Honestly you have the most functional and comfortable Astrovan I've seen yet. I have a GMC Safari, basically the same thing and I'm building it out to look something like yours!
These Are the kind of builds I really love because these guys use very minimal stuff, use it very effectively and efficiently , and the cost is extra low. nice job dude.
Thanks a ton Dave! The cost was extra low compared to many other builds...but not the cheapest. I want to make a video showing how you can build a camper van for Super Cheap.😁
I love the fine details you explain and show. Amazing build. Please grommet the holes in the aluminum plate behind the power center where the wiring goes thru or put some protection around those wires
Hi Shawn. Thanks for checking out my van build. I appreciate your comment and will pop open the power center and see if I can track down the wires you are talking about. Thanks!
I literally said, "GO COOGS!" when you did. 😂Love so much about your build. I'm in the market for an Astro right now. My family had one when I was growing up and it was a reliable beast that I love taking on road trips!
Hi Crystal. Yes, cooking inside the van while in the city or while it’s raining is great. Also, it’s nice to have the doors open and cook from the back of the van at state or national parks. :). Thanks for checking out the video.
Thanks! We had plenty of time to think and plan. LOL! Since it took 3 years to build. My buddy, Eric, labeled it "The Best Astro Build in the Country". He's too nice. :)
Wow! Awesome Lynda! Glad you like it. The van recently performed great on a 106 day road trip thru Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. I hope to explore more places with it soon. Thanks for checking out the video. :)
Indeed! It was quite a long process, but so glad it's complete. Now, if I can just kick this coffee habit. ;) But, they just emailed me and want to give me a free coffee for my b-day on Thurs. Can't pass that up? Right?
Thanks Arctic Fox. I've been very happy with the dual inside/outside cooking setup. They both have their pros and cons. I would say I use the inside setup the most.
Seen countless videos and van tours and while it’s great to grab ideas from here and there, this is the most consolidated functional preferable build I’ve seen - great job to you and your pops! The layout is awesome, I’m sure I dig it because I work in tech as well!
I'm doing my research for an Astro. I used to have one for my mobile massage biz. Wish I kept it! This layout is perfect for me. I'm a designer and I think you did a top notch job. Super organized and tidy. Thank you.
Hey Troy! Just wanted to say thanks for these build videos. We used these a ton for our build and you saved us a lot of hard work . You rock man! See you out there!
That’s great! Glad they were helpful. Your channel recently appeared on my home screen. I’ve watched a couple videos. Fun couple! Have a great road trip!
Yours is a great and well planned build! But your Dad steals the show. I've seen many of these vids but have never seen electrical work of this caliber in a van solar setup before. Go Troy and GO DAD! lol
Thanks Rick! Yes, my Dad did a fantastic job on the electrical and other aspects of the build. I’m very grateful for his assistance. I learned so much from him during this build. It was amazing!
Thank you Maria! Things get messy and unorganized quick in such a small space, but the good news is it doesn’t take long to get it back to clean and organized. :)
For sure, he did a fantastic job on the power center. I just met up with my Dad on the road in Colorado. He was impressed that the power center has held up so well after 4 years of use. Besides swapping out 2 fuses and replacing a worn out inverter, the power center has performed amazingly. Go DAD!! 👍😁
Absolutely amazing job!!! With how small your van is compared to a cargo van, it looks just so much larger inside there. Very nice, clean, great organization and well thought out. Your dad did a sweet job setting up your power system. Have a blast at the Grand Canyon and a wonderful Birthday!!!!!!! :)
Thank you very much for the wonderful compliments. I think my Dad secretly reads the comments, so he'll love this one. :) Yes, my Dad did a hell of a job on the power center. I look at it and REALLY appreciate it every day. I love pulling up next to big Class A RVs knowing that my van is small, but has most of what they have for an extremely small fraction of the cost. :)
Hi, I'm a seamstress, and I like the tape on the bottom of the curtains instead of sewing because it provides a bit of weight to hold them down. Looks good too. When the tape gets dirty, put some new tape on!
Yes very nice setup indeed, right now I live in a 24 ft class c motor home. I’ve decided to move down to a mini van or full size cargo van not sure but I live in 🇨🇦 and gas is not cheap so more than likely a mini like yours. Anyway great build and some great ideas.
I’m also trying to decide what size van to go with lol! Even before wanting to do the whole van life thing I actually really wanted a Astro van to fix up as a show car type thing so I’ve always have a desire to own one. Butttttt I have full custody of my 9 year old son as well as 2 children with my current wife so when they come to visit I would need room so that’s why I’m leaning towards one of the Mercedes Benz sprinter vans because they are huge and extremely reliable. But anyway sorry for rights no a book here lol
Josh and Rose having the 24 ft RV was great when travelling across the country 🇺🇸 and 🇨🇦 however when I got back it was just to big to park in city with bylaws up the wazoo. I live full time by my self so I don’t need big just want something reliable and cheaper on gas as we speak gas is $1.48 litre. Sounds like you need a bigger rig for your family and the Benz is a good vehicle.
