Our "new" Tiger... [Archive] - Expedition Portal

HMR

02-05-2010, 05:18 AM

It all started at the Expo M&G on Fiesta Island (http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30145). There were lots of cool rigs full of Expo bling to drool over but I found myself drawn to a funny little Astro van owned by Suntinez. It was like a scene in an old Bugs Bunny cartoon where Bugs would happen upon a tiny, little Teepee out in the desert: He'd poke his head in the door and inside would be a 20,000 sq.ft. mansion with a tennis court and bowling alley. It wasn't quite that dramatic when I peered into Suntinez's van but it did make my jaw drop a little. Bathroom/shower, 3-way refrigerator, A/C, generator, furnace, 2 separate sleeping areas, stove, sink, microwave... how the heck did they fit all that stuff into a 16' vehicle?!

Suntinez gave me a great intro to the company, Provan, that designed and built the Tiger. They were in production from the late-80's until 2005 when Chevy stopped making Astros (Provan (http://www.tigermotorhomes.com/) now uses full-size trucks for their platform). I decided then and there that I MUST find a Tiger to add to our camping quiver. My wife loved the idea so we came up with a plan and a budget. After 5 months of searching (I was expecting to fly and buy somewhere far away), we found EXACTLY what we wanted (AWD, low miles, hard top) 30 miles from our house. :costumed-smiley-007

1994- It's an oldie but a goldie:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/781210243_8RP6P-M.jpg

Dirtbike rack coming soon:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/781209916_ovBm5-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/781229610_KuPUW-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/781213375_ebDbd-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/781209658_WPTBG-M.jpg

Adventurerider

02-05-2010, 06:12 AM

"You got to love it when a plan comes together", nice find and congratulations, really cool Tiger, many happy travels!!

kcowyo

02-05-2010, 06:19 AM

:Wow1: :Wow1: :Wow1: :Wow1: :Wow1:

Man... that thing is so great I can't even express myself...

After a few nights in DV with Suntinez, I totally agree with your "how do they fit it all in" mindset. I was stunned and super comfortable and very envious. Had I not spent some time with Tony the Tiger, I might not have such an appreciation and jealousy for your find. It looks cherry!

I can think of a few other people who are going to be very, very excited about your new Tiger. And the hardtop... ohhh! I'm so jealous I could puke!

:clapsmile

.

elysium

02-05-2010, 06:25 AM

Congrats on the new rig. Looks like it's in great shape! :victory:

Adventurerider

02-05-2010, 06:38 AM

slooowr6

02-05-2010, 06:59 AM

:Wow1: sweet!!
Congrats on a great find.

preacherman

02-05-2010, 12:57 PM

Nice, I love those little vans.

ihatemybike

02-05-2010, 01:43 PM

OMG, that thing looks clean! Can I ask what you paid, as I'm super jealous right now.

Owning three at the moment and a total of seven in my life, I have an abnormal obsession with Astros. My second was a 1994 that I pushed to over 211k miles before I made the mistake of selling it.

Do you know which 4.3l it has, VIN 8th digit Z (EFI) or W (CPI)? Does it have fiberglass or steel leaf springs? 1994 was a transitional year for both, with the latter being the better.

With the RV body, the Astro's weight is pretty much at the stock engine's limit. Luckily since the engine is essentially a 350 with two cylinders removed, all the same engine tricks work. Still feel the need for more power? 305 and 350 swaps are quite common and require zero body mods, almost like they were designed to have a V8 (cause they were).

Want more off road ability?
Lift kits are available from 2"-8". 2" lift will allow the use of 235/75R15 tires. Most people choose the 4" lift to run 31" tires though.
http://www.overlandvans.com

It is also possible to swap the AWD transfer case with a 2 speed transfer case.

Common problems
Fuel pump at roughly 100k miles, as the fuel filter is often neglected on these vans - replace pump with ACDelco/Delphi to last another 100k plus miles, cheaper replacements just don't last / replace the fuel filter every 20k miles

Idler arms - replace with Moog and grease them every oil change

Front diff axle seals, unnoticed leaks = diff destruction - recommended replacement every 75k miles

Transmission, GM's smooth/soft shift wears the 3-4 clutch pack, usually good for over 150k miles - install Transgo shift kit asap

A couple of great forums for these vans.
http://www.astrosafari.com
http://astrosafarivans.org

HMR

02-05-2010, 02:37 PM

I would like to find out more info on them, my mother is looking to start spending winters traveling, could you share how you found your incredible rig and if you have any tips on where you/or should look for one?
ThanksIMO- The best source for Tiger info is here (http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/tigermotorhomeowners/). Click on "Database" to view the For Sale section. They seem to catch even the most obscure listings for used Tigers.

HMR

02-05-2010, 02:52 PM

OMG, that thing looks clean! Can I ask what you paid, as I'm super jealous right now.Answered via PM.

Does it have fiberglass or steel leaf springs? 1994 was a transitional year for both, with the latter being the better.Fiberglass. I'm going to replace them with a custom steel leaf pack (new hangars, etc.) from a local spring manufacturer. The previous owner recently installed Firestone airbags so it rides fine with the fiberglass leafs, I just don't like having the airbags doing 90% of the work.

Want more off road ability?
Lift kits are available from 2"-8". 2" lift will allow the use of 235/75R15 tires. The van is lifted (not sure the exact amount) and has a brand new set of 235/75R15's. I like the tire size.

Common problems
Fuel pump at roughly 100k miles, as the fuel filter is often neglected on these vans - replace pump with ACDelco/Delphi to last another 100k plus miles, cheaper replacements just don't last / replace the fuel filter every 20k miles

Idler arms - replace with Moog and grease them every oil change

Front diff axle seals, unnoticed leaks = diff destruction - recommended replacement every 75k miles

Transmission, GM's smooth/soft shift wears the 3-4 clutch pack, usually good for over 150k miles - install Transgo shift kit asap
Awesome info. Thanks!

A couple of great forums for these vans.
http://www.astrosafari.com
http://astrosafarivans.org
Those are great sites and were very helpful during the last 5 months of research.

Gear

02-05-2010, 02:53 PM

Wow!! Congrats Jeremy. I like the hardtop. Can't wait to see it in person. Sleeps 4, interesting!

HMR

02-05-2010, 03:08 PM

And the hardtop... ohhh! I'm so jealous I could puke!
LOL! I was so jealous of all your cozy FWC shots I decided to upgrade from the RTT.

Wow!! Congrats Jeremy. I like the hardtop. Can't wait to see it in person. Sleeps 4, interesting! You're one of the few Expo people who know the top secret location where it's stored.
Bring your scooter and rack so we can take measurements. :bike_rider:

suntinez

02-05-2010, 04:16 PM

I've been wondering how your hunt was going, nice find!! And close to home, that's great - I flew to OK to buy mine, a little nerve wracking since I'd never seen one. I think in hindsight I would've preferred the XL (hardtop) version - alot more storage and flexibility.

Let's talk springs sometime, I want to upgrade my rear suspension too. Tiger talk, yeah ... and I love the bugs bunny analogy :) Congratulations!

T.Low

02-05-2010, 06:20 PM

Wow, that looks great. Congrats on the find.

I really like those, as you might imagine.

Keep the pics and updates coming. Especially one with the dirtbike on back.:bike_rider: And sleeping area of the interior.

I may take mine to Baja next fall (with enduros on back). Might have to stop by and see yours along the way.

Hey, you have a garage tall enough for that thing? I have two garages and can't fit my slightly lifted pop top Astro in either one!

HMR

02-05-2010, 06:58 PM

T.Low- Your Astrolander is AMAZING! :bowdown:

I'll try to detail the upgrades we have planned. Today's project is picking out Pergo-type flooring to replace the factory-installed burgundy shag carpet. I either have to ditch the stock interior colors or just buy a disco ball and embrace it.

You're welcome to check it out anytime you get down this way. I store the Tiger in a private aircraft hangar. It would never fit in my 2-car garage.

Herbie

02-05-2010, 09:16 PM

T.Low

02-05-2010, 09:30 PM

Woot! Congrats. I too am an Astro-geek and I love the Tigers. Its interesting to here suntinez second-guessing the XL vs GT decision, as I think I would have gone pop-top (for clearance/nimbleness offroad).
The only thing that kept me away from these beauties was that the interior layout isn't fantastic for 2 adults + 1or2 kids. I know I HATED riding sideways in the way-back of my mom's RV when I was a kid. My sisters and I were always fighting over who got to ride shotgun (single parent family). I'm doing my "Astrolander" in a more or less classic-westfalia layout specifically so that the munchkin doesn't feel exiled!

Hey T.Low, if you do end up going to Baja, let us all know ahead of time, we'll lay out a grand SoCal welcome for you. You can crash at Casa-de-Herbie if you need a few nights of regular bed and home cooking, so long as you don't mind the rugrat!

Thanks for the compliment, H, and thanks for the offer Herb.

Thats the same thing i thought regarding the hard top vs pop top. It's more because of me living in the forested PNW, roof clearence is often an issue with downed trees etc. Also, I would think COG with all the off camber trails. However, if I were more able to desert camp, and the like, and already had a quite capable well outfitted Tacoma like H has, the hardtop most certainly has its appeal.

Either way, it's a great find.

ujoint

02-05-2010, 10:42 PM

Cooooooool. Looks to be in excellent condition!!!

haven

02-06-2010, 02:51 AM

For those inspired by this thread, here are two Tigers on Craigslist tonight:

91 AWD Tiger Astrovan, $7400
http://reno.craigslist.org/rvs/1587785915.html

94 4x4 Tiger Silverado, $18,500
http://eugene.craigslist.org/rvs/1554781168.html

T.Low

02-06-2010, 05:34 PM

wanderer-rrorc

02-06-2010, 06:47 PM

very nice!!:sombrero:

...I've looked at those and Tlow's pop top for later on in life after the kids are grown and its just me and the wife...

suntinez

02-06-2010, 11:09 PM

A little more background on the GT and XL w/ interior pics.
http://www.rv.net/forum/Index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/22189891/srt/pa/pging/1/page/3.cfm

Good thing I'm not making any money anymore; I'd be that guy with the fleet of Astros at his house.

That's the GT that I bought on that link, was practically new (6500 miles, 2005 astro) when I got it in 2008.

Main reasons I would've gotten the hardtop - simple stealth camping, no setup, and much more storage. The handling is undoubtedly better with the pop-top, but mine is RWD so I don't usually plan to go on tough offroad trips with it. Learned my lesson on Lippincott Rd in DV. That is, I don't PLAN to take it offroad but I have this insatiable "what's down this road" thing going on and wind up offroad quite a bit. It is nice to have the lower clearance in those cases and at ~16ft long, much easier to turn around than my Tundra.

HMR

02-08-2010, 04:27 AM

Our Tiger sat, unused, for a long time before we bought it. I've been driving it everyday looking/listening for any quirks. I'm changing all the fluids, checking and/or changing plugs, wires, belts, etc... all the stuff you do when you purchase an older vehicle... So far, so good. This thing seems to be in great mechanical condition.

My wife wanted to do a little shakedown run to check the interior for squeaks and rattles so we went back to where it all started, Fiesta Island.

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/783466931_UWeuE-M.jpg

The cabin is surprisingly rattle free and quiet. One of the roof vents starts humming above 70mph. I'll be replacing it soon with a newer design.

We drove the beach for awhile progressing from hard pack to soft sand. The AWD works great. The Tiger won't be climbing any dunes at Pismo or conquering the Rubicon but it should do fine on our favorite deserted beaches. :costumed-smiley-007

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/783466115_rycHE-M.jpg

This awning is 16 years old and works like new. We have a 2 year old Fiamma on the Tacoma that we like but this design (Catalina 2500 by Dometic) is strurdier and even easier to setup:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/783468642_v8D8z-M.jpg

Borrego and Indi give it 2 paws up:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/783470771_Y2cb8-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/783470930_53Dfd-M.jpg

T.Low

02-08-2010, 04:48 AM

Great beach shots. I'm drooling.

Major bonus that you got nice looking cabinet veneer.

Herbie

02-08-2010, 02:36 PM

This awning is 16 years old and works like new. We have a 2 year old Fiamma on the Tacoma that we like but this design (Catalina 2500 by Dometic) is strurdier and even easier to setup:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/783468642_v8D8z-M.jpg

Awesome. I'm guessing the awning support is somewhere aft of the passenger door but forward of the RV doo?

I've been wanting the same sort of awning, but without a "b-pillar" between the passenger door and slider (on an unmodified Astro) I'm afraid I'll have to just do ground supported legs unless I figure out some way to come from underneath. (The Volkswagen guys have a way to put a plate into the jackpoint just aft of the front wheel that the awning leg slots into, which might work)

T.Low

02-08-2010, 03:49 PM

BTW, I have fond memories of my times visiting bonfire parties on Fiesta Island in the early '80s. My buddy worked the counter at a liquer store. All the girls thought he was a really good looking guy, so they always made sure to tell him where they were going to be partying that night. I remember staying up long enough to be suprised by the sunrise on Fiesta Island and seeing a water skier in the bay. Good times.

Hey, what is the exterior overall height of your rig? Is it that much taller than a lifted Sportsmobile?

HMR

02-08-2010, 06:39 PM

Hey, what is the exterior overall height of your rig? Is it that much taller than a lifted Sportsmobile?
The highest point on our roof is 103". Not sure on the height of the SMB? Every now and then we have a loaded, Ford, 4x4, EB, pop-top SMB parked under the same roof. It would be cool to get side by side pics sometime.

HMR

02-08-2010, 06:40 PM

Awesome. I'm guessing the awning support is somewhere aft of the passenger door but forward of the RV doo?
Here's a pic of a different Tiger showing the mounting points. It's a simple, one-man procedure to raise and lower the awning.
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/783954525_UecFD-M.jpg

slooowr6

02-08-2010, 06:54 PM

what kind of gas mileage are you getting and what's the tank size?
The more I looked at it the more I like the setup. So compact, self contained and hard shell comfort.

T.Low

02-08-2010, 07:07 PM

Do SMBs get 16mpg?

Actually, my buddy Railbat Brian ges 15.5 with his Powerstroke SMB. We get very similar mpg on the trips we've done together.

I didn't go with an Astro for the MPG because its nothing fantastic. Rather, I like the nimbleness and sportier feel both on and off road. Just my preference. SMBs are great and I may still own one some day as my needs change, who knows.

Wow. The more I look at it and think about it, the more I realize how difficult for me it would be to choose between the XL and the GT. I've always thought the pop top would be my choice, but for a motorcycle shuttle rig, the hard top would have been perfect this weekend as we took a break out of the rain from riding. How perfect would that be to have a hot lunch inside with helmet cam videos of the morning ride plugged into a laptop or tv. Lots of times the hard top would be the preference. But for kayak shuttle, the pop top would be better. Glad I didn't have to make that choice and looks like you got what works best for you. Bravo.

HMR

02-08-2010, 08:27 PM

what kind of gas mileage are you getting and what's the tank size?
We've only driven a few hundred miles with a mix of city and highway. So far it looks like 16mpg (same as our Tacoma). The fuel tank holds 27 gallons. It's hard to get an "exact" measurement due to the way the fuel filler hose is setup- the hose probably holds an additional gallon of gas but I'm not sure if the hose actually fills up completely when the gas pump shuts off? Refueling is a common complaint even on some brand new Tigers due to the way the fuel filler hose is routed. The hose is unusually long and the filler cap is nearly level to the fuel tank. The lack of slope in the hose causes fuel to slosh around and shut the gas pump off several times during each refueling. Takes more attention and patience than it should. Not a problem here in SoCal but it would be a drag to have to babysit the fuel nozzle in freezing temps.

