I like the handicap side doors walk in no need to worry about bumping your head ,ive owned a few e250,350 vans love sitting up high over the other cars
😆You're the first one to either notice or say anything about that, we crack up every time we see it! lol Changing the oil is a breeze, a 5-gallon bucket fits under there no problem... there are lots of pros to having a badass monster van 👍
You guys are so smart; you've thought of everything. It's wonderful that you're living the life you want to live. We love your Channel and enjoy watching your adventures.
Just got our family a 06 E350 5.4 no hi top but has rear ac. U joint Offroad in its future for sure. Great video and helped me make my decision on the Econoline. Thanks
Another awesome video....Definitely go to Alaska ...it was the most amazing best trip we’ve ever taken. Don’t believe the hype about the roads. We drove pulling our travel trailer and never had any problems... Now we didn’t go to chicken Alaska but from what we were told We didn’t miss anything. Really enjoyed the van tour. I know it’s a lot of time and work doing the videos so Thanks for posting.
We are so excited about Alaska, most people agree it's one of their favorite trips. We certainly do get the full spectrum of opinions about the roads, we are considering doing the trip in the van only more because we like how mobile we can be that way, but as it gets closer we'll see what happens. Glad you enjoyed the van tour, you're most welcome!
One thing I like about a van for towing is that they generally have less rear overhang compared the wheelbase. That is a big advantage in my opinion. Then if the hitch is configured for minimum overhang you will have an excellent tow vehicle.
Great VAN, Nice tour, greetings from The Netherlands. I own a 4x4 Dodge B350 from 1991 with Pathfinder conversion with only 9.000 miles (from the Swiss fire department).
Thank you so much, wasn't that place amazing?! We thought all of the Utah parks were otherworldly, can't wait to get those videos released in a months or so. We hope you had as great of a time as us and maybe we'll run into you down the road! Thanks for watching and commenting 👍
Nice job on the van. I took the risk and bought a 200k clean 2008 6.0l diesel one. Did some upgrades to curb issues but still have to stud it before I put a tune on it. Runs and drives great. The 4x4 conversion comes next. As the 37x12.5r20s rub a lil and I want it to haul a bike to moab. And camp on the rim of the grand canyon.
Congratulations on your purchase. The 6.0 gets a bad wrap, but I feel with the right upgrades it's a really good, powerful motor. Check out ujointoffroad.com/ for your 4x4 conversion needs. They are a top notch company with excellent customer service. Have fun and safe travels 🙂
We bought a van as well and plan on traveling with the trailer so I have replaced almost everything in the suspension and plan to get a transmission cooler as well
We love the van as a tow vehicle, so practical! Sometimes we wish it were a little newer and had a little more power, but overall we've been very happy with our decision and hope you are as well!! Good luck on your journey 👍😊
Your van transformation is amazing. Some suggestions as a 25+ year Ford Diesel owner. I just sold my 2000 F250 after 16 years as a faithful tow vehicle. While the 7.3 is an awesome power plant, please keep a spare camshaft positioning sensor with you at all times! Also, if you have not already done so, have a look at the under value cover wire harness. These 2 items are common issues with the power strokes. The wiring harness will cause a substantial loss of power while the camshaft positioning sensor will kill the engine instantly with no warning.
Thank you so much, Brian!! We actually carry the camshaft already, but we appreciate the tip on the cover wire harness 👍We're super happy with the 7.3 diesel van as our tow vehicle and hope it lasts us as long as yours did!
Great job on the front wheel drive upgrade! Huge job, and the skills it takes to do such a thing is great confidence on all things that could come up on the road (getting work done by others is a huge deterrent for so many reasons).
Thanks, Joe! No doubt, it was a massive undertaking but a fun project. With as much driving as we do, it's inevitable that we're always tinkering on something. It's good to have the familiarity that came from tackling this project, and we tend to prefer to do things ourselves if it's feasible. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍
I have that same van (except extended) It looks like they salvaged the OEM headliner and used it on your topper, that must be nice. We only have 2 dinky AC vents on ours I wonder how hard it would be to plumb new vents to mirror the OEM set up like yall have.
Thank you so much! TJ just got sucked into your videos as well, he loves watching all that mechanical work. I'll find him watching videos of people working on tractors and think he's lost his mind lol. We really appreciate the kind words and encouragement 🙏
Wow thats a lot of tow vehicle/monster van! Lol Nice job TJ! You’ll love AK. Most of the harmful rocks we encountered on your trip to Alaska came from vehicles we meet. We vaned all the way to DeadHorse, I wouldn’t do the DeadHorse trip again that road will destroy your tires!!! We’re planning to go again next year.
Thanks for the compliment on the van. We've seen a lot of pictures and video of broken windshields from Alaska trips. We are really excited about Alaska, unfortunately, we probably won't be headed there until next year either.
Thank you! Countless hours of work went into it but TJ was in his element and enjoyed (almost) every dirty minute of the build. And now, when the need arises, he is comfortable working on it... like in Glacier!
I've owned "3" four wheel drive vans, remain my favorite vehcile to this day, two "GMC" and one "Dodge", all were factory conversions....showing my age!
Haha, thank you! We're here for a bit visiting family, not a bad place to slow down and spend a little time. Glad you like the van, it was a lot of work!!
Thanks so much! Next time we get off-road I will try to put a video together. I’m not sure when that might happen, we are headed out of the Rockies in the next month, but I will definitely put it on the list.
You feel kind of bad the first video I watched of yours was Asheville didn't know you had a 4 by 4 van . Got a 1988 Ford Bronco it's a member of the family. Well done!
Haha, no worries at all! We baby our van, she's capable of a lot more than we do with her. TJ said, "Ooooohhhhh" when he heard you have an '88 Bronco, I think he approves! lol 😄👍
The @Ujointoffroad kit is amazing. It tracks well, tows well, doesn’t feel top heavy and provides a smooth ride. As with any solid axle vehicle it can feel a bit stiff going over bumps, but we expected that going in.
Thank you, Dale... we have been following LJMJ for years now too, they are one of the channels we watched to stay inspired as we were preparing to hit the road full-time ourselves. The van makes so much sense (for us) as a tow vehicle, it's a shame no one makes a newer 1-ton diesel van.
Embracing Detours Won't your van be top heavy and possibly tip/rollover on country roads? Or does your van have wider than normal tires to give yourself a more wider, stable footprint? Btw, you're dogs seem so spolied with their own A/C unit. Lol
Okie Rider - we do run a wider tire, but Ujoint Off-road has designed an incredible suspension setup for these vans. Very stable. They have even built and tested much larger/taller class C RV’s with this setup. Here’s a couple of videos to check out. th-cam.com/video/J7OxIKyIGOU/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/jMJKPNKqeQ8/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching, and yes the dogs are absolutely spoiled! 😊
Wow, you guys are way beyond my mechanical skills. It seems a van tow vehicle is unusual., but you needed the room. You had to modify it to get it up to speed and it is way jacked up. A lot of weight in that van. Some new trucks have a compression braking mode to avoid over-heating the brakes on long descents which I think you might need. The only other option might be a big SUV like the Expedition. Happy "camping".
You would be correct, a van is an unconventional tow vehicle but it's the perfect fit for us! We're lucky that TJ is mechanically inclined and enjoys taking on seemingly insurmountable projects like that... It's kind of his thing. So far we've been happy with the van's performance, yes there are times we wish for the higher HP and torque of the newer trucks but the van fit all our requirements ☑️ Thanks so much for watching and commenting!!
What gearing did you use in the front Dana 60 axle. Did you keep it stock? Same question for the rear axle. I just bought a 2010 with the 6.0 (hope it's a good one lol) with only 35k miles, and want to convert it to 4x4. Thanks for the video.