Hi Jeff. There are some pros and cons with going smaller, but for me the pros outweigh the cons. Not being able to stand is probably the biggest drawback. Inside my 40 sq ft living area, I can’t stand but there’s plenty of room outside the van. ;) Also, you have less room to store stuff. This will force you to eliminate non-essentials, which can be a good thing. The pros: Less gas usage. I like that I can park just about anywhere. I don’t need to park on private property, like Walmarts. My van blends in pretty well. Thanks for checking out my build.
Traveling Troy that’s biggest problem in 🇨🇦 gas prices. I already have cut back on storage and will have to again. Like you said parking and gas and I can move around which I need to do these are all pros for me. The cons are standing up and making sure all I need I have, food storage water and heat and a place to sleep. This last year and a half living full time in my RV has taught me a lot along with people like yourself and TH-cam, I still have more to learn schools not out yet 😂. Thanks for the reply and safe travels.
Jeff Hipson thank you for that input! I would love to be able to go smaller like that but your right I’ll unfortunately have to have one of the bigger ones.. I’ve also been looking at pull behind bunk houses or something like that lol, basically a pull behind travel trailer with a master type bedroom as well as two sets of bunk beds. It’s actually a really nice floor plan. I don’t make videos lol or I would show you what I’m talking about.. do you have Facebook!?!
Awesome! The engine has been great. My van is in the shop now getting the dreaded fuel pump replaced. I don't have an inside the van access door, so they're pulling the gas tank down to get to it.
Hi dr.frank i have 98 astro cargo. 2nd owner 239k on the dash ive had van for less than a year. Differential ran out oil and broke rear 1k less than a week having electrical issues any tips or suggestions on common shorts/trouble wires i can check
I have watched loads of these videos and yours is the best small van and most creative use of the space. Really well done... I hope you are having a blast on the road.
Thank you, Boise! It was tough fitting everything, including the kitchen sink ;) into this van. My van doesn't compete with all the professionally built Sprinters and Pro Masters out there these days, but for small, compact and inexpensive, I agree that it is one of the best. Thanks for checking out the video.
Nice set up Troy.. Heck yeah Go Astros!!! H-Town all the way!!! Dude I really like this setup. It's good to see you back on TH-cam bro.. Take care and God bless
I can honestly say this is probably the best thought out build I've seen in the 3 years or so that I've been researching this stuff, I'm definitely subscribing, greetings from Baytown by the way!
Hey shawn! Thanks for the compliment and "Hello" Baytown. My Mom and Dad grew up in Baytown and moved to Houston. I still have family in Baytown. Cool!
Indeed! Really enjoying the van. I’ve owned it now for 6 years and have been living/traveling in it for 5 1/2 years. I have only made minor changes to the original build. 👍 Thanks for watching. ✌️
Nice job Bud. I've been contemplating doing an astro van and you did a lot of neat things. Love the power board your Dad built. I would have a higher watt inverter. The netting is a brilliant idea. Hope you are proud of it. Bob
True. A higher watt inverter would have been nice. My Dad was trying to cut costs and we determined my 180 watt laptop was the highest draw. Thanks for checking out the build.
Nice! I’ve been hearing about many people working on Astro van builds. That’s great! I’ve been living in mine now for 4 1/2 years, so it can be done. I wish I could stand up to put on jeans, but I get by, plus I have the whole outside of the van for standing. :)
Joseph Compnotta hell yeah. Great van I had 198.000 on mine. But last fri some guy hit me at 40 mph I was at a dead stop getting off the freeway he totaled my 2002 astro . I was more the a lil sad . Hes definitely going to buy me another astro
Absolutely love the layout of your van. Perfect use of the available space. Im in the market for and astro myself and may duplicate your exact build once I have one.
Fascinating what you did with this Astro! That's honestly one of the most practical builds I've ever seen and your power setup is just incredible. Yes, the GM 4.3 must be the very best American V6 engine ever. I had an '87 Astro that I bought used for $1,800. Dropped in a rebuilt 4.3, drove the wheels off of it for the next decade and sold it for $2700. I have some videos on my channel of my 4x4 Econoline I drove all over Baja California.
Cool, I’ll check out some of your videos. Yes, the Astro engine is GREAT! What a return on your initial investment. Awesome! I bought mine for $4000. I suspect it’s worth a bit more now. 😉
Hey Troy! I've been looking to do a van conversion also. I bought an AWD Astro cargo van to do it. When I was looking for layouts for the van I couldn't find one that I thought was really functional until I saw your video! I love your layout! It is perfect! The one thing you might add is a shower but you already have the shower curtain rod! Haha! Can't wait until I finish and get on the road! Thanks for the videos, they are going to be my guide!
Awesome! Welcome to the Astro Van Club. :) Good idea getting the AWD. In some situations, I wish I had AWD to get into those secluded locations. Not having a shower isn't so bad. My gym membership worked out pretty well for that. Being from Texas where it's still hot and humid in October, I feel like I need to shower everyday. On the road, like my trip to Colorado, showers weren't a daily requirement. It wasn't hot enough to sweat. :) Good luck with your van build. Glad the videos were helpful.