We just got back from another 2500 mile camping trip in the Tacoma. We LOVE the Tacoma and will continue to use it for more "rugged" trips. However, when we realized that the little Tiger gets the same mileage as our Tacoma but has the convenience of a pass-through, stand up cabin and flushing toilet, my wife commanded me to hurry up and buy one. :)

BTW- A few years ago, I was searching for camper info for our Toyota and your Tacoma/Bobcat thread is what led me to Expo. Thanks!

adventureduo

02-12-2010, 07:24 PM

Im so late the party.... but Congrats Jeremy!! Tiger's are cool!

HMR

02-12-2010, 08:56 PM

Im so late the party.... but Congrats Jeremy!! Tiger's are cool!Thanks Dave. It's fun to have a project my wife and I can work on together.

So far this week we've:
-Removed carpet on cabin floor and replaced with Pergo.
-Thorough cleaning of all the nooks and crannies that haven't seen daylight in years.
-Removed original 3-way refrigerator and ordered an Edgestar 43qt, 12v/120AC to replace it. I'm building a fridge slide that'll fit in the original space.
-Measured and ordered materials for new curtains.
-Replaced every old screw, nut, bolt I removed with stainless steel hardware.
-Ran all the appliances for awhile (hot shower is nice!) to make sure everything is working properly.

We didn't "need" to do any of the above as the camper is in great shape. We just wanted to make a few changes that will fit our needs a little better and update the interior a bit.

HMR

02-13-2010, 11:11 PM

I've had a couple people ask about the size comparison between the Tiger and the Tacoma...

The Tacoma is approx. 2' longer than the Tiger:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786229344_oU9dY-M.jpg

The Tiger is only slightly wider but a lot taller:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786229122_znNFX-M.jpg

Our only concern with the interior space was the narrowness of the upper bunk. We wished it was just a bit wider for 2 people (works fine for 1 person). I was trying to design a pull-out bed similar to the one in the Four Wheel or Bobcat Campers. I was preparing myself for a lot of cutting. We had a good laugh when, after a few days, I leaned against the upper bunk and noticed it moved slightly. I grabbed it with both hands and it slid out. Apparently, Provan stole my idea before I even had it. :sombrero:
Not sure how I missed this great feature during my 6 months of research (doh!).

Here's the bed in the closed position:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786874646_oHYXv-M.jpg

Here it is open (this shows one of the two cushions that fill the open space):
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786873392_aG6pv-M.jpg

Turns out the bed is a perfect size after all.

UHAULER

02-14-2010, 03:40 AM

Looks like a nice clean rig.Now all you need to do is put some Dana 44's under it:D

I need to learn to be more patient when looking for vehicles, I usually try to be but sometimes I just see something and have to have it.

suntinez

02-15-2010, 09:51 PM

That's great Jeremy, I had no idea the beds did that either! Cool.

Was it alot of work to pull carpet and put in the Pergo? Did you remove the sofa to do it, or just lay it in the center section?

Do you have more pics of that GT with the awning? I don't see the awning itself anywhere, a little tricky with the poptop.

Ran into a fellow with a 1988 Tiger towing desert toys, he had almost 170,000 miles on it and he'd taken it everywhere. I see some fun trips in your future.

HMR

02-15-2010, 11:22 PM

Was it alot of work to pull carpet and put in the Pergo? Did you remove the sofa to do it, or just lay it in the center section?Carpet wasn't too difficult to remove. Probably took me an hour including pulling up the wooden tack strips (used a chisel and a rubber mallet). I only installed Pergo in the center section and entryway. I wanted to leave the inside of the storage bins carpeted to reduce rattles. Cutting the Pergo and installing it took me 4+ days because I kept fiddling with it. A less compulsive/obsessive person could probably do it in an afternoon. :)

I'll try to post some before and after pics soon.

Do you have more pics of that GT with the awning? I don't see the awning itself anywhere, a little tricky with the poptop.Edit: No more pics. I can't figure out why it has all the hardware but no awning? :confused:

HMR

02-16-2010, 05:50 AM

Before:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/789606046_PfuaH-M.jpg

After:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/789598460_7mPS3-M.jpg

The old carpet was faded and in need of a good cleaning. We decided to tear it out and replace it with a Pergo-type laminate floor. After 16yrs, the original fridge still worked "like new" but the newer 12V/120AC compressor fridges work much better. We opted for an Egdestar 43qt (delivered to our door for $360, hard to beat). I'm going to build a cabinet around the Edgestar that allows it to be accessed via a sliding drawer. I'll also have some leftover space to build an additional drawer above it. The burgundy carpet in the cab will be replaced with the same beige carpet visible on the step.

ersatzknarf

02-16-2010, 12:49 PM

The new flooring looks great ! ! !
I like the fridge idea, too.
The nice, clean, er, spotless garage is making a lot of us envious, I think ;)

spencyg

02-16-2010, 01:52 PM

I've been meaning to tear the carpet out of Boomer as well. "Love what you've done with the place". Neat little rig!

Spence

HMR

02-19-2010, 05:47 AM

The carpet in the front of the cab was a MAJOR hassle. I probably spent a solid 6-8 hours just removing the burgundy carpet. Provan used a strange method for their carpet install: Instead of removing the factory carpet and properly installing the new stuff, they laid the new carpet over the factory carpet then used 70+ screws to hold it all in place. The screws were cheap quality and buried in the floor so nearly every single one stripped when I tried to extract them with various screwdrivers. I ended up having to use a pair of Vice Grips and carefully twist and pull each one. It was a long day.

However, we had budgeted to buy a factory carpet kit and were pleasantly surprised when we discovered the OEM carpet underneath. Since the carpet has been covered for the past 16 years, it's in perfect condition.

Old vs. "new":
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/791753035_vZumd-M.jpg

Some of the screws (UGH!):
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/791748414_8ViNK-M.jpg

Before:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/791742756_YyEH9-M.jpg

After:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/791741578_xMYYW-M.jpg

Before:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786872121_GbYJt-M.jpg

After (the swiveling seat is cool!):
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/791766827_WRrmL-M.jpg

The refrigerator slide and additional drawer are the next project and will go in the space on the left side of the photo above.

spencyg

02-19-2010, 12:52 PM

Did you place the laminate flooring directly over the carpet??? I see red under the edge of the flooring....

If so, isn't the flooring "squishy"?

Spence

HMR

02-19-2010, 02:53 PM

Did you place the laminate flooring directly over the carpet???
No. All of the old carpet and padding were removed. I scrubbed the plywood floor clean then used the proper foam "underlayment" between the plywood and laminate. I used new carpet padding below the small strip of new carpet.

I see red under the edge of the flooring....Those are loose pieces leftover after I tore the old stuff out. The whole interior and the garage floor around the van were covered in red fibers. It was a messy job but cleaned up easily with a ShopVac.

Here's a pic showing the rear carpet removed:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786871427_w6RYu-M.jpg

The floor is solid underfoot and doesn't "click" when you walk on it.

Herbie

02-19-2010, 04:09 PM

Nice work!
I hope you have "reupholster seats" on the to-do list. Everything else looks so nice its a shame to have those bright-red seats!

I've been a big fan of conversion vans and the like for a long time, but I will NEVER understand the industry's obsession with big puffy overstuffed velour, velvet, or corduroy seating.

HMR

02-19-2010, 04:35 PM

Nice work!
I hope you have "reupholster seats" on the to-do list. Everything else looks so nice its a shame to have those bright-red seats!Thanks. I think we'll end up swapping the front seats for factory Astro seats in the correct color. We're looking at a couple different "water resistant" covers to protect the rear couch from wet dogs. The top bunk will be covered with sheets and a bedspread. That should take care of the 70's disco theme.

I've been a big fan of conversion vans and the like for a long time, but I will NEVER understand the industry's obsession with big puffy overstuffed velour, velvet, or corduroy seating.+1.
Even brand new, $80K-120K conversion vans often have the same decor. Weird. :confused:

Photog

02-19-2010, 05:15 PM

Having the ability to rotate the seats, really adds livable space to the "cabin on wheels". Do the factory Astro seats rotate? Or can you use the mounts from your "Red" seats?

spencyg

02-19-2010, 05:22 PM

Extremely true. Both front seats in Boomer rotate around 180 degrees and it significantly adds to the comfort factor. Great for watching movies too...especially with the laptop tied into the surround sound system :) Really nice rig HMR. The size is really nice for easily getting into tight places.

T.Low

02-19-2010, 06:16 PM

Factory Astro seats do not swivel. Many of the conversion vans do seem to come with them. And yes, it makes a world of difference.

HMR

02-19-2010, 11:22 PM

Do the factory Astro seats rotate? Or can you use the mounts from your "Red" seats?It's the mount, not the seat that rotates. Any seat that can be attached to the mount (the mount has 4 bolt holes) becomes "rotatable".

Only the passenger seat rotates in our Tiger. You can see the mount in this pic:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/792183705_r2EfW-M.jpg

It makes a huge difference in the amount of usable space.
FWIW- The seats are really comfortable. Besides the color, the only problem with the seats is they're maybe a little too comfortable (seriously)- after ten minutes in the seats I want to take a nap. Not good for long distance drives. :)

suntinez

02-21-2010, 02:25 AM

That looks so much better, coming together nicely. It is really weird how they did carpet over carpet like that but at least you have "new" carpet up there now.

I swapped out my driver seat with the standard astro seat too - but not cause it was too comfortable, quite the opposite! In spite of being big and puffy and all that, it was by FAR the most uncomfortable seat I've ever had. Rock hard and poor back support. Plus zero room to move around with that wall directly behind it. The astro seat works much better. I kept the passenger seat for the swivel and it is actually pretty ok, although I'm looking at changing that one out too.

I'll be interested to see how the compressor fridge works out for you, are you planing on additional battery or charging options for the coach battery? I'm pretty sick of the 3-way Dometic absorption one mine came with.

HMR

02-21-2010, 02:59 AM

I swapped out my driver seat with the standard astro seat tooYou did a nice job with that seat swap. It looks great and you gained a good amount of space.

I'll be interested to see how the compressor fridge works out for you, are you planing on additional battery or charging options for the coach battery?For the price, I'm really impressed with the Edgestar fridge. This afternoon I played with a few ideas for the "drawer" that will hold it. I bought 150lb drawer slides that fit perfectly inside the space where the stock Norcold used to sit. I'm traveling for the next week but will post up pics as soon as I get everything installed.

No plans for a 3rd battery. I have a brand new coach battery and, if my calculations are correct, it should run the fridge and accessories for a few days at a time. I can also run everything and recharge the battery with my little Honda generator if necessary.

HMR

03-03-2010, 02:40 AM

The previous owner put on a brand new set of 235/75/15 tires right before I bought the Tiger. Unfortunately, they were Load Range C and not a good choice for the relatively heavy weight they had to carry. After searching for a few weeks it became clear that a small (235/75 or smaller), Load Range D, All Terrain tire for a 15" wheel just doesn't exist. I decided to upgrade to a 16" wheel in order to have more choices in Load Range D and E tires.

I chose the Cragar Soft 8 Wheels (16x7) and got a good price and service from Summit Racing (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRR-3977750/):
http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/large/crr-397_w.jpg

I thought I wanted an E rated tire since I plan to carry a dirtbike on back but after doing some research it seemed a D rating would provide a better ride while still capable of handling the extra weight. I've been running BFG A/Ts on various vehicles for the past 10 years and decided it was time for something new.

After lots of research I settled on the Yokohama Geolander A/T-S (225/75/16):
http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/large/yok-01227_w.jpg

I ordered 5 wheels and tires so I'd have a full size spare. The only bummer is, the spare will be too big to fit into the cool little "Tiger XL" carrier on the back:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/781209916_ovBm5-S.jpg

Maybe I'll make it into a clock and hang it in my garage... :)

Here's the finished product:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/801288086_bWNVD-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/801287644_e4rND-M.jpg

HMR

03-03-2010, 03:00 AM

I finally brought the van over to National Spring (http://www.nationalsprings.com/). The Astros switched from fiberglass(!) to steel leafs in 1995. We have the last year of the fiberglass leafs. Since our Tiger has such low miles, the leafs aren't in "that" bad of condition but we definitely wanted a steel leaf pack and new shocks. The new leaf pack would also require a new leaf mount to be fabricated. I've heard again and again that the National Spring guys are some of the best in the business and could work on "anything". I was really excited to have them build a complete, custom setup for the front and rear. The shop and the guys are cool but after a quick 5 minutes of crawling under the Tiger the answer was "Nope, too complicated, not gonna touch it". I thought I could get them to reconsider but was told, again, "NO". I was bummed.

There are at least two companies making steel leaf replacement kits for the old Astros: Stengel Bros. (http://www.stengelbros.com/SteelReplacementSprings.htm) and Overland Vans (http://www.overlandvans.com/0104_suspension.html). They're both about half the price of a custom leaf pack from National Spring. I'm just trying to decide if they'll meet our needs. It's probably worth a try- they'll likely work well with the airbags and I can probably fine tune them with some additional leafs, if necessary.

Back to the drawing board...

ihatemybike

03-03-2010, 12:38 PM

New wheels are looking good on it. Have you tried the stock lug nuts and center caps with them? I highly reccommend 5 wheel rotations to keep the wear the same and the AWD system happy for when the spare is really needed.

From what I understand they used the stock suspension under these conversions and you previously stated that a PO added air bags. Not seeing what's too complicated. Maybe post some pics.

The steel leafs from newer vans bolt in when the new style axle mounting hardware is used. Most Astros come stock with 3 leafs, but some (like Grumpy) have 4. Grab some at the local JY and install them.

HMR

03-03-2010, 03:04 PM

New wheels are looking good on it. Have you tried the stock lug nuts and center caps with them? I highly reccommend 5 wheel rotations to keep the wear the same and the AWD system happy for when the spare is really needed.Thanks for all the good input. I think I found some center caps I like better, just waiting for my local tire shop to get them in stock. I agree with the 5 tire rotation (our other vehicles are also either AWD or 4x4). The reason I spent the extra $$$ for 5 tires/wheels was to keep the AWD happy.

From what I understand they used the stock suspension under these conversions and you previously stated that a PO added air bags. Not seeing what's too complicated.It's a completely stock leaf setup with Firestone airbags bolted in the normal place. Nothing unusual.
I'm still scratching my head about what makes it "too complicated".

The steel leafs from newer vans bolt in when the new style axle mounting hardware is used. Most Astros come stock with 3 leafs, but some (like Grumpy) have 4. Grab some at the local JY and install them.My new plan is to find another local suspension shop, show them the Overland and Stengel packages and see what they think. The Stengel is rated at 4000lbs which is plenty so it might even work without additional leafs. The ride is acceptable, "as is", we just want it to be as good as possible. Between the motorcycle and the Tacoma we average ~15,000 miles per year just on camping trips (not daily driving). We don't mind spending some time and money to improve the ride.

ntsqd

03-03-2010, 03:08 PM

You have a PM re: rear suspension work.

suntinez

03-03-2010, 04:01 PM

I'm interested to hear what you come up with for this, and also wondering what National thought was the problem. I've recently been in touch with Dan at Overland for his 4" lift/rear spring replacement and didn't foresee any problems because of the coach build. I also have firestone airbags in the rear so a similar setup except mine is RWD. Maybe the holding tank? I can't see what the problem would be there, it's not really close to the spring.

