This PM was sent to me by another member here, I don't know why they just didn't post it in the thread -
Greetings!
I have never met an honest person who recommended cargo vans for camper conversions. Cargo vans make TERRIBLE camper vans without dumping a ton of money into them.
If you start with a window van, with lots of opening windows, finished floor, walls, and ceilings, it will save you many thousands of $$$ immediately. Just move out the seats, move your interior in, and you're done.
The people that recommend cargo vans are getting paid very well to give out bad advice. A good camper van conversion costs hundreds, not thousands or dollars. Spending all that extra money will not make you one bit more comfortable, nor will it ever save you enough to ever pay for itself.
Simpler is better, and totally portable is better yet. Expensive systems turn into money pits. Stick with stuff that is available in Anytown, USA locally. Important stuff breaks or wears out, and you don't want or need to have to wait weeks or months to to be able to repair or replace stuff, and you don't want it to cost a fortune to do it either.
Cheers!
OG
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As far as I'm concerned this is bad advice, and contrary to the spirit of vandwelling in general. But everyone has a right to their own opinion.
Personally, this is the 5th cargo van I've owned since 1972 and I've camped in ALL of them.
I didn't want a van full of windows, nor the prefabbed walls that intrude on the limited space inside. I'm known as the gadgetman for a reason, all the stuff I build is very cool, functional and easy to maintain. I will build this to suit my needs and as far as a money pit goes. Except for the solar components, I already own most everything that needs to go into it.
Portable toilet, shower, fridge. lights, bed. When I get through with it, it will be called the GadgetVan. You can keep your church bus!!
De-White, are you crazy?
I have no idea what it was used for before.
I'm paying $4500 and my trading in my 2004 Astro Van. I'm headed to Dallas (400 miles) in a few hours, in the Astro, coming home in the Savana.