His ex And her family was spending all of his money 💰 😅 Now she just gets a surtin amount of his money. He is way better off And you can tell he's figured it out. Good for him 👏
stop hating on his ex wife. You wasn’t there behind closed doors. For all we know he could be a wife beater. You Americans live in la la land Somtimes. No wonder we discovered you 200 years ago 😂
@@christopherwaits7852 I doubt it, she probably got 1/2 of his earnings, and he most likely pays child support. I'm sure she also has an education she can get a job!
I read that the average new car price in the USA is now $53,000. So $80,000 for a completely custom van does indeed sound like a bargain. And then you can get Alex to put a supercharger and turn it into a rocket ship :). For the life you lead, it's a fantastic choice. Well done Hoovie.
Considering the amount of handwork involved, and that their volume is only 16% of what it was at their peak, yeah, that's not bad. If they were still building 50 a day, it would probably be a lot less, but they don't exactly have much in the way of economies of scale.
Great point. Funny enough, I needed a dependable car for long trips my S4 and my 996 are paid for and I looked at modern SUVs with subpar kit go for 60k. So I bought a low mile 100 series Land Cruiser and it’s getting all new custom interior and modern features from a local shop. We need to stop buying what’s being pushed to us.
@@42luke93yeah no, I’ll buy a used newer sprinter van or an older work van for 10k and put 40k into it making it more luxurious and just as reliable if not more so than this. It’s a nice van, but not for brand new premium vehicle prices. I go off MSRP, not the average dummy overpaying. I’ve never paid over MSRP with the exception of taxes and fees and bought a 2020 Q5 2 years ago, 24 thousand miles on it fully loaded. Society allows itself to get fucked, idk how y’all pay 5-10 even 20+ thousand over MSRP for something like a base model mustang GT.
In the late eighties there was a car lot that always had a row of custom vans. My highschool girlfriend and I realized most were never locked afterhours. I bet we "looked at" custom van interiors hundreds of times during those years after hours. I remember when the rear seat/bed went from manual to power conversion. To be a teenager in the eighties again.
Total flashback for this 56 year old that traveled the country in an awesome conversion van in the 70s and early 80s with my family. Love, love, love this van and would totally do it today. Thanks for the warm memories, Hoovie!
I've had 3 van conversions in my lifetime. 2 old dodge vans from the late 1970s and my last one was a 1993 GMC Vandura "2500" heavy half 5 lug 5.7 TRAVELER BY EXPLORER.....BEST vehicle ive ever owned...never saw a tow truck...mobile bedroom, mobile living room,....football games tailgating, baseball too....Camping,( back couch was power retractible to a bed) towing a boat, you name it, it was reliable, comfortable, and most reliable vehicle ive ever owned. I was always the guy who had to deliver the grooms men to the wedding because the girls got the limo.
I do a lot of work on these conversion vans at my job. The quality is surprisingly good considering everything is hand made. Especially working with the upholstery. I have had a few instances on the newer models with the coolers and center consoles having issues such as the clips breaking and various electrical/noise concerns as any vehicle would. Their warranty is amazing, especially since technicians are paid fairly compared to major auto manufacturers. it was nice to see the production process of something I work on every single day. Id love to take a tour like this some day
haha, that was me when I was 18 in mine. Not nearly as nice as that one but yes, had a nice comfy bed in the back with a fur throw. I still remember my gf naked on that thing hehehe Oh if we had smart phones back then! hehehehe
Hoovie, my suggestion: Use that Van! You had it built for you, you speced it for towing and kid/adult hauling! A vehicle is a machine built to be in motion, allow that van to fulfill it's mission! Not only that, but the vehicles you keep fondly in your heart are the ones you made memories with so, go make some memories! As an aside, if you feel bad about harming your new van, do a Mike Musto. Key the underside of the front bumper. Once the first mark is made, it's no longer a new car. It's your car.
My family had a conversion van growing up. Didn't have a high-top with a TV or anything, but otherwise kitted out. I loved how kind of cave-like it felt. It had dark blue carpeting and velour fabric on the walls/ceiling and seat upholstery. Really miss it. I was surprised that this new one goes for around 80K. Without recently pricing anything, I was expecting it to easily be over 100K, if not 150K. That's a steal on a brand new, custom conversion!
Hoovie - I did this at night so you can see the lighting. Also Hoovie - Spends entire time inside a full lite garage so we still can't see the lighting.
Best memories of my life were traveling the country with my folks in the "first generation" of conversion van complete with airbrushed mural on the side and shag carpet on the walls. Upgraded in the 80's to the window style van of the day. Great times in those rigs.
My parents are retired, but my dad lived and worked in Warsaw, Indiana for decades. He spends summers there now. I spent the last two summers with him. I know a lot of people with Explorer Vans and a few people who have worked there. Awesome purchase!
Good things happening to good people like you Hoovie. That van is simply a ton of wonderful memories for your kids just waiting to happen. Congrats and enjoy.
I own an Explorer conversion van. I absolutely LOVE it. Mine, instead of the two center rows of seats in the back, has a handicap elevator that pops out the side door. Fantastic for lifting things into the van.
You’ll love the 6.6L gas engine! 401hp, 464 lb/ft torque. Same engine I have in my ‘22 Silverado 2500HD, and I regularly tow 12-14,000#, without a hiccup! My fuel mileage sucked, when new (14 mpg), but after breaking in 5000-7000 miles), my mileage (empty) is around 17 mpg. Which I’ll take, for the power that engine produces. Great build, Tyler! 👍 She’s a beautiful ride
Really nice! I thought they were more expensive than that. Much more car per dollar than just about anything these days. I came here to say that I am not surprised Hoovie got one of these, just surprised he got a new one. But now I can see why. Fully custom in every way and less than the price of even mid-luxury cars
I used to work at Regency Conversion vans and saw a ton of cool vans in the making that one you specked out is pretty darn cool I have always loved conversion vans they are just like a private jet on wheels how awesome congrats on your new conversion van !!
