New member here, with a 3d model of an astro camper

[eatyourlungs]

hey all!
i have been lurking on these pages for a while now and figured i should register and make an appearance. i recently moved to boulder, colorado and currently drive a mid 90s bmw. i know this will likely be sufficient for around town driving in the winter, but i dont want to just have something sufficient for town. i love camping, i love going off road, i love the snow, and i love vans. i sold my 2001 express 3500, 15 passenger two months ago to finance my move to colorado. i was trying to decide what vehicle i should get and i think that the AWD astro/safari is the ticket. i have included a mock up of a van and how i think the interior might work well, considering function vs cost vs space. i used a passenger van for the modeling but i want to go with a cargo van so that i can insulate all the surfaces and add a couple small windows to the panels. check out my proposed setup and let me know if you have any comments, suggestions, etc about the design of the van. i will be doing a 4 inch lift to the van as well.

here is the link to youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAU7CopjRm4

thanks!

[H2OJoe]

Welcome to the forum! Your presentation is impressive but it looks more like it was drawn up using Express van specs
than Astro specs. On average the space behind the driver's seat is about 87" long and 56" wide. I've rebuilt the inside
of my 2001 Astro LT many times and the basic "Westy" layout like you're using seems to be the most efficient use of
space. Take lots of photos as you do your build. We love photos! I look forward to seeing your progress.

Joe

[eatyourlungs]

i scaled the van to fit interior cargo dimension listed at http://www.vanx.org/chevy-astro.html which suggests:
Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Console (in) 153.6
Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in) 127.8
Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in) 52.7
Cargo Box (Area) Height (in) 51.9

so if these numbers are incorrect than perhaps it is more akin to the dimensions of an express. no matter, its just an issue of scaling the model if that is true.

[badassastro]

Welcome

[eatyourlungs]

so i just picked up my astro. 2000 awd, high top, 140,000 miles. new transfer case. all seems to be as hoped. got it for $2800

[sidecar53]

NICE!!!!

[eatyourlungs]

also, i just took a look at my RPO sticker and it indicates gt4, g80. so 3.73 gears with gov-loc, correct?

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Yup, that would be correct.

[H2OJoe]

That is awesome! Hell, I paid more than that just to have my high top installed and a new transfer case. Post pics of the interior when you can.


Joe

[97Safari]

Nice van!!

And only the second Astro/Safari I've seen with factory windows and a high top... Mine being the first I'd seen!

Congrats!