Van choice

[ryguy]

I'm currently looking to make the move to van life and after looking at vans my most basic question is how easy and how much of all of the extra trimmings and "furnishings" can you reasonably get out of a conversion van? Something like this-  http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/1970187?ad_cid=1 
Or would it just be less of a pain to get a cargo van if you want to go fully custom? I will also say I have experience with all variety of manual labor and am comfortable with hand and power tools of all sorts if that sways your judgement one way or the other.

Also, I will be moving into a van in the winter in Utah so it will be cold. So ability to insulate is one of my main concerns....as well as keeping cool in the summer. Thanks

 

[Almost There]

My personal opinion only, YMMV...  

And I admit to being biased towards buying a cargo van and doing what I want with it.

There is no point in paying the high bucks for a Class B or a conversion van only to gut it to remove all the features you don't like. Better to buy a cargo van and add the things you really want and need. That one has 4 very nice captains seats but where are you going to store two of them to make room for what you really need.

Those convertible beds are rarely comfortable and offer no underneath storage.

While they boast about being insulated, it is inadequate for any cold weather use. There is no way of upping the insulation in them unless you strip everything out of it and then it won't fit back in again if you do a decent job of insulating the van.

Heat loss is greatest from the windows. If you're going to be stuck living in a colder winter, then you want all the protection from heat loss you can get.

That 'mini high top' still doesn't get you standing height - not even for me and I'm short!!

Most of the conversion vans are built on a E150/1500 platform which means they are not meant for heavy duty use. Load them with all the stuff you need and you end up sacrificing performance and longevity of parts and tires.

I just checked and that one you posted a link to has a 7.1 L engine in it....gas mileage will suck big time!

IMO, if you have the ability to do even simple wood construction and can figure out what you want in a van, you are better off doing it yourself.

Also, you can start really simple with minimal start up cost and live in it rough while you find out what works for you.

 

[highdesertranger]

Almost There has a lot of good points. one I will add is if you convert it yourself you get exactly what you want plus the old saying, "if you want something done right you better do it yourself". highdsertranger

 

[eDJ_]

There are Ford High Top Vans around that don't have any windows in them.  Just the windshield, front door windows and back door tilt out windows.  Inside is totally empty and devoid of anything.

Some of them are extended beyond the rear wheel. (like a 15 passenger) The one in the photo isn't.

With a Van like this you could build and insulate after running your wiring just about anyway you would wish.

In the simplest form you can look at my web site at the bottom in the signature line for some ideas.  That can be elaborated on if you are in colder areas.   This photo above shows a sheet metal wall that is often used
in commercial vehicles.  American Vans com sells this stuff.

http://www.americanvan.com/bulkhead-partitions/full-size-van

This is the way I've gone, following my website.   No insulation, just the bed and kitchenette.  I have a foot locker and ice chest. Does everything I need for the present.  I can always add to it.

 

[Almost There]

And with the exception of you needing more insulation you can also look at what I did.

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Building-Arabella

And then there's the whole section on conversions of all types from which you can take bits and pieces until you get what YOU want!

 

[dhawktx]

Quick insulation, believe it or not, can be as simple as multiple coats of paint! As long as you buy from someone reputable, like the guys who developed it in the first place, this paint additive has some amazing R values:

http://www.hytechsales.com/insulating_paint_additives.html

A friend used this on her Skoolie conversion and didn't need any other insulation topside.

 

[akrvbob]

Almost There said it all as well as it could be said!!

In your situation the only two reasons to get a passenger van is it will be easier to find a high top and the other is if you need windows. Some people just have to have them.

Otherwise a cargo van works for you much better.

One more consideration, some people think that white cargo vans have a bad reputation and will draw unwanted attention. I've got doubts about that but it is something to consider.
Bob

 

[DannyB1954]

All of what Almost there said. In addition I would add that if you plan on having cabinets attached to the side walls it will be harder to find a solid fastening point in a finished van.

