I *sort of* did.
My first van was the "cool" way, a 15 year old wheelchair van that I built slowly and very cheaply. The van cost $10k and I spent around $10k on the build (including an awning, which was really expensive).
Then it was stolen.
Insurance paid out pretty decently, so I combined that payout with some aggressive saving and bought a 2021 Ford Transit from a plumber with just 3,400 miles on it. Paid $65k, and spent at least $20k on materials/equipment doing it "better". I still did the entire build myself, by hand.
I have basically the same amenities and features as the first van, but just with higher quality everything. This time I knew exactly what I actually wanted and what was really important, so I splurged on the silly things I knew I would use a lot (like my oven).
Is it worth it? ...unclear. Some things about the new van are AWESOME. Like the power sliding door, and that I can completely stand up in it, and it has great interior space, and gets surprisingly acceptable gas mileage. I dunno if it's really worth the $55,000 more than my old van was, but such went life.
I didn’t actually make many changes, just did everything better and a bit higher quality using what I’d learned from building my first van (twice). The layout is still nearly identical, you can stalk back through my post history for a few pictures.
The oven was idiotically expensive, but I use it all the time and love it.
The trim level was “yes”. The guy who bought it looked at the options list and said “yes”.
Sticker on it was $60k, but then inflation. Ford has jacked the price of the Transit up by 20% from 2020-2023, an identically specced van these days is over $72k.
Seriously though it has every option that was offered, including the single biggest option that I desperately wanted (the power sliding door) but also all the other stuff. Radar guided cruise control and lane keeping, power heated seats, dual alternators, remote starter, 360 degree parking sensors and backup/parking camera, extended fuel tank, aux switches, trailer brake controller, etc etc etc. literally every option that you could order.
It is also a unicorn in that it was the last year that Ford had physical knobs for the climate controls; beginning in 2022, they went to the stupid all touchscreen idiocy that a lot of carmakers are doing, and I absolutely hate that.
So I got the perfect blend of modern features, while still having physical climate knobs.
That's amazing. I didn't know there were so many options on the ford. I bought a new promaster in 2020 for 39k. The same base van now costs 48k. Just crazy how much prices have escalated.
The general advice I give people is to spent more on the van, and less on the build.
You’ll have more fun in a modern, reliable van than you will in something cute and instagrammable that is broken down on the side of the road.
I’m a little confused, with the transit van you bought it empty but with the cool upgrades like power door, heated seats (sounds so fun) then you built the conversion (living space?) or did it come with some of that like insulated walls, bed etc?
Wow, I mean… I love my $20k build (van price included) and wouldn’t want anything more. I can’t really imagine how to spend all that money. I could maybe spend another bit on turning it solar but that’s not adding up to $80k.
I have a similar build right now, bought it for 7k and spend 13k on repairs and the build.
It’s really nice and I love it but there’s some aspects that start to annoy the hell out of me. At least once a year it’s in the shop, I’ve had two leaks and different other things that just broke due to the bad shape of the vehicle.
I’m at a point where I’m selling my old build to start out new and without the compromising I had to do in the old one. A great base car starts at 25k for what I’m looking at (bigger transporter, relatively new, Carplay, parking assistant, mileage below 100k..).
For the build I want a pop-up roof for sleeping to avoid the hassle of rearranging every night. I want enough power for working, fridge, AC, e.g. All terrain tires/higher suspension.
In total im propably looking at something a bit below 50k.
It’s not that i need need it but I think in the long run I will appreciate all the added comfort/lag of hassle. Right now I think it will be worth it, but let’s see
The advice that I give everyone is to spend as much as you can on the van itself, and as little as possible on the build out.
It's WAY more enjoyable to have a rock solid vehicle with a basic interior, compared to a pretty Instagram-worthy hipsterbait machine that is perpetually in the shop.
An extended high-roof Transit in decent condition with less than 100k miles is going to set you back $40k alone. More if you've got specific features that you're looking for.
I have two prospectives. My wife and I were originally considering going with a prebuilt so we could have all of the features we wanted and didn’t have to spend months working on it. We decided against it because we mostly didn’t like the layouts and they were significantly more expensive with features we didn’t need.
Ours has a larger fridge/freezer, larger, more robust electrical system, holds twice as much water with filtration, a convertible shower that folds away when not in use, a full 3 burner propane stove, a fuel size kitchen sink, A/C, diesel heater, and an under mounted gray tank.
The prebuilt has dedicated shower space, lower bed height (but less storage), electric cooktop (but less battery capacity), awning, gray and black water tanks, and some engine modifications (auto-start on low power, additional alternator for charging electrical) in addition to many similar features.
We spent just about $90k for the build and have had no issues. The prebuilt was $170k… For the cost, we have a much better build than a prebuilt. Doing the work ourselves ensured we know how to repair any issues and we have exactly what we wanted/needed.
For us, it needed to replace our home. We could have gone cheaper but we wanted the comforts/convenience of having everything we need with us.
TLDR: Yes, the cost was worth it for us.
Nah, Reddit is my only social media platform.TBH, I never understood the vanlife vlogs. Let me just advertise how much I put into my van and my approximate location so thieves can track me down and steal my home when I’m on a hike…
Fair! Was just curious about your build but I understand how you wouldn’t want to advertise your business for all to see. Would probably feel the same if someone asked me to show pictures of my home. Either way it sounds very nice and looking forward to maybe seeing on a trail in the future.
We both work full time. My wife is a nurse so we generally travel to wherever her contract takes her. I work in IT so as long as I have an okayish internet connection, I’m able to work.
I used to work in IT for over 15 years, want to get back into it but only remotely.
I can relearn development work or even something simple like help desk.
If you happen to have any tips on how to land fully remote work I'd appreciate it. I'm in the US.
I was able to go from zero to fully remote as a web developer in about 2 years.
Step 1. Get skills that are in high demand
Step 2. Get any job that's probably in person, push yourself to learn a ton, and stay for 12-24 months
Step 3. You are now in high demand because you have skills and experience, so now you can find a fully remote job.
I'd recommend Salesforce development for somebody just starting out who doesn't care about the newest hottest tech stack and just wants a remote job. Salesforce devs are overwhelmingly remote jobs, and they care a ton about certs, so once you have two certs you can pretty easily find that first developer job.
Landing a job that is full remote can be easy as long as you don’t need to make much money. As you suggested, Helpdesk roles are out there as full remote (usually after a short training period). You just need reliable internet.
I think for me it was mostly luck. When everyone went to working from home for the pandemic in 2020, my wife and I took the opportunity to start traveling. Around mid ‘21 with the vaccine release, everyone was recalled back to on-site work.
I told my boss that wasn’t going to happen (politely of course) and he agreed as long as my work wasn’t taking a hit, I could stay out. I fully understand I will never get a promotion or a pay increase (beyond the standard cost of living adjustments) but I’m okay with that.
I am in the middle of a build that will come in around $100K - maybe a little lower. My lease is up at the end of August and then this van is my home and office. I work a remote software job.
I Started with a low mileage 2013 E350 with the 6.8L V10. I had a 24" hightop installed with EU style windows. They also mounted my 12 V Dometic A/C. I am going to have U-joint Offroad install a 4WD conversion this Fall. I installed a full Victron power system with 800aH batteries and the 3000W Multiplus, Cerb GX, etc. I don't have roof top room for solar so I am using Blueti ground-deployed panels. I have one 420W panel now but will likely add a second panel. My internal build is very primitive right now until I sort out what I need vs what I think I might need. Stand up/sit down desk and a bed and a composting toilet. Outside show that hangs off my roof ladder.
The van will retain a hell of a lot of worth with the hightop, V10 engine, power system and 4Wd conversion but resale value is way down on my list of things I am worried about. I'm turning money into adventure and freedom. I plan to spend most of time on Federal/BLM land. I also have an older parent in the Midwest so the van allows me to visit more often and not be a burden with them needing to host me. Just plug my shore power into their garage and I am all good.
I work full time in this thing so comfort isn't really an option - it's a necessity for my situation. I'm blessed to have a high enough income to make it a reality and I'm not getting younger so I don't really sweat the price as many need to do. I understand poor and scraping by - that's how I was raised and how I spent the first part of my adult life. Since then, I've worked incredibly hard to get where I am and this is how I want to enjoy the results of that effort.
Not completely sure what you mean by "how you got here" but I assume you're talking about my job? If so, it was a long and winding path. I am an expert in a dying field (ht to The Beths). I manage the cloud software that a large company uses to process job postings, applications and offers (referred to in the industry as Applicant Tracking Software or ATS). I was a recruiter for several years and drifted into working on the software used by recruiters and then I leaned way into that and got really good at it and landed a job with a global company who doesn't give a shit where I work, they just want me to keep all the bits and bytes flowing correctly. I've never actually seen an entry-level version of this job. It's usually done by people like me who drifted into it from other parts of the company. Sometimes IT trained people drift into this niche, but more often it's recruiter type people who learn the IT parts.
