Utility Vans / Cargo Vans

[Ele'ill]

I am making this thread again. I am considering buying one to live in/travel in. I am hesitant to buy any vehicle because I am afraid it will become just as expensive as renting i.e. not affordable. The solution is that I can scrap it/sell it worst case scenario. The reason I want to buy one is for shelter and the ability to drive it / crash out where-ever, it makes things easier, and will give me more places to go/things to do (like get me back out into the country/logging trails/ocean/national forests/ etc..)

If you have experience buying/maintaining Vans or you see some huge flaw in this scheme please post about it.

[BIXX]

My dad did something similar for a while, and actually this was kinda my backup plan for if apartments didn't work out for me. If you want I could ask him if he had any advice.

[Ele'ill]

That would be great, thanks!

[BIXX]

Also, one thing that I personally would do (not sure how you feel about it) is have a gun if you can. Shit I'd recommend that pretty much always, but especially if you're houseless/living out of a van etc...

[Ele'ill]

If I was in a van, I would have a bat and machete which is what I had when I was living out of a car. When I had my larger pack, while rough sleeping, I had a bat. Having a gun makes me uncomfortable for a few reasons like knowing how cops react to people in vehicles anyways if they some how saw or knew about 'a gun' I think the chances of there being a genuinely violent encounter (them shooting me) regardless of legality would increase dramatically. I don't exactly have the money for one right now anyways especially if I buy a vehicle. Other people breaking into the van and getting a hold of the gun and doing something terrible with it + dealing with cops afterwards. It just complicates a lot of things.


*but yeah when thinking more about national forest/logging trails a gun sounds pretty good

[BIXX]

So here is some random advice that he gave me:

Don't get a Volkswagen if possible, instead go with a conversion van that is either a Chevy, Ford, or Dodge. Furthermore you will want to get one that was made before 1974 because anything produced after that year has to pass certain DEQ standards and it can be tough to get shit through the DEQ.

He says most likely you'll end up spending 3-4 grand if you go this route.

More to come...

(Again these are just recommendations so if they aren't possible don't assume that living in a van isn't possible for you, these are just ways to get going with it)

[BIXX]

Yeah the gun thing is just my preference- I grew up around them so to know one is around makes me feel comfortable. But everyone's gotta do what's is best for them, you know?

[Ele'ill]

A question regarding the 3-4k. I've heard that the 1-2k vans on craigslist are just as reliable (not saying they are reliable just that they are about the same as the more expensive ones). Is this true? Keep in mind that I will be living entirely in the van, paychecks are for van maintenance/repairs/upgrades not for that + rent

[Ele'ill]

Yeah the gun thing is just my preference- I grew up around them so to know one is around makes me feel comfortable. But everyone's gotta do what's is best for them, you know?

Me too and I'm doing google searches about it but my issue is that I am not exactly traveling all the time i wouldn't want to leave ammo+gun in van if I am at work

[BIXX]

A question regarding the 3-4k. I've heard that the 1-2k vans on craigslist are just as reliable (not saying they are reliable just that they are about the same as the more expensive ones). Is this true? Keep in mind that I will be living entirely in the van, paychecks are for van maintenance/repairs/upgrades not for that + rent


I think it's not so much about reliability as avoiding the DEQ. Plus some of the more expensive ones will have the full camping set up (a bed, a stove, and other shit).

My dad just found one he said looks pretty good for 1500, so that goes to show it's flexible (that one didn't have a stove but yeah).


Me too and I'm doing google searches about it but my issue is that I am not exactly traveling all the time i wouldn't want to leave ammo+gun in van if I am at work


Yeah I get that. My dad leaves his gun in his car (when he takes it with him) hidden somewhere, but I'm not positive I would be as comfortable with that as he is.

[Sasha]

So here is some random advice that he gave me:

Don't get a Volkswagen if possible, instead go with a conversion van that is either a Chevy, Ford, or Dodge.

funny, here its completely opposite, always go for the VW or if you can afford a Mercedes, stay away from US junk. but then again its probably down to the availability of spare parts and skilled repairmen

[Ele'ill]

I have heard folks rave about VW parts being always available here in the US but they leave out that VW's have parts floating around like they do because of how often they break down. I don't have any personal experience with VW's but there is a cult following in the US with folks on a VW part/help call list/map for those who travel so supposedly you always have help nearby.

[BIXX]

I have heard folks rave about VW parts being always available here in the US but they leave out that VW's have parts floating around like they do because of how often they break down. I don't have any personal experience with VW's but there is a cult following in the US with folks on a VW part/help call list/map for those who travel so supposedly you always have help nearby.


I'm under the impression that this is true, but it sounds expensive to fix your VW all the time. I may be incorrect.