Wow apparently I'm the worst at updates...A LOT has happened in 6 months
Long story short its 4x4 and a beast!
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Everything has been somewhat smooth. I had the lift and front axle installed by Justin at Baker Garage here in Denver. He was awesome to work with and HIGHLY recommend him to anyone looking to install a 4x4 van kit from UJOINT Offroad. He has his own econoline that he installed the lift on plus a few more including mine, so he knows what he's doing. Hit him up on IG if you need work done
13 Followers, 5 Following, 0 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Justin Chenoweth (@justin_chenoweth)
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I also contemplated leaving it a dually or single for the rear, and finally decided on a single. Overall I think it looks great and handles great too. To compensate for the load range of the duallies, I decided on Goodyear Duratrac 285/75r18 (35.1") tires all around. They are rated for over 4000 lbs at 80 psi so I have no concerns about them handling the weight in the rear.
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For the front bumper I ended up going with an ARB Sahara. They're made for the Ford Super Duty trucks but MG Metalworks makes brackets that enable this bumper to fit the Econoline front end. Just a few hours of trimming and rewelding a brace in the corner and you're good to go. I shopped around and didn't like the style (or the price) of most aftermarket Econoline bumpers, and I love the looks of this ARB! Unfortunately I dont know how to weld so I had help from Ian. He came recommended from Justin and man did he do a great job. Feel free to check out the pics of the bumper work he posted on his Instagram and be sure to hit him up for any fab work if you're in the Denver area!
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Also installed a hitch since the one in the bumper is definitely NOT made to tow. Tried pulling my Jeep Wrangler behind it to Moab and nearly ripped the entire hitch and bumper out of the frame of the van. So I picked up a hitch made for RVs, drilled a few holes and mounted it on. No way this thing is going anywhere. Also installed 7 pin and 4 pin wiring just to have it.
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Now it's back to the storage unit to get all my ski stuff to prepare for the season. Already reached the 30s in the mountains and snow in spots. Now I really need to get on purchasing the ducting for that Webasto heater!