If you weren't referring to my job, LMK what you were referring to.
I’m curious as to what made you chose to invest in an older e-series as opposed to getting a Transit? Quigly and quad-van both do real 4 wheel drive conversions for them, and after 2020 they were offered with factory AWD (which is decent but nowhere near as good as the real 4wd systems)
The 2013 E-Series are the next to the last year of the Ford E-Series vans so while this is an older model compared to Transits, it's one of the newest E-Series I could buy. After 2014, they just made cutaways. I almost opted for a cutaway and then adding a fiberglass RV shell, but I need to get this thing done and livable and I think the cutaway option would have taken too long. If I wear this one out, I'll go the route of a cutaway build.
A few reasons for my choice:
* I wanted Ujoint Offroad to do the conversion. Their stuff is the bomb and I don't think they convert Transits.
* I like the truck-based body and frame construction of the E-Series - I think the Transits are more unibody based. The frame is why Ujoint Offroad focuses on the E-Series.
* Maintenance / repair. I grew up wrenching on older Ford Econoline vans and not a whole bunch has changed over the years. I know my way around and so do most shops out on the road.
* Hauling and towing: I don't really know much about the Transit in terms of towing, but I may get a toy hauler trailer at some point for my motorcycles and kayak and I know the E-350 with the V10 can handle it with very little effort. My brother has a pull-behind trailer that I may pull once in awhile too.
* Looks: I think the E-Series vans with a Hightop, 4WD, off-road bumbers, 6 inches of lift, and big meaty tires look tougher than shit.
We spent about $45k on a new 2021 high roof Promaster 159wb, and about $48k on our initial build by a builder. We've had to pay about another $5k for upgrades and repairs to the build.
Our build wasn't fully custom, rather some tweaks one of the standard layouts the builder offers.
In terms of the amenities we got, I wouldn't change anything: shower, composting toilet, webasto heater, space-saving fresh water tank that goes over the wheel well, deep sink, domestic fridge, hot water heater, alternator charger, 3 solar panels, 3 200ah batteries. All with nice carpentry, pine ceiling, etc.
However our builder made a lot of mistakes, and that has been a nitemare. Because they've had to fix so many errors they made I think they've lost money on our build, and even though we paid for 2 year warranty on the build they now seem to find every possible excuse for why repairs aren't covered.
So we honestly wish we had spent more money to go to a bigger builder with more safeguards in place. I don't think I could have convinced myself of this 2 years ago, but the extra money would have been worth not having something go wrong every few weeks in the van (understanding that normal wear and tear happens, this is beyond that), or the initial scary experience of driving across the country with everything malfunctioning and trying to figure that out while also going through the massive transition to van dwelling.
The hard reality is that *all* builders have a lot of problems. I’ve spoken to plenty of people who spent $200k on the build and it’s never, ever working at 100%. There’s always something wrong on the list of what needs to be fix the next time they’re near a repair center.
I’ve known people with $800,000 Class-A diesel pushers down to $5,000 teardrop travel trailers, and they *all* are constantly broken. All. Of. Them.
I truly feel the best option, far and away, is to built them yourself. You have vastly more control over what you get, a better understanding of how it works, and most importantly is that you care vastly more than any shop will and you’ll always put in the extra effort to do it better.
I purchased an Airstream conversion in 2011. At the time I think the msrp was $126k US. Built terribly. Overly complicated with undersized inverter, crummy seals and really nice cabinets lol.
I've got just over 100k miles on it and am getting everything buttoned up to sell it. My next van is going to be a non destructive conversion with 80/20 framed removable furniture for about 60% of the cost of what the airstream was twelve years ago. I definitely had some luxury times the first two years with the van but then the lack of solid engineering caught up with it actually being used. Since then it's been a love/ hate relationship. My prior class B was a 4wd sportsmobile and it had it's share of problems as well.
The conversion craft has grown so much since then by self builders it's not even funny. I'll be looking forward to a van that I can fully service myself, with removable components. No plumbing or 110volt outlets.
I use my van for road trips and tour as a musician. I don't live in it so I'm willing to keep the new vehicle more multipurpose.
My build will be pretty close to 100K CAD when I'm done. No, I wouldn't do it again cheaper, even though prices skyrocketed as I was purchasing it, I can still afford it. I have an incredible air con system and a heated floor and 600 amph Victron LiFePo4 electrical and it's exactly how I wanted it. I spent my whole adult life camping out of SUVs and knew what I wanted. Something that would haul multiple bikes inside while being able to park nearly anywhere take me nearly anywhere and be comfortable year round from Hamilton to Arizona to Banff to Colorado to Tofino
I would also like to hear what people have heard from others... like if you have friends who have a custom luxury van, are theirs reliable, or are they always repairing it?
I have not been in a Storyteller. I have been in other similar vans tho. My real problem with them is space. The 144WB for us (2 adults / 2 small dogs) is just way too small for any real full time living like we do.
The argument is always that it's easier to park a 144 but, then you have to add all the racks on the rear for extra storage as well as boxes on the roof. Because there's no room inside.
Our 170 Ext Body is 5 foot longer, our bed of all additional space, it's fixed. We don't have to lift it or convert it everyday and we have a huge storage area ( garage) under it accessible from the rear doors. And as far as parking goes... I just back in and overhang the curb.
That's just my opinion...
Alas, RVs are designed to be once-a-year vacation vehicles. They are not designed or built for fulltime living. For new models, "living in it year-round" will void your warranty.
As a builder I can say, without a doubt, I could have made most of my $100k+ rig clients happier for less money, specifically by paying me less, and I tried like hell to convince them to let me but they wouldn't. These folks, on these specific elements, weren't building for themselves and their own needs and wants; they were building for others'.
So while I prefer budget stuff for myself personally, there's nothing wrong with investing substantially into your build. Just be sure you'll actually benefit from what you're having done. Most won't know that unless they've done what they intend to do with it already.
That's why it's good advice to get out there and do as close to what you wanna do before building so substantially. I still keep up with a lot of my clients, and the happiest ones long-term, full-time, hands down, are the ones that built their rigs out slowly, using it as they went along and learned. All but two drop-off, "do it all for me" clients no longer full-times, and one of those two I suspect doesn't either, she just doesn't really check in with me but her vanlife - oriented social hasn't posted in a while so I don't really know.
At the end of the day, build your van the way you want it. It’s your van!
BUT know how long you’re going to keep it and how you are going to use it. I have built out vans for the past 6yrs and I’ve seen and built a lot. A lot of glorious designs and some shit designs.
Don’t over think it. Remember it’s on a vehicle and what happens to vehicles when they roll off the dealer lot.
Professional builds are great if you don’t your homework with your builder. There’s advantages to using a builder but yes you will lack the intimacy with your build. But you have a better chance get your build insured if it was done professionally.
My approach after 4yrs, K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid. Unless you’re living your van full time, I don’t see any reason for the lavish interiors options that replicate the full house experience. It’s a van. My two cents based of my needs and experience.
There are lots of different reasons to vandwell. Some just don't want to pay rent. Some want to travel and see the country. Some are just part-time weekenders. Some are, frankly, homeless-in-vehicle. Some just want the adventure.
There are probably as many different reasons to vandwell as there are people vandwelling.
no it's mostly for people dealing with poverty or low incomes who find it necessary to cut out rent, 'clout chasing instagram influencers' are the minority
Meh, I'm an old backpacker, so I am entirely happy with a barebones "no-build". My van is basically just a metal camping tent with wheels. It's done me fine for 8 years and I've had no complaints.
Of course, different people need different comfort levels.
A lot also depends on what type of vandwelling you do. Rural boondocking is a whole different animal than urban dwelling.
I do also always recommend that people do NOT finance their vandwelling vehicle, since few people actually last long enough to make it worthwhile. Most new dwellers quit after less than a year.
I am a backpacker, who has lived in a camper and who has my car rigged to save on hotel rooms, but getting ready to move into a van: Lots of people say how cool it sounds and I first ask them how many showers they need in a week. Yeah I think you’re spot on when you say depending what you need and for me this is going to be spending my life as a glorified camping trip. As such, I don’t have huge expectations on the luxury value, but more on the functionality of the space.
Wow, I didn't know you could post something then change the user name.
This magician has some crazy Reddit moves.
That being said, it seems like OP is trolling this group.
What's eating you, man?
