Van Advice

[kiwi29]

Hi everyone,
Been enviously watching all you happy people with your vans and freedom and figure it's about time that I get in on the act and purchase a van and get building!

I've read a fair bit now on the various options (thank you all for taking the time to share - there's some amazing resources on here), and have started actively checking out vans on the weekends. I'm leaning towards the following:

2500 or equivalent (won't be towing but I understand that I'll have a fair bit of gear in the back once all is said and done)
Ideally less than 100,000miles (would consider more if an engine rebuild etc had been done or the vehicle had been serviced religiously
Up to $9K purchase price, obviously the lower the better but I'm not super mechanically inclined and want to be spending more of my time adventuring and not worrying about issues rather than saving a few dollars up front
High top would be ideal, but I figure that wouldn't be too hard to add on later if needed

--

I checked out an AWD Chevy Express 2500 yesterday that ticked most of the boxes - fleet vehicle, had been serviced regularly, $8500, doors on both sides of the van which I reckon would be very useful... only problem was that it was sitting at just over 200,000miles w/ an engine rebuild at 155K. Ran well, obviously been well looked after, no rust at all. 

I'm based out in NC but willing to travel a bit to find them - pretty committed to having something in hand by the end of the year so that I can get working on it with the intent to hopefully start the adventures by mid-2018.

Looking forward to hearing peoples thoughts and advice!

 

[user 37446]

I'm sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong but the AWD Express was a 1500 series only...

That's a lot of miles on the drivetrain, suspension and front end. Do you really need the AWD? People in the north like them, your location seems like you dont particularly need it.

Being not mechanically inclined would make that particular van not the 1st choice due to mileage and power train complexity. Motor rebuilt by whom? I've heard not so good about Jasper, you need the details. You say fleet serviced, fine, get the records and see if all they did was change oil every 5,000 and never changed the trans fluid, flushed the coolant, tune up, rear diff fluids... I wouldn't buy a trannynthat never had the fluid changed, but then that's my opinion.

 

[Gideon33w]

I wouldnt worry too much about higher miles on an Express if it runs, drives and shifts well. There is a good reason you see so many for sale with over a quarter million miles.

 

[Kia girl]

For me that just seems like a lot of miles for the price.

 

[Gideon33w]

Agreed. Mine is for sale, already modified for vandwelling, has fewer (181k) miles, and I'm asking $6000 or best offer.
$8500 for a stock van with more miles is a bit high. Even if there's receipts for a motor AND trans rebuild (is there or just their say-so?).
As far as being rust free ... There's a reason people hunt for vans here in Arizona and the SW in general. They almost all are here.
Also, if it is in fact only a 1500 then it has the lighter duty (though still generally good) 4L60e transmission.

As far as budgeting for a van and being concerned about maintenance and reliability you should keep in mind initial cost to maintenance ratio.
Sure, a $2000 van might develop issues. But, a full professional trans rebuild is about $2,000 and a motor rebuild kit is $300 plus labor.
That means that even if both the motor and trans crapped out you'd be spending less than a $6,000 van and have a freshly rebuilt drivetrain.
I'm oversimplifying and throwing out round numbers but I'd rather have a cheaper van with money in the bank than a more expensive van.

Though I will admit that it is different for different people. My ability to wrench myself definitely plays a part in my mindset.

 

[John61CT]

Too many people have $ X,000 saved up, and think they can "invest" 80-90% in the purchase side.

I say unless under three years and 50K, reserve at least half for repairs and maintenance. More than half if a 10+ year old even if all seems fine. And a minimum of $3K if you find a bargain less than that.

The worse the mechanics seem, the more you need to set aside, don't trust to luck!

Otherwise you're risking getting stuck in the boonies with only the one garage in town.

In addition, set up a piggy bank and untouchable bank account and deposit at least 50¢ a mile as you go, $1 even better. No not for gas, but another level of security, and a reminder what lots of mileage actually costs.

Might seem like overkill, but if you have to save it up before heading cross-country, shows even more you need to do something like this.

And if you get lucky and don't need to spend it on repairs, tires, batteries etc, wouldn't it be nice to have the cash in the bank to pay for the next van when replacement time finally rolls around?

They say you teach the things you need to learn the most

Too soon old, too late schmart. . .

 

[Gideon33w]

^This

 

[user 15722]

If AWD means All Wheel Drive I would forego that mechanical complexity unless you have a specific need for it.
It would entail more expensive repair and most likely lesser fuel mileage. wheels

 

[kiwi29]

Fantastic advice and input, thanks all. I'm going to pass this one up - too many uncertainties and as some of you pointed out - the price is certainly high for the mileage. I may have found a similar 2500 at 55k miles and $8k (getting photos tomorrow) so I'll keep you posted.

With plans to head west (CO/UT/CA/WA) in the long run how necessary/desirable do you all think AWD/4WD really is? I managed just fine in a 2WD with a bit of strategic hitching when I lived there a few years back so the points about mechanical complexity are well made. Would be very interested in hearing feedback on that.

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums kiwi29!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[Gideon33w]

As far as taking a 2wd offroad, it is more about experience and common sense than vehicle capability.
An idiot in a 4wd gets stuck far easier than a reasonable person in a 2wd.
Unless serious offroading is in order or you plan to be moving during bad winters I wouldn't bother.
Good tires can also go a long way towards capability. Same for some type of limited slip diff in a 2wd.

 

[Born2Explore]

My wife and I just bought a 2004 Extended GMC Savana with a Hi-top and only 53k miles on it from Craigslist. It has all the receipts and maintenance records. We had been actively searching for about the last 3-4 months on just about every online resource you could think of! We ended up finding this van 8 hours away from us on craigslist, but it was definitely worth the drive! If I could give some advice, it would be to be patient! We almost rushed it twice and pulled the trigger on slightly cheaper, higher mileage vans.

First, find out exactly what you want, then expand your search area until you find it! Cars.com was a good resource too and had a nice search and filter to plug in exactly what you are looking for nationwide.

Good luck! Keep us updated!

 

[highdesertranger]

they actually did make a few AWD 2500's. rare as hens teeth. I am not a fan of AWD. for me it's true 4WD or nothing and no push button stuff either. also no 4WD conversions. highdesertranger

 

[Gideon33w]

Hunting for the right van boils down to patience and/or luck. Those who run out and buy a van as fast as they can usually end up with issues.