intothewild
Adventurer
I was thinking it could be fun to have a consolidated thread about the strengths and weaknesses of everyone's van. This could be helpful for people looking to get into the van game, for people not completely satisfied with what they have, but unsure of which direction they want to go with another project etc. Every van is different, one van might be perfect for one person, but for the next person it might be completely wrong.
Either way, I think it's safe to say, that the people on this part of the forum have already discovered the wonderful versatility of a 4x4/AWD van no matter the make or model. I would like to hear from everyone, whether it's Ford/Dodge/Chevy/VW etc
I suppose, I will start things off.
Year/Make/Model: 1995 Chevrolet Astro LT AWD
Drivetrain/Miles: 4.3L V6/Auto/155k miles
Strengths:
Perfect size for me, not too big, not too small.
Easy to lift ~2/4" or so.
Swapping a true 4x4 transfer case is not too difficult giving you 2wd/4hi/4lo etc
Interior space is larger than most realize.
Reliable, long lasting engine. The 4.3l is essentially a 350 minus two cylinders.
Parts are everywhere, easy to find, and cheap.
On Road ride quality is nice, smooth and quiet.
Tons of them for sale, and can typically find a nice AWD variant for a good price.
V8 Swap has been done time and time again.
Weaknesses:
Fuel Mileage..I struggled whether or not I should list this, it's pretty much a given that none of these vans will get great MPG. I do a mix of city/hwy driving and average about 14mpg. I was hopeful that I would pull 18-19mpg out of it when I bought it. I have got 18 before, but that was one very long, mostly flat and straight highway roadtrip.
Power..While the stock 4.3l is adequate, and has done fine in the Mountains of the northwest, I could see it struggling to get over some of the higher passes in say Colorado for instance.
Tire size..I have 235/75/15's on mine, which typically is not recommended without lift. They equate to roughly a 30" tire. While I don't have any lift on my van yet, they fit and are very tight. However, even once the van is lifted 4", that is about as big as you can fit, you can maybe get a 31" tire with a little massaging.
Aftermarket support..There are a couple vendor's who sell lift kits, and other small items for the Astro van. But to get serious, you will most likely end up doing some fab work yourself. There are no companies like U-Joint, Sportsmobile etc who do amazing work for the Astro.
Overall:
Overall I haven't regretted my decision of going with an Astro one bit. It fit's my needs and uses very well, fits my wife, my kid, my gear with ease, while still being able to pull right into a crowded parking lot and park in one spot. It blends in, it isn't showy, doesn't attract mischievous eyes. It's handled everything I have thrown at it and asked for more. No it will not cruise through the Rubicon or crawl over boulders, but it will get me where I need to go. As it progresses and I do a transfer case swap, lift, and gears, I really don't imagine many place's it won't be able to take me that I would be interested in going.
Picture: (Just post one in order to keep this thread viewable).
Feel free to edit your post at anytime as you think of things. I know I will for sure be adding things to this post, as I am still waking up and still need some caffeine. :coffeedrink:
Either way, I think it's safe to say, that the people on this part of the forum have already discovered the wonderful versatility of a 4x4/AWD van no matter the make or model. I would like to hear from everyone, whether it's Ford/Dodge/Chevy/VW etc
I suppose, I will start things off.
Year/Make/Model: 1995 Chevrolet Astro LT AWD
Drivetrain/Miles: 4.3L V6/Auto/155k miles
Strengths:
Perfect size for me, not too big, not too small.
Easy to lift ~2/4" or so.
Swapping a true 4x4 transfer case is not too difficult giving you 2wd/4hi/4lo etc
Interior space is larger than most realize.
Reliable, long lasting engine. The 4.3l is essentially a 350 minus two cylinders.
Parts are everywhere, easy to find, and cheap.
On Road ride quality is nice, smooth and quiet.
Tons of them for sale, and can typically find a nice AWD variant for a good price.
V8 Swap has been done time and time again.
Weaknesses:
Fuel Mileage..I struggled whether or not I should list this, it's pretty much a given that none of these vans will get great MPG. I do a mix of city/hwy driving and average about 14mpg. I was hopeful that I would pull 18-19mpg out of it when I bought it. I have got 18 before, but that was one very long, mostly flat and straight highway roadtrip.
Power..While the stock 4.3l is adequate, and has done fine in the Mountains of the northwest, I could see it struggling to get over some of the higher passes in say Colorado for instance.
Tire size..I have 235/75/15's on mine, which typically is not recommended without lift. They equate to roughly a 30" tire. While I don't have any lift on my van yet, they fit and are very tight. However, even once the van is lifted 4", that is about as big as you can fit, you can maybe get a 31" tire with a little massaging.
Aftermarket support..There are a couple vendor's who sell lift kits, and other small items for the Astro van. But to get serious, you will most likely end up doing some fab work yourself. There are no companies like U-Joint, Sportsmobile etc who do amazing work for the Astro.
Overall:
Overall I haven't regretted my decision of going with an Astro one bit. It fit's my needs and uses very well, fits my wife, my kid, my gear with ease, while still being able to pull right into a crowded parking lot and park in one spot. It blends in, it isn't showy, doesn't attract mischievous eyes. It's handled everything I have thrown at it and asked for more. No it will not cruise through the Rubicon or crawl over boulders, but it will get me where I need to go. As it progresses and I do a transfer case swap, lift, and gears, I really don't imagine many place's it won't be able to take me that I would be interested in going.
Picture: (Just post one in order to keep this thread viewable).
Feel free to edit your post at anytime as you think of things. I know I will for sure be adding things to this post, as I am still waking up and still need some caffeine. :coffeedrink: