[sixsix]

figures... LOL

I'll post mine tomorrow - "Stock Cup Holder" stuff too.

 

[realityguy]

I've had full size Chevy and Ford vans also..and they all have the same basic size and shape..and just "slightly smaller and less boxy than what people would really like".
The Ford though had a nice change holder for different size coins on the driver's side..comes in handy at drive-thrus! ..and keeps the coins out of the old coffee and beverage spills in the cupholders..
..And..the Ford van had the drawer under the passenger's seat open towards the driver..which I liked for storing vacation keys,sunglasses,fuses, and other things..that were right at home and protected better..well..at least when the cooler wasn't in front of it there..

Mm.. I bet the price was right!..it might be better to add a beer-proof bottom unto it..just a suggestion..😉

 

[tinworm]

Realistically its a big cargo compartment, and its close to you so you can look right down into it and rummage. Combine that with the optional sliding drawer under the passenger seat and im not sure this tremendous amount of easily accessible storage is worthy of complaint.

 

[tungtide]

Having participated.. I feel a little dumber now...
Can I have my previous post annulled?
It's not you... it's me

Since we're going for "Best Of"..
Here's my serious contribution
View attachment 288270

Bet that stays in place

 

[realityguy]

Mm..if you rear-ended someone in an accident..You'd definitely need a new glove box.😁

 

[ehbrown1]

You can fit much more than an envelope in there. Water, sunglasses, manual, cigars and a few other things as well that I didn't even know were in there AND a pair of gloves or two. Plus if you adjust them right, m8ght even be able to get it closed again.

 

[sixsix]

Mm..if you rear-ended someone in an accident..You'd definitely need a new glove box.😁

Well - something tells me - accident or not, that coarse 40 lb. cinder block against the GM pile carpet...
Probably not going anywhere.

And as promised...

DSCF5916.JPG

• sixsix
• 2 mo ago

We've used these strips of rubber gaskets to hold tite just about any size drink that fits - never had a cup fall over.

DSCF5915.JPG

• sixsix
• 2 mo ago

Here it is in action - No Speakers up on The Van or T-Rods sitting in front.

DSCF5921.JPG

• sixsix
• 2 mo ago

Here's a coffee cup I forgot to take downstairs to show the youngsters what kind of cup dinosaurs used...
I am shooting for tomorrow or next week or month / follow up action shots with this 1992 Cincinnati Tall Stacks Reunion keepsake.

 

[Mmusicman]

I find the BEST feature of my van.. is the 4x4 shifter on the side of my seat!
It gets along great with my glove-box.
Here it is (pictured from above.. 2high and 4low)

 

[Huckleberry]

While this post is mostly a rant about this prominently placed feature,
I am interested in what other uses some folks may have appropriated this space for.

All I ever owned were Gen 1 vans, and they have the worst "glove compartments" ever. The best way I found to overcome the myriad problems of Astros was to sell all mine off. Now my daily driver is a '97 Tahoe. Has a proper "glove compartment", a center console, 4WD, a 5.7 Vortec, and leg room. Such a pleasure to drive compared to having a wheel well where my left foot's supposed to rest.

 

[ehbrown1]

Well that's the difference between a compact van and a more luxurious suv. Compact means you have to sacrifice something somewhere.

 

[MechBob]

I find the BEST feature of my van.. is the 4x4 shifter on the side of my seat!
It gets along great with my glove-box.
Here it is (pictured from above.. 2high and 4low)
View attachment 288310

I got one!!! Sorry about the mess, is the winter van.

 

[sixsix]

Distributer cap, free HF flashlight SHOWOFF !!

 

[realityguy]

MechBob..Yep!That's a VAN!..Is that the tip of the avalanche from what's in the back end?😆

Hmm..Has anybody tried adding a second compartment in front of the glove compartment..screwing another more square box on the front ?
You'd need to figure out how to use/save the latch on the rear one.

 

[MechBob]

All I ever owned were Gen 1 vans, and they have the worst "glove compartments" ever. The best way I found to overcome the myriad problems of Astros was to sell all mine off. Now my daily driver is a '97 Tahoe. Has a proper "glove compartment", a center console, 4WD, a 5.7 Vortec, and leg room. Such a pleasure to drive compared to having a wheel well where my left foot's supposed to rest.

Comparing a ful size suv to a mid size Astro is a bit disingenuous.

 

[MechBob]

Distributer cap, free HF flashlight SHOWOFF !!

Ya, had to replace the dist. what 3 winters ago? And, old one had new cap, so saved it. Also, bouncing around in the back is a new ft swap bar/kit, 4 new shocks, a box of new brear brake parts inc.drums, and aothe rbox for the hesitaion/ low power issue,map,temp and tps sensors. LOL not enough time, and I have no garage, so generally only do repairs in summer, out in the gravel drive.Also, in back of other van is a "newer" straight rear bumper for snow plow truck, and a fairly low mileage set of astro torsion bars,links and crossmember, 2nd gen, for the 94. Storage till summer, yet still hauls groceries and fuel jugs for plow trk and backhoe. Although I am considering a set of the new Sway-a-Way bars, instead. Plus, winter essentials, chians, tow strap, emergency and regular blankets, sleeping bag, snow brushes,ice scraper, just the normal stuff-----

 

[MechBob]

MechBob..Yep!That's a VAN!..Is that the tip of the avalanche from what's in the back end?😆

Hmm..Has anybody tried adding a second compartment in front of the glove compartment..screwing another more square box on the front ?
You'd need to figure out how to use/save the latch on the rear one.