The new shoes look great! I'm holding off on tires until I get the lift completed. I hung a trasharoo on my spare, really liking it.

HMR

03-03-2010, 04:48 PM

I've recently been in touch with Dan at Overland for his 4" lift/rear spring replacement and didn't foresee any problems because of the coach build.Keep me posted if you learn anything more about the Overland kit.

I don't think National Spring was concerned about anything other than the fiberglass leaf setup itself. I told them about the aftermarket brackets, etc. but it didn't matter to them. They probably wouldn't have a problem with your Tiger since it has a more traditional leaf setup.

bstory

03-03-2010, 05:07 PM

Your renovation looks great! I want to build a slide for our Engel in a Sprinter we are working on (that is I want my husband to) - the Engel Slide is almost half the cost of the fridge! Can you tell me where you got the 150lb slides you are using?

Thanks so much!

HMR

03-03-2010, 05:25 PM

Can you tell me where you got the 150lb slides you are using?
I got them at Rockler (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=21447). Great store.

UHAULER

03-03-2010, 09:49 PM

Looking good.

How is the siping on those tires ? Do most of them go the full tread depth ?
I was looking to put them on my 2wd chevy silverado to replace some cooper H/T's. The cooper sipes go most of the way into the useable tread depth unlike some all season tires where the sipes are only about 1/8" deep.

Ford Prefect

03-04-2010, 04:33 AM

HMR

03-04-2010, 04:41 AM

How is the siping on those tires ? Do most of them go the full tread depth ?
Here's the best pic I could get showing the depth of the siping:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/802143669_SqZ2Q-M.jpg

HMR

03-04-2010, 06:05 AM

Very nice looking vehicle. II bet you wish you had waited to install that rear pergo until after you had pulled the front carpet, so you would not have that small strip, but still, the floors look wonderful. I am sure they will be better for you with dogs as well.That small strip of carpet was a tough area to figure out. Provan uses a thick plywood floor in the camper area while the front cab has the factory steel floor below the carpet. There's a pretty significant "step" (~1") where the wood meets the steel floor behind the front seats. There's also a small amount of movement between the wood and metal while driving. Look at this pic, again, and you can see the line where the two sets of carpet come together (between the fridge and fire extinguisher):

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/789606046_PfuaH-M.jpg

Provan dealt with the junction by splitting the carpet between the wood and metal floors rather than using a single piece of carpet from front to back. I couldn't figure out how to extend the Pergo into that area without a noticeable difference in the "feel" underfoot and I was also worried it would creek while driving. As it is, the Pergo goes to the very edge of the plywood floor and then I used 1"x1/2" strips of wood and layers of carpet padding beneath the carpet to create a smooth transition:

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/791741578_xMYYW-M.jpg

It looks good (at least to us) and feels "right" when you walk on it. We thought about doing the whole cockpit area in the new carpet but decided not to bother as it's going to end up covered in dirt and dog hair, anyway, while traveling.

Sorry, but I have to say, I am not a fan of the soft 8's on there. It just looks nicer with chrome wheels in my opinion. Never the less, not mine so I can't complain.It's funny, those stock rims with the chrome hoops really grew on us. They look pretty cool when shined up. We would've gladly kept them if I could've found a decent tire to fit them (argh!). We're currently getting quotes for an exterior restripe. We'll be changing the colors and the Soft 8's will be a good match for the new look.

Just curious why you want to swap out the leafs when there is nothign really wrong with them. Why not wait until they show signs of wear before you worry about that? Do they not ride as well or something?Excellent point. I'll address this soon with my new tire review...

I would be grateful to you if you would please include some detalied shots of the interior. I would love to see it better. Also, can you give me a measurement, how tall is it on the inside? IE Could I stand up in there?I'll take some better interior pics soon. We're still removing and replacing items so it's a bit of a mess right now. Here's a link to some photos of a 2005 model (http://tigermotorhomeowners.multiply.com/photos/album/36/2005_Tiger-XL_for_sale) that gives a good idea of the general layout. The interior height is listed at 6'3". The problem with the Tiger for anyone over 5'11" is the limited room in the driver's seat and the length of the beds (6-footers would have to sleep on their sides with knees bent). I'm 5'9", 150lbs and fly an airplane for my day job (I'm used to working in small spaces) so the Tiger seems pretty spacious to me. :)

HMR

03-04-2010, 06:44 AM

I wanted to put a few miles on the new tires before I shared my opinion of them. All I can say is "WOW"! The Tiger tended to wallow a bit on the freeway and required constant attention to keep it in it's lane. It wasn't too big of a deal on the open road but threading between big rigs at freeway speeds was more excitement than I bargained for. I chalked it up to a combination of weak suspension, "C" rated tires and driving an 8' tall toaster.

I'd been told upgrading to "D" rated tires would help a bit but I had no idea what a big difference the stronger sidewalls would make. I cruised around some slow, curvy back roads for awhile (big difference) then headed for the highway. I set the cruise control to match the traffic flow on I-5 (75MPH in the slow lane) and was very happy to see the Tiger tracking straight down the road. It drives like a heavy Astro van now instead of an overloaded motorhome. We're pretty surprised at the improvement. The change is so great that it has us rethinking our need for a custom suspension setup. We're going to put a few hundred more miles on it in the next week including some mild trails before we make up our minds but if it continues to ride like it has so far, we might have to put the $1200 we budgeted for suspension towards something more useful... like matching, satin, "Tiger XL" sweatsuits. :)

Some more tire pics (still waiting for center caps):
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/802144352_pwAPD-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/802144063_ADfbg-M.jpg

ihatemybike

03-04-2010, 11:09 AM

That would be quite the bonus if the tires cleared up all the ride issues.

Does it have a rear sway bar? I could see one being of benefit.
http://www.summitracing.com/search/Make/CHEVROLET/Model/ASTRO/Part-Type/Sway-Bars/Year/1994/Position/Rear/?keyword=sway

Some more tire pics (still waiting for center caps):
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/802144352_pwAPD-M.jpg

Kinda hoping to see 2nd generation Astro center caps.
http://truckandrv.com/ebaypic/astro.centers.chrm.lugs.7.jpg

ihatemybike

03-04-2010, 11:17 AM

Mind if I link this thread on the AS forums?

ihatemybike

03-04-2010, 11:24 AM

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/781210243_8RP6P-M.jpg
When I had my 1994 the silver grill stripes annoyed me. A little Goof-Off and some scrubbing removed it. I'll try to locate a pic.

Ford Prefect

03-05-2010, 03:32 PM

We're going to put a few hundred more miles on it in the next week including some mild trails before we make up our minds but if it continues to ride like it has so far, we might have to put the $1200 we budgeted for suspension towards something more useful... like matching, satin, "Tiger XL" sweatsuits. :)

As long as those sweatsuits come with photos of yall in them, then I am all for it... ;)

Thanks a lot for answering my questions. I have seen the tigers with the pop tops, but very rarely have I seen the ones like yours.

I am 6'5, and clearly that would not work out too well for me. Though I always wanted to fly airplanes, still would love it, but the first time I sat in the F-16 I was seriously reconsidering that idea. Same with the little private jets, wow those can get tiny!

HMR

03-06-2010, 05:09 AM

I spent the past 2 days playing with different airbag settings. The van is riding/driving great. I'm still scratching my head over what a difference the stronger sidewalls make. I've never experienced such a big improvement on any vehicle after a simple tire change.

I went shopping for front seats today. The nice thing about the Astro is they made a couple million of them. Parts are easily found and cheap compared to our other vehicles. I found a bunch of Astro/Safari seats but none in the correct color. We also found some seat covers we like so we might just buy the nicest used seats we can find and get covers in the color we want. We're trying to get the interior finished in time for a trip next week. Still have a lot to do but still having fun doing it.

slooowr6

03-06-2010, 06:12 AM

I spent the past 2 days playing with different airbag settings. The van is riding/driving great. I'm still scratching my head over what a difference the stronger sidewalls make. I've never experienced such a big improvement on any vehicle after a simple tire change.

When I had my VW Vanagon I've experienced the same. Originaly I got a new set of P rated tires and thinking the the load capacity is more than enough so how bad could it be. It was scary to drive it on the freeway, with strong side wind the van literally wants to change lane. Every 10 wheeler past by I need to hold on to steering wheel to make sure the van track straight. At one point I was scare to drive it on freeway. So I got a new set of C rated tires, I was so stunned at the difference. Everything in the suspension is the same, a stiffer sidewall made all the difference. Now I've D rated tire on my Tacoma.

ntsqd

03-06-2010, 03:01 PM

FWIW Approx 2 years ago a local upholstery shop (Mac's there at the top of San Jon) quoted me about $200 each to rebuild & recover a bucket seat.

HMR

03-10-2010, 05:03 AM

After visiting more salvage yards and crawling through more junked Astros/Safaris than I can remember, I finally found a perfect set of seats in the correct color and with the correct number of armrests.

Here's a test fit of the driver's side:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/806726599_2fuLz-M.jpg

The passenger side will require a little modification to fit the swivel mount. Here's a view of the bottom brackets.
I need to fab something up to make the new seat rails match the old ones:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/806724240_KW8k2-M.jpg

ntsqd- Thanks for the reminder about Mac's. I haven't been there in years. Cool shop.

HMR

03-10-2010, 05:17 AM

We also found some fabric we like for the rear bench/bed. Not sure if we're going to just tuck it in on top of the old fabric or actually have the sections recovered.
Hard to tell from the pic but there are 2 separate types of fabric shown here:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/806729122_HhEzU-M.jpg

The one on the right did better on our "dog hair test" so we'll be using it.

suntinez

03-10-2010, 08:57 PM

I can't get over how good the Pergo looks on your floor back there, nice job!

I'm rethinking the lift + new shoes now, based on your input it sounds like with new tires (mine has 16" rims already) I may be able to get the kind of ride I'm looking for with just tires. But did yours come already lifted? I think I recall that.

Congrats on finding the seats you wanted, I know what you mean about hunting for them.

chet

03-10-2010, 09:40 PM

for your back seats I would leave the original fabric on the cushons and have the new fabric made like slip covers with velcrow attachements down one side so they can easily be pulled off for cleaning. This is what we did on our little trailer we have and its great for cleaning. Oh and make sure you prewash the fabric to shrink it before doing anyhting with it! We had to remake one cover due to this error.

HMR

03-11-2010, 04:38 AM

chet- That's a good idea on the seat covers.

I'm rethinking the lift + new shoes now, based on your input it sounds like with new tires (mine has 16" rims already) I may be able to get the kind of ride I'm looking for with just tires. But did yours come already lifted? I think I recall that.I can't stress enough what a difference the stronger tires have made. Our van was already lifted. It's nothing fancy, the previous owner just had the torsion bars cranked up in front and used the airbags to lift the rear. The 225/75/16 size required some minor trimming in the front wheel wells to avoid rubbing during turns even with the lift.

HMR

03-11-2010, 05:17 AM

I can't get over how good the Pergo looks on your floor back there, nice job!Thanks L!
I've had more questions about the install so I'll post some more detailed pics...

The bare floor:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786874004_CCGzw-M.jpg

I used a pencil and paper to trace the angles created by the bathroom door. This was the only tricky part as everything else was pretty much square. Here's my paper template on the boards:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786874968_97Hw4-M.jpg

I outlined the cuts with tape both for a guide and to protect the laminate from being chipped by the saw blade. I staggered the sheets of "wood" to create a stronger bond and prevent bulges in the floor:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786875288_CtJJt-M.jpg

After double checking my template 20+ times, I made the cuts and everything fit perfectly. Here's a test fit without the foam padding:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786875640_wHQuX-M.jpg

HMR

03-11-2010, 05:20 AM

This is the hole that holds the mount for the metal table leg. It goes all the way through the floor, you can look straight down to the ground through it (bad design, IMO):
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786874327_dsciN-M.jpg

I thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned the bare floor then laid down two layers of padding below the laminate:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/806751372_DLAiZ-M.jpg

This is the mount for the metal table leg. The bottom extends below the wood floor and is exposed to the elements. It was in pretty bad shape:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786872476_Axc6G-S.jpg http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786872781_rQvWu-S.jpg

We scrubbed off all the corrosion with a wire brush and solvent. We sprayed on several coats of primer and finished the top with silver Rustoleum:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786876210_stvTn-S.jpg http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786876777_7ig9a-S.jpg

Here it is installed:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/806720120_PdN5Z-M.jpg

This closeup shows some of the approx. 100 stainless steel screws we've installed wherever we've removed original hardware. You can also see the sealant used along the edge of the entire floor:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/806722526_C9cgq-M.jpg

Thanks to the sealant and good fit of the laminate panels, you can spill a glass of water on the floor and it just sloshes around without getting absorbed. The floor is pretty much waterproof which is one of the main reasons we chose to go with laminate flooring.

HMR

03-12-2010, 12:36 AM

The seat mounts are a bigger project than expected. I've put a solid 8hrs into them and I'm maybe 2/3 of the way done (hopefully!). I'm having trouble getting the new seats to face perfectly straight forward. Everything is square but there's some sort of mystery offset between the Provan base plate and the stock seat bottom. I've mapped out every angle and measurement I can think of but it's still not lining up properly when I put the seats in place. It'll all be worth it once I'm finished as the new seats are a nice improvement. Oh well, think I'll go walk the dogs and brainstorm some more...

HMR

03-13-2010, 04:21 AM

I ended up spending around 16hrs designing and redesigning the seat mounts. It was a lot more complicated than I anticipated. I probably built 5 different mounts in total. Just when I thought I'd had it all figured out, the seat belt wouldn't fit or the seat adjuster lever wouldn't move freely or the armrest would be too close to the door, etc., etc. Once I had all the quirks figured out on the driver's side it only took an hour to cut, drill and mount the passenger side.

Here's a shot, again, of the stock and Provan seat mounts:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/806724240_KW8k2-M.jpg

Here's the final version of my custom mount. Figuring out the correct offset and angle was the time consuming part:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/808850673_jvAFi-M.jpg

The swivel worked perfectly on the first try. :)
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/808845517_W2pMu-M.jpg

The stock seats offer more room and a lot more adjustability. Definitely a worthwhile upgrade.

ntsqd

03-13-2010, 04:30 AM

The only problem that I see with the new seats is that they lack that Bordello Red color. :sombrero:

HMR

03-13-2010, 06:25 AM

The only problem that I see with the new seats is that they lack that Bordello Red color. :sombrero:We felt the same way so we took the material off the old seats and had it custom tailored into His and Hers Expo wear.
I wanted something that captured the feel of the original interior as well as tying in with the Tiger theme.

Here's mine:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/808907362_k2E3g-M.jpg

The wife is still working on hers.

HMR

03-13-2010, 06:56 AM

We used to have a cool little wooden fold-up table that disintegrated after years of outdoor use. We'd been searching for a replacement but hadn't found anything we liked. Now that we have the Tiger, we wanted one that would also fit snuggly in the Tiger's rear closet. Our chances of finding the right size seemed slim so I started sketching out plans to build my own.

Then, a few days ago, I was walking through a store and saw this:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/808845695_TE6ec-M.jpg

The style was exactly what we wanted but I couldn't remember the dimensions of the closet. I eyeballed it for a minute and thought, "Man, that looks perfect..."

Sure enough, it's a perfect fit:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/808845917_ARKzS-M.jpg

I put up two j-hooks to hang it on. Snug fit = no rattles.

wanderer-rrorc

03-13-2010, 03:33 PM

We felt the same way so we took the material off the old seats and had it custom tailored into His and Hers Expo wear.
I wanted something that captured the feel of the original interior as well as tying in with the Tiger theme.