1st I purchased the van for $4000. 106k miles, ex-phone company vehicle with all maintenance records. Over a 3 year period, I did maintenance and repairs as needed to get the van road ready which cost in the neighborhood of $2500. New tires, new brakes, suspension repairs and power steering fluid leak to name a few. I haven't totaled up the cost for the build, but it was also in the neighborhood of $2500. At some point, I will put all the numbers together and make a video on this topic. Thanks for the question.
Great build. Love the way you set it up. Not sure why more people don't convert an Astro van into a camper. Seems like the perfect size for a stealth camper.
Thanks Andrew. 👍 Right, I think the Astro van is a good size for one person, maybe even with a small pet companion. Two people would be cramped, but I’ve seen people do it.
love the location of your power center board, cant tell you the agony ive gone through trying to find the best spot for mine. uggg it seems so easy now that i see yours. thank-you for sharing and to your Dad
Excellent video Troy! At 6'7" I'm going to take a pass on the Astro Van, but am very, Very intrigued with a simpler camper/RV and the conversions. Thanks for your video!
Fantastic van build. Like the double access to the kitchen and I also really like the power system access door. That is great work and layout. Nice Van!
Thank you! Yes, the duel access kitchen has been great. When it's dusty/windy outside or there are more flies/bugs than I want to deal with, I can just stay indoors. It hasn't rained yet on this trip, but there is another advantage. It's also awesome to be able to open up the doors and have an outside cooking session. :) Thanks for checking out the van.
I have a 93 Astro that I am currently building for cross-country trip I have already put a new motor in and all new suspension and steering that was essential but my 250000 mile Van I feel has another 250k left in it these are awesome vans and your build is inspiring going to take a lot of notes from your videos
Excellent! Good luck with your van and the road trip. Yes, Astro vans have some quirks, but were well made van. I recently finished a 106 day road trip and the van was great. Put on about 8000 miles.
Excellent! Thanks Robin. The inside/outside design comes in so handy in a stealth van. I'm in the city now and I really like being able to use the kitchen from the inside. While on my last road trip, I used it primarily from the outside at campsites.
I started out looking at vans as my first choice for converting to an RV, however, I could not pass up a diesel short bus. I love watching these types of van builds because they keep me on the path I want which is minimalist living. There are a lot of great ideas from van builds.
Very nice presentation and a great choice of vans. I hade one just like that and it had 250,000 miles on it and you as running great when I traded it. We lived in mich. then and rust got it. I’ll be following you to see what you do. Have fun
Hey Codey! Thanks for checking out the van tour. It's changed quite a bit since you saw it on your visit to Austin from Australia. Yes, the bed is and has been great! If it wasn't easy to pull out and push back in, then it would be a hassle. Luckily, my Dad built it well and it's easy to operate. :)
Hi Chris. Thanks for checking out the build. I've been having fun with the Astro. On the road for 10 weeks now, and learning a lot about the build and what I do and don't like. Making changes on the fly. I may be in Florida for the winter, but it would be tough being there now with no A/C. Good luck, stay cool.
The winter is the best time to be down here although the Snowbirds from up north have the same idea!!! A cool place to camp out/Boondock overnight is the Skyway Bridge Fishing Pier...you say you are fishing all night and park right on the bridge in the middle of the water!! Great breeze at night and nothing is more cool than sleeping on the bridge over Tampa Bay! Be sure to check out the history of the Skyway Bridge and what the pier was before it was a pier!! You may change your mind about going on it!!
More room is a great idea. About every other month, I go thru my van and figure out what I do and don’t need, so I can maximize my space for things I actually use. Of course, if I had a bigger van, the problem would be the same, but I could fit more. 😁👍
Thank you. I’ve had the van for 6 years now and have lived/traveled in it for 5 1/2. The layout has worked out well. 😁. Thanks for checking out the video. 👍
I just became the owner of an '05 Astro Cargo van, It was a internet service unit for 10 years and sold as surplus. 165k on the Speedo After the strip out the crap I don't want inside and good cleaning I plan on making it a camper as well.
That’s cool! Good luck with the build. My van was a phone company service van as well. They usually do regular maintenance on these vans to protect their investment, so it should be good for a while. Congrats. I bought mine at 106k and now have 145k. Still running great with repairs here and there.
Really nice setup. Very good ventriloquist talking without moving your lips ... go Astros.. I am from Houston.. but have lived in Vegas 11 years now ... nice van keep up the videos
Thanks James! Great comment. Indeed, I'm a ventriloquist. I really wanted to make this a professional quality video. I'm very proud of the job my Dad and I did on the van and didn't want to cheapen it with ughs and ums. Voice over work takes way longer though. Yes! Go Stros! I have only flown into Vegas for a short layover, then back on a plane. Vegas is a destination I plan to visit in the future, for sure. Don't know how van friendly it is?
