"The Man Van" - UJOINT Conversion Update
- Thread starter LukeD
- Start date
LukeD
Observer
As you can see in the picture the slider was extended about 6 inches. Where the sliding door arm tucks was cut larger/deeper to move the arm back, John has a custom machined plate that allowed for the relocation using the factory mounting location. The lower sliding mechanism was also modified but to what extent I can't tell.
With that being said, back when I was in the same boat with needing a solution to my sliding door clearing the tire I called and talked with John to see if I could buy the parts and have them ship to me to install. He said that it just wasn't that simple, every van was a little different and he wouldn't ship the parts. At first I was grumpy that he wouldn't sell me the parts, I thought to myself that I have access to a good fabricator/machinist/welder/etc and I was, at the time, confident that with his parts we could make it work. After being there and watching the first part of the install I now understand why. Here is a man that has done hundreds of sliding door extensions, he said it typically takes less than 2 hours to do the work on one of his 4x4 conversion vans with a slider and this one took him all day. John has an intimate knowledge of the inner working and geometry of the sliding doors on these vans and is without a doubt the expert and authority on making an extension to clear the tires and it took him ALL DAY! I am confident that even with the parts I would not have a perfectly working sliding door like I do today without going to see John at Quadvan.
I wish everyone needing this solution the best of luck, I highly recommend going to Quadvan to have the work done, if he'll do it. If you are ever in the Fresno area I would be happy to let you come by and take a look at the van but that's about all the help I can be on the sliding door solution.
Sincerely,
Luke
With that being said, back when I was in the same boat with needing a solution to my sliding door clearing the tire I called and talked with John to see if I could buy the parts and have them ship to me to install. He said that it just wasn't that simple, every van was a little different and he wouldn't ship the parts. At first I was grumpy that he wouldn't sell me the parts, I thought to myself that I have access to a good fabricator/machinist/welder/etc and I was, at the time, confident that with his parts we could make it work. After being there and watching the first part of the install I now understand why. Here is a man that has done hundreds of sliding door extensions, he said it typically takes less than 2 hours to do the work on one of his 4x4 conversion vans with a slider and this one took him all day. John has an intimate knowledge of the inner working and geometry of the sliding doors on these vans and is without a doubt the expert and authority on making an extension to clear the tires and it took him ALL DAY! I am confident that even with the parts I would not have a perfectly working sliding door like I do today without going to see John at Quadvan.
I wish everyone needing this solution the best of luck, I highly recommend going to Quadvan to have the work done, if he'll do it. If you are ever in the Fresno area I would be happy to let you come by and take a look at the van but that's about all the help I can be on the sliding door solution.
Sincerely,
Luke
Last edited:
BIGVAN
Lead Recon Team
Thanks for the reply Luke. I think most of us can't get to John and Blane's shop even though we would like to. I may take you up on the offer to meet up someday to look at your door but hopefully, if I can get out to California, I can stop by Portland first and get John to fix my door!
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Sorry to revive an old thread but when a friend was researching Sliding door mods and sent me this thread, I noticed it didn't have MG Metalworks' sliding door extended hinge listed which I've seen at least one thread on.
IIRC MG's made about 15 Slider door extended hinges for various folks...all over the country, one in Sweden too. And he's published a how-to guide also; www.mgmetalworks.com/hinge.pdf
There is at least one other Expo thread with the how-to-guide in it too, and Sportsmobile forum, and a Facebook link to I believe.
MG's modified hinge is ~$425 plus shipping. If you are local and bring him beer, install is covered! (Last I heard Quadvan is ~$675-1200, depending on John's workload).
MG uses a brand new Ford hinge and modifies it, vs Quadvan's used hinge.
HTH future searchers looking for options.
Back to your regularly scheduled van programming. :smiley_drive:
IIRC MG's made about 15 Slider door extended hinges for various folks...all over the country, one in Sweden too. And he's published a how-to guide also; www.mgmetalworks.com/hinge.pdf
There is at least one other Expo thread with the how-to-guide in it too, and Sportsmobile forum, and a Facebook link to I believe.
MG's modified hinge is ~$425 plus shipping. If you are local and bring him beer, install is covered! (Last I heard Quadvan is ~$675-1200, depending on John's workload).
MG uses a brand new Ford hinge and modifies it, vs Quadvan's used hinge.
HTH future searchers looking for options.
Back to your regularly scheduled van programming. :smiley_drive: