Two more vans....

[citytravelfotos]

....and two more disappointments.<br /><br />The first Van is a 1997 Dodge Ram Wagon B3500, 161,000 miles, has a 5.2L engine, recently rebuilt transmission. &nbsp;Big and excellent in terms of space:<br /><br /><img src="http://images.craigslist.org/5N55Ie5Md3I83od3lbc9b8bfd2fc172b61b6e.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br /><img src="http://images.craigslist.org/5Na5P25J83Eb3na3Fdc9bc6105a9f1c831828.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />However...<br /><br />According to Carfax, the vehicle was used for 2 years as a "taxi", and was driven for 73,000 miles in that time. &nbsp;Add to that that since August 2008, the van has hardly been driven. &nbsp;IMO that sounds like abuse.<br /><br /><br />The Second van, looks EXCELLENT (a 2004 ford e250 extended high top wheelchair van, $8,500) looks like it'd be stealthy for residential areas (as an extended conversion van) and has exactly the door size I want for my balloon photography. &nbsp;I called the guy earlier today, he said that someone was flying from California to buy the vehicle, so I thought my opportunity was lost. &nbsp;The guy calls me up in the evening saying that the guy didn't have the money, which sounds suspicious. &nbsp;I get the vin number of the vehicle and get an Autocheck report. &nbsp;It turns out the vehicle has been in a rear end collision, and the vehicle, as of 12/21/10 has 198,000 miles on it in only 5.5 years, an average of 36,000 miles. &nbsp;<br /><br /><img src="http://images.craigslist.org/5L55H55J23E63M13Ndc9183f466add8f11da9.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br /><img src="http://images.craigslist.org/5N55Gd5Y03E23Gd3L6c9174926193e42f1a33.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />The van looks great, but I need something reliable (and especially if I'm going to pay $8000), since I'm going to be doing 10,000+ mile trips with it. &nbsp;<br /><br />I think I'm going to stop looking for vans until I come back from my Fall 2012 trip around the country late this year.

 

[greybeard23]

I know how hard it is to find a van.&nbsp; I had looked for at least a year up here in the northeast and most vans I looked at were work vans with 200 or more thousand miles for big bucks.<br />I finally gave up and hit the road in my ford explorer, till about ten months into my trip and it got hit bad enough to take it off the road.<br />But then, a week later I came across a van, 27 years old, said it had 130 thousand, but actually had 230, and had been sitting in a barn for four years.&nbsp; So I did a quick tune up hit the road, put on 3 thousand miles and got it back up here.&nbsp; Then I found an engine and transmission, fixed alot of electrical and mechanical items.&nbsp; Now I have finished the interior and am just about ready to hit the road with a vehicle that runs and drives better than a friends 2004 chevy pick up with only 64 thousand miles on it.<br />Alot of work and had to take a few months off from traveling, but I think I am in better shape now than I was a year ago.<br /><br />Just keep looking and good luck to you.<br /><br />Happy trails.

 

[citytravelfotos]

Can you tell me what in particular did you fix? &nbsp;I'd like to know what should be fixed / replaced on a van that has been sitting around for several years, because there are plenty of them out there being sold for relatively low prices. &nbsp;<br /><br />Also, how much did the engine and transmission cost you? &nbsp;Thanks.

 

[greybeard23]

I ended up paying around 2300 for the Van, thought that was high, but they signed the title saying it had 130,000 miles, which I thought for that year was low.&nbsp; A one owner van.<br />The engine I bought, someone had bought it used, less than 10,000 miles on it and had it sitting in their garage for a year or more, hoping for a project car to start on.&nbsp; I bought the engine with a transmission for 1200.&nbsp; Traded the transmission for half the cost of a transmission rebuild on my transmission, so my engine cost me about 800 and the transmission rebuild was 800 less the transmission I gave them.<br /><br />I had a few electrical issues from sitting, mainly corrosion on light fixtures.&nbsp; Just needed to be taken apart and cleaned up, no money invested, replace two headlights, one side marker light.<br />I did replace the master cylinder, was showing signs of leaking.<br />I think, besides the cost of the Van, I have about 2600 into the engine, transmission, 100 amp altenator, new edelbrock carb, exterior lights I added, plus cable to rear batteries.<br />But, all said and done, I don't think I have to much into a vehicle that is not computerized, that I can work on, and because of its age, is a good solid vehicle.&nbsp; Luckily I am somewhat mechanically inclined, I have been working on my own vehicles since high school, so I can do most of the work myself.<br /><br />Hope this helps.&nbsp; Anything with age will need some work, you need to make sure you have a decent engine and drive train, and good brakes, the rest is icing on the cake.