Van choice

[accrete]

...I have approximately 6' in the middle with stand up roof and this absolutely hugeass storage compartment in the rear. All my backpacking and hammock gear...

Sounds like our _cut_ too.

The reason I replied is the "Hammock gear" mention.
Cari and I spent all but ~5 nights in our hammocks this past season (~9 x5 day adventures).
She uses a Hennessy Expedition or Amok v3. And I use a Warbonnet Black Bird or Amok v3. As for how we set them up? If there are good trees we hang'em. If not, or regs in a given area prohibit it, we use simple 3/4" EMT conduit stands I put together. The stands fit under the van's bed.

And when our kids came camping... we put all four on stands : )

Enjoy your hangs!
Thom

 

[VenFan]

There are Ford High Top Vans around that don't have any windows in them.  Just the windshield, front door windows and back door tilt out windows.  Inside is totally empty and devoid of anything.

Pics don't show on my computer can you provide what model / nickname they are? I only know ford transit 2010+ models and Mercdes Sprinters

 

[dhawktx]

The Ford High Top vans are generally the Econolines - E150, E250, E350.

 

[VenFan]

I have hard time finding one that has stock raised roof would this be considered it http://www.bargainbusnews.com/Buses/2647-2010FordE350Van/#imgiframediv

 

[NeedAnEscape]

There is no Econoline with a raised roof stock.

 

[ilovemyvan]

I have hard time finding one that has stock raised roof would this be considered it http://www.bargainbusnews.com/Buses/2647-2010FordE350Van/#imgiframediv

I believe the top for this van is a turtle top. That's typically what comes with a conversion van. I don't know how tall you are but to give you a point of reference, my husband who is 5'11" has to tilt his head or band his knees.

 

[Almost There]

I believe the top for this van is a turtle top. That's typically what comes with a conversion van. I don't know how tall you are but to give you a point of reference, my husband who is 5'11" has to tilt his head or band his knees.

The turtle tops are not stock roofs either in the purest sense. The auto manufacturers do not add the tops, a conversion company does albeit by the thousands. 

The vans with those tops are generally sold off the production line as incomplete vehicles to a company like StarCraft who then 'convert' the van by adding the captains seats, interior package (all that shiny wood and material) and the turtle top.

In the 80's through to the early 90's there were hundreds if not thousands of small mom and pop conversion shops throughout the US. The incomplete vehicles were being sold directly to the auto dealers from the factory, shipped to the m&p conversion shops having been ordered by a consumer with specific options.

A word of caution to any other Canadians here on the forums. Other than StarCraft, I don't believe any of the other conversion companies ever bothered to get their Canadian Transport Authority paperwork - no vehicle converted by them can be imported into Canada - BTDT - had a lovely Astro that I had to sell quick and cheap when I was moving back to Canada. It had been made in Oshawa but sold as incomplete to some dealer in Georgia and could never be titled in Canada.

 

[Canine]

Mid tops vary in height, i have found them to vary as much as 3-4" depending on style. If you are short like me (5'6) they work. Sorry about that for you taller folk.

The really tall tops from commercial vans attract too much attention where I park the most, and the standard white cargo van doesn't fit into the suburban neighborhoods I reside in. I really debated getting the old mid top G20 but they don't really stick out like a sore thumb as long as the graphics aren't bold. I like the windows for the times I do want to look out and can't handle the "cave" of the cargo, personally. My G20 doesn't have the mid seats or back sofa anymore, those seats are really cheap at wreckers so they are no loss. Some CL ads say that the seats are already gone anyways. What works for me doesn't work for Bob up in the outback, and thats fine. One day I won't have to work in a city and I hope to change vehicles, but for now I appreciate the mid top and windows. No vehicle ticks all of the boxes.

 

[cool feet]

I have 2 Ford Econoline vans-1998 E150 and an extended 2004 E350 Powerstroke diesel.

The E150 is a basic Club Wagon. I prefer passenger vans as it's easy to block out the windows with Reflectix. I have the E150 limo-tinted so it's almost impossible to see inside.

I am working on the E350 van making it road worthy for a 5,000 mile cross country trip. Our family prefers the larger length, dual AC, and a better ride with the Super Heavy Duty E350.

 

[Reverse Engineer]

sweet! Thanks for all the input. I've been looking for a chevy astro, cargo or passenger, passenger seems to be a more popular for sale item in Salt Lake City. Go figure. Anyone have or have had an Astro? Any specific issues you've run into mechanical or otherwise? Thanks!

I had an Astro and lived in it off and on for about a year on the streets of NYC. The vehicle itself was a brand new cargo van at the time.  I installed a couple of small porthole windows to let in some daylight. Van color was Black.  I drove the vehicle more "normally" not living in it for 7 years, then it got stolen.

Mechanically it was decent mostly, but the tranny did quit on me in Year 4 and I had to replace it.  Fucking GM did not live up to the 5 year warranty because I did all the Oil Changes myself and kept a log of them but did not have every last receipt for the tranny fluid I bought.  Last vehicle I ever bought new because of that.

Personally after that experience, I think Astros and Minivans in general are just TOO small if you are living in them more than a couple of weeks at a stretch.  Go with a full size van, extended.  They are still pretty stealth.