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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Apr 26, 2018 - 05:50pm PT
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the astro is just AWD but it seems to get where it needs to go.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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Apr 26, 2018 - 07:09pm PT
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What I've seen on AWD vehicles is that they lack clearance, and lack the dust protection of a 4x4 truck, so that expensive drive train stuff with like 10x the exposed seals of a 2wd - it rides low, picks up dirt, and grinds itself apart - leaks, blown seals, grooved shafts - too expensive to replace, the vehicle is junked out.
Surprised to see an Astro on any road at all, CR worst car of the year for most years back when they still made them - except for a few completely freakish exceptions, it seems.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Apr 26, 2018 - 07:15pm PT
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“Hey, wasn’t there an Astrovan behind us?”
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hooblie
climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
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Apr 26, 2018 - 11:21pm PT
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thanks Mike.,
for passing this gem on ... Quigley 4WD, an intercepted Sporty. we're all smiles here in my backyard:
only one item in the squawk file. once the heaving to and fro begins, specifically at crawling speed,
there's no throttle foot with steady enough pedal technique to eliminate diesel surge, thrust/lurch.
i'll add PTO style vernier throttle controlto bump up the idle and leave my foot
on the floorboard for the rough stuff
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Apr 27, 2018 - 03:26am PT
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saw a sh#t ton of built out astros in Wyoming and CO inn 2016. It is certainly not the best mechanicly but whatseriously what are your options for an AWD or 4x4 used van 10k or under??? My Syncro was amazeing but that thing broke ll the time as well. My Honda civics rusted out, my sabb had crazy electrical problems, a toasted steering rack and a blown head gasket. my F150 broke in half and my 67 K20 dump truck sounds like a junk yard. bla bla bla. the head gasket blew on Isa's 2010 Ford Focus and it rusted out. truth is all cars suck and they all break.
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steve s
Trad climber
eldo
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Apr 27, 2018 - 05:51am PT
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Great thread and input from everyone. I have had 3 Toyota Tacoma,s . First one for 18 years , 2 wheel drive. I lived and camped out of the thing for years. Never broke down. Next up was a Astro van , biggest piece of sh.. Got rid of it within 1 year. Got another Toyota Tacoma , 4 wheel drive. Camped in it for 15 years and used it for work too. Never broke down. Scored a Vw Euro van 2003 for camping . Used it for 6 years and sold it for a significant profit. It to never broke down. I now have another Toyota Tacoma 2017 4 wheel drive. No problems so far. We just tent camp now a days or stay in a hotel. Never had a problem with my Toyota trucks for camping in or mechanically. Cheers
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Apr 27, 2018 - 07:27am PT
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Steve's interesting counterpoint to tradman! I've had some good and bad luck with rigs. Drove VW's for years and had some great, great road trips. Our 78 Westy had only one serious breakdown during the 10 years we owned it. The tranny went out, and my wife had to get it replaced in Mammoth. Fortunately, she was meeting a friend there, and their trip continued with a different vehicle. We gambled on a 95 Eurovan. POS. Expensive. Multiple breakdowns. Never again with VW. Never. We've got a Toyota Tundra now and a Subaru. Solid stuff.
BAd
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Apr 27, 2018 - 10:33am PT
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^^^ dude, there is flat road right next to that boulder. work on your steering!
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Juan Maderita
Trad climber
"OBcean" San Diego, CA
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Apr 27, 2018 - 12:19pm PT
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hooblie,
Nice rig. Many steps up from your VW van at Canyon Tajo in the 1970s. I recall your great music collection of cassette tapes. Are you MP3 player/bluetooth now?
Nawmean,
Please tell about your front springs? That's new to me.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Apr 27, 2018 - 12:27pm PT
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Sorry if my posts came across as critical of anyone's choices. I was just saying different strokes and all that but people can get caught up focusing on the wrong priorities.
I've posted this many times but it's great http://www.dashboard-light.com
If you want real statistically valid info on reliability/ longevity.
If you want a vehicle that will go 200,000+ easily get a Toyota, anything but RAV4, and especially good are their body on frame trucks/ suvs. Honda 4 cylinder. Or full size ford or chevy truck.
Other vehicles mentioned are average which isn't really bad, like Subaru or Sprinter.
Ford chevy full size vans are better than average.
If I was going todo long road trips with moderate off road but little heavy snow I'd get a sprinter. Great mpg. Drives great for its size. High roof makes living very comfortable. I personally couldn't justify the cost of a 4wd one.
If I was doing moderate off road and snow and I didn't want to chain up I'd get a chevy gmc awd van. Still drives nice on road. Good reliability.
If I didn't travel as far but wanted to go to more serious backcountry locations I'd get a ford with 4WD conversion. Understanding mpg, ride and handling, ease of repairing would all suffer.
And that just if I decided a van was the best fit. :-)
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Apr 27, 2018 - 01:51pm PT
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I live in the NE where our vehicles get soaked in salt 6 months of the year. additionaly I live 4.5 miles out a fairly rough dirt road. a new rig to me has 100k or better on it.
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WBraun
climber
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Apr 27, 2018 - 04:51pm PT
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Yes .. that is the correct way to sleep.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Apr 27, 2018 - 04:53pm PT
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^^^^^ 30k if you want a sink and a furnace. Tents are not so bad
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Apr 27, 2018 - 05:16pm PT
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Timid, I like to coat my nail bed in used motor oil so the nails slide through the skin better, and a little tinge of arsenic just to keep my immune system strong.
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WBraun
climber
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Apr 28, 2018 - 03:32pm PT
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This morning Camp foul (4) ..... Sprinters parked everywhere.
This morning El Cap straight .... Sprinters parked everywhere.
This morning at Cookie ..... Sprinters parked everywhere.
Climbers are all clones trying hard to be and look all the same ......
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Apr 28, 2018 - 08:32pm PT
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Dunno about that website, Fet. Subaru is near the bottom?! Huh? Those things go forever. We're on our second, and we sold our first--a Forester--to a friend who's hammering it. Got about 200k on it and going strong. That's been what I've heard from everyone who's owned one. Go figger.
BAd
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hooblie
climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
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Apr 28, 2018 - 09:43pm PT
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no shopping required, you aced the spec list. (inside joke, appurtenances: none)
which means full flexibility, prospectives intact
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Apr 28, 2018 - 09:50pm PT
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Just ordered one of these. Will take delivery in late June. I'll be towing it behind my Jeep Rubicon.
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shipoopoi
Big Wall climber
oakland
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 28, 2018 - 10:00pm PT
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just got back from the whirlwind tour. flew sfo to grand junction friday morning(yesterday), picked up the sprinter, drove to wendover nevada last night, lost $40 at blackjack. blasted thru nevada today, visited with TM Herbert this afternoon(he's doing well) and back in oakland in time to watch most of game one warriors verses the pelocans...won by over 20 points. thing purrs llke a kitten, 23 mpg, and i can fuking stand tall in the mother. its not 4wd, but it will get us to the cookie. ss
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