Congratulations on the new van. I think the 6.0 with some work done is actually a great motor. I had our van re-geared from 4:10 to 4:56, which brought it back to about stock. Running 35” tires.
Hi guys, love your build and the video! I just bought an '03 e350 15 passenger van and excited to use several of your ideas in my own build. Quick question, which radio/backup camera combo did you use and would you recommend that one again? Thanks!
Thank you 🙂 Here are the products we used. The stereo is basic, but had all the functions we needed. Bluetooth calling and back up camera work really well. I installed ours in 2017, so far no issues. Congats on your van purchase! Stereo - amzn.to/3ddrWKV Back up camera - amzn.to/2ykg7DN Bypass - amzn.to/3fiQnZl Camera extension cable - amzn.to/3d5PXU7
@@EmbracingDetours Thank you so much for the info, and I'm very excited to implement your ideas. I looked up the items and they do seem to have good reviews. Might considering purchasing the same ones 👍👍🤜🤛🤘
Enjoying your videos, I was raised in Ocala and feel like I am getting to know you guys. I am playing catch up watching your videos. I have been thinking of adding a slide to our trailer, Do you have the link to the plans for the sliding drawers? I went to "Expedition Portal" but couldn't find anything.
What a small world! Here's the link for the set up we based our drawer system off of: www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/latest-project-truck-drawers-sleeping-platform.47516/ A google search for DIY overland drawer system should bring you a mountain of inspiration. On our build we used 3/4” plywood, 1”x1” square tubing, bearing number will vary based on length. My first 3 bearings are 2” apart then every 12” on center after that. I also Dadoed, glued and screwed all of my joints for strength. I would recommend Abec 7 or higher bearings for smooth operation. Let us know if you have any questions and thanks so much for watching!
Do you guys use a weight distributing hitch? If so, what kind and how does it handle? I have an Quigley 4x4 converted EB E350 and we are purchasing a camper weighing in around 8-9k lbs. Curious what we are in for!
Our 1/2 ton Tundra actually towed our rig quite well. It was rated to tow 10,000 lbs, the problem for us was the payload, by the time we filled the bed with all of our stuff we would have greatly diminished it’s GVWR. It also only got between 6-8 mpg while towing. Thanks for watching 🙂
@@EmbracingDetours You can always get a big truck to pull a small load but you can't get a small truck to pull a big load. Ratings really are a misconception, by the time you add every thing up.Most of the time the salesman drives a 3/4 or better ! For the extra money you get a lot of "Peace of mind"
Great videos...keep them coming! It appears that you carry a lot of tools...for a newbie what tools does one really need to bring? I didn't plan on bringing that many. We have a pretty reliable tow vehicle (2015 Tundra) so don't believe I'll be working on it to much. Just got our Airstream (2017 23' FB Flying Cloud). Thanks for your insight.
Sorry to put off answering you for a few days, we wanted to really think this over before answering. Most would consider me over-prepared, I certainly carry more tools with me than most. I plan for the worst and am comfortable knowing that if I find myself stranded on the side of the road I (should) have what I need. That preparation has honestly benefited others more often than us, as we've been able to help a number of people that weren't ready for the obstacles the road threw at them, and I was happy to be able to do so. Also, I do most of our maintenance myself (oil changes, brakes, fixing all the things Bri breaks, etc.), which requires the necessary tools. Finally, I'm a bit of a tool junky and have a giant toolbox back in FL filled to the brim with tools that didn't make it in the van. Keep in mind that what I would recommend will vary somewhat depending on if you're going full-time or are a weekend warrior. If not full time, some repairs can wait until you get back home after your trip. That said, this would be my minimum toolkit: -Basic Hand Tools: sockets, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, small cordless drill, and drill bits -Assorted 12v electrical connectors -Electrical tape -Wire strippers and crimpers -Multi-meter -Spare 12v fuses -Tire plug kit -12v air pump to inflate tires -Tire pressure gauge -Good jack or ramps for trailer -Duct tape -Small assortment of nuts, bolts & screws -Spray lube (like WD40) -Small tube of grease -Flash light -Jump box -Dycor -Silicone sealant I hope that helps, let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for watching 😊
great job on the vid and the build. I've been looking at Ujoint kit. After buying the truck about how much did you spend on the Ujoint kit to get the rig 4 wheeling? THANKS!!