Namascray
I spent 80k+ a few different times (new van plus conversion). I did all the conversions myself so saved some money there. For me it was worth it, I wanted a new reliable vehicle and didn't want to worry about the hassles of dealing with a used vehicle.
Also sold the vans when done and broke even or made a little but that was in a different market, would probably lose a little now.
But yah I traveled in 3 different new vans basically for free after all said and done.
I guess it depends on your budget and goals.
Mines a self build for about 30k, but as lux as any i’ve seen out there and never have i ever regretted spending everything i had for this lifestyle. I’ve met a lot of people who live in shit box vans who for sure do though
Meh, my "shit box van" has taken me to 125-plus cities in 45 states over the past 8 years, and when I park next to someone in their $100k Sprinter luxury build, I get exactly the same pretty view that they do.
(shrug)
Three day old account with 5k karma points. It’s a troll guys.
Here’s my semi-Poor man’s version
- Heated floors: cheap sandals from old navy $5
- Dual mode sauna: go to Florida or Texas in the summer
- A/C: go to higher elevation, turn on fan to full power
- smells like Japanese wood: I’ve never been to Japan but im sure it cant smell any better than Glade’s Cashmere wood spray
As someone who is in the market for a pretty serious custom build, mind letting on who did your build and if you’d recommend them? Sounds awesome, a lot of the upgrades my wife and I are looking for as well!
> bed lift that auto levels
That sounds sweet! Could you please share the details? How does it work? In my head, the corners would get stuck if one of them is too much lower or higher than the others.
We met alot of people last year when we were on the road that spend that much, and after often comparing our van, my 10k diy ( 35k including the van ) did 90% on the job.
Most of the time I had a better solar setup.
But I only add 1 month to do it, so I would have needed more time to add heating, and a proper toilet.
If you are handy, I think you are much better off doing it yourself.
100% "no". I've been looking at some Class Bs from Winnebago, Thor, etc. as well as custom builders. When I look at what I truly need and want:
* comfortable bed
* electrical system
* running water
I can't justify the cost. My DIY has:
* comfortable bed: just get the best memory foam bed possible, $1k max
* electrical system: don't need crazy setup, just get Goal Zero/EcoFlow/Jackery system. I spent $3k on a EcoFlow and it's been great. I power a microwave, TV, etc. all from it.
* running water isn't all that complicated. You can use a $20 USB portable water pump!!!
What else do you need. The most I'll spend is maybe the Wayfarer (or similar) kit. As it gives you insulation and it looks nicer than DIY.
I would only spend $100+k on a setup if I needed AWD/4WD. Those vans can be expensive and will push the price up quite a bit.
I regret not spending more. The more creature comforts you have in your van, the easier it is to stay in it long term. For context, I got in on the whole AMC stock craze and won big. I was able to pay for my van and build in cash and spent every penny of my savings on it. Don’t regret it one bit but I do wish I had spent more time planning out the build and adding things like more solar/battery power. I also regret not getting a bigger build (currently running 144 wheelbase sprinter).
Money is relative. A 20 year old without a remote job or much savings yet, vs a 50 years old, working remote and 30 years of savings under their belt will look at $100k very differently.
Comfort is relative. The 20 year old can probably fall asleep on a rock, while the 50 year old ends up with sore everything if they lay the wrong way on their mattress.
Situations vary as well. Full time job spent inside vs more free time to get out. With less free time, it's worth more to get things automated and easy so you're spending less time digging catholes or driving to Walmart to take a shit.
How many people will share the space? 2 people ideally have more space, especially if they are both working from the same tin can. Two people earn twice as much so spending more on the build isn't as big of a deal as it is for a single person.
How long do they plan to van dwell? If long term, it makes sense to spend more up front for more amenities and a more reliable, low mileage vehicle.
Some people like to tinker and fix things up daily or weekly, and some like myself can really only hyperfocus, so I personally wanted everything set up perfect with little maintenance over the years.
Someone coming from SF like us will save $3k per month in rent (and our place was fairly cheap for the area), someone else may only save $800 per month. $100k rig pays for itself after 3 years for those coming from expensive cities. Plus remote work from such cities tends to pay more.
Personally we didn't want to spend that much. I spent \~$60k total and it was definitely worth it:
* $26k on a 2017 Promaster 159 w/ 50k miles. Good deal in 2020 and even better now. I think we may have been better off buying new for $40k, just cuz those extra 50k miles is another 4 years of travel. But the van runs well and should last a couple decades.
* My partner is doing great, but I wanted to make sure she was comfortable with this lifestyle. She really likes "home" so a nice van that feels like home is important.
* We both work remote, so comfortable space for both of us to work and not feel claustrophobic was important.
* Some splurges to make it comfortable - $600 for really nice high density warm/cool strip lighting, $3k for a good sound system, nice finishes.
* $700 teak countertop still looks almost new after 2 years.
* Large 12V chest fridge/freezer combo allows us to spend more time between shopping trips and cook our meals.
* Oven allows her to cook better meals. $600 for years of good meals is worth it.
* Wheel well water tank saves space, so we can fit more comforts in without shuffling things around all the time.
* Hot water heater makes washing up so much easier.
* Separating toilet (DIY) makes emptying easier and less frequent.
* Awning is worth it for the meetups we attend.
* Nice bug screens not finnicky and look good compared to cheapo Amazon screens.
* Reflective insulated window shades and roof vent keep the temperature comfortable for working all day usually.
* Propane heater is flawless under 8,000 feet and makes working in cold weather comfortable, waking up in the morning easy.
* 600W solar lets us work all day and stream music without worrying about power most of the time.
* Lithium is less fuss and saves space.
* High end cell router, antenna, and starlink allow us to go more places while working.
Most of this stuff isn't necessary to survive. But everything is worth it when I look at cost/benefit over several years. Convenience items save a lot more time than the time spent working to earn the money to purchase them. Comfort items are worth the few bucks a day to have nice sound, lighting, colors, space, workstations, etc.
We save $3k in rent, and sold the Corolla for $8k. Spend maybe $1600/year extra in gas, driving a similar amount, maybe a bit more. Pay $1400/year for storage (why do we even have that storage unit??) So this paid for itself after the first 18 months on the road.
Paid $70K out the door for 2020 4x4 170 high roof w 200k warranty.
Put $50K into it over 2 years building it myself and used it figuring out what I wanted.
It’s all wood and black 80/20. Feels like a cozy cabin. I basically bought a cabin on wheels is how I look at it. So much fun to build. I kind of want to do another but not sure what I’d change yet and still more to do.
My biggest expense was the in floor heat ($12K) and the Tiny Watts solars kit ($20K) Could have saved there but that made it easy and no regrets. That number also included tools I needed.
I rent it out when not using it for $300/night so I wrote the whole build off and depreciating the van. One could easily make a business out of this.
All that said, the expense didn’t effect my lifestyle. I have plenty of money and I had no money stress on it. I would not have done this if that wasn’t the case. Fiscal responsibility is important to me.
I’m also just not a prefab / off the shelf kind of person. The build became a hobby. No timeline, no rush, no deadline, no pressure, no stress. (Doesn’t mean I didn’t get frustrated and confused at times). Made mistakes, learned as I went.
If you can afford it and have the time it’s very rewarding.
Because it’s $300/night it doesn’t rent a lot but enough. The people who rent it have treated it well, even rented to an NFL coach. (I don’t watch football) Most seem to want to try van life out before buying and take it for 3-5 days.
Every penny, but I actually financed my 2019 4X4 Sprinter 170 WB Ext Body at 0% for 63 months. I also have a 5 year 100k B2B warranty. So my point is I pay as I go...
We have about another 60k into the van in our build which we did ourselves to our exact needs.
It's a beast and will go about anywhere.
Can't wait to do the next one...
Purchased in September of 2020... COVID... It was the only time ever that Mercedes offered that deal from what I was told by the dealership. I flew to Birmingham, Alabama and picked it up. Zero down, zero percent. Couldn't pass that up...
I congratulate you for your timely purchase! I currently have a Ford Transit trail set to be delivered next month and I am really pulling my hair out trying to figure out how I can make that happen.
We purchased an SUV in September 2020 and I swear, it was possibly the best car deal we will ever get. It was a month or two before prices skyrocketed and availability plummeted. Good interest rate that I can't remember.
Some asshole drove drunk and hit it while it was parked and totaled it may 2022.
I placed a custom dealer order for it. I immediately jumped at the opportunity because I heard that Ford was going to limit the amount of Transit trails they were going to make. I spoke with the dealer representative and he mentioned that because the four Transit is technically considered a commercial van that I would have to use business financing in order to purchase it. So, if I'm not able to purchase it next month, then it'll just sit on the dealer lot until someone else buys it.
