I'm going to check out this van tomorrow

[MrNoodly]

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/3610332575.html<br><br>I emailed the guy. The van belongs to a charity. He says it has such low mileage because it's their "back up" van. He's the CFO and not a gearhead, so he couldn't tell me about the engine. I'm not interested if it's a diesel. I also want to measure the overall length and make sure it has a step-through from the driver compartment. He says the back is fitted out like a meeting room. It's not an RV. I'm guessing it's wired for power back there and might already have a second battery. It happens to be about two miles from me, so I took a quick preliminary look this evening. There's a single door in the back. The graphics would need to go. And I don't know about the AC unit on the roof. But, man, that's a lot of room, super low miles and a great price.

 

[AltTransBikes]

Looks really interesting and sounds like it will be finished on the inside, maybe even insulated?<br>I like the low miles. Good luck with your negotiations.

 

[MrNoodly]

Okay, I checked it out. It has a 5.4L engine which I think is too small for a beast this size. And it is a beast. It's so much larger in the daylight. It's essentially a 17-foot moving van, but with a side door, windows, a generator, AC power outlets, air conditioning and baseboard heating. There's a pull-out ramp in the back but no climb-through from the cab.The gel coat on the fiberglass parts is deteriorating. The whole thing would need to be painted after the graphics were removed. It's much roomier than a standard van, but the size would limit my access to some places. So it's back to looking for a standard van with a high top. Or having one installed. My knees wouldn't be happy otherwise.

 

[Ballenxj]

Too big? With heat, A/C, and a generator? Sounded pretty good to me, but you know where you want to be better than I. <br>19,000 miles on it for $4400 sounds mighty tempting to me though. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce

 

[MrNoodly]

If I were just going to be boondocking in wide open spaces, I'd jump right on it. Heck, I'd be shopping for an RV. But I'm going to be spending at least half of my time in cities. I want to be able to park just about anywhere and have as much stealth factor as possible. X#%/*x@ compromises.

 

[Ballenxj]

YUP, Dang Ole compromises. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce

 

[MrNoodly]

Close but no cigar on this one.<br><br>

<br><br>

<br><br>Pre-Triton engine E250 with less than 60k miles. Drove pretty good except for a bit of stumble when you first press the pedal. That can be fixed.&nbsp;I love the space. About an inch of headroom when standing.&nbsp;But there were missing bits here and there, some dangling door gaskets, a blinking airbag light, no spare tire... And $6,000 might be a bit on the high side.<br><br>The quest continues.

 

[Ballenxj]

This last one looks pretty good too. Looks to be around a 95 model? Mileage is very low.&nbsp;<br> Did you try to make an offer? <br>-Bruce

 

[MrNoodly]

It's a '92. No offer yet.

 

[Ballenxj]

Less than 60,000 miles is awfully low for a 92. Probably needs to be driven to get rid of the stumble. <br>-Bruce

 

[MrNoodly]

Here's one that's mighty tempting, except for my aversion to diesels and the added complexity of turbos. <br><br>I like the side door and swing out back doors (instead of a roll-up). Something would need to be done with the side windows so they look less like an RV. And, of course, a color change.<br><br>1997, 54k miles, $5500.<br><br>

<br><br>

<br><br>

 

[Ballenxj]

MrNoodly, WOW! This last one looks SWEET! That, and I would love to have a diesel. 54k on a diesel is just barely broke in. <br>I understand your aversion to the unknown though. That's a Chevy, right? I wonder what transmission it has?<br>I can already see making a very nice camper out of that one. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce

 

[psytechguy]

Here's it's twin!

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/3634388505.html

 

[MrNoodly]

Gee, with fewer miles and better paint. (At least it's all one shade.) Too bad it's about a thousand miles from me.<br><br>I had assumed the side windows had been added by an owner, but it looks like some company was making the boxes like that from the beginning.

 

[psytechguy]

The diesel engine is what's been keeping me from pulling the trigger on it. I know gas engines and can troubleshoot and work on them pretty well, but I've never touched a diesel and understand that parts can be very expensive. Just too much of an unknown.

It is a cool platform, though! I'd start with limo-tinting all the windows in the box and throwing a roof rack on top for solar.

 

[user 423]

Do you know what that was used for? A box truck with all those windows is kinda unusual.

 

[MrNoodly]

I've seen some former Penske trucks with the same narrow/short box. Some have an aero cap on the box, but almost all of them have roll-up rear doors and no side doors. And there's a FedEx version with a side door and swing-out back doors, but they're out of my price range.<br><br>I cruised some Duramax Diesel owners' forums. About the only parts I recognized were oil pump, exhaust and wastegate. With their symptoms and solutions, they might as well have been talking ships.

 

[MrNoodly]

Do you know what that was used for? A box truck with all those windows is kinda unusual.

<br><br>They might have been for job site offices.

 

[MrNoodly]

I'd start with limo-tinting all the windows

<br><br>I was thinking of covering the side windows with the type of vent covers you see on generator compartments. It would take care of the RV look but still let in air when the windows were slid open. Mesh behind the rear windows would also make it look commercial instead of recreational. Some reflector tape here and there, and some big-ass locks on the doors would add to the disguise. And a roof rack, of course.

 

[PYSCHOWard]

The 1st one is an AWESOME Deal, i would do Whatever it took to make it work.