 

[SternWake]

Well devil's advocate side of things.

First if the van is mechanically sound and you like and are familiar with Chevy's, don't let the frou frou interior stop you.

Number one the Seats will likely have swivel bases. Big Plus. Number 2 the wiring for the incandescent lights is already run, and switched. Swapping modern LED bulbs into them is simple.

I wound up gutting my Conversion van roof first, as I have 9'6"surfboard that need to reside up there. Right now I have 2 9'6 surfboards up there and a 6'8" surfboard, and they all rest higher than the original steel roof would have.
Later, I added 1/2 inch of foamboard insulation to the fiberglass roof, and painted the outside white. Later on i gutted the interior as it simply wasted too much space.

My rearward windows also have the sliding window factor. I replace the screen and backed it with chicken wire for a bit more security. I have 3 computer fans in one window. Adjustable speed fans.

I have made thick double walled cardboard panels painted black on one side, with curtain fabric on the inside. Much better insulation wise. NO light escapes, and I freaking love parking next to the ocean and removing the 3 panels and have that View.



I was able to recycle all the stained Oak from the original conversion kit elsewhere, and in projects not even Van related.

I love having the windows. The one behind my drivers seat, I added some louvers painted them black, and took the sofa bed actuator and made it so I slide the sindow open or closed at the turn of a switch. It Vents my Compressor fridge.

There is none of my original conversion van interior left, except for 2 of the captains chairs, and the wiring they ran for the lighting.

if you got the tools and skills, You can add insulation behind the panels, or use the panels as templates and make your own.

When I was van searching, i was looking for a few months and when mine came up, no it was not ideal, but I was able to use the original interior and then adapt it to my requirements over time, and retain some conversion van stealth factor.

A clean Slate, no, but it is not difficult to make a clean slate.

I love the original raised roof, but they did a poor ass job attaching it. they used drywall screw. I have very little rust on the underside being a southern Van, but my roof gutters and windshield area have rotted mostly due to the drywall screws, and the fact that I am almost always within a mile of the ocean.

If the mechanics check out, and you know Chevy's, and are competent with tools and carpentry, do not let the fact that it is not a clean slate for transition to dwelling let it stop you.

I was not looking for a Conversion Van, but I am Glad I got one. It has been a wonderful canvas.

 

[MK7]

There are Ford High Top Vans around that don't have any windows in them.  Just the windshield, front door windows and back door tilt out windows.  Inside is totally empty and devoid of anything.

Some of them are extended beyond the rear wheel. (like a 15 passenger) The one in the photo isn't.

 

This is like the best ever, van. It doesn't quite look like a cargo/creeper van but is, a cargo van. And the super hightop lets most people stand up, completely. In a regular hightop, unless you're under 5'5 or something, you can't fully stand up and any bend in your neck, just sucks. It's just hard to find this van at a good price. And they get snatched up really fast.


 [/quote]

 

[TMG51]

One more consideration, some people think that white cargo vans have a bad reputation and will draw unwanted attention. I've got doubts about that but it is something to consider.
Bob

I think a white cargo van is among the stealthiest things out there, when just parked and that's it. No one questions a parked white van on a street, behind a business etc because those vans are used by workers everywhere. It's as soon as someone realizes there's a person living in it that they start to jump to all sorts of crazy conclusions and stigmatize the occupant. Somehow people are least receptive of someone living in a vehicle that appears windowless and secretive.

When meeting new people, I find I can influence their perception of my lifestyle by how it's introduced.

"I live in a van" - presumed weirdo.
"I choose to live in my RV" - curiosity piqued.
"I travel full-time with my motorhome" - outright envy.

But that's connotations for you.

 

[ryguy]

sweet! Thanks for all the input. I've been looking for a chevy astro, cargo or passenger, passenger seems to be a more popular for sale item in Salt Lake City. Go figure. Anyone have or have had an Astro? Any specific issues you've run into mechanical or otherwise? Thanks!

