Thinking about getting a van. Any advice?

[CP]

Yeah, I’m thinking that I might “need” a van for comfortable road trips, camping, towing a boat, carrying a couple bikes, etc.  I’m kind of overwhelmed by the lack of choices and the cost of new vans.
 
Any suggestions on what to consider, and what to avoid? 

[Jake Dogfish]

A few years back they bought a new Nissan minivan at work.  Total piece of junk.

[pianoman9701]

Some of the transit vans are pretty cool to modify for camping and hunting.

[Sakko300wsm]

Like sprinter van? All you need is a man bun and a mountain bike - drive over to winthrop and you can tour every brand . Just kidding kinda 🤣🤣

[Jpmiller]

You can find deals on most from brands from rental car agencies. Really important to go look and really inspect before you buy. Looked at a whole bunch before ending up with the dodge mini van. Some were sparkly clean and some were beat to crap. Haven’t done it but was told it’s pretty straight forward adding seats to a cargo van if you want that but never did try. Most the ones I saw for sale weren’t in great shape used.

[Boss .300 winmag]

For down by the river?🤣

[WAcoueshunter]

For down by the river?🤣

Haha, lol, first thing that came to mind for me too!

[2MANY]

I can't believe I got beat to the man bun comment.
Those vans suck.
Especially the Mercedes.

[scotsman]

I have the answer for you….. for a number of years Chevy made full size vans with all wheel drive. I got one around 15 years ago and its still going strong. The first year I took it elk hunting I topped a ridge after miles and miles of ridiculous dirt road… you shoulda seen the looks I got from other hunters in their giant dodge pickups. It never has let me down and now has close to 200K on it. Just routine oil and filters, no mechanical issues at all. Mine has full windows and removable seats  which was great for  family vacations and my works too.Not to  mention comfy hunting rig  - I just set up a cot with thick mattress and have all my stuff close at hand.

They are still out there and not crazy expensive either. I did a very brief Craigs list search for Chevy express awd and several popped right up: https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/d/bellevue-2006-chevrolet-express-awd/7774516364.html.

[WapitiTalk1]

Sorry, I’m an older hunter. This popped up in my dusty memory banks. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QZnqhuwjqT0

[dwils233]

You'll need a real, full-size van if you want to tow anything and even then, the 4WD options are limited and spendy.

That said, I saw a Toyota Sienna AWD with a 3.5 inch lift kit plus the largest tires he could fit for another 1.5 inch lift. It looked pretty fun until he said towing capacity was only like 1500 lbs

[LDennis24]

Here ya go!

https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/mukilteo-2007-ford-60-e350-diesel/7771201218.html

[LDennis24]

https://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/cto/d/renton-2019-gmc-savana-4x-lt/7772154601.html

[LDennis24]

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/seattle-2019-ford-transit-150-xlt/7774876296.html

[LDennis24]

Or if your a little guy

https://bellingham.craigslist.org/cto/d/bellingham-daihatsu-hijet-van-for-sale/7772724117.html

[Blacktail Sniper]

For down by the river?🤣

 

[2MANY]

Just don't.
See a life coach.

[HntnFsh]

We had so much trouble with the sprinters that fleet wont buy them anymore. And they used to buy a lot of them.

[Sandberm]

This is my favorite(and only) vanlife channel i subscribe to on Youtube.

Forestyforest drives a 2015 Chevy 2500 Express van. Modified to be 4wd.

[bustedoldman]

A Deisel 4x4 Van is actually my next project.........Overlander!

[Macs B]

You can't beat the E350 Fords, and if you could find a unicorn FWD one that would be ideal. 

I have had a HD Mercedes sprinter van, with dual wheels/turbo that we used to pull to livestock shows and events.  I know some people don't like them, but I love that thing.  It is incredibly comfortable to travel in, has towing capacity for a good sized stock trailer(24 foot) and can be configured into a nice weekender.  I think they are used and abused in fleets and just don't hold up well.  As a p[rivate vehicle I've never had a issue with it in the 8 years I've owned it. 

