Who needs a 4WD van when THIS is an option? 

dude, i love this format. car show hosts are always so over the top and dramatic. i love how you spent maybe 10 seconds talking about the regearing issue and then were all "after that everything was smooth sailing." subscribed!

100% agree with your statement that the van drives like a totally different vehicle. We have an E350 EB with a Fiberine camper top. Before installing the grocery getter, it was always two-handed (sometimes white-knuckled) driving at 60MPH. Now, I can travel at 70 with one hand on the wheel... Lots of other handling improvements, but this is the most noteworthy.

This makes sense. You have the extra space a van provides and can get most places with that 5" lift and autolocker!

Chrome from VanCity Vanlife has the Grocery Getter kit and loves it too. Really gives that necessary ground clearance and maintains vehicle stability.👍

I like this video- it gets right to the point. Makes me look at vans in a whole new way

Badass E-250! Love the stance on it. I recently just picked up 2012 E350 and installed a Action Van Suspension 5in lift. Looking forward to more of your videos.

I'm no video expert but want to encourage your creativity with this. I like the mix of context shots, action overlanding shots, landscape, and MB shots mixed into the technical van material. You're not an over-enfuser, like some people, but your excitement and dedication to what you love in life comes through in a more subtle way that I'm assuming is authentic for you. Nice work!

The the IG content, beyond stoked for this. Keep doing what you do. You got an eye for it all brother.

Can't wait to see the rest of the van build. Your tacoma was one of my favorite builds, Cheers!

This is wicked awesome. What an awesome group of friends you have. I followed each of you individually before I started realizing that you are all friends!

Those Panas on that 308 are the bees knees. Clean edits and sweet install. You've earned a new sub, sir

Loved the video! Seeing the BTS of what goes into making a vehicle customized to your needs is a blast. Looking forward to seeing the next project! Solar??

Keep the updates coming! Video quality was on point

I love the "just giver heck" upgrades. Bad ass van

KILLER VIDEO! So awesome seeing all of you guys have fun working on vehicles! Thanks for sharing your experience and install of the WeldTec Designs Baja Grocery Getter suspension on your van. I look forward to more videos of the van and i smashed the SUB button. We need to do MOJAVE TRAIL trip.....

Looking forward to more videos like this….thanks for sharing!

Well done video and enjoyable to watch. I’ll keep watchin!

I did the same thing with my 2012 Ford E-350, 12-passenger shuttle bus. Added the six inch Weldtech lift. I'm converting it into an RV but I wanted the clearance for the gray water tank and the frame mounted rear AC compressor/condenser. I added some Falken off road tires including the dually wheels. It looks really wicked. The bus manufacturer is Turtle Top so the shuttle lines are very curved and smooth. With custom welded off road bumpers and my custom spare mount on the rear bumper and a cool looking desert tan and black paint job and all chrome removed it just looks the part. It's now known as the apocalypse vehicle by the shop I took it to get my drive line balanced. Overall, it's a great lift kit. I did go with the Eaton 8000 lb rear springs in order to carry the weight of 75 gallons of fresh water, 400 lbs of lithium phospate batteries and another 150 lbs of fuel with the 55 gallon fuel tank I just got for it.

Van came out fantastic!

Love the van....i'have a 2001 e250 5.4......locker kit in rear ..3 in lift..running 255 x 16 studded rear ..225x 16 studded front..3.9 gears .10,000 lb front winch ...a beast in the snow....havent set up for summer yet ...Canada..keep it coming ..cheers..

Van looks great! In regards to your comment at the end of the video, I struggled a lot with staying present while making videos. I've been taking a hiatus from filming because of it. Its a tough one but I'm sure you'll figure out a good balance.

Nailed it Homie.

Great first vid! You know the drill, content, content, content... It'll do great!

I'm so jealous! I want that! Great video thanks for sharing.

Looks good with the lift and tires now!

That looks great. I've worked on a quite a few 4x4 converted vans, used in open pit mines, and they seemed pretty sketchy. You'll have to let us know how it works in the wild 😜

This is exactly what I want to do with my van. I didn't want to go through all the trouble of installing 4 wheel drive and THIS will do the trick! You have a great channel going here! Thanks for going to the trouble of making these videos! You're a few steps ahead of me which is good for me because I get all the info and get to see how bad ass the van looks and mine will look hopefully sooner than later. It all costs so much money but I don't have to tell you that. I appreciate you! You're the guy my wife was telling me about when you got the hi-top. I can't wait! I actually already put a 900 watt solar rack on top but that can be raised when the time comes. I put my fantastic fan in one of the back windows and an air conditioner in the other. It turned out great! We want comfort. Some people might think it looks strange but we're happy with it.

