Buying this vehicle was an adventure from start to finish to say the least. I will spare you all the dramatic details but in a nutshell... I flew into LAX and picked up the vehicle in Orange County. I had the shelving removed as well as the nasty rubber mat in the cargo area by a person I found off of craigslist. So it took me a while to get out of LA. As I drove it out of LA on my way home to Salt Lake City, I found that the A/C was intermittent. That didn't help when the vehicle started to overheat in 110 degree weather about 80 miles from Las Vegas. Got it to Las Vegas by turning on the defroster at high heat. The next day I had the vehicle detailed and repaired. He replaced the temperature controller and recharged the A/C. Unfortunately he over-pressurized (?) the A/C so as I drove out of Los Vegas the A/C was blowing hot air. About 2am I decided I was too tired to drive and if I kept at it I would end up killing someone. So I stopped at the first hotel I saw and got room for some much needed sleep. A few hours later I was back on the road. Thank god my A/C was ice, ice cold. I made it into Salt Lake City around 12 noon. Yes... this is the short of it. And yes... I am financially very, very broke. LOL That said, I do get paid on Friday so I want to know what to do next.
I need new tires. The tread on the current tires are relatively good yet I live in a very changeable and extreme climate. Is there such thing as a tire that will be good in both summer and winter conditions as well as on highways and dirt roads? I don't intend to do any extreme off road trips but I do intend to explore some unpaved roads.
The engine is in pretty good shape but the mechanic in Vegas said there are things that could be done to make it better. He has two Chevy Express for his business and he keeps them immaculate condition. He laughed and say he was OCD about the engine and maintenance. So I am thinking that I need to take it to a mechanic here and get a list of things that need to be done to make it better. I do know that it needs a good oil change. But other than that I have no clue.
It needs a new drivers seat. There is a huge tear in the seat right underneath where my left butt cheek sits. Some of the foam is gone exposing a metal rod. It makes for a very uncomfortable ride at the moment.
The headliner needs to be replaced.
There is a fist size dent in the front passenger side door. I am trying to determine if it would be cheaper to replace the door all together or have the dent repaired.
It needs a paint job as there are some areas that are peeling. I am thinking of painting the entire exterior and interior with u-pol raptor or LineX.
This entire journey to having a comfortable livable van home will be a project done in stages as I have money to do so. That said, what is the very first thing I need to do? I am thinking the oil change and diagnostic by the mechanic. Then tires. Repair anything the mechanic says I need to have done as well as any engine modifications he suggest. New seat. New headliner. New door. New paint job. And then begin converting the interior cargo area into a livable space.
What do you all think?
Keightley
I need new tires. The tread on the current tires are relatively good yet I live in a very changeable and extreme climate. Is there such thing as a tire that will be good in both summer and winter conditions as well as on highways and dirt roads? I don't intend to do any extreme off road trips but I do intend to explore some unpaved roads.
The engine is in pretty good shape but the mechanic in Vegas said there are things that could be done to make it better. He has two Chevy Express for his business and he keeps them immaculate condition. He laughed and say he was OCD about the engine and maintenance. So I am thinking that I need to take it to a mechanic here and get a list of things that need to be done to make it better. I do know that it needs a good oil change. But other than that I have no clue.
It needs a new drivers seat. There is a huge tear in the seat right underneath where my left butt cheek sits. Some of the foam is gone exposing a metal rod. It makes for a very uncomfortable ride at the moment.
The headliner needs to be replaced.
There is a fist size dent in the front passenger side door. I am trying to determine if it would be cheaper to replace the door all together or have the dent repaired.
It needs a paint job as there are some areas that are peeling. I am thinking of painting the entire exterior and interior with u-pol raptor or LineX.
This entire journey to having a comfortable livable van home will be a project done in stages as I have money to do so. That said, what is the very first thing I need to do? I am thinking the oil change and diagnostic by the mechanic. Then tires. Repair anything the mechanic says I need to have done as well as any engine modifications he suggest. New seat. New headliner. New door. New paint job. And then begin converting the interior cargo area into a livable space.
What do you all think?
Keightley
