the real me

[crofter]

Hello everyone! I have been lurking and am writing to say hi. 
I am getting more minimalist all the time, but so far have only made it about five weeks in the Chevrolet before needing to stop and work again. (that money thing). I am close to early retirement age so that might help solve (that money thing). The info in here on budgets and costs is great!! Thanks for that!!
I also found that the Chevrolet is not very stealthy as most activities are outside of her. Therefore I was getting noticed too much in my favorite places. I like to stop and make tea on the tailgate, and have had lots of people come up to me when doing this. So am thinking of trading horses. Maybe a 4X4 van? It feels disloyal to my Chevrolet to be even writing this, we have been through so much. And she has never ever left me stranded in 160,000 miles. 
I also have a large furry pal who tends to incite adventure. And thats a good thing.
I am keeping a storage that has electricity for THE BUILD on whatever vehicle I am in. It seems like a luxury to have the storage and the electricity. I could switch to battery tools and build anywhere. 
So that's the real me. Hope to see you all on the road!
Blessings - Sue

I :heart: my Chevrolet 4X4 crew cab w/suicide doors & snug top, with moss on top.

 

[Almost There]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Crofter! It can be a difficult decision as to whether to keep what you have or find something that might be more suitable. We like helping people decide so don't be afraid to ask us what we think!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forums    

It's kind of a shame that you can't tailgate without attracting a crowd of the curious, the nosey with an agenda, or with their hands out to bum money.   But by and large most are just well meaning people looking for a bit of entertainment.  

I've noticed that anyone who is using anything more than a thermos bottle on the tail gate to have coffee or whatever is likely to incur this.

That's why I like the Vans or a vehicle where you can do such things inside if around the public who knows nothing about RVing.    I've learned to avoid this situation by all means.  If it isn't an adult it may be kids on bicycles who pick you up on their entertainment radar.

 

[crofter]

 just well meaning people looking for a bit of entertainment.  

We are pretty entertaining I suppose - me drinking my tea and my animal sitting there.

 

[DannyB1954]

Welcome to the forum. 4X4 vans are pretty rare, (Nobody made one from the factory except Japanese).
Hence they are expensive and parts may be hard to find.

Maybe a sign saying dog bites will keep people at a distance. Or a jar marked donations will reduce the time they stay.

 

[SoulRaven]

Welcome! It would put a smile on my face to see a woman having tea on her tailgate with her dog. There are curious people everywhere, but most seem to mean no harm although often times in my life, they have made me very uncomfortable. Some people have the emotional intelligence to know when they are intruding or asking far too many personal questions yet some don't. Many wish to escape, but don't have the courage to do it.

 

[jimindenver]

Welcome to the forums!

I used vans for years and still get envious when I see one converted to a 4x4. Unfortunately I need the 4x4 for the roads I traverse and the converted vans are so expensive even used that I had to do without. I also think that they are unique enough that having one would draw attention, hence not very stealthy.

 

[vtwinkicker]

4X4 vans are pretty rare, (Nobody made one from the factory except Japanese).
Hence they are expensive and parts may be hard to find.

To my knowledge the only U.S. made factory 4wd van was the Chevy Pathfinder back in maybe the 70's. Toyota had a 4wd van for a short while in the late 80s I think?

Quigley 4wd is factory authorized by Ford and GM to convert the Transit and Express/Savana vans. You can order from Ford/GM as you were buying a new van and they will drop ship to Quigley who converts it then it is delivered to the dealer you ordered from. The components for  the GM vans are the same components used in the pickup trucks so any GM dealer can work on and get parts.

There are also several conversion companies in the west such as Sportsmobile and several others I can't think of. They are in Colorado and Oregon.

Cost for a Quigley conversion is about $11.5K and the others are $15-20K as they build them as rock crawlers whereas the Quigley system is a stock pickup truck system.

I switched from a 4wd pickup and truck camper to a GM van with Quigley 4wd and would not go back to a pickup/camper combo. The versatility of the 4wd van as a vandweller vehicle is so much more convenient and you don't have the RV systems to deal with or the maintenance of resealing the roof periodically.

If you must have the RV features and want 4wd Roadtrek offers it as an option with the Quigley 4wd. Used ones pop up now and then. I saw a used Roadtrek with 4wd at an RV dealer in Salem,OR when I was in the PNW and there was one in AZ for sale a couple years ago when I was watching the ads.

 

[ArtW]

Welcome!
That's the problem with having 'the world as your living room', whe you decide to put your living room in a public place lol
A 4x4 van would be difficult and expensive to find, but putting a locker on a 2wd one gives surprising capability

 

[hepcat]

I just happen to know that there's a car dealer in Florida who has JUST the ticket for you... a Pinzgauer ambulance!  It's low mileage, six wheel drive... and will take you ANYWHERE you want to go... and of COURSE it's STEALTHY.  Because it's painted military olive-drab, no one will ever even see you in it!   (I'm kidding of course...  but who WOULDN'T want one of these?)  :heart:

http://www.autohausfl.com/vehicle-d...tary-import-566a443eeab68546845d220da831439b/

 

[hepcat]

On a serious note, I've had Jeeps and Land Cruisers for the better part of 40 years, and climbed all over the deserts of SoCal and the mountains of NoCal in them. My favorite 4WD, though, was a '94 2WD Ford Aerostar cargo van with an auto and V6. Yes, you read that correctly. I ran the crime scene unit for a NoCal Sheriff's Department from '92-'97 and that was my crime scene van. I drove that EVERYWHERE in the county that I needed to go.