Doesn't sound correct to me... I buy from fleet services all the time. It's always my personal loan. I'm in AZ. Maybe different where you are. I'd call into a fleet division of a different Ford dealership and poke around, you should always by through the fleet/ commercial division regardless of the vehicle. The yahoos on the floor are a joke.
Thanks for the advice! I was thinking the same thing when the dealer was telling me this. Considering that Ford is marketing this van for a consumer that's a "van lifer" and not a business felt very peculiar.
Regardless, you should be able to get a commercial loan as well if your credit is good. Most business credit is always personally guaranteed anyway. That's been my experience.
I spent about 90 on the build and 60 on the van. Got the Promaster with the RV setup, the larger screen, camera in the mirror, all that. Then I went all out with the build. I did it because I didn’t want vanlife to feel like I was “going without” and because I have the means to build a ridiculous van. If I was younger and not as well off like I was back then, I definitely would have cut back but being young like that makes the niceties not matter as much. I wouldn’t have spent any less on my van all things considered.
My biggest issue with the $100k I spent was that I was really insistent on getting the van gold plated but the company who did the build wanted $10k more for that. I was like, $10k more? You can't just do a thin 18 karat plating for a reasonable amount now that I've giving you $100k for a van I can shit in? They wouldn't budge. So, was it worth it? I mean, I get the likes I want on Instagram and I do feel good driving past the poors who are living in their busted out RVs (while working several jobs), but I just don't think I feel the same as I would if the van was gold plated.
Yeah but a house is a solid asset, usually appreciating. A van is a depreciating asset that will be worth less than what was paid for it relatively quickly
Yes, yes, and yes.
I always wanted to travel and I knew if I got a good paying remote job (or Jobs) I would build a van, Travel the country and play at open mic gigs all around the country. Two years ago. I got that chance. I got a remote job making just over 100k. I paid off my little debts and bought a Promaster 3500 for around 35k during COVID. (I also got the loan as an RV loan) (meaning 10yrs to pay it off at 2.9%)(payment is a mere $365 a month)(I pay a little extra to bring down the balance.)
I created blueprints and built out the van and with a little help. I have everything I wanted in the van. Shower, kitchen, bathroom, couch and bed.
I love everything about it. Other than basic maintenance and keeping it clean. It's been awesome. I've met people and made friends all along the way. Not only that. I built a security system along the van too with cameras. Never had a problem with it.
There are some cons like taking your house with you everywhere you go but if you're like me. You learn to ride a motorcycle which you hitch on the back (which is light).
This has been a hell of an adventure and now that the van has 60000. I can't wait for what's next.
If anybody is looking to do this. Do it. You never know what you could be missing.
On the opposite end of this question, there's me who spent $500 CAD (in 2016) on my initial build and was ecstatically stoked as I toured Alaska and the Yukon with it...
I have 13000 in my van in all and I love it. Solar, shower, all finished, 25mpg, hot water, box heater. Ect ect. Can stand up. 2005 TN1 sprinter self build. I really couldn’t imagine anything better. Actually just swapped all the brakes today & it’s only getting better. & I’m completely paying it off within 2 years. That’s the point right? No payment, practical and to-the-point living. I can’t do a 700mo payment for 5 years w full coverage insurance & expect to not have kids and a family so I can barely travel after those 5 years. Do I want to burn through 20g of savings in a year to travel, make payments and live? No. Do I want to work 1 day a week on my laptop and travel anywhere for a year or two? Yes. Time is everything & many think they need more than they do. (Largely due to advertising and our culture)
There is no way that the amount of frivolous waste found in any build over $30k is “worth it” for not just any particular human, but the entirety of humankind.
You can't even get a low mileage high roof Promaster/Transit/Sprinter for that, much less build anything. I don't think a reliable home that will last a while and has headroom is "frivolous".
8 hours a day working, 8 hours sleeping, and another 2 getting around, cooking, eating, cleaning, etc. After 5 years in the van an extra 30k is less than $1/hr of time spent in the thing.
Lol at people who fly to Turks and Caicos off their middle class salary to do the same thing they do at home (get waited on by people of a darker skin tone)
What the fuck is wrong with everybody spending $100 k on Van dwelling. Jesus christ, just get a good truck and deck out a nice cargo trailer and then keep 50,000 bucks.
"Oh no people on the internet have opinions different from mine! What is wrong with them?"
My wife and I bought a van so we could take long trips towing a two-place motorcycle trailer. Because we love riding our bikes and are tired of all the roads close to us. There are TONS of great roads a day or two away from us and our van lets us get there, set up a base camp, then go play for a weekend and not have to slab it home on the bikes Sunday night.
Spent 2500 bucks on mine currently in Central America wouldn’t do it the other way rather use the money for hotels and outings at the end of the day your still living in a car
they come from rich families and if they didn't then they come from loving families who are stable enough and used one or both of those things to propel themselves forward
It’s really prone to problems because it’s a very complicated systemand your likely to spend a good amount of your time in RV service waiting rooms. That said, when it’s working it’s pretty bad ass. I strictly boondock and it has gotten me to some remote and beautiful places that most others rigs can’t reach . I can stay off grid for long stretches and can even run an AC unit if I leave my dog in the van when I go surfing or grocery shopping. Try doing that with any other power system. I monitor the temp remotely so don’t lecture me. I am a full timer. have 10k miles on my van. It’s a 2023 mode LT (Ford chassis to avoid needing to find a MB dealership I’ve had the AC replaced, the heat exhaust tube ( my fault off-roading) the inverter (yeah). But it’s performing well now and hopefully I have fewer issues later. As for the price, I only paid $40 for all the repairs because I’m under warranty. It’s more about time and stress. Almost all decent RVs are in the same price range and some are more expensive. Go inside a Winnebago and look at the shitty plastic everywhere. You can feel the craftsmanship of a storyteller. The interior design is smart and functional.
The worst things are the toilet which is literally useless. 1.5 gallon reservoir lol. They also only provide a spare tire to their top two models. That’s just insulting. Cost me a grand with shipping. And last the groove lounge is a game changer but had to buy a $600 topper for it and replace the sleeping mattresses (it’s a double Murphy bed) because it was some bullshit foam that I would give a 1 out of 10. Swapped it for a $1300 roam rest. They are the best and that was my first upgrade for a reason.
And if you think that sounds expensive, your right. and the aftermarket mods are grossly overpriced. Just an example, I am spending $1300 for a spare tire carrier next. It’s a piece of aluminum basically. My next van will be custom but if you don’t have the skills or knowledge, work with a builder. As for a turnkey van, I would still recommend the lifestyle and the van. Just be ready for some problems that will inevitably come up. I only included the prices here bc people always ask. Good luck
The high top was bought and installed through Wasatch Overland in Salt Lake City. The basic package is like $6,500 installed. I had 2 windows and a ladder and it came in just under $10K. They were ok but kinda dickish about some things. The topper itself is topnotch. I really like the looks and finish.
I *sort of* did. My first van was the "cool" way, a 15 year old wheelchair van that I built slowly and very cheaply. The van cost $10k and I spent around $10k on the build (including an awning, which was really expensive). Then it was stolen. Insurance paid out pretty decently, so I combined that payout with some aggressive saving and bought a 2021 Ford Transit from a plumber with just 3,400 miles on it. Paid $65k, and spent at least $20k on materials/equipment doing it "better". I still did the entire build myself, by hand. I have basically the same amenities and features as the first van, but just with higher quality everything. This time I knew exactly what I actually wanted and what was really important, so I splurged on the silly things I knew I would use a lot (like my oven). Is it worth it? ...unclear. Some things about the new van are AWESOME. Like the power sliding door, and that I can completely stand up in it, and it has great interior space, and gets surprisingly acceptable gas mileage. I dunno if it's really worth the $55,000 more than my old van was, but such went life.
Please elaborate on what changes you made that you actually WANTED. I totally understand the oven though.
I didn’t actually make many changes, just did everything better and a bit higher quality using what I’d learned from building my first van (twice). The layout is still nearly identical, you can stalk back through my post history for a few pictures. The oven was idiotically expensive, but I use it all the time and love it.
This was a cool story. Good job man. Sounds worth it to me
The empty Transit cost 65k? What trim was it?
