Hi, I enjoyed your video. You seem like a real nice guy and a good family man. I have a 94 G30 that I am currently restoring and a 92 G20 I'm freshing up and planning on selling. I going to watch your other videos over the weekend. It's refreshing to hear someone with my kind of budget using simple functional ideas to make things work for you. Tired of seeing the multi thousands of dollars builds that are not realistic for me. I know you and your family are having fun 😊.
Thank you so much for watching!! Your comment means so much to me because we have never had a large budget, or any "budget" to speak of when traveling or working on our camping setup. Dave Ramsey would have a fit if he knew haha. But, seriously, I really never have had money to work on this stuff so I just squeak by a little at a time, when I can. Same with trips we just squeeze them in when possible (both time and money) and make the most of the opportunities. Always thankful to get out there and enjoy seeing new places (and some old places) with the fam. Sometimes its hard work or extra work with the fam, but its always been worth it. Now they are pros and always fun to travel with. So I am glad this can encourage you to work with what you have and in the manner you can. Its fun to work on this stuff, and worth it to get out there, and always better than staying at home :-)
@@kampinglogik Thanks for your personal reply. Even though I was initially drawn to your video because you and I both have G30 vans in common, your van travel knowledge and relaxed attitude toward making simple things work are refreshing. What I found watching is how much you love your family, and I know that you give your all to that commitment. It's enjoyable seeing how the van has contributed to your family's happiness. and experiences.
Wow, again I can't tell you how much this means, and I am so grateful for the kind words. You are right, having the van set up to go makes short, and or, last minute trips much more possible. I have been blessed to unexpectedly get out twice in the last two weeks with two of my little ones (the 4 and 7 year old), one trip down to the beach and one to the lake, with the van. Other than turning on the fridge and throwing the food in, the van is pretty much ready to go, we leave the stove, bedding and fans in the back. Just need to add personal items and whatever "activity" items, such as paddle boards/floats/boogie/surf boards (depending on the destination). Though you could of course camp without a van camper, the van adds a level of comfort and familiarity for the little ones. Like their older sisters who were the same age when we got the van 8 years ago, they never complain, are always game to go on a trip, and sleep great in the van. I think the solid sleep (or lack there of) can be one of the major detractions for families trying to camp with young ones, and the van helps with that. Not to mention, the advantage of shelter if you get hit by weather. To your original point... yes I have found that keeping it simple helps trips stay fun! The more complex the set up is, the more time you have to spend NOT hanging out with the fam and enjoying whatever the destination has to offer.
It seems the timing is off on your video bud. None the less you've truly been blessed to buy that van and get so many miles and memories from it for such a good price. You've pretty much got everything covered for whatever may come up. Cheers to many more miles & camping trips
Thanks brother! Yes we have a lifetime of good memories with this van for sure, and it has been "like a rock" as the old Chevy slogan claimed haha. Hey, can you try the video again? It seems to play normal for me, curious if it was just a glitch, or?
Yes it's fine now brother. It must have been a glitch or something. You've got some amazing pictures of places you've been with the family. We haven't camped in over a year due to my wife's job. But we've finally got one coming up. However it's a very short trip but none the less it's a camping trip. Lol ! Sebastian state Park in Sebastian Florida. It's about 20 min from me but it's right on the Indian river lagoon. We get to wake up to the dolphin feasting in the morning. Very cheap to camp there. You should check it out some time.
Awesome rig you got there. Mine is a 95 G20 so really just a half ton 5 bolt wheel etc. Picked up a 5x10 cargo trailer at about 1800 lbs built out as basic camper. So I am wondering what if anything you did to the suspension on that camper. I guess yours is a 1 ton which would help a bunch. Mine definitely squats a bunch with about 250 toung weight on her. Enjoying your videos
@@tzulife6523 Hey thanks for watching! You are correct, my G30 is a one ton, so it had pretty beefy suspension to start out with. I have not had to make any modifications. The G20 is definitely a softer ride. I had a G20 for a little bit. Do you know when the last time the shocks were replaced? 250lbs on the tongue isn't that much, maybe the shocks are just old? I can tow my fully loaded trailer with my stock Honda Pilot and it barely squats at all. Not an apples to apples comparison, I know... Either way, you need something that can stiffen the suspension when you tow. It could be air bags, it could be more leaf springs, it could be stiffer shocks. If you get on Facebook and join the "Chevy g10, g20, & g30 vans" group and explain your needs, those guys will answer this question in a couple seconds and give you more recommendations than you want :-) Sorry I don't have more experience on this to share!
Well, it probably depends on the condition of the 1980 van. Mine has been going strong, still has the original drive train. Its been all over California, coast to coast, around the Rocky Mts. and from Maine to Florida, all towing a travel trailer. We camp in it regularly, out twice this past month. So of course I feel positively about it haha. Big advantage is you can do a lot of repairs yourself and many parts are relatively cheap. A modern vehicle would likely be a bit more comfortable for long road trips.
Thanks for sharing. I’m into vintage vans myself
Right on! Thanks for watching!