Well my 94 and 96 have ham radios mounted to the glove box doors. They are a bit flimsy, so I run a bungee cord across,also, as our road up here is rough.

 

[Huckleberry]

Comparing a ful size suv to a mid size Astro is a bit disingenuous.

Even a shorty Astro has more cargo space
than a Tahoe, so I'd say it's a fair comparison,
but Astros lack comfort, and their build-quality sucked.

 

[tinworm]

Even a shorty Astro has more cargo space
than a Tahoe, so I'd say it's a fair comparison,
but Astros lack comfort, and their build-quality sucked.

They are both GM products built in the US. Or in the Tahoe case, possibly in Mexico or elsewhere in south America.

You are always on here comparing a minivan to a full size SUV from the same maker negatively. I like the Tahoe too, but these are dramatically different vehicles and designs.

I think you clearly illustrate why people like the astro/safari platform. Its way smaller than a full size SUV yet has more cargo space.

 

[WoodButcher]

Even a shorty Astro has more cargo space
than a Tahoe, so I'd say it's a fair comparison,
but Astros lack comfort, and their build-quality sucked.

Alright Huck, I'll bite, why are you here if it ain't the van? I'm sure there are tahoe fans out there singin' their praises on the interwebs..
IMHO a van is the most comfortable vehicle I've ever been in and the only thing I care to own, 3 in fact currently not counting my wifes subi. 45+ years I've been in a few different cars and trucks, luxury to the econoboxes. Yes, I customize my seats to fit me, the '05 being the first ever I haven't changed out or moved.
Agreed, the cupholder and glovebox both suck. I open the glovebox once a year to put in new ins cards and the one time I got stopped about ten years ago for going right on red.
I have built a rectangular box that fits between the seats almost level with them, snugly left to right and 22-24" in length. The top is just a crapcatcher about 4" deep with 3 cup holders in the front. The top lifts off where I keep thing I don't use often but must have, tire plug kit, steam iron,(I can lift dents like hammer strikes from wood) laser level, foldable tire iron, spare parts for scaffolding and god knows what else.
Beside the reg paperwork the doghouse has cig lighters, 3 in the 2nd gen and one in the 1st gen. They don't take much space and hide the under dash just fine.
My '69 on the other hand has a full glovebox that cannot be reached from the driver's seat. No cup holders, no grab handles, no aircon, the "vent" is a sheet metal plate with a latch by the gas pedal or the wing windows, no power windows, brakes or steering, no door locks, not an auto but a three on the tree, the list of luxuries that van does not have is astounding. I really enjoy driving that bitch, as much as I do both my V8 astro.

Build quality? you said all you had were 1st gen astro, 27 years old at best today, c'mon Huck, really? your '97 is getting there too. Build quality went down the tubes in the seventies when the fuel crisis began and the american companies had to scale down the size and price.

 

[realityguy]

Okay..I mentioned this above..probably one of the best things to fit a gen 1 astro between the seats for storage..
This is a Coleman Brand Basic storage/picnic table unit..PRO features:
A: The same exact height as the cup holders over the factory carpet(right now it sits 1/4" above because I have a secondary 1/4 thick carpet over the original carpet.
B: the top makes a nice table between the seats..and allows a couple inches on each side to fasten your seat belt.
C:The compartment in the center is probably about 7x20 and pretty much square, minus about 1" in height from the cupholder(allowance for lid).
D: The lid snaps in upside down with center circles for bowls.and other small compartments for Sorting out your Glove compartment???...
E:Unfolded ..it makes an overall table for two of 22"X40(or you can just unfold one side for one person..if you take along a couple folding chairs to sit outside the van (waiting for ferries).
F.The legs snap in under the table side pieces for storage.
G: It allows enough room ahead of it to open the glovebox without moving it and still be ahead of the back of the seats(your 8' for sliding in plywood sheets).
H:Weighs less than most coolers that size..
H:Hey it's RED(and white)! It matches the van!(or could match a white one)

CONS:
A:It's not insulated as a cooler would be...but waterproof(Bag of ice?)
B:It's all plastic..but sturdy for being made of that..nothing has broken in maybe 10 years of owning it.
C:I need to add some rubber sheeting to the feet to hold it more in place over the laminate floor area(I have maybe 3 other places to use/store it over the lam floor in the back of the van.
D:Can I sit on it?..probably strong enough..but I'm not going to chance that.
E:More than likely it is no longer being made or available.I got it at a thrift store for about $8,if I remember right.

I've never seen another one.
And Just checked ebay and google..someone has one for $40(with $168 for shipping!) on ebay and another is here(shipping?NC)--->

Cooler/ Camping Table, SS6, Coleman Basic cooler with table built in.

The cooler is very excellent condition like new. Color red and white and folded measures 22.5” wide,12.5” deep and 15.5” tall.

www.treasurejunctionthrift.com

Appears BASIC is not Coleman but Cigarettes?!..making it collectible to someone I guess..
Yes..I do have a cooler tht fits between the seats also..a blue one in the blue van..

Inside the compartment right now..bottle of slime/air foremergency flat repair,pair of 1990 visors(I'm upgrading to 3 way newer ones),a 12 volt quick jump system in its case..miscellaneous other van parts/junk..it's deep!
I'll probably make/add another matching wood layer over the cup holder above the doghouse.. to match the back cabinets so they will hold drinks better.

I do have the overhead console for some Metsker's maps,sunglasses,phone,vehicle registration and insurance papers so they are easy to find there,no digging.

Anyway..if you find one somewhere GRAB IT! Pics..