bkrunaway
Well-known member
Hi everyone,
I've been lurking on craigslist a while now and I am ready to finally make a move! I have a few vans to choose from, each of which would need a different level of work. Would appreciate input on the vans and m[size=small]y approach in general.[/size]
Plan: I will be building out the inside to travel in for a few months during warm weather (for now). Bed, stove, composting toilet, simple solar set up, outside solar shower. I would like to be able to stand comfortably so I will add a high top if the van I get does not have one (I have a body shop near me that does them). I like windows, but feel less willing to install them, and more willing to spend my money on a high top. I have a soft spot for the look of vans from the late 80's and early 90's, especially Chevys, but can be pursuaded otherwise.
Terrain: City travel and camping on national parks and BLM land. Ability to drive on bumpy dirt roads would be great. Driving on sand would be a treat, but we can't have everything we want now can we?
1995 Ford e350 - 110k - $2500
https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/6114324726.html
https://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/6074682230.html
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/6080252255.html
https://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/cto/6109164587.html
https://toledo.craigslist.org/rvs/6031712639.html
I've been lurking on craigslist a while now and I am ready to finally make a move! I have a few vans to choose from, each of which would need a different level of work. Would appreciate input on the vans and m[size=small]y approach in general.[/size]
Plan: I will be building out the inside to travel in for a few months during warm weather (for now). Bed, stove, composting toilet, simple solar set up, outside solar shower. I would like to be able to stand comfortably so I will add a high top if the van I get does not have one (I have a body shop near me that does them). I like windows, but feel less willing to install them, and more willing to spend my money on a high top. I have a soft spot for the look of vans from the late 80's and early 90's, especially Chevys, but can be pursuaded otherwise.
Terrain: City travel and camping on national parks and BLM land. Ability to drive on bumpy dirt roads would be great. Driving on sand would be a treat, but we can't have everything we want now can we?
1995 Ford e350 - 110k - $2500
https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/6114324726.html
- This is the responsible choice. Less work to finish because the seller has done a lot of work inside. He built a bed, it has the high top and has a good amount of windows. The seller is very responsive, and I found a place to get it checked out near by. Honestly, it just looks sort of boring. Maybe something a paint job could fix?
- From the seller via text: "Insulation vents well, and has vapor barrier. Fan is two direction fantastic. Theres really no rust under it, surprisingly clean for a ny vehicle.There was one spot that was soft on the van floor. So i cut it out and replaced it and por15'd everything i could. Thats the only spot i saw. As for history im pretty sure im the 3rd owner. It started life in Rensselaer as an old person shuttle, then in 2008 i think, it sold to the guy before me. He used it to tow furniture to Florida and up the coast and put about 60,000 miles on it if i remember right.He kept all those records which i should have somewhere. Mechanically its 99%. It has a small oil drip (about a drop a day) from oil pan. And it needs tires very soon. I think i cooked the battery at some point but i have a spare. Also the rear AC doesnt work, but front does. Beyond that everything works great! As for the plastic, i started building it to drive to alaska. So i spent a cold night in it. I found out that condensation builds from the warm humid air inside hitting the cold metal. My fear was the insulation would get moist and mold as a result. So i put a vapor barrier between the insulation and van.”
- Pictures from inside are attached to this post.
https://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/6074682230.html
- This is the van I want, but it is more than I want to spend considering I would want to add a higher top. Somehow it still ended up on this list (she's just so gorgeous). I appreciated everyone's input on the 4x4 in my previous thread.
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/6080252255.html
- I would have to add a high top, and start from the beginning inside. It's a good looking van though.
https://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/cto/6109164587.html
- Same as above re: needing to gut and add high top. Seller has not been responsive, and I am curious as to why it is so cheap. Very close to me.
https://toledo.craigslist.org/rvs/6031712639.html
- Windows - check, High top - check. Cool looking van. A bit old and also about 8 hours away from me by car.
- From the seller in an email: "i hade the block bored 10 over not thirty. wanted to make seal had a good seal. like i said there are less than 3 thousand miles on it. i had the motor built for power because we used to go to the akive fwstival in ohio and i pulled a trailer behind it. it has a hitch on the back of it. i have all the paperwork for work done on block. l ost the papers for the work i had done on the heads. i had hardened seats intalled and a small hydraulic cam put in. the transmission was built by jim buehler.. no ac and no power steering, new brakes all around. you really have to see it to , words mean nothing. ithas dual exhaust with headers. just has a starter put in. gets about 15 t0 17 0n the highway. maybe a little more.The transmission was rebuilf the same time that the ehgine and heads were done. the best thing to do if you are in the area is to stop and look at it. this will take you anywhere you want to go."