You can check out my Full Van Build Series playlist here:
th-cam.com/play/PLj-Tp2IL6ouKssv7oK7m-Vvu45iJD3j1G.html
Honestly you have the most functional and comfortable Astrovan I've seen yet. I have a GMC Safari, basically the same thing and I'm building it out to look something like yours!
This is the all time best van tour I've ever seen in the 4yrs of watching them! Bravo! Thk you so much
This is the coolest setup I've ever seen. 👍
Thanks! We appreciate the great compliment. :)
I love looking at vans that a person brings out there own style of identity is a gift we are all blessed with
Cool! Thanks for checking out my build. Yeah, there is no right or wrong way to do a van build. Do what feels right to you. ;)
@@TravelingTroy hell I'm even thinking about putting a stripper pole in mine
I love looking at vans that aren't fancy smancy
Same. More practicality.
I'm putting a stripper pole in mine
Exceptional van build. Love the dual kitchen access too.
Awesome! Thanks for checking out the tour. :)
Agreed. Way too many builds have outside-only access. That makes no sense to me.
These Are the kind of builds I really love because these guys use very minimal stuff, use it very effectively and efficiently , and the cost is extra low. nice job dude.
Thanks a ton Dave! The cost was extra low compared to many other builds...but not the cheapest. I want to make a video showing how you can build a camper van for Super Cheap.😁
You're a child, and I absolutely love it. Astro vans are best vans.
I love the fine details you explain and show. Amazing build.
Please grommet the holes in the aluminum plate behind the power center where the wiring goes thru or put some protection around those wires
Hi Shawn. Thanks for checking out my van build. I appreciate your comment and will pop open the power center and see if I can track down the wires you are talking about. Thanks!
Your dad must be a real wise man, Troy. That control center is worthy of a NASA engineering blueprint. "Well done, Dad!"
Awesome! Thanks for the GREAT comment. I forwarded it to my Dad. He'll love it. Thanks for watching. :)
I literally said, "GO COOGS!" when you did. 😂Love so much about your build. I'm in the market for an Astro right now. My family had one when I was growing up and it was a reliable beast that I love taking on road trips!
ABSOLUTELY love that you can do coming both ways, great build!!
Hi Crystal. Yes, cooking inside the van while in the city or while it’s raining is great. Also, it’s nice to have the doors open and cook from the back of the van at state or national parks. :). Thanks for checking out the video.
Great van build, a lot of attention to detail. Your Dad did an excellent job on that power center 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks Steve. Yes, my Dad did a fantastic job on the power center. It has worked flawlessly now for about 2 years. Love it :)
I like how you kept it real simple plain on the outside. With curtains pulled, just looks like a work van. Attracts less attention.
Right. People ask me why I don’t paint and make it fancy on the outside. Well, that would take away from the work van look. :)
Just subscribed :) Nice build...I especially like how you made your own roof rack. I have a 2000 Astro that I'm about to start converting.
Awesome Sarah! I just watched your "Getting the Astro" video, so I'll comment about it over there. A new build! It's exciting! :)
Thanks, yes it is!
Troy, you and your dad definitely built out the best Astro Camper Van that I have seen. It is very well thought out.
Thanks! We had plenty of time to think and plan. LOL! Since it took 3 years to build. My buddy, Eric, labeled it "The Best Astro Build in the Country". He's too nice. :)
He may be nice but he is right!
This is the coolest most well-done small van think I've ever seen. Kudos !!!!!!!!
Wow! Awesome Lynda! Glad you like it. The van recently performed great on a 106 day road trip thru Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. I hope to explore more places with it soon. Thanks for checking out the video. :)
i really dig you're little desk setup with the swivel chair. Im writing that down! lol. great job man!!!
That the cleanest battery center I have seen yet. Nice build mate.
Thanks! I always give my Dad full credit. He is the master behind the power center. 👍😁 It’s been working great for over 4 years now! 🚐💨
Great to see your van finished and you out on the road!
Indeed! It was quite a long process, but so glad it's complete. Now, if I can just kick this coffee habit. ;) But, they just emailed me and want to give me a free coffee for my b-day on Thurs. Can't pass that up? Right?
Traveling Troy Hahahah. Ok, just that last one.
Very clean and simple (while functional) build. Love how neat and secure the power system is.
Thanks! My Dad did a fantastic job on the power system and it has operated flawlessly thus far.
Great build and video
Thanks!
I love the kitchen setup, most builds are made to cook outside but i like that you have it set up so you can cook inside
Thanks Arctic Fox. I've been very happy with the dual inside/outside cooking setup. They both have their pros and cons. I would say I use the inside setup the most.
Seen countless videos and van tours and while it’s great to grab ideas from here and there, this is the most consolidated functional preferable build I’ve seen - great job to you and your pops! The layout is awesome, I’m sure I dig it because I work in tech as well!
I'm doing my research for an Astro. I used to have one for my mobile massage biz. Wish I kept it! This layout is perfect for me. I'm a designer and I think you did a top notch job. Super organized and tidy. Thank you.
