Custom 4x4 overlanding Astro van workhorse

[@canuckdog]

Looks good, nice job. I've owner 5 of these vans all AWD. Put a Overland lift on a 95, sold it with 400k + on it. Wife is driving a 04 Astro AWD and loves it. One of the best vehicles GM built.

[@drew485]

Great van I have a 2004 rwd. This van is the ultimate backup car, I get 17.4 mpg, but guys this van has an 8ft covered, secured bed when you take out the back seats. Hauling stuff, no problem. Camping, no problem. Most trucks have a 5 1/2 foot bed that is exposed to the elements.

[@berkeleygarvelink9406]

super cool. If this thing brings you so much joy you should totally look for an Astro in Arizona and swap everything over. Just bought my first Astro from AZ and it has zero rust. clean slate

[@tomascharles5080]

You did a great job on this van.

[@AstroVanTribe]

I've got a 5" lift with 30" tires - And I can cruise at 85 :) - I cross the country in it all the time so highway performance was important - She does great off road though, too.... Love your choices - Get that rust under control... Shocked you kept the plastic

[@bradh6185]

How did you lift it? Why did you go with 30" and not bigger? I'm doing some research for my first overland rig. These things seem to make a lot of sense.

[@AstroVanTribe]

@@bradh6185 I have 3:42 gearing so I figured the biggest I should go is 30" if I wanted to retain some power and have decent gas mileage - On my way back from Northern AZ a couple weeks ago I got 19mpg in one stretch - I get on on and off dirt roads with my rig (see my videos) but do a lot of cross country/road trips - Usually loaded down with a pretty full tool kit - I'm a high end carpenter and take on projects that take me to different places around the country I went with the Journeys Off Road kit and had them install it - Please see my videos on this as I wasn't happy with their work - Their product is great but their work not so much - The people that praise them aren't the types that wrench on their own stuff... Their "remanufactured" s10 transfer case leaked, some of their bolts loosened up, they BS'd me on several things that made my van very dangerous as I was on a road trip at that moment, busted a couple things under the hood... Again, good products but you're better off getting the kits and doing the work yourself OR paying someone you trust to do it

[@bradh6185]

@@AstroVanTribe Yes, I have watched your videos. Didn't realize that was you. Thanks for the response and for your videos.

[@AutoMotivate]

@Michael Zicopoulos planning to do a mild lift and mild tire size myself. Just have to convert it to AWD or 4x4. Appreciate you!

[@AstroVanTribe]

@@AutoMotivate I enjoy your Astro content on KZbin, man...

[@racrx7]

Not too many people undertake the challenging NP236 swap. Kudos! I dig mine 👍🏻

[@deathbyninja11]

I'm doing it right now finally, thanks for the writeup

[@racrx7]

@@deathbyninja11 Best of luck! You’ll love it 👍🏻

[@ogk9com]

I've had a few Astros and a Safari. I'm looking for one now and found your channel. It's a really nice outfit. I've got an Excursion I use for transporting my dogs and gear but it's getting bad with rust. Now I'm on the hunt for an Astro. They always ride nice and great visibilty.

[@kevinhornbuckle]

This is a very enjoyable and educational tour. You've worked hard on this and it looks great.

[@checkersgarage744]

Thank you very much! lots more work to come!

[@bruceallen6016]

this and another video I stumbled across make me want to get another Astro/Safari AWD. Thumb up.

[@knightryder5292]

Nice man I have the same one and bought it in Wisconsin it’s a 1998 and just can’t get rid of it!!

[@willcrosbie8806]

It’s sweet 👏🏻👍🏻 we also had an Astro . Big childhood memories in one

[@jked7463]

What a dangerous vehicle to.have on college.....for so many reasons. Very cool. Always loved these vans. Always love off beat vehicles.

[@rlmast]

looking good man! I may have to do the same mirrors on mine

[@karlblackman4120]

Cool looking van!

[@robinburkey2466]

That's one good looking brick bro!

[@tueighty]

Would really like to see it driving around and maybe some trails too!