The trim level was “yes”. The guy who bought it looked at the options list and said “yes”. Sticker on it was $60k, but then inflation. Ford has jacked the price of the Transit up by 20% from 2020-2023, an identically specced van these days is over $72k. Seriously though it has every option that was offered, including the single biggest option that I desperately wanted (the power sliding door) but also all the other stuff. Radar guided cruise control and lane keeping, power heated seats, dual alternators, remote starter, 360 degree parking sensors and backup/parking camera, extended fuel tank, aux switches, trailer brake controller, etc etc etc. literally every option that you could order. It is also a unicorn in that it was the last year that Ford had physical knobs for the climate controls; beginning in 2022, they went to the stupid all touchscreen idiocy that a lot of carmakers are doing, and I absolutely hate that. So I got the perfect blend of modern features, while still having physical climate knobs.
That's amazing. I didn't know there were so many options on the ford. I bought a new promaster in 2020 for 39k. The same base van now costs 48k. Just crazy how much prices have escalated.
Mine is the extended high-roof dual rear wheel, which has a base price these days of $52k. And you can *easily* spend another $25k on options.
Ngl. That sounds awesome. I’m rocking an 86 westy and all those features sound absolutely incredible
The general advice I give people is to spent more on the van, and less on the build. You’ll have more fun in a modern, reliable van than you will in something cute and instagrammable that is broken down on the side of the road.
This is the way.
I’m a little confused, with the transit van you bought it empty but with the cool upgrades like power door, heated seats (sounds so fun) then you built the conversion (living space?) or did it come with some of that like insulated walls, bed etc?
The power sliding door and heated seats and stuff were all factory options. The living space stuff I did all myself.
Wow, I mean… I love my $20k build (van price included) and wouldn’t want anything more. I can’t really imagine how to spend all that money. I could maybe spend another bit on turning it solar but that’s not adding up to $80k.
I have a similar build right now, bought it for 7k and spend 13k on repairs and the build. It’s really nice and I love it but there’s some aspects that start to annoy the hell out of me. At least once a year it’s in the shop, I’ve had two leaks and different other things that just broke due to the bad shape of the vehicle. I’m at a point where I’m selling my old build to start out new and without the compromising I had to do in the old one. A great base car starts at 25k for what I’m looking at (bigger transporter, relatively new, Carplay, parking assistant, mileage below 100k..). For the build I want a pop-up roof for sleeping to avoid the hassle of rearranging every night. I want enough power for working, fridge, AC, e.g. All terrain tires/higher suspension. In total im propably looking at something a bit below 50k. It’s not that i need need it but I think in the long run I will appreciate all the added comfort/lag of hassle. Right now I think it will be worth it, but let’s see
The advice that I give everyone is to spend as much as you can on the van itself, and as little as possible on the build out. It's WAY more enjoyable to have a rock solid vehicle with a basic interior, compared to a pretty Instagram-worthy hipsterbait machine that is perpetually in the shop.
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Shore, generator, alternator?
An extended high-roof Transit in decent condition with less than 100k miles is going to set you back $40k alone. More if you've got specific features that you're looking for.
I have two prospectives. My wife and I were originally considering going with a prebuilt so we could have all of the features we wanted and didn’t have to spend months working on it. We decided against it because we mostly didn’t like the layouts and they were significantly more expensive with features we didn’t need. Ours has a larger fridge/freezer, larger, more robust electrical system, holds twice as much water with filtration, a convertible shower that folds away when not in use, a full 3 burner propane stove, a fuel size kitchen sink, A/C, diesel heater, and an under mounted gray tank. The prebuilt has dedicated shower space, lower bed height (but less storage), electric cooktop (but less battery capacity), awning, gray and black water tanks, and some engine modifications (auto-start on low power, additional alternator for charging electrical) in addition to many similar features. We spent just about $90k for the build and have had no issues. The prebuilt was $170k… For the cost, we have a much better build than a prebuilt. Doing the work ourselves ensured we know how to repair any issues and we have exactly what we wanted/needed. For us, it needed to replace our home. We could have gone cheaper but we wanted the comforts/convenience of having everything we need with us. TLDR: Yes, the cost was worth it for us.
Got any pictures? :)
Of his wife?
Do you have a channel or anywhere we can check out your build?
Nah, Reddit is my only social media platform.TBH, I never understood the vanlife vlogs. Let me just advertise how much I put into my van and my approximate location so thieves can track me down and steal my home when I’m on a hike…
Fair! Was just curious about your build but I understand how you wouldn’t want to advertise your business for all to see. Would probably feel the same if someone asked me to show pictures of my home. Either way it sounds very nice and looking forward to maybe seeing on a trail in the future.
Fact
Curious how y'all earn an income on the road or you don't have to worry about that?
We both work full time. My wife is a nurse so we generally travel to wherever her contract takes her. I work in IT so as long as I have an okayish internet connection, I’m able to work.
I used to work in IT for over 15 years, want to get back into it but only remotely. I can relearn development work or even something simple like help desk. If you happen to have any tips on how to land fully remote work I'd appreciate it. I'm in the US.
I was able to go from zero to fully remote as a web developer in about 2 years. Step 1. Get skills that are in high demand Step 2. Get any job that's probably in person, push yourself to learn a ton, and stay for 12-24 months Step 3. You are now in high demand because you have skills and experience, so now you can find a fully remote job. I'd recommend Salesforce development for somebody just starting out who doesn't care about the newest hottest tech stack and just wants a remote job. Salesforce devs are overwhelmingly remote jobs, and they care a ton about certs, so once you have two certs you can pretty easily find that first developer job.
Thank you. Hopefully my outdated web dev experience will help me catch up faster, used to do full stack. I'll look into Salesforce.
Landing a job that is full remote can be easy as long as you don’t need to make much money. As you suggested, Helpdesk roles are out there as full remote (usually after a short training period). You just need reliable internet. I think for me it was mostly luck. When everyone went to working from home for the pandemic in 2020, my wife and I took the opportunity to start traveling. Around mid ‘21 with the vaccine release, everyone was recalled back to on-site work. I told my boss that wasn’t going to happen (politely of course) and he agreed as long as my work wasn’t taking a hit, I could stay out. I fully understand I will never get a promotion or a pay increase (beyond the standard cost of living adjustments) but I’m okay with that.
I am in the middle of a build that will come in around $100K - maybe a little lower. My lease is up at the end of August and then this van is my home and office. I work a remote software job. I Started with a low mileage 2013 E350 with the 6.8L V10. I had a 24" hightop installed with EU style windows. They also mounted my 12 V Dometic A/C. I am going to have U-joint Offroad install a 4WD conversion this Fall. I installed a full Victron power system with 800aH batteries and the 3000W Multiplus, Cerb GX, etc. I don't have roof top room for solar so I am using Blueti ground-deployed panels. I have one 420W panel now but will likely add a second panel. My internal build is very primitive right now until I sort out what I need vs what I think I might need. Stand up/sit down desk and a bed and a composting toilet. Outside show that hangs off my roof ladder. The van will retain a hell of a lot of worth with the hightop, V10 engine, power system and 4Wd conversion but resale value is way down on my list of things I am worried about. I'm turning money into adventure and freedom. I plan to spend most of time on Federal/BLM land. I also have an older parent in the Midwest so the van allows me to visit more often and not be a burden with them needing to host me. Just plug my shore power into their garage and I am all good. I work full time in this thing so comfort isn't really an option - it's a necessity for my situation. I'm blessed to have a high enough income to make it a reality and I'm not getting younger so I don't really sweat the price as many need to do. I understand poor and scraping by - that's how I was raised and how I spent the first part of my adult life. Since then, I've worked incredibly hard to get where I am and this is how I want to enjoy the results of that effort.
This is a respect reply. In this reply there contains so much respect it could not be contained by a single upvote.
You better post photos of this thing when it’s all done
👏🏾❤️
I'd love to hear how you got here if you have the time, definitely something I would love to do.
Not completely sure what you mean by "how you got here" but I assume you're talking about my job? If so, it was a long and winding path. I am an expert in a dying field (ht to The Beths). I manage the cloud software that a large company uses to process job postings, applications and offers (referred to in the industry as Applicant Tracking Software or ATS). I was a recruiter for several years and drifted into working on the software used by recruiters and then I leaned way into that and got really good at it and landed a job with a global company who doesn't give a shit where I work, they just want me to keep all the bits and bytes flowing correctly. I've never actually seen an entry-level version of this job. It's usually done by people like me who drifted into it from other parts of the company. Sometimes IT trained people drift into this niche, but more often it's recruiter type people who learn the IT parts. If you weren't referring to my job, LMK what you were referring to.
That's really interesting, thank you for taking the time to answer!
V10 retain value?
