Ujoint Offroad Colorado van build thread!

[UjointoffroadCO]

Beginning of a pretty cool one. 2001 7.3 EB. Got a built motor before it came here. Not a lot of accessories besides the rear bumper, but some checked all the boxes on the driveline. Built trans, sterling swap with an ox, 4.56, stg2 front with a eaton e locker, and ssbc's.

That about catches us up! We are sitting around waiting for a freight shipment that is caught up in purgatory right now, so as soon as that arrives and we get some vans finished, I'll update once again!

 

[UjointoffroadCO]

Lots of updates on page 12 also! Make sure to go back and have a look!

 

[jonnypage]

Big update!

You'll be glad to know that the b190 is fixed! New driveshafts from a new shop fixed the vibration. Delivered back to a very anxious customer! Here's some final pics

Pretty proud of my OBA solution. Not a lot of room under these things!

Took sometime to build a little leaf spring rack to try and better use my storage space.

Next van in and torn down in short order!

Took a long weekend to go see some friends down south

Back in the shop! Parts starting to stack up!

Hired a good buddy to come work with me part time. Production is through the roof!

Touch down! Measuring for shafts!

Sub floor storage going in.Such good use of wasted space. Wish I had room in mine for it!

Fully loaded bumpers showed up!
Thats it for now! More soon!

Where did you find the sub floor storage boxes ? Are sweet!

 

[ujoint]

Where did you find the sub floor storage boxes ? Are sweet!

Underfloor Storage | Ujoint Offroad

www.ujointoffroad.com

 

[jonnypage]

Underfloor Storage | Ujoint Offroad

www.ujointoffroad.com

Nice! Little rich for my blood but look amazing! I made some for my express van for some batteries

 

[UjointoffroadCO]

Wrapping up the 7.3 EB build! STG 2 Front 60 with Eaton E-locker and SSBCs.

Rear sterling all wapped with with 4.56s and a OX

All wrapped up and headed home to Bozeman!

Next up is a little 24' Class C.

Didn't take a lot of pics of this one for some reason. Got all the good stuff, re-gear to 4.56, and a custom powder coat color on the wheels. Customer had the wrap done before it came here.

Starting up on another 7.3 EB!

Stg2 front 60 with trutrac, SSBCs and unit bearings

Almost done! Just waiting on a fuel tank.

 

[UjointoffroadCO]

Had some down time and knocked out a partial conversion on my employee's van in a week.

Starting up another giant Class C!

Full spec on this one. He checked all the boxes!

Starting up another one!

 

[UjointoffroadCO]

Long time no talk! Here's a run down of what we've been working on for the last few months.
Finished product on the Entegra. Very well equipped rig for a great couple! Headlights from vantage optics.

Monster custom rear bumper. Bottom box is going to have a 50 gallon water tank in it, o it had to be beefy. Spare mounted underneath.

Busy busy busy!

Another monster class C in. Pretty basic build on this one

Added flares to the high top 7.3 and sent it home!

Starting up a super cool one. 2011 Pleasureway v10. This is going to be a pretty special one!

 

[UjointoffroadCO]

Another Winnie in for the full package!

Loving these vantage lights

 

[UjointoffroadCO]

We've been needing a solid shop truck for a while that can easily haul 4-5,000lbs of leaf springs back from grand junction at a time and this old truck ticked all the boxes.
2000 f450 v10.

Put it straight to work after a brake job

Can't leave anything alone of course.

Got some cool stuff cooking up for it..... stay tuned.

 

[UjointoffroadCO]

Nothing makes me happier than getting pics from my customers of them out using their rigs!

 

[UjointoffroadCO]

Long time no talk! We've been playing catch up around here for the last few months trying to get back on schedule after one of my guys got injured and couldn't work for 2 months. Here's a brief look at what we've been working on!
Mega pleasureway build all wrapped up!

Custom owl vans box mounted up. Had to mega brace the box and bumper to make this work. Likely will not do it again.

Another cool one we knocked out in a hurry. The top is a CCV poptop with now canvas in it. These guys run a wildlife photo safari service with this rig

Super clean Minnie Whinne that went to texas

Really cool front axle build that went in that one

Very cool 7.3 ambo that went to San Diego

2018 Adventurer ( Canadian import)

Another Entegra that is actually going to greenland eventually!

2019 Thor for a local customer

Had the NC boys out on a delivery! My wife designed the door stickers for us!

Took them out and showed them a good time on the trail!

Starting up everyones favorite next!

 

[RVflyfish]

Chinook...sigh. I think a side-entry 7.3 would be the holiest of grails.

 

[UjointoffroadCO]

Just tuning into this thread and have a couple Qs. Am working backwards on the pages so my apologies if they have been covered.

First tho, have to say the chassis and drive trains in the pics look super clean. An impressive attention to detail and a great indicator for customers.

Ok, I'm trying to learn about these conversions and was thinking that an F series rear axle might be the ticket for increased rating and brakes but I know (think I know) that the E series (talking new cutaway) have a wider frame than the Fs. Then I see a pic with rear spring hangers positioned under the e series frame. So does that make 10.5 doable. And if so is it popular or do customers usually go with a built up OEM D60 ? I'd be an RVer, srw.

Also, last couple few vans in this tread have front leaf spring conversion. Would have thought coils would be popular for the turning radius. Why the leafs, is it simplicity or beef or steering or ?

Thanks !

Welcome!

We offer a sterling 10.5 conversion, but most late model cutaway chassis have a dana 70 full float axle which has plenty of weight rating. Sterlings after 2006 are the only ones wide enough to work under the vans. 06-07 sterling is the best because it is much easier to make the E brake work properly. They are also the same width as the front axle we use.

Actually every van we build is leaf spring in the front. There is a TON of reading you can do on which is best on this site and others, but the simple answer is that the coil spring conversions just do not work that well under these vans. They are plagued with various steering and handling issues. Each set of leaf springs is built per vehicle, so they ride very very good. Turning radius is pretty much a non issue. The amount lost is almost not noticable.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

[yonah]

Long time no talk! We've been playing catch up around here for the last few months trying to get back on schedule after one of my guys got injured and couldn't work for 2 months. Here's a brief look at what we've been working on!
Mega pleasureway build all wrapped up!

Custom owl vans box mounted up. Had to mega brace the box and bumper to make this work. Likely will not do it again.

I’ve probably watched all of Chris’ post build videos on YouTube and have been paying close attention to U-Joint for years. I’ve gotta say, the Pleasureway builds are always something special. It’s like that Pleasureway conversion was made for your 6” and 35 setup. The dimensions and stance are perfect.

I’m lucky that my in-laws live down the street from their NC shop, so I get to do a drive by a couple times a year when we visit.

Kudos on the CO shop