How do you know when to fix vs replace your van?

[Hyker]

I now have an awesome 2006 Chevy Express Conversion Van, aka Heffer.  
It runs like a champ, I put all new breaks on it and have done a lot of interior changes to make it a kick ass campervan.  My issue is when a major problem does arise like needing a motor or trans, is it worth the money?  Has anyone else found themselves facing this decision when a problem arose?

 

[justanothermaroon]

I was thinking about that for my '02 Yukon XL. It has 155,000 miles and runs great. I'm figuring the tranny would be the first thing to go, what with pulling a trailer full-time. $4-5 grand would be a big pill to swallow, but to replace the whole vehicle would cost, what- $10-15 grand? I'm in the 'devil you know' camp with this.

 

[user 423]

My issue is when a major problem does arise like needing a motor or trans, is it worth the money?  Has anyone else found themselves facing this decision when a problem arose?

It can be a tough decision but it depends on a lot of factors on which way to go.

The cost of the repair and how good the other mechanicals are on the van.

How elaborate the build.

How much trouble it would be to transfer build items to another vehicle.

How much the van is worth to other people (either to sell it as-is or after the repair).

Where you're located and in what weather when a breakdown occurs.

The availability of other cheap housing while it's being fixed. And so on.

The main thing is to plan ahead and be ready for not if but when it happens IMO.

PS: Whether you really like the vehicle or not would be a big factor to some. My personal thought on my present vehicle is I wouldn't miss it that much if it dies and I was forced to buy something different. YMMV

 

[bullfrog]

That is a tough question. For many it is a simple question of money although with the high prices of vehicles and newer vehicles lasting longer today it complicates the question. One of our former members made a living consulting major businesses on this issue and although dated JD had lots of insight. If you search this forum there are several threads. The amount of ability and skill you have as a mechanic will be a big factor. Garages charge around $100 an hour whether they are good or bad to stay in business but you can still repair an old vehicle for less than a new vehicle costs in my opinion. There is the issue of more time and on the road breakdowns with older vehicles. It is up to the individual what they can deal with as far as that goes. Some garages are not willing or able to deal with older vehicles which is something new starting to develop I have found. Seems some garages have found they can make more money with less hassle by not working on anything over 20 years old so in the future that maybe something to consider as the work force ages. I have much more than most people are willing to pay in my old vehicles but they are custom built to do what I want them to do. I could buy a much more reliable modern vehicle that does things much more conveniently as in a push of a button but it would cost twice as much to buy and be very expensive to repair compared to my old rebuilt vehicles. Many on this forum are not in a position to be able to afford newer vehicles and if able should gain repair skills that will be necessary while on the road. HOWA has started to help address helping people that are not able or without the skills necessary to keep living in a vehicle while on the road when they break down but a good plan and emergency fund are necessary if doing it in an older vehicle.

 

[highdesertranger]

I agree it's a case by case basis. It all depends on you. Highdesertranger

 

[Scott3569]

Like all the others, I think it is a personal choice, or case by case.. Personally I plan to keep what I have for about a year.. then we will see after that.. Eventually I do know I will go into something a little larger.. Until then I will fix what needs to be fixed

 

[MrNoodly]

So here I am, in my 2007 Express 2500, with 320K miles on it. The engine and transmission are still fine but I've had steering and brake components wear out. I've fixed those problems. Any van I could get for the price of a new engine or transmission would be old and well down the road toward needing its own engine/transmission replaced. So if the current engine/transmission craps out before I have enough to buy a fairly low mileage van, I'll get this van fixed.

 

[VanFan]

We've been discussing this lately with respect to our '96 Express conversion.  Over time, many costly repairs have been made, including having the transmission rebuilt and the fuel pump replaced.  Our build is not complex and could be transferred easily, but it works extremely well for us.  Would I spring for a major engine repair?  Maybe.

The issue we face is that we really like the "lux" interior and picture windows.  (Many do not like those features at all.)  Those old-style conversion vans (our is a low top) are getting hard to find, and I can't imagine transitioning to a cargo van.  When asked what I would replace it with if money were no object, I'm stumped.  Frankly, even the upscale Class B's don't have the same appeal to me as what we have.

At some point, our van will be unreliable, unsafe, or both, and repairs will be just "throwing good money after bad."  Knowing when to cut bait is/will be tough.

 

[user 423]

So here I am, in my 2007 Express 2500, with 320K miles on it. The engine and transmission are still fine but I've had steering and brake components wear out.

320k on the original transmission is pretty amazing. What kind of maintenance schedule have you followed over all those miles?

Also, do you have an add-on trans cooler?

 

[nature lover]

Your question is as old as automobiles are. Probably even goes back before that with horses and wagons. I really don’t have an answer but I often say you’re either slave to the mechanic for repairing it or slave to the bank for paying for it. Sometimes somewhere in the middle between them you’ve got some wiggle room. I wants had a truck in the junkyard that I was still making payments on. If you can do your own mechanical work more power to ya.

 

[Hyker]

Thank you everyone for your great responses and valuable insite!
So I misspoke, my van is a 2003 not a 2006. Also I dont make the kind of money to be able to just replace my van with a newer model that would make replacing my current van worth it. So I'm in the camp of strict preventative maintenance and fix what needs to be fixed.. I love my van, I put a lot of into it and have so much fun with it. Something catastrophic would have to happen for me to give her up

 

[Hyker]

So here I am, in my 2007 Express 2500, with 320K miles on it. The engine and transmission are still fine but I've had steering and brake components wear out. I've fixed those problems. Any van I could get for the price of a new engine or transmission would be old and well down the road toward needing its own engine/transmission replaced. So if the current engine/transmission craps out before I have enough to buy a fairly low mileage van, I'll get this van fixed.

I completely agree, anything I would be able to by to replace mine would need work too so ill keep it and fix it..
Exellent job on keeping your van well maintained, thats fantastic.  I'm hoping to have the same story when I get to that milage.  I'm at 170K and it looks like the previous owner put radiator sealer in it..  so I'm holding my breath on that one..

 

[nature lover]

I’m sitting at my mechanics this am, dropping off the van and having him go over the vehicle to check everything like belts hoses tires batteries just to prepare it for another big trip. What I’m saying is I’m a big fan of preventive maintenance most of the time it’s cheaper than repairs on the road with people you don’t know and trust. I had him look it over before I went to Florida we did some work on it but not a lot now but I’m gonna takeoff again he’s having another look. I’m feeling positive about it but when I pick it up this afternoon I might not be as positive. Who knows.

 

[eDJ_]

I think you are doing the right thing by employing qualified people to inspect your rig.  Mechanical components can be inspected periodically to gauge their wear.  Just explain the nature of your rig and that you both travel and live out of it. (so they realize if it breaks down you loose your home too) 

You depend on your engine & transmission as much as you do your brakes.  But remember your windshield wipers cause when it rains you will have to have good ones.  I'm a firm believer in replacing mine once a year and I use a product called Rain-X additive to the windshield washer reservoir.  It really helps when driving on rainy days.

Something I've done with the engine in my rig was to get a "spectro analysis" of the engine oil.  It gives an idea of the condition of the engine by lab testing a small sample of the oil on a Spectrometer to show if the microscopic bits of metal in the engine are within normal wear limits.  They may recommend certain oils to use in the future too. 

This technology was started by the US Navy following WW2 and is tried and true. Today Rail Road Locomotives use it,  Towboat Industry, Aviation, Trucking Fleets etc.  But now private individuals can
and it is affordable. (and worth it)

Blackstone is who I use for engine & transmission oil evaluation:

Blackstone Laboratories

 

[VanFan]

...it looks like the previous owner put radiator sealer in it..  so I'm holding my breath on that one..

Could be a lot of reasons for doing that, but if it turns out to be a tank leak, you might to able to have just the offending tank replaced by a radiator shop.  In my case, that was about 1/4 the cost.   I did have to take the radiator in, though.  Just a thought.

 

[seak]

OP: I would consider the replacement value of the van. If it would cost more to replace the vehicle and the build out than to repair it, then it's worth fixing. Remember to consider your time. That has value, too.