Opinions on Vans as capable4WDs

I  am  planning  to  build  a  4WD  van  as  soon  as  I  can  get  everything  together  to  start  to  working  on  it.  It  seems  to  me  that  there  doesn't  seem  to  enough  respect  or  bigtime  attention  for  the  van  as  jeeps  or  any  other  SUV. People  seem  to  ignore  them  as  capable 4WDs  because  they  are  too  hard  to  work  on  or  because  people  see  them  as  unsafe  because  of  the  way  they  turn  and  it  causes  rollovers.  I  think  that  this  goes  against  what  building  a four wheel drive  vehicle  is    all  about  that  getting  out  on  the  trail  and be  able  to  hold  its  own  by  building  it  so  it  can  be  something  that  is  built  by  anyone  that  isn't  afraid  of  a  little  hard  work.  When  we  don't  like  how  something  works  or  parts  break  aren't  we  better  for  it  because  it  helps  to  make  any  4WD  better?  Isn't  that  four  wheeling  is  all  about-  making  a  vehicle  better  so  we  can  get  out  there  and  have  fun  and  learn  new  skills  as  mechanics  and  people  who  like  to  get  there  and  explore  the  great  outdoors?  People  shouldn't  look  at  the  van  because  of  the  bad  things  but  instead  the  good  things,  which  are  lots  of  room  to  haul  camping  supplies,  spare  parts  and  people  who  have  never  been  four  wheeling  before  so  that  they  can  get  out  and  see  the  great  outdoors.  They  also  have  the  same  engines,  rear  suspensions and  rear  axles  that  trucks  have.  It  shouldn't  be  hard  to  bolt  up  a  4WD  transmission  and  transfer  case  an  get  a  couple  of  driveshafts  made.  Yes  the  front  suspension  and  steering  are  definitly  a  challenge  but  hey  it's  not  like  it  hasn't  been  done  before  right?  I  would  love  nothing  more  than  to  build  one  and  get  it  out  onto  the  trail  or  any  four  wheeling  event  so  that  people  might  see  that  vans  are  more  than  the  black  sheep  of 4WDs  that  gets  the  brunt  of  everyones  stereotypes.  Thanks to  anyone  out  there  for  taking  the  time  to  even  look  at  this.  Any  replies  good,  bad  or  indifferent  to  this  would  be  greatly  appreciated.  

Check out Quigly conversions, they made them back in the day. I just saw one on craiglist that I'll post up in a few.  
Trucks...
1989 150(200k) 33 inch hawgs and a blown 302.
1995 Pathfinder(178k)and still going with 31s.189k and blown tranny.

http://duluth.craigslist.org/cto/2813033810.html

They got solid front axles, usally dana 44s.  
Trucks...
1989 150(200k) 33 inch hawgs and a blown 302.
1995 Pathfinder(178k)and still going with 31s.189k and blown tranny.

The  van  that  I  am  going  to  build  is  a  89  Econoline250  with  a
injected  300  that  I  bought  from  the  junkyard  for  $650.  I  had a  key  made  for  $85  and  dropped  a  battery  in  and  jumped  it  off  the  solenoid  because  of  a  bad  relay  switch  but  it  started  right  off  on  the  FIRST  TRY!!!!!!  Unfortunately  I  couldn't  drive  it  because  the  back  brakes  had  gotten  stuck  and  the  rear  wheels  wouldn't  roll  so  one  of  the  forklift
operators  at  the  junkyard  smashed  my  oil  pan  and  busted  off  a  good  enough  sized  piece  of  the  bellhousing  so  it  won't  hold  tranny  fluid.  I  found  a  C-6  4WD  tranny  and  transfer  case  out  of  a  89-91F250  that  had  been  rebuilt  and  the  owner  junked  the  truck  because  of  bad  fuel  injectors  for  the  351.  I  only  paid  $200  without  having  to  give  the  junkyard  a  core!!!!  I  am  still  looking  for  a  Dana60  front  axle-  I  refuse  anything  else  up  front  because  I'm  going  to build  this  van  right  the  first  time.  I  also  plan  to  throw  the  rusted  to  hell  nebraska  body  out  on  its  ass  as  soon  I  get  all  the  parts  together  and  I  intend  to  rhino  line  the  body  before  it's  put  on  the  frame.  This  body  is  going  to  be  protected  from  the  10tons  of  salt  we  get  every  time  it  snows   from  the  morons  at  the  nebraska  roads  department  won't  get  the  chance  to  chew  it  apart!!!!!  I  have  one  from  Oregon  here  that  has  not  even  half  the  rust  of  the  original  body!  The  only  other  thing  I'm  looking  to  get  before  I  start  putting  it  together  as  a  4WD  is  a  full  float  rear  out  a  Econoline.  My  stock  axle  isn't.  I  also  have  some  other  modifications  for  the  body  but  for  right  now  I  just  want  to  make  it  driveable  so  I  get  an  idea  of  what  it's   really  capable  of  so  I  can  eventually  make  into  a  force  to  be  reckoned  with!  

If you want to build a 4x4 van, I'm 100% for it! It doesnt matter what other people think as long as YOU like it. Make sure to post pic's of the build, good luck.  

Thanks  for  the  comment.  Right  now  the  biggest  problem  stopping  me  is  getting  the  money  together  to  start.  Not  to  be  stupid  but  I've  only  put  up  a  couple  of  posts.  How  do  you  put  up  pictures  and  you  can  put
up  videos  as  well?  I  will  put  up  all  progress  on the  build  as  soon  as
I  start.  

To begin with I'm not a computer wiz, but I download my pic's on to photobucket then copy them from there and paste them here. Hopefully someone else will give you better instructions.  

Thank  you  any  way  that  I  can  get  pictures  up  works  for  me!