Can I convert my '95 3500 Campervan to 4WD and take it offroad?
 

I have a low mileage '95 Dodge 3500 Campervan. It is fully loaded with propane tank, water tank, fully operable kitchen, bed, cabinets, solar, rear climate control, ect. The engine only has 21K miles since it was used very little after the original owner (my grandfather) passed away. I spend time in remote wilderness and would like to convert this van into a fully capable 4X4 offroad campervan. I don't need to boulder, but I'll need to cross rivers and may hit some big ruts out there in the wilderness. Is it practical to convert this van to 4WD?

Depends on what you consider practical...

nothing comes close to bolting on - major surgery and frame modification required to do it safely... everything from the firewall back is unibody and subject to get twisted up and the frame rails are lower over the front wheels rather than higher like 4wd trucks do. This seriously limits options for front suspension setups unless you go extreme with lift. Also, there's no room for a transfer case and drivers side drop without shortening the fuel tank or building one. I can share more if you really decide to get serious about this... it's a major undertaking.

unless you're a decent welder and have access to lots of toys and time, you would probably be better off to buy a different van (ford) or one that's already been converted by someone else (I would be careful here - there's some pretty shoddy work out there)... They're around.

Note that I'm guessing that a bit of lift, bigger off-road tires and locking differential would probably make a pretty sizable difference and be a lot cheaper as a starting point...

Hope this is helpful.

Find you a donor Ram 3500 4x4 and swap bodies. Practical? That's up to you.

That's a project I wouldn't want to tackle -The van is unibody and the truck is body on frame... ;-)

There's is surprisingly little in common between the 2nd gen ram trucks and vans... or it was very surprising to me when I started thinking through converting my 1500 van to 4wd...

Good info to know. Had no idea they were different....

Do you possess a real fabrication shop with all of the tools etc etc??????????????? That's a really huge project.

To put this thread in context, I'm about halfway through a "budget" conversion on my 99 ram van... I had an idea it was going to be a significant job, but it's turned out to be even more than I planned (seems to be the case more often than not with such things...). if you do decide you want to try and tackle it, I'll be glad to share what I learn along the way...

Are you doing only the camper conversion or including a 4wd unit also?

Where did you get your ideas for the conversion as I am presently considering it also for my van????

Further insights and questions
 

Thank you all for your thoughts on this project. What are your insights on the 3500 engine itself? My belief is the only value in this van is the shell, the frame and the engine. It only has 21K in miles on it.

Lets say I go through with a well executed conversion, done by a professional, with a flexible budget...what are the odds the van will last and be useable for its intended purpose?

I have no skill or tools to take it on, and I would want to send it to a professional with experience in campervan conversions to have the work done.

I think it would be cheaper to find a van that is already 4x4, (there were indeed some factory sanctioned conversions out there) and then install the camping stuff you want. A shop doing the conversion is going to be measured in thousands of dollars, and that's just labor.....

Now, if you want to throw the money at your current van..... expect to spend at LEAST 5 grand on it. If you take care of it, it will last forever. :D