Ian F said:In reply to PHAN :
After a bit of digging, while they were not fitted with stow-n-go from the factory, apparently the seats can be retrofitted from a Chrysler version if you can find the parts.
IIRC, the only parts necessary are literally the second row captains seats. Should be a bolt in 5 minute affair.
A secondary note...
California cars may have interiors that are sun damaged and ravaged by the harsh sun, however the exterior will be rust free.
Michigan cars will be rusted hulks but the interiors will be generally undamaged by the elements.
Therefore, if buying a VW with plans of swapping seats, wait until arrival in Michigan to source the new seats.
P.M. Sent with my number
After some searching over on CL, as well as considering interior dimensions...
I'm now 100% convinced the answer is this...
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/ford-camper-surf-van/6619657244.html
Someone's old, pre-converted camper van. It'll make the most sense as it's something I can continue to use for camping with or without my dogs. It also gives me room for the pups as well as anything else I might need if I pack lightly. I'll also be to save on hotel/motel cost this way and it definitely adds up!
And being from here you wont lose a dime selling it in Michigan.
In reply to MulletTruck :
I sent you a text, were you able to receive it?
Good choice for intended purpose. Looks like tires have never been rotated.
I’ve driven my brothers gold/tan twin of that van. What a comfortable drive!
In reply to PHAN :
Ive driven full size 2wd van in heavy snow. They suck, they suck a lot. Im in North Idaho for reference sakes. They only grudgingly plow the roads though so maybe YMMV but its a very top heavy, heavy 2wd......the only thing i could think is worse is a motorcycle.
On the plus side it doesnt matter what engine you get, they are all about the same level of slow and MPG. I prefer the torque of the 300 I6 and the ruggedness over the 351, which driving each back to back felt the exact same seat of pants wise.
In reply to Antihero :
Snow tires, snow tires, snow tires. Most of the major ski resorts use these F350 vans as guest transporters. That’s gotta mean something.
Also Dajiban
In reply to PHAN :
I had a similar conversion van and miss it terribly. I drove it as my daily driver through a winter when I was between cars. It wasn't bad, although I'd definitely want snow tires. In a way, the RWD is offset by the weight and a general lack of power. Not that it didn't have enough to power-slide into the parking lot at work after an overnight 4" snowfall. 
While you didn't really mention anything about fuel economy, I found MPG in the mid-upper teens and VERY dependent on speed. Max speed for reasonable fuel economy was about 65 MPH, which would get me about 18 mpg. Much more than that and you could almost watch the fuel gauge needle move. Bear in mind, these were engineered back in the 55 MPH era and not for the 70+ speeds we tend to drive today.
ebonyandivory said:In reply to Antihero :
Snow tires, snow tires, snow tires. Most of the major ski resorts use these F350 vans as guest transporters. That’s gotta mean something.
I always use snow tires and the vans i drove had them, very good studded snows in fact.They are the work vans for my business, i have driven them for years. Once winter hits they get driven rarely
It means that they want to haul lots of people, not that they are the best snow vehicle. Plus the resorts around me usually chain up too, thats not an option for people in the city
Well, this is quite a dillemma... I honestly don't know what "good enough" is for me in regards to a safe snow vehicle. I'm guessing that with those who have grown up driving around snow, a full-size SUV with snow tires might not be an issue for them...
But I really don't wanna take something "unsafe" while bringing 6 dogs with me while traveling across the country. That's just asking for trouble with my Los Angeles driving experience.
The only real snow driving experience I've had was years before, in a FWD Camry with chains / on all-season tires. The concern that a full-size van carrying myself, six dogs, and some luggage being too heavy is a big one.
Snow tires have already been budgeted for and they will be used regardless of what vehicle I buy.
Are we back to looking at mini-vans and larger AWD wagons?
PHAN said:Well, this is quite a dillemma... I honestly don't know what "good enough" is for me in regards to a safe snow vehicle. I'm guessing that with those who have grown up driving around snow, a full-size SUV with snow tires might not be an issue for them...
