Thoughts on this unusual van?

[sting]

I'm looking for a base cargo van to camp in - I'll keep it simple - build in a bed, storage and maybe a fridge.

I found a 2003 Dodge Ram 5.2L (318) V8 with only 31000 miles (50K KMs). It has such low mileage because it was kept for chores like mail delivery on an army base. The guy who bought it got it at government auction and must have got a great deal, has only had it a couple months and claims he used it to move his relative instead of hiring a truck... was going to keep it but things changed and doesn't really need it now... who knows, maybe he's just trying to flip it for a quick profit... whatever. 

The good: I'm not a mechanic, but it seems to drive well, no leaks under it that I could see. and all the lights/electrical work. Seats/dash clean and very good condition. The inside cargo area is pretty much unaltered and is not even banged up or scratched at all. I lifted the rubber mat on the floor and did find some small rust near the rear doors... not sure that's pretty normal? 

The not so good: on the exterior the guy must have painted the entire thing over with a roller - not horrid looking, but not beautiful - you could seen that the original paint on the exterior had almost peeled or flaked off in parts. Is it known for paint to to do that on those vans? I suspect his roller job will merely flake off too going overtop of that, hey?

Anyhow, that's about it for $6500 Canadian ($5000 USD).

What do you all think? 

Parry

 

[Patrick46]

Hmmmmm...

could you post up some pics??

It 'could' be a good deal, but I'd hafta see it first

 

[sting]

Photos now up!

 

[sting]

I googled the VIN and came up with the auction page where he bought it!

I can see why he painted it - the page shows all the rust. It also says it wouldn't start without a boost, but started fine for me (it was warm as he lives far away and we met halfway). Says he had a starting bid of $1500.

The plot thickens... here is the auction page I found with lots of photos of before he painted it:

https://www.gcsurplus.ca/mn-eng.cfm...chtype=&so=ASC&sf=ferm-clos&lci=&str=1&ltnf=1

Below are a few I've pasted for your convenience... and note that the interior shot in my first post doesn't appear to actually be from the van I was actually looking at (maybe he bought a few of them?) ... it's still in really good shape, but looks like the ones in the auction link and the sample I've now put in this post

Thoughts, please!

Parry

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Looks like our van used to. I sanded a lot and painted with Rustoleum till we can afford a nicer paint job. We see lots of Dodges around this age with the same issue, especially the long ones built in Canada like ours was.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

BtW...Rustoleum #7792 is a fair but not exact match.

 

[highdesertranger]

yeah unless it was prepped properly that rust will come right back. if it wasn't for the mandated water base paint they must use today it looks ok. don't know about the mechanical that's hard to tell without actually being there. highdesertranger

 

[Reducto]

That's a tough one - looks like it was simply parked somewhere it got dripped on, causing the roof rust. Requiring a boost just means the old battery was worn down, either it's already been replaced or you could do it yourself cheaply enough.

I'd poke at the roof with a screwdriver to make sure there's still decent metal underneath and to see if the new paint immediately comes loose, which it will if the rust wasn't taken care of.

If you do buy it, I'd recommend getting a cheap sander and taking all the roof paint off then going at it with primer and paint. It's not that expensive, but will take some time. If it's significantly cheaper that comparable vans (not that you'll get a direct comparison with that low mileage, but as close as you can tell) I'd probably get it checked by a body shop and go for it. You'll want to make sure there isn't any rust underneath.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Most likely surface rust but even that needs to be treated with ospho (sp) to stop the rust.

 

[sting]

Well, for $6500 Canadian, from what I've seen out there, here's what it seems to come down to:

OPTION A: There are lots of 2007ish vans around that don't have the peeling or roof rust problems of this van, but usually with 200,000+ kms.

OPTION B: Or I could get the van in this post which is a little older at 2003, has the covered up, bad looking roof rust and peeling body paint, BUT ONLY 50,000 kms

All else equal, which would your gut tell you to choose?