Check out www.ujointoffroad.com for kit details and pricing for DIY kits. Email the owner Chris@ujointoffroad if you’re interested in having them do an install for you. Thanks for watching and commenting 🙂
We have @150,000 miles on it now. The 7.3l is a great motor. It doesn't have the crazy amounts of power the new 6.7's have, but if you don't mind going slower once in a while it's a nice set up 👍
@@EmbracingDetours that's not very many miles seems to me for it's age,a good deal!! It is good for whole lot more!! You were blessed!! And TJ is a great mechanic!!
As of right now, we are planning to put the Airstream in storage and do Alaska in the van. Thanks for the tips, we'll be prepping for this trip this coming winter.
I like the handicap side doors walk in no need to worry about bumping your head ,ive owned a few e250,350 vans love sitting up high over the other cars
Realy enjoyed the beginning informing newbies what they might want to concider
17:40 you know you have a badass lifted van when a full size dog can run under it at full speed!
😆You're the first one to either notice or say anything about that, we crack up every time we see it! lol Changing the oil is a breeze, a 5-gallon bucket fits under there no problem... there are lots of pros to having a badass monster van 👍
Loving the old school van thang. 7.3 is a gem
You guys are so smart; you've thought of everything. It's wonderful that you're living the life you want to live. We love your Channel and enjoy watching your adventures.
Just catching up on your van build video. Awesome job and soo practical for your lifestyle!!
Just got our family a 06 E350 5.4 no hi top but has rear ac. U joint Offroad in its future for sure. Great video and helped me make my decision on the Econoline. Thanks
That’s what I am looking at but from a wheel chair van company.
Wow nice van I have a 96 7.3 w 425,000 still runs as good as the day it was new ull love this truck
Another awesome video....Definitely go to Alaska ...it was the most amazing best trip we’ve ever taken. Don’t believe the hype about the roads. We drove pulling our travel trailer and never had any problems... Now we didn’t go to chicken Alaska but from what we were told We didn’t miss anything. Really enjoyed the van tour. I know it’s a lot of time and work doing the videos so Thanks for posting.
We are so excited about Alaska, most people agree it's one of their favorite trips. We certainly do get the full spectrum of opinions about the roads, we are considering doing the trip in the van only more because we like how mobile we can be that way, but as it gets closer we'll see what happens. Glad you enjoyed the van tour, you're most welcome!
Great van, got your dogs, beautiful wife. Dude is living the live.
One thing I like about a van for towing is that they generally have less rear overhang compared the wheelbase. That is a big advantage in my opinion. Then if the hitch is configured for minimum overhang you will have an excellent tow vehicle.
Great VAN, Nice tour, greetings from The Netherlands. I own a 4x4 Dodge B350 from 1991 with Pathfinder conversion with only 9.000 miles (from the Swiss fire department).
I camped next to you guys at Bryce Canyon a couple weeks ago. I love the van and trailer. Sorry I didn't get a chance to come over and say hi.
Thank you so much, wasn't that place amazing?! We thought all of the Utah parks were otherworldly, can't wait to get those videos released in a months or so. We hope you had as great of a time as us and maybe we'll run into you down the road! Thanks for watching and commenting 👍
Great job on the van. It looks really nice and the work you did looks pretty professionally done. Great videos. Keith
Nice job on the van. I took the risk and bought a 200k clean 2008 6.0l diesel one. Did some upgrades to curb issues but still have to stud it before I put a tune on it. Runs and drives great. The 4x4 conversion comes next. As the 37x12.5r20s rub a lil and I want it to haul a bike to moab. And camp on the rim of the grand canyon.
