Van Life 101: How to Choose a Van to Live In
Van Life 101: How to Choose a Van to Live In
A common question is “Which van should I buy?” Of course, there is no one answer to that question, but in this video, I try to lay out in a simple fashion the factors that should influence your decision. Factors like how easy the van will be to work on, how much can you afford, how the van was maintained, and the reputation of the engine. Hopefully, after watching this video you will have a direction to how you can buy the most reliable van you can afford!
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In Australia mechanics always recommend Toyota cars for the best reliability in general models….
5.3 litter is the verotex engine. Plus in those Chevy you have better transmission.
Thank you for the great advice Champ!!
I’m looking at getting the 2021 Chevy 3 quarter ton with a 6.6 L 401 horsepower motor. You’re not getting anything like that in Florida I don’t think. At least that I can find.
In the 2006 model years only, the duramax LBZ 6.6 v8 was briefly available as an option with GM’s express/savana vans
For a single male or female with no send off, in an environment where rent is often ½ or more of your income and mobility is even more prohibitive, the only sensible option is buying a van. For the cost of first and last months rent on an apartment, you could buy an "inconspicuous" van to live in… A modest interior conversion could be a few hundred dollars. It would have hardships but you can’t be evicted and it is yours…
WHAT ABOUT HONDA VANS
Just found a 1996 Ford E150 Econoline. Can’t wait to start the build.
"dramasticly" i love it
I prefer the way the long wheelbase Expresses drive and the 6.0 is awesome. I find the Ford’s tend to have really vague/imprecise steering and wander more on the highway and get moved around more in crosswinds. The 15 passenger e series just stretch the body and retain the wheelbase so they aren’t as stable as the Chevy that extends the wheelbase. That said, I run a 2001 Sportsmobile E350 7.3 Powerstroke and 4wd conversion. It’s a pop top and is an absolute tank. I don’t care for the Ford gas engines but the 7.3 is quite literally a million mile engine. That is the ultimate van for me though I find myself really wanting a 2.8 Duramax Express for family road trips and daily driving.
Great info! Thanks Bob!
8:00 For specific engine information, google for Ford "Triton spark plug blow out". ALL Triton engines (at LEAST until 2006) are subject to this problem.
And google for Chevrolet "Castech head cracks". Only the Chevy engines mentioned that ALSO happen to have the Castech heads are subject to this problem. Unfortunately, you have to remove the valve cover and also possibly the valve rockers to see if the head is Castech or not.
My biggest problem is finding places where people are willing to sell at an affordable price. Provided the weather isn’t extreme I’d be able to do a lot of repairs myself as long as I have the tools available. The smaller the vehicle the less likely I could self repair. I’d hoped I could get a motor home for around $1,200 but I got no response back. Since many are low mileage for the age I’d love to find one like that. I’d have room for more extensive tool variety with space left over. Some systems aren’t critical but sewer would seem to be more important in order to extend trips without getting sick or cited. Any suggestions on this? I’ll keep reviewing your videos but I’d hoped to begin traveling west no later than early May if not sooner.
I hear a lot about Chevy/Ford, would you recommend the 1998 and up Dodge B1500? If it had 120k on it and drove great? Are they comparable to the Chevy?
The Epa. Are a bunch of crooks…wake up
I have a 1999 e 150. It is a commercial model. It has a 6 cylinder engine. It is good on gas. I built it out cheaply too. It is a full size van. I would recommend it to anyone.
I have a 96 f150 with a 302 and over 400,000 .. Still runs good .. Just doesn’t have the power to tow anymore ..
Been looking for another truck .. Thinking of the Toyota .. But we’ll see
That’s for the information Bob ..
Keep this videos coming 😍😍😍
I suggest Toyota
Any of the 4.3L chevy engines are the best choice not mentioned, indestructible
REMEMBER, YOU CAN HAVE A NEW 85′ DRIVETRAIN (ENGINE & TRANSMISSION) IN YOUR OLD VAN.. FORD 5.0 ARE PLENTIFUL AND EASY TO WORK ON..
Ford updated the spark plugs. And ford has better transmissions than the Chevy vans. Both are good though
What about Dodge vans?
Thank you Bob.
How about those Chevy Astro vans?
I am a woman in her 70’s, I have a 2004 gmc 6.0 L…I "LOVE it" ❤ ❤ I have had her since she was a baby, Walmart oil chances an service ( I can service her myself.. I give her a tuneup myself. .easy peezy, youtube show’s u EVERYTHING u need to see to do it…urself…get a " fixit" to plug into ur computer by drivers door for ur censors…AND I get 19 mpg…🥰🥰🥰
Very helpful. Thank you
I bought a 2002 Astro in Feb’21 in horrible shape and proceeded to totally rebuild it… everything except the engine. Then In June I left for Denver, where I have worked while boondocking and camping…until…the engine let go 3 weeks ago in October. In one fell swoop I lost my home and my transportation! I immediately bought a used engine to repair the Astro. But Because it’s a NY van, the front end was Rusty…so much so that an engine swap can’t be completed. Sooo…I bought a 1995 Hi Top Chevy Shorty conversion Van with a blown motor but with a really nice Camper Interior and am now currentlyi jnv in a motel waiting for the shop to put the engine in my new G20. It’s been one hell of a ride…and NOT one for the weak of heart, mind, or body! I pray my "new" van runs well for the foreseeable future 🙏
No mention of Dodge vans… I wonder why.
