Can we talk about vans?

My wife’s uncle has this for sale. Extremely clean 4x4. Unsure of the price. 

Even Zoey liked it!

All vans dream of becoming Dajiban.

In reply to Appleseed :

I respectfully disagree!

I'm liking my Promaster 136 WB low roof more and more every time I drive it.  Just brought a motorcycle home in it. 

Between this and the camper van thread you guys are going to ruin me.

I have two turbocharged Caravans, a lowered B250 that i towed to the Challenge with and slept in, and i'm considering purchasing a ~23ft class b e350 RV.  I like vans so much that I'm probably not even the right kind of enabler for this thread because if you buy as many vans as me it will surely have dreadful side effects in your life! But you should at least have one! 

I too am an addict.  I have a 23 ft e350, a sprinter and chryslers. I have lived in a couple of them.  I have zero pickup trucks but I will say this as devils advocate.. You can't really beat the economies of scale involved in full size pickup truck manufacturing.  You get alot for your dollar.  Big reliable n/a v8, crew cab seating for 5 if you need, unlimited payload ceiling height.  Any drive/cab configuration under the sun.  The mpg isn't even that bad for the newer trucks, and that engine bay access.  #1 seller for reasons.

I've always wanted a van but every time I say it out loud people give me strange looks. For camping use, I have strongly considered getting an Express van with AWD, adding a slight lift, building a bed platform, and calling it a day. I think even a Mini-van would work fine - you can buy 2" lift kits for Siennas. It would be cheaper than buying a camper trailer and I wouldn't have to tow anything around. Off to search.....

ebonyandivory said:

My wife’s uncle has this for sale. Extremely clean 4x4. Unsure of the price. 

Even Zoey liked it!

 

The curiosity got the better of me.  I think I found it and looks like its 21 kilo bucks. 

Do we get a discount for name dropping you or will that make the price go up? 

In reply to logdog :

Probably cost you more... he’s a great guy actually. But he’s a businessman first and foremost.

Another thing vans dream about 

or this 

ebonyandivory said:

In reply to Appleseed :

I respectfully disagree!

That's just a sexually confused 4x4 pickup truck.

My Father has owned vans forever, still drives one as his daily.  He long ago swore off Dodge after a bay Voyager failure (full-sized, not mini) and has been all-Chevy ever since.  What I can tell you is that vans come in different load ratings like pickups.  A 3/4 ton uses 10-bolt wheels and HD suspension and rides like a dump truck.  We made that mistake once.  

Dad's latest went from side doors on both sides to just the to one, and I really miss the driver-side doors.  Hauling stuff in the rain makes a van a no-brainer, plus you can sleep in it and enjoy the heat or A/C.  

vwcorvette said:

I'm liking my Promaster 136 WB low roof more and more every time I drive it.  Just brought a motorcycle home in it. 

Is that FWD and what's its tow rating?

kilgoretrout said:

I've always wanted a van but every time I say it out loud people give me strange looks. For camping use, I have strongly considered getting an Express van with AWD, adding a slight lift, building a bed platform, and calling it a day. I think even a Mini-van would work fine - you can buy 2" lift kits for Siennas. It would be cheaper than buying a camper trailer and I wouldn't have to tow anything around. Off to search.....

I don’t know, I’ve gotten more compliments and conversations started by our camper van than any of my miatas, Jeep’s, or the FiST!

DeadSkunk said:

vwcorvette said:

I'm liking my Promaster 136 WB low roof more and more every time I drive it.  Just brought a motorcycle home in it. 

Is that FWD and what's its tow rating?

Yes.  5100 lbs according to the website.

DeadSkunk said:

vwcorvette said:

I'm liking my Promaster 136 WB low roof more and more every time I drive it.  Just brought a motorcycle home in it. 

Is that FWD and what's its tow rating?

Yes,  FWD.  This is a 1500 so 5000 lbs I think. Great acceleration. The FedEx guy loves his. 

Sportsmobiles are super cool. Ironically I was just showing them to my wife.

We have a 1990 Ford E250 Coachman Van, we've had it for going on 12 years. I use it to two the race cars. I'm slowly redoing the interior to better fit my needs. It's great to have a place to change into my gear and have a place to sit and eat lunch. I'm also going to start doing some out of town events in 2019 so the shower will come in handy.

Yes,  FWD.  This is a 1500 so 5000 lbs I think. Great acceleration.

You can count on me to know stupid trivia about vehicles you shouldn't drag race! I remember reading that an empty SWB Promaster does a 16.2 second 1/4 mile. I cant even count the number of cars i've owned that have been slower  than that. I remember 16.2 was the absolute best number i got out of my  1993 Dodge Dynasty (when stock) and i literally raced every other teenager in San Antonio in that thing back in 2002 and beat a fair number! The Dynasty and the Promaster have in common that they are both powered by Caravan drivetrains. 

In reply to kilgoretrout :

I keep looking for AWD GM vans on auction sites for the same reason. It would be almost ideal for what I want.

What year diesel Express van has the better motor ?

What area of the country is best to look for a good used diesel Express van ,  not a rust bucket ?

Very few diesels vans in California so maybe I need to do a road trip :)

Thanks

ebonyandivory said:

In reply to Appleseed :

I respectfully disagree!

I would like to subscribe to your newsletter sir!

If I could find a 4wd full-size van for less than ridiculous money, I'd sell my pickup yesterday.

That tan Sportsmobile in the first pic is pretty much my ideal do everything vehicle; tow, camp, commute and explore.

Ive used vans for years for concrete work, most people thought iot was odd to not use a truck but vans are much more versatile.

89 e150 with 300, 90 e350 with 351 ,97 aerostar AWD extended. 12 years, 10 years and 8 years so far theyve been in the fleet and all serve a purpose.

Plus side is vans are super cheap right now too

In reply to stanger_missle :

I, for some unknown reason, passed on a mid-90’s gold E-Series Ford van with the Pathfinder 4x4 conversion selling for $3,500 a few years ago.

That and selling my FJ40 are two of my least favorite automotive memories.