Congratulations on your purchase. The 6.0 gets a bad wrap, but I feel with the right upgrades it's a really good, powerful motor. Check out ujointoffroad.com/ for your 4x4 conversion needs. They are a top notch company with excellent customer service. Have fun and safe travels 🙂
We bought a van as well and plan on traveling with the trailer so I have replaced almost everything in the suspension and plan to get a transmission cooler as well
We love the van as a tow vehicle, so practical! Sometimes we wish it were a little newer and had a little more power, but overall we've been very happy with our decision and hope you are as well!! Good luck on your journey 👍😊
Your van transformation is amazing. Some suggestions as a 25+ year Ford Diesel owner. I just sold my 2000 F250 after 16 years as a faithful tow vehicle. While the 7.3 is an awesome power plant, please keep a spare camshaft positioning sensor with you at all times! Also, if you have not already done so, have a look at the under value cover wire harness. These 2 items are common issues with the power strokes. The wiring harness will cause a substantial loss of power while the camshaft positioning sensor will kill the engine instantly with no warning.
Thank you so much, Brian!! We actually carry the camshaft already, but we appreciate the tip on the cover wire harness 👍We're super happy with the 7.3 diesel van as our tow vehicle and hope it lasts us as long as yours did!
Thanks for the tour.
You're welcome, thanks for watching and commenting!!
Love how you set up the van. I have owned a few F250’s and love the 7.3 power stroke motors.
Thank you. The 7.3 was very important to us, we were ecstatic when we found one with low miles that had been well maintained.
Great job on the front wheel drive upgrade!
Huge job, and the skills it takes to do such a thing is great confidence on all things that could come up on the road (getting work done by others is a huge deterrent for so many reasons).
Thanks, Joe! No doubt, it was a massive undertaking but a fun project. With as much driving as we do, it's inevitable that we're always tinkering on something. It's good to have the familiarity that came from tackling this project, and we tend to prefer to do things ourselves if it's feasible. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍
I have that same van (except extended) It looks like they salvaged the OEM headliner and used it on your topper, that must be nice. We only have 2 dinky AC vents on ours I wonder how hard it would be to plumb new vents to mirror the OEM set up like yall have.
Been on the fence for awhile. Thanks for the very informative video!
You're very welcome, glad it was helpful! 👍
You guys have a great channel! Just discovered you. Keep doing what you are doing. Can't wait to see what is next.
Thank you so much! TJ just got sucked into your videos as well, he loves watching all that mechanical work. I'll find him watching videos of people working on tractors and think he's lost his mind lol. We really appreciate the kind words and encouragement 🙏
Wow thats a lot of tow vehicle/monster van! Lol Nice job TJ! You’ll love AK. Most of the harmful rocks we encountered on your trip to Alaska came from vehicles we meet. We vaned all the way to DeadHorse, I wouldn’t do the DeadHorse trip again that road will destroy your tires!!! We’re planning to go again next year.
Thanks for the compliment on the van. We've seen a lot of pictures and video of broken windshields from Alaska trips. We are really excited about Alaska, unfortunately, we probably won't be headed there until next year either.
Nicely done.
Thank you! Countless hours of work went into it but TJ was in his element and enjoyed (almost) every dirty minute of the build. And now, when the need arises, he is comfortable working on it... like in Glacier!
Hi TJ !! Glad to see you are doing well !!
Hey Gary! Thanks for checking in.
I've owned "3" four wheel drive vans, remain my favorite vehcile to this day, two "GMC" and one "Dodge", all were factory conversions....showing my age!
Wow, that's awesome! As popular as 4WD vans are today, you were ahead of your time!! 😉
Very Nice !
Could we get her driving and driving impressions? Not that we don't believe it, but it's just nice to see if she can handle the rig.
I'm new to your show, I love it! Keep up the good work.
Kudos! Great informative and entertaining vid, thank you.
You're welcome! There was a lot of information we wanted to share about the van, glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for watching.