[@kylenorris9585]

You should motor swap it with the 2.8L Duramax 4 cylinder diesel

[@StuntDummyLives]

Awesome video. It was recommended to me because I make Astro van videos, too. I'm building a Monsterm Astro right now. Anyhow, subscribed and looking forward to more :)

[@davidemming6863]

I've had five of them. Still have two. My new one is 94 with 215000 had 180000 four years ago. Little rust. I've a 95 I got it 10 year ago. I'm getting ready to make it 22 feet long then a pair of folding pontoons. The biggest thing i like about them is the head room. I stand 3'10". Been up in camping in Wisconsin. Years ago. I'll come by when I get the pontoon van done.

[@darrelpost678]

Excellent work! A car is just a car.

[@djtomtrain2015]

Id love ot too!!❤ and its family owned. Dope❤

[@Dmhlcmb]

The Astro and safari are some of my favorite vehicles ever made. I had a safari, fully loaded and I wish I never sold it.

[@pmclellan123]

Great video. Cool that you are able to keep the factory AWD and install the 4x4. I would love to see how the buttons work to engage the 4x4.

[@rlmast]

you can check mine if you want to see. its pretty cool, not the best vid on it but it shows it off above and below. He mentions his as push button though, mine is manual lever that I mounted in because mine is a bit older than this gen

[@harryfp1494]

It’s a manual shift transfer case

[@rlmast]

mine is manual shift. @8.00 into the vid he mentions he kept the electronic engagement and has the push buttons on the dash. I think you can get those from early gens or s10/blazer/jimmy etc. I got mine through Journeys offroad and took the electronic one off my transfer case which I was told is prone to failure and then had the lever and linkage set up on mine. I like the push button idea, because I plan to put a fridge in my center area between seats and the lever kinda takes up some extra room i could have used...

[@aumetalmental8403]

Looks pretty well set up. 😎✌️

[@checkersgarage744]

Thanks! Always trying to improve it too!

[@davidoliver2826]

Great looking machine! Like the two tone . I’m currently looking for an Astro to do a four wheel conversion!

[@checkersgarage744]

Thanks! And they sure are a lot of fun!

[@Rosario360PNW]

Sweet van dude.

[@DeadRoman]

Great looking van

[@darrellcoy]

Cool rig man!

[@checkersgarage744]

Thanks!

[@ableFarmer-kl7vb]

I'm a van guy ,appreciate the video dude

[@kornhead37]

Great job! Can you go into more details about the mirrors? Thanks!

[@MrMarkchu]

Would you mind showing us how you wired up the push button 4wd and how it looks in the dash? I'd love to see that. Thanks!

[@markstevens1729]

What a looker! Like a self-actualized van. Not so sure about the home-modded front suspension parts, but these vans should be kept alive.

[@SamZson777]

I had a 94 rwd and till this day I regret selling it 😢. I will get a awd and it will be mine! Lol

[@samuelpotts979]

Awesome van thinking of getting rid of my Ford expedition and buying one

[@ogrooster69]

I''ve got a '97 myself, love the mirror swap; looking at the video closely did you trim the existing plastic around the mounting point toward the front of the vehicle to get it in place and have to drill new holes?

[@checkersgarage744]

exactly what I did trim the piece on the pillar and drill some new mounting holes!

[@harrybeatty4078]

Nice van

[@jasonent8244]

I’m going try and keep this short. First off I love your build no complaints I have ben looking at doing the same thing but finding an awd is proving difficult with all the mods you have done would you suggest getting an awd or a 2 wd since you have to mod it so much anyway the 2 wheel I’m find are almost 1/2 but he price? Thanks for the vid and I love the look of the mirrors on it only thing I would add is a visor with chicken lights 👍✌️😊

[@91SanCheZ7]

Badass🔥 astro🔥

[@Dan0rioN]

BadAsstro!

