may not be your style, but you have to admire the time, money and effort it must have taken to chop a van top !
found this one on Cardomain
check it out:
RAM MAN
11-02-2004, 12:32 PM
I actually remember seeing a van in the mid 70's where a guy just chopped the portion over the front area and left everything from the front seats back - at stock height
so it looked like it had a raised roof
but really was slightly chopped
Dodgevanman
11-02-2004, 12:45 PM
There was one on Ebay that had the front portion chopped only
hurricane2
11-02-2004, 05:10 PM
Yeah, the "step chop" as it was known was pretty poular in the early 80s. Probably the most famous one would be "Wild Fire", a mid 70s Dodge, silver with green flames.
The van you posted is "Predator" which was actually owned by a guy right around the corner from my house and now is owned by Chris in New Jersey.
RAM MAN
11-03-2004, 06:51 AM
Yeah, the "step chop" as it was known was pretty poular in the early 80s. Probably the most famous one would be "Wild Fire", a mid 70s Dodge, silver with green flames.
The van you posted is "Predator" which was actually owned by a guy right around the corner from my house and now is owned by Chris in New Jersey.
I tried sending him an Email to join this site, but havent heard back
if you see him
please let him know about our site
hurricane2
11-03-2004, 03:39 PM
I'll post it on vannin.com, he's always on there.
DANVAN
11-04-2004, 06:05 PM
I saw this van in October at a van run called Somerset, in PA.
Nomadic Girl
11-05-2004, 02:56 PM
i had the top chopped on my '99 Ram 3500 15 passenger this past january and LOVE IT! at its peak i have about 5 feet 6 in of standing room. they added two flourescent lights in the back and kept the original roof over the front seats, which they carpeted, so that i have a shelf. i've stripped everything out of the back and built a platform bed w/ stoarage underneath and two shelves above the original roof level. i live about half the year on the road rock climbing, and i'd have to say that i have quite the luxury rig now. much better than my old 4Runner. i hooked up a spare Optima battery in back with an inverter that powers a light and a fan. if i can make some money this winter, i am going to have a rain-sensored 3-speed fan installed. it should make about a 10 degree difference inside, which is much needed during the roasting summer months. all in all, my conversion cost under $3000.
RAM MAN
11-05-2004, 07:02 PM
i had the top chopped on my '99 Ram 3500 15 passenger this past january and LOVE IT! at its peak i have about 5 feet 6 in of standing room. they added two flourescent lights in the back and kept the original roof over the front seats, which they carpeted, so that i have a shelf. i've stripped everything out of the back and built a platform bed w/ stoarage underneath and two shelves above the original roof level. i live about half the year on the road rock climbing, and i'd have to say that i have quite the luxury rig now. much better than my old 4Runner. i hooked up a spare Optima battery in back with an inverter that powers a light and a fan. if i can make some money this winter, i am going to have a rain-sensored 3-speed fan installed. it should make about a 10 degree difference inside, which is much needed during the roasting summer months. all in all, my conversion cost under $3000.
wow
thats does sound pretty cool
have any pics ?
Nomadic Girl
11-06-2004, 03:14 PM
I do, but I don't have web space to put any on. Any suggestions?
RAM MAN
11-07-2004, 09:27 AM
you can do it right here
either in the Gallery or upload them in this post
If you want to load it in the gallery - look at the top of the page - click on gallery - on the right hand side - click on Upload pics and it will take you thru the steps right there
OR
you can do it right here in the post
click on REPLY (NOT quick reply)
type in your response
then scroll down PAST the "submit" button and you will see the "manage attachments" button
click that
then click "browse" - find the pic on your computer - click on upload
then wait for it to upload
click close this window
and Submit reply
(Here's a hint: Open another window, bring up this site -then you can switch back and forth between screens to review the procedure
Once you do it, its EASY
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SO - Lets see 'em :D
Nomadic Girl
11-16-2004, 01:14 PM
sorrry it has taken so long to respond. somehow the ownership of my documents file that has my van photos got changed and it took me forever to figure out why my computer wouldn't let me open certain files... and then i wen't out of town.
So here they are, and I've also uploaded them into my gallery.
RAM MAN
11-16-2004, 01:59 PM
good deal
thanks
hurricane2
11-16-2004, 09:07 PM
WOW! It looks like a rolling dorm room, cool!
Nomadic Girl
11-16-2004, 10:26 PM
Thanks. I'm sure if I had the know-how to do better constrution I could have a much better rig, but it was a learn-as-you-go experience for me. Since I grew up a suburban girl, I wasn't given the opportunities to learn "men's work"... but I'm trying! At least I can color coordinate!
hurricane2
11-18-2004, 06:13 AM
Hey, that's great. the more you do, the more you learn. I'm in the process of doing my van's interior for the second time. I know so much more now, it will be much better.
Nomadic Girl
11-19-2004, 12:26 AM
hurricane2, i love your trailer! where do you usually go camping? i bought my van from a temp agency that transported dirty employees to and from work sites. there were black streaks on the ceiling and carpet and parts of the interior weren't in the greatest shape, but it wasn't a worry for me since i was stripping things out and i figured i'd just get it even dirtier. i think that's why i got such a good deal on it. it was the last van they had left to get rid of and i scored it for $3500. it is a '99, but it needed around $3000 in maintenence work.
kudos to you for redoing the interior of your van and building a cool trailer.
hurricane2
11-19-2004, 04:37 PM
Hey thanks! We try to get to at least 3-4 van-ins a year. You should try to find some in your area, you'd love it! Check out vannin.com for event dates. Anyway, here are some pics of my "new" interior mocked up.
Nomadic Girl
11-20-2004, 02:39 AM
you kick ass! i'll have to look into the van-ins.
RAM MAN
11-20-2004, 09:50 AM
we have DodgeTalk gatherings all year long
anyone want to set up a meet ?
Nomadic Girl
11-20-2004, 09:57 PM
well, i'll be heading back to west virginia in a week and won't have much access to a computer. i'm finally moving my things up there! i just want to be an appalachian mountain woman. you guys have fun!
