@B-radT5 Hey neighbor! Yep just over in southern Ontario unfortunately. Good access to parts but terrible for any offroading. Thanks for the comment and stopping by 😁

Thanks! The roof basket is sold under a few names, I bought mine at Princess Auto which is only in Canada, but I believe Cabela's and Harbor freight have their own version. I have an old video on just the basket if you are interested. Appreciate the comment and thanks for watching!

Isn't that the truth! Good ole bar oil will definitely stick around! I know of people who make there own secret undercoating sauce and bar oil is a big component, give it that sticky, gooey, tackiness. I seem to rotate between fluid film, honey-goo, "corrosion-free" and lately PB surface shield, pretty much whatever is on sale and I can get my hands on 😁underbody and hinges get the same thing. For the actual door latches I like to go a bit thinner, usually krown or jig a loo or anything a bit lighter. I have never heard of flexi film but it looks interesting, where did you get it? Yes the fall weather is definitely here! I drove a hour up north and all of the leaves are already half changed color, where did the summer go.. just need the bugs to die off now 😁

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods no bugs here in Muskoka ! Leaves are falling here ! Got the rust proof at Maslack

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods where did you find the pb surface shield ?? I have lots to rust proof.. never used surface shield.. the flexi-film is 14$ a can Not sure if you can get a bucket of it ..

I have only gone that fast in 4 HI on a snow covered highway in winter and I don't remember hearing anything different to be honest, are you on dirt roads? If it only does it with the 4x4 engaged that makes me think it might be the t-case since everything else in the front still spins even when the t-case is disengaged. Have you checked the front axle gear fluid? mine was making a squeal around corners when it was low on fluid. The battery terminals are replacements I got from amazon, they are cheap but a bit soft, you have to be careful with them. I personally cant stand the side post battery, no idea why that was so common in GMs throughout the 2000s. If I hadn't already bought a replacement battery, I would convert it to the regular old top post clamps. If this battery dies and I cant get warranty I will 100% be converting... Thanks for watching and the good questions!

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods I've noticed the whiney noise even in 2WD on the HWY. Since the TC is spinning no matter in 2wd or 4wd I'm thinking it's the TC but I don't what a normal np233c should sound like since I pulled it from an S10 in the junk yard. It's filled w/ ATF so it's not low. I didn't use the JOR kit so it might be noise coming up from the floor that isn't being dampened/covered correctly.

@@weijia8088 Hmm If it didn't have the noise before the swap then that is pretty telling, but there is very little under load in the case when in 2WD. I wouldn't use 4wd on dry pavement even in a straight line and especially not on the highway. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJrVZ6p8h7CDeJIsi=7633J5_b6KIExpmK The JOR kit doesn't have much keeping noise out, just the thin rubber boot over the shifter base. There really shouldn't be any excessive noise, especially in 2wd, the 231/233 is in a million chevys, dodges, jeeps out there, most of the problems are well known and documented. Other than a stretched chain or damaged bearings/gears from contamination or low fluid there isn't much to go wrong. I mean the front axle that takes gear fluid, that your cv axles plug into. I had a loud squeal happening around corners that the previous owner thought was the brakes, turned out to be low fluid in the front axle from a bad axle seal... but doesn't sound like your issue since it happens at speed on the highway in 2wd. You might be able to find more info on the astro/safari 4x4 groups on astrosafari.com or Facebook that is my usual go to.

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods thanks for the reply, I'll just monitor for now. Might be the bearings but will have to see if it gets worse. I'm on that forum all the time so will have to do a search on it.

@davidatherton5141 On this year, a 2001, I believe it was 160 ft. lbs. Although, I try to never go off memory and always look it up for every job. Becomes habit as a mechanic, because sometimes the OEM will update the torque specs, change them, and add bulletins.. Thanks for watching!

Thank you for the nice words! that is very encouraging, youtube is my favorite platform because you get to see authentic people doing there thing. Getting to be less and less these days, but the real stuff is thankfully still out there! Oh man, sounds like you are due for some good luck on the Kia, that's too bad about your guy retiring, if you find a good one best to hold onto them 😅 I should have known it would happen to my van as they say it is just a matter of time, if it hasn't already been rebuilt it will need it in the near future.. especially if used to tow which my van unfortunately was.. Hard to know what to buy these days, the Kias/hyundais seem to be holding up better than the domestic stuff, the Japanese is just too expensive even well used! Thanks for the comment and take care!

