Hello, my name is tomkat and I just joined. I have owned my 99 safari since 2005. I use it as a work van. I beat the snot out of my work van. I always have had utility bodies to work out of. I switched to my safari to get the improved mpg 7 years ago. My old van got 7 mpg but was a dream to work out of. It was a utility service van dually. I finally got around to customizing the safari. It was a XLT passenger van. I gutted the rear and put in a bulkhead when I first got the van. It was always a challenge to keep it organized. I load it up most of the time and carry lots of parts onboard. My solution was to remove the side windows and build doors and bins. Now its a dream to work out of. I have used it for 4 weeks now and I haven't had to spend hardly any time digging thru things or straightening out the truck so I can work. I can get to my parts from the outside. No climbing into the van to get tools. I estimate I save 5 hrs per week along with not being pissed off each time I need a part and have to dig under things to find my part. My tools are also being saved because they go into a bin rather them on the floor under a pile of other tools. I cannot get another utility type truck that gets 18 mpg and drives like a minivan. Its just not sold in north america. Its like driving a car. Because its a XLT the passenger section is loaded with comfort features. Any way here it is. Now its still a work in progress. I only have it roughed in so all you body work critics please be nice . I have the skill to make it look factory. I just don't have the extra few weeks to finish it off. Also I need to work the bugs out of it. When I am happy with the functionality of the bins I may finish out the body work and paint her. The finish and paint may be a pipe dream though. Because I beat the snot out of my vans I don't see the point. I do have some design improvements if any body wants to copy the idea. I won't do the changes on this van. But if I were to do this job again I would tweek the design. My only metal working tools were a stump, hammers, a piece of railroad track, angle iron, sheers, english wheel, and a bead roller. You can do it without the wheel or roller. It would have been nice to have a brake though. I have pics of the build if anybody wants to see em. It's nice to be here. Enjoy

 

Great to hear from you tomkat! Welcome