Post by: GBoyd on November 16, 2014, 10:50:35 AM
I'm shopping for a rig to use for hunting, camping, and work and I'm looking at the Astro vans with AWD. My main concern is the 6.8 inch ground clearance. Do you think I could take that on most forest roads or am I going to be dragging my belly the whole way?
Thanks
Post by: Sportfury on November 16, 2014, 10:56:39 AM
Post by: GBoyd on November 16, 2014, 10:59:36 AM
Post by: Alchase on November 16, 2014, 05:47:27 PM
Post by: bigsads on November 16, 2014, 06:04:18 PM
Post by: GBoyd on November 16, 2014, 06:11:28 PM
I like the idea of getting a van because of the versatility. I could camp in it or carry a bunch of people, or take all the seats out for deliveries. I wonder what van I could get with better clearance. Or if I should put a lift on the Astro that would let me put bigger tires on it.
Post by: biggfish on November 16, 2014, 06:49:05 PM
Post by: yorketransport on November 16, 2014, 07:10:49 PM
An astro van is still a mini van with a subframe might not be able to do much lifting. A g series though could be lifted easily it has a full frame like a truck.:yeah:
You can find some good deals on cargo vans which will have the same ground clearance as a truck. Our hunting/camping rig when I was a kid was a Dodge Prospector van. It worked great!
Post by: Sportfury on November 16, 2014, 07:23:47 PM
What's the clearance on the rig you took out there?I have a 07 Tundra with a small lift and 35s. We were taking our Sienna up there this summer, but we ended up turning around because my wife's grandma ended up in the hospital. After seeing the last three miles in we would have drug bottom and probably gotten high centered. Saying that some FS roads are better than others. FS 75 out of Greenway error is nice and has some great camping at Lonesome Lake.
Post by: Alchase on November 17, 2014, 09:13:05 AM
Every time I am there I see pickers packed like sardines in their minivans.
They do not seem to have a problem, being careful, you should not either.
Post by: Elkrunner on November 17, 2014, 09:48:50 AM
Post by: hollymaster on November 17, 2014, 10:11:06 AM
Post by: GBoyd on November 17, 2014, 06:05:48 PM
I'm pretty sure if I showed up in an astro van, that I would never hear the end of that from my hunting buddies. :chuckle:
Ha! I guess not everybody shares my sense of style. I think the Astros are pretty cool.
Post by: follow maggie on November 17, 2014, 08:34:18 PM
Post by: JimmyHoffa on November 17, 2014, 08:37:40 PM
Post by: follow maggie on November 17, 2014, 08:46:37 PM
Post by: GBoyd on November 17, 2014, 08:58:13 PM
I did some looking and you can actually get a lift kit for an Astro pretty cheap. I kind of dig it: http://www.overlandvans.com/0104_liftkits.html (http://www.overlandvans.com/0104_liftkits.html)
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking of doing at the moment. I'm just trying to track down some guys who have done it to ask them what they think about the kits, if it causes any other problems with the suspension, etc.
There's also a lot of information on other mods for Astros for camping. If I go this route, I'll make a platform in the back I can use for sleeping, with gear storage underneath. I'll try to design it to be removable so I can put the seats back in and haul a crew when I need to.
I guess I'll also need to find an elegant and clean way to carry a dead elk back home.
Post by: follow maggie on November 17, 2014, 09:08:10 PM
Post by: FC on November 17, 2014, 10:23:51 PM
Post by: jeepasaurusrex on November 17, 2014, 10:49:50 PM
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on November 18, 2014, 07:26:16 AM
Can't ever go wrong with a Jeep
Were do you put your camping gear and Elk?
Post by: Elkrunner on November 18, 2014, 07:33:26 AM
Can't ever go wrong with a Jeep
Were do you put your camping gear and Elk?
Quarter them out or debone them. Its a lot easier than hoisting one of those things up.
Post by: Jingles on November 18, 2014, 07:41:25 AM
Post by: Stein on November 18, 2014, 07:46:02 AM
Post by: fastdam on November 18, 2014, 09:01:52 PM
Post by: JimmyHoffa on November 18, 2014, 09:22:13 PM
AWD Astro's are money pits, keep looking! I've made an awful lot of $$$ repairing them. If you want a tough capable AWD look at Subaru's. If you want something that will get you around in the woods and haul meat etc without need of constant repair, get a 4wd truck.A few people I know have Subaru Outbacks and have lists of all the things going wrong. Nothing catastrophic that would necessarily strand one in the woods, but seems every other week something new is developing. Things like temps going up, head gaskets, fuel pumps, increasing idles.
Post by: Thehowler on November 22, 2014, 10:39:46 PM
Post by: RadSav on November 22, 2014, 10:55:56 PM
I ended up selling it to the pot dealer/teacher from the local highschool :o He modified it to run on propane and added a hot water heater and a range.
Post by: T Pearce on November 22, 2014, 11:47:31 PM
Is that a fs rd between Haney meadow and beehive? We call it the road to hell! And no, we dont camp there.