrior anarchist
Thanks for posting your results. I am impressed with the amount of research and thought you put into this solution.
I'll be looking to upgrade my springs the same way you have in the future as the weight of my van increases with interior finishing.
86cj, that is a very nice rig and I like what you have done with it. I recently picked up a similar van, '09 Chev Express passenger van w/AWD, tow package, etc. and would like to make mods like yours. What did you make your frame out of? How did you attach it to the seat rails? One last question, how are the Wet Okole seat covers holding up and are they too hot in summer?
Your van is coming along nicely.
Your stock spring pack had 3 leaves? Is that normal? Mine has four in it's pack (not 3/1).
Do you have any weight in it? We converted ours to a camper and the rear was sagging. I added a 2000# helper spring. It works well, but I'm not thrilled about the fit. I am contemplating getting a new spring pack instead.
I'm curious as to why you went with the old Suburban pack instead of the 1Ton Express/Savana pack. Was the one you got easy to install? Did you have to change out shackles or anything?
Your stock spring pack had 3 leaves? Is that normal? Mine has four in it's pack (not 3/1).
Do you have any weight in it? We converted ours to a camper and the rear was sagging. I added a 2000# helper spring. It works well, but I'm not thrilled about the fit. I am contemplating getting a new spring pack instead.
I'm curious as to why you went with the old Suburban pack instead of the 1Ton Express/Savana pack. Was the one you got easy to install? Did you have to change out shackles or anything?
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No problem at all. As I said in another thread:
"We drove our stock 2003 AWD GMC Savana down 60 miles of loose beach sand multiple times to camp here. Never got stuck.
We also camped behind this sand trap. No problem there either. We even pulled a few 4x4 trucks out while camping on the Texas coast."
"We drove our stock 2003 AWD GMC Savana down 60 miles of loose beach sand multiple times to camp here. Never got stuck.
We also camped behind this sand trap. No problem there either. We even pulled a few 4x4 trucks out while camping on the Texas coast."
86cj
Explorer
I used 1-1/2" perforated steel tubing and the brackets that lock into them, it is easy to work with. It is NOT the cheapest stuff but the 80-20 aluminum I looked at is big money. It is overkill for some stuff but not as heavy as you would think due to all the holes....http://www.mcmaster.com/#perforated-structural-framing-tubing/=sd890m...
I used big bolts through the existing pin holes for the factory seats and a vertical plate on either side of the rail, simple and double shear...I also drilled and tapped the rails in a couple of spots..The whole interior bolted down tight does not rattle at all, The Weatherguard cabinets are made for going down the road with quiet drawer slides so i should not be suprised but I am..
The Wet Okole seat covers are great!.. still like new, they are very tough. I have them on my Jeep they are more than a seat cover, due to the thickness my seats felt more premium. The only reason I mentioned warmer was the seat heaters they installed that worked great. They are made for you and Wet Okole will call to ask measurements etc..Great people to deal with!!!!!!!!!!!
86cj
Explorer
The 1/2 ton Van springs are 2240lb 3 leaf springs that have the bottom leaf in use all the time, some springs use the bottom leaf only when at max load. The next spring which could be yours is rated at 2485lbs not enough, the next Van spring is rated at 3710lbs. That is to big of a jump for my Van, a 2900lb Suburban spring seemed just right, it also has a very similar arc.
The springs all interchange between Vans so no other parts are needed to swap them other than longer U- bolts, I used longer 99-06 4x4 1/2 ton truck u-bolts. 3/4 - 1 ton vans use a different style lower spring plate due to the different style bumpstop you may have either. I would use new shackles if your Van has some miles on it, you get a new bushing. Remember the thicker spring pack gives that much lift, Beware the 2000 up Suburban 30" rear springs use a different spring bushing on one end. If you go with 3700lb springs a nice 3 leaf tapered spring is available.
86cj
Explorer
Update
We loaded the GMC AWD up with 5 days worth of gear and went into the National Forrest for some solitude. The new lift springs got a work out and nothing broke or rubbed, at full load it handled everything very well and kept most of the 3" lift. I am pretty impressed with the AWD Van it just goes forward without any fanfare, it's almost boring. The Van seating position off road is very cool compared to everything else I have wheeled, tight spots don't seem so bad when sitting over the tire.
We loaded the GMC AWD up with 5 days worth of gear and went into the National Forrest for some solitude. The new lift springs got a work out and nothing broke or rubbed, at full load it handled everything very well and kept most of the 3" lift. I am pretty impressed with the AWD Van it just goes forward without any fanfare, it's almost boring. The Van seating position off road is very cool compared to everything else I have wheeled, tight spots don't seem so bad when sitting over the tire.
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Accrete
Explorer
Looks like the makings of a fun adventure!