@@42luke93 They went completely out of business I am not sure quite why that was after I left from working there when I was there they were going strong !!!
Part of the appeal to many of us was the fine cabinetry and woodworking that went into these vans, kind of sad to see that part of it went away, but I understand the reasons and I'm glad the vans are still being made!
yeah I built 1 when I was just 18 and didn't know SFA about woodworking, now? after being in it for 40 years, I could build a dream vehicle out of burled maple, tiger maple, and then some exotics like ipe or iroco or even purple heart. I increased my quality when I started using a micrometer and vernier calipers. I used to measure in 1/16" now I'm measuring in 1/64" and 1/128". I made a joint the other day that was so close in tolerance that I couldn't get it apart once I test fitted it. I had to pin it instead of gluing.
There were a half a dozen van conversion companies in Missouri that sprung up in the 70s/80s, most of them now are doing Living space conversions on horse trailers, or building ambulances,
I’m so glad you showed me this. I’m going to buy one in the next year or so and I’m going to let you know when I get it. I’ve always loved vans ever since my grandfather had his Chevy 20. It had the two captains chairs in the back, along with the fold out bed. A sink, refrigerator, and a mini TV in it. I loved that van. I hated that I didn’t have the money to fix it after he passed away. 😢
We've had a couple Econoline conversion vans since 1998, they're THE perfect kid haulers when the kids get bigger, and tow vehicles if you get a 3/4 ton.
I drove an Explorer van for many years while my son was doing travel hockey. It was sooo luxurious! And way more practical than an SUV or pickup. On our last road trip, my wife was commenting on how much she missed the Explorer van.
You could easily supercharge that engine and push it to 525 horsepower - there was an outfit a few years ago actually doing this with the Explorer vans. Same for drive line - a Quigley 4x4 conversion would add traction to the front, ideal for pulling a boat out from the water on a wet ramp. Similarly a 2-4 inch lift would let you take it places any other SUV can go and attack steeper grades. Have fun with your new toy 👍
Supercharge a v6? They should just offer a v8 still. Edit: I was only halfway through the video. I see he didn't use a new van. They don't do the 6.6 anymore with a new van. Explorer that is. Chevy does but for some reason explorer won't.
I’ve always been a van fan - nothing beats em! So glad Hoovie likes vans enough to share this one with us! Looking forward to more content with this cruiser!
Yeah I am sure he has friends to fit in there! For me I would get the shortest one since it’s a big vehicle as it is. Can’t wait to see Tyler making tow videos with this new van!
The problem with having a conversion van is that the owner almost never gets to sit in the back and relax as a passenger. Everyone else is watching TV in luxury. still miss my conversion '99 Chevy Express😢
I was going to be SO upset if we didn’t get to hear that color called “Riptide Blue” at least once. Well done sir, beautiful van and please enjoy it well.
So cool! A great addition to the farm. I actually have one of these (a 2017 GMC) which I bought because of Hoovie. We were looking for a vehicle we could use to travel with our 2 large-ish dogs. Neither a Volvo XC90 or a Chevy Suburban were big enough and we were searching for another solution when I saw Hoovie's video about his old 2016. It looked like the perfect solution and when we found a 2017 with only 20K miles we jumped on it. It has turned out to be perfect! We lay the back seat flat and the dogs travel in style back there. They love it. Explorer does an amazing job with these vans. And I'm not even jealous of Hoovies newer model because, as he pointed out, these vans have barely changed in 30 years. The interior shots of his '21 look EXACTLY like my '17.
You may of got lucky, that was the year they integrated the seatbelt into the rear seats, so when you swivel the seat it is a full belt and not just lap belt. Other than that, the engine and infotainment not much new!
This is a sweet unit! I remember my long-time friend's dad had a Ford conversion van when we were kids, and I absolutely loved that thing. We rode to Red Sox and Patriots games in that thing and the rides in that van was just as memorable as the games.
Love the van Hoovie, the paint job is seriously awesome. I truly hope you find happiness in your new life, thank you for the content you make, I always look forward to watching your stuff man. Much love ❤
Back in 2008 my father designed the split window high top roof that Is still being used today. I also worked with him fabricating the roofs, as well as other fiberglass components (doors, tabletops, etc.) It was my first job and It was really cool to learn the tooling process.
I also grew up in one, and I’m glad these are still around, I hope they gain some popularity since suvs keep getting bigger and bigger these seem to stay the same size and still can do more then most modern suvs
Love seeing the 91 G20 van I bought from Hoovie making a couple of cameo appearances in the video! I've put about 17K miles on her and she is still running strong.
Conversion vans are under rated, IMO. Several years ago my dad had me rent an RV for a guys trip to Detroit. Since I was gonna be driving, I tried to convince him that we should rent a conversion van. The RV was a horrible thing to drive and sucked down gas like there was no tomorrow. I really liked my 94 GMC 3500 extended cargo van. It was a little strange, in that it was a cargo van, but it had factory aluminum wheels and an interior upgrade. I regularly did hot shots from SW Ohio to Perry, Florida and back in a little over 18 hours.
@@hycinthpatrick6077 I wouldnt buy one for speed… got cars that would spank an Escalade and are more fun. But a 1 ton luxury 9 passenger cruiser with a decent ride, sign me up! Also the 6.6 old school motor.
The new Escalade v come with the 2019 zr1 engine in it 755hp, 700 ft lbs of torque and it’s REALLY nice inside, every seat has its own tv with digital screens, but it’s also 205$ 🙀😂
I too grew up in a 90’s conversion vans and have so many great memories with friends and family! Your van is stunning and I love the fade paint. Never sell it!
Wow I was so surprised to hear under $100K after seeing all that hand finishing and craftsmanship. Way better luxury value, and practicality. Agreed it’s got all the tech and features you need, and simple everything else.
As a kid, my grandma's neighbor had a conversion van and I got to ride in it once or twice to their neighborhood pool and it was awesome. But it was like a 5 minute ride each way. I also had an aunt and uncle who had one, but they lived in SoCal and when we visited I never got to ride in that one.
Why get a ride that is only 5 mins. I've never driven my kids to school, it's only a 15min walk. In the UK by the time they are about 7-10 (depending on the area) they walk themselves anyway. All mine was around 7. We don't have school bus systems like in the US.
@@StephenButlerOne Because in the US, we can drive if we want to. Not everyone wants to walk out in the elements like a poor person. Our neighborhoods aren't 1000 years old so we don't need to squeeze into 1L diesel hatchbacks just to fit down narrow streets.
This was a great video! As an old guy, who grew up in the '70s and '80s, I used to really want a conversion van. My uncle and aunt had one, and they were fantastic for road trips. My in-laws also bought one to shuttle around my disabled brother-in-law until he passed away. I may want one. I had no idea they were still a thing. I'd love one if gas weren't $6.00 per gallon and parking it in today's tiny parking spaces weren't such a pain.
My aunt bought a ‘95 GMC Explorer high-top conversion. It was perfection, an AMAZING Bose stereo in the front, the rear had the full Audiovox setup, which was fun on road trips because the tv had audio out and the rear stereo had audio in, so we had surround sound in the van, at 12 years old I was proud of myself 🥲 😆
O M G ! ! ! I am sooo jelly!! Tyler, you really outdid your self this time. This van is so gorgeous, from the paint to that wonderful luxy interior. And the build process, holy cow!! That's one vehicle that should stand the test of time. Congrats buddy, I'm drooling!!!!!
The interior is nice, but I'm not a fan of the outside fade color. I would have left it plain white. Not sure why he didn't just keep his last one if he loves them so much.
I own a 1997 Chevy suburban. That has a mark 3 conversion Van kit on a suburban that is absolutely amazing. Conversion van treatment on a suburban platform is absolutely perfect.
I'm not really a van guy, but this is pretty amazing. this is really similar to all the benz ones that people have. i've never seen an econoline this nice, i had no idea bout any of this. cool episode and van, nice to see something different that i don't know anythinga bout.
Tyler I have been watching your videos on my other channel since the S600 video. You have been a huge inspiration, glad to see you are doing well with the farm, and your personal life!
Man just seeing this makes me want to sell my car and get one of these to go driving! My grandma had a Dodge ram van like this. Transmission, steering, power, all were trash but damn it was comfy as hell and we enjoyed it beyond what it was worth.
15:47. This sunroof is probably there for safety, most high top vans have a small glass or metal emergency hatch which you open or smash in case the van flips on its slide. At least in Australia most high top passenger vans have that, not sure of its required. Probably gave you a sunroof for the luxury and for some star gazing when the beds setup. Also for the airflow when you slide it open of course is a nice touch since the rear windows don’t open. Just a thought, I have no idea. Maybe they just thought it was cool hahah.
When I was 25 yrs old I lived in Indiana for a while in 1975 and had a job selling body shop supplies. I remember selling to a conversion van company ‘somewhere in Indiana’ (Elkhart I believe), and wonder if they’re still around now. They were very famous for their conversions and I always wanted one. Does anyone remember what that company name might be? I know there’s a LOT of them out there now but I was really impressed with that one, back then.
Amazing looking van Tyler, also I like just how subtle it looks on the outside yet it still looks fancy. It won’t turn everyone’s head, but those that know, they will appreciate it.
Congratulations on the new van. I wish I had a reason for one. I grew up in Warsaw Indiana, and have seen Explorers van lot filled to the brim and also down to just a few vans during different economic times in our past. I'd want to put some blue neons under it, just because.
Without a doubt. This is a throwback to GM's best reliability. The Escalade just has too many features that can break. I used to commute in a Transit conversion van (Enterprise has a fleet of them for their carpool service, but basic ones, not super nice like this), and it's a super comfy way to cover a LOT of miles. @@squid_fish
Absolutely love the van!! 1 thing for me with the 9 passenger is loosing the double door on BOTH sides. That is why the GMC and Chevrolet were the king of conversion van when they introduced it. Still love it Absolutely gorgeous
Damn this thing is nice. We just had to say goodbye to our 1993 G20 HiTop Conversion Van after it got hit and it’s so good to see that these are still a thing
And great to see a US business in this space still going. They are such a piece of "Americana" for us here in Europe. I wish the business continued success. They make one of *the coolest* automotive product on the planet. *Well done to them for allowing you to visit and take us along on the factory tour.* That 150 yard, double width paint booth is just amazing.
Love the paint! Such a cool van man!! Don't SELL this one!! Haha. Course now you got customized seats too. Wicked cool!! So this was $7500, right? HAHA!!
My father has owned probably a dozen of these conversion vans and now he owns one of these and I’ve been lucky enough to ride in it and it’s just amazing
Nice! I am in Europe so if money/maintenance/fuel consumption wouldn't be a massive issue, then my absolute favorite vehicle would be a 1980s US conversion van. All in with high roof, continental tire/ladder on the back and all the crome. Basically hoovies previous previous van would be exactly as I would want it. But I do think it is a shame that they did away with the real wood. It just adds something to the interior that you just don't get in modern vehicle insides. And especially with modern manufacturing technologys like cnc you could get some amazing stuff.
An option would be the Astro/Safari as a conversion van. They are around, even in Europe, are the size of a VW T4/5 and the 15l/100 km don't hurt so much when on LPG.
An option would be the Astro/Safari as a conversion van. They are around, even in Europe, are the size of a VW T4/5 and the 15l/100 km don't hurt so much when on LPG.
I used to work for a company that made high tops and side skirts for a conversion company that has since gone out of business. It was a lot of fun and some of the hardest work I’ve ever done. We also used to make the top for sleeper modules installed on Kenworth trucks. That’s a great looking ride and hopefully Hoovie can single handedly bring back the shaggin’ wagon. 😂
so awesome. The only thing missing, and I think it's significant with the type of miles one of these is likely to get, is radar cruise control with full stop, but I think since GM does not put that on these vans they could not make it happen.
I've been waiting for this video. I was shocked to hear that you sold your old one, but it makes perfect sense now. The 6.6L sounds like a great upgrade, but I'd be even more excited about having more than four gears (or did they ditch that longer ago than I thought?).. that 6-speed should make towing feel even more seamless. I find myself saying this a lot on this channel, but it's incredible seeing a TH-camr who appreciates these kinds of vehicles. I'll scroll past the long list of TH-camrs showing off their little Lamborghinis and whatnot on my way to stuff like this. I think you nailed it: old school luxury built like a coach on top of a remarkably dependable old-school van. The kind of comfort that no one makes anymore. Couldn't ask for a better tow/vacation rig. I hope to have my own someday. Congratulations on the purchase! I'm not crazy for fading paint jobs, but even still, this is my favorite of your current vehicles!
![PURPEECH - นี่ฉันเองคนที่... (It's me) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NuhHd0hOOg8/mqdefault.jpg)
Hoovie really rebuilt his life back better. Proud of you man.
His ex And her family was spending all of his money 💰 😅 Now she just gets a surtin amount of his money. He is way better off And you can tell he's figured it out. Good for him 👏
@@weirdmatterI wonder if her lawyers will watch his vids and try to say she needs more due to the fact he isn’t suffering
stop hating on his ex wife. You wasn’t there behind closed doors. For all we know he could be a wife beater. You Americans live in la la land Somtimes. No wonder we discovered you 200 years ago 😂
@@christopherwaits7852 I doubt it, she probably got 1/2 of his earnings, and he most likely pays child support. I'm sure she also has an education she can get a job!
Congratulations... Heck yeah get a super sexy car girl!
I read that the average new car price in the USA is now $53,000. So $80,000 for a completely custom van does indeed sound like a bargain. And then you can get Alex to put a supercharger and turn it into a rocket ship :). For the life you lead, it's a fantastic choice. Well done Hoovie.
Considering the amount of handwork involved, and that their volume is only 16% of what it was at their peak, yeah, that's not bad. If they were still building 50 a day, it would probably be a lot less, but they don't exactly have much in the way of economies of scale.
People follow consumer reports etc, this conversion van is an alternative. Break Free!
Great point. Funny enough, I needed a dependable car for long trips my S4 and my 996 are paid for and I looked at modern SUVs with subpar kit go for 60k. So I bought a low mile 100 series Land Cruiser and it’s getting all new custom interior and modern features from a local shop. We need to stop buying what’s being pushed to us.
Well done indeed. If you're gonna go full dumb this is how it's done, and Hoovie's got it down to an artform
@@42luke93yeah no, I’ll buy a used newer sprinter van or an older work van for 10k and put 40k into it making it more luxurious and just as reliable if not more so than this. It’s a nice van, but not for brand new premium vehicle prices. I go off MSRP, not the average dummy overpaying. I’ve never paid over MSRP with the exception of taxes and fees and bought a 2020 Q5 2 years ago, 24 thousand miles on it fully loaded. Society allows itself to get fucked, idk how y’all pay 5-10 even 20+ thousand over MSRP for something like a base model mustang GT.
Don't let that company fall into memory.
Good vans, from good people for good people.
This right here...I wish I could like this comment 1000 times
Well don’t worry it sounds like the unions killed it lmfao
They could offer a newer chassis, say a sprinter, and appeal to people that don’t want a 30 year old design
@@samwell9540 Sprinter isn't made by GM.
@@samwell9540They do
In the late eighties there was a car lot that always had a row of custom vans. My highschool girlfriend and I realized most were never locked afterhours. I bet we "looked at" custom van interiors hundreds of times during those years after hours. I remember when the rear seat/bed went from manual to power conversion. To be a teenager in the eighties again.
The fact this van has the paint fade in 2023 is just absolutely amazing. Cool rig! 🎉
Nice but a 22 minute commercial?!?
Get with the times. It's called "Ombre" now. 😂 (not "Hombre" 😝)
1993 redux.
FUBU 05
?@@niagra898
where's the jewelry making station?
Lol
Gonna have to pull it out of the pimp my ride van
Coachbuilding needs to come back in the mainstream! Imagine this level of customization applied to a sports car or a Tesla!
Agreed! But it's much harder to do with unibody vehicles
Qwest do a coach built model s estate
I hope skateboard chassis become a thing with EVs. Then you could put whatever you want on top of it.
There are lots of places that can do that for you today.
If any car needs a new interior is the Tesla. At least they get to start with a blank canvas
Total flashback for this 56 year old that traveled the country in an awesome conversion van in the 70s and early 80s with my family. Love, love, love this van and would totally do it today. Thanks for the warm memories, Hoovie!
I was raised during the 1970's van craze, so I approve. The color reminds me of a dolphin laying on its back. Call it "Flipper"
Fax
Flipped
Or a Mako Shark.
I've had 3 van conversions in my lifetime. 2 old dodge vans from the late 1970s and my last one was a 1993 GMC Vandura "2500" heavy half 5 lug 5.7 TRAVELER BY EXPLORER.....BEST vehicle ive ever owned...never saw a tow truck...mobile bedroom, mobile living room,....football games tailgating, baseball too....Camping,( back couch was power retractible to a bed) towing a boat, you name it, it was reliable, comfortable, and most reliable vehicle ive ever owned. I was always the guy who had to deliver the grooms men to the wedding because the girls got the limo.
i think it had 140k miles on it when i traded it in.....
i traded it back in 2006 and i have have regrets
Man this is incredible. Clearly, we're in need of a Car Trek with roadtrip cars where you can dominate Freddy and Ed with this lol
Van-trek
Ed would buy a ridiculous off-road diesel “adventure camper” and Freddy would probably turn up in a 1970s Winnebago with flood damage.
