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? 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? How many miles are too many?<br><br>After insulating, how much width do you lose inside? I'm 6' 4" tall and weigh about 220 lbs, am I just too big for a van?
Questions about DIY conversion
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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
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I am 5'10". I have <1/4 inch of insulation on my walls. I still wind up diagonally with a side to side bed in the back in my Dodge.<br><br>@ 6'4" you will need to orient the bed front to back in a Van. <br><br> If you are alone this is doable. If you have travelling companions, 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.
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Personally, I wouldn't buy anything older than 1996, when OBD (On Board Diagnostics) II became standard. It helps a lot with diagnostics/maintenance.<br><br>Vickie
Thanks for the input everyone.<br><br>@OpenMinds I never thought about it before, but I don't see many class C motorhomes on the interstates. 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. Last year I bought a 2012 Chevy Cruze and I'm really amazed at the electronics. It tells me when I need an oil change, when the tires are low on air etc. Makes life easier for sure.<br><br>@wrcsixeoght As an OTR trucker I know how hard it can be to find parking sometimes. But, I also know Walmart stores are everywhere. If they'll allow 18 wheelers to park overnight, I don't think they'll mind a little class C.<br><br>@86bigred Sure, but would it be that much more difficult to remodel a class C? I know people have done it with trailers. But, I should probably ask that in the class c forum.
<EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Hey Scoundrel,</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888"> 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>
@rokguy Yes, I am thinking about that too. But, I've read that getting it insured can be a nightmare. Any thoughts about that?<br><br>I'm also considering a 48' or 53' refer trailer. A friend out West tells me he knows where to buy used ones for just $1700 and they are already very well insulated.
<SPAN style="COLOR: #808080"><EM><STRONG>10-4 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, 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
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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
@ Ballenxj<br><br>Yes there are and for a newbie like me it's very confusing just choosing the type of vehicle. Then you have to figure out power and water and climate control and how much it'll cost and where to put things. Then it's has to be registered and insured. There's a lot to think about.
Seraphim
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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.
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Photos here:
http://bentfalcon.wordpress.com/gyrfalcon/
A <span style="text-decoration: underline;">48</span>' reefer? To just park somewhere or travel with? <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? So the savings with better MPG is not so great.<br><br>
<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>Scoundrel said:
Lostinspace
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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.
Hard to find here in Florida and the next states.
I kinda forgot about this thread. Sorry about that.<br><br>I'm an over the road trucker. I'm on the truck, away from home for about 4 weeks, then home for about 4 days. My plan is to buy something to live in while I'm home. It'll be my only transportation, so I don't want anything too big to move through traffic smoothly. 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. But, I doubt I'd travel much. Just enough to follow the good weather as the seasons change.<br><br>Right now I'm leaning towards a Roadtrek rv. 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. The Roadtreks have things my work truck doesn't, like a toilet and shower. 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. 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. My plan is to buy something in late October, live in it through the winter, then buy and install an AC the following spring. Unless what I buy already has one.<br><br>When I'm working, I can park it on the company's secured lot. But, I think anything bigger than a van may take up too much space. That's one reason I want to stay small. But, another reason is I've just gotten used to living in a confined space. I like it.<br><br>Truthfully, I think I'll only be happy if I do my own conversion. However, my carpentry skill are pretty low. 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
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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
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
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van fan just remember sooner or later all those electronic gizmos fail. scoundrel are those the aluminum trailers for 1,700? here in so cal they are scraping those by the dozen. talked to a guy in the scale line one day and he said they are bringing 3,000 to 6,000 per trailer. maybe we could work something out where are those 1,700 trailers located. highdesertranger
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