Questions about DIY conversion

[Scoundrel]

I'm trying to decide if I'll be most comfortable in a van or a class C.<br><br>When converting a van yourself are there many hassles over getting it insured, inspected, registered etc?<br><br>What are the differences between gas and diesel?&nbsp; I'm sure each has it's own advantages and drawbacks, so why choose one over the other?<br><br>When choosing to buy, how old is too old?&nbsp; How many miles are too many?<br><br>After insulating, how much width do you lose inside?&nbsp; I'm 6' 4" tall and weigh about 220 lbs, am I just too big for a van?

 

[Guest]

With a van you make it how you what it, with a class c it is a turn key home. It all depends on what you want to do, vans can be stealthy, class c are more roomy. I like mine a class b basicly a van with a high camper top. The choice is yours.

 

[wrcsixeight]

&nbsp;I am 5'10". &nbsp;I have &lt;1/4 inch of insulation on my walls. &nbsp;I still wind up diagonally with a side to side bed in the back in my Dodge.<br><br>@ 6'4" &nbsp;you will need to orient the bed front to back in a Van.&nbsp;<br><br> &nbsp;If you are alone this is doable. &nbsp;If you have travelling companions, &nbsp;the challenges are more pronounced in a Van.<br><br>Class C's are comfy, till you can't find a place to park them.

 

[VanFan]

Personally, I wouldn't buy anything older than 1996, when OBD (On Board Diagnostics) II became standard.&nbsp; It helps a lot with diagnostics/maintenance.<br><br>Vickie

 

[Scoundrel]

Thanks for the input everyone.<br><br>@OpenMinds&nbsp; I never thought about it before, but I don't see many class C motorhomes on the interstates.&nbsp; It's mostly Class As and I'm on the interstates 9 hours a day on average.<br><br>@VanFan That's good info to have.&nbsp; Last year I bought a 2012 Chevy Cruze and I'm really amazed at the electronics.&nbsp; It tells me when I need an oil change, when the tires are low on air etc.&nbsp; Makes life easier for sure.<br><br>@wrcsixeoght&nbsp; As an OTR trucker I know how hard it can be to find parking sometimes.&nbsp; But, I also know Walmart stores are everywhere.&nbsp; If they'll allow 18 wheelers to park overnight, I don't think they'll mind a little class C.<br><br>@86bigred&nbsp; Sure, but would it be that much more difficult to remodel a class C?&nbsp; I know people have done it with trailers.&nbsp; But, I should probably ask that in the class c forum.

 

[rokguy]

<EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Hey Scoundrel,</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">&nbsp;Did you ever consider a box truck conversion, plenty of width for a bed across, reasonable diesel mileage, being square, alot easier to fit out and a lot tuffer truck construction than your average van or C class. my two cents worth.</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Geoff</SPAN></STRONG></EM>

 

[Scoundrel]

@rokguy&nbsp; Yes, I am thinking about that too.&nbsp; But, I've read that getting it insured can be a nightmare.&nbsp; Any thoughts about that?<br><br>I'm also considering a 48' or 53' refer trailer.&nbsp; A friend out West tells me he knows where to buy used ones for just $1700 and they are already very well insulated.

 

[rokguy]

<SPAN style="COLOR: #808080"><EM><STRONG>10-4&nbsp;Scoudrel,</STRONG></EM></SPAN><BR><SPAN style="COLOR: #808080"><EM><STRONG>Yeh I don"t know what its like it the U.S but its pretty simple here in Oz. That what I did. The pantec trucks we have here are idea for conversion. On the reefer idea,&nbsp;that sound pretty good way to go for pure space and luxury, thats still in the back of my mind too.</STRONG></EM></SPAN><BR><SPAN style="COLOR: #808080"><EM><STRONG>Geoff</STRONG></EM></SPAN>

 

[Ballenxj]

If I had it to do over, I would look a bit closer at box trucks and step vans. In fact, I'm still looking at them. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>I went with a standard top conversion van for now mainly for stealth. <br>So many choices. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/confused.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce

 

[Scoundrel]

@ Ballenxj<br><br>Yes there are and for a newbie like me it's very confusing just choosing the type of vehicle.&nbsp; Then you have to figure out power and water and climate control and how much it'll cost and where to put things.&nbsp; Then it's has to be registered and insured.&nbsp; There's a lot to think about.

 

[Seraphim]

At 6 foot, I would want a high top if I were going for a van. Our 95 Class B was ideal for us up to a month at a time. It became confining for two people after that time frame. For one person, an older B is great.

