Anyone ever own an AWD Astro van?

jeffro503
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jeffro503
So I'm going through this extremely crappy snow storm here , and even though this doesn't happen to often here , when it does I'm pretty much stranded at home. By this time next week ( I hope ) that the road will be clear enough so I can actually drive to work. I know it sounds crazy , but all I own are vans haha. All three of them are 1 ton , extended cargo vans. 99 Chevy Express is my moto van , a 93' Ford econoline is my main work van , and then I have an older 91' Ford econoline that basically just sits here and never gets driven.

I'm thinking about getting rid of the 91' Ford and replacing it with an AWD astro van this summer. It would be the perfect back up work van for the type of weather I'm dealing with I think. At the end of this week , I would have lost close to 3 weeks of work , and if I had something to haul my as around with my tools , I think it would pay for itself within a year or two.

Any of you guys ever own an Astro? I've watched some videos of those things in the snow and they look like they get around really well in the snow. What can I say?....I love vans!

I thought something like this , with a small 4" lift , studs all the way around....pretty much go any where.

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MR. X
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MR. X 1/12/2017 11:12am
1/12/2017 11:12am
I wanted one for the longest time to use as a hunting vehicle , add a rear limited slip with a lift kit and capable tires , throw on a light bar for the win.
Kenny Lingus
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Kenny Lingus 1/12/2017 11:17am
1/12/2017 11:17am
You probably will never get anyone to admit that they own one.Tongue I have driven them a fair amount. Basically a short box truck with a van body. They are pretty good in the snow, even better with snow tires. Gas mileage is terrible if that is a consideration. Not sure what all motors were offered but try to stick with the 4.3. They seem to last, too.
cable
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cable 1/12/2017 11:18am
1/12/2017 11:18am Edited Date/Time 1/12/2017 11:20am
i Just bought one! its awesome. Ive had 4 other 2wd astros, I've hauled two bikes to florida from michigan, with space between them for sleeping.. They generally get 20 mpg, and are easy to drive and park, for the wife. in the winter I leave out the middle seat, and change clothes in it to ski, mountain bike, etc. Im looking for another with low mileage.
I have a 2013 silverado extended cab 4x4, and like the astro more.. They make kits to put a v8 in. any chevy v8 will bolt up to the trans, as I've been told.
Dewey Sheets Jr 1/12/2017 11:20am
1/12/2017 11:20am
It's no R8 but still pretty cool.

Maybe Midwest Mafia will chime in with his opinion. I hear he's some kind of an expert on cars.

The Shop

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BobPA
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BobPA 1/12/2017 11:25am
1/12/2017 11:25am
If you have 4wd There is not much use for studs. People with 4wd forget that it helps you accelerate, but not slow down....over confidence leads to speed, speed leads to the woods. Have a set of tire chains if things get really icy. I think it would make for a great moto van. The only place they will suffer is deeper snow, wheel speed is key...and the 6 cylinders are not exactly power houses.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 1/12/2017 11:27am
1/12/2017 11:27am
SEE ARE125 wrote:
Have you considered a Ridgeline?
Oh man no way i could use one for work. If i wanted something like that I'd just get a full size truck. The great thing about having a van for work and moto is i can lock up everything , and have quite a bit of room.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 1/12/2017 11:29am
1/12/2017 11:29am
BobPA wrote:
If you have 4wd There is not much use for studs. People with 4wd forget that it helps you accelerate, but not slow down....over confidence leads...
If you have 4wd There is not much use for studs. People with 4wd forget that it helps you accelerate, but not slow down....over confidence leads to speed, speed leads to the woods. Have a set of tire chains if things get really icy. I think it would make for a great moto van. The only place they will suffer is deeper snow, wheel speed is key...and the 6 cylinders are not exactly power houses.
Bob , you should check out some of them little astro's in the snow on youtube. Those little suckers get around very well in the snow.
MR. X
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MR. X 1/12/2017 11:29am
1/12/2017 11:29am
SEE ARE125 wrote:
Have you considered a Ridgeline?
Laughing Laughing
Cygnus
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Cygnus 1/12/2017 11:31am
1/12/2017 11:31am
Looks like ya should buy a plow truck.

