Tell me what to buy...up to $60k

[SDDiver5]

Are you worried at all with the height of the transit with the high top and a lift? Do you think it would be to heavy at all?

 

[vtsoundman]

Are you worried at all with the height of the transit with the high top and a lift? Do you think it would be to heavy at all?

To be honest, I'm not sure it would be any worse than the existing E-Series Vans, pickups, etc (lifted or otherwise). I've read some interesting articles on this subject lately suggesting the tall Fords & Dodge pickups aren't as secure as people think. In college, we'd get vans from the motor pool and drive to various locations for activities. I've driven fully loaded 15 passenger vans (with 10-12people) with soft suspensions (e15os/1500s) & c-rated tires...it was scary when the back end would start waggin. The Dodges were the worst, followed by the ford's...the chevy's with the long wheel base felt the most stable.

I'd try to keep all COG low...no heavy components mounted above the 'low center line' of the van. Anything mounted high will be made of alum or lightweight materials...all cabinets made out of 3/8" or less ply, etc Batteries, water tanks, fuel, all mounted below the floor/at floor as possible. Heavy dometic Fridge mounted near/on the floor. No appliances mounted above counters. Only use split HVAC units, no heavy crap hanging off the back of the van (like gensets & piles of chain in recovery boxes)

Transits are available overseas with 4x from Ford. Some of the severe service units (Ambo's etc) have small lifts on them too. To be honest, it does concern me a bit. My back of the napkin math suggest the metal roof of the Transit (and the extended doors) is 1.3x heavier than the fiberglass Fiberline line unit...But an E-350 with a lift large enough to handle big tires is also a roll over concern. With a wider footprint than the Transit, it mitigates that a bit. My gut tells me a Transit would be better since *in stock form* it it a much lower rollover potential than an E-Series - this was confirmed (I can't find the source of this statement - there was a comparison done by some mag/entity and I can't find it). The E-Series floor & engine is higher than the Transit too...The Transit has more safety features (larger airbag, supposedly improved RSC systems, lower floor, lower engine, etc)

In the end, bad things happen to the safest of vehicles - the most stable cars can be rolled if the right circumstances come together. Driving training plays a major factor - and many people think they can whip the wheel & slam on the brakes in an evasive maneuver and expect nothing to happen. A great deal of the hysteria around SUVs & 15 passenger van can be attributed to this...but also stupid decisions like soft tires, overloading, and poor engineering are things that should never happen.

It all comes down CBD - (Conjecture Based Decisions) - there is data easily available - no OEM is going to publish roll center / CoG / roll over data unless compelled to do so...

 

[4x4pair]

I really only have experience with Agile Off-Road since they did my conversion.* I have two E350’s around the same year and both are EB cargo vans.* I drive both on a monthly basis and so my comparison isn’t from “back before* it was converted” to the “current set-up”.* I can say that the Agile kit is way better off-road AND on-road.* The lifted van with roof rack feels more stable around corners in town than my stock van.* The suspension off-road rides much smoother than I even expected.* Last weekend I took a camping trip where we were back and forth on the black top so I didn’t want to air down.* Even at full highway air pressure and with all our unsecured camping gear thrown in, I was able to go down bumpy and wash-boarded dirt roads at 45-50 mph.* My brother was trying to follow in a 2014 AWD Hyundai Tucson and I had to keep stopping so he could catch up.* And the best part was when I underestimated one of the mud pits in the middle of the road and was going way to slow.* Even with 34” all terrains I got it stuck.* Turned on the 4wd and pulled right out!

As far as the parts…most of what they used I would be able to find at local auto parts stores.* I don’t remember there being much (if any) oddball parts that would be hard to find.

I hope that helps some!



