Leisure Travel Van 4x4 Conversion

[louie71]

Maybe I'm just ignorant, but I have this vision of taking a Class B 19ft van like a Leisure Travel Van or Roadtrek and converting it to 4x4. I've seen a Roadtrek with the quigley conversion, but it really did nothing to improve the ground clearance. I have no intention of boulder crawling with it, but simply want something with added ground clearance that I can take down some of the less maintained forest roads and more importantly get me back up. Also, something that won't bog down too bad in snow, sand, or mud. I keep thinking these are built on the same chassis as a sportsmobile so as long as I install a beefier suspension, tires and add some ground clearance I'll still be OK. However, I don't want the back end to fall off as I'm bouncing down the road...

Louie

 

[Harald Hansen]

It could be that a small lift, good tyres and a diff lock could meet all your needs. It would certainly be a lot cheaper and easier to maintain.

 

[louie71]

Here is a pic of the Class B I'm thinking about buying and am wondering if the cost vs the benefit really seems logical to try to convert this to 4x4. I think what Harald says probably makes sense. Maybe that's all I need. So a lift and a differential lock seems doable and it makes sense enough to get me down the dirt roads? Who do you guys suggest to do a job like this?

L

 

[ujoint]

You'd be better off with a Ford chassis, the 4x4 conversion will be much easier. With the Dodge, you'll be building everything from scratch.

 

[louie71]

You'd be better off with a Ford chassis, the 4x4 conversion will be much easier. With the Dodge, you'll be building everything from scratch.

Thank you for the reply. Much appreciated That is what I seem to be hearing, but I also know that quigley puts their products on GM vans so it's definitely doable. I guess what your saying is the conversion on a dodge would be more expensive than on a ford? What do you mean by starting from scratch?

Know of any Class B's on a Ford Chassis? They all seem to be on Chevy's or Dodge.

Thanks, L.

 

[dsw4x4]

I think what chris meant is who ever builds your 4x4 system cannot use a pre made kit to do. Just like if boulder or me or someone else builds you a 4wd conversion all of the brackets will be built for that particular build. Dodge does not get a lot of support in the 4wd conversions because they stopped producing them so long ago. It sounds like that class b would be a great fit for you. The questions you need to ask your self is can you demonstrate self control when traveling down a dirt road or trail? I admittedly do not have the proper brain cells to be able to do this. If I start down a trail I go to the end, a gate, a no trespassing sign, or until I am physically stuck and can no longer move forward. I find myself in precarious situations every time I go out. My girl friend is a great sport for the first 5 or six times we get stuck in a day after that i am digging, winching and pulling on my own. If you are fortunate enough to be able to use your better judgement and know when to turn around, I would say go with that class B use the way it is for a while maybe buy a winch with a reciever mount so at least you have a way to get your self unstuck. after a summer determine wether a 4wd system is worth the money for your needs. If you are getting the rv for a deal you can always sell it and go down another path if you find it does not fit your needs. And to answer your question yes there are some ford class Bs out there they are hard to find but they do exist. Like Harald said you could always just do a mild lift some aggressive tiers with a locker and a winch and you can get 90% of the place you want to get.
Good luck with your decision keep us posted.
Derek

 

[ujoint]

Thank you for the reply. Much appreciated That is what I seem to be hearing, but I also know that quigley puts their products on GM vans so it's definitely doable. I guess what your saying is the conversion on a dodge would be more expensive than on a ford? What do you mean by starting from scratch?

Know of any Class B's on a Ford Chassis? They all seem to be on Chevy's or Dodge.

Thanks, L.

No problemo. You're correct, it will be more expensive (if done correctly) because everything will have to fabricated from scratch.

I don't know of any class B's on the Ford chassis.......

 

[dsw4x4]

if your bent on a ford class B do a quick search for any of these, they all made ford chassis
jayco
Airstream
pleasure-way
great west
forest river
monaco
Majestic
chinook
gulf stream
winnebago
kodiak
Most of these make class b+ and class C but they all also made a small class b's on ford chassis like what you are looking for. Pleasure way probably built more class Bs than any one. Chinook built a 4x4 version for a while but I think they are out of business now or maybe they filed Bankrupt but are back now like earth roamer I can't remember for sure.
I still would not be to concerned about doing a dodge 4x4 conversion, back in the day they were as common as fords, unless you are wanting a kit to do it yourself then you really need to find a ford or chevy.
Derek

 

[louie71]

Thanks for all the the input. It is really a big help. The biggest issue that I seem to be running into into is finding a class b with four forward facing seats with shoulder belts. We need the four captains chair set up with the swivel seats that make into beds for the kids and then a seat in the back that opens up into a bed for myself and the wife. However, we'd really prefer some sort of upstairs sleeping for the wife and me and stick the kids downstairs. Seems like that woould give us more room. There is a van on Sportsmobiles website in Cali that has exactly the type of seating set up we'd like with 4x4, but of course it is $61000...

 

[McZippie]

The biggest issue that I seem to be running into into is finding a class b with four forward facing seats with shoulder belts. We need the four captains chair set up with the swivel seats that make into beds for the kids and then a seat in the back that opens up into a bed for myself and the wife. .

Not a Class B but a very small Class C Bus with 4 forward facing seats and has a 'safer' steel frame cage construction 'house'. It can be made 4wd or whatever you want in the interior.

 

[louie71]

I like the look and love the idea of dually tires to help with stability issues that I have been reading about with the extended vans. Does this sleep four people? My wife would love the bathroom....
Thank you for the post.

 

[dsw4x4]

I realize this thing has been for sale for ever and his web page still shows it so i do not know if it sold yet or not but you could do a booth/bed seating in it and a pop top for adult sleeping and it would fit your family nicely of course you would need to rip out the interior and build it to suit.
http://www.chambersmotorco.com/WEB/x2318.htm
Derek

 

[18seeds]

There is a van on Sportsmobiles website in Cali that has exactly the type of seating set up we'd like with 4x4, but of course it is $61000...

if you like that van than i am 99% sure you can recreate the same layout for much cheaper if you look at a slightly older van.

 

[TroySmith80]

my only bit of advice would be that if you're planning on doing a lot of snow driving, there is no substitute for 4WD/AWD. A limited slip rear would help some, but not as good as 4x4. A rear locker is probably a bad idea in snow, as it would result in a lot of sideways sliding, a limited slip would do the same to a lesser degree.

For dry off-roading, 2WD with limited slip or lockers are probably just fine, but snow is different.

 

[McZippie]

I like the look and love the idea of dually tires to help with stability issues that I have been reading about with the extended vans. Does this sleep four people? My wife would love the bathroom....
Thank you for the post.

Oh yeah the bathroom was a 'must' item for my wife. No shower but she gets by, with washing her hair with the outside shower or in the sink.

It's very stable with the duallies. I tow the Jeep, cargo trailer with ATVs or boats at speeds of 75 to 80mph. I plan replacing the 225/75/16 tires with 235/85/16 tires to get a little more clearance.

It only sleeps two or maybe two adults and one small child on the sofa beds.
It could easily sleep a forth small child on the two passenger seats with a custom mattress set-up.

Our Rig is a Shuttle/Limo Bus and the interior 'house' is our own design.
Turtle Top will do pretty much whatever you want. Only limit is your imagination and budget. I did the 'little' kitchen and a lot of electrical systems.

Ours has shoulder belts for the four seats and seat belts only for another four on sofa beds.

We use it a lot more than I expected for family day use.