Saw this last Friday in Sammamish while I was delivering milk in the wee hours of the morning. It's pretty badass! Nice work.
Haha, thank you! We're here for a bit visiting family, not a bad place to slow down and spend a little time. Glad you like the van, it was a lot of work!!
Cool setup
Nice you did a great job!
Thank you, we were fortunate enough to find a great van and have the budget to build it up right.
Well done. Can we expect to see some videos of your van offroad as to how well it handles?
Thanks so much! Next time we get off-road I will try to put a video together. I’m not sure when that might happen, we are headed out of the Rockies in the next month, but I will definitely put it on the list.
You feel kind of bad the first video I watched of yours was Asheville didn't know you had a 4 by 4 van . Got a 1988 Ford Bronco it's a member of the family. Well done!
Haha, no worries at all! We baby our van, she's capable of a lot more than we do with her. TJ said, "Ooooohhhhh" when he heard you have an '88 Bronco, I think he approves! lol 😄👍
Never noticed the " barn door" on your van! The van is cool though.
That van rocks. Not a Ford fan but you pulled off a bad a** ride. Do have a question with it lifted how is the ride down the road?.
The @Ujointoffroad kit is amazing. It tracks well, tows well, doesn’t feel top heavy and provides a smooth ride. As with any solid axle vehicle it can feel a bit stiff going over bumps, but we expected that going in.
ujoint dose some funky work , never cared for how the front tires are moved so far forward.
Nice setup... I am a new subscriber to the channel...been following less junk more journey for a while and they have a similar system with there van
Thank you, Dale... we have been following LJMJ for years now too, they are one of the channels we watched to stay inspired as we were preparing to hit the road full-time ourselves. The van makes so much sense (for us) as a tow vehicle, it's a shame no one makes a newer 1-ton diesel van.
Great job with the build ! While I was Watching your videos I was curious about your van . Quite a bit of work you put into it . Thanks for the tour .
Thanks!! It was a ton of work but totally worth it, it meets our needs perfectly. Thanks for watching!
Super! Love the 7.3
Thats exactly what I've been wanting
Nice job!!
Thank you! We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into it and love the way it turned out.
Embracing Detours
Won't your van be top heavy and possibly tip/rollover on country roads? Or does your van have wider than normal tires to give yourself a more wider, stable footprint? Btw, you're dogs seem so spolied with their own A/C unit. Lol
Okie Rider - we do run a wider tire, but Ujoint Off-road has designed an incredible suspension setup for these vans. Very stable. They have even built and tested much larger/taller class C RV’s with this setup. Here’s a couple of videos to check out.
th-cam.com/video/J7OxIKyIGOU/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/jMJKPNKqeQ8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching, and yes the dogs are absolutely spoiled! 😊
Thank you for sharing.
Guys put the date on which you make your videos so we will know how old the video is.
Wow, you guys are way beyond my mechanical skills. It seems a van tow vehicle is unusual., but you needed the room. You had to modify it to get it up to speed and it is way jacked up. A lot of weight in that van. Some new trucks have a compression braking mode to avoid over-heating the brakes on long descents which I think you might need. The only other option might be a big SUV like the Expedition. Happy "camping".
You would be correct, a van is an unconventional tow vehicle but it's the perfect fit for us! We're lucky that TJ is mechanically inclined and enjoys taking on seemingly insurmountable projects like that... It's kind of his thing. So far we've been happy with the van's performance, yes there are times we wish for the higher HP and torque of the newer trucks but the van fit all our requirements ☑️ Thanks so much for watching and commenting!!
@@EmbracingDetours why not a 4X4 Excursion? Couldnt find a diesel?
We had definitely considered an Excursion. The Excursions are significantly more money and a low mileage 7.3l is really hard to find.
What gearing did you use in the front Dana 60 axle. Did you keep it stock? Same question for the rear axle. I just bought a 2010 with the 6.0 (hope it's a good one lol) with only 35k miles, and want to convert it to 4x4. Thanks for the video.