But I really don't wanna take something "unsafe" while bringing 6 dogs with me while traveling across the country. That's just asking for trouble with my Los Angeles driving experience.
The only real snow driving experience I've had was years before, in a FWD Camry with chains / on all-season tires. The concern that a full-size van carrying myself, six dogs, and some luggage being too heavy is a big one.
Snow tires have already been budgeted for and they will be used regardless of what vehicle I buy.
Are we back to looking at mini-vans and larger AWD wagons?
Frankly, you'll be fine. Just be smart, and find a parking lot to practice on as soon as you get the opportunity.
Have you ever driven a RWD car in anger? i.e. on an autocross course? You know how you start to lose it, and the back end starts to come around on you? The physics are nearly the same, it just happens at minimal speed. Imagine autocrossing a Miata in the rain on bad all seasons. That is basically what you're dealing with. Not impossible, use some common sense.
Although, all that being said, now that I see you do have a couple of fun cars I'd go with something that is newer, more reliable, and better on gas.
The full size isn't a bad choice by any stretch, I just think the minivan is the better choice. But I'm a minivan fanboi if you couldn't tell.
In reply to PHAN : I had 150 pound St. Bernard and later the same size NewFundland in my Mid size SUV and yes 6 likely would have fit but barely.
A full size van would fit 6 big dogs better but would be difficult if not impossible to drive in the snow storms we get. Heavy engine in front rear wheel drive without much weight over the drive wheels.
They do make AWD Vans.
Most snow isn’t of the Blizzard quantity maybe 2 or 3 times a year occasionally more or less. So much of the year with good tires and snow skills you’ll be OK. Just plan on either staying at home or having trouble with a van.
Mind you I drove a company van for 5 years without issue. However I grew up driving in these conditions and find Snow to be fun and a chance to really challenge myself.
Studded snow tires are banned in most states for the damage they do to roads. Chains are a major pain to put on and take off. You cannot drive all winter on a set of chains without tearing up the tires. ( and likely damage body work as they wear through and start flailing around) Well, perhaps you could if you really restrict your winter driving.
How well trained are your dogs? I’ve found dogs (6?) to be difficult travel companions. They want to get out and run which would be dangerous for them at rest stops refueling, etc. plus their eating sleeping let’s play cycles tended to prevent effective long distance mile crunching.
However to be fair your dogs might be more mello and easy going than a St. Bernard/ NewFundland. Whenever I had multiple dogs with me they never took turns. If one wanted to be near me they all were crawling all over me.
They had no difficulty putting their face up to mine with a big sloppy kiss and if I couldn’t see the road, well they just didn’t care.
Except going to the bathroom. Then they made a day out of it. Looking for the right tree, Bush or patch of grass could take them a very long time and I never had more than 2
Water and eating wasn’t something they did on the road and you couldn’t combine eating and bathroom.
It will be interesting to see how that works out with 6 active dogs
Being serious, the biggest benefit of snow tires on something like a big, heavy conversion van will not be how they can make it "go" easier, but how they can help it STOP. And steer. My most butt-puckering moments in the snow with the van had nothing to do with getting stuck and more to do with idiots pulling out in front of me and desperately trying to pump the brakes so I didn't slide into them (my van lacked ABS).
The truck I bought after the van was a big, diesel 4x4 that weighed about 6000 lbs empty. It also got snow tires - Blizzak W965's. Those tires pretty much negated the need for 4WD. But how they made that truck stop seemed to defy the laws of physics. Nothing that heavy should be able to stop that well on ice.
In reply to PHAN :
Basically you are starting way way down the scale on good snow cars with a full size van. It can be done but if you havent driven much in the snow??? You arent making it easy at all for you. Remember too, you can drive for years in the snow and and still stuff it into a berm in bad conditions. Starting out with something decent in snow would be a huge help.
Whatever car you have, the weight of 6 large dogs in the back would be fine for weighing down the back end. You really really want weight in the back of whatever car you get, even front wheel drive cars can be helped by weight in the back.