Here's mine:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/808907362_k2E3g-M.jpg

The wife is still working on hers.

DAMMIT MAN!!!!!!!!!!

I just shot coffee out my nose!!

thats funny!!

HMR

03-15-2010, 01:29 AM

We'd been scrambling to get the van "trip ready" so we could head to Anza Borrego for some camping/wildflower viewing this weekend. The Tiger surpassed our expectations and we had a fun trip. AWD, suspension and new tires worked great in the deep sand and mild rocky sections. Careful packing and all the screws we've replaced made for a smooth, nearly rattle-free ride. My wife did most of the offroad driving so I just sat back and enjoyed the view. As usual, the winds varied from calm to 30+ mph during the night. The cabin was stable and quiet. So far, so good. :)

At camp:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/810281323_YSDTB-M.jpg

New, full-size spare barely fit on stock carrier but it's plenty strong enough to hold the extra weight while bouncing along offroad:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/810280845_f7XQr-M.jpg

Fish Creek:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/810251988_Ajv2w-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/810252885_w9ZNQ-M.jpg

Had to search a bit to find the flowers (still a little early).
We chose to hike up a random "no vehicles" wash and got lucky.
Lots of these in bloom if you find the right spot:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/810251301_4H6wn-M.jpg

T.Low

03-15-2010, 03:37 AM

Major Fellow Astro Congrats on the Maiden Voyage!

slooowr6

03-15-2010, 03:59 AM

Congradulation, it looks really really nice. Great setup!

ihatemybike

03-15-2010, 12:00 PM

Love the location shots! That thing is looking good out there.

HMR

03-19-2010, 08:36 PM

We've put another 1200 miles on the Tiger the past 2 weeks. I've been trying to get an accurate gauge of our MPG. It's a little difficult to get exact numbers due to the length of the fuel filler hose. I'm still not sure exactly how much it holds. The other day I pulled into a gas station with the fuel gauge on "E" and pumped 28 gallons into the 27 gallon tank. I doubt I was running on fumes so I'm guessing the filler line could be capable of holding an additional 2+ gallons? As I've said before, it's hard to tell if the tank and fuel line are completely full due to the routing of the fuel line. Anyway, I'm accounting for the extra fuel in my calculations so these numbers should be "worst case"...

With the old "C" rated tires, we were mostly taking back roads, taking things slow and keeping the load as light as possible due to the squirrelly ride. With that combination we seemed to get right around 16mpg.

Now, with the new tires, we're able to comfortably drive SoCal freeway speeds and carry a "full" load (full water tanks, tools, camping gear, dogs, etc). On our recent Anza Borrego trip we spent much of our time either on steep mountain grades or creeping along, offroad, in 1st or 2nd gear. Our avg. MPG on that trip was 13mpg. This week I took the 101 and PCH up past Santa Barbara for some coastal camping. To keep up with the flow of traffic, I set the cruise control at 70-75mph for most of the trip. My avg., again, was 13mpg. Personally, I think the "magic" speed for the Tiger is going to be somewhere around 60mph. I'm guessing the mpg at that speed and with a heavy load will be in the 14-15mpg range. It'll cruise at 70+ just fine but it takes a lot of extra fuel to push it through the air at 70 vs. 60.

FWIW- All of the above MPG calculations were done using GPS.

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/814115528_ig65g-M.jpg

HMR

03-19-2010, 09:10 PM

Couple small updates...
Found the center caps we wanted:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/810248953_zqurc-M.jpg

Fridge Slide...
The refrigerator slide was a little tricky to complete. The sides of the original fridge "box" aren't square so it took awhile to get the angles just right. The 150lb drawer slides work perfectly and are plenty stout but I'm not happy with my design. I'm going to find some slides that sit lower to the floor so I can build a larger drawer above the fridge for additional food storage. Here's a pic showing where the fridge ends up when "out". With the passenger seat turned around, it doubles as a table:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/814138709_MK79W-M.jpg

For anyone with a "factory fridge" setup I highly recommend you inspect your refrigerator compartment. The vents for the fridge compartment on many of these RVs, conversion vans and slide-in truck campers leave room for critters to enter. I thoroughly inspected the compartment with a flashlight during my prebuy inspection and saw no evidence of mice, rats, etc. A few weeks ago, when I yanked out the old refrigerator, I was surprised to find a nest hidden below the fridge in what appeared to be a sealed, "inaccessible" area:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786870823_eLpoT-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786870578_QT9sK-M.jpg

I scrubbed and sanitized the compartment, sealed up all the factory holes, sealed up the vent (no longer needed with the compressor fridge) and laid down a new floor on top of the old one:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/814148178_EVraY-M.jpg

FWIW- The Edgestar is working perfectly so far and is a nice improvement over the stock absorption refrigerator.

suntinez

03-23-2010, 01:54 AM

A few weeks ago, when I yanked out the old refrigerator, I was surprised to find a nest hidden below the fridge in what appeared to be a sealed, "inaccessible" area:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/786870823_eLpoT-M.jpg

Ewww! Better not to travel with that, drive the pups crazy. Going to blow mine out now with a compressor - couldn't see anything with a flashlight either.

I like how your slideout fridge can be a table now, that's a good spot for one. :coffee:

HMR

03-24-2010, 05:01 AM

My original fridge slide design worked fine but I wanted to drop the whole thing down a bit to create more space for a drawer above the fridge.

I needed the fridge to slide out as far as possible so I chose an "Over-Travel" type drawer slide. The 150lb slides (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=21447) I used are great but their "Over-Travel" design requires them to be taller than a standard slide:
http://images.rockler.com/rockler/images/89757-01-500.jpg

After some experimenting I discovered that a standard "Full-Travel" type slider in a longer size could do the same thing while allowing the platform to be as close to the floor as possible:
http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/029274/029274284794lg.jpg

It took some time to figure out how to make the longer slide fit in the available space but the results are exactly what we wanted.

Here are some pics showing how the fridge is mounted to the platform:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/818132945_CGvL8-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/818134732_qmsKE-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/818133875_7QYui-M.jpg

The finished product:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/818135456_rDPLb-M.jpg

Notice the latch next to the fire extinguisher- we chose that location so the person in the right seat could reach back and access the fridge without getting up. Works great!

Next step is to frame in the area around the fridge and install a drawer above it.

T.Low

03-24-2010, 02:23 PM

Wow, great work and thanks a ton for the documentation. It's very helpful. How does the front edge of the fridge and cabinet fit with the side of the driver's seat? I thought tha type pf fridge would sit out too far past the edge of the seat, but it looks like it fits flush.

Thanks.

Keyblazer

03-24-2010, 02:50 PM

Nice work!
What type of flooring are you using there?

HMR

03-24-2010, 03:07 PM

How does the front edge of the fridge and cabinet fit with the side of the driver's seat? I thought tha type pf fridge would sit out too far past the edge of the seat, but it looks like it fits flush.
I just realized that the angle of the picture I posted causes a bit of an optical illusion. The fridge sticks out 3-4" from the cabinet. The latch is flush with the wall behind the seat and the handle on the platform is a few inches closer to the camera. You can kinda see it by the shadow under the platform. The platform length doesn't cause any issues with the pass-through as it's less than the width of the armrests on the seats.

What type of flooring are you using there?
It's a Pergo-type laminate.

T.Low

03-24-2010, 04:15 PM

But the entire unit still fits within the seat width, correct, significance being it does not encroach into the walk thru area. (the seat is wider than fridge/cabinet/drawer unit).

HMR

03-24-2010, 09:49 PM

But the entire unit still fits within the seat width, correct, significance being it does not encroach into the walk thru area. (the seat is wider than fridge/cabinet/drawer unit).Correct, it's less than the seat width.

I don't have a perfect picture but you can see a bit of it below:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/808845517_W2pMu-M.jpg

The seat is quite a bit wider.

HMR

03-29-2010, 05:07 AM

Found a couple more pics showing the width of the fridge slide:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822149495_PKXB4-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822150007_eNMau-M.jpg

So far, it's working perfectly.

HMR

03-29-2010, 05:22 AM

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/781210243_8RP6P-M.jpg
When I had my 1994 the silver grill stripes annoyed me. A little Goof-Off and some scrubbing removed it. I'll try to locate a pic.I agree. Mine looked pretty bad but were easily removed with a razor blade and isopropyl alcohol.

I ended up sanding the grill and both headlight housings and repainting them. Turned out great:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822146341_aZVBt-M.jpg

Now I just need a nice Chevy emblem to complete the grill...

HMR

03-29-2010, 05:38 AM

I installed some "heavy duty" Bilsteins in the rear:

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/images/product_images/images/WORLDPAC/W01331608553BIL.JPG

With the new airbags and the ancient rear shocks, the back end would get a little bouncy on rough roads. These new shocks were an easy install and are a nice improvement. The combination of the new seats, tires, shocks and proper airbag inflation have made the Tiger fun and comfortable to drive.

Ned B

03-29-2010, 10:57 AM

HMR

03-29-2010, 04:15 PM

Just caught up on this thread, great find and an even better job at refitting an older rig. I'm going to be in the market for a mobile office/rv and you've inspired me to now look at an older class B RV. Having seen the difference after you put down the new flooring, changed out the seats etc, I think I'll be able to find an affordable rig to travel and do photo shoots from.Good idea- one of our desires was to be able to use the van as a mobile office. My job allows me plenty of time off to travel but I occasionally get a phone call and have to review and approve documents, on the spot. It's nice to be able to setup my laptop and printer on the rear table and go to work, if necessary.

One of the best things about these van conversions like the Tiger, Phoenix, Pleasure Way, etc. is the chassis and drive train remain pretty much 100% stock and were designed at the factory to carry the heavy weight. You routinely see these conversions with 150K+ miles on the original components and still going strong. In comparison, most Class A or C motorhomes are considered "high mileage" at 50K miles. The interiors are often cheaply built so some interior renovation is usually necessary but the "shell" lasts for years. Good luck with your search!

HMR

03-29-2010, 04:19 PM

One of our favorite things about the Tiger is the hot shower. We have a nice outdoor shower setup for the Tacoma that we love but it's a hassle to deploy and stow so we only end up using it every now and then. With the Tiger, we can wake up, light the water heater, brew some coffee on the stove and by the time we're half done with the first cup, the shower is ready to go. There's nothing to setup and nothing to stow... it's just there.

However, I had two problems with our particular shower:
1) The whole compartment didn't seem very waterproof. I found myself trying not to spray anything other than myself fearing the water was soaking through the wallpaper and into the wood. The compartment is tiny and there's very little room to move around so it would work better if I could just crank the water and not worry about soaking everything. I needed to find something 100% waterproof to cover the walls.

2) The rear window was a strange thing to include in the shower compartment. The window frame collected water which easily flowed to the rest of the rear window located on the other side of the sidewall and directly above the rear couch. If you aimed it just right, you could bounce water off the rear window and spray someone sitting on the couch. Also, even with the curtain closed and an opaque sticker covering the window, you could still see through it at night when the bathroom light was on. No big deal out in the desert but kinda creepy for busy campgrounds where the Tiger will likely spend some time. We decided to get rid of the window.

We'd been dreading tearing into the bathroom. We'd seen the scary pictures and heard the stories of the rotted wood and rusted metal common on old RVs. Our bathroom had a small tear in the wallpaper and a soft spot in the back corner. We were prepared for the worst...

Here's a pic taken after I started tearing into the wallpaper to look for water damage. Notice the back window (with fake stained-glass "privacy" sticker) and the "water resistant" curtains:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822145336_v8s7G-M.jpg

Turns out there was very little water damage behind the wallpaper (BIG relief #1!). I think the lack of water damage has more to do with the limited use this Tiger saw with the previous owner vs. the design of the shower compartment. The soft areas are deceiving- the rear of the Tiger has some tricky angles. It appears that Provan used a paper-thin wood laminate to bend around the curves. As a result, in areas where there's little structural support, the walls feel "soft".

Here's a pic showing some of the angles on the exterior that form the back and side wall of the shower. I drew the red line to show the approximate length of window that extends into the shower compartment:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822223460_sppCT-M.jpg

Here's another view showing the window and some of the wood paneling:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822145762_GGzck-M.jpg

Below the window and above the toilet you can see a small section of wood I removed to get a look behind the wall. There's a layer of fiberglass insulation behind there that I was worried would be damaged and need replacing. It was in fine shape and saved me from tearing out the whole wall (big relief #2!).

As usual, removing wallpaper sucks! Provan saved money by using cruddy screws and bolts in some areas but they apparently spared no expense in using the World's strongest wallpaper glue! :Wow1: I rotated between tearing out chunks of wallpaper for 10-20 minutes at a time and cutting the new walls to keep my sanity.

Before I could install the new walls I had to seal up the window. I drew up a couple different ideas and settled on fiberglass insulation and a piece of plywood to both insulate the back wall and make the window opening flush with the rest of the wall. I cut the plywood to size and then used it as a template for the fiberglass:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822146208_ArWNU-M.jpg

Fiberglass:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822146986_k4FeE-M.jpg

I drilled holes through both the plywood and aluminum window frame and secured them with sheet metal screws- it's not going anywhere. You can also see another piece of plywood (lower right corner) I used to strengthen a "soft" area and smooth out the wall:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822147601_MmA2P-M.jpg

We looked at 4 or 5 different materials to use for the walls and decided that FRP (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xgc/R-100389836/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053) (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic) paneling was the best fit for what we wanted. It's flexible, built for commercial applications and 100% waterproof:
http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/ae/ae5d464a-0986-4e6e-99b6-226a720f2211_300.jpg

I took measurements every 6” along each wall and copied the outlines on the back of the FRP. I used tin snips instead of the recommended saw to make the cuts. The cuts came out clean and it seemed safer and easier to manipulate the FRP while using the snips. FRP creates fiberglass dust when cut. I wear gloves, safety glasses and a respirator when working with it.
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822147942_qevBW-M.jpg

Hard to get a good picture but here’s a test fit of the panels:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822148906_YJFUA-M.jpg

The FRP really brightens up the space and should add many years to the useful life of the shower.

suntinez

03-30-2010, 05:08 AM

You're right - there's nothing like a hot shower in your house, well worth the effort. That is quite a project, didn't realize the window protruded into the bath area (mine is covered up). Water-resistant curtains?? Ha! BTW if you heat the water at night then turn the flame down to pilot, you'll still have a full tank of hot water in the AM and barely use any propane to do it.

I like the FRP stuff you decided on, will you have to re-cover the other "wet" wall too?

How's the shower pan/plumbing in there, will that need replacing also?

Great work, enjoying watching you transform this Tiger! :coffeedrink:

HMR

03-30-2010, 06:18 AM

BTW if you heat the water at night then turn the flame down to pilot, you'll still have a full tank of hot water in the AM and barely use any propane to do it.That's a great tip! Can't wait to try it.

I like the FRP stuff you decided on, will you have to re-cover the other "wet" wall too?I'm doing all 4 walls and still deciding on the door.

How's the shower pan/plumbing in there, will that need replacing also?It's in surprisingly good shape. I'll be resealing the whole compartment once I'm done installing the FRP. Should be "good as new" when finished.

Great work, enjoying watching you transform this Tiger!
It's a FUN project! My wife and I are both enjoying working on it. She's the brains and I'm the muscle. :)

I'm currently away on a week-long "work" trip and itching to get back to the garage to finish the bathroom and a few other small items. In the meantime, I spent today exploring around Moab/Arches in a rental 4x4. Might head up towards Ouray tomorrow. It's killing me not having the Tiger!