Congratulations on the new van. I think the 6.0 with some work done is actually a great motor. I had our van re-geared from 4:10 to 4:56, which brought it back to about stock. Running 35” tires.
@@EmbracingDetours awesome thanks for the info
i noticed the fixed 'High roof'...So can you stand 'Straight up' inside the van?...
Bri is able to stand up at 5’4”, I (TJ) have to tilt my head a bit at 5’10”. Thanks for watching 🙂
cool van
Hi guys, love your build and the video! I just bought an '03 e350 15 passenger van and excited to use several of your ideas in my own build. Quick question, which radio/backup camera combo did you use and would you recommend that one again? Thanks!
Thank you 🙂
Here are the products we used. The stereo is basic, but had all the functions we needed. Bluetooth calling and back up camera work really well. I installed ours in 2017, so far no issues. Congats on your van purchase!
Stereo - amzn.to/3ddrWKV
Back up camera - amzn.to/2ykg7DN
Bypass - amzn.to/3fiQnZl
Camera extension cable - amzn.to/3d5PXU7
@@EmbracingDetours Thank you so much for the info, and I'm very excited to implement your ideas. I looked up the items and they do seem to have good reviews. Might considering purchasing the same ones 👍👍🤜🤛🤘
SO with all the work you did on the van did you stay within the budget
We did! By doing most of the work ourselves we saved a ton of money. Thanks for watching 🙂
Don't bother knockin' when du van be rockin'
You've probably already answered, but what's your weight!? Love the van!!
The van loaded is @ 8000 and the trailer is @ 8500.
@@EmbracingDetours thank you!!!
Enjoying your videos, I was raised in Ocala and feel like I am getting to know you guys. I am playing catch up watching your videos. I have been thinking of adding a slide to our trailer, Do you have the link to the plans for the sliding drawers? I went to "Expedition Portal" but couldn't find anything.
What a small world! Here's the link for the set up we based our drawer system off of:
www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/latest-project-truck-drawers-sleeping-platform.47516/
A google search for DIY overland drawer system should bring you a mountain of inspiration. On our build we used 3/4” plywood, 1”x1” square tubing, bearing number will vary based on length. My first 3 bearings are 2” apart then every 12” on center after that. I also Dadoed, glued and screwed all of my joints for strength. I would recommend Abec 7 or higher bearings for smooth operation. Let us know if you have any questions and thanks so much for watching!
Impressive.
Thank you!
Do you guys use a weight distributing hitch? If so, what kind and how does it handle? I have an Quigley 4x4 converted EB E350 and we are purchasing a camper weighing in around 8-9k lbs. Curious what we are in for!
Congratulations on the van. One question. When it is fully loaded with you both in it what is the weight?
Thanks, we love our van, it's the perfect for us tow vehicle. Last we checked, she weighs in at about 8,700 lbs. fully loaded.
1/2 ton truck pulled the Airstream?
Our 1/2 ton Tundra actually towed our rig quite well. It was rated to tow 10,000 lbs, the problem for us was the payload, by the time we filled the bed with all of our stuff we would have greatly diminished it’s GVWR. It also only got between 6-8 mpg while towing. Thanks for watching 🙂
@@EmbracingDetours You can always get a big truck to pull a small load but you can't get a small truck to pull a big load. Ratings really are a misconception, by the time you add every thing up.Most of the time the salesman drives a 3/4 or better ! For the extra money you get a lot of "Peace of mind"
Great videos...keep them coming! It appears that you carry a lot of tools...for a newbie what tools does one really need to bring? I didn't plan on bringing that many. We have a pretty reliable tow vehicle (2015 Tundra) so don't believe I'll be working on it to much. Just got our Airstream (2017 23' FB Flying Cloud). Thanks for your insight.
