Vans are where it's AT! Keep on vannin'!

I totally agree about vans, mainly because of the functionality. I wish I was as practical as you 😃. I have a 4x4 Sportsmobile with pop top and full interior build out that was not cheap. You can get a power pop top from Field Van or Sportsmobile or a high top later.

Versatility is part of this. 5 minutes clearing it out and you're ready to haul . Go to HD/Lowes and load up for a remodel, no problem. Help a friend move, load up some furniture, whatever. Unlike a pickup it's all locked up and if it starts raining who cares? Daily drive it if you have to (not great MPG but no worse than the typical big SUV or pickup). Typically good towing capacity too. AND room on the side for some excellent graphics if you're into that '70s hippie van thing! :)

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Vans are the way. I hope they make a comeback in the future and people realize how versatile they are

Vans baby!!❤

This man knows 🤘 🚐 hell yeah bro

Showing my age! From 1980 to 1983 I took stock full size vans and converted the insides to leisure van they had fold down rear seat to make a bed. We also sent out many to have changed into 4x4 . The overland stuff was not something that was a thing yet. I have a mini van and find it way more useful than a full size truck. I can get a 4x8 sheet of plywood in the back and close the back door. Try that with a full size truck with a bed less than 8 feet. If you get 4 door 8 foot bed truck you will need a new zip code just to park it. You have a great start with this van.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Thats awesome! I bet back in the day people looked at you crazy for sleeping in your van but I would have done the same. The overland world has exploded the last 15 years especially since COVID.

Off-road van movement! Very nice rig the price is right! Keep up the great work

YES!! We owned two conversion vans from 1991 to 2015 and they are the most versatile vehicles you can buy. My son is seeing the value of the vans now that he is starting his family.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

I love these things!

@davefletch3063

Жыл бұрын

As a bonus they can be a mobile apartment

I have a 2004 lifted all wheel drive Chevy Express with a locker in the back it has the 2500 heavy duty springs and for team bolt rear 6 lug axle! The thing is a beast I also plan on putting a high top on it in the near future and leaving it all wheel drive

I'm crossing over myself. Looking at vans now.

Yes! Grew up in a 1971 Econo line van- dad fixed it up and we went everywhere!

Hello from the Verde Valley! 👋🏼 I've been looking for a conversion van for several years... I have 2 major deal breakers and it seems if it doesn't have one, it has the other. Plus SOOO many options for the way every little thing can be set up... I'm picky and basically none meets my needs/preferences. Sooo I'm coming to the conclusion that I should start with a blank canvas and go from there. Thanks for the inspo!

This. Great, keepin' it real video.

FORD E SERIES...YOU HAVE 16 YEARS WORTH OF INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS... VERY KOOL .

I'm with ya. For one, it makes going from driving to pulling over and calling it a night in a rainstorm easier because you do t have to get out and set stuff up. So much you could do to the van for the same money you are buying other base vehicles for. Good video.

Answer is yes. Yes they are

Growing up in a VW Bus then a Ford van in the 1970's-1980's camping all along the Colorado River & Baja Mexico nothing beats the comfort of a van! 🌵👋🌴

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

i agree!

Awesome build bro. My gf and I take seasonal jobs and live full time in our trucks. When looking for the perfect rig I was stuck between a work van or a small 4x4 pickup. I went with a single cab 1st gen Chevy Colorado 4x4 work truck. Love how lightweight and maneuverable it is for off road use. A buddy of ours lives in the exact van you have. It’s impressive how far it can go off-road. But can definitely see it’s limitations due to 2wd and how heavy it is

You did good👍🏻

Im planing to get myself one likw this. This guy had (already sold) one of 40.000miles on it 2007 for 14.990$. I was a week to late.Darn it.Someone purchased it

I poke fun at all the cute overlanding Tacomas and Wranglers all the time. Just made a video on why they are all clean. It's because they are $900 a month car payments. My friends on youtube are mostly lifted van or soon to be lifted van fanatics. It's cool to see another person understand the awesomeness of vans. Vans are way better value then the popular vehicles. I'm going to do a video on how I had a pick up and went van and stayed van. It's ok to have a few dents and scratches. You will take these off road and wont care if it gets a little trail damage. The last video I made on Vans for sale sharing that Gladiator Truck shell looks tiny and you probably wouldn't fit in it. I been talking about lifted vans for 10 years and I want to see a convoy of them some day. Are you going to get that fender trim/cheapy flares?

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Exactly I just couldn't justify paying that much to just have fun off road and camp comfortable at the same time. All my buddies run Tacos and Jeeps currently one day they'll see how good vans really are. Thanks for watching!

