Chevy & GMC Vans

Can an AWD (or 4x4) Astro handle a situation where one one wheel is raised way in the air due to uneven terrain in an offroad situation without breaking?

I am concerned due to the partial frame unibody and the soccer duty axles.

Part two of the same question is to consider the posi in the rear (for traction sake) and the ultraconcervative driver behind the wheel. I am very light on the gas peddle and haven't hopped the van at all yet...haven't even had to spin the wheels other than in snow.

I guess I am willing to take the risk with the pop top. The installer (GTRV) is just up the road from me and can act as a chiropractor and readjust it should it get out of whack. I'm sure he would actually foam at the mouth with excitement over the R&D element involved (He recently told me that the pic I sent him of my van with the top popped and the mountain scenery in the background is the one his company computer has for a screen saver). I've already twisted the van enough to pop the back dutch door enough so that it unlatched itself.

I want to do this trail with NWOS. Click link then skroll down to big pic of big Ford on 3 wheels
http://www.northwestoverlandsociety.org ... fault.aspx

As always, any and all replies welcomed! Thanks again guys.

I've seen a few photos of Astros flexed more than they were designed for. I recall one pic where the body flexed enough to allow sight between the body and slider. Thinking of metal fatigue, doing so repeatedly can't be good. Eventually your van will twist beyond the point of no return.

While the Jeep XJ (Cherokee) doesn't have a front sub-frame, it does have an uni-frame construction like the body of our vans. Twisting these bodies has been enough of a problem that companies offer Uni-body stiffeners.

Two examples:
Roc Dog Fabrication
T&T Customs

If flexing often, it would most likely be beneficial to look into stiffening the uni-frame some.

I never had any issues with the SPB. I think part of it was installing the rock rails. They definitely stiffened up the van. Once I went to the solid front axle, I had enough flex in the suspension to not twist the van too much.

Curious if you guys think by lifting a van with either spacers or like Peter did with piping multiplies the twisting effect.

Tom, your link only goes to the main forum index

I'd be a bit worried about the flex. My fiberglass top has several stress cracks in it and I believe they are due to chassis/body flex and my van has never been what I'd call an 'off-roader'. (I mean I've never pushed the suspension to max flex.)

Interesting what Dean said about adding the rock sliders. I suppose that would add some rigidy and you should definately get some anyway. I'd be curious to have a chassis fabricator look and see what could be done to make the chassis/body more rigid from underneith. The best solution would be a cage... but I don't really want that on the inside or outside of my van.

Regarding the rest of the drivetrain, until you go bigger on tires, I don't think you are going to have any issues if you treat her nice.

Thanks for the heads up, Zammer. I forgot that "activity planning" is restricted to members only on that forum.

Sounds like a good added benny from the rock sliders, and yes they are on the short list of things to get done asap. Thanks for those links Aaron, even though I haven't had time to look at them yet.

I am just worried about snapping an axle or something. Do I have to worry aobut the axles in this position?
Here's the pic:

Your van will be fine Tom. The only thing to watch for is the rear brake flex hose. It can get stretched pretty tight.

Here is a flexing pic where the left front tire is barely touching the ground. There is no weight on it.



Here is with proper suspension flex...

You think you're pretty funny, don't you! You and all your FLEX!

Its like Arnold saying "Did someone say "BICEPS", like these?" FLEX! OK, so maybe it is impressive...

Seriously, though, thats very impressive. And for future reference for anyone looking to modify, I would have done a SAS from the beginning, but I had no idea I would be into off roading again like I have been since building it. Knowing what I know now, the budget would not have been that different. It may have taken longer to get all hte parts together so i may have missed a couple of great trips...but those areas are still here for the exploring.

Thanks for the reassurance. I have a very busy couple of months ahead of me and then hope to get the van out on the mountain trails and forest service roads a bit again this year.

Tow points and sliders are priority. Along with paddling the spring white water, finishing another bathroom remodel, planning the wedding, getting the house ready for too many people, having the wedding, showing family around the PNW, then going on a long honeymoon, then returning and hopefully still being employed.

Dean is that a camcorder int he first SAS photo?

If so WHY IN THE HELL HAVE I NOT SEEN VIDEOS OF IT!

I never saw video either. That is Matt, formerly known as OcP on the old forum. He used to wheel with us a bunch of times but have not heard from him in a couple years.

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:I never saw video either. That is Matt, formerly known as OcP on the old forum. He used to wheel with us a bunch of times but have not heard from him in a couple years.

Got ya....... As long as your not holding out it's all good. I wouldn't want to have to create a lynch mob!

Offroading with "Trouble", I noticed some space between the body and subframe. I rechecked the mounting bolts and they all seemed tight. Had threadlock on em' too. The gap definitely made me cringe a little. Where does the gap come from if the bolts are tight?

The gap comes from the squishing of the rubber mounts.