Need Help Fiinding A Van

[Daru]

I only have $3000 to get a van. I need help to find one.
Please, if anyone is in the Beaverton, Oregon area can help please let me know. It would be much appreciated. -Thank you
(What am I looking for? A conversion van or cargo van, preferably one I can stand up in)

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Daru! I don't have any leads on good vans for sale but I wish you luck in your search!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started.

Most of our rules boil down to two simple over-riding principles: 1) What you post should provide good information (like your introductory post), and 2) Any response to someone else's post should make them feel glad they are part of this forum community.

We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[Cajunwolf]

Welcome to the CRVL forums, Daru!

I've just finished doing some researching in your area (I'm in Houston, Texas), what are your skillsets when it comes to mechanical inclination and maintenance? This will be your first consideration when looking for a van for as little as $3k. If your good at fixing one up mechanically, you're in pretty good shape, depending on your level of skill, tools, and having a place to work on a van. If not, then things are more complicated but can be worked out. This, too, depends on how much you plan to drive and how far. Let me know, and I'll tailor my suggestions to fit your needs, okay?

 

[BuckleBrown]

There are many vans through out Oregon on Craigslist. I am very new to all this and so I will refrain from talkn out my.... but one thingI noticed was that many vans that I looked at online and in person had higher prices simply due to a "nicer" interior,.... nicer seating, nicer carpet, nice headliner, mood lighting... basically for me a bunch of stuff I would be paying much more for only to rip out and dump. I went for mechanically sound without  tons of rust... and low miles over a "fancy" interior that was not needed.

I also checked for rust eating away at the frame rails...a tip that I was given to me here on the forum. After watching some youtube vids about that I see how very  important that is.

Have fun...!

 

[Helifan93]

When I got my van I lived in Bend, I was on craigslist constantly looking for the right rig. on alow budget, you might want to look into buying a older van that was taken decent care of. most problems have a youtube video you can watch to fix. im not a professional mechanic but I know just enough for it to be a shame for me to take most things to a mechanic. I ended up finding a van on Bar none auction, out of Portland. you can go in person or online. I bout my van online knowing only the stats and what I could deduce from the pics. got a ride to Portland and drove it back to bend and had no issues. it is a 90 chevy G30 that belonged to the Portland public school systems. they used it as an electrical maintanece van. had only 107k on it and was fleet maintained. was a pale yellow, but even that grew on me. only had one issue with it and it was the key cylinder froze and I replaced it by watching youtube videos and a 20 dollar part.
quick edit, the auction sight had some really raggedy vans for sale also that went for like 600. I bid 1100 and with fees ended up at 1360. some went for more but most of them had higher mileage. ive gone on occasionally and seen some decent vans and sometimes nothing. I kicked myself right after because the auction they had the month after I got mine they had a really nice 89 ford van and I love the body style of those old fords vans. good luck

 

[Cajunwolf]

@Helifan93
Great answer and useful information. Deals are everywhere, and you just have to keep your eyes open and be ready to jump on it.

 

[Aries]

I've listed a 1991 Dodge Ram Van recently converted to an awesome campervan on Santa Fe Craig's List for $5,000.  Check it out - thanks, Jim in Taos, New Mexico.