Need help concerning my Tiger GT, looking for a spot to work on her.

[Basement Yeti]

So I crashed my Tiger GT, had it repaired, but it's still kinda jacked up. With the original plan to be to gut and re-do the interior on hold, because why bother when the van is messed up. Verses spending more money to try and get the 1994 'right', I figure spend a few grand on a 2003+ and swap vans.

Now I am looking at the possibility of pulling the camper off the 1994 and mating it to a 2003+. Problem is I am mobile homeless and have no where to work on my rig. Not really a tall task considering where Provan cut the body of the Astro is very sloppy, and the Tiger camper frame is merely bolted in place, I just need the space.

So, anyone in California have any ideas? Anyone have a big ol garage for rent, or a vacant chunk of land I can rent?:snorkel:

 

[Railvan]

Sorry, can't help with a space for you to work, but if you do the swap, please take lots of photos. I have always wondered how the camper was attached to the Astro frame. Since an Astro is unibody from the middle back, I'm curious how the camper is attached? Good luck with the project.

 

[Basement Yeti]

The first plan was to sell the Tiger. But since no one seems too interested in damaged goods I figured, why the heck not? As long as I can find work space I'll give it a whirl.

And to answer your query. It's merely bolted and screwed in place, with 4-8 bolts and less than 50 screws. No, I am not kidding you. The frame of the camper is made of aluminum, so it can't be welded in place, hence, no welds.

They cut the original Astro body off stopping right at the unibody frame, keeping the stock van floor to bolt the camper body to, taking off the fuel filler protector, and wheel wells. And might I add, the cuts in the stock van body are very sloppy, and the way they extended the bumper is absurd. Plus, they used plywood for the floor that is exposed to the elements. How silly.

I reckon I can get myself a 2003+ AWD, maybe one with a bit of rear body damage I am going to hack off anyway for 3-4k and bolt the camper on there for free, pretty much.

I'm not gutting the camper and redoing it or buying a soft or hard top like I originally planned until the swap. Still kind of hoping to sell it, but this seems like a fun project. If I can find work space.

I'll get some photos today when ihatemybike and I are working on the filler hose.

 

[ExpoMike]

Here's an AWD 2005 that is being sold through ExPo. Might be right up your alley, so to say.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/69025-2005-Astro-Cargo-Van-AWD