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822972432_T4bvi-M.jpg

HMR

04-04-2010, 05:02 AM

Another one of our favorite things about the Tiger is the abundance of windows. They make for excellent visibility both while driving and camping but they can also make it difficult to manage the interior temperature when the outside temps get too cold or hot. I saw this stuff (http://www.lowes.com/pd_13357-56291-BP24025_0_?productId=3011904&Ntt=reflectix&Ntk=i_products&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?newSearch=true$Ntt=reflectix$y=0$x=0) at Lowe's and thought it might make a good insulator for the windows. It works perfectly- very easy to cut to shape, just the right amount of stiffness to stick in the windows (no tape or velcro needed) but flexible enough to easily roll up and store in a cabinet. We haven't had it out in extreme temps, yet, but I parked the van in the sun for awhile today with the windows up (75 degrees outside) and the interior stayed nice and cool.

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/827035923_2ttqV-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/827036741_JacaS-S.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/827035969_KowG9-M.jpg

wrcsixeight

04-04-2010, 05:33 AM

Just an FYI,
This reflective material gets shorter and shorter the more it is rolled up.

Home depot sells a tape called Flexfit. It is nice and stretchy, strong, very tacky and just as silver as the reflectix material.

It is good for joining extra pieces together.

I have made window shades for each and every window.

The nearest Lowes is a pretty good hike from me, and the Ace which carried the Reflectix near me no longer does, and the Home Depot just plain doesn't.
Sometimes 99 cent stores sell flimsy window shades. I have used the flexfit tape to attach it to cardboard to place in my side windows.

HMR

04-04-2010, 06:04 AM

HMR

04-04-2010, 06:08 AM

As I said previously in my "bathroom/shower" post, there was a big gap between one of the bathroom walls and the back window. It caused two problems: water from the shower splashed out onto the couch and someone sitting on the couch could lean back and look through the gap into the bathroom.

Here's the gap:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/827036560_fEA9h-M.jpg
(The "stained glass" is inside the bathroom but visible outside due to the big space between the sidewall and back window)

We took care of both problems when we sealed up the bathroom:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/822146986_k4FeE-M.jpg

...but we were left with a big ugly gap full of pink fiberglass. I could not find a material to properly seal up the area. I needed something that formed a tight seal with the window to keep the fiberglass fibers from escaping but it had to be flexible enough to allow the window and wall to move, independently, when the frame flexes on uneven terrain. I experimented with neoprene, a few other types of rubber, plywood with silicone sealant and various combinations of those materials. Nothing worked so I did what I always do when I run out of ideas and went and wandered the aisles of my local hardware stores... Voila!, I found this (http://www.lowes.com/pd_234337-33674-F40C51P001_4294928893_4294937087?productId=3105543&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1&currentURL=/pl_Wall%2BBase_4294928893_4294937087_?Ns=p_product _price|0).

Took all of 10 minutes to cut, shape and install:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/827036539_iTEZg-M.jpg

I know it doesn't look like much but I had to share it because fixing that dumb gap was one of THE most confounding mods so far. :coffeedrink:

Ironduff

04-04-2010, 06:54 PM

HMR, Congrats! I'm the very happy owner of an '06 Tiger CX (Silverado 2500HD std. cab, 8.1, 6-spd Allison). You're doing a fine, fine job of updating yours!

One thought, if you're still thinking about a cover for the spare. Most conversion van parts houses on-line have a selection of the same-style covers Provan used on yours, in different diameters. I bought such a set (f'glass disc & lockable stainless ring) a few years back for a Roadtrek class B that I used to have. IIRC, it was just over $100 for my 16". I'd bet that a phone call to Mark, the new owner at Provan, would get you a new 'Tiger' decal for nominal cost.

I wish my passenger's seat could swivel. Alas, the floor contours in the pickup cab prevent it, That's one of the few things that I really miss from my old RT's.

For other folks struggling with the 3-way reefer,a tip... get the LP regulator's output checked at a place that sells and services LP appliances. With a manometer or Magnahelic gage, they can check the very low output pressure. AIUI, it should be about 11" of water column at a minimum. Mine was under 8". After adjustment, the reefer is cooling _much_ better on LP.

Keep up the good work!

Jim H.

HMR

04-07-2010, 04:48 PM

One thought, if you're still thinking about a cover for the spare. Most conversion van parts houses on-line have a selection of the same-style covers Provan used on yours, in different diameters.Thanks for the tip! I'd love to see your Tiger. :drool:
We really like that stock tire carrier, there's something "retro-cool" about it. We're tossing around the idea of painting the Tiger and will probably de-chrome it in the process. If so, we'll probably go with a black vinyl cover.

suntinez

04-07-2010, 06:03 PM

Not retro, but still cool - I put a Trasharoo on my spare, loving the outside storage. Keeps the leveling blocks, tow strap and a couple other things out of the limited storage inside my GT.

adventureduo

04-07-2010, 08:12 PM

You and Linda are bad influences on Yosh! She wants a Tiger now.. :(

And yeah.. HMR>.. you need a Troo onboard!

HMR

04-08-2010, 12:52 AM

You and Linda are bad influences on Yosh! She wants a Tiger now.. :(Ha! It's only a matter of time... :sombrero:

And yeah.. HMR>.. you need a Troo onboard!Yes I do. I'll be knocking on your warehouse door as soon as V2.0 arrives.

HMR

04-12-2010, 02:15 AM

The Tiger has ~70' of rubber moulding wrapped around the camper. Ours was old, brittle, discolored and made the whole vehicle look bad. I assumed it was some custom-sized product that I could only get from Provan. I also assumed it was going to be a nightmare to replace. I was wrong on both counts: it was a cinch to remove/replace and the moulding is a commonly used product available at our local RV store.

Closeup:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/834046960_wKBoH-M.jpg

Old moulding and aluminum channel that held it:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/834039123_2R8Jb-M.jpg

Because the old rubber had become brittle, it was sitting loose in the channels. There was years of dirt and gunk built up underneath. After stripping off the old moulding, I took the Tiger to a pressure washer and blasted everything clean. Surprisingly, there was no rust and the original screws looked good as new after the cleaning.

Old removed and new installed:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/834040695_BAE7f-M.jpg

Before:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/834105791_hthmM-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/834042732_cLpWs-M.jpg

After:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/834109998_xkR9u-M.jpg

Each end of the moulding is sealed and held in place with silicone RV caulking.

HMR

04-12-2010, 03:37 AM

I was in Vail, CO most of last week on another tough work assignment (Ha!) so I didn't get much done on the Tiger. I came back with a fresh perspective and made some changes to our bathroom remodel idea. The biggest change was how to attach the FRP panels. I was planning to use 3M Marine Adhesive because it's specifically designed to bond fiberglass to wood in areas that are wet and subject to lots of vibration. The only downside was the possibility that the adhesive might be "too" strong and permanent (supposedly the stuff is impossible to remove). If we or a future owner ever wanted to do another bathroom remodel, all 4 walls and the door would have to be destroyed in order to remove the FRP. As such, we decided to make everything semi-removable and use stainless steel screws and finish washers to secure the FRP. We made some more reinforcements to the rear wall (as designed by Provan, the rear wall is the thinnest and weakest) and then it was simple to screw the panels in place. We're using ProFlex (http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/proflex-rv-flexible-sealant/3245) to caulk/seal the seams. ProFlex is stronger and more flexible than typical caulk but it's also messier and harder to work with. The extra work is worth it as the combination of the FRP and ProFlex has made the shower/bathroom 100% watertight.

The new walls have created one problem: they look so good that the otherwise perfectly fine shower tub (shown with toilet removed) now looks old.
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/834037353_HPD6T-M.jpg

Ugh!... does it ever end? ;)

Herbie

04-12-2010, 03:39 PM

After:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/834109998_xkR9u-M.jpg

Wow! :Wow1:

The effect of the new moulding is really impressive. Nice work. That's the kind of thing I too would have assumed to be too much hassle to mess with and I might have left undone, but it makes your coach look NEW!

Ironduff

04-12-2010, 05:52 PM

HMR, that's the one good thing that comes from browsing RV parts catalogs... you learn to recognize the 'stock items' that the mfg'r used... otherwise, it's all evil as you either spend much money or find neat things that won't fit in a Tiger (compact washer / dryer, for instance).

Seriously, run by your nearest non-Camping World big-box RV dealer, go into the supply / parts section, and ask for a catalog. It'll have the dealer's imprint on the cover, but almost certainly come from one or another of a few national warehouse outfits. A _lot_ of the stuff in a Tiger is off-the-shelf from these catalogs.

The grubby caulk line at the top of the cab roof will probably clean up easily with Soft Scrub & an old toothbrush before you wash it next time (Tip from a factory tech). Mine looks even worse since I waxed the whole darn thing, but I'm on the way to the Outer Banks now.... ;)

Jim H.

Riptide

04-12-2010, 11:36 PM

Ya know, one of the things about campers is that boat construction is very similar in a lot of ways, with all the fiberglass that gets used in both.

I would imagine that a quart of good Interlux or Awlgrip topside paint could have that shower looking like new.

HMR

04-19-2010, 06:38 AM

Basinranger- THANK YOU! I appreciate the excellent info.

PS- Your fab skills make my head hurt. Amazing job on your camper!

HMR

04-19-2010, 06:41 AM

Ya know, one of the things about campers is that boat construction is very similar in a lot of ways, with all the fiberglass that gets used in both.Good point and I agree. I think I'll take a trip to the harbor and wander the aisles of the local marine supply stores.

HMR

04-19-2010, 07:40 AM

I decided to take the Tiger out to Amado, AZ for the Overland Expo. I flew into San Diego on Wed. evening, jumped in the Tiger and hit the road around 8:30pm. The plan was to camp somewhere near Yuma, AZ then get to Amado sometime late Thurs. morning. I got a call from fellow Expo member Gear as I was leaving the airplane and he talked me into a last minute, late night caravan with him and our buddy 1Leg. Gear and 1Leg are great guys to travel/camp with so they just made my already good trip better. We stopped outside of Yuma around midnight and boondocked off the side of the highway on an empty stretch of desert. I slept like a rock until 5:30am when Gear banged on the side of the van to wake me up. I was ready to go approx. 30 seconds later. :)

At our first gas stop, we opted to get off the Interstate and take the "long way" to Amado. It added 2 hours to the drive and was well worth it as the scenery was beautiful on the little 2-lane highways:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/841296047_gei5Q-M.jpg

Along the way, Gear and 1Leg spotted this gem behind a building in some tiny little town:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/841295054_h2h4U-M.jpg
:drool:

Pit Stop:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/841272606_proDU-M.jpg

Our Camp at OvEx:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/841271974_27A4f-M.jpg

I drove a little over 1,000 miles on this trip and can't think of anything that needs improvement as far as comfort and ride quality go. As expected, the Tiger ran perfectly. I got 12mpg on the worst tank of gas (70-75mph) and 15mpg on the best (60mph). Good times!

HMR

04-19-2010, 04:44 PM

Checked into the Sky Hotel (http://www.theskyhotel.com/) in Aspen last night and got a good laugh when I saw the carpet:

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/841636915_wUqxB-M.jpg

Definitely need to put two of these in the Tiger's closet:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/841639728_fKXrq-M.jpg

:D

1leg

04-19-2010, 04:50 PM

Had a blast, just got home. Very Tired......

Herbie

04-20-2010, 05:14 PM

I got 12mpg on the worst tank of gas (70-75mph) and 15mpg on the best (60mph). Good times!

Dammit, I MUST have something wrong with my van, I'm only averaging high 13's or low 14's, and that's with no high-top and lightly loaded.

Gotta get a scan gauge and start diagnosing stuff.

HMR

04-21-2010, 01:51 AM

I'm only averaging high 13's or low 14's, and that's with no high-top and lightly loaded.Yikes!

HMR

04-21-2010, 02:15 AM

ihatemybike

04-21-2010, 11:09 AM

As expected, the Tiger ran perfectly. I got 12mpg on the worst tank of gas (70-75mph) and 15mpg on the best (60mph). Good times!Just curious how you are calculating the mpg. Are you taking the larger tires into account? Your numbers might actually be a bit higher.

Tire Size Comparison (http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp?sw1=215&ar1=75&bd1=15&rw1=6.5&et1=10&sw2=225&ar2=75&bd2=16&rw2=7&et2=10)

I MUST have something wrong with my van, I'm only averaging high 13's or low 14's, and that's with no high-top and lightly loaded.Ouch. With Grumpy's cylinder 2 misfire and a stuck open thermostat, the van still gets over 20 mpg on the mostly highway drive back and forth to work. Using hypermiling techniques that van has seen trips over 24 mpg. This is with both back seats in and the van acting as a rolling tool shed.

I highly suggest a ScanGaugeII (http://www.scangauge.com/). I run with mine hooked up at all times. I monitor RPMs, Current MPG, Current Trip Avg MPG, and alternate between the Gallons Per Hour and the Throttle Position Sensor. It's a bit of a game for me to make the Current Trip Avg MPG numbers go up.

HMR

04-21-2010, 12:25 PM

Just curious how you are calculating the mpg. Are you taking the larger tires into account?I'm using GPS. The larger tires create a 5% discrepancy between the factory odometer and the GPS.

Ironduff

04-21-2010, 01:14 PM

So earlier today I was sitting in my room at the Houston Marriott. I glanced out my window just in time to see a familiar shape pass by.
Later on I went to get my car and saw it, again, in the parking lot:

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/843175581_EGyiD-M.jpg

Hard to tell from the pic, but it appeared all of the LP items had been removed (furnace, hot water heater, etc.). The lack of a propane bottle underneath adds a ton of ground clearance. It looked like most of the original interior was torn out (no shower enclosure) and replaced with a bigger sleeping area. The diamond plate fit perfectly and the whole exterior was in excellent condition. Someone put a lot of work into this Tiger.

Strange... seems like I'm starting to see Tiger's everywhere (cue Twilight Zone theme).

Wow! Unique! Peculiar, but very nice, looking CX! Yes, a _lot_ of extra work went into it. I know a lot of folks don't use the shower in their smaller RV's. They're mostly always in CG's and prefer to use their facilities. Plus removing the waste tanks would improve departure angle. A fair number of RV'ers are anti-LP for various reasons.

As far as the number made, my '06 CX's serial number is less than 1100. I think (not certain) that that number series includes all GT's and XL's, as well. I know the factory in SC isn't a big place; not sure about the former CO location. When I bought mine, it looked like they were building 1-2 a week. They're doing more now under the new owner, I think. He's added at least one dealer (New England area), and brought out a taller version of the CX, the Bengal.

I live in a town where 2 I'states cross, and one of them runs right by the factory about 180 miles away. Other than factory visits, I've seen exactly two on the road in 4+ years... one CX and one XL. I've actually seen more Scotties (larger, but similar to the CX, out of business since late 90's).

Jim H.

slooowr6

04-21-2010, 04:56 PM

These Tigers are looking better and better........ very nice self contain package!

HMR

04-30-2010, 05:20 PM

I had a hard time finding the correct rubber trim (aka "screw cover") that's supposed to go around both the refrigerator and aux battery access doors. The trim was missing when we purchased the Tiger. I was fortunate to grab the last 25' available from the only RV store in my area that carried it. There's a different type of trim that runs horizontally along both sides of the camper (thin black line below the brown stripes) that also needed to be replaced. I couldn't find the exact same stuff anywhere but noticed that the fridge/battery trim looked like it might work. It turned out to be a perfect fit and looks great. It's amazing what a difference these simple trim upgrades make.