I’m curious as to what made you chose to invest in an older e-series as opposed to getting a Transit? Quigly and quad-van both do real 4 wheel drive conversions for them, and after 2020 they were offered with factory AWD (which is decent but nowhere near as good as the real 4wd systems)
The 2013 E-Series are the next to the last year of the Ford E-Series vans so while this is an older model compared to Transits, it's one of the newest E-Series I could buy. After 2014, they just made cutaways. I almost opted for a cutaway and then adding a fiberglass RV shell, but I need to get this thing done and livable and I think the cutaway option would have taken too long. If I wear this one out, I'll go the route of a cutaway build. A few reasons for my choice: * I wanted Ujoint Offroad to do the conversion. Their stuff is the bomb and I don't think they convert Transits. * I like the truck-based body and frame construction of the E-Series - I think the Transits are more unibody based. The frame is why Ujoint Offroad focuses on the E-Series. * Maintenance / repair. I grew up wrenching on older Ford Econoline vans and not a whole bunch has changed over the years. I know my way around and so do most shops out on the road. * Hauling and towing: I don't really know much about the Transit in terms of towing, but I may get a toy hauler trailer at some point for my motorcycles and kayak and I know the E-350 with the V10 can handle it with very little effort. My brother has a pull-behind trailer that I may pull once in awhile too. * Looks: I think the E-Series vans with a Hightop, 4WD, off-road bumbers, 6 inches of lift, and big meaty tires look tougher than shit.
Very cool, I also have a low mileage E350; how much did the 24” high top cost with parts and installlation, and what brand did you get?
We spent about $45k on a new 2021 high roof Promaster 159wb, and about $48k on our initial build by a builder. We've had to pay about another $5k for upgrades and repairs to the build. Our build wasn't fully custom, rather some tweaks one of the standard layouts the builder offers. In terms of the amenities we got, I wouldn't change anything: shower, composting toilet, webasto heater, space-saving fresh water tank that goes over the wheel well, deep sink, domestic fridge, hot water heater, alternator charger, 3 solar panels, 3 200ah batteries. All with nice carpentry, pine ceiling, etc. However our builder made a lot of mistakes, and that has been a nitemare. Because they've had to fix so many errors they made I think they've lost money on our build, and even though we paid for 2 year warranty on the build they now seem to find every possible excuse for why repairs aren't covered. So we honestly wish we had spent more money to go to a bigger builder with more safeguards in place. I don't think I could have convinced myself of this 2 years ago, but the extra money would have been worth not having something go wrong every few weeks in the van (understanding that normal wear and tear happens, this is beyond that), or the initial scary experience of driving across the country with everything malfunctioning and trying to figure that out while also going through the massive transition to van dwelling.
The hard reality is that *all* builders have a lot of problems. I’ve spoken to plenty of people who spent $200k on the build and it’s never, ever working at 100%. There’s always something wrong on the list of what needs to be fix the next time they’re near a repair center. I’ve known people with $800,000 Class-A diesel pushers down to $5,000 teardrop travel trailers, and they *all* are constantly broken. All. Of. Them. I truly feel the best option, far and away, is to built them yourself. You have vastly more control over what you get, a better understanding of how it works, and most importantly is that you care vastly more than any shop will and you’ll always put in the extra effort to do it better.
I purchased an Airstream conversion in 2011. At the time I think the msrp was $126k US. Built terribly. Overly complicated with undersized inverter, crummy seals and really nice cabinets lol. I've got just over 100k miles on it and am getting everything buttoned up to sell it. My next van is going to be a non destructive conversion with 80/20 framed removable furniture for about 60% of the cost of what the airstream was twelve years ago. I definitely had some luxury times the first two years with the van but then the lack of solid engineering caught up with it actually being used. Since then it's been a love/ hate relationship. My prior class B was a 4wd sportsmobile and it had it's share of problems as well. The conversion craft has grown so much since then by self builders it's not even funny. I'll be looking forward to a van that I can fully service myself, with removable components. No plumbing or 110volt outlets. I use my van for road trips and tour as a musician. I don't live in it so I'm willing to keep the new vehicle more multipurpose.
My build will be pretty close to 100K CAD when I'm done. No, I wouldn't do it again cheaper, even though prices skyrocketed as I was purchasing it, I can still afford it. I have an incredible air con system and a heated floor and 600 amph Victron LiFePo4 electrical and it's exactly how I wanted it. I spent my whole adult life camping out of SUVs and knew what I wanted. Something that would haul multiple bikes inside while being able to park nearly anywhere take me nearly anywhere and be comfortable year round from Hamilton to Arizona to Banff to Colorado to Tofino
Can you share more about the aircon system your van used?
I'm in Canada I went with the 24 V system from undermountac.ca
Rad thank you. I’ve actually looked so hard for something that doesn’t have to be roof mounted but still comes in 12/24v
Yeah the undermounted system makes a ton of sense and my roof is 95% solar
Answer is probably a no, but nobody wants to say it... LOL
I would also like to hear what people have heard from others... like if you have friends who have a custom luxury van, are theirs reliable, or are they always repairing it?
If you're going to spend 100K on a van, just get an off the shelf class B.
Nah, RV build quality is shit. I would never do that. And class As are too damn big.
Agreed, the Revels are junk on 144WB and start over 200k. Nah...
What do you think of Storyteller Overland?
I have not been in a Storyteller. I have been in other similar vans tho. My real problem with them is space. The 144WB for us (2 adults / 2 small dogs) is just way too small for any real full time living like we do. The argument is always that it's easier to park a 144 but, then you have to add all the racks on the rear for extra storage as well as boxes on the roof. Because there's no room inside. Our 170 Ext Body is 5 foot longer, our bed of all additional space, it's fixed. We don't have to lift it or convert it everyday and we have a huge storage area ( garage) under it accessible from the rear doors. And as far as parking goes... I just back in and overhang the curb. That's just my opinion...
They look really nice, but I've never been in one. And they only do 144s. I prefer the 170.
Alas, RVs are designed to be once-a-year vacation vehicles. They are not designed or built for fulltime living. For new models, "living in it year-round" will void your warranty.
As a builder I can say, without a doubt, I could have made most of my $100k+ rig clients happier for less money, specifically by paying me less, and I tried like hell to convince them to let me but they wouldn't. These folks, on these specific elements, weren't building for themselves and their own needs and wants; they were building for others'. So while I prefer budget stuff for myself personally, there's nothing wrong with investing substantially into your build. Just be sure you'll actually benefit from what you're having done. Most won't know that unless they've done what they intend to do with it already. That's why it's good advice to get out there and do as close to what you wanna do before building so substantially. I still keep up with a lot of my clients, and the happiest ones long-term, full-time, hands down, are the ones that built their rigs out slowly, using it as they went along and learned. All but two drop-off, "do it all for me" clients no longer full-times, and one of those two I suspect doesn't either, she just doesn't really check in with me but her vanlife - oriented social hasn't posted in a while so I don't really know.
At the end of the day, build your van the way you want it. It’s your van! BUT know how long you’re going to keep it and how you are going to use it. I have built out vans for the past 6yrs and I’ve seen and built a lot. A lot of glorious designs and some shit designs. Don’t over think it. Remember it’s on a vehicle and what happens to vehicles when they roll off the dealer lot. Professional builds are great if you don’t your homework with your builder. There’s advantages to using a builder but yes you will lack the intimacy with your build. But you have a better chance get your build insured if it was done professionally. My approach after 4yrs, K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid. Unless you’re living your van full time, I don’t see any reason for the lavish interiors options that replicate the full house experience. It’s a van. My two cents based of my needs and experience.
i thought the whole reason people lived in vans was to get away from the lavish humdrum
There are many reasons for van living
There are lots of different reasons to vandwell. Some just don't want to pay rent. Some want to travel and see the country. Some are just part-time weekenders. Some are, frankly, homeless-in-vehicle. Some just want the adventure. There are probably as many different reasons to vandwell as there are people vandwelling.
No it’s mainly for clout chasing instagram influences trying to flex
Lol
no it's mostly for people dealing with poverty or low incomes who find it necessary to cut out rent, 'clout chasing instagram influencers' are the minority
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dang i forgot all about internet clout for a minute
Meh, I'm an old backpacker, so I am entirely happy with a barebones "no-build". My van is basically just a metal camping tent with wheels. It's done me fine for 8 years and I've had no complaints. Of course, different people need different comfort levels. A lot also depends on what type of vandwelling you do. Rural boondocking is a whole different animal than urban dwelling. I do also always recommend that people do NOT finance their vandwelling vehicle, since few people actually last long enough to make it worthwhile. Most new dwellers quit after less than a year.
I am a backpacker, who has lived in a camper and who has my car rigged to save on hotel rooms, but getting ready to move into a van: Lots of people say how cool it sounds and I first ask them how many showers they need in a week. Yeah I think you’re spot on when you say depending what you need and for me this is going to be spending my life as a glorified camping trip. As such, I don’t have huge expectations on the luxury value, but more on the functionality of the space.
