Chevy & GMC Vans

Seems the forum has fallen on hard times.Less than 1/4 page of new posts.Over the yrs I have learned alot about the internet and computers because of this site being my beginning. No expert by any means,but far,far, better off than when I started. And thanks to Firecakes(Lynn) I found and use spell check.Thanks god for that!!!. I also met in person some great people.

I hope this isn't the beginning of the end. To the faithful who has hung on and hung out for the changes in my life you guys have made for me..............THANK YOU =D>

I still check in almost everyday Gary.
I haven't been driving my vans much at all though since I got the bike.
Hang in there Gary, Summer is always a bit quiet here...
Besides, it isnt the quantity, but the quality that counts.
A thousand posts about Blah Blah blah isn't worth even one good post with interesting thoughts, pictures or ideas for sharing .
I still see those interesting posts coming in

Good advise.Thanks.

Hopefully this site keeps rolling as it has been a valuable source for info . I belong to another forum that has a small membership and though the posts are not that frequent like DYLIH has said about this forum the content and members are top notch. I check this site several times a week and always is my first stop when I am looking for Astro reference material.

Semper Fi.....I'm here for the long run. I don't do much on the "Smilie" van. At 264,000 miles and still running great there's just not much to do. Cherie and I are getting ready for our annual trek to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. After "Fiesta" we will be going up to Washington State to visit my Mom. She's 92 so more frequent visits are necessary. I hope to visit Matt and Tom while I'm there. Starting tomorrow I will give the van a thorough inspection. I know already that it will get new tires and a complete brake job. Oil change and filters also. I get excited this time of the year. It's good to get away for a while. More later.

Smiliesafari wrote:I hope to visit Matt and...

Yeah uh huh...

I pop in on the site several times a day and read most of the posts but don't always comment. I'll be here until the lights are shut off also!

I took over control of a local car forum in my area several years ago and it has completely died. Technically it is still there, but I don't plan on renewing the yearly hosting fee when it comes due. Several of the guys are now Facebook friends though so we still keep in touch.

I find it interesting more people are posting tech questions on the Facebook Astro pages and I just don't get it. Forums are perfect for that.... and Facebook isn't.

i'm here until they bury me in the van the 98's been in the body shop for a couple months so i can't do much too it but once i get it i'll be able to proudly post pics of it. the poor 97 transmission is shot so i'm using it as little as possible for the time being. between the 98 and the jimmy i bought my mother i have no money to buy a new tranny for the 97.

I check in lots.

I don't post trip reports much because this forum doesn't allow picture loading direct from iPad, and my iPad photobucket apps suck and won't allow resizing...or I can't figure it out, anyway.

Skip, looking forward to seeing you.


Edit: Just noticed I joined a week before Cobra.

mdmead wrote:

Smiliesafari wrote:I hope to visit Matt and...

Yeah uh huh...

I pop in on the site several times a day and read most of the posts but don't always comment. I'll be here until the lights are shut off also!

I took over control of a local car forum in my area several years ago and it has completely died. Technically it is still there, but I don't plan on renewing the yearly hosting fee when it comes due. Several of the guys are now Facebook friends though so we still keep in touch.

I find it interesting more people are posting tech questions on the Facebook Astro pages and I just don't get it. Forums are perfect for that.... and Facebook isn't.

I have been finding that facebook has some good people in specialized groups too Matt, although i havent really checked into any astrosafari groups..
I DID join the FB "Kawasaki KLR650 Owners Group" and it has been a valuable source of parts, friends and tech info.
Check it out...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2242068775/

doyoulikeithere wrote:
I have been finding that facebook has some good people in specialized groups too Matt, although i havent really checked into any astrosafari groups..
I DID join the FB "Kawasaki KLR650 Owners Group" and it has been a valuable source of parts, friends and tech info.
Check it out...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2242068775/

I'm not questioning the knowledge base, it's the format. Facebook doesn't lend itself the way a forum does. I think people would be better served if they used the Facebook page to direct to an applicable thread in a forum. Facebook = fluff, Forum = detail. That's my take.

I too am a daily-checker of the forum, and yes I noticed that things got a bit slow. Personally, I hoped it was because summer was nearing its end and everyone was trying squeeze in as much fun as possible (I know I have been).

I'll have more project updates to post, more van-related adventures soon. Don't stop!


Here's a few photos of my Labor day weekend away from the van, just to add some content, however off-topic:








And a repost of one of my favorite van photos, just for giggles:

Wow, Mike, living the life, man!

Here's why I had no time to meet up in San Diego. My mom, dad, 19 yr old nephew, 17 and 13 yr old nieces , all joined my family in San Diego, then flew home to Washington with us, and we took them up to Whistler and did the new zipline.

Part of the video the 13 yr old is putting together.

http://youtu.be/kYuR1bdtTuI

Still check in from time to time , but Astro had a fit of rust this summer when I went to rotate the tires. Was wondering why things around the grill were tight......hhmmm seems the body mounts have rusted away...imagine that ! So I shall try to figure a quick fix, so I can plow my drive this winter and look for a nose or new van possibly.( I didn't say that) .....weld and fix! Mean time driving an AWD Vibe....do like the mileage!
Spending lots of time on my other off road mount (Gus ) trail QH .....goes anywhere never gets stuck!

T.Low wrote:Wow, Mike, living the life, man!

Uh, yup, Thanks Tom. its an adventure.
If you ever get the chance, there is a really great road that goes past Whistler and Pemberton and comes out at Harrison Lake.
If you look for it there is a natural hot spring nestled high in the wilderness along the way. Beauty !
Livin the life , but I havent been to Sloquet Hot Springs in a heckuva long time. T'would be an easy ride on the KLR.