Thanks! Astro vans are small, so you really have to plan out the space. :)
I'm a lean machine
Holy crap man. This is an awesome van build. I converted my gmc safari.
Thanks!
Hey Troy! Just wanted to say thanks for these build videos. We used these a ton for our build and you saved us a lot of hard work . You rock man! See you out there!
That’s great! Glad they were helpful. Your channel recently appeared on my home screen. I’ve watched a couple videos. Fun couple! Have a great road trip!
Yours is a great and well planned build! But your Dad steals the show. I've seen many of these vids but have never seen electrical work of this caliber in a van solar setup before. Go Troy and GO DAD! lol
Thanks Rick! Yes, my Dad did a fantastic job on the electrical and other aspects of the build. I’m very grateful for his assistance. I learned so much from him during this build. It was amazing!
Wow this is one of the most efficient builds I've seen yet. I was half-expecting to see a full stand up hot water shower tucked away somewhere :)
Thanks PCoutcast! A hot water shower is probably the one thing my van is missing that I would thoroughly enjoy. Thanks for checking out the video. :)
Excellent lay out. So organized! Double thumbs up!
Thank you Maria! Things get messy and unorganized quick in such a small space, but the good news is it doesn’t take long to get it back to clean and organized. :)
I like your van tour because it's all straight to the nuts and bolts instead of taking 30 plus minutes to show a 15 minute tour.
Thanks! I’m sure it was 30 mins before editing. Haha! I cut out a bunch of the chatter. Detailed explanations are cool, but rambling isn’t. :)
Superb build , very practical and simple in a good way. Good Job Troy .
Thank you, Chris!
Brilliant! Your organization is impeccable!
Thank you, Jim.
I love the way the power center was set up. Your dad did a great job!!!
For sure, he did a fantastic job on the power center. I just met up with my Dad on the road in Colorado. He was impressed that the power center has held up so well after 4 years of use. Besides swapping out 2 fuses and replacing a worn out inverter, the power center has performed amazingly. Go DAD!! 👍😁
That was a piano key tap for the office desk lol your layout is on point
Very nice build, compact and ready, Dad did a nice job on your electrical power unit.
+A sailor and his dog SlyKnight Yes, the power center has been great. Thanks for checking out the video.
Absolutely amazing job!!! With how small your van is compared to a cargo van, it looks just so much larger inside there. Very nice, clean, great organization and well thought out. Your dad did a sweet job setting up your power system.
Have a blast at the Grand Canyon and a wonderful Birthday!!!!!!! :)
Thank you very much for the wonderful compliments. I think my Dad secretly reads the comments, so he'll love this one. :) Yes, my Dad did a hell of a job on the power center. I look at it and REALLY appreciate it every day. I love pulling up next to big Class A RVs knowing that my van is small, but has most of what they have for an extremely small fraction of the cost. :)
Oh, and thanks for the birthday wishes! Thursday is the big day. :)
Hi, I'm a seamstress, and I like the tape on the bottom of the curtains instead of sewing because it provides a bit of weight to hold them down. Looks good too. When the tape gets dirty, put some new tape on!
Cool! I'm not crazy to be using tape. :) Thanks! You're right, it does add some weight to keep the curtains down and the tape holds up really well.
one of the best van build outs
Awesome Brenda! Thanks for watching/commenting.
Yes very nice setup indeed, right now I live in a 24 ft class c motor home. I’ve decided to move down to a mini van or full size cargo van not sure but I live in 🇨🇦 and gas is not cheap so more than likely a mini like yours. Anyway great build and some great ideas.
I’m also trying to decide what size van to go with lol! Even before wanting to do the whole van life thing I actually really wanted a Astro van to fix up as a show car type thing so I’ve always have a desire to own one. Butttttt I have full custody of my 9 year old son as well as 2 children with my current wife so when they come to visit I would need room so that’s why I’m leaning towards one of the Mercedes Benz sprinter vans because they are huge and extremely reliable. But anyway sorry for rights no a book here lol
Josh and Rose having the 24 ft RV was great when travelling across the country 🇺🇸 and 🇨🇦 however when I got back it was just to big to park in city with bylaws up the wazoo. I live full time by my self so I don’t need big just want something reliable and cheaper on gas as we speak gas is $1.48 litre. Sounds like you need a bigger rig for your family and the Benz is a good vehicle.
Hi Jeff. There are some pros and cons with going smaller, but for me the pros outweigh the cons. Not being able to stand is probably the biggest drawback. Inside my 40 sq ft living area, I can’t stand but there’s plenty of room outside the van. ;) Also, you have less room to store stuff. This will force you to eliminate non-essentials, which can be a good thing.
The pros: Less gas usage. I like that I can park just about anywhere. I don’t need to park on private property, like Walmarts. My van blends in pretty well. Thanks for checking out my build.
Traveling Troy that’s biggest problem in 🇨🇦 gas prices. I already have cut back on storage and will have to again. Like you said parking and gas and I can move around which I need to do these are all pros for me. The cons are standing up and making sure all I need I have, food storage water and heat and a place to sleep. This last year and a half living full time in my RV has taught me a lot along with people like yourself and TH-cam, I still have more to learn schools not out yet 😂. Thanks for the reply and safe travels.