Sick. Love the weldtec lift. I've got one on my 2012 eseries. I've been eyeing a locker. I'd love to see you talk about why you went with the powertrax and some shots of it in action in future vids!

I have always wanted one and stated many times to friends that it would make a great bug out van.🤠🇺🇸

Whats up Jim Bob, almost bought one of these 2 yrs back in AZ

I'm a fan of 4wd Ford F250 short WB vans. Yours looks good after all the mods. Shy of having 4wd on it perhaps you're already thinking winch(s). We're it me I'd back myself up with a 12klb front winch & a 5-6klb rear winch. Both with synthetic cable & donut snatch blocks. Unless you're out in the salt flats, this combo with your current mods could help you recover yourself anywhere else.

Very cool. Always wanted a 4x4 van. Don't know why, just dig the style.

Good stuff!

Pretty awesome for someone that ,"doesn't know", just keep doing what you"re doing.

Sick shirt and sick van! Love Aus-Rotten!

It looks great!

I know it's hard to film while working on a project, but you're off to a good start. Your framing and editing is great. I would like more shots of exactly what the problems were (what specifically was going on with the pinion bearing in the Dana 60?) and exactly what was done to fix them, along with corresponding dialogue. I'm probably in the minority here, but given the scope of this particular project, I think something like a 20-25 minute video would be appropriate to show (in detail) what you did. Keep making videos; you've got a good eye, which is a great foundational skill to have when creating content on RU-vid.

Got the slider that I rarely see. I mostly see them with the 2 outwardly opening doors which is what my '04 white E-150 cargo van has. Just dropped a set of 3:73 gears in 8.8 rear end it has. It came with a 3:55 ratio axle so it wasn't a huge jump but definitely noticeable. I didn't want to negativity effect its highway manors which I can barely even tell the difference when driving on the freeway. And fortunately it has a Jet power programmer that allows you to recalibrate the speedometer if you change the gear ratio or wheel and tire size so your speedo won't be off. Your van turned out great though. It looks awesome.

Can we all just agree, that not only is the freakin cool AF but Jim Bob gets 1,000 bonus points for wearing the Dead Kennedys T-Shirt on the outro

This looks awesome! I was out of town a couple weeks ago and missed out on a older 4x4 Econoline for $1000. I want a 4x4 van bad. Still kicking myself that I missed out on that. Though, they probably already got a dozen messages by the time I saw it. One of these days. I just can't decide on what and when to buy.

I have a Baja Grocery Getter on KING suspension. Ford WESTY poptop e150 with ARB rear lockers and onboard air. It is for sale. See craigslist San Diego! Such a rad van! Nice work on yours!

I love this thing. I would drive it everywhere I go!

Lovely van. I'm sure Tardy brothers would approve 🤘🤘🤘

That looks sweet. I’ve got an E350, that I think I might sell. The thing is just unpleasant to drive. Cool to hear that a lot like this might improve that.

Glad you shared your dream build with us. My dream is a way crazier and will cost some $$$. Take an E350 cut-away source and an Econoline chassis to be shortened to a Crew Cab. Source an F Series long bed (8-foot). An E-350 pickup truck.

Very cool!!!

Would love to have a van like that.

Cool vid man. That’s the game, make the hard work look east.

Commentary is fine with b-roll footage. Time is money and you need to make the most of it.

Congratulations Nice Van and professional job lift

sickkkk! miss seeing the Taco but this build is also bad ass! been following you on IG for a while :)

Sweet rig! 🙋🏼

For filming, install a couple cameras where you normally are and have them wired so a flip of the switch and you’re filming. That way you can just be driving, sitting in the bench on your front porch, sitting at your desk or frying bacon, reach over and flip the switch and just start talking….. worry about editing later when you get a chance and have down time.

Judging by your shirts, the playlist on your trips is badass.

Excellent shirt selection 💯

Nice Work! Extra finished pics woulda been cool👌

Love it 👍🏼👍🏼

The van simply looks badass. No complaints on the "video recording while traveling", I personally enjoyed it. Looking forward to more footage.

Just subbed absolutely awesome work. That set up is on my bucket list. Can you give me a link to the rear locker setup or do video and what made you go with that specific locker. Thanks !

I have a '10 e-250......you have INSPIRED ME!!!

Paint it army green with black trim. That would look great!