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

[screwball48]

Check out this video that Chris at Ujoint did a while back.
https://youtu.be/J7OxIKyIGOU


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[brianjwilson]

The Sienna seats sound cool - I dig the foot rest option - giving up a few inches of space for that luxury is somewhat appealing. I intend on having this van a long time...
I agree about the 5.4 - it is too small of an engine for a large van with a high roof. (Lack of power is a pet peeve of mine - if a vehicle is struggling, then it makes the drive less fun).


Regarding highway manners - my analysis was on the vans in their stock form. Offroad (and in the near future) I don't see anything but a built Chevy or Ford E-Series being capable rigs for moderate off-road trails. If anyone believes otherwise, please let me know - my mind is still processing all the data. It is hard for me to have any first hand experience with any of this - I don't know anyone with adventure vans.


My wife is a hell of a sport - she never complains and is eager partner to travel, but I can 'read/gauge' her comfort level by her desire to drive. We did 11k miles in a Jeep JKU over a span of 7.5wks in the heart of winter all over the US with a 2mo & 90# dog...we had a blast. We've also been all over the place in the Jeep...and it gets poor mileage is far from a comfortable long haul vehicle. She loved a Denali XL we rented for a 5 day 2k mile road trip (jeep was getting its frame straightened after an idiot ran a red light), but more for the space & power than ride comfort....

Do you have any more pics of the inside? What bunk config are you going with? I'm headed towards a rear bed for the adults & bunks suspended by straps for the kids/reattached to the cieling when stowed. I figure the 24 or 20" Fiberline high top will be give me the vertical space I need. Naps can be taken in our bed while they are still little if we need to be in the van at the same time.

My van is in the infancy stage. All I've done is some sound deadening, stereo, seats, windows, working on interior panels and insulation etc. I have ordered a sportsmobile penthouse pop-top (will have a bed) bed won't have it until the end of November. I wanted to wait and get a top from Mgmetalworks but we are so far behind on the build that my wife wanted the first option available. Lots of parts are on order from ujoint offroad.

We will probably just build a big bed in back for now until we get further along. Who knows. I got laid off, so when I get another job I'll order appliances and start working on the rest of the interior.

This is all I have for the interior at the moment.



Don't mind the randomness of my sound deadening. Lol. Lots of raam mat, ensolite, 3m thinsulate etc. Tons of tap testing and adding more.


I'm going (relatively) cheap and simple on the interior using a pro van interior carpet liner. But it is covered on the back side with raam ran ensolite, and reflectix. 2" thinsulate then stuffed between interior and exterior walls.



Floor is covered in raam mat, with a van tred floor. Front of the cab has dynamat dynapad on it. VWill also have a generic Bedrug cut to fit over the top so I can easily remove and wash it.


My 2 year old reclined and watching a movie on the road.


Like I said the basic future plan is the SMB EB-27 plan. So for now my wife can sleep with one kid downstairs, I can sleep upstairs with the other. Once the little one is bigger, both kids downstairs and my wife and I up top. That's the idea anyway.

 

[86cj]

Well - the time has finally come - it is time to move on from my beloved Jeep JKU Rubicon...there I said it.

Our family is growing and our needs are changing. We are 4 - my wife and I, a 9 mo, and a 90# St Bernard mix. We are planning on adding 2 more - another kid and another big dog. The Jeep JKU isn't going to cut it...


Questions
1. What to buy?
2. Who has the best 4x4 van system for our usage profile? Ujoint, Agile or stock (Chevy AWD/Sprinter)
3. Realistic build time from stock van? (Need a vehicle for trip in Dec -> CA to ME & back)
4. What van years & makes should I avoid?
5. Best floor plan for 2 kids in car seats?

Looking for an Adventure Van with 4x4 with a spend of up to $60k all in. Can increase budget to buy Sprinter if I am missing something...but right now, seems like Ford is better platform for us.