Please no more Freddie the junk collector! He’s lazy and has zero entertainment value. Enough of him riding on Ed and Hoovie’s coattails
@@FastNBulbousLOL I can totally see that happening
I’ve been asking for “ultimate dad car” in many a car trek comments section.
I do a lot of work on these conversion vans at my job. The quality is surprisingly good considering everything is hand made. Especially working with the upholstery. I have had a few instances on the newer models with the coolers and center consoles having issues such as the clips breaking and various electrical/noise concerns as any vehicle would. Their warranty is amazing, especially since technicians are paid fairly compared to major auto manufacturers. it was nice to see the production process of something I work on every single day. Id love to take a tour like this some day
Yeah I wonder if you could opt out of that middle cooler. I'd rather have a pass through walking space on the floor tbh.
Hit up the company, u can tour the place
Kept that one quiet didn't he! Lovely van and far more fun than a huge SUV that will rarely go off-road.
And if you do need some backroad stuff, you could always go with the Sprinter conversion since it has a somewhat capable AWD.
He actually alluded to doing this in a video, but never said it would conviction
I drive by the Explorer factory all the time. I didn't realize how much work is actually done there. Great tour!
Don’t come knocking when the van’s rockin
Dont be watching when a van is featured
@@jesuschrist2284what
haha, that was me when I was 18 in mine. Not nearly as nice as that one but yes, had a nice comfy bed in the back with a fur throw. I still remember my gf naked on that thing hehehe Oh if we had smart phones back then! hehehehe
You don't want to see the rockers when the van's a knockin'.
I intentionally look for the 1s that are rocking and then I go knocking
Hoovie, my suggestion: Use that Van! You had it built for you, you speced it for towing and kid/adult hauling! A vehicle is a machine built to be in motion, allow that van to fulfill it's mission! Not only that, but the vehicles you keep fondly in your heart are the ones you made memories with so, go make some memories!
As an aside, if you feel bad about harming your new van, do a Mike Musto. Key the underside of the front bumper. Once the first mark is made, it's no longer a new car. It's your car.
I think of the home alone saying with the roller blades the kid was afraid to use. So he stored it and eventually outgrew them never using it.
I think he will, he definitely used the 2016 for towing and for its purpose
My family had a conversion van growing up. Didn't have a high-top with a TV or anything, but otherwise kitted out. I loved how kind of cave-like it felt. It had dark blue carpeting and velour fabric on the walls/ceiling and seat upholstery. Really miss it. I was surprised that this new one goes for around 80K. Without recently pricing anything, I was expecting it to easily be over 100K, if not 150K. That's a steal on a brand new, custom conversion!
No regrets Tyler, you work hard, enjoy what you deserve. Plus your content makes me smile 😊
If you're worried about preserving that Riptide Blue just get one of those clear PPF applications, should take care of it easily.
Ppf damages the paint after a few years.
Hoovie - I did this at night so you can see the lighting.
Also Hoovie - Spends entire time inside a full lite garage so we still can't see the lighting.
IKR was hoping he would turn it off!
When is Hoovie going to change the channel name to Hoovie’s Farm? 🥹
What color blue was it again? I was hoping he’d repeat himself but never did. 😜
Very devious to keep this quiet, but ingenius! I remember and adore the conversion van, and jealous that you bought a new one!
Even more genius when you realize it's likely an ad for that company too. Not that it's a bad thing at all.
@@usmcplui was thinking the same thing. Its like a factory documentary
Best memories of my life were traveling the country with my folks in the "first generation" of conversion van complete with airbrushed mural on the side and shag carpet on the walls. Upgraded in the 80's to the window style van of the day. Great times in those rigs.
That's a man living his best life right there. Enjoy that van, don't be afraid to use it, that's what it's there for.
The only downfall to having a collection of vehicles - leads to reduced usage.
My parents are retired, but my dad lived and worked in Warsaw, Indiana for decades. He spends summers there now. I spent the last two summers with him. I know a lot of people with Explorer Vans and a few people who have worked there. Awesome purchase!
Good things happening to good people like you Hoovie. That van is simply a ton of wonderful memories for your kids just waiting to happen. Congrats and enjoy.
I own an Explorer conversion van. I absolutely LOVE it. Mine, instead of the two center rows of seats in the back, has a handicap elevator that pops out the side door. Fantastic for lifting things into the van.
You’ll love the 6.6L gas engine! 401hp, 464 lb/ft torque. Same engine I have in my ‘22 Silverado 2500HD, and I regularly tow 12-14,000#, without a hiccup!
My fuel mileage sucked, when new (14 mpg), but after breaking in 5000-7000 miles), my mileage (empty) is around 17 mpg. Which I’ll take, for the power that engine produces.
Great build, Tyler! 👍 She’s a beautiful ride
Really nice!
I thought they were more expensive than that. Much more car per dollar than just about anything these days. I came here to say that I am not surprised Hoovie got one of these, just surprised he got a new one. But now I can see why. Fully custom in every way and less than the price of even mid-luxury cars
I'm in love with this spec, nice choice Hoovie. Now, call Alex from Legit Street Cars and throw a supercharger on it 😂
Yes!
Indiana muscle car puts prochargers on them with a warranty and he lives right down from the road from explorer van
I used to work at Regency Conversion vans and saw a ton of cool vans in the making that one you specked out is pretty darn cool I have always loved conversion vans they are just like a private jet on wheels how awesome congrats on your new conversion van !!
Glad to know that you worked there! I’m curious to know why did Regency stop making them in 2014? The GM conversions.
@@42luke93 They went completely out of business I am not sure quite why that was after I left from working there when I was there they were going strong !!!
Part of the appeal to many of us was the fine cabinetry and woodworking that went into these vans, kind of sad to see that part of it went away, but I understand the reasons and I'm glad the vans are still being made!
wood = lbs
yeah I built 1 when I was just 18 and didn't know SFA about woodworking, now? after being in it for 40 years, I could build a dream vehicle out of burled maple, tiger maple, and then some exotics like ipe or iroco or even purple heart.
