VEMCO 4x4 Camper based on Ford truck

I recall seeing this 4x4 system in a thread a couple of years ago. Some people went nuts. Here is your chance to own one.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4797805168.html

That's the first vehicle ad I have ever seen where they just casually tilted the vehicle over for a picture of the underside.

I'm going to be honest. I'd like it a lot more if it had a conventional stick axle 4x4 conversion. The Vemco system reminds me of the "Pimp my ride" meme " Yo Dawg! I heard you like Universal Joints, so...."

HappyAndy wrote: I'm going to be honest. I'd like it a lot more if it had a conventional stick axle 4x4 conversion. The Vemco system reminds me of the "Pimp my ride" meme " Yo Dawg! I heard you like Universal Joints, so...."

I'm pretty sure that it still has less U-joints than a Ford TTB front end.

In reply to Bumboclaat: I know that was in jest but seriously, that is a truck load of U-joints.

Since Ford has had a 4wd van for years, why didn't they just use that???

HappyAndy wrote: In reply to Bumboclaat: I know that was in jest but seriously, that is a truck load of U-joints.

It actually appears to me to have the same amount of U-joints as the aforementioned TTB setup. Which is 6 forward of the transfer case (TTB driveshaft Double Cardan joint counting as 2).

Good zombie apocalypse prep basis. I like it but it do look a bit unorthodox. That ultra rare transfer case failing at speed would be......exciting.

In reply to markwemple:

What 4wd van would that be?

And it's gone

In reply to Cooter:

Going by memory. They made them on and off. Remember seeing them in the '70s and the '80s.

markwemple wrote: In reply to Cooter: Going by memory. They made them on and off. Remember seeing them in the '70s and the '80s.

Ford never made a factory 4WD van, although a few aftermarket companies have been building them for a long time and they are often sold new through Ford dealers. Quigley is the most common and still in business today. They are "factory authorized" in the sense Quigley buys vans directly from Ford and the non-conversion bits are still covered under the factory warranty.

Quadravan

In reply to Woody:

Yep - those were popular too (now long out of business). Aftermarket as well.

Heck, I've even seen 7.3 diesel versions ;)

Aha!, first one I ever seen was around '81 in a Chevy conversion van.

First thought was why not stick axle, that had to take a E36 M3 load of work for basically no gain in ground clearance and there were quite a few contractors running the Quadravans to work sites, so not uncommon.

Later found out that Chevy owner was handicapped and had a chair lift installed as well. Worked out well for that guy.

Pathfinder, Sportmobile, Quadvan, etc, etc. There are Chevys and Dodges running around, as well.

All conversions.

So I showed this to a friend of mine who works in the classic/specialty car division of a major insurer, and he said this system was engineered to be used on LTDs. I need one.

it's no e-bay now. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-Ford-4x4-RV-VEMCO-VX4-V-Drive-/151508611459?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item23469df183&vxp=mtr Was telling a guy at work about it, and found in on ebay

Cooter wrote: Pathfinder, Sportmobile, Quadvan, etc, etc. There are Chevys and Dodges running around, as well. All conversions.

Pretty sure dodge actually made 4wd vans. Lemme check...

Nope, It was Gm / Chevy.

That's what Wikipedia says anyway.

fasted58 wrote: Aha!, first one I ever seen was around '81 in a Chevy conversion van. First thought was why not stick axle, that had to take a E36 M3 load of work for basically no gain in ground clearance and there were quite a few contractors running the Quadravans to work sites, so not uncommon. Later found out that Chevy owner was handicapped and had a chair lift installed as well. Worked out well for that guy.

I figured it was so they didn't need to jack the thing up to the sky to fit the diff under the engine.

In reply to dculberson:

The Ford vans have the engine offset way towards the passenger side, to such a degree I wouldn't doubt it if a typical driver side offset stick axle would clear it.