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Old 12-13-2007, 08:56 AM   #21
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We'll be wanting more pics John! Have a good shakedown!

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Old 12-13-2007, 10:20 AM   #22
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john:
thank you for responding,
is that a 6.0L gasser?
what wheels/size/brand did you get? 16 x 7's or 16 x 8's

any trimming to the fender to accommodate the larger wheels/tires?
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Old 12-13-2007, 06:41 PM   #23
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Thanks for the comments. We're very happy with the result.

To the questions:

Yes, it's a 6.0l gasser. The wife nixed the Duramax diesel...

The high top is the reason the GMC won out, as I'm over 6" and even with the Voyager top the inside standing room was only 6"1". The GM version of the Voyager top is taller, and gives 6"5" standing room. We've had a Adventurewagen Vanagon for 20 years, and we both are so used to standing up freely inside at all times that the penthouse top was crossed off the list pretty fast.

The tires are BFG TA/KOs, again a carryover from the Avdventurewagen. They are 265/75 16s, and the wheels are American Eagle 186 series 16x8. Both the tires and wheels rate out at about 3,400 lbs per wheel, plenty of margin for the GVWR of 9,600 lbs. There was a minor trim inside the wheel well, but the fenders are stock.l No rubbing so far, although the van hasn't been off the pavement yet.

We'll find out next week a bit more, as the plan is to start off in Death Valley and do some mild off-road stuff to break in both the van and the co-pilot

John
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Old 12-13-2007, 08:02 PM   #24
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When I was last at SMB west I saw a red 4x4 Ford with the voyager top and it looked pretty awesome. Then, living in the PH van last week over 9 days and only getting to put the top up once I think if I ever build my own van I'm going with the voyager top.
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Old 12-13-2007, 08:47 PM   #25
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A lot of the red vans are for the desert rescue service in Qatar. They ordered 17 of them. I guess they have some sort of super A/C system to keep the rescue dogs cool.
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Old 12-13-2007, 10:22 PM   #26
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Qatar has a rescue team or teams like our SAR teams. They respond all around the globe when called. The red vans are rumored to be outfitted with 4x4, some of the typical Sportsmobile stuff, alot of communications gear and Code 3 light bars. At some time there might be a picture of 17 red vans driving down Hwy. 99 at 2 am with code three lights going! In the future there may be 4x4 Sportsmobile Vans doing duty on the border with the border patrol. Just what I heard.
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Old 12-14-2007, 05:24 AM   #27
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jage:
was there a reason why you couldn't raise the top while living in the smb?
were you camping incognito, thus reason, you couldn't raise the top?
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Old 12-14-2007, 08:23 AM   #28
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camping incognito at Walmart (there were community restrictions but the van not looking RVish got me thru) then drizzle and rain, finally snow. Normally the rain and snow wouldn't have bothered me but it was cold at night and I didn't want to heat the top all night, followed by driving around all day meant the wet or damp top would have never had a chance to dry out.
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Old 12-14-2007, 09:27 AM   #29
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jage, last post, reaffirmed by biggest concerns with the pop top,
i like the pop top because it give you a lower driving and overall profile, 2nd bedroom effect (upstairs/down stairs), more roomy/airy feeling (more open space)

however, my biggest negative is having to resort to lowering and raising roof, when stopped for an extended period, less you develop neck/back cramp; inability to camp out incognito comfortably, the dampness/wetness that you described, low R factor if any,

my biggest concern with the solid/fixed raised roof is the torsional twisting when off road, do you or anyone here have such concerns...
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Old 12-14-2007, 09:34 AM   #30
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john (roubo)
did you have any concerns re: your fixed raised roof and going off road?
were you concerned with the tensional twisting of the van when off road impacting the fixed raised roof (eventually leading to poor bondage/leakage)
to my knowledge, the strong fiberglass roof, is somewhat inelastic

IMHO, the gm 6.0 gasser is a decent engine...STRONG and decent mileage, (depending on how and where you drive of course)
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