@JohnDrivesAnything

Жыл бұрын

@@MojaveDream I just gave you a shout out man. I always say us lifted van drivers are every bit as fanatical as Tacoma and Wrangler Drivers theres just not as many of us.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

@@JohnDrivesAnything thank you brotha! Ive only seen 2 or 3 lifted vans out here in the Phoenix area so far.

@JohnDrivesAnything

Жыл бұрын

@@MojaveDream Most of the lifted vans here in San Diego are running WTD. I never see them around they are most likely being nice and shiny in the driveway I haven't seen another one in person. When I do see a lifted Van on the road it's a few times a year and either a Quigley or Action Van.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

@@JohnDrivesAnything Action is the way to go. Best bang for your buck

The car is excellent!

Hey you’re totally right! I had to go much cheaper but I got a 1992 Ford E 350 for 2k. I know I’m going to sink maybe 5-7k into it now that I saw yours lift kit. It will be sufficient for my camping to!

Nice setup. Very minimalist. I had a transit van for a while. Sold it for a 4x4 expedition. But still miss the van.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Yeah its still the same setup. Currently camping near Show Low AZ! Thanks!

Really nice! But you need a 4X4 to get it done in steep off roading, in snow climbing. For you it's just an add-on at some point, way to go! Love the van. 👍🏻 ✌🏻🤘🤘🇨🇦.

Sick van bro 👍

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

thanks man!

🔥

Good for you, you only need the basics. Hope you have great trips.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Heading out to Joshua Tree this weekend!

Agree, van work and versatile. I have an 09 savanah with 6.0 v8, gas milage is only 10 to 13 miles per gallon but it offers the convenience of locking up and in bear country its solid except the windows ofcourse. Best to you.

I’ve done a lot of camping over the years in everything from a tent to a decked out RV and what you have in your van is truly all you need, except maybe a bucket for 💩 🤣

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Vans are amazing!!

@samlin8089

Жыл бұрын

so are buckets ! 🪣 and kitty litter 🐈

That depends if you need 4wd or not. I have a 2wd camping and towing van but I also have a 4wd V8 4Runner for when I want a 4wd.

@larryfulmer

Жыл бұрын

make your Van a 4wd. I'm still considering it but where I am, there isn't a lot of realistic need for 4wd. But I would like to have the 5" lift kit.

@2-old-Forthischet

Жыл бұрын

@@larryfulmer my van pulls my trailer with no problems so I don't want to mess with it. I kept the stock size tires because the gearing is perfect to pull the trailer. The other mechanical mods are an aluminum deep finned transmission pan with a temperature gauge, overload helper springs for the rear, 2 inch front coil spacer to level it out and a rear posi unit. I did find a couple of guys who could do a 4wd conversion on my Chevy Express. One guy who had his own business wanted $20K and would take 9 months, so no. Another guy I met at an off road expo and he did conversions at his home for much less if I provided the parts. I'm not comfortable with that idea.

Check your floor board under the driver side front carpet and check for rust build up, or rotten floor. Feel the carpet insulation to see if it’s moist.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

dry as a bone. Original AZ van spent its whole life in the desert. Thanks for the input didn't know that could happen

You can even get 4wd cheap my rig is a chevy astro I gave 500 for another 1k for lift kit and transfer case swap

Long live the popularity of trucks. Reckon the van I already acquired might hold it's value better... but it is more likely to make my future van parts/accessories/replacements cost more.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Trucks are still very useful depends on what you need them for. For adventuring a van always wins especially in 4x4

@babuddha

Жыл бұрын

@@MojaveDream Reckon I misspoke. Once, I had a secret luv. I don't need my van to cost as much as my truck.

I just picked up a 2005 GMC Savana extended van. 119k on it. This thing is huge. I wanted ask you they are the stock rims with 285's on them?

Agree! 100%!! Over landing in a van is way way way better than anything else with the exception of the Russian snow cat on tracks with attached tow behind tracked trailer. That thing is amazing and nothing compares to it. But the overland van comes in right behind that marvelous piece of Drunken Russia designed, Diesel Powered Snow Party Bus/Camper.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

You already know man!

Sick looking van. I’m getting rid of my super duty and buying a van. It’ll be dual use for side business and home. How is it off-road being that’s it’s 2WD? I’ll never spend $100k for a new pickup. People are nuts.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

It does awesome actually taken it on rocky trail in Sedona and in sandy spots in the Mojave. Its just a stock 2WD no rear locker!

How are they maintenance wise?

Posi or a locker and a winch will get you in and out of most places - Save you're pennies and eventually pick up a kit to do a 4x4 set-up yourself....

