Filmmaker Living in a All Wheel Drive Chevrolet Astro Van - Walk Around

I have always had a secret love the Chevrolet Astro Vans. I even seriously considered getting a Chevrolet Astro van as my first van build. The All Wheel drive Chevy Astro is actually quite simple to convert to a standard 4 Wheel drive with a low range transfer case. In this video we meet up with Brian Bear Butler who is a outdoor filmmaker who lives full time in his All Wheel Drive Chevy Astro Van and he takes on tour of his van giving us some insight to how he lives comfortably in his Chevrolet Astro.

Brian Bear Butler

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Your Primal Outdoors - Camping and Overlanding, I am living the van life in my Ford E350 4x4 Van traveling around the remote public land system in Oregon

[Flyin_high_pnw]

Honestly, I've never had much interest in Astro Vans in my life till recently but here I am in less then a month about the fly across the country from Central Oregon to FL to pick one up from a close friend. I'm beyond stoked! An immaculate '05 Astro. This will be the first van I've ever owned in my life and I can't stop thinking about it. 🤣✌🏼 Cool build, thanks for sharing!

[BrianBearButler]

Thanks for the feature Jason! I'll see ya in Oregon!

[stephanfogsi]

Yes an Astro!! I have a 2000 GMC Safari AWD van build.

[softroadingthewest]

The Astro has always appealed to me and it was definitely in the running to replace the totaled Forester. In fact, a certain well-known vanlifer repeatedly tried to convince me Astro was The Way. :-) An Astro build posed a number of issues for me as a daily driver/kid hauler and it ultimately made more sense for me to go in a different direction, but I love these little vans...totally legit rig.

[l.ohland]

I’m doing a 2 month cross country trip in September. I watched this video and the NEXT DAY I found and bought this same van, except it isn’t all wheel drive. But..same color, same back doors, low mileage. I am beyond thrilled ! Thanks.. now I know what mine will look like. Can’t wait ! Always loved the Astro, and looked for 6 months...

[donwilliamson]

Excellent build! I'm hunting for an Astro van and you've helped with some build decisions. Thanks so much. Stay safe out there.

[MsSoozy]

I have a 96 and it looks exactly the same and this build is perfect. I have so, any plans in my head so this has definitely helped, thank you for that. I am not a permanent van dweller but I do want to travel. I have had mine for 7 years. I love it!

[mountainsnmoore]

I have wanted an AWD Astro for years, but my wife has some sort of childhood hatred for vans. LOL!

[daneboro]

I grew up with an astro van my dad had a couple that ran for 400k miles back when chevy built quality products.

[snotbubbles]

I keep an 18 mm deep socket w/ ratchet in that netted area on the passenger side because I unbolt the passenger chair quite often and flip it around. So much so I typically just put 2 nuts back on the thread to hold it in place in this configuration. Opens up a lot of space and gives an additional seating option when I am not on the bed.

[dermotleeson]

Great vid bud simple build fit for purpose with going over the top. Love it. Nice fella as well.

[garretlewis]

When I was a kid, my parents had an Astro van with the 4.3 v6. Body on frame. A decent van. Interesting you can easily convert it to 4x4. I didn’t know that.

[FrancesPJohnson]

I haven't seen an Astrovan in years. Great build !

[OutandBackOregon]

Ha! We were just talking about these! Cool that you saw one 😎

[GrievenceCapitolist]

Lived out of an astro 2 times . It was about a year each time . Did it with a dog too . It was on the east coast so you had to be a little more under the radar .

[HARE]

Thanks for another interesting episode.
I really enjoyed it.
I’ve always liked the looks of the Astro vans, and learning that you can convert them to 4WD could be a game-changer.
Brian has got it going on!
Go Far, Have Fun

[Petelaosound]

Cult classic now. Gotta have it. Bought a 2001 Astro today will build it. True American camper

[crvadventure]

That's Awesome. I remember the first time I saw one of those and thought to myself...."that's cool". But many years down the road and I ended up with a CRV.

[bruceyyyyy]

I always thought the Astro's were a great way to get your feet wet with Van life. The smaller buy in, better fuel economy, and ease of parking and driving would be good for someone not used to driving full sized trucks/vans.

Plus like you said, it's based on an S10 so the AWD models can be converted to 4WD with low range.

Which at that point the rest of the running gear might be suspect for rock crawling but it would certainly be nice to have going up some hill sides!

[AstroVanTribe]

Bummed I missed Brian at OEW, was good to meet you... Hope to see that Astro Van Tribe sticker somewhere.