Help me find a Van

I've decided I want a full size van. Mrs Logdog is surprisingly ok with it (As long as it isnt a Possum Van look-a-like). Uses include camping, road trips and backup tow vehicle. We are looking for a Grandma-fresh conversion van.

My dream van is-

Chevy/GMC (I hated working on Fords as a tech and I dont want to now. Possibly Dodge if its the right price/condition.)

V8 (350 preferred)

Fuel Injection (At least TBI)

Raised roof (Not a "must have" but would be nice)

No Rust! (None of those "Rust free for Michigan" type bodies )

Under 3K (Ideally around 2500)

Ive found several vans on sites like Autotrader that look promising (like This and This, although its a little far ). I am pretty much done dealing with craigslist sellers and getting one to work with you when you're 300 miles away is next to impossible. I figured I would see if anybody has a good lead on one that I could pick up with a day trip.

This is roughly the geographic area I am looking at, although I have jumped on a plane for the right deal.

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Help me find a van!

I am almost dead center of that circle

Look further away. I bought my Astro from a forum member in Raleigh,NC. It cost me about $750 to go from Dexter, Mi. to retrieve it but it was well worth it for a rust free van. My local mechanic comments on it whenever he works on it, it's that clean.

In reply to DeadSkunk:

I will jump on a plane for the right deal.

My experience: if you want it for camping, don't even look at non-raised roof vans. Unless you and your family are really short, you'll appreciate the added head room when doing simple tasks like changing. The downside of using a conversion van for camping is the seats are typically not easy to remove/reinstall if the plan is to sleep in the van. Likewise, the folding rear bench is ok for kids, but not really large enough for an adult taller than maybe 5'8"

$3000 seems a bit low for soemthing rust-free in the rust belt, going by pretty much doing the same search here in the Philly area. The ones I've seen have been OK, but not perfect. But if you're willing to wait you'll eventually find something.

I pass this Dodge a couple times a week.
He had it in the yard all winter with a sign. I always thought it looked clean and had noticed it on CL but never really paid attention to it.
I just noticed yesterday that he has moved it to the side of the barn.
I pulled the CL listing and I now see it says, does not start???
I could look at it if you want.
http://sandusky.craigslist.org/cto/4442084444.html

I am not sure how much "project" you are looking for.

DeadSkunk wrote: Look further away. I bought my Astro from a forum member in Raleigh,NC. It cost me about $750 to go from Dexter, Mi. to retrieve it but it was well worth it for a rust free van. My local mechanic comments on it whenever he works on it, it's that clean.

Glad you are still enjoying the Astro. It is a sharp looking van. And to think I was worried that the rust under the battery tray was going to be a deal breaker.

I'll bet you could get this for under $3k:

http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/4500543724.html

Or this:

http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/4488727435.html

Or this, complete with bitchin' wheels:

http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/4487642653.html

Now I want one.

JohnRW1621 wrote: I am not sure how much "project" you are looking for.

I dont want any projects. Nothing past a tune up or maybe tires

Ian F wrote: My experience: if you want it for camping, don't even look at non-raised roof vans. Unless you and your family are really short, you'll appreciate the added head room when doing simple tasks like changing. The downside of using a conversion van for camping is the seats are typically not easy to remove/reinstall if the plan is to sleep in the van. Likewise, the folding rear bench is ok for kids, but not really large enough for an adult taller than maybe 5'8" $3000 seems a bit low for soemthing rust-free in the rust belt, going by pretty much doing the same search here in the Philly area. The ones I've seen have been OK, but not perfect. But if you're willing to wait you'll eventually find something.

Its just two of us and I will remove the middle seats and leave them out. The bed will likely be replaced with a custom rotating heart shaped love nest.

Conversion vans seem to fall in a weird spot in the market since they are not really desirable to the masses and are usually owned by older folks, Ive seen alot of affordable clean ones. Ones from the Early to mid 90s look like the sweet spot for me.

Sounds good. That's basically what I did. Worked out well for hauling my mtn bikes for racing. I'd use friction straps to cinch the bikes against the bench when traveling. When I got to my cap site, I'd set up an EZ-up (get one with straight legs) over the side doors and set up my 'cooking area' under that.

I occasionally pulled the bench out when I needed to use the van for cargo. It was a PITA, but doable compared to the center seats where the underside bolts were blocked by the gas tank (once out, those were never going back in without a ton of work). If you plan to do the same, avoid the motorized bench versions as those are heavier (although I'm always working solo).

My wife and I were joking about one of these to replace the MPV but the more I see, the more serious I get. Room for 5, plenty of space, real towing capacity, same MPG as a full size SUV/Truck. My grandparents had one when I was in High School and it was an awesome roadtrip machine.

It will depend a bit on where you live, but there can be other minor benefits. Registration costs, for one. Here in PA, my '90 E150 conversion van (GVWR: 6500 lbs) cost $36/year to register. My 1/2 ton pick-up (essentially the same weight rating) was $46. My 2500 Cummins (8800 lbs rating) was $153/year. Why the big disparity? The conversion van was actually titled as a 'station wagon' (a car).

$36 for a part-time vehicle wasn't a big deal, but writing that check for $153 every year was painful given how little I drove the Cummins.

In reply to logdog Wow, just as I'm about to list my van for sale I see this. To your dismay its a Ford, '94 e250. Body is rust free, paint still shines. 190k mostly snowbird miles between Mn and Fla. I've sunk $$ into it so its mechanically sound, now wife wants it gone.

In reply to drainoil:

By eliminating Ford I knock out alot of nice vans. They make a nice product, its just my personal bias. A Ford would have to be super clean and super cheap.

In reply to Powar: A couple of those look promising.

Been thinking about making this jump as well.

Im in Chicago-ish (Naperville) this week for work. I dont really have time to hunt while Im here but that isnt stopping me from looking around online

In reply to logdog:

I live/work just south. If you need anything AND I can squeeze it in.....

Having camped and traveled in a short wheelbase low roof conversion for 5+years.....you do want a long wheelbase with the high roof.

I want one with some windows in the roof

Dad bought a 1988 GMC vandura conversion van new. We took it to Canada and Florida a couple times. I always liked vans and hopefully will own one someday. Good luck with your search.

In reply to EastCoastMojo: You don't know what rust is, Lady. Come up here some time and look at 15 year old vehicles.

Not mine.. just posted can't tell if high top or not.just barely outside your circle

BBC

http://springfieldil.craigslist.org/cto/4499533255.html

In reply to Billy_Bottle_Caps:

I like that! 3/4 drivers-side pic looks like standard roof...