Sorry to put off answering you for a few days, we wanted to really think this over before answering. Most would consider me over-prepared, I certainly carry more tools with me than most. I plan for the worst and am comfortable knowing that if I find myself stranded on the side of the road I (should) have what I need. That preparation has honestly benefited others more often than us, as we've been able to help a number of people that weren't ready for the obstacles the road threw at them, and I was happy to be able to do so. Also, I do most of our maintenance myself (oil changes, brakes, fixing all the things Bri breaks, etc.), which requires the necessary tools. Finally, I'm a bit of a tool junky and have a giant toolbox back in FL filled to the brim with tools that didn't make it in the van.
Keep in mind that what I would recommend will vary somewhat depending on if you're going full-time or are a weekend warrior. If not full time, some repairs can wait until you get back home after your trip. That said, this would be my minimum toolkit:
-Basic Hand Tools: sockets, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, small cordless drill, and drill bits
-Assorted 12v electrical connectors
-Electrical tape
-Wire strippers and crimpers
-Multi-meter
-Spare 12v fuses
-Tire plug kit
-12v air pump to inflate tires
-Tire pressure gauge
-Good jack or ramps for trailer
-Duct tape
-Small assortment of nuts, bolts & screws
-Spray lube (like WD40)
-Small tube of grease
-Flash light
-Jump box
-Dycor
-Silicone sealant
I hope that helps, let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for watching 😊
Thanks for your insight...nice list! Good for you helping others in need. Look forward to possibly meeting you guys during our road journeys.
great job on the vid and the build. I've been looking at Ujoint kit. After buying the truck about how much did you spend on the Ujoint kit to get the rig 4 wheeling? THANKS!!
nice vanwhat kind of mileage do you get towing om average
Thank you, we typically get between 11-12 mpg.
Love it.how much was the kit.would u be interested in installing a kit for me.il pay u.
Check out www.ujointoffroad.com for kit details and pricing for DIY kits. Email the owner Chris@ujointoffroad if you’re interested in having them do an install for you. Thanks for watching and commenting 🙂
Wow !
Thank you!
I’ve been watching your videos and really enjoy them. ]What kind of highway mpg do you get towing and not towing with the van>
Thanks for watching and following along. We average between 11-12 MPG towing(@65 mph) and 14-16 MPG without the trailer.
Been looking at a similar van. Looks awsome...would love to have one...how many ks do you have on it now?
Do you like the 7.3
We have @150,000 miles on it now. The 7.3l is a great motor. It doesn't have the crazy amounts of power the new 6.7's have, but if you don't mind going slower once in a while it's a nice set up 👍
@@EmbracingDetours that's not very many miles seems to me for it's age,a good deal!! It is good for whole lot more!! You were blessed!! And TJ is a great mechanic!!
I’ve had cats all my life , how do your cats don’t get lost every time you go from place to place , my cats don’t like moving
Looks like a PS swap ? Vans for the WIN
Not a swap, it's a factory 7.3 PS. Thanks for watching 👍
Total cost of the build
Iran is a 2003 Chevy Astro not as big as you guys
Whatever works best for you, everyone has different needs!
Y’all should look into “Shelf-it.” They are perfect for your van: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N6JI8L6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks for the heads up, we are always looking for storage solutions. That's pretty cool. 👍
500k mile proven? Pfft, more like million miles! 7.3 isn't the most powerful, but it is one of the best engines ever made!
We agree 7.3 is a great engine! 🙂
look at this van GMC 4wd extended van CHARLIE OBAUGH CHEVROLET BUICK GMC
410 LEE JACKSON HWY STAUNTON VIRGINIA 2440-
Schönes Auto
Let him speak the guy stuff
That's no fun!
Ellen?
No airstream in Alaska.carry two spares . Air compressor and good lighting
As of right now, we are planning to put the Airstream in storage and do Alaska in the van. Thanks for the tips, we'll be prepping for this trip this coming winter.
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I do like your van. Thanks for sharing :)
Lot of whining ! Do it the other way! Whaaa!!!!
Rude Boy
Boaring she s dont know how to drive it
🙄🤔😆