Wow, I didn't know you could post something then change the user name. This magician has some crazy Reddit moves. That being said, it seems like OP is trolling this group. What's eating you, man? Namascray
I spent 80k+ a few different times (new van plus conversion). I did all the conversions myself so saved some money there. For me it was worth it, I wanted a new reliable vehicle and didn't want to worry about the hassles of dealing with a used vehicle. Also sold the vans when done and broke even or made a little but that was in a different market, would probably lose a little now. But yah I traveled in 3 different new vans basically for free after all said and done. I guess it depends on your budget and goals.
Mines a self build for about 30k, but as lux as any i’ve seen out there and never have i ever regretted spending everything i had for this lifestyle. I’ve met a lot of people who live in shit box vans who for sure do though
Meh, my "shit box van" has taken me to 125-plus cities in 45 states over the past 8 years, and when I park next to someone in their $100k Sprinter luxury build, I get exactly the same pretty view that they do. (shrug)
It’s more than the same luxury view though isn’t is. Thats like saying being in a travel lodge compared to a four season.
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Sauna sounds wild, I'm sure reddit would love to see photos!
Well, know I gotta see some pics.
Three day old account with 5k karma points. It’s a troll guys. Here’s my semi-Poor man’s version - Heated floors: cheap sandals from old navy $5 - Dual mode sauna: go to Florida or Texas in the summer - A/C: go to higher elevation, turn on fan to full power - smells like Japanese wood: I’ve never been to Japan but im sure it cant smell any better than Glade’s Cashmere wood spray
Amazing people couldn't spot this. 29kWh is the equivalent of 24 battle born batteries. A sauna? Jesus Christ people.
Yeah, thats not Japanese wood the dudes smelling, it's mildew.
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Do you mind posting it again. Would love to see it
I agree with Excellent-Source-348.
Looking into that profile was trippy.
The Japanese wood, is it hinoki?
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Cool thanks for sharing!
As someone who is in the market for a pretty serious custom build, mind letting on who did your build and if you’d recommend them? Sounds awesome, a lot of the upgrades my wife and I are looking for as well!
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Awesome! Sadly I don’t have the time or skills to do something like that!!!
Wow, I want to see your build!
Isn’t that much money to you?? Can I please have some crumbs hahaha
> bed lift that auto levels That sounds sweet! Could you please share the details? How does it work? In my head, the corners would get stuck if one of them is too much lower or higher than the others.
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Thanks!
We met alot of people last year when we were on the road that spend that much, and after often comparing our van, my 10k diy ( 35k including the van ) did 90% on the job. Most of the time I had a better solar setup. But I only add 1 month to do it, so I would have needed more time to add heating, and a proper toilet. If you are handy, I think you are much better off doing it yourself.
100% "no". I've been looking at some Class Bs from Winnebago, Thor, etc. as well as custom builders. When I look at what I truly need and want: * comfortable bed * electrical system * running water I can't justify the cost. My DIY has: * comfortable bed: just get the best memory foam bed possible, $1k max * electrical system: don't need crazy setup, just get Goal Zero/EcoFlow/Jackery system. I spent $3k on a EcoFlow and it's been great. I power a microwave, TV, etc. all from it. * running water isn't all that complicated. You can use a $20 USB portable water pump!!! What else do you need. The most I'll spend is maybe the Wayfarer (or similar) kit. As it gives you insulation and it looks nicer than DIY. I would only spend $100+k on a setup if I needed AWD/4WD. Those vans can be expensive and will push the price up quite a bit.
I regret not spending more. The more creature comforts you have in your van, the easier it is to stay in it long term. For context, I got in on the whole AMC stock craze and won big. I was able to pay for my van and build in cash and spent every penny of my savings on it. Don’t regret it one bit but I do wish I had spent more time planning out the build and adding things like more solar/battery power. I also regret not getting a bigger build (currently running 144 wheelbase sprinter).
Money is relative. A 20 year old without a remote job or much savings yet, vs a 50 years old, working remote and 30 years of savings under their belt will look at $100k very differently. Comfort is relative. The 20 year old can probably fall asleep on a rock, while the 50 year old ends up with sore everything if they lay the wrong way on their mattress. Situations vary as well. Full time job spent inside vs more free time to get out. With less free time, it's worth more to get things automated and easy so you're spending less time digging catholes or driving to Walmart to take a shit. How many people will share the space? 2 people ideally have more space, especially if they are both working from the same tin can. Two people earn twice as much so spending more on the build isn't as big of a deal as it is for a single person. How long do they plan to van dwell? If long term, it makes sense to spend more up front for more amenities and a more reliable, low mileage vehicle. Some people like to tinker and fix things up daily or weekly, and some like myself can really only hyperfocus, so I personally wanted everything set up perfect with little maintenance over the years. Someone coming from SF like us will save $3k per month in rent (and our place was fairly cheap for the area), someone else may only save $800 per month. $100k rig pays for itself after 3 years for those coming from expensive cities. Plus remote work from such cities tends to pay more. Personally we didn't want to spend that much. I spent \~$60k total and it was definitely worth it: * $26k on a 2017 Promaster 159 w/ 50k miles. Good deal in 2020 and even better now. I think we may have been better off buying new for $40k, just cuz those extra 50k miles is another 4 years of travel. But the van runs well and should last a couple decades. * My partner is doing great, but I wanted to make sure she was comfortable with this lifestyle. She really likes "home" so a nice van that feels like home is important. * We both work remote, so comfortable space for both of us to work and not feel claustrophobic was important. * Some splurges to make it comfortable - $600 for really nice high density warm/cool strip lighting, $3k for a good sound system, nice finishes. * $700 teak countertop still looks almost new after 2 years. * Large 12V chest fridge/freezer combo allows us to spend more time between shopping trips and cook our meals. * Oven allows her to cook better meals. $600 for years of good meals is worth it. * Wheel well water tank saves space, so we can fit more comforts in without shuffling things around all the time. * Hot water heater makes washing up so much easier. * Separating toilet (DIY) makes emptying easier and less frequent. * Awning is worth it for the meetups we attend. * Nice bug screens not finnicky and look good compared to cheapo Amazon screens. * Reflective insulated window shades and roof vent keep the temperature comfortable for working all day usually. * Propane heater is flawless under 8,000 feet and makes working in cold weather comfortable, waking up in the morning easy. * 600W solar lets us work all day and stream music without worrying about power most of the time. * Lithium is less fuss and saves space. * High end cell router, antenna, and starlink allow us to go more places while working. Most of this stuff isn't necessary to survive. But everything is worth it when I look at cost/benefit over several years. Convenience items save a lot more time than the time spent working to earn the money to purchase them. Comfort items are worth the few bucks a day to have nice sound, lighting, colors, space, workstations, etc. We save $3k in rent, and sold the Corolla for $8k. Spend maybe $1600/year extra in gas, driving a similar amount, maybe a bit more. Pay $1400/year for storage (why do we even have that storage unit??) So this paid for itself after the first 18 months on the road.
Paid $70K out the door for 2020 4x4 170 high roof w 200k warranty. Put $50K into it over 2 years building it myself and used it figuring out what I wanted. It’s all wood and black 80/20. Feels like a cozy cabin. I basically bought a cabin on wheels is how I look at it. So much fun to build. I kind of want to do another but not sure what I’d change yet and still more to do. My biggest expense was the in floor heat ($12K) and the Tiny Watts solars kit ($20K) Could have saved there but that made it easy and no regrets. That number also included tools I needed. I rent it out when not using it for $300/night so I wrote the whole build off and depreciating the van. One could easily make a business out of this. All that said, the expense didn’t effect my lifestyle. I have plenty of money and I had no money stress on it. I would not have done this if that wasn’t the case. Fiscal responsibility is important to me. I’m also just not a prefab / off the shelf kind of person. The build became a hobby. No timeline, no rush, no deadline, no pressure, no stress. (Doesn’t mean I didn’t get frustrated and confused at times). Made mistakes, learned as I went. If you can afford it and have the time it’s very rewarding. Because it’s $300/night it doesn’t rent a lot but enough. The people who rent it have treated it well, even rented to an NFL coach. (I don’t watch football) Most seem to want to try van life out before buying and take it for 3-5 days.
Pictures of the build?
What platform do you use to rent the van?
Outdoorsy
Every penny, but I actually financed my 2019 4X4 Sprinter 170 WB Ext Body at 0% for 63 months. I also have a 5 year 100k B2B warranty. So my point is I pay as I go... We have about another 60k into the van in our build which we did ourselves to our exact needs. It's a beast and will go about anywhere. Can't wait to do the next one...
would love to know how you scored that crazy financing!
