Suggestions for my live-in Chevrolet Astro.

[Wandering Yeti]

Hey guys, my name is Kyle. I'm a dirty hippie living in a 2003 AWD Chevrolet Astro while I tour the United States for a few years.

I'm faced with a dilemma. I budget roughly 400 bucks a month on fuel and that gets me about 100 gallons at current gas prices. My van at 55mph on the highway gets about 18mpg, and in the cit about 15, 16 combined. This gives me only 1,600 miles a month I can move.

I'm looking at ways to increase the fuel economy of my van for cheap, or looking for another live-in vehicle or tow vehicle that gets better fuel economy.

The reason I chose my van was for the live-in space, AWD safety net, and the compact nature of the Astro. But now I am considering going to another vehicle and towing my home vs. driving it around unless I can figure out how to squeeze more fuel economy out of my van.

Thanks for help in advance!

[bwilson4web]

Electric bicycle/moped. Will fit in van which should stay parked. Then use the motor assisted, bicycle to get around the local area.

Bob Wilson

[tjts1]

Not sure what AWD safety is but get something with 2WD. Or rip out the front half of your 4Wd setup.

[cleanspeed1]

+1 for the electric bicycle/moped.

I have another solution, though.

A used diesel conversion van, full size, like a Chevy/Gmc with a 6.2/6.5 diesel or a Ford Econoline with the IDI 6.9/7.3. Or even a diesel pickup with a slide in.

Run it on waste oil in a dual fuel system.

Hey, I know how it is......

I've done the same thing as you, but for work.

[larrybuck]

An '80's Toyota van comes to mind; should get near 40mpg highway; mount500# capacity cargo holder on a trailer hitch; load a small motorcycle or scooter onto that; and throw on a cheap bicycle maybe on the front bumper. It would be easy to use a cover over the middle of the bicycle to DOUBLE as a front grille block!

It sounds like you have plenty of time for testing. Try to leave the base veh. OUTSIDE of the larger towns and cities.

Carefully ask if you can wash someone's car or mow their lawn as PAY to let you Park/sleep in your van overnight. Don't ask after about 2PM! Build a relationship...don't come across as just a TAKER!

[Fat Charlie]

AWD is a great safety feature if you have to drive in blizzards, so sell it to someone who sees that as a feature and get something with better mileage. Google "stealth camper" and work on turning it into a home. The moped is a great idea for getting travel done without having to burn fuel hauling everything you own everywhere you go.

As for your van, live-in space and compactness work against each other and I think they meet badly in an Astro. You can find something less compact (more liveable) without taking too bad a hit on mileage or you can go a little more compact and get a real minivan that'll do better on mileage. For your purposes the Astro looks like it's got all the wrong compromises- the inefficiencies of a big vehicle without the benefit of space.

[slowmover]

No Astro is all that great for mileage. The AWD seems nice but one pays a penalty. To give you an idea, my wife and I travel in a Dodge diesel pickup pulling a 34' travel trailer and average 13-16 mpg highway. The truck, solo, does from 18-20 city and 24-26 highway in the south central US.

I see the appeal of a van. Once knew an architect who had a Chevy half-ton (rear windows only), a big propane tank underneath and some very basic living accommodations. He used it to travel from Texas to Colorado, camp out for a few months (besides backpacking), and live cheaply while on the road as he could park it anywhere anonymously. Pay $7 for a shower at a truckstop when need be.

There is a single vehicle out there that will do better than the Astro. Frankly, pulling a trailer is better still (CASITA, SCAMP, etc) as one can use a quite small tow vehicle.

Look to the rigs owned and modded by KAMPERBOB on this site for an excellent approach.

.

[Christ]

Ot: SEVEN BUCKS FOR A SHOWER? I always paid 2, if at all...

[JasonG]

Paid $5 at a state park last month. Goes up constantly.

I lived some for work in the back of a pick up with a fiberglass topper.
Used construction scraps to make a bed on one side level with the screened window. It had storage underneath.
Bins on the right and front for clothes, stove, tools, etc.
Left the center open for walking and my bike.
Saved hotel fees.

Think it got around 21 MPG. That was an 80s model with a V8.
The Toyota van mentioned above would probably be my choice as well.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by Christ

Ot: SEVEN BUCKS FOR A SHOWER? I always paid 2, if at all...

At a truckstop? Your vehicles can take over 100 gls per fill to qualify for that "free" shower?