The Lunchbox Build... 4x4 chevy shorty van
- Thread starter Lunchbox2
- Start date
I'm curious about what you see as cons, and why. I ran my pig without sway bar for a bit, but like it much better with, at least on road. My Jeep was the same. Liked it a whole lot better on the street with the bar, but off road I had disconnects.
My van otoh doesn't have disconnects, but as far as I'm concerned has more articulation than it will ever need because the 10ft tall 10,500 lb pig will never be all that much of a real off roader anyway.
Anyway, just curious. Might learn something!
My van otoh doesn't have disconnects, but as far as I'm concerned has more articulation than it will ever need because the 10ft tall 10,500 lb pig will never be all that much of a real off roader anyway.
Anyway, just curious. Might learn something!
For one... it's just another expense that I don't need. Currie anti-rock bars are like $600 each, and that's the only kind of sway bar that I would even think of using. This van has a ton of suspension travel, and will be used off-road excessively. I am not going to crawl under my van every time I want to hit the trail to disconnect a sway bar, or once it's covered in mud, try to connect them back.
Two... It just won't need it once I add a leaf or two... I'm driving the hell out of this thing right now, so it's not like it's unbearable. The spring rate is just a little too soft and needs to be firmed up.
No need to spend time and money working on something I don't want or need
Yeah man.... That's what I get for trying to combine a van and a rock-crawler... nothing is easy or cheap... lol
So we got to put some miles on the ol' girl this weekend, even did a little light trail riding... I can't believe how well everything works together, everything does it's job perfectly. It's just a good feeling when you spend 6 months planning a build, then a year building it, and when you finally get to drive it... it actually works like you planned! :wings:
We went over to Land Between The Lakes (LBL) and hung out for the day, driving around on the old roads and relaxing by the lake. We only have 2wd currently (no front driveshaft yet) but this thing went everywhere we wanted to go. The suspension was awesome off-road, it was a super cushy ride all day long. It was really funny meeting groups of jeeps while out on the trail... nothing but thumbs up and high fives
Having a van is awesome when it's naptime and you're miles from home. We just found a nice quiet spot by the lake and my son took a nap while I just relaxed by the water.
We went over to Land Between The Lakes (LBL) and hung out for the day, driving around on the old roads and relaxing by the lake. We only have 2wd currently (no front driveshaft yet) but this thing went everywhere we wanted to go. The suspension was awesome off-road, it was a super cushy ride all day long. It was really funny meeting groups of jeeps while out on the trail... nothing but thumbs up and high fives
Having a van is awesome when it's naptime and you're miles from home. We just found a nice quiet spot by the lake and my son took a nap while I just relaxed by the water.
OH man he friggin LOVES this thing... I think he likes the fact that everybody wants to talk to him now when we pull up anywhere... haha
I stopped by my buddy's junkyard the other day to grab the hood off the RV I stripped down from my build, and I noticed another rv in the line up. I check it out and find a couple of swivel seats up front! So I pull the hood, and the two seats, and head back up to the shop. He just let me take the hood (technically it was still kinda mine) and threw in the swivel seats too, so I'm a happy camper!
I won't use the seats themselves, but the mounts are in great shape. But now that I've had a chance to actually USE the van, I kind of see a different route for the interior. It was really nice having all the open space to hang out in once we stopped, so I'm not sure I want to fill the back with seats. I may just put the two swivel seats in the very back, so I can turn them around and look out the back door? That would be great for hanging out or watching movies at the drive-in..,
I won't use the seats themselves, but the mounts are in great shape. But now that I've had a chance to actually USE the van, I kind of see a different route for the interior. It was really nice having all the open space to hang out in once we stopped, so I'm not sure I want to fill the back with seats. I may just put the two swivel seats in the very back, so I can turn them around and look out the back door? That would be great for hanging out or watching movies at the drive-in..,
justcuz
Explorer
We used to set on the sleeping platform to watch movies.