Hi, I enjoyed your video. You seem like a real nice guy and a good family man. I have a 94 G30 that I am currently restoring and a 92 G20 I'm freshing up and planning on selling. I going to watch your other videos over the weekend. It's refreshing to hear someone with my kind of budget using simple functional ideas to make things work for you. Tired of seeing the multi thousands of dollars builds that are not realistic for me. I know you and your family are having fun 😊.
Thank you so much for watching!! Your comment means so much to me because we have never had a large budget, or any "budget" to speak of when traveling or working on our camping setup. Dave Ramsey would have a fit if he knew haha. But, seriously, I really never have had money to work on this stuff so I just squeak by a little at a time, when I can. Same with trips we just squeeze them in when possible (both time and money) and make the most of the opportunities. Always thankful to get out there and enjoy seeing new places (and some old places) with the fam. Sometimes its hard work or extra work with the fam, but its always been worth it. Now they are pros and always fun to travel with. So I am glad this can encourage you to work with what you have and in the manner you can. Its fun to work on this stuff, and worth it to get out there, and always better than staying at home :-)
@@kampinglogik Thanks for your personal reply. Even though I was initially drawn to your video because you and I both have G30 vans in common, your van travel knowledge and relaxed attitude toward making simple things work are refreshing. What I found watching is how much you love your family, and I know that you give your all to that commitment. It's enjoyable seeing how the van has contributed to your family's happiness. and experiences.
Wow, again I can't tell you how much this means, and I am so grateful for the kind words. You are right, having the van set up to go makes short, and or, last minute trips much more possible. I have been blessed to unexpectedly get out twice in the last two weeks with two of my little ones (the 4 and 7 year old), one trip down to the beach and one to the lake, with the van. Other than turning on the fridge and throwing the food in, the van is pretty much ready to go, we leave the stove, bedding and fans in the back. Just need to add personal items and whatever "activity" items, such as paddle boards/floats/boogie/surf boards (depending on the destination).
Though you could of course camp without a van camper, the van adds a level of comfort and familiarity for the little ones. Like their older sisters who were the same age when we got the van 8 years ago, they never complain, are always game to go on a trip, and sleep great in the van. I think the solid sleep (or lack there of) can be one of the major detractions for families trying to camp with young ones, and the van helps with that. Not to mention, the advantage of shelter if you get hit by weather.
To your original point... yes I have found that keeping it simple helps trips stay fun! The more complex the set up is, the more time you have to spend NOT hanging out with the fam and enjoying whatever the destination has to offer.
It seems the timing is off on your video bud. None the less you've truly been blessed to buy that van and get so many miles and memories from it for such a good price. You've pretty much got everything covered for whatever may come up. Cheers to many more miles & camping trips
Thanks brother! Yes we have a lifetime of good memories with this van for sure, and it has been "like a rock" as the old Chevy slogan claimed haha. Hey, can you try the video again? It seems to play normal for me, curious if it was just a glitch, or?
Yes it's fine now brother. It must have been a glitch or something. You've got some amazing pictures of places you've been with the family. We haven't camped in over a year due to my wife's job. But we've finally got one coming up. However it's a very short trip but none the less it's a camping trip. Lol ! Sebastian state Park in Sebastian Florida. It's about 20 min from me but it's right on the Indian river lagoon. We get to wake up to the dolphin feasting in the morning. Very cheap to camp there. You should check it out some time.
Awesome rig you got there.
Mine is a 95 G20 so really just a half ton 5 bolt wheel etc.
Picked up a 5x10 cargo trailer at about 1800 lbs built out as basic camper.
So I am wondering what if anything you did to the suspension on that camper.
I guess yours is a 1 ton which would help a bunch.
Mine definitely squats a bunch with about 250 toung weight on her.
Enjoying your videos
@@tzulife6523 Hey thanks for watching! You are correct, my G30 is a one ton, so it had pretty beefy suspension to start out with. I have not had to make any modifications. The G20 is definitely a softer ride. I had a G20 for a little bit.
Do you know when the last time the shocks were replaced? 250lbs on the tongue isn't that much, maybe the shocks are just old? I can tow my fully loaded trailer with my stock Honda Pilot and it barely squats at all. Not an apples to apples comparison, I know...
Either way, you need something that can stiffen the suspension when you tow. It could be air bags, it could be more leaf springs, it could be stiffer shocks. If you get on Facebook and join the "Chevy g10, g20, & g30 vans" group and explain your needs, those guys will answer this question in a couple seconds and give you more recommendations than you want :-)
Sorry I don't have more experience on this to share!
I'm looking at a 1980 chevy g-30 sports van. low miles in my budget would you recommend or should i get a more modern car with higher miles? thanks!
Well, it probably depends on the condition of the 1980 van. Mine has been going strong, still has the original drive train. Its been all over California, coast to coast, around the Rocky Mts. and from Maine to Florida, all towing a travel trailer. We camp in it regularly, out twice this past month. So of course I feel positively about it haha.
Big advantage is you can do a lot of repairs yourself and many parts are relatively cheap. A modern vehicle would likely be a bit more comfortable for long road trips.