[@kahlilgarcia3995]

I’m going to do the transfer swap, Make a video on why you went with your choice and the buttons on the dash, I’d like to hear about that,

[@evanr648]

pls

[@Dan0rioN]

What a beauty.. So jealous. What is the rear bumper from? Also curious if a 2wd astro could be upgraded to have the same 4x4 features as yours & get the awd feature

[@checkersgarage744]

on a 2wd, I would either grab an entire awd subframe and go from there, or just full custom and straight to solid axle

[@Dcp1620]

Hi great video I've been looking into getting one of these but my only question is whats the heaviest you've hauled with it , I race a small 4cyl car it weights about 2500 pounds and was wondering if it'd haul that decent? Thanks in advanced

[@checkersgarage744]

I tow alot with mine but usually smaller stuff. If setup correctly I wouldn't hesitate to tow that car. Things like not having an excessively heavy trailer, trailer brakes, ditch passenger tires if you have them and go to to LT tires. To be the absolute best I would make sure you have either 3.73 (factory option) or 4.10 (aftermarket only) gears, stiffer leaf springs and a WD hitch

[@MrDwightsimon]

The Z71 sticker is a nice touch

[@checkersgarage744]

Gotta confuse people!

[@anthonyjcarrillo]

Great looking van.... on the rear, did they use u bolts and plates or reuse that funky factory clamshell?

[@checkersgarage744]

ditched the clamshell, thick top plate and 5/8 ubolts, way overkill

[@walnut_trail_farm]

Awesome! What kind of side mirrors are those?

[@RDuude]

What mirrors are those? Love my Astro!

[@mygreat78]

You should cut the roof off that thing and glue that boat to it permanently and make it a conversion van.

[@1badawg66]

I love it

[@robthewaywardwoodworker9956]

Looks cool. Always liked 4x4 vans. This has that Tonka toy quality. I like that too. I'd be interested to see if anyone has done a Astro body on like a Blazer frame conversion.

[@anthonyjcarrillo]

There definitely is a van with a blazer frame swap. I dont remember what they named the van but theres tons of videos on here of the van. Its a green 2002 astro.

[@anthonyjcarrillo]

* its called "Kicken Astro"

[@anthonyjcarrillo]

**kickin astro

[@craftedbyalvint]

what front axle did you use to extend it? so basically you have long travel now right?

[@tonysanislo4977]

How did you go about lowering your front diff. I would like to do that to mine. I have a 95 DisASTRO AWD.

[@nathanprachnau2609]

I have a 99 w 31x10.5 and 7” lift, planning to do the transfer case swap. How does it drive after? Yours looks great 👍🏻

[@checkersgarage744]

Nice! And during normal driving (2wd) you won't notice a thing!

[@deathbyninja11]

nice! how bad are your rockers? mine are dying :(

[@rcfp2006]

I love 4x4 vans. Don't know why more weren't made.

[@somn__]

Would be cool to see some footage of the electric fan!

[@checkersgarage744]

I should be able to go over that real easy. Pretty simple mod

[@broncobill1204]

I agree I am very interested in that footage.

[@bobbiesnakes]

Nice

[@MrJones-ti1gx]

Gotta ?? 4 ya Bro. Did you have 2 do any mods 2 get the dumbos 2 fit?

[@59Axeman]

What did those mirrors come from? Did they bolt right on?

[@jethro9341]

Those mirrors tho

[@Jeffs9304]

what kind of mirrors are those? other than badass

[@franciscosoria4484]

??

[@truspinbeazy]

Where do I find the mirrors??

[@th3R0b0t]

I want more of a breakdown of your front end suspension if you could. I noticed the spacer on the idler arms. and I see proforged style adjusting sleeves(awesome BTW, the factory ones are junk).

[@th3R0b0t]

Also, what tire size are you running, how was the fitment in the factory spare hanger?

