LarryJRogers
Austin, TX
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Joined: 04/17/2007
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Hi guys,
I have been amazed by the amount knowledge shared on this site and appreciate the time you all put in to respond.
I'm seriously considering a 2006 190 4x4. I do have some reservations as we're looking at mid range NADA retail value although they are still pushing for the high end retail. Previously they were way over retail due to the extensive modifications done to the vehicle. But I digress.
Can anyone give me some insight on the types of issues that the 2006 model year has been known for or maybe the 4x4 version? Every vehicle has it's quirks and I want to ensure I can live with them for the amount of money I would have to spend. Of course I will have the vehicle inspected.
I would really feel a lot more comfortable pushing forward if I had some insight from people with a lot more knowledge than myself.
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Handbasket
Asheville, NC
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Joined: 01/17/2003
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If you're aware that it's intended for use on the beach, snowy roads, and very limited off-roading, it's probably fine. The 190 has plenty of torsional rigidity for 'normal' 2wd use. But the f'glass floor & roof sections almost certainly reduce this too much for anything approaching serious rock crawling, even if it had the ground clearance.
You mentioned 'extensive modifications'... over and beyond the 4wd conversion? I wouldn't buy it without a personal test drive, anyway. There's just too much chance of the 4wd conversion plus other changes turning it into an ill-handling & poor-riding beast. If it's got big wheels and tires, and been lifted beyond the initial conversion, expect poor mpg, and maybe wandery steering.
Check for remaining CCC, especially if it's had stuff like grille guards added. The conversion eats up a chunk of GVW to begin with.
I coulda bought one, but chose the Tiger CX instead. And yes, it was a close choice.
Jim, "Chicken Little only has to be right once."
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
'94 968, M030 swaybars ('DOPPLER')
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CSG
ID
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Joined: 03/02/2001
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Larry, if you're serious about a 4x4 van you might also check the Sportsmobile site where they build new purpose built 4x4's. There's a factory in Austin as well as California and Indiana. Not saying anything negative about the RT as they do Quigley conversions but if I were going that route, I'd go with a Sportsmobile.
Sportsmobile
2001 GMC EC 2500HD, 4x4, 6.0 V8
2007 Nash 27-5B
2002 Pleasure-Way Traverse
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booster
Minnesota
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Joined: 10/14/2007
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You don't happen to be looking at the one on e-bay are you? That one has been pretty exptensively modified. Very tall, big wheels and tires. They claim no off road use, but that seems hard to believe. The Chevy is a body on frame, so I doubt the dropped floor of glass roof would significantly change anything in the stiffness of the structure. Moderate off road would probably not be an issue, as long as you had clearance.
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LarryJRogers
Austin, TX
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Joined: 04/17/2007
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Yes, it is the one on ebay. It has actually bounced around with a couple dealers, including Stahlman's in San Marcos. I'm trying to figure out why other than price.
Due to the great DYI's on this forum, I modified my van and it has almost everything I needed. But I tended to go places to get away from the crowds and pushed my luck too far with 2WD, even with the limited slip rear end. Several times hitting the underneath chassis.
Nothing major, just locations such as south Padre Island with deep sand and Big Bend National Park where there are rocks everywhere. I don't do any bouldering, just wanted to go where most people don't. Sometimes that road they said was there doesn't exist.
It's a great van, I'm just too hard on it. And my back just aint what it used to be on digging out.
I like tiger but it pushes my neighborhood association too far.
Sportsmobile is really great but then I'm back into the 80k with something equivalent and I would still need to modify to carry extra gas and increase ride height to prevent damage to the underneath plumbing.
I figured if I can get the guys down to a realistic range with NADA values, this might give me what I need. But I am having serious doubts. Least of which is going back into debt. They're negotiating but still too rich for my taste.
The comments about the MPG and wandering were especially helpful. I'd like my girlfriend to be comfortable driving it.
Thank you so much for responses, it gives me more to digest on whether I should continue negotiations. And it helps educate this thick headed guy.
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ARcruiser
Benton, AR USA
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Joined: 12/19/2001
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Look at Tim's (tfrazie) older posts.
Keyword: quigley
Author: tfrazie
Class B Forum
Older than 1 year
His Quigley converted Roadtrek was the first, I believe - I think his was an '04. His posts contain LOTS of information about the conversion, discussions with Roadtrek and Quigley about the conversion process and his thought / feelings about how things worked out.
He even had some videos of beach action posted at one time, but I don't know if those are still 'live' or not.
Good Luck
2 Big Cruisers, The Little Man, and Bailey / ARcruiser's Class B's (the first 8)
Rig #8 Under Construction! / Here's the Project Thread - I'm actually working on it again!
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LarryJRogers
Austin, TX
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Joined: 04/17/2007
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Just an update.
The dealer is sticking to over retail pricing on this van. I hope to find another 4x4 solution. Thanks for your input.
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FLSTFI
USA
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Joined: 01/12/2006
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We have a 2006 RT 210P that we converted to 4WD pretty much for the same reasons you mention. Plus after traveling in it for a couple of years we decided everything about it (space, capacities, storage, private bathroom, etc) was right for us.
I can tell you, you will lose: that nice smooth ride (but not quite a "poor-riding beast"); the easy entry height(I carry a nice aluminum folding step for that); and about 2 MPG due to the lower perceived gear ratio, extra turning parts, more weight, height and the fact that you can only run about 50-55 psi in those more rubber on the ground heavy wall front tires or it will ride "like a rock". I can also tell you that a HyperTech Max Energy might make up for lost power but it will due nothing for the MPG.
(I think we also lost a little of the turning radius, but ours has a straight front axle while that one has IFS so I am not sure about it.
One of these days I have to measure that to find out.)
But because of the added clearance and 4WD we can now go to places that WE want to go without worrying about getting back.
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