Cost of owning/repairing

[athousandtimes]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum, just posted a little intro in the newcomers thread but can give a little info here again.

My girlfriend and I are thinking about buying a van for our next adventure. We've already spent time traveling around, first in my car, mainly staying in cheap/free campground in the Southwest USA, and then in her 4Runner throughout the PNW and BC, where we camped in campgrounds, but also slept in the back in cities/towns/National Forest/BLM/Wal Mart etc. We'd love to get an extended cargo van and get some more space for ourselves and our toys, and be a little more stealthy, but are not sure if it's in the budget.

We're looking to buy a van (probably Ford) with 130k or less miles, '97 or newer, w/ maintenance records and no red flags. I've seen vans on craigslist that may fit this for around $5000. I know things will go wrong sooner or later, and will budget for repairs, but how much have you guys ended up spending on repairs/maintenance over the years? How large should our rainy day fund be? Enough to cover engine/transmission/+ more? Thanks for any advice!

 

[Lucky mike]

your rainy day fund should be 3 months of living expense... so that being said...working it up to 4k.

I live on a set a budget.....I never exceed it...(I'm ly'ing) but I make sure each area of the budget gets its portion.....when the end of the month rolls around and there is leftover from last months budget , it goes into the emergency budget which helps it grow.

problems always happen at the worst times so something has to be there or your going down quick !

I dont think there is one person out here that hasnt flown by the seat of there pants and learned the hard way...........this lifestyle has been good to me almost all days.....and a couple of times slammed me to the ground!!!.............plan ahead or pay the piper!!!

 

[Van-Tramp]

Older vans will be cheaper to purchase and cheaper to maintain/repair. My van is a 1989 Dodge (did have EFI). I got it, with a good conversion already built in, for $3400 back in 2010. I rarely see anything like this on Craig's List for less than $5000 now, but keep looking.

Obviously, try to get an engine with fuel injection, but the older it is the better in my eyes (to a point). My van has undergone some minor repairs, such as brake calipers. To use the brakes as the example, the calipers for my 1989 van on www.RockAuto.com goes for between $9 and $20. A 1999 Dodge van brake caliper costs between $35 an $80 depending on brand. A 2003 model caliper goes for $40 to $105.

Old does not necessarily mean "bad". My ex-wife purchased a brand new 2002 Trail Blazer (in 2002) and it is no longer running as of 2013. My Mother's brand new Mini Cooper didn't last 50,000 miles (my van has 130k). My 1989 van has continued to run with no more than routine maintenance while they both had to buy a new vehicles.

Sometimes simpler = better. The less moving parts, the less there is to break on you. And of course, you can work on a 1989 Dodge/Ford/Chevy van yourself. Not so much on a 2000+ van of the same makes.

Back to your original question of how much? You should be setting aside enough money each month to purchase a new vehicle (or a major overhaul of your current one) every 3-5 years. So, in my example, I would want to make sure that I have about $5000 set aside to purchase another van at any given moment. If I had just bought my van, I'd want to make sure that I have that amount within 3 years to replace my newly purchased van... 5000 / 36 months = $139 a month set aside. This would cover repairs along the way, or a complete replacement if/when it fails (hopefully giving you at least 3 years of service first). If you can not afford that, you may want to consider downsizing your plans.

 

[akrvbob]

I recommend a 1996 or newer van because you get OBD II. The later into the 2000s the better. The latest generation of engines is better. I like the Chevy 5.3 best and the Ford 5.4 second.

I recommend an emergency fund of $3000. That will buy you a decent used van, a rebuilt transmission or a rebuilt engine. But more is better!
Bob

 

[Zil]

Gee, Bob. Everyone knows Dodge is better.

 

[SoulRaven]

Greetings!

My formula is to buy an older church style high top van, for under $1k or so. They have usually had meticulous maintenance. Mine is a 1982 and now has over 500k miles on it.

Emergency fund large enough to repair/replace it + 3 months living expenses, and you should be covered well.

Keep your interior totally portable, so if you need to replace your van, you can simply move your house into your new van with a minimum of hassles.

I wouldn't own a van newer than a 1990 at this point, that is when they started going downhill.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[steamjam1]

That depends on make and model, your mechanical ability and if you own tools.

If you can do all the maintenance and most of the repairs yourself, then owning a van of most makes and models will be rather inexpensive.

So it mostly boils down to availability/interchangeability/cost of the parts.

 

[athousandtimes]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Steamjam1 - I'm not particularly savvy when it comes to working on autos. I can change the oil and some other simple things, but am probably not gonna be taking on big projects...

The CamperVan_Man - The interior would be pretty portable, a fairly "primitive" set-up.

