Looks to be in good condition and decently maintained. I'm building a low budget rv and figured this to be a good match. Has anyone here done anything similar? How does the 3.0 respond to bolt ons? What is the highest highway mpg you guys are getting? Thanks in advance!

 

wikipedia is a good source on aerostars.

 

Just because it's a 97 doesn't mean it has a five speed. My 97 has a four speed. Only the 4 liter got the five speed.

Well there was a post above mine stating that a 97 would have the five speed transmission. Guess it got removed.

 

you want the 3.0 liter if you want decent mileage on the highway. I have owned two 3.0 and the mileage was excellent, then I went to a 4.0 and mileage is only two-thirds of the 3.0 if not less, even with the overdrive transmission. Stick with the 4-speed tranny and the 3.0.

what do you mean by "bolt ons"?

 

The only bolt on is a bigger alternator off of an Explorer, tranny cooler, PS cooler. Otherwise general maintenance is what you can do to improve performance.

In 97 the 3.0L had the 4R55e tranny, which did give better millage over the A4LD trans.

As for interior, all that you have is your imagination and ingenuity.

 

Aerostar as RV? Epic fail.
There are several problems as illustrated by the follow pics, from Glacier National Park.

1) Aerostar is way too small for an RV mission. Just not enough volume. Inorder to accomplish even a basic RV task you first have to empty the van of all cargo.



2) Aerostar has way too little head room. In the following pic, the breakfast customer is all of 5 ft 4, sitting is the smallest of chairs, and still brushing the ceiling. And reviewing point #1, I'm having to stand outside to command the grill, tail gate style, after I've first emptied the van of cargo.



3) Acknowledging that RV's typically end up in high altitude back country, the 3L engine is way under-powered for this mission.

Instead I would suggest you look to something like the Ford Club Wagon as a starting point for the mini-RV fanasty.

 

When I clicked on the Ford Club Wagon, got an Amazon page. Depends on the number who are in the truck RV'ing, your budget, your willingness to make it work to your comfort. The pictures shown show a bunch of stuff that may not be needed to camp and sleep in your van and still enjoy the outdoors.

BRGDS,

p.

 

You'll know it when you see it.
Same trip, Three Island Crossing state park, Idaho.
Note the headroom and cargo capacity.