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fredcdobbs

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<p><span id=":16n"><a class="e" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?u...p;attid=0.1&amp;disp=inline&amp;safe=1&amp;zw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img class="hv bbc_img" alt="photo.JPG" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?u...7ae3132f9d3&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=thd&amp;zw"></a><span id=":16n"><a class="e" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?u...p;attid=0.1&amp;disp=inline&amp;safe=1&amp;zw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img class="hv bbc_img" alt="photo.JPG" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?u...7bf2116c003&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=thd&amp;zw"></a><span id=":16n"><a class="e" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?u...p;attid=0.1&amp;disp=inline&amp;safe=1&amp;zw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img class="hv bbc_img" alt="photo.JPG" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?u...7c8cabe7d7d&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=thd&amp;zw"></a><span id=":16n"><span id=":16n"><a class="e" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?u...p;attid=0.1&amp;disp=inline&amp;safe=1&amp;zw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img class="hv bbc_img" alt="photo.JPG" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?u...7dcfb865f3c&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=thd&amp;zw"></a><span id=":16q"><a class="e" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?u...p;attid=0.1&amp;disp=inline&amp;safe=1&amp;zw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img class="hv bbc_img" alt="photo.JPG" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?u...7fd7a86b734&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=thd&amp;zw"></a><span id=":16n"><a class="e" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?u...p;attid=0.1&amp;disp=inline&amp;safe=1&amp;zw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img class="hv bbc_img" alt="photo.JPG" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?u...7f8c5ea7610&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=thd&amp;zw"></a><br><br>After searching for weeks and losing out on all the great deals out there I found this one on Craigslist. I fell in love with just the photos. It's a 1988 Ford 250 with only 77,000 miles on it. It belonged to an 89 year man who sold it to a couple for $2500 who then had to sell it after only two months because of circumstances. The couple gave me the old man's phone number who verified he had it almost 20 years and kept absolute meticulous care of it. The couple didn't know that the old man told me he sold it to them for $2500. I tried to bring it down but I already knew I had to have it and gave them the $3000. They had a million calls on it and I was lucky #2. #1 couldn't come through.&nbsp;It drives like a dream and seems to be in almost perfect mechanical condition. I am going to have it detailed in and out. the only rough part about this van is the faded paint, with some rust on the hood. Otherwise it's perfect. Today after taking these photos I went to Camping World and installed a Fantastic Fan and tomorrow they will install the Fantastic Vent cover over it so I can have it open all the time. I included photos of the top because I'd like feedback about my plans to put on as much solar panel wattage as possible on top. It has no generator and I want to be completely independent and free from needing outside power. I want to install a minimum of 240 watts of solar panels. What do you all think? Is it possible? As you can see it still has the old Delta antenna which I will remove, but am not sure whether I should replace it with an up to date antenna, like the Jack antenna, or just reserve the space in case I need additional wattage. This is really exciting. I have following all your posts here and especially at Vandwellers. I may post this there also. Sorry for the rant but this is now my moment. I will move into it no later than the end of August and will be mostly in urban Los Angeles. Not much stealth, but what the heck. I had been focusing a lot on stealth but just couldn't find the right van. Installing a high top on a regular van would have cost as much as this van alone cost. It has no hot water so I may spend some bucks to add hot to the current water system. If anyone has recommendations on how to buy and have the solar installed I'd appreciate it. I am not at all confident I can do it correctly so I will likely pay to have it done, but I have no idea what to do, even though I have read many of&nbsp; Bob's blogs on the subject. Because of the excellent mechanical condition and overall condition I plan on spending all the money I'm saving on rent on this rig for the next few months. I figure 6 or 7 months of saved rent should do it (about $6-7K), then I'll feel free. I've had this dream since I was 15 years old, and I am 63 now and recently retired. You have all inspired the heck out of me. Every one of your stories has propelled me onward. Part of my preparation to move into this van is getting rid of the last of my unnecessary possessions. Fortunately in anticipation of this move I had already gotten rid of about 80-90% of my junk already in the last 2-3 years. I can hardly wait.<br><br><br>Note: see posted pics below<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
 
<P><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Hi Fred,</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Though I can not see your pictures it sounds like you got a pretty good buy there. It won't be long before you can hit the road now. That truck sounds like its been well looked after from day one.</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">There's plenty advice on fitting up a good solar/battery installation on this forum. My advice is to read everything you can on the subject deciding how much power you will honestly use per day and size your batteries, solar panels accordingly allowing for losses.</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Cheers Geoff&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"><IMG class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"><BR></SPAN></STRONG></EM></P>
 
Don't know what happened with pics. It showed as posted on my end. I'll try again tomorrow. I'm on my iPhone right now.
 
&nbsp;I'm not sure if these photos come through. Some show up sided down on my side. Sorry.<br><br><br><img class="bbc_img" src="https://mail-attachment.googleuserc...10859192&amp;sads=AL-DIsMBkZHPvP4tpASx6VrLx1o" rel="lightbox"><img class="bbc_img" src="https://mail-attachment.googleuserc...sads=MlSVbiGUm0fH1S5XR8LQI-y600A&amp;sadssc=1" rel="lightbox"><img class="bbc_img" src="http://https//mail-attachment.googl...10542465&amp;sads=URnlsHv6oy2fl1w0kUv0iKJpgu4" rel="lightbox"><img class="bbc_img" src="https://mail-attachment.googleuserc...10608963&amp;sads=iLv3bj7nBZiVdYkye1hTzFp-7L8" rel="lightbox">
 
CONGRATS Fred, would love to see photos of it. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce
 
Upload the images to a site like&nbsp;imgur.com as we can't view your gmail attachments.
 
<a href="" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a><br><br>Did this one come out? Someone post and let me know if it came through and I'll post more photos.
 
I see it - had to click on link though.... blue and white get away van. Nice!
 
<br><a href="" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a><br><a href="" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a><br><a href="" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://i.imgur.com/mvbhQ0k.jpg</a><br><br>I'm just getting the hang of how to post pics. Thanks NeedAnEscape for the heads-up on imgur.
 
Looks like ya did reallly good!&nbsp; Very comfortable looking.
 
Fredcdobbs, <br><br>Very nice rig, seems like it was worth the wait. <br><br>Whishing you lots of great adventures.<br><br>Nicole<br><br>
 
Looks good now that I can see it. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce <br>fredcdobbs van<br>
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Bruce, you did what I couldn't do. How do you post here so pictures come out without having to link?
 
<EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Yep. I can see it now. Looks a treat. Nice van. Geoff</SPAN></STRONG></EM>
 
Smooth lookin' drive! Since I was a major budget I got to choose between 'small and fast(ish) or comfortable and sloooooow ( I took the slow option:)&nbsp; Excellent buy!
 
Fred, I sent you a PM (Private Message) to try and explain how to post a photo. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce
 

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