Need help... Have JKU, still lusting for Vanagon

[HMR]

We LOVE VW Vans but don't love the lack of reliability, BTDT.

When it was time for a new van, we bought the "new VW" van:


Pros: 22MPG, 500+ miles per tank, tons of room, fun to drive, designed to haul heavy loads, goes fast (even uphill!), good ground clearance, "VW-esque" funky coolness, the engine and drivetrain regularly go ~500,000 miles before overhaul...

Cons: No 4x4.

FWIW- EVERY single VW owner who has looked at our van has said something like, "Oooh, I need one of these".

[monkeyplunger]

I grew up in vw buses. Parents first was a plain 74 white and blue and towed an apache pop up. A tornado while camping in the ozarks in 81 folded up the apache like tin foil. After that my dad purchased an 82 westfalia. It was used primarily by my dad and then myself in college. In 96 we rebuilt the engine after 350k. It went another 100k until something hit the oil filter while driving on the freeway and put a hole in the filter draining the oil slowly. That happened in 2003. Put a higher performance engine ( oooohhhhhh a staggering upgrade from 80hp to 100hp) which made it feel like a new machine then. That worked great for another 20k until a cyl gasket failed and engined was toast. Later put a stock rebuild back in. As of today it runs but the body now needs some help along with other little things. We went and camped a thousand places with that bus. But by today's standard it's a ton of work to keep it running. Parts are getting more and more scarce and are very expensive.

In 2006 purchased a LJ rubicon. Also had a liberty crd. In 2010 went to jku rubicon. Have since purchased a trailer and put our maggiolina on it. The jkur with trailer an rtt is much more fun than the bus. With the jeep you can go anywhere. I have come to the conclusion (personally) to have a jeep and tent with the ability to camp a hundred miles from the next closest person is better than having an rv with all the bells and whistles and camping in a crowded campground. Once we got the maggiolina this further reinforced that fact. Go anywhere and comfort.

1) the jeep is 100x more reliable than an old bus
2) for the cost of an old vw bus you are better off getting a used sports mobile. You can have it serviced at any ford dealership. And while the econoline is somewhat unrefined it is a proven vehicle.
3) if you spend a little bit more you can get a nice sprinter and get nice ride and space.
4) both the ford van and sprinter will easily travel at 75mph fwy speeds. The vw can do it downhill with tailwind.
5) you can tow with the ford or sprinter. Vw good luck!
6) again the vw while holds a place in my heart, but I want to spend time driving and camping. Not time searching for the internet cheapest expensive vw parts and fixing it.
7) the maggiolina can turn any car, van or truck into a camper. It is very comfortable and very good in bad weather. It can open up the options for the base vehicle depending on where you go and what you want to do.
8) places like GTRV can convert just about any new or used van into a camper identical to the westfalia. Pop top and all.
http://www.gtrv.com/. This can be a cheaper, more reliable option than a vw especially if you consider power.

In short, if you put some effort into it you can find something that at present is better than any vw bus or eurovan available in the US.


For me and my family the jeep and trailer makes a really nice go anywhere setup with good value.

Just my $0.02 wrorth.

[Railvan]

"So it isn't as charming like a VW, function trumps form in my book..."

Me too. I do think VW camper vans are really cool, but a Ford van with U Joint 4x4 conversion is a reasonably priced alternative to a Syncro, and is easy to service and get parts for. They can start as old work vans and be bare bones or upgraded with power-everything RV style interior. Pop tops can be had from at least three companies, SMB, CCV, and GTRV. Yes, it's bigger than a VW, but a RB (regular body length) is not long at all compared to many pickup trucks. I find it no problem to park. I love the look of Syncro campers, but would not want to trust one long term judging from the many things I have read about them. And I say that even after having the turbo swapped out three times in the first couple of years on my 2006 6.0 Ford diesel. Knock on carbon (inside joke for Ford turbo owners...) it's been fine since the upgrade to the newer turbo, and Ford covered the cost of the services. I get 15.8mpg and can't complain about that in a 10,000lb vehicle. Everyone has their own priorities. VW's and Rovers have more charm to most than a Ford does, but I don't like to have to tinker with the mechanical parts of the engine and drive train constantly to keep my van running.

How about an mid-size Astro 4x4 van?

Brian

[Kermit]

We LOVE VW Vans but don't love the lack of reliability, BTDT.

When it was time for a new van, we bought the "new VW" van:

Ford is finally bringing the fullsize Transit here, they also announced it will get a diesel.

No word on the AWD model though.

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2012/03...l-for-us-.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHpv4...layer_embedded





ford-transit-nugget-1008-00.jpg

[Kermit]

The Chevy Expresses with a 4WD conversion are becoming popular too. Their extended van will tow better since the axle is pushed farther back. Not to mention the departure angle is better than the Ford extended van.

http://boulderoffroadvans.com/

Their diesel was designed in partnership with Isuzu, who besides Toyota builds some of the best diesels in the World.


I dunno, this has loads of charm...in an evil sort of way.


P8100528.296132921_std.JPG


Plus a cool thing with the Chevies, you can order it with access doors instead of windows.

