Can you buy a van for less than the cost of renting a truck?

[OriginalWheelman]

So here is my TopGear challenge for myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwX-KS1816c

Could I buy a vehicle to move my studio apartment for less than the cost of renting a truck? The challenge was on. I went to the go to place for cheap transport, Craigslist.

So now let's see what I've chosen.

It was the end of an era. The cold war (or should I say Cold War 1) was ending. America had a new president, the world was changing. The V8s thundering down the interstate were becoming v6 FWD shadows of their former selves. One bastion of hope, of the rugged past, of the body on frame construction good old fashioned rear wheel drive days remained. Refreshed with a new fuel injection system the Chevrolet G20 van held on.







I found it for $1500 about 45 minutes away in South Haven. It's old, rusty, and the interior is dirty.

The story is it belonged to grandma and grandpa Mississippi for years and they got a new one. They gave this to Grandkid Mississippi. He drove it into the ground for a year and sold it to Dave for $1600. Dave had a ton of work done and used ti as a work van for 3 years. Hence the trashed interior.















Free bait.







As we were driving around with no AC and Jason Aldean playing out of the stack of speakers screwed together and ziptied to the front seats, David remarked he couldn't understand why no one wanted it.

This thing has never seen a garage in 26 years. LIGHT did that to the paint.



The 3rd brake light / spoiler adds the much needed downforce to the rear of the van.





The spare tire rack's bolts are broken and there is no spare anyways.

1. My normal car insurance covers me, my truck, and all my stuff for theft/ fire/ etc.
2. This will be better on gas.
3. I am currently $32 cheaper than JUST the Budget truck rental. That does not count the $587 for the insurance, bringing the total savings to $612.

We are packing up tonight, and leaving first thing int he morning. The county clerk opens at 7am and I will be there to get my tags.

The fantastic part of this is in Tennessee, I am covered under the policy for the Miata driving a vehicle I have purchased. I am allowed to drive 30 days after the purchase of a vehicle without a registration. So I was able to drive it home, clean it out, and tomorrow I can drive it to get plates. I will miss this state. Tennessee taught me what freedom means.

[Kompresshun]

Now the real kicker is if you can drive it there AND resell it for at least some or all of the original purchase price back. If you could do that, you would have done better than Top Gear could do itself.

Did you work something out with the Z or is it still staying in TN?

[Bubba1]

Very interesting idea. Looking at those pics, you might want to make sure you're current on your tetanus shots. You also might consider having a breakdown service (like AAA) in case you break down, especially if you're planning to top of fluids and drive it as is. Good luck.

[OriginalWheelman]

We ran it through SXmoneypit's shop today.

The good:
The front end is tight. The engine is good, the transmission is good, it just leaks from the rear seal.
I do plan on getting AAA. I forgot, thanks for the reminder.
The body is solid, just covered in surface rust. It is still nowhere near as bad as the G20 van I had in Buffalo 16 years ago.
There is no rear HVAC unit to take up cargo space.
The seats have fresh bolts holding them in and are easy to remove.

The bad:
Obviously the interior. Almost every single thing in the interior is broken or worn out.
The frame of the driver's seat is loose, and the padding is worn out. I am going to try and cannibalize a captain's chair before the trip.
In true TopGear style the AC does not work. Did I mention I'm taking the desert route?
The HVAC is stuck only blowing out the defroster.
There is a mystery bunch of wires and relay under the dash. I'm not touching it.
The front console's wood is crumbling.

[frapjap]

Now the real kicker is if you can drive it there AND resell it for at least some or all of the original purchase price back. If you could do that, you would have done better than Top Gear could do itself.

Did you work something out with the Z or is it still staying in TN?

This.

And in Oregon you're bound to find some hippie who wants to live down by the river in it who will buy it with his commune friends who will fornicate and desecrate that van even further.

Who's driving the miata?

[sx moneypit]

That's what i told him yesterday!

[sx moneypit]

Now the real kicker is if you can drive it there AND resell it for at least some or all of the original purchase price back. If you could do that, you would have done better than Top Gear could do itself.

Did you work something out with the Z or is it still staying in TN?

The Z is at my shop.It is still for sale.

[WDRacing]

I have a full size Express with the mini conversion and I love it.

[numbnuts240]

you need side challenges along the way if you want this to be proper.

