Big Van in Littleton

[Trevor?]

Hello. My name is Trevor and I just recently joined the community here. I am looking forward to spending a little time out on the trial with you folks this summer. I have two 4x4's: a stock Nissan Xterra, and a Ford E350 Van with a 4x4 conversion and ~35" tires. The latter has been a bit of a project for me for the better part of 2 years, and I'd like to get an idea of what it can do with the relative safety of a group.


Here it is as it sits now. The difference between approach and departure angles make things interesting.


Here's the front axle going in. Its a dana 60 from a '14 superduty.


Here's the rear axle ready to go in... a Sterling 10.5 from what I suspect was a 2007 Superduty. The red paint on the calipers should improve braking performance.


Here's what a 4R100 transmission looks like inside-out. Unfortunately this level of disassembly is required to swap in the shorter 4x4 output shaft and tail housing so one can bolt up a transfer case.


And here it is out in the wild.

As far as the project goes, the next steps are an interior build and a few things to make camping out of it a bit more enjoyable. I figure I should still be able to enjoy it out on the trail in between phases of that build.

[Brian]

Welcome and interesting build!

[Jim]

Welcome to the group!

That van makes 35's look puny!

What type of trails are you looking for? Do you wish to avoid at reasonable cost pine-tree-pinstriping or is it - if there's a good end in plan it's worth it?

edit: Where is the "out in the wild" pic?

[FINOCJ]

Looks like a sweet overlanding van for Moab, Escalante and similar! Like it.

[Java]

Welcome! Great van!

[The StRanger]

Welcome to the dark side...
we have cookies !!!

[Trevor?]

Thanks, everyone. Its a big truck, so I am interested in taking it on trails where it will fit. The paint is not in great shape already and there is a decent dent on the passenger side behind the barn doors. I'd like to avoid scratches deep enough to allow corrosion, but some pin-striping is expected.

I've thought that Metburry Gulch could be a good test.

The pic is from the edge of the Flat Tops. Basically drive Coffee Pot road and keep going. There's access to one of the forks of the White River along the left side of that valley with some small but gullible trout.

[Hypoid]

Welcome!

Have you run that beast over a scale?

I'd probably have to tie my little XJ to a tree before I could even think about winching your truck.

[newracer]

Cool rig!

[Trevor?]

I'm guessing it's between 7k and 8klbs. I've been meaning to weigh it. Some folks with fully built-out sportsmobiles claim to be over 10klbs. I suppose if it gets really stuck all I'd ask for is a ride into cell phone range to call in the cavalry.

[Funrover]

Welcome! Sweet rig!

[JandDGreens]

Nice van but what about the xtera? Welcome!

[xaza]

welcome to the group

[MillerL76]

Love the Mormon assault vehicle. Always had a thing for 4x4 vans.

[UCFKnighter]

What's inside the van? Camping, gutted, full service bar and hot tub?

[Trevor?]

I like the hot tub idea. A few thousand pounds of sloshing water would make things interesting.

Right now most of the seats are out of it, but I haven't quite gutted it. I built a bracket that holds the spare inside but that will need to move to the rear bumper eventually. I mocked up one layout, but didn't like it. Now I'm thinking something like a VW Westy, but bigger... and long drawers under the sleeping platform.

JandDGreens asked about the Nissan so I added it to my profile pic. It's a 2015 Pro4x with a manual trans. It's completely stock but it needs new tires and shocks so I'm fighting the itch to start modifying that. I'm considering a slightly larger tire and rock sliders, but the last thing I need is another project.

[Jim]

Keep the Nissan mild. Sliders and larger tires - sure. Each would find their place.

Nissan for day-trip local trails, that may well be tighter and perhaps more technical with the hot-tub-palace for long weekends in the vast nowhere.