The CamAstro or ASTROC not sure yet...build thread

[Hangar18]

Well thx all for both the compliments and advice...glad to have inspired some, but it's all the cool folks and their cool vans and the insane/brilliant ideas info and knowledge on here that inspired me. So many of you have paved the way and made it easy for the rest of us. So I thank you

On that note, all I did today was my temporary Flag mod..in Honor of Our Fallen who paid the highest price so that we have the Freedom to do all these crazy things.
My thanks to all of our service members and their families

[multimoto]

ok a few cans of red paint.. but now youre getting carried away with it. lol

what are the plans for the roof rack? and I think an old school ladder might look pretty good on there too

[Hangar18]

As far as the rack goes...I'm gonna modify the old ladder rack by flipping the cross bars sideways(using them for end pieces/lightbars), welding some light square tube together to make the body of the rack and then attaching it to the underside of my tabs. So that I can still clear my hangar doors. Still working that out in my head. I'm not sure if I want a ladder or not. Still debating rear door sparemount and maybe an old style gas can. I have one from my dad's old 4x4s from when I was a kid that's still in great shape.

[multimoto]

I figured you had a plan for the rack. have you seen the awning I made into the roof rack that slides out? look in my gallery fo it if not, its so good Im making another one like it for the motorhome.

roof racks are super useful and can be made into all kinds of stuff. the ladder just makes it more so, and easy access up top. since you have the cargo doors I would try to find one of the ones that were made for the astrofaris. mine came with one with the conversion package back in the day and its sturdy. not sure if all are equal though.

yours would look better in black if you decide to get one I think. these would look good on there too:

https://www.carid.com/2005-chevy-astro- ... 03692.html

pop out back windows are getting hard to find now too so if you want those, better keep a look out for some.

your van has transformed into a really cool one fast. just tossing some other ideas out that I like but everybody has different taste.

[Hangar18]

Cool awning and I like the louvers but just not sure where I'm goin with it yet. I don't really plan on going too crazy especially with the interior..not really interested in the full blown camper thing. I've actually camped out of it a few times but I like the idea of being able to empty it.

[90safari]

Cool awning and I like the louvers but just not sure where I'm goin with it yet. I don't really plan on going too crazy especially with the interior..not really interested in the full blown camper thing. I've actually camped out of it a few times but I like the idea of being able to empty it.

I too like the idea of being able to empty it, and actually use it as a van. I mean I've camped in my own, but I'm not going to do a full blown camper with it. That's what hotels are for. Or a tear drop camper.

[multimoto]

yeah, those louvers are straight out of the '70s man. if mine wasnt a conversion style van I would have them on there for sure but I dont think they match my van well. I do think they would look perfect on your cargo though.

my full blown campers are class A GMCs

I pack mine slam full when going to camp sites including stuff on the roof and the front cargo box attached to the receiver hitch up there but nothing is bolted down inside so I can use the full cargo space if ever needed.

even have a portable sink, tank and w.pump. that was a result of putting in the roof vent. I put it in the location on the roof that was made for it but I really didnt want to cut the roof. a roof vents a must for camping IMO so I had to but I used the piece I removed for a hinged counter top on my portable sink. and the color matches lol.


recent years Ive been doing alot of primitive camping way out/up in the mountains for sometimes two weeks at a time so Ive got the camp set up all worked out in it. a coup,e of year back I even put all terrain tires on it for the first time ever because I was getting into mushy areas after big rains.

anytime I need that full cargo space though, its all still there and that has always been a priority for sure even though its not often I need it.

[Hangar18]

See ya'll Monday..headed out for the annual family weekend

toys

[Hangar18]

And the first successful road trip is in the bag. I did about 300 miles with trailer in tow and she did pretty well I thought. Only got hot on me once when I was trying to pass an obviously sleepy trucker up a long hill. My cruise did quit working on me about halfway through the first leg, just wrote it off and kept goin. I'll deal with that soon. The transmission did great, really happy about that after the line-fail. Trans cooler seems to be helping so that's good. Talk about a break-in run...towing a trailer..hilly 2 lane highways..about fifty miles of crazy Friday evening Interstate(some under construction/repair...I don't think I missed a pot hole ) and then more hilly country highways. I was like ok, if it's gonna break this will do it. I have to say for as stiff as my front end is, it handled it well. I don't like how squishy the rear is though. gonna have to make some adjustments/changes(definitely a rear sway-bar). Also noticed that under compression in a tight turn, my front tires will tick the backs of the wells, so I'll trim and beat on those some more. The new dizzy and spider have made all the difference in the world...starting every time and running very well.

And my dad had one of these lying around(off his 2012 Wrangler)

so that was a nice little present. Think I'll get an extra set of crushmounts and see what I think about it.
All in all a great visit with the family and a good first run...really digging having my van back. see ya's soon

[WinnieVan]

Noice!!! Jeep Bumper is nice but if I knew how to weld I’d make a custom job for sure.

Glad she did well for ya


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