Jolly Green Giant

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Mopar Sam

Mopar Sam

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My wife has been wanting to get an old van to use for camping and we picked this up today.
Thanks to @318willrun for his camper van video!! That kind of started off the idea.

We plan on doing something similar, except with the extra length we can carry more groceries...

It is a a '97 15 pass. B3500 It has the 360 magnum. It is pretty solid and ran fine on the interstate, as well as some hillly 2 lane roads on the way home.

It is a really dark green and since it is so long she named it the Jolly Green Giant.

If anyone else has converted one for camping, please post your pics or videos here.

This will be a fun project, a little at a time.

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And, my Old Yeller 67 sweptline is still a go, small progress being made almost everyday, nothing worth posting yet, but progress none the less...
 
AWESOME !!!! YouTube if full of van lifers and what they've done. Some really cool ideas out there. My wife is sold out on the '77 Van, staying in it, that's how her RC got sold ! I can't wait to see what you do with it. Looks pretty good !
:thumbsup:
 
Been thinking about a B3500 for a race car tow vehicle. Thoughts? Would it have enough balls and brakes?
 
go-fish said:
Been thinking about a B3500 for a race car tow vehicle. Thoughts? Would it have enough balls and brakes?
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This is my first full size van, so I will let others answer your question, but it handled some decent sized hills better than our 03Ram which is also a 360.
 
Mopar Sam said:
This is my first full size van, so I will let others answer your question, but it handled some decent sized hills better than our 03Ram which is also a 360.
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That's a Maxi. My grey van is full size. My black van is the shorty. I know folks that have towed their drag cars with these vans.
 
Does it still have all the seats in it ?
 
That rear bumper looks to be in a different zip code than the driver seat!
I wanna see some video of you parallel parking that battleship.

Seriously, congrats on the new project.
 
ocdart said:
That rear bumper looks to be in a different zip code than the driver seat!
I wanna see some video of you parallel parking that battleship.

Seriously, congrats on the new project.
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We live in the sticks, I don't parallel park anything. I'd be in trouble if I had to!
 
My oldest son says it needs twin turbos sticking out of the grill.. but that ain't happening.
 
I used to have one like it, rough riding SOB and does not tow well because of the overhang. I currently have a 2001 2500 van, will see if that will tow or not...
 
HemiSSDart said:
I used to have one like it, rough riding SOB and does not tow well because of the overhang. I currently have a 2001 2500 van, will see if that will tow or not...
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yeah, the maxi may add a little trickery to towing, I've not tried to tow with a maxi.
 
318willrun said:
That's a Maxi. My grey van is full size. My black van is the shorty. I know folks that have towed their drag cars with these vans.
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good thing its green instead of red, or it would have to be called "the maxi pad"



so what all do you want to fit in there, kitchenette, bathroom and booth that converts into a bed?

should be a great project (i enjoy those things)

planning on going from scratch or hoping to grab some parts out of a RV and retrofit it?



oh, solar or on board generator?
 
diymirage said:
good thing its green instead of red, or it would have to be called "the maxi pad"



so what all do you want to fit in there, kitchenette, bathroom and booth that converts into a bed?

should be a great project (i enjoy those things)

planning on going from scratch or hoping to grab some parts out of a RV and retrofit it?



oh, solar or on board generator?
Click to expand...

Right now short term goal is to keep it simple and add upgrades as time allows. Pretty much just a bed and table.

Going to start with removing the seats and dirty carpet and then come up with a plan. After gutting, my first thing will be to check it out thoroughly, brake lines, wheel bearings, belts, hoses and such. Jenny can come up with a layout for the inside.

It will be on a budget for sure, as I have a certain yeller truck to finish...

Thankfully, it looks like I will be able to give both projects a day or more a week starting next week.
 
Pop up campers pop up all the time on craigslist for free. You could gut it for parts and then make a utility trailer to keep or sell .
 
diymirage said:
good thing its green instead of red, or it would have to be called "the maxi pad"



so what all do you want to fit in there, kitchenette, bathroom and booth that converts into a bed?

should be a great project (i enjoy those things)

planning on going from scratch or hoping to grab some parts out of a RV and retrofit it?



oh, solar or on board generator?
Click to expand...
U ask'n me ??? It's Mopar Sam's, not mine :poke::poke:
 
318willrun said:
U ask'n me ??? It's Mopar Sam's, not mine :poke::poke:
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we're not taking a vote in how he gets to spend his money?
thats what uncle joe does


but, the only comment i intended to address to you was the one about the maxi pad, since you're the one who identified the van as such
 
diymirage said:
we're not taking a vote in how he gets to spend his money?
thats what uncle joe does


but, the only comment i intended to address to you was the one about the maxi pad, since you're the one who identified the van as such
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ahhh.... Well, that's how Mother Mopar identified the vans. Maxi, full size, and SWB. If we can't make the race between Old Yeller and Drag Truck happen, we'll race vans - our wives will drive - then eat pizza from the vans :D :D :D
 
318willrun said:
ahhh.... Well, that's how Mother Mopar identified the vans. Maxi, full size, and SWB. If we can't make the race between Old Yeller and Drag Truck happen, we'll race vans - our wives will drive - then eat pizza from the vans :D :D :D
Click to expand...

i would be really careful talking about racing vans...if @12many hears you, you might have a fight on your hands
 
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