My perfect rig....

[Guest]

Dunno where this goes but if the mods want to move it...that is good!<br /><br />If I have a primary obsession that has been with me forever...it is the quest for the perfect rig...moto, truck, van, car...whatever! But in this case it is the perfect RV for my own needs/wants...<br /><br />First I need to decide what I need...then it has to be affordable and realistic. And then it has to be common enough to get parts for and be repaired by a fair mechanic...(me or a Mexican shade tree wrench)....<br /><br />Well, my totally favorite and perfect vehicle is the Mitsubishi Delica van. Small diesel engine, 4wd and convertability....BUT I would have to emigrate to Canada, not that bad an idea, but Canada is too expensive for me...maybe Mexico? dunno yet....will have to do more research....but you cannot bring them into the states as a personal vehicle.<br /><br />That said, the thing I have most recently realized might make the grade for me is a full size AWD Astro or Safari van with the top hatch/barn door rear doors. This as new as I can afford...maybe the last year...<br /><br />Then modified with a lift kit and larger truck tires. Rear adjustable air shocks like my Chinookie has. Then a salvaged pop-up VW Westphalia lid and upper bunk.<br /><br />I won't go into the things like P.V. setup, etc. I already know how to build it out and install what I find valuable.<br /><br />I will have to let go of the diesel idea due to the very powerful corporate lobbies that keep certain vehicles from being imported....when I checked with a vehicle importer regarding bringing a Delica into the states legally...I was quoted 30 to 50 k$ in conversion costs...meanwhile all manner of US made diesel crap rigs are running around polluting like there was no tomorrow, completely unregulated in any reasonable way. Enough to make me want to tear my hair out...<br /><br />Anyway...any ideas as to your perfect rig or ideas about mine?<br />Bri

 

[Seraphim]

Not familiar with the Delica.&nbsp; I'll have to do a bit of research.&nbsp; <br /><br />I think we've found our perfect rig.&nbsp; Might have gone a little bit larger than needed, but I think in the long run the extra space will be benficial.&nbsp; It's taller than I would have liked (expected), but I don't think that will be a major detriment for us. Probably didn't NEED diesel (and it's currently 1.00 a gallon more than gas: 3.93 vs 2.94) but we just&nbsp;spent a week tooling around the mountains and there was power to spare.&nbsp;Didn't seem to notice the inclines much.&nbsp;I'd rather drive a little less (for financial reasons)&nbsp;and have the higher torque of the diesel.

 

[Guest]

Good points Seraphim....and it sounds like a perfect set-up for you and yours....<br /><br />I do like your combo. I don't know if you ever plan south of the border trips but if so, it is easier to find diesel than gas and in every other place in the world it is actually about a buck cheaper than a gallon of gas.<br /><br />My interest is different than many on here...I want a van type config. I need to have comfortable sleeping for two...either at least queen size or two bunks, the diesel is a dream and not to be had in what I want or can afford...a Sprinter would be great but way too expensive. And I&nbsp; want 4wheel drive or allwheel drive due to where I want to go. Not essential but very desirable.&nbsp; <br /><br />An idea I regularly visit is a truck like yours and a camper like a small Bigfoot or Six-pac or home built. I really like something that I don't have to exit to get to the drivers seat though.<br /><br />Our travels will be primarily south of the border, not for sure, but if I live long enough,&nbsp; as far south as South America, so there are things that will make that much easier, safer and much more conducive to accessing places not ordinarily visited by road tourists.<br id="tinymce" class="mceContentBody " />Bri

 

[ttpadilla]

Not familiar with the Delica.&nbsp; I'll have to do a bit of research.&nbsp; <br /><br />Probably didn't NEED diesel (and it's currently 1.00 a gallon more than gas: 3.93 vs 2.94)

<br /><br />Where are you?&nbsp; I wish we had gas prices that low!!

 

[Guest]

Haha, that must be just an example....I haven't seen below three bucks anywhere in all my summer travels...I'd like to find some too...maybe he means Mexico...it is about that there now...at least the gasoline...<br />Bri

 

[ttpadilla]

Well, maybe we should head down there, then.&nbsp; Cheap gasoline, cheap tequila... Beans and rice.&nbsp; That's about all I need!

 

[Guest]

January for this old man....right after or when I get tired of the RTR...<br />Bri

 

[Seraphim]

No... Just two days ago regular prices dropped like crazy. Was about 3.64 then suddenly under 3. Just north of Cincinnati.

Right now my gas buddy app is showing 2.93 in several places. Figured it was pre-election manipulation. Lol

Diesel Dropped about .10

 

[Guest]

I bet you are right...on the manipulation....it sure isn't hitched to anything else that we know about...it seems to be pretty arbitrary...I like it when it drops tho...<br />Bri

 

[Seraphim]

Pity the diesel didn't drop as well. We spent our time in WVa paying $4.19+

 

[Guest]

Yikes....well, pity the truckers too.......I can't imagine what $840 per fill-up would be like for a trucker's bottom line....ooof.<br />Bri

 

[WanderingRain]

My dream has, and will always be to have a Dodge Sprinter tall van... Love the shape and the space inside...