We didn't HAVE any 4WD vehicles in the SO in those days... and if we really needed to off-road, one of the guys would take their own 4WD trucks to get back to where we needed to be. But I hauled so much stuff that wasn't practical for me. So I'd just drive the Aerostar in... I had stock M+S highway tires on it. It was as stock as you could get, but the only time I ever got stuck, it was my fault. I was fording a creek that was about 20" deep and up to the door sills. The creek was about 75' wide, and in the middle of the creek I slipped a little on mossy rocks. Instead of gunning it, I eased off (which is appropriate in some traction situations, just not slimy rocks) and that's where I sat. Fortunately one of the guys ahead had stayed with me and a little tug with a tow rope got me moving again. I crossed the stream on the way back without incident, not repeating my mistake.

My point is that a) four-wheel drive really only makes the places you get stuck a LOT more expensive to get out of... b) from the invention of the automobile until the proliferation of 4WDs in the '90s, folks got everywhere with two wheel drive... and c) most places you go, you DON'T really need 4WD. The guys I worked with were always positively shocked that I got that Aerostar up into the locations they were in. They just couldn't believe it. Getting into those locations is a LOT more driving technique than it is drive wheels.

Again, all of that said, I'm a Jeep guy... but 99% of the folks who own 4WD just don't need it to go where they go. I have a '95 Ford e-250 based B-van and my biggest issues aren't traction, but clearance. I've got a LOT of 'stuff' hanging down under the rocker panels that can get caught on the ground, so that's what limits my ability to off-road with it.

 

[crofter]

GM van with Quigley 4wd 

Thanks for the tip vtwinkicker! I will definitely keep my eye out for a used Quigley. I saw those going through the used listings but I didn't know what it was. I can almost always get to my destination in 2WD, but I do want 4WD for getting back out again.  - Crofter

 

[crofter]

Maybe a sign saying dog bites 

Tee Hee!     The people always turn out to be from my animal's fan club, so I really can't turn them away. What I really hate is traffic jams when his fans start passing us waving and honking every time they go by. He just laps it up.

I do like the idea of the jar though, might be good for some dog food money!! - Crofter

 

[Queen]

Welcome to the forum crofter.  I like the mental image of sipping tea with furry companion alongside, while sitting in a parking lot.  Maybe a small hooked rug under foot and a doily for the teacup to rest on??  Might as well go all out. 

 

[crofter]

A 4x4 van would be difficult and expensive to find, but putting a locker on a 2wd one gives surprising capability

I was looking at those. Do you put one on each wheel or just the two wheels that are not drive wheels?
 - Crofter

 

[crofter]

Again, all of that said, I'm a Jeep guy... but 99% of the folks who own 4WD just don't need it to go where they go.  I have a '95 Ford e-250 based B-van and my biggest issues aren't traction, but clearance. 

Thanks for the info! I totally agree that dirt road driving technique is the secret. And I rarely use 4WD on the way to my destination. But I sure like to have it if the weather deteriorates and conditions change on the way out. Thanks for the tip about clearance. I didn't think of that. :idea: - Crofter

 

[dr_nelson]

Welcome!
Make sure your Chevrolet gets into loving hands...
I am still "at home" and trying to finish the build before the end of the lease. But it is encouraging to know that one can build even while dwelling - cuz I don't think I can finish at the rate I am going.

 

[DannyB1954]

Tee Hee!     The people always turn out to be from my animal's fan club, so I really can't turn them away. What I really hate is traffic jams when his fans start passing us waving and honking every time they go by. He just laps it up.

I do like the idea of the jar though, might be good for some dog food money!! - Crofter

I understand. When I go anywhere my dog gets greeted before me. They are always smiling when they see her. I understand that also as she is number one with me as well.

 

[ArtW]

I was looking at those. Do you put one on each wheel or just the two wheels that are not drive wheels?
 - Crofter

A locker goes in the differential, if you don't have a limited slip, and can be turned on for off road and off for on road
All it does is keep the power from all going to just the one wheel with the least traction so you have true 2wd (in mud, most 2wds with open diffs are actually 1wd, a 4wd with open diffs is a 2wd once you start spinning tires)
If you have a limited slip you don't need a locker

 

[Alcatraz]

Quigley Motors makes 4x4 vans, authorized by Ford, with a factory warranty. They will also convert used vans starting at 2010 models.
I heard they were expanding to GM and Nissan products but don't know if they ever did.

http://www.quigley4x4.com/Quigley-Products/Quigley-4x4-Ford-Transit-Vans/Product-Overview