After I wrote that list to my wife, I have really been thinking about it, and I think I came up with a great solution for my family. Although might not be cheaper than buying a mega-cab, I think it has more uses, and the costs would be more spread out.
A tribute to the Turtle IV expedition vehicle with my own rendition using my van.
https://turtleexpedition.com/vehicles/turtle-iv/
I love the way it drives, and the windshield is nothing short of a picture window. I already have the factory paint colors on my van, add a red stripe and a yellow stripe. A 4WD drive conversion through either Ujoint or Expovans. I am not wild about a 6" lift, but sounds like it brings the best ride, most suspension travel. Its just deciding if I want front leaves vs coil springs. Or I leave it 2wd, add a rear locker, and maybe a grocery getter kit from Weldtec.
Trying to figure out the best gears as I think through it. It will not be a camper build out so there will not be water tanks or a gray water tank. No cooking provisions inside the van. So I do not think it will get extremely heavy.
I am personally leaning towards:
1. 55 gallon rear tank (with electric fuel pump/filter set-up)
2. new injection pump/injectors, Typ4 cam and a turbo set-up as I think that would work well with 35" skinnies and 3.55 gears. I live at 7500' elevation and my van kicks into OD between 35 and 40 MPH. at 45 MPH its only turning 1467 RPM and happily does that until a descent incline comes along. Then it dumps to D (or I push OD lockout) and 2066 RPM. By adding a cam/turbo set-up and add-ons, and using D vs OD, with 3.55's and 35's......45mph = 1534 rpm | 50mph = 1700 | 55mph = 1874 rpm | 60 = 2045 | 65mph = 2215 (D) / 1573 (OD) | 75mph = 1815 RPM (OD)
Is the above just silly thinking? I know this has been talked about alot and I have read, and it seems that those who don't tow enjoy their 3.55 gears and 33's or 35" tires. I would go skinny as makes sense. (10.5"). And in the rare case I did have to tow, I could tow in D @ 2215 RPM's at 65 MPH.
Crawl Ration for low speed stuff using 4-lo would be 30:1 (4.10's) and 26:1 (3.55's)
3. Manual Hubs and a NV-271 (manual shift)
4. Built E4OD (prefer manual, but like the open space between the front seats) with aftermarket cooler.
5. Axles with larger brakes (14.3" front rotor vs 12.5 on it now) and a sterling rear axle.
6. Espar heater or something that uses diesel and heats the coolant at the same time for ease of starting.
7. F/R bumpers, winch, aux lighting and preferably nothing on top of the fiberglass top. Although they have 4 tie down points on it and may need a place to store skis. My current skis are 185's.
8. Heat Exchanger to be able to take a warm shower
9. Compressor and Battery Relocation
I like the security in less electrical sensors controlling what my drivetrain is doing, and using more of my own senses and watching gauges/tail pipe etc.
And an interior built out. Lizard Skin the under side of the van, Sound deaden the inside. Swivel front seats to converse play game/eat with the second row buckets when its just our family out camping. Cut the headliner/roof and make use of the highroof.
Course you put all this money into it and it still has zero valuation, or how do you insure it incase it gets stolen.... to recover costs, would Haggerty or someone like that do it. vs just going off KBB or NADA values.
Shift change and bed time, thanks for reading, appreciate the replies and good night!!