Parry

 

[DannyB1954]

If the vehicle has not been exposed to road salt I would take this one. When the body rots from the bottom up there seems to be no stopping it. With chemicals the rust on the outside can be dissolved and ready for primer. I used to use something called Navel Jelly.

 

[LeeRevell]

Check the tires, rubber parts, etc.  That year with that low miles means it has sat idle a lot.

 

[Almost There]

I'd be tempted to tell him you found the original auction so you know what is under that terrible paint job he did!

At the mileage and knowing the original use I'd grab it but not at the price he's asking. Making a profit is one thing, but buying it and not even having the decency to give it a decent rust removal and paint job does not warrant the price increase.

For example I bought a 2002 GMC Savana with 100,000 kms on it in much better paint condition for $3,500 last September here in Ontario.

Yes, it had sat for a while, actually a whole lot longer than I was led to believe. The first thing it needed was a new battery - they'd been charging the old battery until just before I arrived. I consider a new battery to be standard operating procedure - the last 3 vehicles I've bought all needed one immediately. The Savana also needed new tires all way round, the rubber was original so 13 years old.

Other than tires and the battery it needed a couple of hundred dollars of mechanical work and I had the small amount of body work done and stone guard applied to the lower edge where all the rust needed to be fixed.

Finding a van with extremely low mileage IS a crap shoot when it comes to the condition of the rubber parts but they seem to stand up better than most of us think.

Oh and the rust inside the back doors under the mat is because of the rear door design which sucks. When the doors are open rain water off the roof lands on the rear 6 or 8" of the floor.

 

[myke]

It looks like the first interior pic could be of the same van, but just the rubber mat was removed... and basically a new looking floor was underneath...

 

[sting]

OK, I just found the government auction receipt online... he paid $2550 for it 2 months ago and is asking $6500

He claims he had to put $1700 into it new disc brakes (maybe rusted because it was sitting?) BUT he claims he can't find the receipt, so I can't verify this... Maybe his buddy did it or something or maybe he didn't even put that cash into it... who knows.

Like I say, the mechanics seem good and the only negatives I see are just the roof rust and peeling body paint underneath his roller job and the fact that it's probably sat for a decade so whatever comes with that.

My gut makes me feel kinda like a chump to consider paying $6500, but he does have between $2550 and possibly $4250 invested, so not sure what a fair offer would be?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

OK, I just found the government auction receipt online... he paid $2550 for it 2 months ago and is asking $6500

Now that you've found the site he bought it at, did you check to see if there are any upcoming auctions with something you might be interested in?  Wouldn't it make more sense to ignore his van and try to buy one direct from the government yourself?

Regards
John

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

If it was me, I'd look for a different van.

 

[DannyB1954]

OK, I just found the government auction receipt online... he paid $2550 for it 2 months ago and is asking $6500

He claims he had to put $1700 into it.

My calculator says 2550 + 1700 = 4250.
It also says 6500 - 4250 = 2,250 profit.

If you feel the van does have the value of 6500, than it is still a fair deal, but I would ask him to reduce his profit margin. Ask him if he will claim the profit on his income tax.

 

[ZoNiE]

If the auction site allows you to verify the mileage, then $5K-5,500 is probably about right. I guessed at some of the options here, and it is for my zipcode.

Show him the photos you have from the auction.

KBB Link

Otherwise, like John said, wait for another one at the auction.

 

[highdesertranger]

the paint wouldn't stop me because I could fix that. however how bad the roof is pitted is a major concern and now that its been painted you really can't tell. check for bondo on the roof it's easy to spot bad bondo jobs. if it was me I would pass or low ball him and let him now why you are low balling him. another thing there is no way a front brake job cost 1700 bucks what did they do put gold platted rotors on it. to see if they actually did the front brakes crawl under the front and have a look. parts that new will not have rust or only light surface rust you could wipe it off with you finger also the rotors should not be glazed yet. highdesertranger