I would make the front springs five leafs and remove the overloads. A new number 3 leaf and a 18 to 24" long lower leaf should work good. find some junkyard Chevy springs and swap them around.
Its cool that you and your son are now out enjoying the van, it makes it all worth it now I bet.
I would make the front springs five leafs and remove the overloads. A new number 3 leaf and a 18 to 24" long lower leaf should work good. find some junkyard Chevy springs and swap them around.
Its cool that you and your son are now out enjoying the van, it makes it all worth it now I bet.
I had a couple sets of springs to cannibalize but apparently they got hauled off for scrap...that's what I get for leaving **** at the junkyard...lol So now I have to go and pull a couple sets of springs.
I really want to get the bumpers done before I do the springs, so I know where things are going to sit. I don't want to pull the spring packs apart twice.. I have a feeling I'll need to add a couple leaves up front, and at least one out back by the time it's all said and done...
justcuz
Explorer
With a van you have to consider the fact that most of you weight is ahead of the front seats. The rear springs you used up front do not have the same weight rating as most 4x4 front springs. Your overload essentially stops flex once the leaves contact it. Five or six leaf front springs will work good. Keep your shortest front leaf 18" or longer.
Sounds like that makes sense.... I went out and measured last night, and I can cannibalize an s10 spring pack for the added leafs. My shortest leaf is almost 30" long, so I can add a long one and a short one, basically one on either side.
Took the van over to LBL on Labor Day for some light wheeling... it's a 170,000 acre national recreation area with over 500 miles of unpaved roads. There's (2) 60 mile long lakes one either side of the land, hence the name Land Between The Lakes (LBL), so it's a great area to escape people and just hang out in the woods or by the water.
Some of the roads are nice like this, and some are in VERY rough shape. Because we lack a front driveshaft currently, I don't get too crazy...
This is what my son was looking at in the picture above... it was a huge snapping turtle
Stopped for lunch..
Took a poser shot when I was turning around.... I'm not trying to twist it up too much until I get the bumpers/sliders built, and the rest of the plating/bracing on the "frame" done. Hopefully that's next week's venture, gotta finish up this bathroom remodel first....
Here's where the end of the day landed us.... a nice spot in a quiet bay
Liam got to play in the water, and I got to sit and relax in the shade, listening to a little Bob Marley.... It was a good day
All in all, I couldn't be more pleased with how the Lunchbox has turned out. I can carry a few people, plenty of gear/food, and have a place to crash if we get tired while out on the trail....It really reminds me of a pontoon boat!
And while that grizzly locker is getting it done out back, it's time for the front axle to start pulling... I gave Jess at High Angle Driveline a call today, and he's making me a flat flange yoke for my front output (10 spline np205). Hopefully they get it made and shipped out by the end of next week, and I can see if the driveshaft I have will work or I have to cut it down. I'm ready to see what this thing will do!
Some of the roads are nice like this, and some are in VERY rough shape. Because we lack a front driveshaft currently, I don't get too crazy...
This is what my son was looking at in the picture above... it was a huge snapping turtle
Stopped for lunch..
Took a poser shot when I was turning around.... I'm not trying to twist it up too much until I get the bumpers/sliders built, and the rest of the plating/bracing on the "frame" done. Hopefully that's next week's venture, gotta finish up this bathroom remodel first....
Here's where the end of the day landed us.... a nice spot in a quiet bay
Liam got to play in the water, and I got to sit and relax in the shade, listening to a little Bob Marley.... It was a good day
All in all, I couldn't be more pleased with how the Lunchbox has turned out. I can carry a few people, plenty of gear/food, and have a place to crash if we get tired while out on the trail....It really reminds me of a pontoon boat!
And while that grizzly locker is getting it done out back, it's time for the front axle to start pulling... I gave Jess at High Angle Driveline a call today, and he's making me a flat flange yoke for my front output (10 spline np205). Hopefully they get it made and shipped out by the end of next week, and I can see if the driveshaft I have will work or I have to cut it down. I'm ready to see what this thing will do!