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rv:finding [2020/08/02 12:06]
frater_secessus [areas with many good vehicles]
rv:finding [2023/06/29 11:00] (current)
mahkato add [know what you're looking for]
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 ====== Finding your camper ====== ====== Finding your camper ======
  
 +===== Know what you're looking for =====
  
-===== areas with many good vehicles ===== +First, [[rv:intro|know your vehicle options]] and decide if you will [[lifestyle:faq_prebuilt_camper|buy pre-built or build your own]]. 
-**Florida** has been touted as a place to find commercial campers and RVs.  Retirees from the NE plan to RV together in that warm state but either change their mind, upgrade to another RV, or stop RVing because of health or age reasons.  There is no ice in Florida (hence no road salt) but do look for rust caused by salt water breezes or drives on the beach. + 
 +===== Limit your search geographically ===== 
 + 
 +Unlike buying a car or other common vehicle, there's a good chance you'll need to travel a significant distance to make a good purchase, especially if you're seeking a very niche vehicle. You might be limited to vehicles near you if you can't afford to make potentially multiple trips to see far-away vehicles, but the expense of travel could more than pay for itself if you find a good deal on exactly the vehicle you need. 
 + 
 +**Florida** and **Arizona** has been touted as a place to find commercial campers and RVs.  Retirees from the NE plan to RV together in that warm state but either change their mind, upgrade to another RV, or stop RVing because of health or age reasons.  There is no ice in Florida (hence no road salt) but do look for rust caused by salt water breezes or drives on the beach. 
  
 The **American Southwest** is another good place as there is no road salt.  Paint can be degraded by "sun fade"((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Which-regions-are-good-for-finding-used-vans-or-RV-s?pid=157204#pid157204)) but that is cosmetic rather than functional.  Tires can be dry rotted and dashboards and interiors sun-damaged.((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Might-buy-van-in-Denver-possible-altitude-complications?pid=231111#pid231111)) The **American Southwest** is another good place as there is no road salt.  Paint can be degraded by "sun fade"((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Which-regions-are-good-for-finding-used-vans-or-RV-s?pid=157204#pid157204)) but that is cosmetic rather than functional.  Tires can be dry rotted and dashboards and interiors sun-damaged.((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Might-buy-van-in-Denver-possible-altitude-complications?pid=231111#pid231111))
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 **Colorado** does not use road salt, relying on gravel instead.  Locals advise that cracked windshields from gravel are to be expected.((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Might-buy-van-in-Denver-possible-altitude-complications?pid=228754#pid228754)) 4x4 campers may be more common in mountainous areas. **Colorado** does not use road salt, relying on gravel instead.  Locals advise that cracked windshields from gravel are to be expected.((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Might-buy-van-in-Denver-possible-altitude-complications?pid=228754#pid228754)) 4x4 campers may be more common in mountainous areas.
  
-Vehicles that have not been on the beach in **California** will be in good condition but will generally be more expensive((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Which-regions-are-good-for-finding-used-vans-or-RV-s?pid=157213#pid157213)) and may have complex, expensive, and performance-robbing CA-specific emissions.((the 49-state car was effectively made moot by EPA adopting CARB-like standards in 2016)).  +Vehicles that have not been on the beach in **California** will be in good condition but may be more expensive((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Which-regions-are-good-for-finding-used-vans-or-RV-s?pid=157213#pid157213)) due to higher cost of living. 
 +---- 
 +===== Finding vans ===== 
 +Once you know geographically where to look the [[communication:internet:search|search]] comes next.  
  
-===== finding vans ===== +Take advantage of any automation tools the site offers (email alerts, saved searches, RSS feeds).((it looks like [[https://forums.craigslist.org/?SQ=rss&act=searchFrameMaker&forumID=9|CL discontinued RSS feeds]] in latre 2020.)) 
-One you know geographically where to look the [[communication:internet:search|search]] comes next +
  
  
-  * [[https://www.craigslist.org/about/sites|craigslist]] is probably the first place folks look.  It sequesters results by region, so if you want national results uses something like [[https://www.searchtempest.com/|searchtempest]]. +  * [[https://www.craigslist.org/about/sites|craigslist]] is probably the first place folks look.  It sequesters results by region, so if you want national results uses something like [[https://www.searchtempest.com/|searchtempest]].  (leverage RSS results to automate the process) 
-  * [[|ebay motors]] lists vehiclesand you can sort by distance from any zipcodeby cost, etc. +  * Ebay motors - (leverage saved searches to automate the process) 
-  * [[https://www.autotrader.com/|AutoTrader]]+  * [[https://www.autotrader.com/|AutoTrader]], Truck TraderRV Trader, etc. 
 +  * [[https://www.autotempest.com/|Autotempest]] - Aggregates results from many different sites
   * local classifieds   * local classifieds
   * Facebook marketplace   * Facebook marketplace
   * vans you see for sale locally   * vans you see for sale locally
-  * truck sales lots will have cargo vans, box trucks, etc.  Some [[rv:high_roof|high tops]]. +  * truck sales lots will have cargo vans, box trucks, etc.  Some [[rv:high_roof|high tops]]. 
 +  * Government fleet auctions 
 +  * Police auctions  
 +  * [[https://vandom.co/|vandom.co]]
  
 +----
 +===== Vans to look for =====
  
-===== campers to rule out =====+If you can buy something that already has part of what you want, even better.
  
