2004 Astro AWD Build: Colorado Camper Van Pop Top

[Ballenxj]

Good choice on tires. BFG A/T's have long been the choice for four wheelers that want good performance from their tires both on and off road. Those are the tires I always bought for all my 4x4's, with the exception of my last one. I had a Suzuki Samurai, and when I went to Discount Tires they were out of the size I wanted so they offered me a set of Pirelli Scorpions instead for the same price. I took them.
-Bruce

[Mark C.]

Hey dude,nice van,I am wondering how hard it was to get the plastic side panels off,and is the front fender trim the only thing u added to make it look complete. My first van was a stripped passenger without that trim,I like it,plus I am sure its a rust/sand catcher.

[Snowgeek]

So I have sunk back to occasional lurking around here in the last 4 month being to overwhelmed with a baby that won't sleep, moving my business, having our busy season starting, and my manager quitting all at the same time...... finally I am getting caught up. MarkC. I will get the write up on the cladding removal here in the next few days, sorry it has been so long.

Ryan

[T.Low]

I hear ya, brother. Got laid off a month after my 28 yr old was born, and now we have a 2nd (6 mo). People think I'm not on here as much because of my illness, but it's actually cause I'm too burned out being a frazzled new mommy.

edit; 28 month old not yr old. Oops,

[Snowgeek]

Tom, first of did you mean a 28 mo or yr old....? I didn't know you had a 6 mo..... When was the birth day? Our little bug must just be a month older.

What have you guys done as far as van camping with your kiddos. Our little girl camped with us in the van at 5 and 7 weeks old but she was rather confined the time. Now she is moving quite a bit more and we are trying to decide in what and where she will sleep this summer?

Ryan

[T.Low]

Olivia Lara was born 11/28/10 and Lilja Peircen was born 9/29/12. Lilja (Lil-ya; named after mediocre yet fan favorite former Detroit Red Wing defensemen Andreas Lilja, and my wife and my best friend Cindy Pearson) hasn't been camping yet. Olivia and Jen have slept down stairs together while I got the pop top bunk to myself.

Theres a platform behind the rear seat that is the same height as the folded down seat and is comfy with a mattress topper on it. At 5'4", Jen sleeps east/west or maybe a bit diagonal, as oppossed to north/south. Cindy slept the same way for 5 nights in Moab.

This summer, Olivia will move upstairs with me, while Jen and Lilja are downstairs.

[Snowgeek]

Ok I have had many requests for interior pics of poptop.

I have been waiting till i could get a super wide angle lens to take these. I didn't have the extra bed panels when i took these pics so we will get to those at another time.













got to say i love this thing. From camping to bike races i really would be driving this than anything else...... It is simply so convenient.

I will add some more bed platform pictures and storage solution photos as i get them.

[mdmead]

Very nice!

[Snowgeek]

Thanks, i can't wait to get started on more of the camper conversion.....headed for the westy weekender style.....table and more storage.

In the mean time here is a seat project that i am working on.

I think that the stock seats were designed for someone a little wider than my 5'6" 140lbs frame. In order to not roll around in the seats while driving i have to pinch the armrest between my arm and torso. So I started working on new seats. 4 months ago i found a decent condition pair or seats out of a Land Rover disco at my local junkyard...Got the pair for $30

In this process i am mounting the drivers on the normal astro base and mounting the passenger on a swivel.....i am getting rid of the arc rails on both.

Junk yard astro bases to be used with the new seats


Removing the rivets that hold the rails on outer 2 from the top.... Inner two from the bottom





Rover seat is going to need a little cleaning but the bolstering is amazing.





Rails of the new seats and rails of the astro base are spot on in width :sombrero:



Junkyard swivel that will be under the passenger seat



Can't wait to get that swivel done!!

Ryan

[Ballenxj]

Holy Headroom Bat.... er, I mean Ryan. Looking GOOD.
-Bruce

[97CargoCrawler]

Damn...that's a luxury hotel room. The Penthouse suite. Awesome!

[T.Low]

I officially have Penthouse Envy.

[Stroverlander]

That is roomier than I imagined it to be for sure! Don't go all stiff upper lip on us once you get those Rover seats installed. Cheerio.

[Snowgeek]

The rover drivers seat is in as of this afternood.... Will post pictures soon. If these were power heated range rover seats I might start feeling all high and mighty but they are 95 disco one seats. A the leather is all ok but cracking none the less..... Bolstering is amazing, I don't roll around any more!!

Got the starting phase of the swivel base going..... Then realized I need some steel to move forward. On hold till I make it to the salvage yard

Ryan

[97CargoCrawler]

I dunno squat about pop-ups. Where's the second floor? It is like wood slats you roll out or...? Got a pic with the floor in place? I'm curious how you get up in there, etc.