bigdan
Registered User
I plan to build myself an offroad capable van for a road trip in the US ......
It will be converted to 4x4 , high roof and all the camper stuff .....
It will be used in moderate trails , lots of highways ( 15,000 milles/year ) ( I need added traction not extreme articulation )
To start the project I just cant decide between :
1) 98-2001 GM van with 6.5 TD
2) 97-2000 7.3 TD ( powerstroke) Ford Econoline van ......
N.B : Reliability and fuel consumption are my main criterias ......
the vans dimensions are quite similar ,
they both have a real frame ,
I did a roadtrip last year with a 94 Eurovan westfalia with 1.9 TDI modified to 135 hp /280 ftpd ......averaged 30 mpg us 7.5L/100 kms
good power and great fuel consumption .....but coulndt go off road at all in the BLMs.....
This time we would like to head into some national forests trails for boondocking
this is the reason of my new project .....
I dont want to start a war between GM /Ford ( i`m from the muscle car era and I lived that war )
but honestly there are always some great and not so good points about every engine/vehicle combo
this is what id like to hear about before I start my project....
I will do most work myself ......
I`m on a budget ....so forget the buy a new quigley or sportmobile etc.... Ill do it myself , I have the skills and this will activate my creative side ;-)
your advices will be apreciated
thanks ,
Dan
It will be converted to 4x4 , high roof and all the camper stuff .....
It will be used in moderate trails , lots of highways ( 15,000 milles/year ) ( I need added traction not extreme articulation )
To start the project I just cant decide between :
1) 98-2001 GM van with 6.5 TD
2) 97-2000 7.3 TD ( powerstroke) Ford Econoline van ......
N.B : Reliability and fuel consumption are my main criterias ......
the vans dimensions are quite similar ,
they both have a real frame ,
I did a roadtrip last year with a 94 Eurovan westfalia with 1.9 TDI modified to 135 hp /280 ftpd ......averaged 30 mpg us 7.5L/100 kms
good power and great fuel consumption .....but coulndt go off road at all in the BLMs.....
This time we would like to head into some national forests trails for boondocking
this is the reason of my new project .....
I dont want to start a war between GM /Ford ( i`m from the muscle car era and I lived that war )
but honestly there are always some great and not so good points about every engine/vehicle combo
this is what id like to hear about before I start my project....
I will do most work myself ......
I`m on a budget ....so forget the buy a new quigley or sportmobile etc.... Ill do it myself , I have the skills and this will activate my creative side ;-)
your advices will be apreciated
thanks ,
Dan
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