-==== VIN checks ====+Former **Ambulances** can make good starters for a built, due to pre-existing high-tops, beefy electrical systems and cabinets. However they often have a lot of hours of idling on them, and many are diesel which are [[rv:diesel|problematic]]. 
 + 
 +**Wheelchair Vans** can be great to start with. Many will have fiberglass high roofs added, or larger doors. If you can find one that still has the hydraulic ramp in it, many mobility conversion companies will remove them for free and might even pay you a few hundred dollars for them. 
 + 
 +**Passenger vans** can be better than cargo vans, especially the extended [[rv:ford_e-series|E-Series]] or [[rv:ford_transit|Transits]] that were sold from the factory in a full passenger configuration. They're used frequently for airport shuttles or fleet transportation usage, which often means mostly highway miles which are less impactful than stop-and-go city driving that can be seen by delivery vans.  Because they're mostly transporting people, you don't have to worry (as much) about damage or contamination from possibly toxic chemicals, paints or other substances that tradesman might commonly transport. 
 + 
 +The former church or nursing home transportation van is the golden ticket if you can find them for sale. 
 + 
 +The downside is they're usually going to have windows all around (which can reduce security/[[camping:stealth_camping|stealth]]/[[hvac:insulation|insulation]]) and you'll have to go through the trouble of pulling the seats out. 
 + 
 +---- 
 +===== Vans to rule out ===== 
 + 
 +Some vans will be a "hard no", as in "walk away". Others may need to be heavily discounted to account for required maintenance, condition, or branded title.((like a SALVAGE title)) 
 + 
 +Also see:  [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRD3fZnJK_I|Don't buy a lemon]] (yt Bob Wells) 
 +==== Untitled vehicles ==== 
 + 
 +Untitled vehicles can be nightmares.  Here are some questions to ask to avoid this issue:   
 + 
 +  - "Do you have the title in hand?"   
 +  - "Does the name on the title match your ID?"  
 + 
 + 
 +==== uninspectable ==== 
 + 
 +Rule out vans from any seller that will not allow the van to be inspected by a mechanic.  This is called a "**pre-sale inspection**" (PSI) or similar, and typically costs $0 - $150.  Many/most expensive horror stories could be avoided with a PSI.   
 + 
 +==== Bad VIN ==== 
 + 
 +The VIN must [[https://www.reddit.com/r/RVLiving/comments/ou5wt9/unraveling_the_mystery_of_our_recently_purchased/|match the title]]. 
  
 The [[https://www.vehiclehistory.com/vehicle/land.php|free Vehicle History VIN check]] will show a surprising amount of info from various public sources. The [[https://www.vehiclehistory.com/vehicle/land.php|free Vehicle History VIN check]] will show a surprising amount of info from various public sources.
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 If your vehicle passes all those you might want to look at the [[https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls|free NHTSA recall VIN check]] to see if there are any outstanding safety recalls. If your vehicle passes all those you might want to look at the [[https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls|free NHTSA recall VIN check]] to see if there are any outstanding safety recalls.
-==== vehicles salvaged from floods ====+==== Flooded vehicles ====
  
-The free Carfax Flood VIN check will identify flooded vehicles.+In addition to the VIN check above, pay attention to mold/mildew smells Lift trunk carpet and look for dried mud.  
  
-Pay attention to mold/mildew smells.  Lift trunk carpet and look for mud.   +==== Vehicles from salt belt states ====
-==== vehicles from salt belt states ==== +
-[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Belt|{{ https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Salt-Belt.svg/300px-Salt-Belt.svg.png|the "Salt Belt"}}]]  +
-[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Belt|Some states]] in the northeast and northern midwest use salt on the roads to melt ice.+
  
-Colorado and Utah use non-salt chemicals or gravel on the road.  +Structural rust can cause the vehicle to be uninspectable, unsafe, and possibly unrepairable unless one is willing to apply heroic levels of money and skill.  
  
-Alaska is too cold for road salt to be used there.   
  
  
 +[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Belt|{{ https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Salt-Belt.svg/300px-Salt-Belt.svg.png|the "Salt Belt"}}]] 
 +[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Belt|Some states]] in the northeast and northern midwest use salt on the roads to melt ice.
  
 +Colorado and Utah use non-salt chemicals or gravel on the road.  
  
 +Alaska is often too cold for road salt to be used there, so salt use may vary by area. 
  
-==== untitled vehicles ==== 
  
-Untitled vehicles are nightmares.  Here are the magic questions to avoid title nightmares: 
  
-  "Do you have the title in hand?"   +==== Fixer-Uppers ====
-  - "Does the name on the title match your ID?" +
  
 +Don't be tempted by that super-cheap van you found that "needs a little TLC" If the need was little, the seller would have done it already and been able to sell it for a higher price.  Unless you //really// know what you're doing, avoid buying a fixer-upper as your first van. And I'll be honest; if you're reading this wiki, you probably don't know what you're doing (yet).
  
 +//“No van ever cost less than $5,000”//
  
 +Don’t start too cheap. Buying beaters or fixer-upper projects is great for people who have a lot of mechanical skills, DIY abilities, and already own a lot of their own tools and have a place to work on it. But if you think you’re going to get an old beater and then pay somebody else to make the repairs, you’re going to end up spending far more money than it would have cost to just buy a more reliable van in the first place.
  
 +**Spend more on the van, spend less on the build out.** Spend more of your budget to get a solid and reliable van, and reduce your budget for the interior amenities; you will enjoy a reliable van with a bare-bones interior much more than a fancy interior that is broken down on the side of the road.
  
rv/finding.1596384360.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/10/11 19:48 (external edit)