[LDennis24]

I own a 2022 Ford Transit high top long box, quadratic jet triple turbo 800hp with a zipydipy torque converter.... no it's just a 2022 transit hightop long box van I splice fiber out of. It's a great vehicle and I have driven the Ford Transit vans daily for the last 7 yrs. I have never been stranded and the newest one I have is AWD and I love it more than the old ones! I put almost 40,000 miles a year on them responding to emergencies and drive them like I stole them and am trying to get to a hospital to see my wife have our first baby. I seriously treat them like *censored*. And they still run every day. Be consistent with oil changes and they just keep going. I have Falken all season tires on my AWD and it goes almost anywhere a basic 4x4 pickup with standard clearance will go. Mine just has a long tail so it can get hung up sometimes. I have a custom setup in the back of mine but as for powering equipment I just use a 3500 watt, I think, inverter from Harbor Freight and dual deep cycle RV batteries in the back right behind the drivers seat, as the van battery is under the drivers seat. I tapped into that with a one way solenoid to keep the van battery from draining and a 20amp breaker switch for surges. Using Harbor Freight inverters allows me to run into any major town and swap it with my warranty if it goes belly up on me and I can get back to work. My brother has a Nissan NV3500 high roof with a Quigley 4x4 in it for the same purpose and he has had several breakdowns for dumb stuff like airflow sensors and exhaust recycle crap and emission issues. That Savana van with the 4x4 I posted would be a great option if you want a standard height van though. Good luck!

[CP]

Here ya go!

https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/mukilteo-2007-ford-60-e350-diesel/7771201218.html

I actually looked at that one.  It was parked at business park near my house.  Cool van but $62K seems a bit steep, like way too steep.

[2MANY]

"We had so much trouble with the sprinters that fleet wont buy them anymore. And they used to buy a lot of them."
Seen this over and over.

I've also watched people try to make them worthy.

Ford van.........maybe.

[Feathernfurr]

Vans are nifty, but I’d be just as inclined to find an older diesel excursion or larger suv. I have a newer Bronco, bought some memory foam custom fit mattresses. I’ve loaded it down with all of my hunting gear, a 110 & 65 yeti cooler and plenty of place to sleep. Functions in a similar fashion, maybe just a bit less cozy. Definitely feels more capable for getting me off the beaten path and away from crowds. Tows my duck boat well too.

[LDennis24]

I have a 7.3l Excursion and I was thinking about getting one of those over the luggage rack tent setups or one for out the back cargo area. That's an option for a large SUV also.

[pianoman9701]

For down by the river?🤣

[2MANY]

Damn he was funny!!!

[Rob]

I always thought a converted ambulance would be handy.

https://helena.craigslist.org/cto/d/helena-2000-ford-350-4x4-powerstroke/7770516293.html

https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/elk-ambulance-73-international-4700/7771846340.html

[LDennis24]

I know somebody who has a few ambulances! With onboard air compressors so you never get stuck with a flat! They have been sitting for 10yrs probably but they would be cheap!

[Irish_hunter93]

Whatever you do don't get a 2003 model year Chevy express van. That year is a one off fuel tank and if the tank cracks or the filler neck breaks you'll be up chit creek or paying out the rear end for a custom tank.


I have a coworker going through this exact dilemma right now.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Sorry, I’m an older hunter. This popped up in my dusty memory banks. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QZnqhuwjqT0

When I got back off my second deployment me and my bride to be/starter wife of almost 34 years had one of these with a mattress that matched the interior that folded out into a big bed. Oh the memories.😉

Unfortunately it overheated one day blowing the head gasket, fixed it and sold it off.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Coming up on retirement for real and kinda want to do the same thing, just needs to be able to have two motorcycles attached to the back somehow.

[jackelope]

Full sized all wheel drive transit 250 or 350. Super popular platforms. A lot of people lift them for a little bigger tire. They all have tow capacity and the high top ones you can stand up in. I’ve seen inside them all.  They go from basic with a bed and a battery powered light to all built in with full power, generators, stove tops, water, diesel heaters etc.  They’re cool.
The quigley 4x4 conversions are cool, but unless you plan to do real actual off roading, you don’t need them anymore since Ford put out the AWD transits.
Alternately look at Sportsmobile. They make some cool converted 4x4 Econoline vans but the Econolines will all be older vans now.
This one was in recently. It’s all wheel drive and a dually.