I hate to break it to you but Vans have never been all that easy to work on. Pickup trucks now very easy to work until the 2000s.
What about Dodge? Cummins is the best motor
wait. did i hear you say epa gave us more reliable vans?
Too bad Toyota doesn’t make a large 4X4 van.
Hi Bob! I was hoping that you could help me? I have an opportunity to buy a 2006 Chevy Express cargo van 4.2 engine with 210,000 miles. Should I purchase? Thank you so very much for your help and expertise!!! I just love your videos!
It’s important to note that Ford vans no longer have the spark plug issue after 2008!
Bob, I can recommend the old 350 Chevy engines. I have a Vortec 5.7 in a ’96 Chevy C1500. Love that engine and the sound it makes! Most of the problems I’ve had with the engine are minor and related to battery/alternator/starter motor. A solar-powered trickle-feed recharger is the way to go to keep the battery fully charged. And a switch to disconnect the battery from the rest of the vehicle when it’s parked up. That way you don’t get interior lights (such as the one in the glovebox, which happened in a GMC I used to own) draining the battery. The OBS Chevs are very cheap to maintain, and that’s even in New Zealand where I live.
The Model T could last 200k miles.
I don’t know why people would use a Sprinter Van to camp In they are the worst they’re ugly and you have to get out of the Van Walk behind the Van and get in that way You might as well use a Box or u-haul Truck at that point
Thank you for this video. Its amazing just how many vans are out there for sale, especially with 200k mikes on them for insane prices, as a mechanic I would never buy a van or any vehicle with that high of mileage, it will be a money pit, and no fords 99 or newer, unless its brand new, with a warranty!
Your incorrect on the post 1999 Ford , in 2004 they increased the alum head thickness. FYI.
Quarterly State auctions often have vans under $1000 with low miles, new tires, full tank and runs like new. I grabbed one for $500 three years ago. Sometimes life forgets to be challenging.
What about 5.7l
Dramastically = Drastically and dramatically. I love it! You’re a linguist.
Thank you, Bob. I really needed to hear this. You are awesome!
I realize this is an old video, but I’m wondering Bob’s opinion of the up and coming electric vehicles? Hang onto gas driven? Or . . . ?
Another problem with the Ford engines is they started putting plastic intake manifolds in them, which made it so it was not a question if it would fail to when it will fail.
I am playing heads or tails on a Chevy express or a Ford econoline in my budget. Can’t find a direct answer which is better. Everyone has such contradicting opinions about both. I wish I kept my 2006 sprinter but made a dumb decision to sell it here I am a few months later figuring out what next van to buy
After 1999 buy a Chevy van! Why do I see more Ford van v8 on the road, did Chevy quit making van or not much sold? I bought and 2017 rv I see more Ford engine not as many as Chevy or you are just Chevy person? I have both Chevy 2005 and Ford 2006 and 2017 from both vehicles they have there own problem! I like both Chevy and Ford certain engine v8
Miles don’t tell you how the owner took care of the van. The miles just tell you what distance the vehicle has run. It doesn’t tell you how many miles of hell or heaven the vehicle has gone thru. If you get the right vehicle at the right price is good. But, I like Chevy vans over any other too. Just my likes that’s all. Yes, 1997 Chevy express convertion van mark3 se. She Is awesome.
I would like to add that in addition to maintenance, how you drive affects reliability. If you have a lead foot, chances are you’re going to have more issues than if you drive moderately, or even conservatively. I still remember my ’81 Chevy van with straight six. Absolutely bulletproof, BUT I had to remember that I’m driving a big, heavy vehicle, and sometimes I just have to follow that slow car up that hill for a while unless there was absolutely no traffic. lol. Drove it moderately, and it never gave me a bit of trouble… ever. Even got decent gas mileage!
So Ford has had the same (relatively simple) issue for over 2 decades and hasn’t addressed it!? Are you sure? Because making such sweeping recommendations without current information would be a disservice to the community.
Just picked up an ’86 econoline recently.
It was very cheap compared to anything made in the late 90s or newer, and it’s easier for me to work on that the 2000 and newer models with the OHC Modular engines (won’t spit spark plugs either lol).
Downsides, it’s carbed and gets terrible mpg. The vacuum system is a nightmare, been spending time getting that sorted, but it making the van run rough was part of why it was cheap so 🤷♀️. I’d ideally have wanted the slightly newer version with the early EFI, but for what I paid for my van I can afford (and am able) to add an aftermarket EFI conversion.
I’ll see how good or bad of an idea this thing was lol.