My van camper

[bullfrog]

Originally Brown's Mill that was later changed to Dime Box which referred to a large wooden box that was used for mail transported by horse back to nearby Giddings. Ain't the internet great.

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR GO NOW!

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING GUY'S AND GAL'S, THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD!

TIP:  CHECK YOUR AUTO TOWING POLICY, MANY BASIC PLANS ARE GOOD ONLY
FOR IN TOWN SERVICE.  A UP GRADE MIGHT BE NECESSARY IF YOU ARE A ROAMER
TO LONG DISTANT POINTS THAT WOULD BE SUPER EXPENSIVE TO TOW.  HEARD 
THAT A TOW FROM BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK TO ALPINE TX,   EXCESS OF 600$

HILL COUNTRY NATURAL PARK
NICE PARK WITH DECENT FACILITIES, SOUTH WEST OF BANDERA, TX.  HARD TO 
FIND FREE CAMPING IN TX, DUE TO MOST LANDS ARE PRIVATE,  CORP OF ENGINEERS
HAS SOME DECENT PARKS CO-LOCATED WITH SOME OF THEIR LAKES.

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!

 

[highdesertranger]

nice. at first I thought that Toyota was camouflage but when I blew the pic up I see it's, well I don't know what it is. highdesertranger

 

[closeanuf]

Looks like an 80's datsunn 720.  I was in the Datsun back then .  the side marker light is the clue.  The rear axles on those broke. This one has probably been replaced by something heavier.

 

[highdesertranger]

did they make Datsun motor homes? I have never seen one, I just assumed it was a Toyota. highdesertranger

 

[closeanuf]

Yeah they made them but they weren't as tough as the Toyota's.  See how short that thing is in comparison to the Toyotas.

 

[tonetarldel]

Had a friend who had a RV and he loved that thing. I always thought it was a cool looking RV. What kind of mpg do they get?

 

[bullfrog]

Mine was one of the smaller fiberglass ones with a manual 4 speed and 4 cylinder and got around 20 MPG in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. It was geared low so top speed was around 55 MPH but I was able to pull a small car on an aluminum trailer. Biggest problem was the fiberglass door, the hinges kept working loose. Over all the truck part was pretty reliable.

 

[Campor99]

Thanks for the great info, bullfrog,  am sure it will help someone out there id RV land!

 

[Zephyr]

"TIP: CHECK YOUR AUTO TOWING POLICY, MANY BASIC PLANS ARE GOOD ONLY
FOR IN TOWN SERVICE. A UP GRADE MIGHT BE NECESSARY IF YOU ARE A ROAMER
TO LONG DISTANT POINTS THAT WOULD BE SUPER EXPENSIVE TO TOW. HEARD
THAT A TOW FROM BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK TO ALPINE TX, EXCESS OF 600$"

It a long, winding, two lane road to Big Bend and back from Alpine. Considering the time involved and wrecker expenses, I'm not surprised at the cost. Probably not a lot of competition either.

 

[tonetarldel]

Had a friend who had a RV and he loved that thing. I always thought it was a cool looking RV. What kind of mpg do they get?  porno

 

[Campor99]

I have always believed if fuel mileage is a big issue, if you can get 15+ mpg your living in High Cotton.  That's about what I average in all around driving conditions Mountains and flat lands combined. My Astro Van does make that goal, the Suburban struggles to make 13-15 mpg!

Good luck

 

[maki2]

if I ever need to make a change from my Honda Element I do plan to search for a low mileage AWD Astro.

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR GO NOW

HOWDY ALL YOU VAN LOVING BUCKAROO'''''''''S, THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD

TIP: FOR SWEET TOOTH, DOLLAR GENERAL HAS (TO ME) CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 
REGULAR, CHEWY, AND CHUNKY MY FAVORITE. 

I' M NOT FAMILIAR WITH FORD'S, SO IF YOU ARE PLEASE CHIME IN AND SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE!

AEROSTAR AWD/ FWD AND RWD  1987-97  2 MILLION PRODUCED
AWD HAD A ELECTRONIC  CONTROL SYSTEM E-4WD
PER FORD (NOT A TRUE OFF ROAD SYSTEM) BUT REGULAR BACK ROADS, GRAVEL AND SUCH SHOULD WORK.
4.0 V-6 160 HP AND 15-20 MPG
CHECK WIKIPEDIA FOR FULL DESCRIPTION 

BE SAFE OUT THERE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY

 

[highdesertranger]

you're trying to play games with us aren't you? ok I will play.

on the four pics at the bottom of the post the first one, the red/maroon one is a conversion. it has a straight axle that appears to be a very old Jeep axle.

the second blue one it's hard to tell anything poor picture quality

the third one LOL isn't that your Astro Van. well anyway it's an Astro looks real clean to.

the fourth one is interesting with the high top. but it is rotting away.

the first one at the top of the post, do you think that will show up on the Car Fax report? LOL

highdesertranger

 

[bullfrog]

For a guy that owns GM products you are awful liberal minded! LOL!!!