Jeff Hipson thank you for that input! I would love to be able to go smaller like that but your right I’ll unfortunately have to have one of the bigger ones.. I’ve also been looking at pull behind bunk houses or something like that lol, basically a pull behind travel trailer with a master type bedroom as well as two sets of bunk beds. It’s actually a really nice floor plan. I don’t make videos lol or I would show you what I’m talking about.. do you have Facebook!?!
Awesome Man
I love this van. So wonderfully compact and organized!
Woot! Thanks Marianne. Yes, we fit quite a bit in there and still have a hallway (of sorts). LOL!
Ive seen the Astros go well over 500.000 miles as i maintained a fleet of them
Awesome! The engine has been great. My van is in the shop now getting the dreaded fuel pump replaced. I don't have an inside the van access door, so they're pulling the gas tank down to get to it.
That's good to know I have a 98'with 198000 miles on it
Hi dr.frank i have 98 astro cargo. 2nd owner 239k on the dash ive had van for less than a year. Differential ran out oil and broke rear 1k less than a week having electrical issues any tips or suggestions on common shorts/trouble wires i can check
@@yazanfarraj5499 Check all your grounds
@@TravelingTroy Aww damn. Mine is a 1992 and has 145k on it. Also in need of a fuel pump right now. seems to be a common thing.
I have watched loads of these videos and yours is the best small van and most creative use of the space. Really well done... I hope you are having a blast on the road.
Thank you, Boise! It was tough fitting everything, including the kitchen sink ;) into this van. My van doesn't compete with all the professionally built Sprinters and Pro Masters out there these days, but for small, compact and inexpensive, I agree that it is one of the best. Thanks for checking out the video.
Nice set up Troy.. Heck yeah Go Astros!!! H-Town all the way!!! Dude I really like this setup. It's good to see you back on TH-cam bro.. Take care and God bless
Thanks! :) Having a blast with the van.
I can honestly say this is probably the best thought out build I've seen in the 3 years or so that I've been researching this stuff, I'm definitely subscribing, greetings from Baytown by the way!
Hey shawn! Thanks for the compliment and "Hello" Baytown. My Mom and Dad grew up in Baytown and moved to Houston. I still have family in Baytown. Cool!
This is one of the best van builds i've seen you gave me some great ideas for my 98' Astro
Awesome Mark! Good luck with your Astro build.
Very cool setup! I hope you're enjoying it as much as you were in 2018! 😊👍🏼
Indeed! Really enjoying the van. I’ve owned it now for 6 years and have been living/traveling in it for 5 1/2 years. I have only made minor changes to the original build. 👍 Thanks for watching. ✌️
Damn thats a nice build. Very clean. Well done.
Thank you! The build has worked out well. I'm really enjoying it and at only 135,000 miles, I hope to travel with it for a while. :)
Really NICE video - well explained, to the point, with appropriate happy facial expressions :) subscribed !
Haha! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!
I’m impressed! The whole build is very efficient! Your dad did an awesome job too!
Thanks Debra! I’ve been enjoying it. Hope to get out on the road soon, lots to see out there.
Traveling Troy I hope you get out there soon also and test out all your work! ✌️
Nice job Bud. I've been contemplating doing an astro van and you did a lot of neat things. Love the power board your Dad built. I would have a higher watt inverter. The netting is a brilliant idea. Hope you are proud of it. Bob
True. A higher watt inverter would have been nice. My Dad was trying to cut costs and we determined my 180 watt laptop was the highest draw. Thanks for checking out the build.
Really magnificent!! So brilliantly done. Love it!
Thanks Mindy! I give A LOT of credit to my Dad. He’s the retired electrical engineer, but I did put in a few key ideas. ;)
Love the layout of the van I have a 03 Astro van that I am modifying in converting
Nice! I’ve been hearing about many people working on Astro van builds. That’s great! I’ve been living in mine now for 4 1/2 years, so it can be done. I wish I could stand up to put on jeans, but I get by, plus I have the whole outside of the van for standing. :)
Freakin' AWESOME! Very well laid-out; I believe this is how I'll set up my minivan
Cool deal! Glad my build gave you some ideas for your build. Good luck with it and thanks for checking out the video. :)
Wow. I love your van! Great job!!👍👍👍
Thanks!
I have a 03' and it just broke,200,000 NO issues at all
WOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!
Joseph Compnotta hell yeah. Great van I had 198.000 on mine. But last fri some guy hit me at 40 mph I was at a dead stop getting off the freeway he totaled my 2002 astro . I was more the a lil sad . Hes definitely going to buy me another astro
Absolutely love the layout of your van. Perfect use of the available space. Im in the market for and astro myself and may duplicate your exact build once I have one.
Thanks Chip. The build has been working out great. Good luck with your future van. :)
Very nice van build. Very practical and a job well done. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. I really appreciate your feed back.
