RK's MANi-Van - UP FOR SALE

[RocKrawler]

Pics or it never happened...

I updated the first post with the pic - its only up 2" at this point, as the Overland Vans kit hasnt arrived yet. I cant get the 31's on until the rest of the lift is installed, so now it just looks like a tall roller skate. The guys at work decided to play a little gag and install a (used) RBP exhaust tip on it, the joke was on them as it turned out looking pretty good.

 

[Loopie]

Forgot to mention RK...just redrill the stock e-brake cable if you want to move the cable up.
You trimmed the fan shroud?
Torque the center bolts to 114ftlbs and the other four to 66ftlbs...be sure to re-torque after 100miles or so.

 

[RocKrawler]

I'd like to make a suggestion on the kit, aside from including instructions with the torque specs with the kit, also include a spacer tube for the top of the bumper bracket so it doesnt collapse when tightening it - otherwise great kit, much better than the hollow blocks with the standard kits. Thanks again.

 

[Loopie]

A spacer tube for the top bolt did cross my mind...and I'll probably include in the future...but it doesn't need to be too tight. It's really just resisiting sheer.

Thx

 

[ihatemybike]

I'm envisioning a west coast top to bottom Astro Expo tour next year; who's with me?

This has lit my mind afire. Anyone else been thinking about seriously doing this? How much time would it take? Obviously I'd be taking Grumpy (mods/repairs would be done by then). Wife says she's interested, but would want to tag along in her Liberty.

 

[RocKrawler]

This has lit my mind afire. Anyone else been thinking about seriously doing this? How much time would it take? Obviously I'd be taking Grumpy (mods/repairs would be done by then). Wife says she's interested, but would want to tag along in her Liberty.

I'd be planning on about a week to make the pace relaxing instead of a haul butt and miss the scenery affair.

 

[Loopie]

One week?...you must be talkin' about just State side between Cali and Washington???

 

[ihatemybike]

With the info I've pulled thus far this would be a 5700 mile trip for me.
Chicago-Bellingham-San Deigo-Chicago

I can make the run from Chicago to the coast in two days driving solo, not sure about my wife. Might be the motivation needed to make toadie mods to Eugene (wife's Liberty) and put the transmission from my parts van into Grumpy.

GasBuddy says without trails factored in:

Grumpy and Eugene driven
Grumpy would burn 322 gallons / $1240.
Eugene would burn 304 gallons / $1175
Total 626 g / $2415

Guestimate Eugene as toadie out and back
Out to WA 160 gallons / $615
Van trip 88 g / $350
Jeep trip 82 g / $335
CA to home 160 gallons / $600
Total 490 g / $1900

http://www.gasbuddy.com/Trip_Calculator.aspx

Can you just imagine, 5+ awesome Astros cruising through the mountains (with a Liberty hanging around too)?

 

[RocKrawler]

One week?...you must be talkin' about just State side between Cali and Washington???

Yes, that would be my traveled portion of the route

With the info I've pulled thus far this would be a 5700 mile trip for me.
Chicago-Bellingham-San Deigo-Chicago

I can make the run from Chicago to the coast in two days driving solo, not sure about my wife. Might be the motivation needed to make toadie mods to Eugene (wife's Liberty) and put the transmission from my parts van into Grumpy.

GasBuddy says without trails factored in:

Grumpy and Eugene driven
Grumpy would burn 322 gallons / $1240.
Eugene would burn 304 gallons / $1175
Total 626 g / $2415

Guestimate Eugene as toadie out and back
Out to WA 160 gallons / $615
Van trip 88 g / $350
Jeep trip 82 g / $335
CA to home 160 gallons / $600
Total 490 g / $1900

http://www.gasbuddy.com/Trip_Calculator.aspx

Can you just imagine, 5+ awesome Astros cruising through the mountains (with a Liberty hanging around too)?

I wouldn't be opposed to doing a location event either though. During ownership of my FJ cruiser I was privileged to attend several events in Sedona AZ and Ouray CO. I'd love to visit both of these places again as an option to a long road trip with fuel prices where they are these days. I'm open to other trip options in other words! If this did become a location meet, I'd want it to change locations yearly to provide a variety of scenery, explore more of the country (likely hit Canada at some point) and keep the event fresh. (I've been trying to figure out how to get enough time off to do an OBX trip!).

As a side note I picked up a Sidekick last night and the wife is worried the Astro will get back seat to it -

I assured her the Astro will be finished before the 'kick gets anything more than the roof rack I plan on buying from mgmgreg. It will be the next build on the list when the Astro is exploration ready.
Now that our daughters Ranger and my Sidekick are white, I'm also leaning heavily toward painting the Astro white instead of just a solid color blue respray. The only headache is color changes are such a pain in the butt with having to change the doorjambs and all.What is everyone's opinion on this? Keep it blue (single color, drop the two tone) or change to white?

 

[ihatemybike]

A location event would be cool too. My wife and I are taking Eugene to Moab for a two week adventure starting this weekend. It will be my third visit to Moab in three years, last year in Grumpy. We aren't sure how many Jeeps from our group will be hanging around after the trip through the Maze District is over. If others leave earlier than us, we are thinking about cruising over to Ouray to see what trails if any are open. Our last visit to Ouray was in 2009. My wife and I both agree that's it's someplace we could visit over and over again.

I vote Ouray for the first location based event.

 

[Herbie]

How much time would it take?

Well, I got my ratty '95 GTRV donor from Bellingham to San Diego in 21hours 45minutes, but that only included stops for bio-breaks, fuel, and two meals.

Any sightseeing and jawjacking will likely slow you down, though. :wings:

 

[Loopie]

Painting the jambs adds to the expense...but maybe not as much as people think.
I happen to like the lighter blue of your van...but not the lower portion. If you do a color change...pick a color that these vans never came in, or is extremely rare imho.

 

[ihatemybike]

I'd keep the stock color and either remove the cladding and get the non-clad trim piece for the back of the front wheel well or I'd bed liner the cladding.

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

Keeping my eye on this thread Terry, we are interested to see what you come up with! We too are thinking a west coast van tour but its looking like that will be in August this year.

 

[RocKrawler]

Painting the jambs adds to the expense...but maybe not as much as people think.
I happen to like the lighter blue of your van...but not the lower portion. If you do a color change...pick a color that these vans never came in, or is extremely rare imho.

Door jambs run $100 per jamb extra, not crippling bit.not cheap either. If we did the color Change we were leaning toward either white, bright solid red, or BMW laguna seca blue. (Wow, glad I checked before replying. Spelling auto-correct on this phone changes laguna to something very very different if you don't add the word manually. )

Sent from my HTC Thunderbolt.