 

[decodancer]

I've got to put my vote in for older vans. I'm no mechanic I'm a 53 year old woman but have saved a fortune by replacing starters, alternators, etc. It's really just a few bolts on a vehicle that isn't computerized. My current van is a 87 6 cyl. Ford hightop that I got a year ago for $1500. Other than front brakes and a couple of tires, it's been problem free. Had an old Dodge 318 a few years ago and sold it with over 200,000 miles on it and still running.

 

[offroad]

Applying some math averaging and rounding up. Plus you need to think up worst case situations. Throw a rod-piston or burn up transmission in the middle of nowhere highway. What will you do?

Answer - find a towing company to take you out of harms way. And to a van mechanic. Maybe $100 in towing insurance covers that. Get estimate on repair and assume $500 to $1000 best case

But beware!! How can you collect on a repair if 1000 miles away the van breaks down from a repair done poorly. You have to become a mechanic yourself enough to know a great repair from a crappy one. Not easy.

Worst case the repair is $2000 and that is two months after the $1000 repair you just did.

So you are living in your broke down van. While you search Craig's list fir a $5000 replacement.

**************
Bottom line -- you need $10,000 to set yourself up. And another $10,000 worst case survival money

---

I know others will say and do say you need much less. People get by on much less. Maybe half.

I say yes you can suffer if you start out with only $10,000. Put all your stuff in storage and live out of a cheap car with a cheap gym membership while you fix the issue with your $10,000 savings or much less.

 

[Belinda2]

Well said, Offroad. Very well said.

 

[Lucky mike]

I would find it kinda hard to explain how someone would need 20K to start out.......no offense but most out here....Didnt move into the van dwelling mode or RVing because they had 20k just sitting around....

in reality most are surviving and 10k is alot of money....of course I guess you could go to some of the bigger RV forums where million dollar rigs are and all they have to do is call there financial adviser to see how much they have.

 

[steamjam1]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Steamjam1 - I'm not particularly savvy when it comes to working on autos. I can change the oil and some other simple things, but am probably not gonna be taking on big projects...

The CamperVan_Man - The interior would be pretty portable, a fairly "primitive" set-up.

A 1990's dodge van would suit you very well. They are cheap to buy, and you can easily find one with low miles. If you buy a manual and a basic set of tools you can do most of the repairs and maintenance yourself. They are easy to work on, and parts and plentiful and cheap. Even if your out in the boonies and the engine blows, junkyards are full of these vans so a used engines will be very cheap compared to a 2010ish van engine.

 

[offroad]

Would you says buying a van with your last $3000 is a wise move? Or gambling that it's not going to blow a gasket, drop a transmission, throw a rod. When you know nothing about engines at all? Seems like gambling.

 

[wagoneer]

I bought a 2001 E350 7.3 that ran really badly for 3500. as it turns out the injectors generally go for 150k miles and the time had come at 200k so another 3.000 dollars as god as new for another 150 to 200k miles. It's a work/live truck and gets great milage.

 

[offroad]

Try to pull a starter. I can do it at 200 pounds torque and knowing how judge a bolt is stripping or just being stubborn. Yes please gamble as life is a gamble. Just do it.

 

[David]

I just wanted to give a tip. If you are looking at "extended" vans drive one before you buy. I used to have a a few different vans for a floor cleaning service I owned in the past.

The extended vans were nice for the space, but IMO they drove horribly. I don't know if it was just a ford thing or not, but I had both a Chevy & a Dodge regular length cargo van and then two different extended Ford vans and I hated to drive both of the Fords. They had a very sloppy feel on the road and felt unstable.

 

[akrvbob]

While I certainly agree that we should all have an emergency fund the simple truth is many of us can't and don't. I had the choice of live in a cardboard box or live in a van. I found an old POS box van for $1500, (which was every penny I had in the world) so I bought it.

Again, I could live in that van or I could live in a cardboard box, I think I made the right choice. i was lucky and it was virtually trouble free until it blew an engine 3 years later, but by then living in the van had got me back on my feet financially and I had no problem putting a new engine in it.

Every moment of every day, life is a horrible risk!!! The only option is to live in a box in the ground. I can either live in constant fear and terror of what could happen or i can embrace it and live life to it's fullest.

“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of a man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. “ Jack London

“I will not die an unlived life.
I will not live in fear
of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible;
to loosen my heart
until it becomes a wing,
a torch, a promise.
― Dawna Markova,

 

[Lucky mike]

I understand whole heartedly Bob...... Been in the cardboard box , lived under a bridge and have had to find my meal in a dumpster......back then I would have loved a van that didnt run just to call it home!

 

[Belinda2]

Whether forced into it or chosen so we can be free of people or things owning us, it's amazing the grace that we have been given to get through this. It's amazing that we can all chat and all be so close and connected even though we live our daily lives apart. I know you are all the best part of my day, besides my pup, of course.