Snow tires are a must. I swear by studded tires, they have saved my life a few times. I know studdless snows are good but they still only do 95% of what studs can do, and if you are like me( living in the woods where sometimes its a matter of life and death to go out) you want as much traction as possible.
How about an extended Aerostar AWD? They are huge inside, AWD, cheap to get, have the great 4.0 OHV engine and are great in snow. My parents have one and ive driven a lot of miles on them in terrible conditions, great snow cars.
Ian F said:Being serious, the biggest benefit of snow tires on something like a big, heavy conversion van will not be how they can make it "go" easier, but how they can help it STOP. And steer. My most butt-puckering moments in the snow with the van had nothing to do with getting stuck and more to do with idiots pulling out in front of me and desperately trying to pump the brakes so I didn't slide into them (my van lacked ABS).
This x1000. Going is easy, steering and stopping is by far the more serious issue
Maybe this has been suggested already. Bring us some old Jap tin or any tin for that matter preferably a wagon. Sell it in MI for 1.5 to 2x what you paid then buy a winter beater once you are here.
Rust free old 4Runners are gold here, anything Murican with a V8, burbans and Broncos.
Antihero said:In reply to PHAN :
Basically you are starting way way down the scale on good snow cars with a full size van. It can be done but if you havent driven much in the snow??? You arent making it easy at all for you. Remember too, you can drive for years in the snow and and still stuff it into a berm in bad conditions. Starting out with something decent in snow would be a huge help.
Whatever car you have, the weight of 6 large dogs in the back would be fine for weighing down the back end. You really really want weight in the back of whatever car you get, even front wheel drive cars can be helped by weight in the back.
Snow tires are a must. I swear by studded tires, they have saved my life a few times. I know studdless snows are good but they still only do 95% of what studs can do, and if you are like me( living in the woods where sometimes its a matter of life and death to go out) you want as much traction as possible.
How about an extended Aerostar AWD? They are huge inside, AWD, cheap to get, have the great 4.0 OHV engine and are great in snow. My parents have one and ive driven a lot of miles on them in terrible conditions, great snow cars.
Where are studded tires legal? Here in the Midwest they are completely banned because of how badly they’ve torn up roads.
frenchyd said:Antihero said:In reply to PHAN :
Basically you are starting way way down the scale on good snow cars with a full size van. It can be done but if you havent driven much in the snow??? You arent making it easy at all for you. Remember too, you can drive for years in the snow and and still stuff it into a berm in bad conditions. Starting out with something decent in snow would be a huge help.
Whatever car you have, the weight of 6 large dogs in the back would be fine for weighing down the back end. You really really want weight in the back of whatever car you get, even front wheel drive cars can be helped by weight in the back.
Snow tires are a must. I swear by studded tires, they have saved my life a few times. I know studdless snows are good but they still only do 95% of what studs can do, and if you are like me( living in the woods where sometimes its a matter of life and death to go out) you want as much traction as possible.
How about an extended Aerostar AWD? They are huge inside, AWD, cheap to get, have the great 4.0 OHV engine and are great in snow. My parents have one and ive driven a lot of miles on them in terrible conditions, great snow cars.
Where are studded tires legal? Here in the Midwest they are completely banned because of how badly they’ve torn up roads.
http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/studded-tires/
In reply to frenchyd :
My dogs are pretty well trained when it comes to behaving in a car. But you're right, having six huskies on leashes as I try to feed them/let them relieve themselves is going to be a headache all on its own.
I've noticed that if the windows are down and the wind is blowing in their faces, I can actually crunch HOURS of miles with them not even complaining one little bit.
Before I make the trip, I'm going to try my best to use Google maps to find dog parks along the way, so that I can have all six of them run around a bit in a fenced area. In fact, if anyone has any tips on how to manage this... they'd be greatly appreciated!
In reply to akylekoz :
I might consider driving to Michigan in March with someone's pre-converted camper van, selling in Mi, then getting something else. This is not a bad idea.
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