Hello Everyone! I am new here!

[SHELK]

I am new to the Forum, have seen a bunch of Bob's vids they are way cool... found my way here. 

I am stoked to be saving for my own first Van. Should happen soon. 

No idea what i will end up getting tho. I have looked at conversion vans, & MiniVans... want to see more, nothing has been perfect yet, don't have a huge budget just a big desire to start. 

Looking to start as a part timer, work my way up.

I am a musician in Seattle, so traveling in a van is sort of natural idea. Although i have toured around musically several times, I always stayed in hotels. It always seemed like a waist. 

Anyhow... look forward to getting to know some of you and learn more from all of your experience and adventures! 

I also can't wait to get my van and start getting it ready for future adventures! 

Good times!!!

 

[Beth Owyn]

Waving hi from Kansas, we are new here too and excited as well! Husband is a musician too. Mabey we'll bump into each other someday and have a hootenanny! As much as I embrace the Living for today concept (how Zen.....Be Here Now! ) it does take a certain amount of planning; eh? And then there's that learning curve which can be lessons learned hard too....ugh...good thing we can glean from other's experiences!

 

[Beth Owyn]

And dear Gods yes hotels can wipe out any of your profit real quick!

 

[cyndi]

Welcome to the CRVL forums, Shelk! It's great that you are looking wile you're saving.You learn so much. by the time you have your bankroll you'll have the knowledge to buy successfully and an idea of what is going to work for you.

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[wagoneer]

Welcome you all, lot's of starving artists here, ye gotta sleep somewhere when your on the road, Motels are a waste, and sleeping in the tour bus a definite step up but noisy smoke filled and lousy showers. At the end of my musical career if Motel accommodations were not a part of the package I stayed home it got so bad I insisted on a drum set being a part of the package and just brought my cymbals snare drum and bass drum pedal. Some years back i tried to get a little band going here just never happened.

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forum    

This time of year new vehicle models are being delivered to Dealers,  and Companies Accountants are pulling their Fleet Vans out of service to sell as they approach 5 years of service.  Why ?  Cause they have been written off the books depreciation wise,  so they sell them for whatever they can get out of them and apply that to a new one.

This is when fleeted Vans begin to show up on used car lots.  Often they still have ladder racks on the roof if they were Utility Company Vans (Telephone, Power, Cable, Dish, etc)  And you may find some deals if they haven't been cleaned & detailed yet.  $2K to $3.5K. 

Remember,  often these vehicles may sit idling most of the day.   So if someone who is trying to sell you one stresses the low mileage,  keep that in mind.

As for Fords,  everyone I've talked with doesn't care for the V6 engines....either for dependability or  for the driving performance.  Ok in the inner city delivery route service I guess.  The 351 V8 is better.   I would avoid the Triton engines too.  There are 4 spd auto overdrive transmissions that work well and give good service.
My E 350 has the Overdrive switch on the dash that I can turn off the OD when traveling up steep hills.  On the flat highways I turn it back on.  

As for Chevy & Dodge I'll let others speak to those.


It seems you are starting out about the same way I did.  I have a couple of websites below I would encouarge you to spend some time looking through.  One is about setting up a bare cargo van  for a beginner camper.

The other is for once you begin to travel in it.   It will help you find information you will quickly realize you need
as you travel.  I compare it to a Swiss Army Knife of handy info.   The online travel planners and campground locaters have side trip and tour functions that will help you to find interesting places to visit along the way as you travel.  This will add considerably to your traveling pleasure. 

All the best !

 

[ArtW]

Welcome! onetime musician here, too, slept in my car many a time, till I gave up the life (still sing along with the radio sometimes though lol)

 

[gbcrafts]

I am new to the Forum, have seen a bunch of Bob's vids they are way cool... found my way here. 

I am stoked to be saving for my own first Van. Should happen soon. 

No idea what i will end up getting tho. I have looked at conversion vans, & MiniVans... want to see more, nothing has been perfect yet, don't have a huge budget just a big desire to start. 

Looking to start as a part timer, work my way up.

I am a musician in Seattle, so traveling in a van is sort of natural idea. Although i have toured around musically several times, I always stayed in hotels. It always seemed like a waist. 

Anyhow... look forward to getting to know some of you and learn more from all of your experience and adventures! 

I also can't wait to get my van and start getting it ready for future adventures! 

Good times!!!

 

[gbcrafts]

Welcome!
We're new here too. We are Betty & Gerald From Albuquerque, NM. We are in our mid 50's. We are saving for our first van as well. I am about to retire and my husband is on disability. We are also crafters, making bows and beaded jewelry, mainly earrings. We wish to sell on the road. May your journey be blessed! Again, welcome to the forum!

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard Shelk!
You'll find lots of help here to get you set up .

 

[Beth Owyn]

Welcome!
We're new here too. We are Betty & Gerald From Albuquerque, NM. We are in our mid 50's. We are saving for our first van as well. I am about to retire and my husband is on disability. We are also crafters, making bows and beaded jewelry, mainly earrings. We wish to sell on the road. May your journey be blessed! Again, welcome to the forum!

