U-Haul Truck Sales: 24' GMC C6000 box truck for sale in Paducah, KY, 42003

[Langleyc05]

http://www.uhaul.com/TruckSales/equipment/771057/GH0311J/

So what do you guys think about a used u-haul truck? U-haul keeps a meticulous maintenance schedule. It's big enough for us four (two adult daughters presently live with us). I lean toward a truck. DH leans toward ready-made RV. We aren't ready to plunk down money yet. Just window shopping at the moment.

 

[LoupGarou]

Call your insurance company and give them the VIN number off the web site to see if they'll cover it. My guess is that they won't. If they will, it'll be at a commercial rate since it has a GVWR of 18,000lbs.

 

[BradKW]

I wanted to convert a step van into a camper and could find no insurance. My auto carrier , (Geico), would not cover it, I was not a business, so commercial carriers would not cover me, and the van had not yet been converted so no rv insurance carriers would cover it. The RV carriers said once it had a bed, kitchen and toilet they would, but they would not give me an estimated price. I lost interest in spending a lot of time and money to end up with being at the mercy of just a few insurance carriers.
After that I became interested in an old ambulance built on a ford f350 frame. Allstate said they would insure it as an rv. I decided against the ambulance in the end. Now I have a pickup with the bed removed and a flat bed on it. My plan is to now make a camper to put onto the flat bed.

My opinion only here. I refuse to do business with progressive. I had a motorcycle insured with them full coverage. When it was stolen in three years they said how do we know you didn't steal your own motorcycle. It was the first time any insurance company had insinuated my claim was fraud. How was I supposed to prove it wasn't? Then after three months they only wanted to give me half of what it was worth.

It would appear that RV insurance is the best way to go...it can actually be cheaper than personal. If you're not Financed, it'd be pretty easy to wait till you've built out enough to qualify for RV. If financed, I guess you'd have to search for a company that might work with you...

That's a big truck...I see lots of great potential there!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

While insurance is the big issue, the other is your driver's license.  While most states allow you to drive an RV with a regular driver's license, this truck MAY be big enough that it would require a commercial driver's license if you are not able to get it reclassified as an RV.

So, are you planning to keep your "official" residence in the state you are in now, or do you hope to "move" to one of the nomad friendly states like FL, SD, or TX?

If the former, you need to check on insurance, driver's license, and what your state needs you to do to the truck to get it registered as an RV.

If the latter, you need to get the same information for your potential new "home" state.

Frankly, it's a lot less hassle to go with a regular RV.  It can be registered and insured easily anywhere.

And is it possible that your DH is not looking forward to all of the work needed to convert an empty box into a livable space?

Regards
John

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

I don't know for sure, but I've heard that U-haul buys their trucks used.  I've also heard of people loading everything they own into a u-haul truck and having it break down on the road.  Why is u-haul selling the truck?  I'd be very careful.

All the talk about insurance reminds me of my first sprinter van, a 2002.  All 2002 sprinter vans were originally owned by fed-ex, so it's not listed in many databases.  For example, when buying tires, I couldn't enter "2002 sprinter", I had to "lie" and call it a 2003.  When I got insurance I explained to the agent why it wasn't listed on their database.  So, they called it a "dodge caravan".  Ha ha, I got my insurance.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I don't know for sure, but I've heard that U-haul buys their trucks used.  I've also heard of people loading everything they own into a u-haul truck and having it break down on the road.  Why is u-haul selling the truck?  I'd be very careful.

I do know that U-Haul seems to ask for less money for their old trucks than Budget wants for theirs.

Regards
John

 

[Langleyc05]

I'm surprised to hear that about insurance. Would it still be considered a commercial vehicle because of it 'S size? I guess I was thinking that since it's U-haul, a normal drivers license would do. (No commercial license required for their 17')

U-haul buys their trucks new and sells them automaticly after a few years.
Yes, DH doesn't want to mess with all the work it would take. My take is that if we can save extra money, we could pay someone to do some carpentry work.
It's a friendly debate. :

 

[WriterMs]

Hi Carolyn,
Hope I'm not pointing out something that you've discussed elsewhere and I've simply forgotten about that discussion. But in deciding on factory built versus your own conversion, a BIG part of the decision might be not about carpentry but about facilities.

By that I mean, is the whole family okay with pooping in a bucket and a solar shower? Or will they want/need a flush RV toilet and heated shower water in a built-in bathroom? Adding the tanks and plumbing necessary to an empty box involves a much larger scale project.

 

[Langleyc05]

By that I mean, is the whole family okay with pooping in a bucket and a solar shower? Or will they want/need a flush RV toilet and heated shower water in a built-in bathroom? Adding the tanks and plumbing necessary to an empty box involves a much larger scale project.

We are fine with the luggable-Loo and a screen. But that is something I have wanted to ask you vanners about
When someone is grunting in the corner do you just turn up the sound of your mp3 player? [emoji21] [emoji12]

 

[Langleyc05]

Okay. 24' is out. I think I was temporarily mesmerized by all that space for only 8K.

If the girls would move out, DH and I would be happy in a van.

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

After reading about u-haul on wikipedia, I see nothing to indicate that u-haul buys their trucks used (contrary to what I had heard in the past).  If I was able to edit my post to that effect I would, but I didn't try to edit it until 10 minutes after I made the post so, oh well.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

If the girls would move out,  DH and I would be happy in a van.

Sounds like it's time to send them down to the store for a quart of milk, and move with no forwarding address while they're out . . .

Regards
John

 

[GrantRobertson]

Adding the tanks and plumbing necessary to an empty box involves a much larger scale project.

