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There's a company out of the Boston area that actually retrofits a hybrid system into standard production vans. http://www.thedrive.com/news/21035/xl-provides-hybrid-and-electric-retrofits-for-commercial-vehicles It's pricey and intended for fleet use, but that's one way to do it.

I hope that’s the case this time!

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT intend this to be a political post. Just the facts, ma’am. That said, politics have led to President Trump imposing a 30% tariff on imported solar panels. This will likely affect those of us who are still building out out dwellings and looking to install a solar system.

Nope, just a van and a pickup truck in the commercial area. No engines.

Neat. I reviewed the Energica Ego, but I doubt it’s what most have in mind! A Honda Grom or similar bike is what I’m thinking.

I’ve pondered a wheelchair van for similar reasons. Great way to get a hi-top. I’ve pondered keeping the lift to use with a small motorcycle to store it inside. Not sure I want to give up that space though! Can always remove the lift too.

I just got home from the New England International Auto Show (press preview FTW) and made it a point to crawl all over and inside the latest Chevy Express. No real changes, though I wonder how long it will be until GM follows Ford and Ram's lead in offering a more European approach to vans...

Electric is inevitable. We just need a robust charging infrastructure first (think Tesla Superchargers everywhere with even faster charging than possible today). In many ways, they're much simpler and easier to work on because there are so few parts, just a motor or two (or four?), a big...

The one concern I hear about one-ton vans like the 3500 is that some insurance companies automatically consider them commercial rather than personal vans and require commercial insurance. I don't mean to derail the OP's question, but has anyone actually had this experience?

As a fellow rider, it pains me to see another rider sell their bike to make ends meet. But seeing as how we're both here, I also understand why. Part of my long-term plan includes a Honda Grom sized bike that can ride on a receiver hitch rack. :)

I can’t speak to the Express, but I have many miles under my belt in Ford V6 E-150 and V8 Club Wagon vans doing delivery work. The V6 made enough power for my travels around Maine, but not more than an adequate amount. The V8 always had plenty of power for whatever I wanted to do. BUT, the V6...

Thanks to all for the kind words and great advice. It’s not the first time I’ve been accused of seeing the world too black and white, but it’s true, and you were right to call me on that. Turns out it’s much ado about nothing. Once I mentioned my plan for a large pull-out bed that shrinks into...

I'd be up for that. My antenna is hanging low right now but it tunes up fine. I'll fix it in the spring. (I need Bowlmaker's line shooter!) We don't necessarily need a mod/net control. But if we want one, we can do that. I'm thinking it would be a really laid back net regardless.

Wandering Canuck, if it was simple as casting off material possessions and jobs I’d already be doing it. When it comes to throwing away my relationship with the most amazing woman I’ve ever known, I can’t do that. Not lightly at any rate. I do genuinely appreciate your advice though.

So, so true. And I do have troubles between my ears as well, and vandwelling won’t fix them any more than my many other major life changes have. But those adventures have taught me that vandwelling might be a good option for me. If I’d discovered it a few years ago, before my wife and I got...

Like I wrote in my intro, I’m seeing many aspects of my past - influences, experiences,  personality quirks - that seem to be leading me toward van life. I have the skills and confidence and even a job I could work from anywhere with an internet connection. I’m currently tied down in a house...

Neat! Back in the day I contacted the Mir space station with my regular base station, 45 watts and an omnidirectional vertical antenna. I can hear the ISS on a handheld radio easily. Now I may have to go try AO-91 from the car!

I drove two Ford vans at an old job. The E250 has a harsh ride like you said. But the E150 didn’t. The heavy duty suspension trade-off is the harsh ride. Back on topic, I want that extra 3 feet or so, for sure.

Another place to look would be re-enactor suppliers - Civil War, SCA, etc. People in many of these groups camp in large canvas tents. Though impractical for a van dweller, the stakes often used to tie these down are much beefier than your average tent stake. Many are about the rebar size you're...

What the inspector doesn't know won't hurt you, right? :D I have to do the same to my VW Jetta pickup truck conversion. The donor car had side curtain airbags that I had to remove since half the interior got cut away. Now my airbag light is on, despite having hooked up the relocated inflators...