 

[accrete]

: )
My wife and I started with this:

Doing nearly all the detail work ourselves (insulation, wall and ceiling covering...) and having van specialties put on the top it looked like this:

The project brought my wife and I closer in a MacGuyver + MacGirlver sort of fun way. We've now decided to move ahead to Van V2.0 probably next year.

We will once again start with a stock cargo van and go from there.

Enjoy the build!
Thom

 

[DannyB1954]

Can I ask what the cost was to have the high top installed?

 

[MK7]

sweet! Thanks for all the input. I've been looking for a chevy astro, cargo or passenger, passenger seems to be a more popular for sale item in Salt Lake City. Go figure. Anyone have or have had an Astro? Any specific issues you've run into mechanical or otherwise? Thanks!

There's a big forum somewhere, devoted to Chevy Astros/Safaris. Tons and tons of info on there. I was seriously considering one, but the space is just not worth it. It's just a little bigger than a minivan. Once it's well loaded with stuff, that V6 is going to be chugging hard with all of that weight and the gas mileage may drop down close to a V8.

The pros being, it drives like a minivan, much easier than a full size. Very nimble and peppy for a V6, but I never test drove one that was fully loaded to see the weight effect. Parking would be so much easier. Look for one with a hightop.

 

[accrete]

Can I ask what the cost was to have the high top installed?

don't know if that was directed at me and our rig... it is a 24" Fiberine top and gives us 5'10" headroom under a 2" drop headliner with LED lights and insulation.

Thom

 

[DannyB1954]

don't know if that was directed at me and our rig... it is a 24" Fiberine top and gives us 5'10" headroom under a 2" drop headliner with LED lights and insulation.

Thom

Yes, I was wondering about the cost of putting the top on. I was thinking of maybe a extended van, putting a top on but just cutting the existing roof in the middle of the van. This would give stand up room in the middle, and maybe a loft bed in the rear.

 

[accrete]

U R Thinking right on "Cutting the top in the middle"... We had Van Specialties cut the roof aft of the B ? pillar (that's the one directly behind the cab) and then I think D ? Pillar (the pillar two forward of the rear wall). That does two things, we have roof storage fore (~3ft) and aft (~3ft) of the "Stand up area in the middle".

The other thing this particular cut does to the van is keep much of it's structural integrity in-tack.

The Fiberine roof we have was purchased/installed for ~$2800. For some I realize that can blow the budget. But we actually had the fleet manager include this in our 0% GMAC year-end-deal financing. There are deals out there even on new vehicles.

Thom

 

[Canine]

The man I bought from is supposed to deliver our van tomorrow.I'm looking forward to having a van again.

 

[Almost There]

sweet! Thanks for all the input. I've been looking for a chevy astro, cargo or passenger, passenger seems to be a more popular for sale item in Salt Lake City. Go figure. Anyone have or have had an Astro? Any specific issues you've run into mechanical or otherwise? Thanks!

A little late to the conversation but I was out having fun for 4 days...

I've had both the Astro and Safari and the only issue I had was a transmission that went south but it was at 'end of life' stage anyways.

Depending on the size of motor, they have far better towing capacity than any of the other minivans. I actually have trouble classifying all the others as 'minivans' in the first place. Most of nothing more than redesigned station wagons.

As to putting the 24" high top on a cargo van - I strongly recommend it for a lot of reasons. Actually I wouldn't ever be without standing room for long term van dwelling.

 Decades ago I had a couple with the high tops but with only the front section of the original roof intact. Lady Arabella came complete with the high top and with the back section intact as well as the front. I have approximately 6' in the middle with stand up roof and this absolutely hugeass storage compartment in the rear. All my backpacking and hammock gear will go in the far back along with cold weather clothes leaving the whole front of that compartment available for linens and clothing with room left over.