I increased my quality when I started using a micrometer and vernier calipers. I used to measure in 1/16" now I'm measuring in 1/64" and 1/128". I made a joint the other day that was so close in tolerance that I couldn't get it apart once I test fitted it. I had to pin it instead of gluing.
Getting with the times I guess.
I agree but I'm sure yhe cost would also go up dramatically, good craftsman aren't cheap and are few are far between these days unfortunately.
I agree, nothing beats the real thing. But I'd still love this thing even with the fake wood
Tyler that Van is AMAZING IN EVERY WAY.....Congrats and to see you happy is heart warming....Thanks 👍
There were a half a dozen van conversion companies in Missouri that sprung up in the 70s/80s, most of them now are doing Living space conversions on horse trailers, or building ambulances,
I’m so glad you showed me this. I’m going to buy one in the next year or so and I’m going to let you know when I get it. I’ve always loved vans ever since my grandfather had his Chevy 20. It had the two captains chairs in the back, along with the fold out bed. A sink, refrigerator, and a mini TV in it. I loved that van. I hated that I didn’t have the money to fix it after he passed away. 😢
We've had a couple Econoline conversion vans since 1998, they're THE perfect kid haulers when the kids get bigger, and tow vehicles if you get a 3/4 ton.
These and the old Astro Van AWD are amazing for families. Captains sears soooo handy to keep ‘em separated
I drove an Explorer van for many years while my son was doing travel hockey. It was sooo luxurious! And way more practical than an SUV or pickup. On our last road trip, my wife was commenting on how much she missed the Explorer van.
My grandparents had a conversion van until I was about 13 when my dad got into a car accident, all of my cousins and I loved that van.
You could easily supercharge that engine and push it to 525 horsepower - there was an outfit a few years ago actually doing this with the Explorer vans.
Same for drive line - a Quigley 4x4 conversion would add traction to the front, ideal for pulling a boat out from the water on a wet ramp. Similarly a 2-4 inch lift would let you take it places any other SUV can go and attack steeper grades.
Have fun with your new toy 👍
Same thoughts
Same. same thoughts.@@DonnieDarko727
Supercharge a v6? They should just offer a v8 still.
Edit: I was only halfway through the video. I see he didn't use a new van. They don't do the 6.6 anymore with a new van. Explorer that is. Chevy does but for some reason explorer won't.
Don't give him ideas
😂 I'll still walk him in my slightly modded Savana Van 3500 with a Duramax.
I'm clueless as to why he bought a gasser 3500.
I’ve always been a van fan - nothing beats em!
So glad Hoovie likes vans enough to share this one with us! Looking forward to more content with this cruiser!
Glad to see you opted for the long wheelbase extended van. That extra 20 inches makes a huge difference. 😮
Yeah I am sure he has friends to fit in there! For me I would get the shortest one since it’s a big vehicle as it is. Can’t wait to see Tyler making tow videos with this new van!
@@42luke93 Yeah, the ext has a wb of 155in. I also have a 26ft 1974 GMC Glacier motorhome and that has a wb of 160in. Only 5in more!
The problem with having a conversion van is that the owner almost never gets to sit in the back and relax as a passenger. Everyone else is watching TV in luxury. still miss my conversion '99 Chevy Express😢
My dad used to joke, well I haven't seen many movies, but I've sure heard a lot of them. (we had a conversion van for road trips)
Truth
This is why I would get the low top 😂
@@42luke93 and you can't park a high top anywhere. They fit in no parking structures
@@LADETROIT yeah not worth the trouble low top can be more discrete too in like a city (with stock paint).
I was going to be SO upset if we didn’t get to hear that color called “Riptide Blue” at least once. Well done sir, beautiful van and please enjoy it well.
So this is essentially a 22 minute ad for Explorer?
Probably a plug for a discount
Kind of a rescuing mission?
That's what I was thinking.
So cool! A great addition to the farm. I actually have one of these (a 2017 GMC) which I bought because of Hoovie. We were looking for a vehicle we could use to travel with our 2 large-ish dogs. Neither a Volvo XC90 or a Chevy Suburban were big enough and we were searching for another solution when I saw Hoovie's video about his old 2016. It looked like the perfect solution and when we found a 2017 with only 20K miles we jumped on it. It has turned out to be perfect! We lay the back seat flat and the dogs travel in style back there. They love it. Explorer does an amazing job with these vans. And I'm not even jealous of Hoovies newer model because, as he pointed out, these vans have barely changed in 30 years. The interior shots of his '21 look EXACTLY like my '17.
You may of got lucky, that was the year they integrated the seatbelt into the rear seats, so when you swivel the seat it is a full belt and not just lap belt. Other than that, the engine and infotainment not much new!
I'm sorry about your pogo stick driving experience.
GMC Savana Van 3500 Duramax owner with 330k ok the clock
This is a sweet unit! I remember my long-time friend's dad had a Ford conversion van when we were kids, and I absolutely loved that thing. We rode to Red Sox and Patriots games in that thing and the rides in that van was just as memorable as the games.
Love the van Hoovie, the paint job is seriously awesome. I truly hope you find happiness in your new life, thank you for the content you make, I always look forward to watching your stuff man. Much love ❤
So happy for you! Congratulations! Thank you for taking us on the tour of the factory.
Back in 2008 my father designed the split window high top roof that Is still being used today. I also worked with him fabricating the roofs, as well as other fiberglass components (doors, tabletops, etc.) It was my first job and It was really cool to learn the tooling process.
I also grew up in one, and I’m glad these are still around, I hope they gain some popularity since suvs keep getting bigger and bigger these seem to stay the same size and still can do more then most modern suvs
Love seeing the 91 G20 van I bought from Hoovie making a couple of cameo appearances in the video! I've put about 17K miles on her and she is still running strong.
