i've liked 4x4ing forever but i've never really ever been into vans I was wondering if they were worth a damn on the trail?  

They're basically the same as trucks underneath, so the only difference is the roof clearance and the fact they are a little top-heavy  

I've seen idiots, er I mean crazy guys rock crawling in vans before.  Let me tell you that everything is worth a damn on the trail it just depends on if you care about damage, and what type of wheeling you do.  Heck a Minivan is fine if the only wheeling you do is speed bumps.  Just be ready for the larger size and higher center of gravity with a van.  Otherwise send us an email when you are hitting the trail, because we love watching crazy guys.  

they generaly have a better weight distrobution than trucks, and you can always fit more people to share the fun with. I have seen a fullsize 2wd van running the sand dunes in michigan a couple of times  

I used to have a 1966 Volkswagon microbus with stock portal axles and a single port 1500 engine.I took it off road quite a bit and it was a blast. It had low gears and good ground clearance and did pretty good for such a low powered rig. It had good articulation with the torsion beam front suspension and rear independent swing arms. Whenever I got up on two opposite wheels (ie. right front and left rear)and experenced wheel spin (no lockers) I would yell "back of the bus!" and my passangers would run to the rear side that was in the air and the bus would tilt so both rear wheels where back in contact with the ground and away we would go!

The major drawbacks to old VW buses are :NO front driver/passenger protection. Your butt is directly over the front wheels. The front bumper with tube overrides was fairly stout but your feet and legs are inches from the one layer of sheet metal between you and anything you collide with. In case of a wreck the driver and front passenger are ALWAYS the first on the scene.

The other drawback is that early VW buses are not cheep anymore. I bought mine from a hippy chick who using it as a storage building.I offered her $150.00 and she literally jumped for joy!  A battery,tune up,valve adjustment ,oil change,and a set of tires and I was truckin'. That bus took me and my friends to lots of concerts and camping trips and was rated as a 3/4 ton. That was 1978 . Today that same bus would be more likely found in a car show than a trailer park.

Today for cheep thrills with lots of room look for a used Broncho,Blazer, 4Runner.

Good luck.