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rv:finding [2021/02/02 13:17] frater_secessus |
rv:finding [2022/01/15 02:30] princess_fluffypants [Finding vans] |
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- | ===== areas with many good vehicles ===== | + | ===== Areas with many good vehicles ===== |
- | **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. | + | |
+ | **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. | ||
The **American Southwest** is another good place as there is no road salt. Paint can be degraded by "sun fade" | The **American Southwest** is another good place as there is no road salt. Paint can be degraded by "sun fade" | ||
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Vehicles that have not been on the beach in **California** will be in good condition but will generally be more expensive((http:// | Vehicles that have not been on the beach in **California** will be in good condition but will generally be more expensive((http:// | ||
- | + | ---- | |
- | ===== finding | + | ===== Finding |
Once you know geographically where to look the [[communication: | Once you know geographically where to look the [[communication: | ||
- | Take advantage of any automation tools the site offers (email alerts, saved searches, RSS feeds). | + | Take advantage of any automation tools the site offers (email alerts, saved searches, RSS feeds).((it looks like [[https:// |
* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
* [[|ebay motors]] lists vehicles, and you can sort by distance from any zipcode, by cost, etc. (leverage saved searches to automate the process) | * [[|ebay motors]] lists vehicles, and you can sort by distance from any zipcode, by cost, etc. (leverage saved searches to automate the process) | ||
- | * [[https:// | + | * [[https:// |
* 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: | * truck sales lots will have cargo vans, box trucks, etc. Some [[rv: | ||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | ===== Vans to look for ===== | ||
- | ===== campers to rule out ===== | + | If you can buy something that already has part of what you want, even better. |
- | ==== uninspectable ==== | + | 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: |
- | Rule out vans from any seller that will not allow the van to be inspected by a mechanic. | + | **Wheelchair Vans** can be great to start with. Many will have fiberglass high roofs added, |
+ | **Passenger vans** can be better than cargo vans, especially the extended [[rv: | ||
+ | The former church or nursing home transportation van is the golden ticket if you can find them for sale. | ||
- | ==== bad VIN ==== | + | The downside is they' |
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | ===== Vans to rule out ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some vans will be a "hard no", as in "walk away" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Also see: [[https:// | ||
+ | ==== uninspectable ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Rule out vans from any seller that will not allow the van to be inspected by a mechanic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Bad VIN ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The VIN must [[https:// | ||
The [[https:// | The [[https:// | ||
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If your vehicle passes all those you might want to look at the [[https:// | If your vehicle passes all those you might want to look at the [[https:// | ||
- | ==== vehicles | + | ==== Flooded |
The free Carfax Flood VIN check will identify flooded vehicles. | The free Carfax Flood VIN check will identify flooded vehicles. | ||
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Pay attention to mold/mildew smells. | Pay attention to mold/mildew smells. | ||
- | ==== vehicles | + | ==== Vehicles |
[[https:// | [[https:// | ||
[[https:// | [[https:// | ||
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Colorado and Utah use non-salt chemicals or gravel on the road. | Colorado and Utah use non-salt chemicals or gravel on the road. | ||
- | Alaska is too cold for road salt to be used there. | + | Alaska is often too cold for road salt to be used there, so salt use may vary by area. |
- | ==== untitled | + | ==== Untitled |
Untitled vehicles are nightmares. | Untitled vehicles are nightmares. | ||
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- "Does the name on the title match your ID?" | - "Does the name on the title match your ID?" | ||
+ | ==== Fixer-Uppers ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Don't be tempted by that super-cheap van you found that "needs a little TLC" | ||
+ | |||
+ | //“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. | ||