2005 GMC Savana Explorer Conversion Van
The same year my Mustang was put on hold due to a broken arm, I bought a 2005 GMC Savana conversion van built by Explorer so I could stop using my Crossfire for shows. For years I had been reading about van life and imagining what I could do with a van of my own. After my first Ford van, the Roadtrek had already been on my wish list, so creating my own felt like the next step. I went with a high-top because I’m over 6 feet tall, and every extra inch mattered even if I still can’t stand up straight inside it.
The van was meant to be my show hauler, but it quickly became more than that. I added auxiliary batteries, a 12-volt refrigerator, and other comforts so I could stay off-grid for several days at a time. It has also been getting the full AMSOIL treatment, with most of the fluids already converted and a few more still on the list. I’m also planning a dual bypass system for it someday.
What I like most is how it feels like a true mobile base. It hauls my booth gear better than the Crossfire, lets me sleep on-site at weekend shows, and gives me the kind of space I always wanted when I first started thinking about van life. I’ve moved from the popup I used to carry in the Crossfire to an awning and enclosed room, and that has made multi-day shows feel almost like a vacation from the errands at home. It’s still a work in progress, but it already feels like the right vehicle for this stage of my life.