Trip Profiles
Profile 1: Long road trips – Whole lotta pavement
CA to ME and back, CA to AK, or CA to Canada
Can be anytime of year - usually winter from CA to ME
Sleep in vehicle (eat inside depending on weather)
We are planning an Alaskan trip next year – so lots of pavement + off pavement
Duration: Weeks

Profile 2: Solo Trips + Dogs
Just me & the dogs
Dispersed Camping & Fishing
2-6 days
Softroad, Offroad, Backwoods, Moderately Technical Trails, Desert & Mountain Camping
Any time of year, any weather
May just take the jeep for ultra technical trips


Profile 3: Family Camping Trips
Dispersed Camping, some camping in FS campgrounds
2-5 days
Western Half of US
Softroads/Offroad/mild technical trails
Mostly summer camping

Min Vehicle Requirements
4x4 + 4Lo
Long Range (Can equip with aux tank, prefer no Jerry Cans)
Ability to strap in car seats
Space to sleep (2 adults, 2 small kids -> eventually move them into tent)
Place to eat
Aux Heating
Batteries + Solar + Small gen (if necessary)
Tow up to 5k lbs over long distances (nothing planned at the moment)

Strong Preferences
Rear Locker Capable
No Jerry Cans
Max of 35" tire -
Store as much inside as possible (mtn bikes, hiking gear, etc)
20-24" fiberglass roof kit - the 20" looks better, but 24" would be nice inside.
Avoid roof racks/crap on the roof

No Preference…yet
Diesel vs Gas (like the fuel economy & torque of diesel, but concerned about add'l costs of diesel)
Appearance & Make

Not Sure Yet
Extended Body vs Regular Body
In the scheme of things, extended body would be ideal for the additional space. But as with most things, if it is hard to use, it won't be used much. We live in the crowded North Bay of San Francisco on a very narrow (single lane) street with limited parking - and maneuvering a large vehicle can be difficult. Also, I wonder how much of an issue lifted EB vans are offroad. Leaning towards EB with a high roof.

4” vs 6” lift
Prefer to keep the vehicle lower as we do so much pavement driving
Seems like smaller lift = less issues.
Will be likely keeping the Jeep as my DD + solo vehicle

Initial Conclusions
Based on research & reading, looks like I should:
1. Data suggests Extended Body E350 w/ V10
2. Agile Offroad Kit
3. 20" High Roof kit - I'm 6' and would like to stand up
4. Use bunks in the high roof for kid sleeping
5. No Nissans (no 4Lo)
6. Sprinter vs Ford : Undecided
- leaning towards Ford due to perceived lower maintenance costs & availability
- Sprinter has better snow/ice/hwy 4x4 system
- Sprinter has better vertical space
- Ford kits have better offroad 4x4 system
- Ford has much better aftermarket suppport
7. Chevy AWD - No? - doesn't seem like any 4Lo options out there.
8. SMB pop top - leaning towards no. Trips in winter/snow/ice, loss of ceiling height unless up
9. Single rear wheel (better offroad, better in snow, not heavy enough)
10. Looking at the SMB EB50/51 as a floor plan template...or short bench seat behind driver.

Sounds to me like a EB E350 4x4 is what you need to meet all the requirements or a EB GM Quigley with their lift kit, my choice for our next van.......

When I read your list most of the items are handled by my AWD Van on a regular basis, so I thought I would mention that it is super easy to get a real transfer case:....http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/52911-Chevrolet-Express-Van-AWD-to-4x4-conversion?highlight=awd+4wd.....

If it is going to have a full build with big water tanks and on board everything then the 2000lb cargo capacity is under rated, if you really are going to put that many road miles on it each trip or plan to daily drive it (we do both) then it could be a good compromise/choice. The AWD Van has rack and pinion steering and torsion bar front suspension both improve road feel over the 2500-3500 GM van you drove. BTW the AWD Van is a great winter mountain climber I have blasted through Maine and the White and Green mountains in a Nor'Easter, it is the best snow vehicle I have driven.

2014 was the last year and conversion vans have your high top and barn doors on both sides, just throwing it out there..again.........