Conversion vans are under rated, IMO. Several years ago my dad had me rent an RV for a guys trip to Detroit. Since I was gonna be driving, I tried to convince him that we should rent a conversion van. The RV was a horrible thing to drive and sucked down gas like there was no tomorrow.
I really liked my 94 GMC 3500 extended cargo van. It was a little strange, in that it was a cargo van, but it had factory aluminum wheels and an interior upgrade. I regularly did hot shots from SW Ohio to Perry, Florida and back in a little over 18 hours.
That's where Roadtrek may come into play but they stopped 2017 making these.
That "Hoovies Garage" custom stitching is 10/10. What a gem.
Good job Tyler! We're proud of you.
I would double take this 3500 conversion way quicker than any current Escalade, Grand Waggoner or Suburban.
It'll last you forever compared to the throwaway modern vehicles today that are made.
It’s not quicker than any current Escalade
@@hycinthpatrick6077 yeah but that isn't the point of a vehicle like this.
@@hycinthpatrick6077 I wouldnt buy one for speed… got cars that would spank an Escalade and are more fun. But a 1 ton luxury 9 passenger cruiser with a decent ride, sign me up! Also the 6.6 old school motor.
The new Escalade v come with the 2019 zr1 engine in it 755hp, 700 ft lbs of torque and it’s REALLY nice inside, every seat has its own tv with digital screens, but it’s also 205$ 🙀😂
I too grew up in a 90’s conversion vans and have so many great memories with friends and family! Your van is stunning and I love the fade paint. Never sell it!
Very cool van, but it seemed like a 22 minute infomercial for the conversion company.
Thank you....this felt like such an obvious ad and I haven't seen anyone else saying it. Probably got a nice discount on that new van.
Imma guess no. My boss likes his cheddar
Wow I was so surprised to hear under $100K after seeing all that hand finishing and craftsmanship. Way better luxury value, and practicality. Agreed it’s got all the tech and features you need, and simple everything else.
As a kid, my grandma's neighbor had a conversion van and I got to ride in it once or twice to their neighborhood pool and it was awesome. But it was like a 5 minute ride each way.
I also had an aunt and uncle who had one, but they lived in SoCal and when we visited I never got to ride in that one.
Why get a ride that is only 5 mins. I've never driven my kids to school, it's only a 15min walk. In the UK by the time they are about 7-10 (depending on the area) they walk themselves anyway. All mine was around 7. We don't have school bus systems like in the US.
@@StephenButlerOne Because in the US, we can drive if we want to. Not everyone wants to walk out in the elements like a poor person. Our neighborhoods aren't 1000 years old so we don't need to squeeze into 1L diesel hatchbacks just to fit down narrow streets.
Walk out in the elements like a poor person? it's called exercise and stops you being a premature dead person.
I learned to drive on a 1996 explorer conversion. My family had an 88' and 87' prior to that. Great vans! I hope they stay around for a long time!
That's beautiful Hoovie!
The paint job is sick!
Well done!
This was a great video! As an old guy, who grew up in the '70s and '80s, I used to really want a conversion van. My uncle and aunt had one, and they were fantastic for road trips. My in-laws also bought one to shuttle around my disabled brother-in-law until he passed away. I may want one. I had no idea they were still a thing. I'd love one if gas weren't $6.00 per gallon and parking it in today's tiny parking spaces weren't such a pain.
Beautiful new van Hoovie. I share your love for the big vans, had a Dodge Prospector Maxiwagon back in the day and have always wanted another.
My aunt bought a ‘95 GMC Explorer high-top conversion. It was perfection, an AMAZING Bose stereo in the front, the rear had the full Audiovox setup, which was fun on road trips because the tv had audio out and the rear stereo had audio in, so we had surround sound in the van, at 12 years old I was proud of myself 🥲 😆
OOOOOOOO
HE BOUGHT IT!!!! YESSSSS OMG
6.6L V8 you just made it!
I hear they only offer the v6 now.
O M G ! ! ! I am sooo jelly!! Tyler, you really outdid your self this time. This van is so gorgeous, from the paint to that wonderful luxy interior. And the build process, holy cow!! That's one vehicle that should stand the test of time. Congrats buddy, I'm drooling!!!!!
The interior is nice, but I'm not a fan of the outside fade color. I would have left it plain white. Not sure why he didn't just keep his last one if he loves them so much.
Fantastic looking van, but one thing it needs is a full ppf to keep the paint nice 👍
I own a 1997 Chevy suburban. That has a mark 3 conversion Van kit on a suburban that is absolutely amazing. Conversion van treatment on a suburban platform is absolutely perfect.
I've always been a fan of these vans also. I had no idea that this is how they are made. Pretty cool
Never thought I would say im jelly over a big van but you did it I am congrats on the build that thing looks awesome
Awesome. I think the front amber markers should be swapped out for tinted/smoked/clear etc. ones. A bit busy with all of the colors.
I feel like this is where hoovie feels like he truly made it in life. Not the countach not the slr. The sweet conversation van.
I'm not really a van guy, but this is pretty amazing. this is really similar to all the benz ones that people have. i've never seen an econoline this nice, i had no idea bout any of this. cool episode and van, nice to see something different that i don't know anythinga bout.
Cool to see the explorer factory. A relic of the last century in the modern day but one worthy of preserving
Yeah the last company before explorer was Regency. Now they stopped in 2014, Explorer seems to be the only one left.
Tyler I have been watching your videos on my other channel since the S600 video. You have been a huge inspiration, glad to see you are doing well with the farm, and your personal life!
Man just seeing this makes me want to sell my car and get one of these to go driving! My grandma had a Dodge ram van like this. Transmission, steering, power, all were trash but damn it was comfy as hell and we enjoyed it beyond what it was worth.
They're not so much vans as they are giant couches with wheels and an engine...
15:47. This sunroof is probably there for safety, most high top vans have a small glass or metal emergency hatch which you open or smash in case the van flips on its slide. At least in Australia most high top passenger vans have that, not sure of its required. Probably gave you a sunroof for the luxury and for some star gazing when the beds setup. Also for the airflow when you slide it open of course is a nice touch since the rear windows don’t open. Just a thought, I have no idea. Maybe they just thought it was cool hahah.
