What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Minivan Trailer Conversion.... (?)

DieselWarrior

DieselWarrior

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jun 3, 2010
Posts
678
Reaction score
0
Location
LowBuck-LowTech
minivantrailer.jpg


Theres a Chevy Astro near me for $400 with a bad tranny. Thinking of converting it into a camping trailer.

Im open to creative ideas.

Of course, it wont look like a POS, as the one in the picture, it will be a nice redux of the Astro, with fresh paint and all...

Andrew
 
Its a neat Idea , and can be done nice.


are Astro vans Unibody or do they have a Frame??
 
uni body sir. with bolt in sub frame in the front half.

and bigest problem with anything like this is BRAKES on the now trailer.
 
i have a 1/2 ton 8ft bed trailer. from a c10 truck. swaped in 56" rear 1ton springs.

that thing is a tank. and with 4000 lbs of gravle in the back its a JOB to stop it reg . if in a hurrry i dont want to be near the landing zone. :eek1:

thank god i pull it with a k30 with BIG brakes. :doah:

thay do tow like a dream tho. :D
 
Anyone ever go tent camping?

Well, this will be the replacement for the tent.. Shower, wash, pottie, cook areas will still be outside... just like tent camping, except... no tent!

The inside can be modified to better suit the application, but I think just whacking off the front clip and pulling all the seats will be more than enough to make it a nice conversion.

Now say you...

(1) Hack the front clip, leaving the doors in place... (of course gutting all the dash, steering wheel, etc.. etc..)

OR

(2) Hack just behind the front doors and enclose (Would eliminate a lot of space, but will also pull a few pounds off the tongue.)


The neat thing is, everything you need for the camp will be inside the trailer... wont even need to use any of the WarWagon's space... even the luggage rack on the Astro can be utilized.


I was originally going to get an enclosed cargo trailer to convert... however, the more I think about it the less I see me coming up with the $2000 I need to buy one. A broke down Astro can be had for $400 - $800, and its already got tail lights. :bow: I can sell the 4.3 and 700R to pay back into the cost of the van. :thumb:

Ghetto Camper... Here I come... (I think...) :popcorn:


Andrew
 
Matt J. said:
Didn't someone on this site do the same thing but with the back half of a suburban?
Click to expand...

There's one up the road a ways, the next time I go that way I'll take a pic...it ain't pretty, but it works.
 
My older brother made a '80 G-10 van into an enclosed trailer ,similar to the Caravan one pictured here..its not a show winner but served its purpose quite well,we used it to haul swap meet parts to events and it sure was nice to just back it in his yard after a long day that started at 4 am,instead of having to unload all the parts from his truck and pack them in the attic till next month..we also had a camping stove in it for making coffee,it made a good hideaway in rainy weather too...I always wanted to get it someday and tow it behind my '81 G-10,it is even the same color!..but it was built 15 years ago and has sat for the past 10 or so,its looking kinda shabby now..

WE towed it with an '82 K-30 and it towed nice,but it was HEAVY!..we put overload coils on the leaf springs,and often put 2 ton in it,and it weighed nearly that empty--it never gave any trouble though...we thought about putting master cylinder surge type brake setup on it,but never did,in fact,he ended up taking the brake shoes off it after they rusted tight to the drums after sitting...

I always liked the idea of using a van as a trailer--maybe mine will end up as one ,towed behind one of my 4x4s,who knows!..after it sittin 7 years unregistered, I doubt if I'll ever put it on the road again..but I may have too once my mother passes,it'll be the only thing set up like a camper I could "live" in temporarily...

Van trailers like this were fairly common around here,a lot of bikers used them for Harleys and farmers liked hauling hay in them,or livestock...I saw a cool one made from a '66 Suburban with barn doors,it actually ended up at the town landfill when the owner was moving and no one offered what he was asking for it--the guy who ran the dump took it for himself and used it many years...
 
Hmm. Gut it, sell motor trans etc, pull column front axle. Engine compartment could be storage area like a trunk with secure locking mechanism opened from inside camper only. Maybe a rack on the top for additional items like spare for camper, canopy off one side, you could hook up headlights to light up area around camp sight or cargo area of pulling unit. Leave the interior lights so they can be used to illuminate the camper.

You could even leave the stereo, mount a DVD player in the dash if you are so inclined, Microwave???:dunno: maybe some bucket seats on a swivel up front bed in back, one of those table units that convert into a bed?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom