Installing A Journey's Offroad Lift Kit For Chevy Astro and GMC Safari - Scruffy Build Part 2 

I am emotionally invested in this.

You should put new bumpers, rally lights and a roof rack thing on

Your channel is so underrated. Hopefully you get more views in the future 👍🏻

I love your voiceover voice sounds great

... I just realized that I watched almost 12 minutes of someone work on an old GMC minivan. F Off 2020! ;)

I had a Safari AWD, I bought it with 67K miles for $1200. I put about $1000 in lights, a front bumper and body work (rust). I actually raised mine to 7 inches by making my own lift and finding the correct linkage steering for about $300. I insulated and completed the floors, sides and ceiling for about $300, I tested it in Flagstaff. The night fell to 28deg, inside was 55deg. I built a roof rack, put a 375Watt solar panel, front lights rack, maxx air fan, storage pod on top. removed the rear tire, made a drop box in the area accessible from inside of the van to put my 600Ah lithium batteries, dc - dc charger, MPPT, 3000watt inverter, and 12 volt fuse box. I built a box/rack in back that holds fuel, gas generator, spare tire and my rear door also has my AC unit in the window. I have LED puck lights, 40ft of dim blue lights I leave on when I sleep, a custom built full size futon bed that folds up to a couch, TV, 12 USB ports, 4 120VAC plugs. I have a 2 burner electric stove, small convection oven, small microwave, small MR coffee for my wife. The kitchen is only about 3 feet wide, the bed is sideways, im 5ft 8in tall. my 12 volt fridge is on the sliding door side taking up about 1/3 of the opening. Surprisingly, if you can customize your own cabinets, youd be surprised what yo can fit in the little van. We are comfortable, I also have a chinese diesel heater that works, ive tested it in 0 deg weather, I can keep it at 65deg at the lowest setting. The bed has an 8 inch thick mattress (do not use memory foam), my wife sleeps like a baby. we put a plastic liner on the mattress, fitted sheet, one thick comforter, 1 Mexican blanket. We keep the maxx air fan at setting 1 or 2 just to keep the condensation out. You might want to get some window visors, they help a lot with condensation, I never have any because I crack a window or use the maxx air fan, sometimes both.

This is the best Astro series on YT. Wrecking yard is gold. Great production values. Very informative and entertaining!

I like that one side is badged Safari, the other is Astro. It's a Safastro.

Scruffy, the janitor is the glue that holds Planet Express together

Love the van content!

SHREDIST SUNNNNDDDDDAAAAAYYYYYYY YYYYEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

4:08 Missed opportunity - RockChox

Oh man it looks so sick already! I'm looking forward to the next upgrade on this van as much as I'm looking forward to the next Berm Peak feature now!

A nice all black paint job would be nice with an addition of your Shredist logo!

Damn. I just paid a shop to do this exact lift on my Safari mtb hauler literally days before you dropped this video. If this existed before I might've had the confidence to do it myself. I watched every related instructional out there and this is easily the best.

Such a fun series. Totally digging the budget van build!

Those wheels alone gave it a whole new makeover. Painting it would be the icing on the cake.

Absolutely would love to have one in mint condition then do wat you did incredible 👏🏽

I love it! You should consider replacing the headlights with LED ones. They’re another cheap upgrade that makes it look way better

You’re making me want a van even more now!

Scruffy off-roaders love that music.

Love seeing harbor freight tools. I’ve done tons of work on my own cars and trucks and man that jack is familiar to me.

Dude you make great videos! Also thanks for not trying to act like seths bike hacks. Extra points for originality

My dad had an awd Astro. Transmission went out. I used to drive it through the woods in 1st and 2nd when I was like 14.

My dad had (essentially) 2 of these same vans. He got almost 600,000 miles out of the 2 of them combined. Freaking run forever.

Your bringing me back to the monster garage days with the cost tally at the end. Im so stocked to see a budget build like this.

This was so well done - to the point, helpful without being textbook tedious, and fun. Definitely earned a subscribe!

Best mountain bike channel out there these days. A+ content.

I've got an Astro and I'm interning at a buddy's mechanic shop. This has encouraged me to want to put a lift kit on my van while I have access to the equipment

What a transformation.

This is like an awesome crossover episode from the two topics I sub the most on RU-vid. The wrenching mountain biker. I love it!

My buddy has one of these with a lift kit and tires and it can go most places you would want. He goes camping all the time and fit a queen sized bed in it. You definitely picked the right van to build up on a budget!

Damn looking fresh. I would give scruffy a wrap that has shredist on the side and blackout the chrome.

My wife’s aunt van i’m about to buy took me here!👍🏽👍🏽

You told a old yucky plumbers van, threw on a lift kit and a new set a wheels, and it looks 2 times better.

i love lifts

Currently building an Astro too. Just got the Journeys Off-road lift delivered. Thanks for making the video! Helped me prep for my install.

This is the best series on RU-vid right now. Love this stuff and am super jealous!!

I just got done putting the exact same lift kit on my 2000 GMC Safari. I put 60's style rally rims painted black on it. The front was easy, like 30 minutes. The rear lift kid was a huge pain in the ass! Took me like 10 hours total!