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slipdog 1/12/2017 11:31am
1/12/2017 11:31am
I ran one in the '90's with the 4.3, it was bad ass!
byke
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byke 1/12/2017 11:32am
1/12/2017 11:32am
I'd try to find a 4wd full size van because an Astro with a lift is probably going to get worse mileage than a full size van with a gas big bock and would also be smaller inside, but I had a buddy with a 4wd Astro and even at stock height it was a sweet little rig. I'd definitely buy one if a good deal came along.
peelout
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peelout 1/12/2017 11:34am
1/12/2017 11:34am
Ridge knows a thing or two about offroad vans...



TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 1/12/2017 11:35am
1/12/2017 11:35am
I've heard NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS about Astro vans.

Hell, the boss at Pro Circuit has one!
Harry Backmon 1/12/2017 11:37am
1/12/2017 11:37am
SEE ARE125 wrote:
Have you considered a Ridgeline?
This just absolutely had me roll out of my chair! Perfect!

Jeffbro, I didn't even know the Astro came with an AWD option.
JRT812
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JRT812 1/12/2017 11:38am
1/12/2017 11:38am
That is good looking van Peelout!
AHRMA361
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AHRMA361 1/12/2017 11:38am
1/12/2017 11:38am
A buddy of mine has 2 4WD Astro's. Swear by them.

Put 280K on my 2WD Astro Van. Only major repair was replacing the trans. The 4.3L was never opened up for anything.

Sold it and saw the van for years after that still driving around town.
seth505
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seth505 1/12/2017 11:39am
1/12/2017 11:39am Edited Date/Time 1/12/2017 11:40am
I had a rear wheel drive Astrovan in Massachusetts and made it through winters without dying. Since those days I know now that I can accomplish anything in life.

the 4.3 was sweet/solid

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RM Mike
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RM Mike 1/12/2017 11:41am
1/12/2017 11:41am
Pull the dog house and you will notice what a tight fit it is between the engine and the sheet metal. Not easy to work on. You will bleed.

jeffro503
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jeffro503 1/12/2017 11:48am
1/12/2017 11:48am
peelout wrote:
Ridge knows a thing or two about offroad vans... [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/01/12/168658/s1200_15338768_10211704164819173_6275889114791585418_n.jpg[/img]
Ridge knows a thing or two about offroad vans...



That's Chris's van? Holy hell that thing is sweet! That's also a badass / crazy pic.....towing a freakin' trailer too! I'd love to own something like that.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 1/12/2017 11:51am
1/12/2017 11:51am
SEE ARE125 wrote:
Have you considered a Ridgeline?
Harry Backmon wrote:
This just absolutely had me roll out of my chair! Perfect!