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR GO NOW!

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING GUYS AND GALS, THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD

ASTRO AND SAFARI GM VANS, BUILT FROM 1985 TO 2005, 3.5 MILLION.
    BOTH PASSENGER AND CARGO VANS.
1990 SAW INTRO OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM
RWD 20-21 MPG, AND AWD 17MPG? MINE GETS MOSTLY 15 WHEN LOADED.
3 ENGINES WERE FITTED OVER YEARS, I-4 2.5 L 98HP, NEVER SAW ONE OF THESE!
    V-6 4.3 L 165HP  AND A V-6 4.3 200HP, THINK THIS WAS IN 2000 OR SO.
TRANSMISSIONS - 4 AND 5 SPEED MANUAL(NEVER SEEN ONE) AND 4 SPD AUTOMATIC WITH OD.

ASTROS AND SAFARI'S ARE A BIT BIGGER THAN THE CHRYSLER VANS AND ARE SIMILAR IN SIZE TO SHORT
BODIED G-10 SERIES.

BESIDES THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS, LARGE SLIDER DOOR ON PAX SIDE AND EITHER BARN DOORS OR
DUTCH DOORS ON REAR.

IN MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE 4.3 ENGINE IT IS ONE GREAT ENGINE. 335K ON MY JIMMY AND RUNNING STRONG.
MY ASTRO HAS 200K AND I HAVE HAD NO ISSUES WITH IT EITHER.  GM IS STILL BUILD ING THE 4.3.  TOWING NOT
A ISSUE, PIC OF MY ASTRO IN BRITISH COLUMBIA,  4000 PLUS MILE TRIP IN A LOT OF MOUNTAIN AREAS. DID OK FOR ME!
HAVE HEARD THAT TRANSMISSIONS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR AROUND 180K, WHICH WAS THE CASE WITH MY 2000 MODEL!

PLEASE FORGIVE ANY MISTAKES IF FOUND, MOST DATA FROM WIKI!

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR GO NOW

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING GUY'S AND GALS, THANK FOR CHECKING THREAD!

MY ASTRO IS AWD, OVER THE COURSE OF 3+YEAR'S OF OWNERSHIP
THE AWD SYSTEM HAS BEEN A BENEFIT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.  IT'S NOT A 
ROCK CRAWLING SYSTEM, BUT GREAT IN LOW TRACTION SITUATIONS SUCH
AS SAND AND MUD.

THE FEATURED ASTRO IS THE MOST HIGHLY MODIFIED ONE I HAVE BUMPED ACROSS, VISITED
WITH OWNER AT RTR 2018, NICE GUY FROM CA.  BESIDES INTERIOR, HE CONSTRUCTED
POP TOP FROM SCRAP YARD HIGH TOP ASTRO, AND INSTALLED A PURE 4X4 TRANSFER CASE
FROM CHEVY S-10.

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!

 

 

[Campor99]

    GO SMALL GO FAR GO NOW

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING BUCKAROO'S, THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD

TIP:  OLD TIME ROAD MAPS ISSUED BY EACH STATE HAVE LOT OF ROADS NOT ON ATLAS!
          GPS DOES NOT HAVE ALL THESE SMALLER BYWAYS!

GENERAL MOTORS, CHEVY EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANNA   BUILT 1995 TO PRESENT
     RATED ONE OF THE BEST VANS FOR DEPENDABILITY AND DURABILITY.  MODELS
     INCLUDED BOTH PASSENGER AND CARGO AND 1500 2500 3500 LOAD RATINGS.
     1500 WAS DISCONTINUED 2014.

RANGE OF ENGINES  V-6  4.3 AND 4.8   V8  5.3 AND 5.7  AND THE  DIESEL DURAMAX 
TRANSMISSION 4 SPD AND 1500 HAD AWD OPTION
SOME MODELS HAD DOUBLE DOORS ON BOTH SIDES OF VAN WHICH WOULD BE GREAT FOR A CAMPER.

BE SAFE OUT THERE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!

 

[Campor99]

     GO SMALL GO FAR!

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING GUY AND GAL BUCKAROO'S, THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD

E SERIES (ECONOLINE) FORD VANS 1960-2015 (LIMITED AFTER 15) MOST SOLD VAN IN USA. 

4 GENERATIONS OF MODEL STYLES. AND 1/2 TON TO 1 1/2 TON LOAD RATINGS.

TO MANY ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION COMBINATIONS TO MENTION . SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

THEY WILL BE AROUND FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, FOR VAN LOVING PEOPLE.

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.