New member from WV

[Coyote X]

Just signed up here. I have a 94 Astro conversion van done by Tiara Motor Coach. It is a pretty solid van and I use it for a lot of stuff. I have it set up nearly where I want it but there is still some work to do

Mods so far:

Air lift bags for the rear with a pump and dash controller.
Two 10,000lb RV trans coolers
Transgo HD2 shift kit
Indicator on dash for torque converter lockup
Inverter mounted in wall behind passenger seat
Flex fan mounted on stock fan clutch
Underdrive pullies
Digital TV converter box

Mods I am planning for the future"

New front captains chairs with built in heat and massage
15" lcd TV to replace the little tube tv
Winegard MS-2000 antenna
swap the super Nintendo for a xbox 360
Bigger inverter
New paint job as soon as I figure out how to replace the stripe kit

I mostly use the van for hauling stuff around here locally but I also use it for trips and when a lot of people need to go somewhere.

Right now all the seats are out of the interior so I can finish installing my dual battery setup. I am using an isolator and moving all the needed circuits to the second battery so I can use it without having to think about switches or anything. After that I will shampoo the interior to make it look nice again. The little vacuum cleaner in the back passenger side didn't work when I got the van so I used that area and cut it out a bit so I could mount a battery box in that spot. I will post pics of it all when I get done with it hopefully tomorrow or the next day.

[mdmead]

Nice van! (I'm a sucker for conversion vans!)

Welcome to the site!

[trybe13]

Welcome aboard! I too am a sucker for conversions. Nice ride you've got there.

[astrozam]

Welcome to ASV Coyote X, thanks for the introduction and pics. Good to see you are taking your tranny's health seriously, enjoy the site.

[ihatemybike]

Welcome to the site.

Don't worry about the stripes if you're repainting. Most body shops can get you new stripes or you could hire a pin-stripe artist to lay down some lines.

[Coyote X]

Got my dual battery setup done



I have the isolator wired up to keep them both charged. I moved the conversion van circuits over to the second battery as well as the power windows, radio, and dome lights. Good thing about it is now my windows work in the accessory key position



I won't ever need to hunt someone down to jump start it from messing around and running the battery down anymore. Once my new captains chairs with built in heat and massage come in I will also move them over to the second battery so I can really be lazy. The spare battery is a deep cycle 115AH so it should run the TV and lights or whatever for hours without any trouble.

[9dawgs]

Welcome to the site! Nice clean looking van

[the european]

aaaand...

even from germany some greets to you!!!

derek

[Coyote X]

Small update to my van today. The old 7 inch CRT in it was kind of washed out looking and sucked. So in goes a 15 inch LCD screen.

I took the mounting base off the screen and fashioned a wooden piece to attach it through the old TV hole. It hinges forward so I can store crap in the hole now(like an Xbox 360). I used a home A/V dock for my Zune 120 and now I can play movies and crap through the TV just by dropping the Zune in it's dock. With a cheap sub under the sofa in the back the van is set for vacation in 2 weeks



I will be towing my Geo Metro Xfi Convertible Hybrid I built ~6 hrs to Ohio for a car show and stuff. Should be a fun weekend. Just a shame the van cant get close to the mileage that thing gets, currently between 90-400mpg

[Coyote X]

Who says an Astro is no good at towing stuff


It made the trip to Ohio without any trouble towing my Metro. I ended up not bothering with the tent half the time and just stayed in the van. It is much more comfortable than a tent. With the middle row of seats out there was lots of room to stretch out and be lazy. The harbor freight sway controller made the long trip on a windy day real easy. The van was blown around less than it normally does unloaded in wind.



Everything else is getting about right on it now, I just have to get my new massaging seats in and get a nice 70's style full wrap around mural of some sort painted on it. I am sure I will find other stuff that needs changed or improved but for now I am happy with it.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

These vans definitely can tow some weight. Add these pics to the "trailers you have towed with your van" sticky thread in the towing section.