Baby step--Giant leap vehicle?

[ORANGE]

Well in another post I said how I will have to scrap or sell very cheap my van.  The cost of repair NOT gonna be worth it.  It is a plain old van.

But maybe this is fortuitous!  With my CFS condition that Im not so hardy, if I can have a vehicle to sleep in/ make into a nomad over time then it may be the most frugal thing of all!  If I cant manage it at all over time, I can still sell it as is. Or if it is a vehicle for just normal driving around keep that as is until it falls apart.

I was thinking 5-6k.  But I CAN do 7k.  BUT I cant think of thousand + in repairs the first year.  So it would have to be good shape.

What thoughts would you have for me?   
I am 5ft 5in

A gaint car I can lay down flat in I dunno, a lincoln continental lol?!
A truck with a cab to sleep in?
Could I afford a smal conversion van?
A bigger roomy passenger van gutted?
A standard van?

Yup I was "stuck" with the van I had if I could make a go of it, but the crawling around in it I was advised before here, would not be good for such low energy/poor health.
So here I have an openended what do YOU think would work best for me since I will be buying something! And can chose to get what you think would work best!!
I got lucky with the Coleman tent choice. I better wait for comments to come in about a vehicle!!

Thank you

 

[ckelly78z]

You need a vehicle with a dedicated bed where you can crash in when necessary without assembly, or crawling through. A nice conversion van with a swivel captains chair, and an already made up bed in the back would fit the bill.

There are many of these older vans that have plush interiors with fairly low miles, that are built on a 1/2 ton frame (same as a full size pickup truck), that will last for years, and be about the cheapest vehicle to fix with very common parts.

This one popped up in my local CL;
https://columbus.craigslist.org/ctd/d/columbus-2001-ford-e150/6922254614.html

 

[geogentry]

Orange

Find I know the mechanic to get an estimate. It shouldn't cost more than $400 to $500 to get that brake line fixed.

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[highdesertranger]

4-500 is even pretty outrageous. I understand the shop needs to show a profit but that ridiculous. highdesertranger

 

[regis101]

Another way to look at what vehicle to get is to apply that 5-6k as a down payment on something even newer than expected and keep the payments low. A quick look is that a 10k vehicle with 3k down is in the 150/mth range at 60/mths. Just sayin'

 

[ORANGE]

Thanks highdesertranger,

I will call around monday and see about getting repaired if it is that much. I can still drive it somewhere with care and brake fluid at hand to fill.

I was also wrong about the year it is a 2001.

I did have a couple brake lines replaced a year ago. Why they didnt replace all, or why this one should cost so mch---yes, Id rather repair at 500, as that could give me more time to decide on a next purchase.

Looking online this past hour I see Kia Soul, Honda Fit, Hatchbacks, all good with gas, and accomadating a 5ft5 inch female to sleep.

 

[geogentry]

4-500 is even pretty outrageous. I understand the shop needs to show a profit but that ridiculous. highdesertranger

I agree. But my recent experience with my gas tank makes me believe everybody's trying to get rich. Depending on where I went they wanted in the thousand dollar range to fix my gas tank. Do it myself cost me $225. But I got to agree with you $1,200 for a brake line is absolutely insane.

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[maki2]

I have both chronic fatigue and chronic pain and have had that since 1983. I manage to get things done despite that. The trick is to work in short increments of time such as 20 minutes then rest, then 10 minutes if that is all you can do. Remember exercise is a critical need for people with chronic fatigue, so sometimes you just have to push yourself through it or you absolutely will continue to go downhill instead of getting any improvement. Think of working on projects as going to the gym to get healthier. Weight lifters have to push past the point of muscle exhaustion to get improvements in ability and so do you. But of course there is a balance to such things. Just like a weight lifter you do need to take days of rest between intense workout days. I will push for 2 or 3 days then take a lazy day. Slow and steady wins the race.

I have a Honda Element and a small fiberglass travel trailer. The Element on its own is a good camping car but because I make things to supplement my income I like having additional work space. I also carry a popup shelter to expand my living/working space when in a location where I am going to be stationary for a while. I bought both the vehicle and the trailer used. The vehicle was lightly used but at a very steep discount because the interior had been scratched up by a nervous dog. So mechanically sound, just cosmetic issues, such vehicle are out there, be patient if you can take that much time. The travel trailer needed a new interior as well as some exterior patching but I have the skills and a place to do that work. I don't have the budget to do it all at once but I make improvements on it as I have the funds and the energy and when the weather is right. Sometimes all three things coincide