1988 Champion Transvan

[panamax4]

Hi all. Looking for the forum's opinion on this 1988 Ford Champion Transvan I will be going to take a look at this afternoon. The pictures make the van look very clean and likely remodeled but, the price seems very high. I will be using the van to live in full-time and would like to drive it from Texas to Alaska and back down to Baja, with extended one month plus stops along the way. I plan to have the van inspected before I buy, if the process gets that far. Any ideas on price and other opinions are appreciated.

https://austin.craigslist.org/rvd/5748422684.html

 

[cyndi]

That looks a sweet, seemingly well cared for rig.

The price seems high on a rig that old. Have you checked the NADA guide for value? http://www.nadaguides.com/RVs

They've got a couple of bad reviews (3) on google and one good review.Personally, I prefer to deal with private sellers.

The low mileage is something I would be cautious of. The odometer may have rolled over. Or the vehicle may have done a lot of just sitting.

Good luck!

 

[panamax4]

My thoughts exactly. I am assuming the mileage has rolled over and will price the vehicle accordingly. I am not able to find the exact model in the NADA guides and its hard to price properly because the vehicle is in much better shape than any old ads I can find. Im pretty certain it has been completely remodeled inside and out.

 

[Headache]

The remodel job in that interior is at least half the price easily. I've noticed that as emission regulations get more stringent the price of vehicles passed the testing age that are in good condition go up. I would definitely have a mechanic go over that running train with a fine toothed comb. As decent as the interior looks it doesn't put the stop and go in your wheels. I have no idea why but I always develop a bit of caution when someone puts out an ad like that with all the description and pics and doesn't include any of the bathroom. A pet peeve perhaps.

 

[panamax4]

Great info. Here is a link to more photos with a bathroom shot: http://www.pricedrightaustin.com/inventory/1988-champion-transvan-class-b-rv .

 

[Headache]

Well I guess that blip of the toilet is better than nothing!

As you probably know, dealers hike the price up a bit more than private sales because they try to get buyers to overly compensate them for their overhead and refurbishing/detailing costs of the vehicle. If they make $1000 per vehicle for business expenses and sell 10 vehicles a month...that's $10,000 a month. If it's a small lot that's a lot of money!

For a TransVan if it's been completely refurbished(including water and waste tanks, plumbing, updated electrical) and there's still life in that 460 it's not a "bad" price. Find out of there's a warranty and what it covers if there is. I can almost guarantee that if you offered $7000 they'd act offended but you can try it, or go in at $7250 to blunt it a bit and slowly dicker up from there. On one hand they know they have a unique vehicle and anyone looking at it is doing so for a purpose. It's not like going to look at a car. On the other it's older which puts a little price leverage in your court. Bottom line they know they will be able to sell it because it's a class B. It really depends on what your willing to pay if you decide you want it. If you're okay with the price you decide on whatever any of us say doesn't matter.

I'm a cheap ass and don't need all that vinyl with a cat and dog in tow but it does look nice. Good luck in your search!

 

[panamax4]

Again, great info. Thank you. I guess I should add that I believe the van has been there about a month and the price hasn't changed.

 

[29chico]

IIRC 1988 is the first year of across the board fuel injection on their truck/van line.  Fuel injection would be a big plus as it would make that Ford 460 v8 less thirsty.  Upgrade the fuel injectors to the Bosch gen 3 series and advance the ignition timing a bit and mileage and performance will increase from bad to poor or possibly not so bad.

However, an RV chassis can be a few years earlier than the year that it is listed on the title as what matters is what year the coach installer finishes with the rig.

If you get to having it inspected, have the mechanic determine if it has the C6 trans or the E4OD trans.
The C6 is a three speed and is highly touted as being the best auto trans ever made.  Cheap to repair also.
The E4OD is a three speed with overdrive unit and is known to be problematical and expensive to repair/update correctly.

It does look like it might be a good find.

 

[ArtW]

panamax let us know what you decide, I might be interested if you aren't,but I am not going to contact them unless you say you decided you don't want it, you saw it first

 

[panamax4]

IIRC 1988 is the first year of across the board fuel injection on their truck/van line.  Fuel injection would be a big plus as it would make that Ford 460 v8 less thirsty.  Upgrade the fuel injectors to the Bosch gen 3 series and advance the ignition timing a bit and mileage and performance will increase from bad to poor or possibly not so bad.

However, an RV chassis can be a few years earlier then the year that it is listed on the title as what matters is what year the coach installer finishes with the rig.

If you get to having it inspected, have the mechanic determine if it has the C6 trans or the E4OD trans.
The C6 is a three speed and is highly touted as being the best auto trans ever made.  Cheap to repair also.
The E4OD is a three speed with overdrive unit and is known to be problematical and expensive to repair/update correctly.

It does look like it might be a good find.

Fantastic info. I am hoping for fuel injection and an engine that runs well.

 

[panamax4]

panamax let us know what you decide, I might be interested if you aren't,but I am not going to contact them unless you say you decided you don't want it, you saw it first

I am on my way to check it out in about an hour. I will report back either way. Thanks for the warning.

 

[ArtW]

hahaha not a warning, I will only inquire if you DON"T want it, thanks
ask about financing, LOL

 

[Headache]

The E4OD is a three speed with overdrive unit and is known to be problematical and expensive to repair/update correctly.

The E4 OH DEAD came out in 1989 so unless purposely swapped out that van shouldn't have one.

 

[29chico]

The E4 OH DEAD came out in 1989 so unless purposely swapped out that van shouldn't have one.

Yep, I'm aware of that.  With just one year off it is prudent for me to suggest that the OP check and make sure.  After all, the first years were the worst for the E4 OH DEAD (like that term).

An EFI 460 and C6 would make for a very solid drivetrain if it had been properly maintained.

 

[Headache]

Indeed that would be a good build. I really liked the C6. As far as the E4OD, unless it was purposely used as a replacement(which of course the OP should make sure due to possible swaps) the van couldn't have come with one because they weren't installed in vans of that model year. Sorry I wasn't more clear about what I meant on that.

 

[panamax4]

I checked the van out this afternoon. It was mostly as expected, meaning not quite as nice as the pictures but pretty close.The "tile" back splash is just cheap glue on vinyl and is coming off in places, likely due to Texas summer temperatures. Everything seems to be working very well and the van ran well. The transmission has been replaced but i didnt crawl under to check things out because of muddy ground. The fact that the tranny on this trannyvan has been replaced leads me to believe that the mileage is indeed 168,xxx rather than 68000. I got a pretty good vibe from the lot owner and he said the lowest he could go is $8750. I dont think I could do that much for a nearly 30 year old van with 168,xxx miles on it, however clean it may be. I will be offshore for all of next week with time to think about it, but the owner said it may go on ebay this weekend. Ill just have to see how things pan out.

 

[cyndi]

If he won't go lower than 8,500, it should still be there when you get back

Here's one in Cali, where everything is more expensive, for $4500.
http://www.boatsandcycles.com/rvs-f...-trans-van-weldon-california-93283-759583.asp

 

[panamax4]

If he won't go lower than 8,500, it should still be there when you get back

Here's one in Cali, where everything is more expensive, for $4500.
http://www.boatsandcycles.com/rvs-f...-trans-van-weldon-california-93283-759583.asp

Thats my thought. Will see what the ebay auction does.

 

[rvpopeye]

The 68K sounds believable , many RVs only get used a few times a year and just sit the rest of the time.My 81 only had 62K in '09.

 

[panamax4]

I agree but, a new transmission at 68k is harder to believe.