Overland Vans???

[spug]

Hey all! Does anyone have any idea what's up with Overland? I have been trying to contact them via e-mail at Gerald@overlandvans and no reply. I tried calling the number on the site and no go either. Does anyone have any contact info. or know of another 2" kit like their's that I can get for my 2000 Astro? I have a few bucks to spend and I need to spend it asap on the van before the wife tells me it's got to go to bills!!! [-X

[doyoulikeithere]

Just mt two cents...

The overland kits do not include anything that you cant just buy locally.
I would take the cash to a local truck spring shop and ask them to get you the tallest S10 truck springs available.
Mine were S10 springs, and on the bench they had about 7 - 7.5 inches of free arc.

With those you will get about 4" of lift and wont need any overland parts at all to do the rear.

The front is done with 2" blocks that are available everywhere. the other 2" i the front is just from turning up your existing torsion bars.
The longer steering shaft is just a stock shaft from an older (Gen1) 2wd van.
The ebrake cable bracket is just a stock one with a new hole drilled in it.
The Bumper brackets are not required on Gen2 vans, just put the bumper bottom hole on the frame top hole and put the bolt back in.

A little self education and a weekend sourcing out the parts and you should be able to do this WITHOUT the help of the ever elusive OLV products.

In my opinion, OLV parts are really too expensive, need to be shipped at a big cost, could be sourced locally, and if Gerard wont answer his phone or mail, you got no source anyways.

[MountainManJoe]

Hi spug. Please don't cross-post. We can move your topic if needed. Hope you get a hold of Gerald.

[spug]

Sorry 'bout that, I forgot to delete the other one. So is Gerald still the owner?

[spug]

Thanks for the input doyoulikeithere. I feel the same way. A company that is that hard to get a hold of makes me a little wary. I am a new Astro owner and am trying really hard not to get too crazy but it's tough. I have built a bunch of Jeeps in the past so needless to say I tend to go a little overboard with mods and such. I am pumped to have found this site with all kinds of info. It's good to know there are that many Astro fans out there. The 2" kit seemed perfect but if it's that hard to get, I will piece something together. I might even make my own shackles once I figure out the specs. My whole deal with this van is now I have a baby girl and just don't have the garage time that I used to so I need something straight forward, quick and easy.

[mdmead]

I've always hoped Overland Vans would become successful, but as far as I'm concerned, every owner has done a poor job, at least regarding communication. You can't be successful if your most captive & supportive audience, (in this case ASV), doesn't receive stellar service.

[spug]

Very true. So, I found some blocks and bolts but does anybody remember where the link to those shackles from Auto Zone was? Or any other shackles for that matter?

[doyoulikeithere]

If you can afford it the best rear lift is new springs.
Mine were 300 bux.
blocks or shackles will do it, but as far as how well it works, Spring lift is the best.
S10 ZR2 springs fit, call some local spring shops before you settle on anything.

[T.Low]

Hey all! Does anyone have any idea what's up with Overland? I have been trying to contact them via e-mail at Gerald@overlandvans and no reply. I tried calling the number on the site and no go either. Does anyone have any contact info. or know of another 2" kit like their's that I can get for my 2000 Astro? I have a few bucks to spend and I need to spend it asap on the van before the wife tells me it's got to go to bills!!! [-X

So...when were you trying to contact him? How many emails and phone calls over what time period?

[spug]

Just one e-mail and a bunch of phone calls and for some reason I can't get through.

[limon]

Hi everyone, I just bought a 2000 Safari last August and plan to use the 4+ lift kit from Overland Vans. I sent Gerald an email with questions about what is involved with installing the kit and he recommended this site. Gerald has answered all my emails (usually the same evening), and kept me informed on the shipping status of my kit (3 shipments; one from Gerald, one from leaf spring supplier, and the last from Arizona that was shackles and torsion keys just arrived here in Huntington Beach, CA).

The bloody knuckles and cursing will start tomorrow, and thanks to the posts on this site, I'm confident I can get it finished.

I'm sure I could have saved hundreds of dollars if I sourced the parts using the suppliers I found on the various threads, but I am truly the worst mechanic and I'm much more comfortable using a kit on this first try.

I'm pulling for Gerald because I like the idea of supporting a dedicated small business. Anyhow, it took about 6 weeks for everything to arrive from the day I placed the order, so plan for that and you should be OK.

Thanks for the great site, Limon

PS. Bilstein (in San Diego) still hasn't shipped my shocks.

[brokenwrench]

Hey all! Does anyone have any idea what's up with Overland? I have been trying to contact them via e-mail at Gerald@overlandvans and no reply. I tried calling the number on the site and no go either. Does anyone have any contact info. or know of another 2" kit like their's that I can get for my 2000 Astro? I have a few bucks to spend and I need to spend it asap on the van before the wife tells me it's got to go to bills!!! [-X

are you looking for a 2 inch front kit? i can hook you up.

[arlon]

I ordered the 2" lift kit from overland, took a week and a half to get here but no problems otherwise. I guess he's in Canada because it was hung at the border in customs for several days. I think customs may be the biggest holdup.. I plan on installing mine this weekend...

[arlon]

Just mt two cents...

The Bumper brackets are not required on Gen2 vans, just put the bumper bottom hole on the frame top hole and put the bolt back in.

Won't that leave the top half of the bumper unsupported? Using two bolts instead of 4? Just doesn't seem like a good idea to me. I just got the Overland kit and it did NOT come with new bumper brackets so I guess that's what they expect you to do. Instructions in the kit states that you need the brackets but then they don't send them and expect you to just mount it half way.. )-:}

[MountainManJoe]

I paid extra for mine.