How stealthy is this van?

[Canine]

I came across this van. It is B+ in width, extended, and has a high top. Having the extra room would be nice, but how much attention would this draw living in a large (60,000 pop.) city? Parking along any old street will be limited due to width. Probably no industrial areas. Ideally, renting a parking space of sorts in an out-of-the-way area from nosy neighbors would be best, but that may not happen. Stealth is important to me for now, and am having a hard time identifying what draws attention and how much.

Link to pic of van in case pic below doesn't work.

What do you suppose the stealth factor is?

 

[AltTransBikes]

My dos centavos:

Low stealth....it's got 'camper-someone inside' written all over it. YMMV.

It is a rather unique vehicle though, and yes roomy and tall, don't recall seeing one like that before.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I like this style of van and the extra width would be great. I don't think the width would stand out as much as things like no hubcaps, the white roof, the stripe and the dented right front fender., I think if those items were fixed up it would blend in. can you stand up in this style of van??

 

[BLACKSHEEP54]

Just my 2 cents, but I see ZERO stealth in this type vehicle!!This will stick out like a sore thumb anywhere but a campground/truckstop/BLM land!! After all, it IS a camper, with way to many windows for true stealth!!! Park that in a residential area and any cop is likely to knock on your door and tell you to get moving! Again, just my 2 cents!

 

[Canine]

The price is right, so I had to consider it, but I can't see it being stealthy. If I removed the windows and painted it all one color, that would help. But what money I saved at purchase would be offset by fixing it up with $$$ body work.

I can't stand up all the way, but am not scrunched all the way over, either. It also would need to have that dent repaired. It looks worse from the other angle. I like the style a lot, too, but stealth is important to me as I'm not really sure what I'm getting into becoming a vandweller. Would like to put the cards as much as possible in my favor and not be too influenced by saving money.

 

[signman]

My 2 cents, It has a little of the "mobile dog grooming" Vibe to me. A little body work on the drivers front fender, and a quick earl schibe/ macco paint job, a cheap pair of magnetic signs, and moving every night I think would work. I personally think this stealth thing is blown out of proportion. My favorite M.O. is "over night security" for a local business. I have done it for more than a year at a time, at a chainsaw wood carver's lot in the north suberbs of Atlanta Ga.,I parked a class "C" motorhome, on his lot, only moving once every 2 weeks to empty holding tanks. It became his "mobile office". Never heard a peep out of anyone. Duane

 

[rvwandering]

I agree with signman about the stealth thing being blown out of proportion. There are times when you may want to be stealthy but it's not going to work for long if you're hanging around in the same town for months. Cops will notice and so will the neighbors after awhile. You can easy get away with having a unstealthy vehicle by staying at big box stores, truckstops and rest areas, switching around between them so that nobody gets concerned about it being a permanent thing.

What I'd be most concerned about is staying warm. I noticed that you're in Montana so you'll get mighty cold in the winter. It'll be expensive to run a generator or even a small propane heater. I'm not trying to talk you out of van dwelling but the winter months will be a lot more comfortable if you can find a cheap RV or trailer park so that you can plug in to the electrical system. Or take signman's suggestion and offer your services in exchange for electricity.

 

[Canine]

Perhaps this van will work well as an introduction to the vandwelling lifestyle; it's not like I'm sinking my life savings into one investment. I could wait for the ideal van, but it would likely command a high price. Or I could snag a less than ideal van at a good price before it's gone and work with it.

If my experiences will be like most others on this forum, I will learn better what I like after I get it. Seem like most here have tried different styles of vans before settling more or less on one.

Yes, it does get a bit nippy here, so insulation will be a mandatory upgrade. This is a big part of why the wider width appeals to me. I can layer in generous amounts of quality, rigid foam board and not be squished for space. Heating this van in January may cost more than my current rent; I can't skimp on insulation.