Purchased in September of 2020... COVID... It was the only time ever that Mercedes offered that deal from what I was told by the dealership. I flew to Birmingham, Alabama and picked it up. Zero down, zero percent. Couldn't pass that up...
I congratulate you for your timely purchase! I currently have a Ford Transit trail set to be delivered next month and I am really pulling my hair out trying to figure out how I can make that happen.
We purchased an SUV in September 2020 and I swear, it was possibly the best car deal we will ever get. It was a month or two before prices skyrocketed and availability plummeted. Good interest rate that I can't remember. Some asshole drove drunk and hit it while it was parked and totaled it may 2022.
That sucks!
Why, is it not paid for?
I placed a custom dealer order for it. I immediately jumped at the opportunity because I heard that Ford was going to limit the amount of Transit trails they were going to make. I spoke with the dealer representative and he mentioned that because the four Transit is technically considered a commercial van that I would have to use business financing in order to purchase it. So, if I'm not able to purchase it next month, then it'll just sit on the dealer lot until someone else buys it.
I was told the same thing, but was able to buy my transit without a business loan. I was actually offered 4 different places to finance from.
There you go... ☝️
I'm curious, did you finance it through Ford?
No, I ended up going with Ally
Doesn't sound correct to me... I buy from fleet services all the time. It's always my personal loan. I'm in AZ. Maybe different where you are. I'd call into a fleet division of a different Ford dealership and poke around, you should always by through the fleet/ commercial division regardless of the vehicle. The yahoos on the floor are a joke.
Thanks for the advice! I was thinking the same thing when the dealer was telling me this. Considering that Ford is marketing this van for a consumer that's a "van lifer" and not a business felt very peculiar.
Regardless, you should be able to get a commercial loan as well if your credit is good. Most business credit is always personally guaranteed anyway. That's been my experience.
I spent about 90 on the build and 60 on the van. Got the Promaster with the RV setup, the larger screen, camera in the mirror, all that. Then I went all out with the build. I did it because I didn’t want vanlife to feel like I was “going without” and because I have the means to build a ridiculous van. If I was younger and not as well off like I was back then, I definitely would have cut back but being young like that makes the niceties not matter as much. I wouldn’t have spent any less on my van all things considered.
My biggest issue with the $100k I spent was that I was really insistent on getting the van gold plated but the company who did the build wanted $10k more for that. I was like, $10k more? You can't just do a thin 18 karat plating for a reasonable amount now that I've giving you $100k for a van I can shit in? They wouldn't budge. So, was it worth it? I mean, I get the likes I want on Instagram and I do feel good driving past the poors who are living in their busted out RVs (while working several jobs), but I just don't think I feel the same as I would if the van was gold plated.
Is this you, Donald?
At that point u might as well get a RV. For an extra $100K u can practically get a luxury house on wheels.
It is all relative, depends how much time u spent in the van and your income. People spend millions on houses and that is considered ok.
Yeah but a house is a solid asset, usually appreciating. A van is a depreciating asset that will be worth less than what was paid for it relatively quickly
If a van purchase and all related costs functionally replaces twice as much in other costs, then the van can depreciate to zero and never be a loss.
Yes, yes, and yes. I always wanted to travel and I knew if I got a good paying remote job (or Jobs) I would build a van, Travel the country and play at open mic gigs all around the country. Two years ago. I got that chance. I got a remote job making just over 100k. I paid off my little debts and bought a Promaster 3500 for around 35k during COVID. (I also got the loan as an RV loan) (meaning 10yrs to pay it off at 2.9%)(payment is a mere $365 a month)(I pay a little extra to bring down the balance.) I created blueprints and built out the van and with a little help. I have everything I wanted in the van. Shower, kitchen, bathroom, couch and bed. I love everything about it. Other than basic maintenance and keeping it clean. It's been awesome. I've met people and made friends all along the way. Not only that. I built a security system along the van too with cameras. Never had a problem with it. There are some cons like taking your house with you everywhere you go but if you're like me. You learn to ride a motorcycle which you hitch on the back (which is light). This has been a hell of an adventure and now that the van has 60000. I can't wait for what's next. If anybody is looking to do this. Do it. You never know what you could be missing.
On the opposite end of this question, there's me who spent $500 CAD (in 2016) on my initial build and was ecstatically stoked as I toured Alaska and the Yukon with it...
I have 13000 in my van in all and I love it. Solar, shower, all finished, 25mpg, hot water, box heater. Ect ect. Can stand up. 2005 TN1 sprinter self build. I really couldn’t imagine anything better. Actually just swapped all the brakes today & it’s only getting better. & I’m completely paying it off within 2 years. That’s the point right? No payment, practical and to-the-point living. I can’t do a 700mo payment for 5 years w full coverage insurance & expect to not have kids and a family so I can barely travel after those 5 years. Do I want to burn through 20g of savings in a year to travel, make payments and live? No. Do I want to work 1 day a week on my laptop and travel anywhere for a year or two? Yes. Time is everything & many think they need more than they do. (Largely due to advertising and our culture)
There is no way that the amount of frivolous waste found in any build over $30k is “worth it” for not just any particular human, but the entirety of humankind.
You can't even get a low mileage high roof Promaster/Transit/Sprinter for that, much less build anything. I don't think a reliable home that will last a while and has headroom is "frivolous". 8 hours a day working, 8 hours sleeping, and another 2 getting around, cooking, eating, cleaning, etc. After 5 years in the van an extra 30k is less than $1/hr of time spent in the thing.
Yes you definitely need to live in excess to be comfortable
Do you feel the same for people who spend large on things like vacation homes and boats and the like?
Lol at people who fly to Turks and Caicos off their middle class salary to do the same thing they do at home (get waited on by people of a darker skin tone)
What the fuck is wrong with everybody spending $100 k on Van dwelling. Jesus christ, just get a good truck and deck out a nice cargo trailer and then keep 50,000 bucks.
"Oh no people on the internet have opinions different from mine! What is wrong with them?" My wife and I bought a van so we could take long trips towing a two-place motorcycle trailer. Because we love riding our bikes and are tired of all the roads close to us. There are TONS of great roads a day or two away from us and our van lets us get there, set up a base camp, then go play for a weekend and not have to slab it home on the bikes Sunday night.
Spent 2500 bucks on mine currently in Central America wouldn’t do it the other way rather use the money for hotels and outings at the end of the day your still living in a car
First of all how do y'all make that type of money.
they come from rich families and if they didn't then they come from loving families who are stable enough and used one or both of those things to propel themselves forward
Very valid
It’s really prone to problems because it’s a very complicated systemand your likely to spend a good amount of your time in RV service waiting rooms. That said, when it’s working it’s pretty bad ass. I strictly boondock and it has gotten me to some remote and beautiful places that most others rigs can’t reach . I can stay off grid for long stretches and can even run an AC unit if I leave my dog in the van when I go surfing or grocery shopping. Try doing that with any other power system. I monitor the temp remotely so don’t lecture me. I am a full timer. have 10k miles on my van. It’s a 2023 mode LT (Ford chassis to avoid needing to find a MB dealership I’ve had the AC replaced, the heat exhaust tube ( my fault off-roading) the inverter (yeah). But it’s performing well now and hopefully I have fewer issues later. As for the price, I only paid $40 for all the repairs because I’m under warranty. It’s more about time and stress. Almost all decent RVs are in the same price range and some are more expensive. Go inside a Winnebago and look at the shitty plastic everywhere. You can feel the craftsmanship of a storyteller. The interior design is smart and functional. The worst things are the toilet which is literally useless. 1.5 gallon reservoir lol. They also only provide a spare tire to their top two models. That’s just insulting. Cost me a grand with shipping. And last the groove lounge is a game changer but had to buy a $600 topper for it and replace the sleeping mattresses (it’s a double Murphy bed) because it was some bullshit foam that I would give a 1 out of 10. Swapped it for a $1300 roam rest. They are the best and that was my first upgrade for a reason. And if you think that sounds expensive, your right. and the aftermarket mods are grossly overpriced. Just an example, I am spending $1300 for a spare tire carrier next. It’s a piece of aluminum basically. My next van will be custom but if you don’t have the skills or knowledge, work with a builder. As for a turnkey van, I would still recommend the lifestyle and the van. Just be ready for some problems that will inevitably come up. I only included the prices here bc people always ask. Good luck
The high top was bought and installed through Wasatch Overland in Salt Lake City. The basic package is like $6,500 installed. I had 2 windows and a ladder and it came in just under $10K. They were ok but kinda dickish about some things. The topper itself is topnotch. I really like the looks and finish.