11_ch_exp_ovr_ext_1.jpg

[Patman]

I agree completely that a Ujoint converted E Series is a great set up and far easier to build/buy than making a Synro equally capable off road and/or towing, ok maybe even driving!

But as with everything, personal preference is a huge part of vehicle choice.

My basic plan is this.

Diesel Multivan non syncro base (for smog purposes)

Rear mounted LS Small block, maybe a 6.0, but most likely one of the aluminum block variants for weight.
Custom adapter to mount a 4l80e with the bellhousing against the OE "firewall". This adapter will basically space the flexplate, torque converter and trans about 10-12" away from the back (now physically the front) of the engine. Sort of like a short version of the torque tube setup on a C5 vette or a 928 Porsche, etc. Designed for rear axle compression travel clearance.
A 3.8 geared Atlas connected to the back err...."front" of the trans.
Rear (front) output feeding a centered flipped ARB'd Dana44, hung on a simple radius arm/coil spring setup like an FJ80, as low as reasonable to run 31's, anything bigger and it misses the point.
Front (rear) output feeding an extra offset flipped ARB'd Dana60, again hung on a simple Radius arm/coil spring setup.
Disconnectable swaybars front and rear. Setup to allow for reasonable travel and articulation. Nothing crazy.

So basically

All the power and reliability you could ask for in a 4500lb van
A real overdrive automatic trans
A real lowrange t.case for true 4 wheel drive, the Atlas allows independent FWD, RWD, Locked 4wd
lockable basically bulletproof front and rear axles (when compared to the stock design CV's, even with 930's all around, BOMBPROOF!!)
The "flipped" regular rotation axles, will reverse the direction of rotation so you go the correct direction in gear (always a plus) and give you high mount pinions for good Dshaft clearence.
The room is all there without any serious floor mods, and it will sit at the same height as a normal "lifted" Syncro

About the only down side is that washboard roads may be a little less cush, as you loose the independent suspension all around.

And if you can keep your foot out of it, fuel mileage over 20mpg is very realistic. With 350+hp on tap, when you need it.

When I do it (way down the road) it will have quiet exhaust, and A/T tires. Nothing extreme or flashy. Cruising down the road total stealth to the Layman. Hit the trail and it will out "wheel" a tire lifting locked syncro without even putting it in 4wd or locking the diffs.

Still in the early planning stages, but once the bugs are worked out on paper, I'll start collecting parts, and a base for the build. I have a 6.0 in my garage and it will fit no problem, even under the engine lid.

[Kermit]

I agree completely that a Ujoint converted E Series is a great set up and far easier to build/buy than making a Synro equally capable off road and/or towing, ok maybe even driving!

But as with everything, personal preference is a huge part of vehicle choice.

My basic plan is this.

Diesel Multivan non syncro base (for smog purposes)

Rear mounted LS Small block, maybe a 6.0, but most likely one of the aluminum block variants for weight.
Custom adapter to mount a 4l80e with the bellhousing against the OE "firewall". This adapter will basically space the flexplate, torque converter and trans about 10-12" away from the back (now physically the front) of the engine. Sort of like a short version of the torque tube setup on a C5 vette or a 928 Porsche, etc. Designed for rear axle compression travel clearance.
A 3.8 geared Atlas connected to the back err...."front" of the trans.
Rear (front) output feeding a centered flipped ARB'd Dana44, hung on a simple radius arm/coil spring setup like an FJ80, as low as reasonable to run 31's, anything bigger and it misses the point.
Front (rear) output feeding an extra offset flipped ARB'd Dana60, again hung on a simple Radius arm/coil spring setup.
Disconnectable swaybars front and rear. Setup to allow for reasonable travel and articulation. Nothing crazy.

So basically

All the power and reliability you could ask for in a 4500lb van
A real overdrive automatic trans
A real lowrange t.case for true 4 wheel drive, the Atlas allows independent FWD, RWD, Locked 4wd
lockable basically bulletproof front and rear axles (when compared to the stock design CV's, even with 930's all around, BOMBPROOF!!)
The "flipped" regular rotation axles, will reverse the direction of rotation so you go the correct direction in gear (always a plus) and give you high mount pinions for good Dshaft clearence.
The room is all there without any serious floor mods, and it will sit at the same height as a normal "lifted" Syncro

About the only down side is that washboard roads may be a little less cush, as you loose the independent suspension all around.

And if you can keep your foot out of it, fuel mileage over 20mpg is very realistic. With 350+hp on tap, when you need it.

When I do it (way down the road) it will have quiet exhaust, and A/T tires. Nothing extreme or flashy. Cruising down the road total stealth to the Layman. Hit the trail and it will out "wheel" a tire lifting locked syncro without even putting it in 4wd or locking the diffs.

Still in the early planning stages, but once the bugs are worked out on paper, I'll start collecting parts, and a base for the build. I have a 6.0 in my garage and it will fit no problem, even under the engine lid.

Good lord...LOL.

You can get the 6.2 with an aluminum block...BTW.

Chevy V8 and VW makes me think of this...

Images-Slamfest2011DSC09627.JPG