Seldom does life work out just like I think it ought to. Life is full of opportunities. If I take advantage of none of them, I'll get nothing. If I say yes to all of them, I will have made some foolish choices. I've learned to say yes more often to opportunities and am surprised at how well they have turned out. If they don't, they seldom end as bad as I thought they would have- well, most of the time. I've opted for some crummy "opportunities" as a younger man. Lol. :blush:

I'll keep thinking about it. I really, really appreciate the input. Putting my thoughts to paper (um, you know what I mean. lol) and getting feedback and new ideas helps a lot!

 

[signman]

How about "over night security" at a body shop, trade out for a quick and shiny paint job and the body work, and the electric and parking ? The stealth factor, it's a legitimate job, watch it get pretty.

That's a Win-Win situation. Duane

 

[Canine]

Signman, when I first read your suggestion, I thought, "Um. That won't work. Who does that?" Then I thought, "Um, Don't be a Negative Nellie, Canine- don't discount something because it is out of the norm." (I just spoke to myself in the third person while not using my name. lol)

I have great references at some demanding jobs and situations, ie: not everyone passes a background check to drive for a public transit system post 9/11. And I have a highly trained dog who is also one heck of a watch dog. I could see that being a win-win-win (me, the body shop, and the dog). It would depend on the body shop owner being amenable to an idea that is a little different than usual. Maybe he/she has had an unfortunate upswing with vandalism or theft, making the idea more palatable.

I have seen at least one person over the years living in a class c with his large dog doing security. The four-legged part of the team kept the mountain lions, bears, and other nuisance critters away from the campground while the two-legged one took care of the rest. There's no reason why your idea wouldn't work.

This may not materialize, but what a great, potentially apropos idea!

 

[Ilyana]

Up until the time that I started actively researching nomadic living, a van was just a large vehicle. Van drivers were in bands and carried lots of equipment or they didn't care about gas mileage (I chuckle loudly at myself for that one!) or they got it cheap, etc. It never occurred to me that anyone would live in a van.

I'd ask in some other forum because here, even a person like me will be thinking someone is in there watching a movie and eating soup. I'd say vandwelling is still pretty much off most people's radar, despite recent news coverage.

 

[Patrick46]

I too have never seen a van like that. I like it.

the front fender can be bought cheap enough at a junkyard and switched out in an afternoon. (you DO know which end of a wrench to hold, doncha??)(and don't laugh....many don't!)

and I'd just paint it with a foam roller and some cheap housepaint. It's not like you're gonna take it to a carshow or nuthin'.

Seeing that it already looks like a motorhome...isn't it already insulated??

How much are they asking for this rig?? Does it run OK??

I LOVE the idea of being a "live-in watchdog" at a bodyshop, as this is exactally what I did while living in my stepvan. (it was way out in the country, and they had their own small junkyard out back, and a lean-to I could park my chopper underneith. Worked out great for both of us!! I got a P.O. Box, and joined a gym for showers so I never had to go into town either.)

I'm a firm advocate in the "It NEVER hurts to ASK" philosophy...just ask my kids how wonderfully this has helped them through their lives!

 

[signman]

@ Patrick, Thanks for backing me up with your reply, It aint hard at all to " Just ask", And some great things have come into my life from "just ask" it don't hurt at all. The combination of our 2 posts, fender cheap and easy to change, roller paint job, and this guy is golden! Stealth is so over rated, Hide in plain sight. There is a reason that you are parked there, and no one needs to worry about it. Good Luck, Canine, it just gets easier as you go along ! Duane

 

[Patrick46]

Hide in plain sight. There is a reason that you are parked there, and no one needs to worry about it.

Ha!! I had a friend (we lost him ) who had a quote on his bike (which I now have on mine...)

"TRUTH...the BEST DISGUISE!"




and as for asking...I beat into my kids the idea that "Asking never hurts anybody". The WORST answer you're gonna get is a "NO", in which case, you've lost nothing!....but oftentimes, by simply asking...you'll get a "YES"!!...and then you BOTH WIN!!