Here's a before pic for reference:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/852463794_rG4ym-M.jpg

The arrows show some of the recent upgrades:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/852435724_rHPv4-M.jpg

The round-shaped areas towards the rear are the "shore power" extension cord cover and the "city water" hookup. The OEM white paint was chipping in those areas so I sanded them down and painted them black.

HMR

04-30-2010, 05:59 PM

Of the 3 roof vents on our Tiger, the one above the bunk was the only one that was 100% metal. It worked great for keeping the bunk area nice and dark but after years of exposure it was covered in rust (the other, plastic, vents are still in good shape). It wasn't causing any problems but the sight of the rust was bugging me every time I got up on the roof and we figured it was eventually going to start leaking if the rust got under the seal.

New vents should be very easy to replace. As usual with the Tiger, the cruddy screws they used at the factory made it take hours longer than necessary.

Original vent with lid removed:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/852436196_R6cLQ-M.jpg
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/852436637_zVWtY-M.jpg

There are 24 screws used to hold the original vent in place.
Only 2 of them came out with a screwdriver, 3 came out with vice grips and the other 19 had to be drilled out (ugh!).

New vs. Old:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/852437545_j9pC3-M.jpg
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/852437130_GsErR-M.jpg

The opening all cleaned up and old sealant removed:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/852437979_P5UB5-M.jpg

The new vent installs in minutes. It takes 28 screws. The old and new holes don't line up which is a good thing as it allows all the new screws to have a tight grip. I used a layer of putty tape between the roof and vent to improve the seal. As always, we replaced the original screws with stainless steel:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/852438374_8qsH7-M.jpg

Excess putty tape trimmed and a few layers of sealant slathered on the seams and screws:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/852438813_zyVUE-M.jpg

Zaskoda

04-30-2010, 10:02 PM

Here's a shot, again, of the stock and Provan seat mounts:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/806724240_KW8k2-M.jpg

Here's the final version of my custom mount. Figuring out the correct offset and angle was the time consuming part:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/808850673_jvAFi-M.jpg

I've done a strikingly similar mod to my econoline van using safari seats and a swivel I found at the junk yard:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4527627378_39d874ba3c_m.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4527627378_727556ac41_o.jpg) http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4527627578_fd8835f709_m.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4527627578_554082f13b_o.jpg)

I used all square tubing... it was a little tricky to get everything lined up nicely, but it finally came together.

HMR

05-01-2010, 03:04 AM

I used all square tubing... it was a little tricky to get everything lined up nicely, but it finally came together.Nice work!

HMR

05-03-2010, 06:36 AM

Drove PCH up to Oxnard, CA for an overnight at McGrath (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=607) State Beach.

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/854634300_BHymw-M.jpg

Good times!

HMR

05-05-2010, 05:19 AM

This showed up in the mail today:

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=SSSSSu7zK1fslxtUnY_ZOxTSevVSe ChshvTSevTSeSSSSSS--

Tomorrow's gonna be fun. :)

ihatemybike

05-05-2010, 10:25 AM

This showed up in the mail today:

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=SSSSSu7zK1fslxtUnY_ZOxTSevVSe ChshvTSevTSeSSSSSS--

Tomorrow's gonna be fun. :)
Well, ya got me. http://astrosafarivans.org/bb2/images/smilies/eusa_think.gif

What is it?

Maximus Ram

05-05-2010, 07:40 PM

This showed up in the mail today:

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=SSSSSu7zK1fslxtUnY_ZOxTSevVSe ChshvTSevTSeSSSSSS--

Tomorrow's gonna be fun. :)

Plastic washer/spacers..:confused::confused:

ntsqd

05-05-2010, 07:46 PM

Wheelie wheels!

Goin NOx or some sort of blower?

:sombrero:

kcowyo

05-05-2010, 07:58 PM

Body lift pucks...

Curious why the 3M logo is visible in the pic though...? Love this thread!

.

slooowr6

05-05-2010, 08:16 PM

It's the fuel disc for the fusion reactor! NOx is so yesterday.

HMR

05-05-2010, 10:14 PM

LOL! You guys are good! :sombrero:

It's a 3M Large Area Stripe Removal (LASR (http://www.toolsource.com/scotchbrite-large-area-stripe-removal-lasr-disc-assembly-07517-p-64418.html?sourceid=googleps)) disc.

Bye bye stripes:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/858064126_ucjJH-M.jpg

a.mus.ed

05-06-2010, 02:40 AM

Love your build. Makes me want one for when the LC isn't needed.

Overland Hadley

05-06-2010, 04:09 AM

Looks good. But, can it be a Tiger, without it's stripes?

kcowyo

05-06-2010, 04:18 AM

But, can it be a Tiger, without it's stripes?

If I sig'd quotes, I'd sig that...

So no body lift...?
.

HMR

05-06-2010, 05:35 AM

Looks good. But, can it be a Tiger, without it's stripes?
:sombrero:

You're right, a Tiger's gotta have stripes. We're ordering a new set as soon as we decide on a color combo. I was hoping to get real lucky and find perfect paint underneath the stripes. Didn't happen- there's a yellowish "shadow" left behind in some areas. From what I understand, there's no way to remove the discoloration so we'll have to order stripes in the exact same shape. Our other option is to have the whole thing repainted. A decent paint job will cost a couple thousand bucks. We have enough money left over in our "Tiger Fund" for paint and other goodies but I think we'll just try new stripes for now and see how we like it.

So no body lift...?
No body lift. Suspension is this close (picture my thumb and forefinger really close together) to being perfect... but I'm sure I'll still find a way to spend more money on suspension upgrades. :smilies27

PS- Keep me posted on your travel plans for the summer. I still owe you dinner from last year.
I'd love to get the Tiger up to Stanley...

Maximus Ram

05-06-2010, 02:15 PM

But, can it be a Tiger, without it's stripes?

In California , a Tiger with out stripes is a mountain lion:coffeedrink:

HMR

05-08-2010, 03:16 AM

BTW if you heat the water at night then turn the flame down to pilot, you'll still have a full tank of hot water in the AM and barely use any propane to do it.Suntinez- I've been using your trick the last few trips. Works great!

HMR

05-08-2010, 04:14 AM

A local RV shop quoted over $1,000 to remove our Tiger's stripes "because it's so labor intensive". It seemed like a straightforward job to us so we decided to do it ourselves... Good grief! It's A LOT of work! $1,000 is starting to seem like a good deal. :eek:

We're using the same tools and techniques the pros use but it mostly just takes time and elbow grease.
Slowly but surely we're making progress:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/860215701_Q6gGq-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/860216375_kTjWt-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/860216868_PoVLh-M.jpg

We also called 5 different paint shops for a quote on getting the whole thing repainted. We still don't think we "need" new paint but agree it would be pretty cool to do if the price makes sense. After we get the stripes off, we'll give the Tiger a serious clean/polish/detail before we decide on paint.

HMR

05-18-2010, 03:56 AM

The stripes put up a lot harder fight than we expected but they eventually succumbed to our barrage of chemicals, abrasives, blazing heat and elbow grease.

Here's our quiver:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/867875155_dnrec-M.jpg
(L-R: heat gun, isopropyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, razor blade scraper, "commercial strength" Goof Off, 3M Woodgrain and Stripe Adhesive Remover, 3M Large Area Stripe Removal (LASR) disc)

Notes for anyone attempting a big stripe removal job:
Heat Gun- Must have. Works wonders in areas where other methods don't. Downside is it leaves behind most of the adhesive but it's the quickest way to remove the actual stripe.

Isopropyl Alcohol- Works great for cleaning up small amounts of adhesive in areas where the 3M products would be too messy.

Denatured Alcohol- Doesn't remove adhesive but good to have for general cleanup.

Razor Blade Scraper- Must have. Works well with the heat gun but extreme care must be taken not to scratch paint.

"Commercial Strength" Goof Off- Worthless. Don't bother with it.

3M Woodgrain and Stripe Adhesive Remover- Must have. Don't let the $30 per can price tag scare you- this stuff is worth every cent. Spray it on the thickest adhesive mess, wait a few minutes, scrape lightly with a plastic spatula and it'll leave a clean surface behind.

3M Large Area Stripe Removal (LASR) Disc- We're 50/50 on this one. It works amazingly well on small areas. It removes both the stripe and the adhesive and leaves a clean, smooth surface without the slightest damage to the paint. However, it makes a huge mess ("stripe dust") on a job this size. It also took forever to work on large areas as it doesn't "self clean" very well- the residue is supposed to fling off the wheel but it gets clogged up and makes a mess when used on the wider stripes.

The results:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/867874649_TZAzG-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/867875603_qi6Lb-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/867875440_TU65D-M.jpg

I'm crisscrossing the country right now for work but hoping to clean off the rest of the adhesive residue this week. Once that's finished we can buff out the paint and make a final decision on whether or not we want to repaint the whole thing. I ordered a color palette from the stripe company today. Should have new stripes custom cut and delivered within a few weeks.

HMR

05-18-2010, 04:09 AM

We're aware of all the arguments against using K&N air filters in dusty environments. However, we've been using them in other "off road" vehicles for over 100K miles without any problems so we decided to put one in the Tiger. It's a quick and easy upgrade that gives a nice little performance increase.

Old:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/867874823_cr6Ej-M.jpg

New:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/867875000_CPx3g-M.jpg

HMR

05-18-2010, 05:08 AM

We liked the "retro" Delco radio in the Tiger. It worked fine and was a good excuse to perform an archeology dig in our garage to find our old cassette tapes.
Unfortunately, it conked out on the way home from the Overland Expo so, lately, we've just been singing to each other for entertainment... :yikes:

We ordered a new Stereo/CD/I-Pod/Space Shuttle Control Panel from Crutchfield (http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113MP345U/Kenwood-KDC-MP345U.html?tp=5684).
They provide everything necessary for the install so it only took an hour to go from this:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/867008441_ksGbT-M.jpg

To this:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/867010189_iD2ML-M.jpg

:rockon:

kcowyo

05-18-2010, 05:27 AM

We liked the "retro" Delco radio in the Tiger. It worked fine and was a good excuse to perform an archeology dig in our garage to find our old cassette tapes.

Van Halen "1984" in the Tiger... Yeah! :victory:

.

HMR

05-19-2010, 11:42 PM

The grubby caulk line at the top of the cab roof will probably clean up easily with Soft Scrub & an old toothbrush before you wash it next time (Tip from a factory tech).

Jim H.Jim- I'd previously washed the Tiger several times and the dirt didn't budge. I figured I'd have to remove the old, dirty caulk and replace it with new.
Your idea worked perfectly: Soft Scrub and a toothbrush took it right off. Thanks for the great tip! :)

Before:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/872661741_ChuBN-M.jpg

After 20-30 seconds of scrubbing:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/872661971_8tKvx-M.jpg

HMR

05-19-2010, 11:56 PM

Van Halen "1984" in the Tiger... Yeah! :victory:

.
Oh c'mon KC, at only 33:08 that album is just too short for serious road trips.

:sombrero:

HMR

05-21-2010, 04:01 AM

There are three little door holder thingies on the exterior of the Tiger. They're retractable clips that hold the battery, fuel and refrigerator compartment doors open. It's a very handy invention but after 16 years of exposure, ours looked terrible. All three had rusted to the point that they were staining the paint and would no longer function properly. I found several newer designs over the past few months but none of them "looked" right. It's not a big deal but for some reason it was really bugging me. Anyway, I found the perfect replacements today and it only took 10 minutes to make the Tiger look 10 years newer.

Old:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/873831752_7TsnB-M.jpg

New:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/873831818_8WfFN-M.jpg

Ironduff

05-21-2010, 11:32 AM

Your lower pic is what the current Tigers use. Very handy. I can recall looking at pix on the factory website the first time and wondering what those funny little bumps were for.... :)

Jim H.

ntsqd

05-21-2010, 05:24 PM

Oh c'mon KC, at only 33:08 that album is just too short for serious road trips.

:sombrero:
Que "Thick as a Brick" after it! That should get you to a significantly different lat/long.

T.Low

05-21-2010, 05:48 PM

Que "Thick as a Brick" after it! That should get you to a significantly different lat/long.

Ha! I had the same exact thought.:ylsmoke:

mountainsoul

05-21-2010, 05:56 PM

The results:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/867874649_TZAzG-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/867875603_qi6Lb-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/867875440_TU65D-M.jpg

Coming along nicely. I kinda like the black on white look. :costumed-smiley-007

HMR

05-27-2010, 04:04 AM

I started polishing the paint on a few areas as a test to see if it was even possible to spruce up the old finish. Surprisingly, it's starting to look pretty good- there's still a nice gloss coat hidden below all the oxidation. It's going to take a lot of buffing with polishing compound and wax but we think it'll look great when finished. We've also narrowed down our colors for the new stripes. Hoping to make our final choice and get everything ordered within the next week.

In the meantime, I've been repainting the access doors. Not sure why but the paint on the doors is in much worse shape than the rest of the exterior.

Here's an example:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/880341210_GGSkX-M.jpg

After sanding, priming and a new coat of paint:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/880341437_6iM8W-M.jpg

With new stainless steel screws and new "screw cover" in place:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/880340944_mHRgY-M.jpg

ersatzknarf

05-27-2010, 01:08 PM

Looking very nice ! Really enjoying following this thread. Thanks !

HMR

06-02-2010, 10:13 PM

Had a fun time looking for a new camping spot this past weekend. My wife spotted a trail on a previous trip and wanted to see if we could find it, again. We couldn't remember where, exactly, it was but knew the general area so we loaded up the Tiger and went exploring. As often happens, we got sidetracked by a completely different trail. The terrain was smooth but sandy with sections steep enough to be impassable without AWD/4x4. It was exactly the type of trail we bought the Tiger for- nothing technical but too tight and just enough "offroad" to be inaccessible by a "normal" RV.

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/887802802_PSx3f-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/887801681_x5QM5-M.jpg

We never did find our intended spot but had a good time getting lost anyway... :)

T.Low

06-03-2010, 12:39 AM

Perfect.

ihatemybike

06-03-2010, 02:30 AM

Bravo! Love seeing the Tiger out there.

HMR

06-09-2010, 04:24 AM

We're patiently waiting for the new stripes to arrive. They should be here by the end of the week. In the meantime, we decided to go ahead and strip 90% of the old sealant/caulk from the entire rig. At first we were just touching up any rough areas but the results were so good we kept going. I can honestly say we've inspected every millimeter of the Tiger and it appears to be 100% watertight. Next month's trip to Canada will be the "real" test. :snorkel:

T.Low

06-09-2010, 05:08 AM

Nice Rover.

What's your plan for Canada?

(Living 20 minutes south of the Canadian border, 3 minutes off I-5, 20 minutes north of http://northwestoverlandsociety.org/ 's world headquarters, and being a fellow AstroLander, enquiring minds want to know.)

In other words, you've got friends in the Pacific Northwest if you're traveling thru and need to stop for a good micro brewery.

HMR

06-09-2010, 05:45 AM

What's your plan for Canada?We'll work our way up through OR and ID to Jasper before heading back south. Planning on ~14 days start to finish. I do a similar trip, solo, every year on my motorcycle. My wife was finally able to get enough time off to join me this year so we're taking the Tiger.

(Living 20 minutes south of the Canadian border, 3 minutes off I-5, 20 minutes north of http://northwestoverlandsociety.org/ 's world headquarters, and being a fellow AstroLander, enquiring minds want to know.)

