Hey Thiokol2track, tell us about the VAN GROOMER

For those of you who do not check out the photo galleries, you really need to take a look at the gallery of "Thiokol2track" because he has a very interesting restoration/upgrade project.

But we need some details

Here is a link to his gallery: http://www.forumsforums.com/pp53/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=864&sl=t

Photo #1 is what he started with?
And if I understand it correctly photo #2 is what he ended up with!
We need the story of this project!!!

Looks pretty damn cool if you ask me! Must be fun to run the family around in. I wonder what other drivers think?

Nice job. I'd like to hear about what it took to accomplish that. There are lots of those 2100s around for "projects"...

Vance

Vance-

That's not a 2100. I believe it's a 3700AC.

Alliis Chalmers turbo straight six diesel and all hydrostatic drive.

Way more desirable than a 2100, if you ask me

And there's a fair number of these around too.

aksnocat said:

Vance-

That's not a 2100. I believe it's a 3700AC.

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There I go talking about things I don't know anything about... at least it was a groomer...

Thanks for clarifying it.

V

Aksnocat is correct....this is a 3700ac chassis, but the ski area I got it from installed a 6 cyl john deere 466 intercooled turbo engine from a loader....plenty of hp and runs like a top! I cant wait to get it hooked to the drag, I'm installing the aux. hydraulics to the rear now.


Bob,
I wish a story like that for ya...LOL !
I had saved a van for a 2100 chassis about 7 years ago while i was restoring my 2100 b but to many parts got "borrowed " off it and it never happened.
The 2100 and the 3700 had a jump seat next to the driver and it was not meant for two full grown adults... these cats seem less desireable and cheaper on the market because you cant carry passengers.

The van holds 6 adults a dog and a cooler nicely!

also I have plans to mount one of those back up cameras, like r-v's to see behind you ......so we can watch the drag on the monitor up front...

So what is the van based on? How did you build it?

Details man!!! We need details. . . if you take bribes we could FAX you some beer and cash if that would get your story out. Build pictures too!!!

Really a great job. How much did you cut the tracks down to make it manageable for width? The wider cats are cheaper since they are not legal width to trailer and do not fit in gates and other tight areas. Do you know your snow cats weight and do you trailer the cat? Looks great...

Hay Thiokol2track,

Where did you get the idea of using the astrovan for a body? What is the overall width of it?

I think this says it all...we're all DYING to know...we need a full blown construction album and plenty of details with a proper soap opera of challenges blow-by-blow with the pics. There should be blood, sweat, tears and of course beers upon victory!

To the point of adapting to suit the need ... there are so many 1-2 seaters that can be picked up for a song in comparison to the bigger (but fewer) people movers (although I hold a soft spot for the classics) but this van or SUV version is definitely on my list for future projects. Reminds me of the monster truck conversions but with more sex appeal.

Anyone up for an Escalade version?

Mainer said:

I think this says it all...we're all DYING to know...we need a full blown construction album and plenty of details with a proper soap opera of challenges blow-by-blow with the pics. There should be blood, sweat, tears and of course beers upon victory!

To the point of adapting to suit the need ... there are so many 1-2 seaters that can be picked up for a song in comparison to the bigger (but fewer) people movers (although I hold a soft spot for the classics) but this van or SUV version is definitely on my list for future projects. Reminds me of the monster truck conversions but with more sex appeal.

Anyone up for an Escalade version?

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The van idea inspired from the need to carry passengers and upon measuring ,fit like it was made for it. The chassis is a 3700 (this is what it is based on) with a john deere engine/hydro drive. . .
The width is 10 feet. unsure on the weight.... Occasionally if I have to trailer them I put them on my low-bed and I have a blanket permit to haul construction equipment up to 10 feet in width in three states, (over 12' requires escorts)
I'll post some more pics in the photo gallery ....I cant seem to post them here....probly me..

Thiokol2track said:

I'll post some more pics in the photo gallery ....I cant seem to post them here....probly me..

Click to expand...

Please do us all a favor and write detailed descriptions in the gallery if so we know exactly what we are looking at! The gallery is a great tool and there is plenty of room to write descriptive information, but very few people take advantage of that.

A man claiming to be the manufacturer of similar machines saw my collection of snow cats from the freeway and stopped by. He invited me to come look at his operation in central Washington on Lake Chelan. A couple months later Earl and I went to see his operation. When we arrived he was disgruntled and may have been suffering from a hang over. In any event he purchased used groomers, fitted them with the big dodge touring Van bodies and sold them. Later he sold the business to an outfit in Colorado. Several years later, at Yellowstone Park I observed and video taped several of these that had been fitted with huge skiis in front similar to the Bombardiere B12 design. It was an attempt to smooth out the ride over bumpy trails. They moved the Van body forward so that only half of the Van body sat on the snow cat. I don't know how the steering worked. The Skiis were probably 10 or 15 feet long and at least a foot wide. The operator said they didn't really accomplish what they intended to do..>

On a seperate note, there is an entire fleet of interesting snow equipment here at Prudhoe that is operating right out of our camp. They have 9 new Tucker Terra's, 2 "Cat Trains" consisting of 9 house trailers for each 'Train', on skiis that are pulled by dozer's, and house 50 people each. They have dining, bathing, and laundry facilities. Also there are 8 or 10 huge Tracked Trucks of a design not posted elsewhere on the Forum. I'll make pictures today or tomorrow and attempt to post them on the Forum under their own thread. It's an impressive fleet totaling about 40 machines. An actual working/traveling work camp. It's -20 out today.

About 20 - 25 years ago Resolution Tours on Vail pass ran snowcat skiing tours with 10 passenger Dodge van bodies on 2100 chassis. If I remember right one was blue and the other was white. I wonder if these were the same machines? I know they were 2100's and had no front skis.