 

[Canine]

Patrick46, I've taken a quick look at it. Am told it runs well with good power. He says it's a 302 but will see about that. The interior is nice. Really nice. No mouse nests. Fridge works. Don't know about the furnace. Stove probably works, too. A serious lack of rust- bonus! He's asking 1200. Tires are decent. The odometer says 45,000, but it could be 145,000. With an RV, it could be 45,000. If so, it has been sitting for long periods of time, so I need to be ready for that. I plan on taking a closer look at this one; it has some good things going for it.

I can do some of the mechanic work on it- I have duct tape and some wire I found under the porch. Lol.

I will definitely be asking. That would be an interesting career change for me!

 

[Patrick46]

$1200??!!

WOW...that's not bad...at all!...even if it does have 145K. (but I'll bet you're right about the 45K)

I'm intrigued by that roof and bloated body. I've never seen one like that. Looks almost like an ambulance or mini-bus kinda thingy. (I love weird rigs!!) Plus they look like they're both made of fiberglass = NO RUST!!!

as for the engine, if you look at the underside of the hood, there should be an "Important Engine Information" decal stuck under there, that shows the engine's firing order, specified types of oil used, and look carefully, as it should have the engine listed...ie: 4.9 is the 302, 5.8 is a 351 Winsor, which is what I've got in my Ford van. (Great engine btw)
It wouldn't suprise me if this has a 7.5L which is the 460 Big Block. Altho being a gas hog, they're very reliable strong engines.
I'd take off the engine cover from the inside of the van and check that sucker out....throughly! (pull the dipsticks and smell 'em.)


so, you've got some duct tape and bailing wire?? Heck....you're all set!!

 

[signman]

Hi Canine, I'm with you on the "302 will see about that". I don't believe that ford would use the 302 in a duel wheel van, I'm thinking it's probably a 351, looks like the "small block" or the 460, looks like a big block, a strong engine that has a strong appetite for gas.
The asking with out fear, it's fun to do once you get over the shy part. It's amazing what can happen just for the asking. Duane

 

[Patrick46]

I don't believe that ford would use the 302 in a duel wheel van,

Upps...hold on there brother...

I don't think this is a 'dually' van...

(rats....pic didn't transfer)

as a matter of fact, after scoping it out again, it looks to me like there's only 5 lugs on the front axle, making this an E-150 chassis!

WOW...maybe it will get decient gas mileage after all!!

 

[signman]

Hi Patrick, There looks to be the black water valve and cap in front of the inside duel wheel, the front wheel looks to have a chrome trim ring and probably 8 lugs, check out the spacing. Either that or a heck of alot of offset on that rear wheel. Also, the 4.9L was the 300 cube straight 6 the 302 V-8 was a 5.0L. Not trying to be testy buddy, just looks like it to me. Cool van whatever it has. Duane

 

[Canine]

It's a dually one ton. The front wheel doesn't have the typical dished one ton style rim, so that does throw a guy off. Maybe it doesn't have the original rims in the front? If I get it, I'm going to ask about singling it out. Tires today are much improved and can handle loads much better than what tires could handle 35 years ago. It is a grainy picture.

Oh, and it does have some insulation. Meh, sort of. 35-year-old bat insulation. I don't think there's insulation in the roof.

Ford has done some weird things in their engines. The '78, 3/4 ton Ford truck with a 400M came with one of 3 different radiators. What the heck?! For what purpose? I owned a '67 Ford one ton dually truck with the 300 straight six cylinder. Older UPS trucks came with the 300-six. I've also seen a 78 Bronco that was originally an automatic paired with a 400M converted to a four speed paired with a 351W. When it comes to older vehicles, especially older Fords, I assume nothing. It's fun to guess, tho. If it is a 302, that would be a first. When I check it, I will look at the engine itself to specifically identify it as well as any labels or vin codes. It had better have the C6 tranny.

I really, really hope it isn't a 460. Not only because of mpg, but that would a very large engine squished in a van. Working on it would be a bugger; I'm a dude, but despite me having skinny girl-arms, I'd still have trouble squeezing in there.