In other words, you've got friends in the Pacific Northwest if you're traveling thru and need to stop for a good micro brewery.
We love Bellingham and, of course, I want to drool over the Astrolander. :drool:
As of now, our plan doesn't allow any extra time for B'ham but if that changes, I'll be buying you the micro brew.

Gear

06-09-2010, 03:01 PM

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/895000920_eDr4P-M.jpg

Does this mean I have to start drinking tea with my pinky extended?:coffee:

No, but I think you are one step closer to needing matching Campaign Furniture Chairs. Great Land Rover. So have you buffed out the hole Tiger yet. How does it look?

HMR

06-09-2010, 07:33 PM

No, but I think you are one step closer to needing matching Campaign Furniture Chairs.Agreed.

So have you buffed out the hole Tiger yet. How does it look?I still haven't finished. I've experimented with a couple different compounds. The aluminum and steel surfaces are easy and polish up very nicely. The fiberglass takes some work. I need to stop being lazy and just get it finished. It seems like all our vehicles are due for service right now so I've been sidetracked with oil changes, tire rotations, etc.

PS- I flew over you guys while you were at the Grand Canyon and was wishing I could be down there. Your pictures are amazing.
We need to plan our next trip.

Ironduff

06-09-2010, 09:51 PM

"....The aluminum and steel surfaces are easy and polish up very nicely. The fiberglass takes some work......"

Yep. That's some good paint they use on the aluminum of the coach. Not that it'll do either of us any good, but I'm wondering if they couldn't offer something similar on the roof, maybe as an option. My second Roadtrek had a painted f'glass roof, and it took much less waxing, both in frequency & effort.

Maybe I'll finally get around to writing that email with improvement suggestions to Provan.... ;)

Hopefully you and your wife will manage to dodge the Prince of Darkness with the new rig.... :B. I'm sure you know all the old jokes.

Jim H.

HMR

06-10-2010, 07:12 PM

I've been dreading changing the spark plugs on the Tiger. The plugs seem nearly impossible to access. I'm sure after I've done it once or twice I'll get the hang of it but for now it's got me scratching my head. I don't have any indications that the current plugs are bad, I'm just wanting to change the plugs and wires for piece of mind.

All of our camping rigs are coming due for service at the same time so it's a busy day in the garage:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/896597780_GWFwW-M.jpg

slooowr6

06-10-2010, 08:19 PM

HMR

06-10-2010, 10:04 PM

Please stop posting picture showing your garage. Every time I see it I cry a little......... That's one amazing garage and it's full of toys.LOL! I wish I owned it.
We rent the space from another Expo member.

PS- The garage at our house isn't half as exciting. ;)

HMR

06-13-2010, 05:22 AM

The stripes finally showed up. The guy at the stripe place warned us that the color chart he sent "might not match the actual stripes..." (Uh-Oh!) We ordered a light brown/beige color that looked great on the chart. We received the same product # that we ordered but the actual stripe is a lot more yellow than what's on the chart. My first reaction was, "UGH!"

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/899025569_eXRjv-M.jpg

My wife thinks it looks great and wants to keep the color scheme. I'm going to give it another day or two before I decide to continue or start over.

In the meantime I keep seeing this:
http://www.outofthefog.net/Movies/CharlieBrown/CharlieBrown.jpg

:sombrero:

BIGdaddy

06-13-2010, 08:44 AM

I like it. Great thread so far.

HMR

06-14-2010, 02:04 AM

I couldn't take it!
I didn't have the willpower!
I was being haunted by visions of these guys borrowing the Tiger for their next tour:
http://jacobull.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/stryperband.jpg

The Yellow/Beige/Masking Tape/BandAid/Bumble Bee/Charlie Brown stripes had to go.

We're back to a blank canvas:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/900099592_RcdZu-M.jpg

Removing the new stripes was much easier than the old ones but it took a lot of paint with it. I'm going to wetsand and prime the area before trying it, again, with a new design. Practice makes perfect, right?

suntinez

06-14-2010, 04:07 AM

Now that you've de-striped, I gotta say - good call! Those might've looked ok-ish on a tan Tiger, but on white? Nope.

Are you thinking more stripes or something else entirely? What's that rectangular hole above the fridge vent cover?

HMR

06-14-2010, 04:52 AM

Are you thinking more stripes or something else entirely? What's that rectangular hole above the fridge vent cover?Hi Linda- We need to use some sort of stripes in order to cover up the "shadow" left behind by the old stripes. The other option is to re-paint the whole thing but all of the pro paint shops are requesting too much down time (2-4 weeks). We don't want to have the Tiger stuck in the paint shop this time of year.

FWIW- Here's a pic of the "beige" color that we matched perfectly on the color chart and ordered:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/899026046_H38YN-M.jpg

It's painted on a neighbor's airplane and looks great.
Here's another pic showing part of the airplane next to the Tiger.
You can see the actual stripe color is quite a bit different:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/899026603_HG3uS-M.jpg

The rectangular hole is the upper fridge vent.

ihatemybike

06-14-2010, 11:16 AM

HMR

06-14-2010, 09:36 PM

Best way to get to them is through the wheel wells. They are actually pretty easy that way.Excellent tip. Thanks.

HMR

06-14-2010, 09:52 PM

Here's the beginning of the new design:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/901205322_Y3Tzq-M.jpg

We'll use black as the base color and then layer a lighter color stripe over the top. This should look great when finished. The nice thing about getting a base layer down is we'll be able to put the Tiger back together. The Tiger isn't drive-able right now since we removed much of the entry door to allow a cleaner stripe application. With the base color in place we can put everything back together and take our time finding a second color we like.

Here's the door:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/901205724_rpBKF-M.jpg

While we had the window out, I was able to tint it to match the other windows.
Before:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/901206644_cLhyL-M.jpg

After:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/901207000_rjuns-M.jpg

The window trim pieces on both the exterior and interior were faded and dirty.
I scrubbed them clean then gave them a fresh coat of paint and new rubber moulding.
Before (interior):
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/901206135_GsxdC-M.jpg

After (interior & exterior):
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/901232073_geBCb-M.jpg

a.mus.ed

06-14-2010, 10:16 PM

I like the plain black!

HMR

06-15-2010, 01:33 AM

Got the door finished. Now we can drive the Tiger, again, without the dogs falling out!

Before:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/901205724_rpBKF-M.jpg

After:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/901491395_aieB7-M.jpg

HMR

06-15-2010, 03:45 AM

Rear:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/901678260_fxoyS-M.jpg

Roktoys84

06-15-2010, 04:00 AM

I think the black on white looks great!

shortbusadventure

06-15-2010, 05:10 AM

Nice Work!

We had ours built without graphics. We were going for the black and white theme as well, and have not done our own graphics yet. Nice thorough work.
-Kevin

P.S. Loved the Stryper reference. That brought back some memories. I still have a tape of theirs in a box somewhere. Yeah, I just admitted that.

HMR

06-15-2010, 06:33 PM

We had ours built without graphics. We were going for the black and white theme as well, and have not done our own graphics yet.I love the clean look of your Tiger.

HMR

06-15-2010, 11:11 PM

Got the driver's side door finished. Took a little while to figure out the correct angle for the front edge:

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/902604189_mRcas-M.jpg

Went on a nice long drive this afternoon to make sure we put everything back together correctly.
We're definitely liking the black & white design.

vanderpooch

06-16-2010, 01:57 AM

:drool:MEE TOOO!!!:drool:

Herbie

06-16-2010, 03:51 PM

We're definitely liking the black & white design.

Me three. I'd just finish the black and call it done.

weezerbot

06-16-2010, 04:20 PM

Me three. I'd just finish the black and call it done.

Yep. The great panda has arrived!

HMR

06-16-2010, 08:44 PM

Yep. The great panda has arrived!"Adventure Skunk", "Trail Zebra", "Overland Panda"... So many choices...

T.Low

06-16-2010, 09:02 PM

"Adventure Skunk", "Trail Zebra", "Overland Panda"... So many choices...

My friend had a stock 3/4 ton white 4x4 '80's Suburban. We dubbed it simply The Great White.

But it's shape was a little more "sharky" than yours.

Hmm. The White Tiger.

Kimba was a white lion, not a tiger, right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQsQqOlPjhs

Railvan

06-17-2010, 02:39 AM

We're definitely liking the black & white design.

Nice! How about maybe outlining the black with an 1/8" red or orange pinstripe? It would look more finished up close and hardly change the look at a distance.

I'm curious what was done to the chassis when they cut the van body off and built the "RV" body? Is it reinforced?

Brian

HMR

06-18-2010, 02:33 PM

I'm curious what was done to the chassis when they cut the van body off and built the "RV" body? Is it reinforced?
As far as I can tell, they just cut the sheet metal and bolted/epoxied the cabin in place. I know Provan reinforces the frames on the new, truck-mounted Tigers but I think the van chassis were left alone. The Astro chassis is pretty stout. The suspension has almost zero articulation so the frame is subject to a lot of twisting forces. So far, even on off-camber trails, I haven't seen a situation where the cabin appears to be stressed (doors and windows not sealing properly, for example). I wouldn't want to attempt any rockcrawling or high-speed washboards but the Tiger seems well built for the mild trails we use it on.

HMR

06-18-2010, 08:42 PM

The stripes on top were a little tricky due to a few angles and curves but it turned out great.
We also added the hood protector:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/905640959_Zg2Y7-M.jpg

Just about finished with new lettering/logo design. Hoping to get it to the graphics shop in the next few days...

CSG

06-18-2010, 10:42 PM

Very nice rig!

HMR

06-22-2010, 10:21 PM

Only a few more small items to finish on the Tiger before we leave for Canada.
In the meantime, I took a break this week to explore some trails in Colorado.

Saw this VW Bus at a great spot up around 10,000' this morning and it made me wish I would've brought the Tiger:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/910295680_eTMCL-L.jpg

Doesn't get much better than that.

adventureduo

06-23-2010, 03:49 AM

Lookin' killer. Yosh still wants one of these Tigers.

T.Low

06-23-2010, 04:54 AM

WOW you're gonna have a good trip.

Remember, you've got emergency help in Bellingham and an emergency shop in Seattle if you need one. Just PM me. http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee258/wannahuckmastinky/Astro%20Mini%20Me%20SMB%20build/
Bon Voyage.

VikingVince

06-23-2010, 03:02 PM

Saline

06-23-2010, 03:08 PM

Looks like Grand Mesa.

HMR

06-23-2010, 06:57 PM

Yosh still wants one of these Tigers.You guys need to take it for a spin.

Remember, you've got emergency help in Bellingham and an emergency shop in Seattle if you need one.Thanks T.Low, very cool!

Where is that in Colorado?Saline was correct, it's just off HWY65 in the Grand Mesa National Forest. Type this into Google Maps: 39.032229,-108.064706 and the arrow should point to the grove of trees shown in the photo.

HMR

06-26-2010, 11:30 PM

Busy and fun weekend getting all the vehicles ready for summer trips:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/914277611_2wNp2-M.jpg

Finally got the passenger-side stripes done:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/914284098_kQ3nk-M.jpg

Rear:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/914279597_5vSYr-M.jpg

Our new logos didn't get to the sign shop in time so we'll save them for later.
My wife is almost finished making the curtains.
Once those are in place, I think we're done. :)

slooowr6

06-27-2010, 03:10 AM

Busy and fun weekend getting all the vehicles ready for summer trips:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/914277611_2wNp2-M.jpg

:drool: .......... ..... ... rub it in, it's ok. Keep rub it in....... I won't cry...... :sombrero:

HMR

06-29-2010, 04:43 AM

suntinez

06-29-2010, 10:51 PM

If you're wandering around CO, you may run into an ambush of tigers. First Tiger rally was held last weekend, folks are still hovering about ... and talking about another one.

Have a great trip!

Roktoys84

07-01-2010, 01:35 AM

Saw 3 Tigers in the past couple days while traveling (a new record): passed a very nice GT on I-15 (pretty sure it was Suntinez), a newer XL on I-70 and a brand new CX cruising around Grand Junction. Funny how you always notice similar vehicles once you own one...

Random picture from this morning overlooking the San Rafael Reef:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/917120037_zJfKB-M.jpg

Looks like the view from the scenic overlook on I70. What direction are you heading from there? If you head through Cache Valley (northern Utah) I would love to see the Tiger.

HMR

07-01-2010, 03:15 AM

Looks like the view from the scenic overlook on I70. What direction are you heading from there?That's the exact spot.

I've been exploring around the Western Slope for the past 2 weeks. The more I see, the bigger it gets. I have a feeling I could spend months here and not even scratch the surface. There are miles and miles of beautiful, well maintained "trails" (more like Forest Service roads) that lead to deserted lake shores like this:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/910293665_8di5L-M.jpg

The Tiger would work perfectly on these routes... Unfortunately, I'm not driving the Tiger! :(

We'll be in the Tiger for 2 weeks starting next Monday.

HMR

07-07-2010, 06:13 AM

Typing this from upstairs in the Tiger's bunk somewhere in Southern Oregon. Great trip so far.

Mt Shasta:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/926205478_ZSod4-M.jpg

HMR

07-09-2010, 07:10 AM

I'm about 1600 miles into the trip. Everything is working perfectly, so far. The goal is to spend 14 consecutive nights in the van while also using it as much as possible for all meals, showers, etc. This is our "proof of concept" trip for our decision to move from our truck/RTT combo to an "all-terrain" RV. The idea is to take lots of notes and look for items we'd like to improve upon. I'm solo for the first week. My wife will fly in and join me for the second week. Tonight is the 4th night and it's my favorite campsite yet. I'm camping on a private ranch in central Idaho...

It's a few miles up this gravel road to the "trail":
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/928520918_F9UZn-M.jpg

A friend of mine created this fishing hole a few years ago. It gets better every year:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/928522432_Q8Ea3-M.jpg

Where the gravel ends, this ATV trail begins:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/928529423_ACD2Q-M.jpg

Hard to tell from the pics but the terrain is steep. I've had the Tiger offroad numerous times now but I'm still surprised at how well the AWD performs. The Tiger's weight plus the good tires seem to make for an excellent combo. I was with a buddy who would tug me out if I got stuck so I went much farther down this trail than I would if I were solo. The wheels barely slipped even on the steep, grass covered sections.

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/928522071_9gJ3A-M.jpg

With a little help from some old tree branches, I made a nice, level spot:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/928522963_upS7w-M.jpg

Got everything setup just in time to watch the sunset:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/928538620_QzYYu-M.jpg

Good times!

CSG

07-09-2010, 02:22 PM

Very cool! It's a shame these are no longer made. I keep debating turning my camping van into a 4x4 but I'd have to have it done and balk at the price relative to how often I'd really need it.

T.Low

07-09-2010, 03:27 PM

:26_7_2:

The fact that you can travel with all the creature comforts of an RV in that small of a footprint, allowing some nimbleness in the back country, is awesome.

Looking forward to reviews on the shower and the fridge in particular. Is your new fridge set up easy for the passenger to access while the van is being driven? I like to enjoy a cold road pop while driving the freeways and highways.