Thanks for the tour. Love how you built this! Great tips
Thanks!
Wow really nice Van build u really got everything u need in that space and the t shirt idea is great rolling them up
Thank you! The van is working out well. :)
That barrier netting is cool. Very good build
Thanks! I really like the netting as well. Thinking about adding more on my empty driver's side wall.
Taping up the curtains a good idea, I would’ve never thought of that.
+Birdsong Thank you. I used an industrial strength duct tape, so it's still holding up well. 😀
Wow! Love the power center. Whole set-up very nice.
Awesome! Thanks Sylvia!
Go Astros....... that's why you have an Astro van.... nice setup good video explains everything...
I should have Houston Astros stickers all over my van. Haha! The Astros are looking pretty good this year. Thanks for checking out the video.
Nice rig! Go Astros!
Best power center I've seen so far! Your dad rocked it 😊
Thanks Jodi! Yes indeed, Dad rocked it! Thanks for watching.
Fascinating what you did with this Astro! That's honestly one of the most practical builds I've ever seen and your power setup is just incredible. Yes, the GM 4.3 must be the very best American V6 engine ever. I had an '87 Astro that I bought used for $1,800. Dropped in a rebuilt 4.3, drove the wheels off of it for the next decade and sold it for $2700. I have some videos on my channel of my 4x4 Econoline I drove all over Baja California.
Cool, I’ll check out some of your videos. Yes, the Astro engine is GREAT! What a return on your initial investment. Awesome! I bought mine for $4000. I suspect it’s worth a bit more now. 😉
Hey Troy! I've been looking to do a van conversion also. I bought an AWD Astro cargo van to do it. When I was looking for layouts for the van I couldn't find one that I thought was really functional until I saw your video! I love your layout! It is perfect! The one thing you might add is a shower but you already have the shower curtain rod! Haha! Can't wait until I finish and get on the road! Thanks for the videos, they are going to be my guide!
Awesome! Welcome to the Astro Van Club. :) Good idea getting the AWD. In some situations, I wish I had AWD to get into those secluded locations. Not having a shower isn't so bad. My gym membership worked out pretty well for that. Being from Texas where it's still hot and humid in October, I feel like I need to shower everyday. On the road, like my trip to Colorado, showers weren't a daily requirement. It wasn't hot enough to sweat. :) Good luck with your van build. Glad the videos were helpful.
Hey Troy, roughly how much did you spend on the build (not including labor, refrigerator, stove, etc) just the shell and the electrical?
1st I purchased the van for $4000. 106k miles, ex-phone company vehicle with all maintenance records. Over a 3 year period, I did maintenance and repairs as needed to get the van road ready which cost in the neighborhood of $2500. New tires, new brakes, suspension repairs and power steering fluid leak to name a few.
I haven't totaled up the cost for the build, but it was also in the neighborhood of $2500. At some point, I will put all the numbers together and make a video on this topic. Thanks for the question.
Great build. Love the way you set it up. Not sure why more people don't convert an Astro van into a camper. Seems like the perfect size for a stealth camper.
Thanks Andrew. 👍 Right, I think the Astro van is a good size for one person, maybe even with a small pet companion. Two people would be cramped, but I’ve seen people do it.
love the location of your power center board, cant tell you the agony ive gone through trying to find the best spot for mine. uggg it seems so easy now that i see yours. thank-you for sharing and to your Dad
Indeed. It’s out of the way, but easily accessible if needed. 😉
This is awesome, really well thought out!
Cool! Thanks. It's worked out well. I've made some minor improvements, but nothing major.
Excellent video Troy! At 6'7" I'm going to take a pass on the Astro Van, but am very, Very intrigued with a simpler camper/RV and the conversions.
Thanks for your video!
Ha! Yes, the Astro is a very small space. I keep wanting to expand and do things, then realize, oh wait, I don’t have the room for that. 👍😁
Wow! I just love it!!
Thanks Samantha!
Fantastic van build. Like the double access to the kitchen and I also really like the power system access door. That is great work and layout. Nice Van!
Thank you! Yes, the duel access kitchen has been great. When it's dusty/windy outside or there are more flies/bugs than I want to deal with, I can just stay indoors. It hasn't rained yet on this trip, but there is another advantage. It's also awesome to be able to open up the doors and have an outside cooking session. :) Thanks for checking out the van.
I have a 93 Astro that I am currently building for cross-country trip I have already put a new motor in and all new suspension and steering that was essential but my 250000 mile Van I feel has another 250k left in it these are awesome vans and your build is inspiring going to take a lot of notes from your videos
Excellent! Good luck with your van and the road trip. Yes, Astro vans have some quirks, but were well made van. I recently finished a 106 day road trip and the van was great. Put on about 8000 miles.
I'm in love with that desk/toilet tower. It would be awesome if you could make and sell those to other van dwellers....
My Dad and I did talk about my desk being the prototype, because it was made rough and then one day we could build more. Well, we got busy. :)
Great work Troy!!! Currently camping in my 98 Astro in Lake George NY.