[darylzero]

So you are going to put everything you were going to put in the u-haul truck in this van? Are you going to take out all the back seats and throw them away?
I would imagine the u-haul has a lot more sq. feet.
I like the idea though. Good luck!

[OriginalWheelman]

I will answer your questions a bit later. I just got into bed somewhere in Oklahoma. The van is great, I am exhausted. Goodnight.

[OriginalWheelman]

The uhaul would have more space, but we didn't need it. We got,everything inside except the rear bench (threw it out) and the box spring for our queen bed. The bed is in the van. I tried to strap the box spring to the roof, but the roof rack broke.

The cab is great. The 302 is a little lacking in the hills, but is going strong. I was without a radio for 2 hours. I tried to use a cassette adapter in the stereo and it ate it. The blower is stuck on the defrost setting. The a.c. blows heat, so I can't even hAve the fan going.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Man that thing is awesome!!!

Too bad you don't have 2 other vanning buddies to go with you, and you could use them as parking stones

Glad it worked out for you (so far), and sorry I couldn't help with the truck/van search! I figured you were probably better off just going the Craigslist route anyway.

I don't suppose you've tried simply charging the AC system have you? Does the compressor kick on? It might be worth taking a look at, ensuring all the heater control valves and blend valves are working properly.

[Jesda]

Heck yeah! This reminds me of the old Buick I bought in Phoenix instead of airfare.

I havent seen that standard GM two-spoke steering wheel since my dad's Celebrity wagon back in the 80s.

And it figures that the AC doesnt work, lol

[OriginalWheelman]

I'm really liking the van. But I has developed it's first real issue. It gets hot and shuts down. Its only doing it when I have to climb a long grade. My electronics shut down when it happens so I think something electrical is over heating. It's died twice so far, and starts almost right after it dies. My battery is also hot to the touch.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Sounds like you should start putting in some speed holes for ventilation!

[OriginalWheelman]

Well I solved the battery issue. Now my fuel pump is dead. I'm sitting on i40 near exit 277 waiting for AAA.

[Dattebayo]

What was draining the battery?

Fuel pump should be an easy fix, if you don't mind getting gas on your hands that is. You gonna fix it or just have a shop do it?

[OriginalWheelman]

Right now I need to get towed. I will probably have a shop do it. AAA is going to tow me to Santa Fe.

[OriginalWheelman]

Well AAA was about to have me towed 112 miles to a shop that is closed till Monday. So I'm currently sitting at Bozo's Garage in Santa Rosa NM until they open Monday. The guy even turned down $100 extra to come in tonight.

[OriginalWheelman]

Well, I just fiddled with it. I got it to start. I'm not sure if I should drive it. I'm wondering if it isn't the fuel pump but these shifty gm injectors.

[OriginalWheelman]

Ok, update. Once the van Sat for an hour it started Right up. I also did something different this leg. I was going up a hill and I put it in 3rd manually, instead of waiting for it. When I did, it felt a lot more direct. So I left it in 3rd, an drove. I got to Moriarty NM and I'm letting it cool. My engine temp went down a lot running in 3rd. I think it was bogging down in od and making a lot of heat. I'm going to keep running it in 3rd, and drive into the night.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Good luck man! Give her hell!

[sx moneypit]

John,i know all this s*** sucks now but it will be some kick a** memories for you and Pam!!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Have you thought about driving at night and sleeping during the day? That should help with the temperature issue...

[OriginalWheelman]

Transmission is dead. I lost it trying to climb out of a canyon in southern Utah. I'm sleeping in what's left of the van in a uhaul parking lot. Nxer is on a plane headed for Portland. I lose. Game over.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Ahhh that sucks!
Did you lose all gears? It doesn't help if you shift normally? Fluid level is ok?

[OriginalWheelman]

The van dies if I put it in D and is is now leaking fluid from front and back and leaving sizable puddles of atf. If I neutral drop it I can get it to move. I overloaded the van. I realized just how bad when the tow truck was struggling to tow it. It was fine in the Midwest but the mountains were too much.

[frapjap]

Make a CL post and sell it for scrap, asap!

[Bubba1]

Make a CL post and sell it for scrap, asap!

or perhaps donate to one of those non-profit sites that picks it up for free and get a tax writeoff.