Love the new rubber and rims for the van. She will look fantastic.

Wow I’m early! Thanks to post notifications! I recommend everyone to enable them.

That body lift also helps when servicing the trans in it, if you have to remove the trans you'll have better access to the top bolts with the body lift.

Van is SICK!!!👍

Who else is watching this and has absolutely no experience with mechanics what so ever

Ayyyyy it's getting less sketch! I think... we keep the janitor on the back... 😅

Look great! Can’t wait to see your progress!

Just found this build... its epic! Love it, man!

You totally know about vans and stuff, good job, looks great.

Damn. Looks so good lifted with new shoes.

Scruffy needs an 80's style mural on the side. Wolves,eagles, viking chicks with swords. That sorta thing. 🦅 lol Loving the van content dude.

Welp, I just watched part 5 and I'm hooked.. Somehow ended up going back and landing at part 2.... then realized that you named him after Scruffy.... the janitor... and I tell you what.. I believe in this company. If you're ever in Maine, lemme buy you a beer and admire your van. Acadia national park is van life heaven in early summer.

Thank you sooo much! i am currently in the "face off" stage and was looking for a bit of extra confidence!! This video was that much needed boost!!!

Shame GM couldn’t sell more of these in awd back in the day. They were way ahead of there time. Now 4wd vans are in huge demand

I think you acquired my buddy Bills 1970 Z .... But I really came for the Astro build!

Honestly man , i just picked ip this channel because of the first part of the van build, since where i live its been really dificult to find a truck i thought about getting a van , now this has inspired me to try and get a van just like that one , might even have to import it from the states to aruba , but hell it seems like it would be worth it, please keep us up to date with this build , cant wait to see what you do with it next.😎

Great video. I have 2001 safari AWD and have been thinking about a lift kit. After watching this video and seeing the simplicity of the install I'm going do it. Appreciate it. Also when off-road, keep the tire side down.

I've always wanted a astro and i'm about to pick one up soon. Thanks for a great video, it's going to help me tremendously.

This is a great series, getting ready to upsize from my tiny Ford Transit Connect to something bigger this winter.

Awesome content I'm following your videos with great interest 👍 God bless you and stay safe in these troubled times 🙋‍♂️🇬🇧

Looks amazing!! I have a feeling this series is going to convince me to get a Safari or Astro as our speedboard mobile.

Dude this is everything I’ve been looking. I will be following this build 🙏

Them dang elves are back - scruffy

Mad Max with class!

If your friends pretend that they don´t know you because you have old wheels on your van ...change your friends, not your wheels. Nice ride

Scruffy likes this.

Awesome work man. I use delta fork hitches in the back to hold my bikes. Work great as a temporary solution until I can build a fancy drawer.

What a great video!! You did a awesome job and the van looks amazing! Thank you for the shout out!

Love the Van build!

Here for the build

Just needs some epic Shredist decals!

If someone viewing this is not an auto mechanic - wouldnt the cost of labor / installaion at a body shop for the lift and everything youve done so far up to this video double the cost of what you already spent? really stoked youre so transparent about the financial aspect of this. super helpful man.

Congrats! It's beautyfull! 👋😎😌☺️❤️😁👍

Nice build. I've been working on a 2003 Tahoe. Did a t-case swap and gutted the rear with 33x11.50. Reminds me a lot of your van👍👍

Very well edited!

I watched this video again great video

JOURNEY'S JUST ROCKS!!!! BUT IT IS RECOMMENDED TO INSTALL S10 ZR2 SPRINGS BEFORE LIFT. AND WORD IS WITH THOSE NEW SPRINGS YOU CAN USE THE FACTORY SHACKELS AND SHOULD HAVE 2.5>3" LIFT. HOPE THIS HELPS!

Pretty sweet, man. Nice work!

Looking good scruffy!

welp I am sold definitely buying this for my astro

definately give alex's videos on his van conversion a watch, single track sampler

you definitely gotta cover it in bed liner! and a huge light bar on the roof!

12 yards long, 2 lanes wide, 65 tons of American pride!

Love me some 4wd van!

Dude, this video is very well done. Im totally doing this.

Light bars and a roof rack lets goooooo

Nice vid....i had to replace the all body bushings on my Safari Awd when I lifted mine

Looks great compared to the old cleaners van nice one

This is sweet! I want one!

Wish we had a lift in our astro awd camper conversion!!!

Awesome build

Sick build cant wait to see more, Keep it up!

I hope camo is in your plans. Old school camo.

Subscribed to your channel just because of this video, thanks bro! Been thinking about that lift for my 2000 astro awd 👍

Nice build, love it

You love to see it!

Looks great

Torsion bar adjusting bolts just raise and lower the front suspension minor amounts. Assembly line workers use these to level vehicles at the factory. Adjusting these bolts doesn't change the spring rates.

$2,910 + labor of love = $2,910 In all honesty, excellent video! I’m very impress with production quality. I suspect you’ll make it all back eventually through monetization of this video.

Nice build. Just one thing. I would wait with the ride height after you put your bed/storage in the back, because od the additional weight.

Im loving it bro.