[@checkersgarage744]

I would go do a video on it but its currently in pieces in my garage :D In total I extended my control arms 1.5", repositioned the shocks, extended balljoints, modified the up and down bumpstops, dropped the idler arms by 3/4", shaved parts of the subframe to prevent rubbing, indexed keys, all topped off with 3" subframe spacers. As far as tires, they are 32x11.5R15's on stock rims, they fit on the factory hanger but very close fit between exhaust, axle, and shocks

[@th3R0b0t]

@@checkersgarage744 I really dig the extended upper and lower control arms. Also, because of your video with your 32 inch tire, I put mine up under my van as well. I really want to make rear mounted tire rack, but it's difficult to make happen with Dutch door setup. Mine aren't quite as tall as your 32s, but I didn't plan on going too crazy with this one. I have a video on my page of running around in some mud.

[@checkersgarage744]

@@th3R0b0t yeah the 32s are really necessary for most things with these vans, I just like to push it. With how I carry the motorcycle on the back of mine, a rear tire carrier has never been an option so I will be going to roof mount here when I am running 35's. Yours looks pretty sharp though!

[@LittleMikeStarCraft]

What's the trying to fight some self-made stigma about having to drive a van? I love vans-- and this one is super sick.

[@checkersgarage744]

Have to? My absolute favorite vehicle for the last 8 years now

[@tylerphoenix4980]

Ain't it nice to do whatever you want when you want without a ball and chain around your ankle 😂 lol

[@vitamin_IM]

У вас заменены зеркала заднего вида. Это стандартная позиция или вы переделывали сами?

[@checkersgarage744]

Hopefully you can translate this but you are right, The mirrors are off a 2016 Silverado 2500!

[@burlybair]

I have the same year, model, LS, AWD, in the same blue color. I can not find a pain code anywhere. Do you know the code for this color.

[@em6132]

I so badly want one of these vans, and just can't find an AWD. And if I do, they're dead and overpriced. :( Yours is looking outstanding!

[@em6132]

@@tommy3989 I just got lucky a couple weeks back! Finally found one here in Canada with 112K km! (a 97, base AWD - has A/C, rear heater, but the front end is the sealed beam fleet-type grille and bran doors. I am not complaining haha). Almost no rust, so I am very happy to get on with my project and finally build something even half as nice as yours

[@em6132]

@@tommy3989 That's true! Just like my Jeep Cherokee XJ, lots of the 5x7 LED lights now (only catch is I am in Canada - need DRL's to work, and voltages + led are a weird combo...). Also, I am curious, why would you rather barn doors? I always thought the dutch would be convenient to have longer items sticking out etc (lumber, metal etc)

[@em6132]

@@tommy3989 Never knew about the leaks! Thanks for telling me that, I guess I lucked out with the barn doors. I am 100% planning on a spare tire carrier (however I may go with a swing out, on a custom metal bumper). Jerry can would be cool!

[@Ammosexual69]

What engine does yours have?

[@samizdat113]

Badass

[@786lilo]

South Africa van

[@rcfriscoflyer]

Do you know the true chevy color that van is??

[@davidguzman9534]

Hi what kind of mirows do you have

[@josephhence9292]

I’m actually in the market for one! We are a family of 7 my wife has a minivan but I want something for me! I like to hunt fish so I need 4x4 something to tow.

[@user-xr2ej2wy8h]

What is the size of the wheels???

[@checkersgarage744]

32 x 11.5r15s

[@JohnSmith-qj4cf]

The np236 cost

[@jeremyTallen1]

So.... Motorcycles,Awd Van,Monster Fire Truck......where we separated at birth?🤣

[@checkersgarage744]

Only if you also have a thing for old 2 stroke outboard as well!

[@jeremyTallen1]

@@checkersgarage744 does the fact I want two for end tables in my living room answer your question 🤣

[@user-zx7lb6mr2i]

Hey. Let me have that thing

[@oscarverduzcojr.5687]

Do you want to sell it ?

[@seanmillions]

fix the grille ! 😩

[@ADVMaxx]

LS swap, it’s almost necessary at this point.

[@checkersgarage744]

We going to keep here period correct with a 383 stroker built off a 5.7 vortec!

[@patlevv7382]

🆒💩‼️ imagine a SMALL turbodiesel in THAT thing🤯like dodge-jeep ECO