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Probably wont ever do a 4x4 conversion on this one. I just took it to Sedona and Northern AZ with rocky steep terrain and it impressed me how well it did. I think any van with proper tires and tire pressure will do just fine in 2WD, a lift helps even more. Rear locker is going in this van later down the road but for now its just fine.

Where did you find it?

How is it mechanically?

Im hooked im sold my buddy got a 5500 Silverodo with eagle cap 200 K, its cool but heavy bulky , steps a mile high, thats what im gonna do get a van ,make 4x4, paint like the A team hahahah

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

You won’t regret it man, ive looked and looked for months to find the perfect SUV/Truck like i said. When I found out about vans I never looked back, its great to just have everything inside the vehicle and whenever you want to hit the road just hop in and drive off no loading up or anything. Its great.

Which vehicle would you feel more comfortable soloing in the back country? Your van with a rear locker and the current lift kit and tires or.... an AWD Toyota Sienna with slightly upsized A/T tires and 3in lift it? Decisions...decisions... Thanks!

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Both are very capable vehicles, a full size van will have all the space you need but you will be sacrificing MPG’s compared to the Sienna. Sienna will have better MPG’s and that Toyota reliability, but maybe the suspension components aren’t as heavy duty as a full size van for off roading so its all about preference. Siennas are badass rigs especially in AWD with lift. My van has no complaints from me off road as it sits

Your lift is a good way to go places a standard van can’t. How does it handle in cross winds on the freeway ? If you added a locked rear differential with gear ratio changed to match the tire size it would probably go 85% of the places a more expensive 4X4 converted van would go. Chad over at Livin the Van Life added an ARB air locker and taller gears to his heavy sprinter. It’s a 4x4 but he took it on some steep Rocky Jeep trails in 2wd to prove the point.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

It still likes to walk when its pretty windy out on the freeway, especially I-10 towards CA. I feel like its not as bad now than when it had the stock suspension.

Vans used to be cheaper until people started posting videos like this, not many deals on vans like it used be

Getting harder to find clean econolines... They are way better built than the transits. I'm looking for a low mileage Econoline now... Lift, locker and winch.... Build it out as I go....

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Body on frame vans are being phased out, GM are the only ones left making them. Try looking at used fleet sales dealerships they usually carry clean well maintained vans

@jimallen8238

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I've been wondering if there are any legit non-Ford options for a 4x4 van conversion for overlanding.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

@@jimallen8238 What van do you have

Most vans are 2WD?

Why not a 1dt gen Tacoma or 3rd gen 4runner..??? Thank you for the video

@212caboose

Жыл бұрын

Because those are really small. He explained that in the vid

@camposvazquez

Жыл бұрын

@@212caboose i missed that ..thank you for replying.. I have a 3rd gen 4runner and an 87 samurai hardtop... my buddies have built late model tacos and 4runners.... So many issues with them... Like they say...there's no perfect rig

Unless the van you have is 4x4 you're not getting to where I go in bad weather, or more importantly, not getting out of those areas in a front or rear wheel drive vehicle. If your argument is I can get mostly everywhere overland, OK. Most folks aren't going to find a 4x4 van for less that a big SUV.

More room, more solar, more batters, more sleeping space.

Always a van

Van.

Especially cus they are cheeper

You can find a 2wd pickup for just as cheap.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Why do that when you can get a van and sleep inside of it while being out of the elements. Ive had pickups growing up and ive done more in this thing than I could with my trucks.

4wd you can get up that hill in snow.

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

I'm in the desert no snow here...

And if you need 4wd just have it converted.

@TandyTerrison

Жыл бұрын

$40k later…

160,000 . A lot of miles

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Actually not too bad due to what I got the van for in todays market. Its clean and runs like a top. I wont have a problem hitting 300k in this beast.

@kenhoyer8601

Жыл бұрын

@@MojaveDream Could be . I think this country still make good trucks and vans, at least then. I was in my 2006 e250 and watched the odometer turn 100,000 mi.

@Gerle71

Жыл бұрын

​@@kenhoyer8601 We have a 2008 E-350, 204,000 mi.

U can get a new van for 15 20k… Compare that to a new truck of 30 40k

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

exactly!

much much cheeper.U can find a good van for 10k to 12k living it up and other stuff 5k.. so 17k total... now compare that to a jeep 30k

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

I just didn’t see the point in paying all that money for a vehicle I cant sleep in!

And that's 2wd? If so, yer gonna get better gas mileage, too.

shhhh stop telling people!

Broke man has to justify his situation at all times 🤡

@MojaveDream

Жыл бұрын

Bring on the hate! Thanks for the views just bringing up my analytics even more