Excellent! How is the weather at Lake George?
Traveling Troy the weather has been pretty nice mid 70s and low 80s
Nice!
Upstate NY, many beautiful spots. Big state.
I hope you're not still in Lake George now... so cold!
AWESOME BUILD
+Crystal Vanner Thanks! 🤠
I really like the kitchen idea! Access from in or out. VERY bright! Thank you for sharing
Excellent! Thanks Robin. The inside/outside design comes in so handy in a stealth van. I'm in the city now and I really like being able to use the kitchen from the inside. While on my last road trip, I used it primarily from the outside at campsites.
Love it! Very practical and doable! Thanks for several great ideas :)
Great Kay! Glad you gathered some ideas from the van tour.
I started out looking at vans as my first choice for converting to an RV, however, I could not pass up a diesel short bus. I love watching these types of van builds because they keep me on the path I want which is minimalist living. There are a lot of great ideas from van builds.
Very nice presentation and a great choice of vans. I hade one just like that and it had 250,000 miles on it and you as running great when I traded it. We lived in mich. then and rust got it. I’ll be following you to see what you do. Have fun
Excellent Jerry. I hope my goes to 250k miles as well. Thanks for following along!
Great build. Thanks for the tour.
Thanks Jeff. 👍
thanks for sharing your build I just got my money pit, 6 months from now should be a like-new 94 AWD EXT!
Cool! Good luck with the build, maintenance, repairs..etc. 😁👍
Nice job and really a good video... see you on road!
Thanks!
Awesome Van Tour mate!! Love your bed/sofa setup... Really handy.. allowing for that extra space when the bed is not in use...
Hey Codey! Thanks for checking out the van tour. It's changed quite a bit since you saw it on your visit to Austin from Australia. Yes, the bed is and has been great! If it wasn't easy to pull out and push back in, then it would be a hassle. Luckily, my Dad built it well and it's easy to operate. :)
i just got an astro van with plans to convert. alota grate ideas thanks for the vid!
Sure thing! Good luck with your build! 👍😁
Great well built ASTRO van. You and your dad did an amazing job.
Awesome! Thanks for the compliment. I'll let my Dad know.
Great van build!! The electrical set up looks top notch..Astro vans are hard to beat too..safe travels to you from a fan in hot as hell Tampa,FL!!!
Hi Chris. Thanks for checking out the build. I've been having fun with the Astro. On the road for 10 weeks now, and learning a lot about the build and what I do and don't like. Making changes on the fly. I may be in Florida for the winter, but it would be tough being there now with no A/C. Good luck, stay cool.
The winter is the best time to be down here although the Snowbirds from up north have the same idea!!! A cool place to camp out/Boondock overnight is the Skyway Bridge Fishing Pier...you say you are fishing all night and park right on the bridge in the middle of the water!! Great breeze at night and nothing is more cool than sleeping on the bridge over Tampa Bay! Be sure to check out the history of the Skyway Bridge and what the pier was before it was a pier!! You may change your mind about going on it!!
Awesome! Thanks Chris...I'll check out the bridge. :)
Nice set up!! Very nice and tidy!
Thanks Stephanie! I appreciate you checking out my build. :)
I just bought a '98 Astro. I love it. Haven't started outfitting yet, but I love the size and space.
Awesome! Good luck with your build. Have a look at my build videos for ideas. Everything from insulation to electrical.
Great build, I am going to do something similar only I think 💭 I will do a Chev Express for a little more room👍😊
More room is a great idea. About every other month, I go thru my van and figure out what I do and don’t need, so I can maximize my space for things I actually use. Of course, if I had a bigger van, the problem would be the same, but I could fit more. 😁👍
Your van build Troy, is great...very well done...
Thank you! :)
Very impressed. Great job
This is one of my most favorite layout.
🤩🤩 Enjoy the journey!! 🚐🚐
Thank you. I’ve had the van for 6 years now and have lived/traveled in it for 5 1/2. The layout has worked out well. 😁. Thanks for checking out the video. 👍
I just became the owner of an '05 Astro Cargo van, It was a internet service unit for 10 years and sold as surplus. 165k on the Speedo After the strip out the crap I don't want inside and good cleaning I plan on making it a camper as well.
That’s cool! Good luck with the build. My van was a phone company service van as well. They usually do regular maintenance on these vans to protect their investment, so it should be good for a while. Congrats. I bought mine at 106k and now have 145k. Still running great with repairs here and there.
Nicely done!
Really nice setup. Very good ventriloquist talking without moving your lips ... go Astros.. I am from Houston.. but have lived in Vegas 11 years now ... nice van keep up the videos
Thanks James! Great comment. Indeed, I'm a ventriloquist. I really wanted to make this a professional quality video. I'm very proud of the job my Dad and I did on the van and didn't want to cheapen it with ughs and ums. Voice over work takes way longer though. Yes! Go Stros! I have only flown into Vegas for a short layover, then back on a plane. Vegas is a destination I plan to visit in the future, for sure. Don't know how van friendly it is?