 

[bk2valve]

Jeez, I just can't stay away....LOL. So, Wandering rain, I met a guy while I was traveling last year and he had a commercially converted Mercedes engined Sprinter...and it had a for sale sign in the window...it was a lot of money and I asked him about how he liked it. He said he loved it and even though it is horribly overpriced, it had been good for them for doing the traveling they were doing....<br /><br />THEN when he realized I was just kicking tires and he saw my old Chinooky, he said the problem with the Sprinter is the huge costs for any parts or even finding good service. Dodge doesn't like to work on them and Mercedes shops don't either. This was out of the horses mouth. so to speak. I pay about $80 to $90 an hour shop fees when I have vehicle work done here in my little town, imagine a Mercedes shop....I can't even get a handle on their hourly charge.<br /><br />When I looked inside I realized just to accommodate the extremely narrow footprint, their is much less room inside than any other rigs on the road.......at this time in history, Pleasureway, a high end van style RV is actually going to a wider living area...in an expanded body style...<br /><br />Not at all trying to change your mind but all these things need to be considered and balanced against one's wherewithal in ownership. <br /><br />In other words if I had the cash, I would own one of the newer Provans built on a fourwheel drive diesel American made pick up frame. Since I don't have a $100K in cash, it is out of the question for me....<br />Bri

 

[Guest]

Well, my totally favorite and perfect vehicle is the Mitsubishi Delica van. Small diesel engine, 4wd and convertability....BUT I would have to emigrate to Canada, not that bad an idea, but Canada is too expensive for me...maybe Mexico? dunno yet....will have to do more research....but you cannot bring them into the states as a personal vehicle.<br />Bri

<br /><br />Thank you. &nbsp;I had never heard of these before, but as a Canadian I have access to them. &nbsp;I'll look into it.

 

[Ballenxj]

I have always thought that a Diesel powered van would be nice. Problem is, they are still fairly pricey. A VW Vanagon with a Diesel would be nice, but I hear they are underpowered. But, I have read about doing a conversion where they installed a VW Rabbit TDI engine with good success. If you were to do this with a VW Synchro (all wheel drive) you might have your dream van. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" /> <br />-Bruce

 

[Stillwater]

I would love to have another Toyota Previa AllTrac (AWD.) They ran forever, had decent room and were uber-reliable. The SADS** had to be replaced about every 150k-200k miles but that was it. The same motor in the Previa was used in Toyota forklifts but converted to propane. A diesel option would be great.<br /><br />The non-AWD version was RWD and a bit slick in inclement weather. Not as bad as the first generation of Toyota Vans. Yes... their actual model name was Van. Kinda like my dog named Dog.<br /><br /><br />**SADS. Secondary Auxiliary Drive Shaft. The motor was mounted on its side below the passenger side extended beneath the floor. In order to keep fluids and belt driven peripherals accessible, a long shaft ran up under the "hood" area. Under the hood there was no motor. Just the power steering pump, AC, alternator and the like. You could refill and check all fluids - and replacement components - just like a normal car.<br /><br />An imported 3rd gen diesel, 4wd Toyota HiAce would be awesome.<br /><br /><img rel="lightbox" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Toyota_Hiace_70_001.JPG" class="bbc_img" /><br /><br />F4th gen<br /><img rel="lightbox" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Toyota_Hiace_Wagon_Super_long_Custom_005.JPG" class="bbc_img" />

 

[bk2valve]

Hey PM...We saw and rode in a lot of the Toyota HiAce vans in Africa....they just idled along so quiet and nice....that is what a lot of the tour companies use.<br /><br />They set them up with seats and a raise-able roof....comfy and cool....<br />Bri

 

[minimotos95]

Paddling Man, that is one of the reasons i hate this country, we never get those weird good vehicles or we get a watered down version, like a toyota van, mitsubishi van or wagon, whatever nissans COE van was that was recalled...&nbsp;the new buick regal, vauxhall/opel is AWD with a 300+hp v6 elsewhere.<br />mitsubishi did the same lazy/smart thing, the 4g64 2.4l that's in my van is also used in mitsu and cat forklifts runing on LPG or CNG... <br />those high tops are cool, judging by the skinny window they're LWB models?<br />they started making those before the gen 2 l300 delica, maybe some are old enough to import to the states(25 years)<br />i always wondered why previa's had a hood, thanks.<br /><br /><br />anyways, Bri i like your idea with the astro, can't really go wrong with one, i've seen quite a few with 250k-300k miles. but they are a pain to work on(like most vans with V engines) so more&nbsp;people will neglect maintenance.&nbsp;have you decided&nbsp;whether you want a&nbsp;standard SWB or extended?

 

[bk2valve]

Hi Brandon,<br /><br />Well I have a shorty now, and I think I would prefer the longer one with the lower barn doors and top hatch for the back doors...<br />I am in not ready right now though. <br /><br />For my current use the shorty is fine and 2wd gives me a little better mileage. I have my short bus up for trade on CL and an Astro is one of things I would trade for.....I might as well put it on here come to think of it and troll the waters...<br /><br />I'll see what the universe brings me.....<br />Bri