I'm a crafter too, I have been making soap and working with herbs for 20+ years now. Something you might want to think of, if you have an eye for it, is junking in thrift stores, estate sales, etc. and flipping those treasures on Ebay or Etsy. I do pretty good at this---but you have to have an eye for it! And for me---condition is everything!

 

[SHELK]

Thanks to all that posted!

Good ideas and thoughts all around!

I am looking at a 2001 Dodge Ram conversion van this weekend.
It was made by Elk Conversion. 132k miles and they want 5 grand.
Everything in Seattle is over priced!!! I can get it for $4500 I am sure...
But as a non mechanical fellow (I know the basics and that's it) I just don't know if the nickle and dime issues will be a headache. Also the dimensions seem kinda small? It's really cool looking tho!!! Haha

I almost bought a new dodge Caravan but my better half was like... do you really want 5 years of payments? She then noticed while breaking out a tape measure that it's a pretty small minivan, even with the stow n go seats. Would make for cramped quarters for 2 people. She tends to be the smarter half of our union. I think with my heart, she uses her brain. Haha

We shall see about this weekends Ram van. It's a 1500 with a V8.
I am bringing the wife. She will keep me grounded. Haha

Fun times!!!!

 

[wagoneer]

I have looked at a few early 2000 conversion vans and my takeaway was usually the same outdated appliances bloated interior and was already adding up the rebuild just to make it efficient, not to rain on anyone but,,,,. It is a learning curve and the best lessons are learned the hard way. I hope you get what you need.

 

[SHELK]

Makes a lot of sense.

I just found an add for a 2000 Dodge Ram passenger shorty that the seats can be taken out.
Owned by a county and very well maintained with low miles. May go that direction.

Short but could be fine for me and the wife. Especially as newbie part timers.
Maybe upscale in a few years.

The thing is super clean and fair priced at $4500. We shall see. Fingers crossed.
Seattle market is high priced compared to other parts of the US.

 

[djkeev]

When you say "conversion van" what do you define that as?

To me, it is a low high top, captains chairs for traveling and a rear bench that folds down into a bed.
Too much poofy upholstery, too much tacky wood, too much floor space taken up by side panels trying to make a round shape square...... and no real "camping" Setup.

I just purchased an 03 Dodge conversion van which is exactly as I described. It has the Long Wheel Base (127") but NOT extended body (really wish I had that extra 20" or so!) I cannot imagine trying to squeeze into the 109" wheelbase!

I'll turn mine into a Class B camper with at least a double bed, hopefully a queen size. Shower, toilet, heater, stove and sink. I Paid $2,500 which was a steal! Good body, runs strong, never towed, new tires, recent alignment, cruise, dual A/C, PW, PDL, and 106,000 miles. This will be a rolling hotel room/guest room that we will use while traveling and visiting.
This unit will be functional But small enough to get decent MPG's and go almost anywhere a large car can go. I feel that a class C camper is quite limiting as you travel. Great for long stays somewhere, not real travel friendly unless you like driving trucks and buses.

Here's my build.......
https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Building-a-Class-B-camper-from-a-Conversion-Van

Good buys are out there, just keep looking.

Dave

 

[SHELK]

Thanks! Eyes wide open for something good, low miles, affordable and not big enough that I wouldn't want to use it for smaller errands if I wanted too.

Conversion is exactly as you described but some were less poofy and cheesy then others I guess.

I don't have much experience with building stuff so having it feel comfortable is a plus...
But I am sure with a little time and TLC and can can get comfortable.

Your van looks awesome. Great deal!!!!

I just want a nice bed on wheels with eventually some power and extras.
Room for a cooler and some storage, maybe a portable toilet, and something to power a laptop, phone and fan.

That's just for starters. Got to get my feet wet.

 

[BC Guy]

For two people, you would be better off with a 3/4 ton or one ton van. A half ton will be a bit cramped.

 

[djkeev]

For two people, you would be better off with a 3/4 ton or one ton van.  A half ton will be a bit cramped.

For two people, you would be better off with a 3/4 ton or one ton van.  A half ton will be a bit cramped.

Weight ratings as a rule do not affect useable interior space. 

Weight ratings do change things like ride height, ride comfort, drive train gearing, tire size etc. 

No matter the weight rating, the Van Body size is unchanged for each design. The longer Vans may be rated a higher weight rating by default due to their size and what they may be asked to carry. 


Dave

 

[BC Guy]

Weight ratings as a rule do not affect useable interior space. 

You better take another look.  One tons are definitely longer than half tons.  All 3/4 tons that I have noticed are longer as well, but I have heard of some where the difference is small.

 

[ArtW]

I looked at a minivan, too, adequate for one, provided you live 'out of it' not 'in it' but no, not for two, particularly if the couple enjoys frequent intimacy with variety (I hope that's phrased delicately enough)