mx594m

iTrader: (1)

candy ***!

Seefo

iTrader: (5)

lol, suck it.

I camp plenty, but why camp when I can sleep in a car!

I hear its the new homeless shelter! LOL

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

occupy the track!!!!!

bbundy

I like one of the first comments in the link.

“IMO, these things will pull way more than they can stop.”

Exactly my impression knowing what my S10 Blazer does! I’ve put in the Hawk Heavy duty pads but doesn’t help much, wonder if there is an aftermarket solution for bigger more powerful brakes.
With my blazer I can regularly get 21mpg on the highway, Towing its more like 15 to 17. I suspect the Astorvan might be about the same maybe slightly less aerodynamic. The 98 Dodge 3500 diesel gets about 16 as long as you keep it under about 65 any faster and the mileage tanks on the dodge how much weight it’s pulling doesn’t seem to matter though.

Bob

Seefo

iTrader: (5)

So, from reading further about the astrovan, it seems 2003 chevy put rear disc brakes on instead. Is your blazer on rear drum or disc brakes?

I am going to look into the braking, but I think since you don't have trailer brakes, its likely that I will be a bit better off (considering its likely the trailer I will be using will have electronic brakes).

mx594m

iTrader: (1)

If it takes sleeping on an inflatable
[or is it with an inflatable in that pedo-van?]
you aint drinkin nough beer
LOL

Seefo

iTrader: (5)

Funny, I don't drink period. biatch!

mx594m

iTrader: (1)

here's one for you

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

Seefo

iTrader: (5)

Dude, its in Tennessee lol. I am not driving out there! not unless its for a track event. Or maybe to run the dragon.

spoolin2bars

iTrader: (1)

at that price point a well taken care of 98-02 chevy tahoe or gmc yukon is the best. cheap parts, easy to work on, 16/17mpg towing, etc... my buddy has 278,000mi. on his and has towed across the country dozens of times as recently as 6 months ago.

Seefo

iTrader: (5)

see, this is whats ******* me over man. we got two schools of thought. astrovan shenanigans (damn pedos) and tahoe/yukon/expedition (guys who don't believe in carbon emissions?)

I am going to go watch tv and not think about this till after the weekend.

codrus

Spoken like someone who lives in the flattest state in the nation. If there are mountains involved, you want trailer brakes.

Personally I'd buy a late 90s Suburban 2500 before I bought a panel van, there are tons of Suburbans out there that people bought for driving their kids to mall and then dumped when gas got expensive.

The panel van may tow OK, but it's not really good for anything else, IMHO.

--Ian

bbundy

A panel van seems like it is an order of magnitude easier to load and unload in a hurry with a wide sliding door and if there are no windows you can make things like tire racks high along the side and keep floor space open. The other thing is it is way easier to clean out especially if you get smooth sides and rubber like floors.

Pickup trucks absolutely suck to load and unload and if you have a canopy to keep your stuff enclosed or locked up it is even worse. Put stuff on tailgate crawl in on your hands and knees on a corregated bed that kills your kneecaps shove and arrange heavy stuff while on your hands and knees having no leverage to lift things. Repeat 5 or six times to finish loading. And if you need anything out reverse the process because you cant reach anything until you get everything out of the way.

SUV type vehicles are slightly better because you do have side doors but they don’t open as far and folded up back seats are a pain to deal with.

My Blazer is getting ready to click over 300k miles the most serious motor maintenance was changing the EGR valve twice and I think I changed the spark plugs and wires at about 150k just because. An Astrovan with fewer miles I’m thinking might be high on the list for a low cost replacement when it’s needed.

Bob

codrus

I don't really find my pickup hard to load, but I don't have a shell on it. It's a crew cab, though, so I have lockable space in the back seats if I'm not bringing the family along.

A 2-seat panel van isn't going to haul big stuff like a pickup can (lumber, furniture, mulch, piles of rocks), and it's not going to serve temporary kid hauling duty when the minivan is in the shop like a Suburban can. The panel van basically only does one thing, and that's not good enough in my book.

There are late-90s Suburban 2500s with the 454 all over Craigslist for $5000, and if that were my tow vehicle budget, that's what I'd buy. It's gonna be way more comfortable to drive, it'll have a lot more options in it (leather seats, decent stereo, etc), it's probably in better shape (spent the last 12 years driving kids to the mall, not working for a plumber), and it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb and **** off the neighbors when parked outside the house.

--Ian

bbundy

For me I don't want leather seats or even carpet, it's other use will be hauling hay and Alpacas. I want to be able to stand up in the back and sweep or even hose it out. The and a back seat will install about as fast as you can fold the seats down in an SUV if I need a people hauler. I don't have kids. I live a mile down a privite dirt road my nearest neighbor actually is a plumber who drives a white so I could care less what the neigbors think.

Bob

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

Second generation (97'-04') Dodge Dakota with a V8 and a bead cap. Sold my 97' in good shape with 118K for $3,700 I believe. Get one that's had the front bushings replaced. They don't get good mileage, but there cheap, plentiful and have very comfortable front seats.

bbundy

Funny I was just looking throug the wilwood site and It sort of looks like they have front calipers and a DynaPro low profile rear disk conversion kit that would bolt onto an Astrovan.

About $1000 for all 4 corners.

Bob

Quality Control Bot

iTrader: (3)

Vans are massive.

Might not be able wrap it all, but let me know when u be serious. Shuiend and I have talked about this before.

Ontopic......Stay clear of 6.0 diesel ford. Tons of fail. 7.3 ford or cummins. Check all vins

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

No wrap. You need 80's style van mural.

mr_hyde

iTrader: (4)

I've spent the last two seasons towing a 4x6 enclosed trailer to track events all over the west coast with the miata. This winter, I'm building a proper track car so I don't wad up my MSM and that meant getting a real towing solution. I bought a '91 F150 with the 4.9 six for $1300. It is in great shape for what it is and everything works. The 300 six has more torque than any of the small block V8s put in the F150s of that generation and gets better mileage. It will work for now. I had considered vans for the reasons others have mentioned but I really need a truck around the house from time to time. I'm shocked at how much **** has built up in the back yard since I sold my last one ~5 years ago.

I also got a 16' tandem axle trailer for $700. It's built like a brick shithouse but besides being heavier than I need for a ~2100 pound miata it will do fine for years. It has brakes on one axle but I'm not wired for them in the truck yet.

I'm going to get a canopy so I can camp in the bed and have knee pads that should help with the pain of loading/unloading Bob mentioned. The whole thing doesn't need to cost much - I'm set for around $2k. Not perfect, but very functional.
-h