Small Van

[lampliter]

What's the smallest 4 wheel drive van?

 

[joey]

  Do you mean AWD (all wheel drive)?  AWD only means it has traction control,but it's not a true 4 wheel drive.Astro van's come with all wheel drive. Some people think it is 4 wheel drive,but it isn't. You can buy a Dodge,Chevy,or Ford van that is 4x4.

 

[minimotos95]

AWD is a bit more then traction control, some of it's real 50/50 but some of it is a gimmick where it is 2wd until they slip, it's better then real 4x4 on dry tarmac and snow but that's about it... off road&nbsp;real 4x4&nbsp;or AWD with a locking center diff(like montero's, delica's and land cruiser's) and low range&nbsp;are the only ways to go.<br /><br />astro/safari AWD<br />previa AWD<br />caravan/voyager/t&amp;c AWD<br />aerostar 4x4<br />mitsubishi delica turbo diesel 4x4 - canada has some none legally plated in the US<br />1980's toyota vans came in 4x4 if you can find one<br />i almost forgot the sychro...<br />if you really want small and your state&nbsp;allows them look up 4x4 kei vans.&nbsp;way to small IMO<br />Ballenxj - mazda MPV.. an often forgoten van, it's a shame&nbsp;they didn't sell better. <br />please add anything i forgot<br /><br />remember a 2wd with the right tires/driver will always be better traction wise then any 4wd with the wrong tires/driver<br /><br />edit: i need to proof read before i click post.... i will try to keep adding to the list

 

[Ballenxj]

I've also got a GMC Safari AWD. I looked underneath when I had an oil change done, and it has an actual 4x4 transfer case behind the transmission, so yes, it can be called four wheel drive. You just can't shift the transfer case. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" /> <br />Mazda also made a 4x4 van with a small V6 engine. I almost bought one. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" /><br />-Bruce

 

[Pikachu711]

Here's a link to an interesting group that just deals with Astro &amp; Safari vans. This link shows what can be done with an Astro van. This makes me consider buying one of these. Here's the link:<br /><br />http://astrosafarivans.org/bb2/viewtopic.php?f=47&amp;t=6464<br /><br />It does make the most of the space in the smaller van.

 

[HoboBerg]

Dont forget the VW Syncro. A little out of my price range, but I like em!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img rel="lightbox" src="http://www.vanagon.com/static/img/old/info/vehicles/img/lwt_syncro_16_action.jpg" class="bbc_img" />&nbsp;</div>

 

[Pikachu711]

Here's a link that has some excellent information on the VW Syncro. Heck of a van. Love to have one of those!<br /><br />http://www.club80-90syncro.co.uk/Syncro_website/TechnicalPages/_THE SYNCRO STORY.htm<br /><br />Truly amazing!

 

[Stillwater]

In the AWD/4WD arena, I've owned a Z71 full sized Chevy 4WD, a 4WD Mitsu Montero, an AWD Honda CRV, an AWD Subaru Outback, an AWD Previa Van and still have an AWD Subaru Impreza Outback Sport.&nbsp; Company cars have included 4WD/AWD Jeep Cherokees, Chevy Trailblazers, Ford Escapes, Ford Explorers, Ford Expeditions, a K5 Blazer and a fantastic mid-eighties Toyota Tercel SR5 4WD Wagon. That Tercel was awesome! The Tercel would have been the same time frame and tech as the old '80s Toyota Van 4WDs. <br /><br />If you want to go completely off-road / off-trail, then a 4WD is fantastic. For nasty weather and simply dirt/mud/gravel roads, AWD excels. <br /><br />The Legacy Outback had the best traction distribution for snow/wet/muddy roads. The Honda CRV had the worst. <br /><br />Below was my Previa AllTrac (AWD) and I miss it terribly. This was after slopping out of a field that had turned into a soupy mess. <br /><br />

<br /><br />4WD sucks for mixed driving as pavement that goes from snowy mess to dry (and back and forth) will tear a transfer case to pieces.<br /><br />I owned 4-5 Toyota Vans of the vintage below as part of a business. They ran forever but burned your butt up with the mid-engine design. Sadly, none were the 4WD version as pictured. The Previa - though still technically mid-engine - placed the motor much lower in the chassis and the heat was much more manageable in the cabin.<br /><br />

 

[Ballenxj]

Pikachu711, Thanks for the link. I'll have to peruse that site for ideas. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" /> <br />-Bruce