No problem, appreciate the comment! take care and be safe as well!

Appreciate the comment and welcome! Very nice! That is a nice area and a lot closer to the city than I was, I grew up just south of Ottawa, Kemptville - North Augusta, have family all over there down to the St. Lawrence and some in upstate NY. Really appreciate the kind words, lots of different videos coming out soon, hopefully be a little something for everyone! Thanks for watching and the comment, take care!

Good eye! haha first one to catch that, that was in preparation for the body lift, was sliding in a little somethin for those who know 😁

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods what do I win? 😆

Thank you! Some very good questions, Firstly, the charge time is stated as 4 hours in the manual and I have found this to be pretty accurate at 4-4.5 hours from low to full on a regular 2.1A USB port. The lithium batteries are unfortunately not replaceable/removable and I myself can not see a way to get into the unit without intrusive prying as there is no exposed fasteners. For weight the manufacturer says 2.16 kg which is 4.762 lbs. I don't have a scale to verify but with the unit in the bag with all accessories if feels close to that but I can verify the next time I am near a scale. I will say the unit itself is a bit heavier than a typical pump of this size, most likely due to the battery and extra pump system. Not too heavy though, and gives a good feeling of quality. As for fees, duties, etc. I didn't have to pay anything at all, and it was not held up at customs even with the lithium battery which can be a problem in Canada. I am not sure if the company pre-paid or if they know the tricks to get it through without delay but it came fast with no issues. Thanks for the comment! Some very good points that I didn't touch on. Take care!

@@bobwoods1302 Right lane is for merging, center lane for trucks, and left is for hammer down. Learn how to drive on the busiest highway in North America and then get back to me. Thanks for watching and appreciate the comment!

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods I was driving when you were still playing with building blocks and singing along with Barny.

Ah the good ole research phase😁Not tacky at all! A van is my favorite way to travel hands down, you see more, can stay anywhere, no schedule, can change plans at the drop of a hat, no check out time, full control, no tour groups or bus to the resort etc the lower cost is just the icing on the cake 😁 Glad you are recovering, that is definitely going to be challenging in a van, you may have heard of Matt over @ VanlifePlus, he went through a similar surgery while living full time in a chevy express, recovery and all. I have minor issues and can only sleep on my side as well and I can honestly say the van is extremely comfortable, not sure if it is the fresh air or what but I sleep like a baby and wake up at a more regular time and rarely have to set an alarm for an early rise. The Astros are a great size, slightly wider than a minivan and way more robust. Great for parking and navigating grown in trails (also available in AWD) but the savanna/express would be a lot more room. I bought my van for the exact same reasons you are thinking, the hotel costs around here are crazy 2-300 a night and the experience sub par. What I spent in a summer of hotels paid for my entire interior build 😅 If you watch enough astro vids you will find its a lot of single guys/ladies, there are some couples, but not any I have seen with a pooch that big though. I knew in the back of my head that even just my lady friend (5'4" ish) was going to be very tight and only for a weekend or so. when the futon is folded down it takes up the majority of the floor space which doesn.t leave much room for a dog or a tinkle in the middle of the night.. I'm a pretty slender 5 11" and there is no way I would fit width wise in the astro, even on an angle, a second person would be a stretch. Plenty of room to go lengthwise since its about 8' along the floor of cargo room. I have a video that shows what a medium size futon measures out to in the astro I would check that out to get a batter Idea. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmiWf6SVhJ6afaMsi=QbHc6bPgVehXOVmb If I were to add a furry friend to my van I would probably need to change the layout... For advice I hate to sound like a broken record but everyone is right, you want to get out in the van as soon as you can with a very basic setup and you will quickly figure out if you like it, and what you truly need. I started with just a futon, window coverings and bins, now it feels like a fully functioning apartment on wheels haha I would say find the best shape van you can and get out in it with a simple setup, the wrap is definitely a good move once you are set on it. The consulting business is perfect because it wont attract thieves that think the van is loaded with tools or product. I thought about getting some magnetic sign made up for my doors but once I started bolting stuff to the roof stealth went out the window😅 Thanks for the awesome comment, gave me a lot to think about for video ideas! Happy trails and good luck in your research/van search!