That van is gorgeous. Congrats
When I was 25 yrs old I lived in Indiana for a while in 1975 and had a job selling body shop supplies. I remember selling to a conversion van company ‘somewhere in Indiana’ (Elkhart I believe), and wonder if they’re still around now. They were very famous for their conversions and I always wanted one. Does anyone remember what that company name might be? I know there’s a LOT of them out there now but I was really impressed with that one, back then.
Amazing looking van Tyler, also I like just how subtle it looks on the outside yet it still looks fancy. It won’t turn everyone’s head, but those that know, they will appreciate it.
Congratulations on the new van. I wish I had a reason for one. I grew up in Warsaw Indiana, and have seen Explorers van lot filled to the brim and also down to just a few vans during different economic times in our past. I'd want to put some blue neons under it, just because.
Congratulations Tyler that is one sweet looking van I love the paint fade and those seats look like sofas. A real nice place to be.
One of my favourite videos from your channel 👍🏼 I thought it was brilliant 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I'm blown away by the PRICE. It's "only" $80k? I was expecting around $120k with all those customizations.
I’d rather have this than a Escalade for sure
Without a doubt. This is a throwback to GM's best reliability. The Escalade just has too many features that can break. I used to commute in a Transit conversion van (Enterprise has a fleet of them for their carpool service, but basic ones, not super nice like this), and it's a super comfy way to cover a LOT of miles. @@squid_fish
Yeah, for almost no automation in the production, all handwork, and at total volume of about 2,000 vans per year, that's not bad at all.
Oh wow does Enterprise get Express explorer converion vans too?@@McNasty43
Absolutely love the van!! 1 thing for me with the 9 passenger is loosing the double door on BOTH sides. That is why the GMC and Chevrolet were the king of conversion van when they introduced it. Still love it Absolutely gorgeous
I think the blue fade would work better with pearl white versus the bright white than it has. Otherwise I like it.
Fades are so nineties to me I would have preferred all one color
Yeah the ice white is a bit too much with the dark blue side. A light Grey or like you said, pearl white would've been great.
Silver
The pearl white would have been nice. I just think the black wheels are ugly. But it’s an awesome van.
Excellent video. Loved the tour of the factory. That color is beautiful. Kudos Tyler!!
Whoever is watching this video, never give up on your dreams.😇
Damn this thing is nice. We just had to say goodbye to our 1993 G20 HiTop Conversion Van after it got hit and it’s so good to see that these are still a thing
And great to see a US business in this space still going. They are such a piece of "Americana" for us here in Europe. I wish the business continued success. They make one of *the coolest* automotive product on the planet. *Well done to them for allowing you to visit and take us along on the factory tour.* That 150 yard, double width paint booth is just amazing.
Grew up in a 2001 starcraft express high top im so glad they still make these and I can’t wait to have one of my own
You just keep raising the bar, this is truly amazing content. This is by far my favorite van of them all, what a unit!
MY HOMETOWN!!!! I played baseball with the Kesslers...he even built a practice field at the build plant for our team to practice at.
The field is still there!!
Love the paint! Such a cool van man!! Don't SELL this one!! Haha. Course now you got customized seats too. Wicked cool!!
So this was $7500, right? HAHA!!
My father has owned probably a dozen of these conversion vans and now he owns one of these and I’ve been lucky enough to ride in it and it’s just amazing
Nice! I am in Europe so if money/maintenance/fuel consumption wouldn't be a massive issue, then my absolute favorite vehicle would be a 1980s US conversion van. All in with high roof, continental tire/ladder on the back and all the crome. Basically hoovies previous previous van would be exactly as I would want it. But I do think it is a shame that they did away with the real wood. It just adds something to the interior that you just don't get in modern vehicle insides. And especially with modern manufacturing technologys like cnc you could get some amazing stuff.
They make modern equivalents of these in Europe as well based on Sprinters/Crafters or Iveco Daily's most often, we call them "VIP vans/(micro)busses"
An option would be the Astro/Safari as a conversion van. They are around, even in Europe, are the size of a VW T4/5 and the 15l/100 km don't hurt so much when on LPG.
An option would be the Astro/Safari as a conversion van. They are around, even in Europe, are the size of a VW T4/5 and the 15l/100 km don't hurt so much when on LPG.
I used to work for a company that made high tops and side skirts for a conversion company that has since gone out of business. It was a lot of fun and some of the hardest work I’ve ever done. We also used to make the top for sleeper modules installed on Kenworth trucks.
That’s a great looking ride and hopefully Hoovie can single handedly bring back the shaggin’ wagon. 😂
so awesome. The only thing missing, and I think it's significant with the type of miles one of these is likely to get, is radar cruise control with full stop, but I think since GM does not put that on these vans they could not make it happen.
So happy for you Tyler! God bless you brother.
Like they always say "if it aint broke dont fix it"
This van platform proves that
We had a 1996 Chevy conversion van. I have such good memories taking that on road trips with friends as a teen watching movies on the 13" TV with VCR.
I've been waiting for this video. I was shocked to hear that you sold your old one, but it makes perfect sense now. The 6.6L sounds like a great upgrade, but I'd be even more excited about having more than four gears (or did they ditch that longer ago than I thought?).. that 6-speed should make towing feel even more seamless.
I find myself saying this a lot on this channel, but it's incredible seeing a TH-camr who appreciates these kinds of vehicles. I'll scroll past the long list of TH-camrs showing off their little Lamborghinis and whatnot on my way to stuff like this. I think you nailed it: old school luxury built like a coach on top of a remarkably dependable old-school van. The kind of comfort that no one makes anymore. Couldn't ask for a better tow/vacation rig. I hope to have my own someday.
Congratulations on the purchase! I'm not crazy for fading paint jobs, but even still, this is my favorite of your current vehicles!