Now I Really Want A Big Van

"Luc - The Acadian Oppo" (luc5) 01/04/2016 at 16:16 • Filed to: van life

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Ever since !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! all I can think of is getting one of my own. After a bit of research it seems GM makes the perfect one. You can buy a Chevy Express/GMC Savana 1500 with AWD! They come equipped with the super durable LS 5.3 mated to a 6spd 6l80e auto. On top of that it turns out you can actually buy a 6” lift kit for this very van. Van pictured above is on 33” rubber.

I have this overwhelming desire to make a bug out vehicle although I realistically have no need for one. The wife is on board too the only setback is the severe lack of funds.

Even in stock form the AWD seems plenty capable.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:20

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WANT

crowmolly > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:20

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Do you still have the pickup?

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:21

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One thing I’m wondering: these cargo van models basically have nothing for the rear two-thirds of the vehicle except space. Despite AWD are these models tail happy? It's heavy duty, but it's a cargo van with basically nothing in it, so is it a really heavy vehicle?

PS9 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:21

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TTLS7 Swap = AWD LAMBORGHINI SMASHING SUPERVAN

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:24

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We have a guy on here (Hadaken) who’s mostly a lurker these days, but has a 4WD-converted E-series that’s kitted out expedition-style.

gawdzillla > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:29

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just went to chevy site and tried building one
you can either choose 4.8 or 6.0, i dont see the 5.3 option

and for the price i’d just take a silverado

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:29

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Severe lack of funds AND the wife is on board?

Normally the exact reason my wife is not on board.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > gin-san - shitpost specialist 01/04/2016 at 16:32

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A 15-passenger 3500 with the 6.0 can sustain a very nicely controlled drift, so an AWD 1500 should be fine.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > gin-san - shitpost specialist 01/04/2016 at 16:33

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They are surprisingly heavy considering how empty they are. Also, my dad has had a few 2WD models over the years, and I’ve driven them enough to tell you that I’m pretty sure tail happy translates into side happy, as in it slides down the highway on it’s side when you roll it.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:34

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqsbqX…

newsmctado > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/04/2016 at 16:37

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When I was in middle and high school, I spent a lot of time whitewater kayaking. The man who essentially taught me how to kayak, and who had more money than sense, had a lifted 4x4 E-series (I think it was the V-10) that he used to tow a trailer full of kayaks and canoes, as well as carry a dozen boaters at once. Wherever we went, we’d see people with Subarus and Jeeps, trying in vain to fit more than two people + gear into their relatively large storage spaces. And, wherever we went, we’d have those same people telling us how great the E-series seemed to be for a whitewater van.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:37

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There’s a company called Quigley in PA that will do a true 4x4 conversion on Ford, GM, and (formerly) Dodge vans. They use parts out of the respective make’s pickup trucks. For GM and Ford at least, this conversion could be ordered as a factory option, for a while, and you retained the factory warranty.

With the GMC vans you also had the option of retaining the Silverado’s independent front suspension, or you could go to a solid axle. I got to go for a ride in both, and they were both really impressive. Obviously the solid axle rode worse but was better offroad.

Also, can’t go wrong with these vans. My dad has had a couple over the years for his business, and they are hard to kill. He had a 1999 3500 series with the 350 V8 and it finally bit the dust 2 years ago at 299k miles. Now he has a 2013 2500 series with the 4.8L and 6L90 and it’s been a champ so far.

Wacko > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:39

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No more limo love??

this is what you need and want.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > gin-san - shitpost specialist 01/04/2016 at 16:45

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The AWD 1500 had a curb weight of 5800 lbs. I’ve never tried to drift one but I imagine it would be pretty similar to a full size pickup truck

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Snuze: Needs another Swede 01/04/2016 at 16:47

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Yeah but those quigley’s are mighty expensive. There is how ever an 2013 8 passenger ford E-350 quigley for sale locally for $39K

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 01/04/2016 at 16:48

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Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Wacko 01/04/2016 at 16:49

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fuck yeah!

yonse > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:50

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I’ve always wanted one.

Wacko > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:51

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and this even comes with a crt tv in back for your nes/snes/sega and other old school consols

period correct.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > gawdzillla 01/04/2016 at 16:52

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they dropped the 1500 AWD in 2014. now you can only get the 2500 rwd. I obviously would not buy new.

There is a 2013 8 passenger awd with 43,000 kms for $23,000. If I had cash that would be the one I would buy.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > crowmolly 01/04/2016 at 16:55

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Yes but the rear main seal is shot and it’s puking oil all over the place.

I’ll fix it when it’s not so fucking cold.

Kyru Galaga > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:58

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My full size truck only weighs 4700 lbs and the only thing it wants to do is drift, id imagine that van would be the same way with probably 150 more hp than me

Wacko > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 16:58

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I forgot to say, try to get as much sleep as you can now, cause soon you wont get much sleep.

I get about 3-4 hours per day since my son was born

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Wacko 01/04/2016 at 17:06

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Luckily for me I’m borderline legally deaf. As in I have hearing aids but I don’t wear them. So when it comes to sleep time almost nothing wakes me up. My wife will hate it but unless she punches me to wake me up I don’t think I’ll be getting up much throughout the night. That plus the fact that I now have a super comfortable king size bed. I’ll be out like a log for most of the night.

It’s coming fucking soon! only 5 weeks to go. the panic is starting to set in.

vicali > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 17:06

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Sportsman4x4 here in Kamloops builds Clydesdales.. Sun Peaks has one kitted as a Mtn bike shuttle.

http://www.sportsman4x4.com/clydesdale/

vicali > vicali 01/04/2016 at 17:09

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Here it is;

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > vicali 01/04/2016 at 17:10

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Holy smokes! I did not know there was a canadian company for these.

I can only imagine a V10 E-350 with a leaf sprung dana 60. That would be one BAD ASS machine.

coelacanthist > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 17:12

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Off road vans, yes!

Future next gen S2000 owner > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/04/2016 at 17:53

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I’ve found when the wife realizes it will never happen because of a lack of funds, she will be on board with a lot of things she wouldn’t be if funds weren’t an issue.

W: Sure honey, you can have a lift, a racecar, a new 911, and a new boat. I just wish we had money for all of that.*

*Typical conversation at my house.

gawdzillla > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 18:53

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for 23000 thats def truck money

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 19:04

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Hell yeah! Bonus points for poptop and full kitchen. Syncro FTW!

greasemonkey235097 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 19:05

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Im taking a guess, you guys that want vans, have never had the pleasure of servicing their well tucked in engines, just a pleasure to do any engine job.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/04/2016 at 23:40

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You’re right, they aren’t cheap. But they are awesome! I toured their shop in PA, that’s where I got to ride in them. They have a little test track setup out back, and while it wasn’t MOAB, it was awesome taking a giant ass van over some rough terrain.

But if you’re not planning on tackling anything crazy, the AWD GMC with a couple inches of lift and more aggressive tires might be just the ticket. Plus, I’m more of a GM guy than a Ford guy.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > gawdzillla 01/05/2016 at 10:27

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Yes but a van is better than a truck.

gawdzillla > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/05/2016 at 10:41

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I thought about that. and decided that I dont want to share the same ... air space with the spilled trans fluid / gear oil