Jeffbro, I didn't even know the Astro came with an AWD option.
Yeah , I actually knew about them years ago but kind of forgot about them until my buddy Wardy mentioned it to me the other night. He told me that when the weather got real bad they would supply him with a little awd astro and he said they were pretty impressive in the snow. Also check out the GMC safari as well , basically the same thing. I'll be looking for a mid 2000's Astro or Safari with the 4.3 this spring and summer. Made up my mind on one of these little vans.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 1/12/2017 11:55am
1/12/2017 11:55am Edited Date/Time 1/12/2017 11:56am
byke wrote:
I'd try to find a 4wd full size van because an Astro with a lift is probably going to get worse mileage than a full size...
I'd try to find a 4wd full size van because an Astro with a lift is probably going to get worse mileage than a full size van with a gas big bock and would also be smaller inside, but I had a buddy with a 4wd Astro and even at stock height it was a sweet little rig. I'd definitely buy one if a good deal came along.
That's not totally out of the question , but damn man , the full size Chevy express AWD van is a spendy rig. I found a used 2011 here....they want $30,000 for it! I can get the Astro between $3,000 - $6,000. And besides it wouldn't get driven all that much. Just need something to help me get around to my jobs in this crappy weather.
early
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early 1/12/2017 12:00pm
1/12/2017 12:00pm
Girlfriend of mine had an awd astro. Pretty decent rig aside from gas mileage. Capable of getting out to places where noone would see it rocking.
Starcrossed
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Starcrossed 1/12/2017 12:01pm
1/12/2017 12:01pm
That's all I drive is Astrovans. I have four of them, but one isn't registered because I only use it in the Cape Cod Pro Mud Bog series (offroad). It's a cranberry killer allright. Got a V-10 Viper motor in it.
byke
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byke 1/12/2017 12:02pm
1/12/2017 12:02pm
For sure it will be waaaaay easier to find an AWD Astro for $5k than a 4x4 full size for $5k, plus you'd end up with a generally nicer and more reliable vehicle. Hope you get a little build thread going when you find one. Smile
Micahdogg
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Micahdogg 1/12/2017 12:09pm
1/12/2017 12:09pm
Didn't those 4.3L's have those goofy poppet injectors that always broke/cracked/leaked? A friend of mine went through distributors like underwear in his 4.3L too. Don't get me wrong, its a strong motor when running right, but I've seldom heard of trouble free miles out of them.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 1/12/2017 12:28pm
1/12/2017 12:28pm
byke wrote:
For sure it will be waaaaay easier to find an AWD Astro for $5k than a 4x4 full size for $5k, plus you'd end up with...
For sure it will be waaaaay easier to find an AWD Astro for $5k than a 4x4 full size for $5k, plus you'd end up with a generally nicer and more reliable vehicle. Hope you get a little build thread going when you find one. Smile
Well let me explain my situation , and maybe you'll see where I'm coming from. I can't use any type of a truck because I can't do my job with one. I'm a drywall guy and some times need to haul 4' x 8' sheets , which are stood up inside the cargo area and then strapped in. I can't lay them down because all my tools and debris would be laying on top of them and they would get beat to hell. So since I need to stand them up.....I can't do that with a canopy on a truck. The vans are my only option. And since I need a " bad weather " driving van....either a smaller Astro , Safari or a full size Express is my only options. I really would like to have a truck....but they are totally useless in my line of work.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 1/12/2017 12:31pm
1/12/2017 12:31pm
Micahdogg wrote:
Didn't those 4.3L's have those goofy poppet injectors that always broke/cracked/leaked? A friend of mine went through distributors like underwear in his 4.3L too. Don't get...
Didn't those 4.3L's have those goofy poppet injectors that always broke/cracked/leaked? A friend of mine went through distributors like underwear in his 4.3L too. Don't get me wrong, its a strong motor when running right, but I've seldom heard of trouble free miles out of them.
I Haven't heard that before , but it's worth looking into. I have been doing some research on these vans and it seems like a lot of guys are getting 300,000 - 400,000 miles out of these things. Seems like the tranny needs work between 150,000 - 200,000 miles.....but geez , what rig usually doesn't?
jeffro503
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jeffro503 1/12/2017 12:31pm
1/12/2017 12:31pm
Starcrossed wrote:
That's all I drive is Astrovans. I have four of them, but one isn't registered because I only use it in the Cape Cod Pro Mud...
That's all I drive is Astrovans. I have four of them, but one isn't registered because I only use it in the Cape Cod Pro Mud Bog series (offroad). It's a cranberry killer allright. Got a V-10 Viper motor in it.
You serious on this? Can you post some pics?
Stuntman949
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Stuntman949 1/12/2017 12:35pm
1/12/2017 12:35pm
You guys suck. Always thought they were hideous but now I'm frantically searching the Craigslist

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