Thank you! you are right that is no easy feat, and all on battery power! impressive for such a small unit. Thanks for watching and the nice comment!

Very good points, I haven't come across his channel but I will definitely check him out. I have seen those little tools but never knew what the proper name was, a lot of train hoppers use them as well, definitely a good item to have and well worth the little weight 😁 Good call on the multiple setups for filtration, I would definitely need something portable, and then a larger gravity type at the very least.. maybe some stainless steel storage as I worry about the plastic in the hot van at times. I might try to redo my under sink plumbing so I can fit one of those 5 gallon jugs in there.. definitely regret not doing that from the start. There was just so many other things to consider during the build but compromising on water storage wasn't the move 😅

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods thats a good point about the van heat and plastic, stainless is good safe option for sure

Yeah its definitely not something you want to mess around with or cheap out on.

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods facts

Welcome! and I thank you, I try to keep it interesting and to the point and don't typically make long videos of this nature, especially the back half 😅 Very nice choice of rig, love the older yotas they are bomb proof! Definitely last a longer in that area.. a dozen winters in around here and the rust has had its way usually. Small tires are the way! better mpg, acceleration, lower upfront cost, geared better for towing, don't think ill go bigger than 30" when i replace mine.

It can, but unfortunately it is quite a bit more involved and requires a lot more parts than the Astros/Safaris. I admittedly don't know much about the express/savanna vans and have never even seen an AWD in person, but from doing a bit of reading online there are kits available, as well as companies like Quigley that do the conversions. timberlinesupply.com/products/chevrolet-express-gmc-savana-ifs-4x4-conversion-kit-2003-current-standard This site seems to be well setup and has some good info. Thanks for the watching and the comment!

That is very commendable of you, and I really shouldn't talk in absolutes. The big problem with google reviews is they were such a good resource in the beginning that people will usually just go with whoever has the highest and don't really dig into the reviews. This leads to shady business practices that devalues good folks like you who have genuine reviews and happy customers. I have since heard terrible things about this shop and that the owner is a big name in this city who attends all the fancy dinners if you know what I mean, owns many businesses and will have bad reviews removed. Appreciate the comment and thanks for watching!

You are very right. I should have known this, it was totally my mistake thinking he was replying to me directly, even though the vanlife hate is kinda suspicious.. his first reply before editing was a lot more entertaining.. but in the end I hope maybe we both can grow from it, he will be sure to check the core support on #23 I am sure 👍 Yeah that is so true and exactly what I was afraid of. Nobody cares about your vehicle as much as you do. I made it extremely easy for them, let them have it for 2 weeks, completely emptied the van so they weren't road testing it with and apartment in the back. They literally tossed my van together, wiring harness dangling on the front drive shaft rubbing, abs module heat shield MIA and just hanging out bouncing around connected by only the brake lines.. I shit you not... a bell housing bolt left in finger tight.. there's more and I have it all on video but what's done is done and I learned my lesson now. Id rather swap a junkyard trans on sidewalk then let a shop charge me large for work like that again.

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods Oh , I believe it.. bolts loose or missing . I know the feeling of wanting to take it back or call the person out on what isn’t right. I find , I just don’t have the time or energy to deal with it half the time anymore. I hate laying on the ground fixing my car , but I still take the pain over paying someone.. I want it perfect and done with our worry something isn’t done right. I don’t usually test drive my vehicles after major repairs.. I drive them as I would before .

Yep its the finer details that even the "professionals" often neglect that really make a job. Honestly, It's why I became a mechanic in the first place, had a few bad experiences when I was younger and then taught myself with books and the internet, eventually went to school for it and got a job and realized I wouldn't let damn near 80% of my coworkers work on my bicycle without supervision.. I try not take it too personally and assume the shop got busy or a guy called in sick and someone else put it back in etc. but there is no way you would look under the van and call it done. Didn't hound them or anything, just dropped the van off when they said, and handed them a fat wad of cash when I picked it up. Was still way under the 12 month warranty too... Only time I'll ever hand my keys over from here on out is tires, alignments and undercoatings.. if I cant fix it I guess its time for an e-bike 😁

Oh really? no issues besides more fuel use? what year safari?

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods 2000. My brother is a pro mechanic for 25 years and he said it would be fine. My brother told me to look for rust and collapse where the front subframe met the body and the coworker who gave me a ride and I didn't see any problems with it up on the lift. I bought it for $1500 and that front mount was worse than any pictures you showed. I couldn't see how bad that was until I took the front bumper cover off. It had full running boards so I can say that fixing the rocker panel rot is a bigger job than fixing the front core supports. I'm a professional welder, but I can't weld rust.

@@Throbbing_Erectionist I have always heard the earlier years transfer case is a better design, I still have the 3rd gen electric shift t case from my van, anyone who come get it can have it is scrap to me. That's a good price and that's the problem it is near completely hidden on a stock van. Mine was quite a bit worse and it lasted almost 2 years and then one day the passenger side collapsed completely, when the fan hits the shroud you know you let it go to long 😅 there is a brake line in that area that gets pinched/severed as well. Those running boards do hold more rust for sure best to get those off if you live anywhere near rust asap, they rot bad from the inside as well, my passenger side is near mint but the driver side is showing signs..

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods I think maybe the 95' and earlier case was different. I haven't messed with that yet. I know it's just a little lever on the side I should rig a cable to.

Yep, those are even better examples 😅

@toniortiz819 Unfortunately, no it was pretty much flush. I had to modify the back so it would slide against the back wall. I have a video showing that process. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3WUk5Vjrbutn8k Thanks for the comment!

@franklopez8243 That's all that matters! The good looks are just extra 😉 I want to do a compression test on my van soon, see what kind of shape things are in after almost 300,000 km...

Oh no good! it really is a pain as well as time consuming to swap between the gauge and filling... It's nice to have something that you can hook up, hit a button and walk away. Thanks for the comment!

Appreciate the feedback! 😁 Thanks for having a look and leaving a comment!

Appreciate the kind words! I tried to keep it quick, but there was too much to show, you would not believe how much I cut out 😅 You are very right about that Canadian summer sun 🌞 I forgot to mention how bad the humidity was that day as well, definitely not ideal conditions for compressing air 😅 Thanks for the comment and the encouragement! More to come! 😁👍

@kaiz0099 Thank you, I appreciate the compliment 😊 I struggle to be myself on cam, and a comment like that is encouraging. As time goes on I will open up more on cam and things might get stranger, but will require less editing 😅 Thanks for watching and the comment! 😁

@mtg_hermit Working out great 👍 Daily use, and it never gives me any trouble at all. My system only pulls 30amps max, and the van is pretty light on accessories otherwise, so it isn't being overworked by any means. I can honestly say I would do this upgrade on any Astro thats needs an alternator or has any type of system planned. Just a good upgrade in general, especially if its the lower cost option. As for the brand it is a reman so it's only as good as the parts and refurb but it does appear I got a good one. Thanks for checking in, appreciate the comment! 😁

@toniortiz819 The marble is actually just a wrap that comes in a roll that I got from amazon. Much lighter than the real thing 😅 The counter is some old cupboard doors I found in the trash that just happened to be the perfect size for my counter. Lastly, the sink is just an old salad bowl I had previously that I put a drain in. Classy looks on the cheap! Haha 😄 Thanks for the comment!

Thanks Jaycee 😁 It definitely does.. there is growth in letting go, helps to make it clear what is truly important and best use of energy and time. Experiences, relationships, family (furry🐶and not) health and peace are what really matters. Good luck on the design change! I was thinking I may have to tweak my van to be more dog friendly with more floor space, and not so narrow. You give me hope that I can make a bigger dog happen in an astro Hope you and the pups are enjoying the summer 😎🌞

Thanks! I keep thinking I will do a full tour once its "done" but I keep working on it 😅 Appreciate the comment!