That is why I eventually went with a beater old RV. The tanks are already there. Plus the insurance was easy.

 

[WriterMs]

We are fine with the luggable-Loo and a screen. But that is something I have wanted to ask you vanners about
When someone is grunting in the corner do you just turn up the sound of your mp3 player?  [emoji21] [emoji12]

LOL, Carolyn. This is also where you'd want to be sure to have a very good ventilation system. And consider that with 4 people, odds are good someone will be up during the night now and then...disturbing others' sleep with rustling of liner bags, etc.

One solution is to have a separate outside tent set up for a toilet (assuming you would be in a campground or a boondock and not in a Walmart parking lot). Even tho it is just me, I carry a pop up privacy shelter that I can use for showering. Mine is many years old and more heavy duty with additional features, but similar like this are available:

http://www.amazon.com/Matter-Time-I...449949952&sr=1-6&keywords=pop+up+privacy+tent

Of course, that means a trip outside for nature calls. And that means a door on your rig that is easy to get in and out of.

You know, I'd say your plans to live a mobile life are a good "deadline" for your kids to find their OWN living arrangements. Couldn't they both share a small apartment? Maybe discussing the bucket in the corner and it's implications in front of them will give them some incentive? LOL

 

[ahh_me2]

Maybe discussing the bucket in the corner and it's implications in front of them will give them some incentive?  LOL    

Awesome idea!  

 

[Langleyc05]

LOL, Carolyn. This is also where you'd want to be sure to have a very good ventilation system. And consider that with 4 people, odds are good someone will be up during the night now and then...disturbing others' sleep with rustling of liner bags, etc.

One solution is to have a separate outside tent set up for a toilet (assuming you would be in a campground or a boondock and not in a Walmart parking lot). Even tho it is just me, I carry a pop up privacy shelter that I can use for showering. Mine is many years old and more heavy duty with additional features, but similar like this are available:

http://www.amazon.com/Matter-Time-I...449949952&sr=1-6&keywords=pop+up+privacy+tent

Of course, that means a trip outside for nature calls. And that means a door on your rig that is easy to get in and out of.

You know, I'd say your plans to live a mobile life are a good "deadline" for your kids to find their OWN living arrangements. Couldn't they both share a small apartment? Maybe discussing the bucket in the corner and it's implications in front of them will give them some incentive? LOL

The outside potty tent is a great idea! [emoji2]

Their older sister owns a house with an outside building, 2-car garage. We have discussed turning it into a suite for one or both of her sisters. It's pretty bare bones at the moment. This was Daughter #1's idea.

 

[LeeRevell]

Having worked at a U-Haul store (I was "General Rental Items Tech") , I saw the abuse these trucks endure. Remember, they are rented to the general public, many who have no idea how to drive a large truck.  Have a good mechanic look it over very closely!

 

[akrvbob]

Here are some general thoughts on the commercial versus home-built RV assuming you can solve the insurance problem

1) In the long run, everything about the construction of a commercial truck will be 1000 times better than any RV. After a few years every RV will need some roof work while that truck won't, probably never will.
2) Chances are every RV is over it's gross weight and doing damage to itself every time you drive. That truck will never approach its gross weight. It will laugh at the weight you put in it
3) It's easy to put in real insulation in the truck which very few RVs have.
4) You totally chose the floor plan.
5) It's easy to frame in a bathroom for privacy and even add a shower stall and a on-demand propane water heater with a water tank in the bathroom. Put the kitchen next to it so it shares the water and hot water heater. Catch the grey water into a 5 gallon jug or let it run out on the ground.

Bad things about the truck

1) Its tall!!! Pain in the butt getting in and out.
2) It'll take a lot of work to get it nice and if you have to pay someone else it will be expensive.
3) You'll have to frame in a back wall with a door and put in a bunch of windows.
4) No stealth!
5) It's going to take a lot of time, money and work--is it worth it to you?
6) You can finance a finished RV, this will be money out of pocket as you build it.

Lots of good things, it's just if the good outweighs the bad for you.
Bob

 

[Langleyc05]

Here are some general thoughts on the commercial versus home-built RV assuming you can solve the insurance problem

1) In the long run, everything about the construction of a commercial truck will be 1000 times better than any RV. After a few years every RV will need some roof work while that truck won't, probably never will.
2) Chances are every RV is over it's gross weight and doing damage to itself every time you drive. That truck will never approach its gross weight. It will laugh at the weight you put in it
3) It's easy to put in real insulation in the truck which very few RVs have.
4) You totally chose the floor plan.
5) It's easy to frame in a bathroom for privacy and even add a shower stall and a on-demand propane water heater with a water tank in the bathroom. Put the kitchen next to it so it shares the water and hot water heater. Catch the grey water into a 5 gallon jug or let it run out on the ground.

Bad things about the truck

1) Its tall!!! Pain in the butt getting in and out.
2) It'll take a lot of work to get it nice and if you have to pay someone else it will be expensive.
3) You'll have to frame in a back wall with a door and put in a bunch of windows.
4) No stealth!
5) It's going to take a lot of time, money and work--is it worth it to you?
6) You can finance a finished RV, this will be money out of pocket as you build it.

Lots of good things, it's just if the good outweighs the bad for you.
Bob

Thanks a lot, Bob. I finally turned my thoughts away from it and you've got me checking it out again. [emoji7] [emoji23]

Another thing against it, I believe, would be the cost of mechanical upkeep, keeping the engine, transmission and so forth, running.

You have some definite pros there though. I like that about the gross weight.

Are there any heavy duty truckbed type trailers that can be towed? Solidly built with large gross weight?