Edit: I have to admit; I like the fact that a guy with a badass Tacoma, a 1200GS, a LR Discovery, and flies airplanes for a living, is really diggin his Astro set up.:)

HMR

07-09-2010, 08:31 PM

Looking forward to reviews on the shower and the fridge in particular. Is your new fridge set up easy for the passenger to access while the van is being driven? I like to enjoy a cold road pop while driving the freeways and highways.T-Low- Good question. One of the criteria for the fridge slide was that is was accessible from both seats while driving.
Notice the location of the latch (just to the left of fire extinguisher):
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/818135456_rDPLb-M.jpg

The passenger can reach over and easily slide the fridge out. If I'm on a straight stretch of highway with the cruise control set, I can flip the latch with my right hand, slide the fridge out and grab a drink from the driver's seat without taking my eyes off the road. It took a few tries to get it right but now it's a standard procedure. I'm very impressed with the little EdgeStar fridge. I've been purposefully parking the van out in the sun in the 90-100 degree temps to test the fridges cooling abilities. It's working like a champ and the single aux battery has been powering it just fine while also running the interior lights, water pump for showers and the Fantastic Fan (I've been running the fan 5-6 hours per night). I'm driving the van each day so the aux batt is getting a good charge but it's gone 2 to 3 days in the past without a problem. Any longer than that and I'll run my Honda EU1000 gen to charge it back up.

The shower works great. It has excellent pressure and the onboard water supply is good for several days of showers, toilet flushes and sink usage. We have a really cool electric shower setup for the Tacoma that we like but the Tiger's shower is MUCH better than any "camp" shower we've seen. The only drawback is the size of the shower stall- it's tiny. I'm 5'9", 155lbs and I can comfortably take a shower but anyone larger than I will have to incorporate yoga into their bathing routine.

Edit: I have to admit; I like the fact that a guy with a badass Tacoma, a 1200GS, a LR Discovery, and flies airplanes for a living, is really diggin his Astro set up.:)LOL! The Astro gets more attention than any of them. Every time I stop for gas somebody wants to check it out. Yesterday, I came out of the grocery store and a guy was walking around snapping photos of it in the parking lot. :)

HMR

07-09-2010, 08:42 PM

I want to put a scooter on the back of the Tiger to use for trail rides or running into town from camp. My first choice is the Yamaha XT250. One of my best friends (who happens to own a dealership) hooked me up with a new one to ride around for the next few days to see how I like it:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/928952874_SARPt-M.jpg

The colors even match. :roost:

HMR

07-12-2010, 02:22 AM

After spending a day and a half with the XT250, my wife and I are both giving it the thumbs up. Great little bike. We wish we would've brought a hitch mount motorcycle carrier so we could see how the Tiger handles the load but I "think" the airbags would be able to make it work. We'll see...

HMR

07-12-2010, 03:18 AM

My wife flew into Boise on an airliner yesterday morning. It was going to be a 5 to 6 hr round-trip in the Tiger to pick her up. My good friend just bought a pristine 1950's era DeHavilland Beaver and insisted we fly down to Boise to save time and, more importantly, have some fun along the way. He even let me fly it down and back! I had the privilege of being his flight instructor years ago and he still holds the incorrect notion that I have the least bit of a clue inside the cockpit. ;)

Tiger Vs. Beaver:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/931490880_c2E3U-M.jpg

The Beaver is widely recognized as one of the coolest airplanes ever built so it was a special treat to be able to fly two of my favorite people around in one.

HMR

07-12-2010, 03:38 AM

Part of our drive today included about 5 miles of washboard dirt roads. A few of the sections had our eyeballs vibrating and I was doing a mental inventory of all the screws I replaced and which ones would most likely need tightening. A little while after we got back on the highway, we took a left turn and I noticed water shooting out the right side of the Tiger. I knew exactly what the problem was and pulled over onto a little side street to take a look. Sure enough, the little plastic door that covers the opening for the water tank filler had rattled off.

The culprit:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/931496808_oWUoQ-M.jpg

It's no big deal to run without the cover except that water will slosh out every time you turn left. We use a lot of water and it's been surprisingly difficult on this trip to find a spigot with an attached hose (I need to buy a hose ASAP). Anyway, we really didn't want to lose all of our water so I was trying to come up with a solution. As I'm bouncing ideas off of my wife she takes about 5 steps, reaches down into the gutter, picks up this little black thing and says...

"How about this?"
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/931486485_M4fUa-M.jpg

It's the EXACT same diameter as the hole and fits so snug I need pliers to remove it:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/931491269_4FBA9-M.jpg

My wife rules!

HMR

07-12-2010, 04:04 AM

Camping tonight at Lake Pend Oreille near Sandpoint, ID. Perfect day. Went for a great trail run followed by a swim in the lake.

We're in a cool little "tent only" campground. Vehicles are limited to 18' or less in length. The very nice ranger at the kiosk was going into his "No RV" speech when I told him our Tiger is only 16' long. After looking it over and realizing we had a shower, toilet, microwave, etc. he said, "Man, they fit a lot of stuff in there!" and asked, jokingly, if we wanted to trade straight across for his 30' 5th wheel. :sombrero:

Unless another Tiger shows up, I think we'll be the only "RV" in the campground tonight. ;)

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/931617130_CLyks-M.jpg

HMR

07-15-2010, 05:39 AM

So far, we've had mostly great weather but we've also experienced 100+ degree temps, 60mph winds, pounding rain, mud, dirt...

and then we got this:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/935382192_S5VLL-M.jpg

Kinda glad I wasn't on the motorcycle the past few days. :snorkel:

We're loving the AWD and being able to stay warm and toasty in the 30 degree temps. :)

HMR

07-15-2010, 06:03 PM

There's nothing like getting away from it all: wide open spaces, the wind in the trees, the solitude...

... and then there's the overflow-for-the-overflow parking at Lake Louise:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/935794772_HVdrE-M.jpg

:sombrero:

Photomike

07-15-2010, 07:03 PM

HMR

07-16-2010, 07:11 AM

Were you just in southern Alberta? Saw a unit like yours on highway #3 east of Lethbridge on the weekend (Sunday). Didn't have time to take a good look as I was in traffic but it sure looked like yours.We were in Southern Alberta but we never went East of Canmore.
I'm always amazed at the variety of high-quality camping rigs passing through that area. :drool:

Photomike

07-16-2010, 02:21 PM

There have been some nice ones this year. Enjoy your trip.

HMR

07-23-2010, 04:09 PM

We made it home from our trip a few days ago. We traveled 4163 miles. I spent 12 consecutive nights in the camper (my wife was with me for 6 nights). I have to admit that we were a bit surprised we didn't have a single problem (other than losing our water door). We figured with a 16 year old vehicle traveling thousands of miles through 100+ degree heat, freezing rain and snow, high elevations, washboard roads, lots of long hill climbs, etc. we should expect a couple hiccups. There were none. Everything worked perfectly the entire time. This was our big "proof of concept" trip for the decision to add a self-contained camper to our camping quiver. It was a success, we're even bigger fans of the Tiger now than before we left. :)

Some random notes:
Gas mileage- I was scratching my head at first. We were only getting 12mpg on the way up through CA and OR. I was expecting 14mpg and couldn't figure out what the problem was. As soon as we filled the tank with gas in Idaho, we started getting 14mpg and continued with that # for the rest of trip until we got back to "California Gas" where the mileage dropped, again, to 12mpg. :rolleyes:

Fantastic Fan- Don't know how we ever lived without one. What a great product! I left it running on HI almost every night and used it to keep the pups cool when parked during the day.

Stove, sink & counter space- We still prefer our little Coleman 2-burner for most situations but the stove in the Tiger works fine when needed. The sink works great and is used mostly for washing hands and brushing teeth. The counter space works fine if you're strategic with where you place items. We ended up using the top of the refrigerator quite a bit for additional space. I'm thinking of adding a removable cutting board to the top of the fridge.

Stove:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/943850030_XBasu-M.jpg

Sink:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/943916713_PNNnn-M.jpg

Fridge/Counter top:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/943849962_U9mgz-M.jpg

Interior/Exterior Size- I still can't believe this thing is only 16' long. You can park it just about anywhere you'd expect to park a compact car.
Sandpoint, ID:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/943859147_LuSJ5-M.jpg
As I’ve said before, I’m 5’9”, 155lbs and the interior size works perfectly for me. IMHO, if you’re much taller and/or bigger than that, you’re going to have trouble fitting in the shower, upper bunk and driver’s seat. I know there are plenty of folks taller than me driving Tigers but I’m not sure how they make it work. I’d be curious to hear their tips/tricks.

Shower/Bathroom and Water System- The time spent redoing the bathroom was well worth it. We used it everyday and were able to keep all the shower water in the shower. The original design would have left the interior soaked after a few uses. It’s funny, the shower is so convenient, we usually take 2 showers per day- pretty luxurious compared to what we’re used to. The limiting factor in the Tiger is the black water tank capacity (3Gal). We found the need to empty it every 3 days under “normal” use. For an extended back country trip, normal “primitive camping” techniques would extend the useful time by several more days. The grey water (7Gal) and fresh water (22Gal) capacities were never an issue.

Driving comfort- I feel bad for our Tiger’s previous owner. He had the crummy Provan seats, wrong tires, wrong shocks and didn’t install the airbags until right before he sold it to us. As a result, the Tiger wandered all over the road, was a chore to drive and he ended up parking it on the side of his house for a couple years. With the few simple changes we’ve made, the Tiger has turned into a comfortable, stable, fun-to-drive vehicle. We’ve found that 60-65mph is the happy place for the engine and transmission. The Tiger will go 70mph+ if necessary but the drivetrain has to work hard to keep it there. On long hill climbs with 5% or greater grades, we drop it into 2nd gear, slow to 40mph and get in line with the semis. The engine and trans never once got hot using this method even in the triple-digit temps with the A/C blasting. We’ve also discovered that 40mph isn’t too shabby for a loaded camper- I estimate we passed 20 RVs for every 1 that passed us going uphill.

The Tiger is back in the garage getting cleaned up and stocked for the next trip. :)

kcowyo

07-23-2010, 04:27 PM

Great review and write-up! You know you're driving up the value of these hard to find Tigers even more, don't ya? ;)

Sandpoint... but no Stanley?
.

wanderer-rrorc

07-23-2010, 06:51 PM

:friday::26_7_2:

awsome...I can truely say that Im am very impressed and applaud your intuition and followthru on the Tiger!!...

if it wasnt for the kids..we would look at something similar..:elkgrin::elkgrin:

Dale

07-23-2010, 08:12 PM

you sure got me thinking about one! Good to hear you had such a fun trip :smiley_drive:

HMR

07-24-2010, 06:41 PM

Sandpoint... but no Stanley?Don't remind me! ;)

CSG

07-24-2010, 07:35 PM

A shame Provan doesn't make a similar rig still (using a Ford or Chevy full size van). The little AWD Astro seems like a nearly perfect 1-2 person rig.

No Stanley? Tsk, tsk. I was just there last week. :D

suntinez

07-25-2010, 11:47 PM

I love this thread!

Glad your Tiger's working out so well for you. I'm on a long roadtrip in mine right now too ... I have several times wished I had your fridge/slide setup, great idea. :)

HMR

07-26-2010, 12:13 AM

No Stanley? Tsk, tsk. I was just there last week. Go ahead, rub it in.

:D

HMR

07-26-2010, 12:16 AM

I love this thread!

Glad your Tiger's working out so well for you. I'm on a long roadtrip in mine right now too ... I have several times wished I had your fridge/slide setup, great idea. :)Thanks, again, Linda for being the inspiration!

Have a great trip! I hope you'll share some pics.

HMR

08-20-2010, 04:20 AM

On the first page of this thread, ihatemybike recommended to change the fuel filter every 20K miles. That seemed unusual to me as the only vehicles I've ever owned that needed routine fuel filter changes were my 1960's/70's era Volkswagens. Fuel filters on "modern" vehicles seem to withstand a lot more miles and don't require as much attention. However, the more I learn about Astros, the more I keep hearing about the fuel filters. I'm still not sure what, exactly, causes the issues but I decided I better get under the Tiger and check it out...

WOW! :Wow1:
The fuel filter was filthy:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/975870874_yiv2D-M.jpg

Replacing the filter took all of five minutes.
I'll replace it, again, in a few thousand miles then every 20K as ihatemybike suggested.

ihatemybike

08-20-2010, 10:48 AM

I've been driving/wrenching Astros for 14 years, I still don't know what causes them to dirty up the filter. I'd rather change the filter than the fuel pump though. 20k miles is roughly once a year for me so I don't mind it much.

HMR

08-21-2010, 04:08 AM

The amount of dirt in the old filter was really bugging me. I was worried I might have a bigger problem with dirt in the fuel tank. I ran the new filter for a bit and then swapped it, again, today to see if there was any evidence of dirt. Thankfully, the sample was perfectly clean.

Here's a pic showing the new vs. old:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/976833986_zNKk5-M.jpg

I also wanted a higher quality filter than the Purolator (only thing available at the time).
The new, new filter is a Napa Gold:
http://partimages.genpt.com/partimages//704975.jpg

HMR

08-21-2010, 04:25 AM

I'd rather change the filter than the fuel pump though.I agree.

BTW- My fuel pump has gone from loud enough to be heard from 20' away to inaudible with the engine running. I've read many times that "GM pumps are always loud" and been told "they all do that" but now I realize the noise was due to the pump working extra hard to overcome the dirty filter. I haven't noticed any performance change- the van ran perfectly before and after the filter change- but it's gotta be much better for the pump to be carrying a lighter load.

PS- Thanks for sharing your expertise. It's a great resource. :Mechanic:

ihatemybike

08-22-2010, 05:12 AM

No prob, I'm so addicted to these vans I want to help keep as many on the road as possible. Never know when I might need my next one.

Thank you for sharing your Tiger mods and trips with us. Simply love reading all about them.

HMR

08-23-2010, 02:56 AM

On Friday morning, my wife informed me that we were blowing off all our boring weekend plans and going camping. :)

We decided to go to one of our favorite local spots and headed up Santa Rosa Truck Trail towards Toro Peak. It's a ~12 mile long, bumpy dirt road that tops out around 7800' where you can look one way to the Pacific and the other way to the desert.

Here's a pic of the trail from a previous trip:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/296813286_V7kNy-M.jpg

We didn't bring a real camera but I snapped a few pics with my cellphone:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/979013027_SvAgf-M.jpg

http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/979014459_Kr9Av-M.jpg

Good times!

HMR

09-15-2010, 04:32 AM

I've been spending less and less time on Expo but lots of time enjoying the Tiger. Figured I should post an update of recent work:

I noticed after 24 miles of bumpy dirt road on our Toro Peak trip that the front seats were a little loose. That had me scratching my head since I built the seat mounts to withstand much worse conditions. Upon removing the seats, I discovered I forgot to install lock washers on 4 of the bolts. Doh! It was a quick fix and the seats should stay nice and tight for years to come.

Seat mount:
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/1007996263_gdzvL-M.jpg

Since I had the seats out (not necessary but helpful), I decided to remove the doghouse and finally get around to installing the new plugs and wires. I'd been dreading this job. The passenger side was pretty straight forward but it took me most of the day to figure out how to remove the driver side plugs. Each of the 3 plugs requires a different, unusual technique. It's a complex puzzle of body position, socket extensions and patience. Now that I've done it, it'll be an easy job in the future but it was one of the more "fun" mechanical challenges I've had in awhile. I also went ahead and replaced the rotor, cap and ignition control module while I was at it.

Before:
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/1007996357_b7f7V-M.jpg

After:
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/1007996463_ivSwg-M.jpg

We were so happy with the Bilsteins in the rear, we installed a set up front. This turned out to be a much easier job than expected.
Old vs. new:
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/1007996500_QqV9g-M.jpg

The only drivetrain fluid I don't like to service myself is the Transmission. I took the Tiger to an independent, pro Transmission shop. They dropped the pan, cleaned everything up and installed a new filter, gasket and fluid.

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/1007996161_y5Jxy-M.jpg

Our little Tiger is purring like a kitten. :)