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

I just bought a used toyota 4runner a few months ago. I shouldn't admit this, I'm always afraid of new things and don't even know how to make it a 4by4. Its in the owner's manual but I have a hard time&nbsp;comprehending written&nbsp;directions. I guess I should go on youtube and watch how to do it.<img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" />

 

[bk2valve]

I like the Mitsu Delica and would have one if I was a Canadian.....they are close to the perfect little van in my view...<br />Bri

 

[HWJ]

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Speaking as a Canadian (Ottawa, Ontario) I have never seen a&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.633333206176758px;">Delica ever...<br />They all appear to be in British Columbia.<br />Unless your from that area, I wouldn't recommend getting one. You wouldn't find parts...<br /><br />You are more likely to find Vanagon's out East..</span></span>

 

[minimotos95]

<p>i think the furthest east people buy them is alberta, i would love to have one the only way i can see to get one legally in the US is to take a US model van or wagon(2wd gas) up to canada and do a body swap on to the delica frame or to bring a crashed one back for "offroad use only" and do the swap in the US... overall for as much time and money&nbsp;doing that you can have a subaru or TDI swapped syncro which is not in a legal grey area except maybe in CA where everything is illegal<br /><br />i personally think the best option unless you live in canada(delica... no bias here *whistles*).. would be&nbsp;an 80's&nbsp;toyota van which&nbsp;i still can't remember what they are called,&nbsp;or an astro/safari, the GM&nbsp;4.3l is bulletproof&nbsp;and has great torque...<br /><br />more opinions: if you don't want a walk through and are just doing a bulkhead a mid front cab over engine&nbsp;is the best use of space. if you do want one&nbsp;and don't mind the outside being longer the&nbsp;astro&nbsp;has a walk through(crawl through for me)&nbsp;and the back area is open, something that can't be said about a VW with the engine bay sticking up in the back... <br />there's downsides to every layout. i prefer a short wheelbase and at 6' something i think a bulkhead is better for me then crawl through<br /><br />mechanical delica parts aren't that bad find because the drivetrain is the same as a montero, the motor parts are a PITA just like any other mitsu, usually have to be ordered. i think some of the parts are the same as a diesel ram 50, mighty max or ranger. <br />you're&nbsp;screwed if your windshield shatters and you need it replaced&nbsp;ASAP, in canada most glass guys&nbsp;likley can't get it, would have to get it from&nbsp;one of the delica shops in BC&nbsp;and in the US it would&nbsp;have to be shipped from&nbsp;the&nbsp;distributor for a l300 delica and for a l400 you can't get it... <br />maybe that is hard to get parts for but it's easy compared to some of the motorcycles i've owned where i had to order parts&nbsp;from the UK or AU. it's not like a&nbsp;chevy where you can walk in to autozone or where ever and come out 5 minutes later with what you needed&nbsp;</p>

 

[bk2valve]

Excellent points guys....I agree with them all.<br /><br />As I have mentioned on my thread of my perfect rig:<br /><br />https://vanlivingforum.com/post/My-perfect-rig....-6065148<br /><br />I think that all things considered, I go with Brandon's idea on an Astro AWD. I think this is what I will pursue as time goes on...just as I outline it on that thread....<br /><br />Any comments appreciated....<br />Bri

 

[akrvbob]

I know this thread is about smallest AWD vans, but I thought I would add another dimension. In the early 2000s chevy put AWD in some of their Express vans. I think it is a better choice than the Astro because it gets very nearly as good the mpg but is much larger. Some of my best friends live in an AWD Express with 5.3 and they can get an honest 19 mpg on the freeway under best conditions. 17-18 is normal. The Astro doesn't get much better. Heavily loaded probably not as good. <br /><br />Chevy also put "Wings" on some of those Express vans. It was a contractors package for cargo vans. You know where there are dimples for where the windows go in the passenger vans but cargo vans don't have them? Well they cut that out and hinged them at the top and added a hydrolic system so they open up to 90 degrees for easy access inside the van. The thing is incredible when they are all opened!! <br /><br />My friends have an AWD Express with Wings!! They searched craigslist all over the whole country until they found one in Kansas City and flew there and drove it back to California. Bob

 

[Ballenxj]

Since they asked me to post a photo of my GMC Safari on the other site that Pikachu711 posted, I now have a photo of my "other" van. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" /> <br />-Bruce <br />