The van looks killer. Your IG had me searching for an E350.. but I decided to replace the failing transmission in my Gen3 4Runner instead. Maybe one day!

Any chance you’ll do a video of the van off-road and test it to failure(getting stuck) in multiple situations? This is the biggest challenge with these van builds is no one really knows what the limitation is with a 2wd lifted and locked van. It would help a lot of people determine if it will work for their needs.

I changed the steering box in my 89 Ford E-150 and it made it steer like brand new van again. Instead of 4WD, I haul a small off road street legal motorcycle around.

I'm subscribing just for the fact of your T-shirt selections

Looks great. I have a stock height E350 with stock sized all terrains and a factory limited slip. I can't imagine wanting to go anywhere crazier than where l can go with my current configuration....maybe the mall😂😂😂

I’m currently trying to decide whether to do 4WD using UJOINT Off-road components or 2WD with a selectable rear locker using WeldTec 5” components. I’d like to hear your thought process that led to your decision.

My company vehicle back when I worked oil fields in 2014.

Looks nice.Jeremy did a build for me on my van. Great guy. What brand tires are you running? I have Toyo open country on mine. Just looking for options mostly road driving. Thanks

Love it. I'm curious whether the 3" kit would've still fit the 35s or not.

Yooooo what's up???? Love this.

love the video-- whats your wheel set up?

Great video. Better suspension with better dampening, articulation and ground clearance is better but it is not a substitute for 4wd.

I love the van man! Looks awesome! What size are the tires exactly, and do you have any wheels spacers on front or rears and what size?

I’m at stanceworks 😂- such an underrated delivery for where you are. 😂

Van looks sick pimp

Question. Did that gear selection work out as you planned? I’m going to be doing a 79 Econoline and I will also be running 35 inch tires. I was going to be aiming for a 4.11. It is currently a half ton with 28 inch tires and a 3.50 gear.

That's a great suspension kit same as my rig, Would be great if you let me know the part number of your powertrax locker.

oh it’s about time

What is the fuel mileage before and after the transformation? That way I'll know what to look for when I do mine.

cool rig. looks like you got good taste in music too

Love the white BMW 2002!!!

Hey Jim, when you swapped out your chrome headlights for the black ones, did the wiring harness remain the same? Gorgeous van. Thanks!

Jim bob! This is dope. Love the van! Your production quality is very good which isn’t a surprise. I’d make it longer and explain to people who don’t know what these mods are what they do and what they are for. Im guessing most of the people already know, but it would be cool if you broke it down for those of us that are new to the off-road / over landing van terminology.

Everyone needs a friend like @stanceworks

You did well. Maybe some more detail but attention spans are limited for most viewers. So good job. That's an interesting project. Head to the mountains beach where ever. Be safe My old 90 F 250 has a center point in the steering , anything else you have to drive it all the time.

dope af

I would like to know about your tire carrier that is bolted to your bumper? Van looks awesome by the way!

Brand loyalty on display: Coors and Obituary. _Approved... _*_NEXT!!!_*

Looks great! will you be driving this in snow?

Great build! I missed seeing what engine is in your van. Can you update? 😊

Excellent , viewing from Detroit Michigan USA 🇺🇸 , 313 motor city .

All it needs to be the the most awesome van in the world is an a-team paint job.

The biggest advantage to 4WD over 2WD with a locker is in off camber situations on slick ground. With a normal(open diff) 4x4 you've got one tire on each end trying to move the vehicle forward while the other two provide some lateral traction. If one tire on a locked axle spins faster than the vehicle is moving, they opposite tire does as well. Just like drifting or doing donuts, if both tires are spinning faster than the vehicle is moving you have little lateral traction. I also don't mean anything extreme when I say "off camber". Snow covered or icy roads with a prominent crown can easily cause the back end of a vehicle with a limited slip/locker to drift towards the curb. This is why I'm a big proponent of selectable lockers even on 4x4's. It's not at all hard to find videos right here on YT of locker equipped 4x4's sliding sideways on hills covered in snow or mud.

You should get the smoke headlights makes a big difference on this black front vans

Love it

LOVE the video! Hit us up, we'd love to do another project with you...maybe some bumpers?

I have a 98 f 350 diesel dualie 14box trk.

I want to do the same lift for my 09 e350 extended. Can you measure front and rear wheel wells and let me know how high it sits on 35's. Thanks bro. Love the van and my Wasatch overland high top too!!

Cool van, dude! I have an E-250 that I have been contemplating doing this to. Gonna check out the links, right now.