Photos here:

http://bentfalcon.wordpress.com/gyrfalcon/

 

[user 423]

A <span style="text-decoration: underline;">48</span>' reefer?&nbsp; To just park somewhere or travel with?&nbsp; <br><br>I've spent some time in a Class B and it felt pretty cramped after a couple months and I'm 4" shorter. How much travelling you want to do will dictate picking a C over a B. I got 11-12 highway (gas engine) and a C will get about 7-9 I guess. I would like to be able to afford a smaller Class A, about 25' and keep my travelling down. A Geo Metro or similar tow'd and a small trail bike to go with it.<br><br>Diesel is what, 10 or 15% higher than gas these days?&nbsp; So the savings with better MPG is not so great.<br><br>

 

[thin air]

I'm trying to decide if I'll be most comfortable in a van or a class C.<br><br>When converting a van yourself are there many hassles over getting it insured, inspected, registered etc?<br><br>What are the differences between gas and diesel?&nbsp; I'm sure each has it's own advantages and drawbacks, so why choose one over the other?<br><br>When choosing to buy, how old is too old?&nbsp; How many miles are too many?<br><br>After insulating, how much width do you lose inside?&nbsp; I'm 6' 4" tall and weigh about 220 lbs, am I just too big for a van?

<br><br>main difference imo is what you want to do, how you plan on camping about...? working at a job location or from the camper or not working at all? <br><br>if you plan on spending alot of time aside from the winter months inside the camper then you may want to go class c. I have hawkeyed the 87 thru 91 Ford Trans Vans quite a bit myself, and very easily upgraded to 4x4. <br><br>

<br><br>

<br><br>you can get into one of these for as low as 5 grand... decent and been upkept.

 

[Lostinspace]

I've been looking for a. Transvan for about a year. At one of the places I used to work one of the bosses had a dodge transvan. He drove the crap out of it.

Hard to find here in Florida and the next states.

 

[Scoundrel]

I kinda forgot about this thread.&nbsp; Sorry about that.<br><br>I'm an over the road trucker.&nbsp; I'm on the truck, away from home for about 4 weeks, then home for about 4 days.&nbsp; My plan is to buy something to live in while I'm home.&nbsp; It'll be my only transportation, so I don't want anything too big to move through traffic smoothly.&nbsp; I plan on being alone most of the time, but I do have a young son that would stay with me a couple of nights.<br><br>Later, when I retire, I want to live in it full time.&nbsp; But, I doubt I'd travel much.&nbsp; Just enough to follow the good weather as the seasons change.<br><br>Right now I'm leaning towards a Roadtrek rv.&nbsp; They come with a lot of BS I don't want, but I'll be looking to move into what ever I get as soon as I buy it, so a ready to go RV would do the trick.<br><br>I don't think space is too much of a concern because I'm already used to living in a sleeper cab truck.&nbsp; The Roadtreks have things my work truck doesn't, like a toilet and shower.&nbsp; But, I'm on the fence about it still because they are so expensive.<br><br>I guess all I really need is a bed that's long enough to be comfortable (I'm 6'4"), a fridge, a sink, a single burner stove and a small oven.&nbsp; I'll also need an AC unit because I won't be leaving Texas for a number of years and if I'm going to live in it, I'll have to be comfortable.&nbsp; My plan is to buy something in late October, live in it through the winter, then buy and install an AC the following spring.&nbsp; Unless what I buy already has one.<br><br>When I'm working, I can park it on the company's secured lot.&nbsp; But, I think anything bigger than a van may take up too much space.&nbsp; That's one reason I want to stay small.&nbsp; But, another reason is I've just gotten used to living in a confined space.&nbsp; I like it.<br><br>Truthfully, I think I'll only be happy if I do my own conversion.&nbsp; However, my carpentry skill are pretty low.&nbsp; I don't know how to put things together in a sturdy way that will last for many years.<br><br>Lots to learn.

 

[Simran]

I've got an old ,old, old; did I say old? . . . .B Class Chevy G 30. <br>It is one tough cookie. I put 28K on it last year. it gets about <br>12MPG if you drive 55.<br>You can park it anywhere and nobody ever gives it a second look<br>over night. I've never been pestered.<br>Mine was gutted when I got it; so I was able to do it my way! Makes<br>all the difference.<br>gus

 

[Ballenxj]

Hi Gus, If you have any photos of it I'd love to see them. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce

 

[Simran]

<p>Here is a pic with my Merc in tow last year in Washington State.<br><br><img class="lb-image bbc_img" id="lb-image" style="display: inline;" src="/file?id=1293861" rel="lightbox"></p>

 

[Les H]

How about a mini bus? I loved mine, put 30kmi on it, and at 6' tall, I could stand in.it with no problem. I have a build thread named " finally, pics of my bus Buford ". It had a bed, stove, pottys , sink, tv/dvd, solar, would pull 10,000 lbs and got 13 mpg. There are a bunch of times I wish I still had it, but I've moved into a small 5th wheel to full-time in.

 

[highdesertranger]

van fan just remember sooner or later all those electronic gizmos fail.&nbsp; scoundrel are those the aluminum trailers for 1,700? &nbsp;here in so cal they are scraping those by the dozen.&nbsp; talked to a guy in the scale line one day and he said they are bringing 3,000 to 6,000 per trailer.&nbsp; maybe we could work something out where are those 1,700 trailers located.&nbsp; highdesertranger