Edit: Started this before I saw the Looking for a new van thread. Still do not want to hijack.
I know the van vs truck thing has bounced many times but I am ready to pull the trigger on a van. I get tired of the pile up in the truck front seat and the items that migrate to the bottom of the four Contico boxes that would fill up my bed ( I usually keep two in the bed).
A friend’s son has a 2000 Dodge 3500 maxivan (15 pass) with 5.9, needs three tires, has a little possible rear-end noise, 84500 miles. He needs to get out and is asking $4700 going in. It starts and drives pretty nice except for the possible rear-end thing. Looks about a 6-7 out of ten, power locks and windows. I realize these are a big sound box, when I drove it there was a bunch of loose junk back there and it seemed to be a little bit roaring from rear.
Another consideration is a 91 Chevy 9 pass that the going in $1200 before negotiations. Have not checked out the Chev but it would match all the other Bowties in the fleet. PU is 91 1500. Normal radius is about 25 miles. Might go 190 to son’s to help with addition.
Any thoughts from the wisened crew?
Bob
Edited 8/21/2007 11:02 pm ET by rasconc
Replies
Closing in on 300k in my Dodge van, running strong w/ a puff of smoke at startup (5.2). Inherited it when DW decided she wanted a new one, which turned out to be a Ford. That rear rumble could be tires, we use aggressive ones for our driveway and they aren't quiet. A little insulation inside helps. The Dodge seems a better truck than the Ford. We'll see.
I'd be thinking considerably less for that maxivan. Over-drive tranny? Sometimes short-lived. Expensive to rebuild.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
I was thinking that too about the tires. It has two Taiwan made worn out ones on back. It is more noticeable when you first start out. There oes seem to be some slack in either rear-end or u-joints. Thinking about taking it to a shop and have it looked over.
NADA shows a lot more for it. Autotrader and cars.com ones with over 200k are asking a good bit more. The owner is out of town, his dad said that was about what he owed on it. But that is his problem I guess. Overall it is in good shape, few scratches, some roof dents, needs cleaning out and shampoo.
Thanks
Put the rear end in the air and run it should tell what the noise is.
Apparently the large vans here go begging then. Pretty much what I see are them used to transport groups of fruit workers. Certainly nothing I'd want, but I've got a truck with a 7'x12' bed that I haven't managed to overload.
Wouldn't a cube van be better for you? I went from a pickup to a cube van when I started doing serious box building. Could stand up in the back, found the space wonderful. Staying with single rears kept the fuel cost almost reasonable. Parking garages don't work, but otherwise very nice.
Oh, one other drawback. You get popular when friends move, amazing how much more they'll hold than a normal van.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Edited 8/22/2007 10:03 pm ET by VaTom
Took it out for a longer run today. Put all the stuff that was in back in the garage and hit the Interstate. Went by Dodge dealer and had friend (salesman) look at it. Went by my tire/maint place and owner looked at tires and said he would not guess except the tires looked pretty suspect. He takes care of about 10 of these and said they were all pretty loud.
Cube/cutaway is nice but like I said a little big for what I want to do and a little pricey. Also do not relish something that has been in rental fleet.
May go get it tomorrow and put it up on jackstands. It may be combo of tires/u-joints, and a bearing or two. It ran strong. Currently has no carpet and both side panel insulation installed. A real opportunity for road noise.
Thanks for the input!
Bob
Are you sure you want a passenger van rather than a cargo van. As far as I know, they're the same thing except that the passenger van has glass all around. Great visibility, but it makes storage a bit more difficult
I do like the visibility, it looks like it will not be overly hard to make some shelves. It has pretty dark glass so prying eyes won't see too much. The cargo van seems to cry out break into me. It is more light inside to look for tools. I have not seen too many of the cargo 3500 long ones around. Most are asking a lot more for them.
Going to check out the erector set type punched metal angle and do some sketches tonight. Another two edged sword is the rear air, will cool us down quicker but gets in the way of shelving.
It looks like it will hold a 12' DW board. You have to lean it over going in and out then it can stand up.
I found one of the GMC cutaways like the smallest U-hauls, barely wider than van and maybe a foot higher. Went for 12K though. A lot more than I am interested in for the amount I intend to work. Probably do this about 30% of time and only for probably next 4 yrs, then only do woodwork, etc from home.
Bob
Edited 8/22/2007 10:05 am ET by rasconc
you can actually get 14' trim stock etc in there in a pinch by going on top of the dash, but BE CAREFULL its very bad for the windshield. (I speak from experience, had to buy a new one) Love the length but these Dodges, for some reason, are TERRIBLE in soft sand that we have in our area, it loved to dig holes more than a dog. Had Chevy's before, much better in sand. I eventually switched to 4WD pickup/trailer for this reason.
Bought a Chevey 3500 long-body last year ; been working out great. Not so good on gas milage,but since I can carry a third of my tools, ladders and more than a pick-up; I'll never go back. Don't know 'bout dodge, but the ford I tried at the dealer drove worse than big moving vans I drove 3 decades ago.
I noticed that 14' up to the dash. That would be an expensive trim delivery if it took out the windshield. Do not have to worry about sand here, red clay more the norm.
I inherited an older Dodge from FIL and we used it when we built the house. Had no idea we would be doing this and sold it to a carp for 2200. It was a good old van. Had pretty good experiences with the Mopars in the past but have eased over to Chevy for everything in recent history.
Wish I still had my 68 Roadrunner and 70 Sport Satellite wagon (Hemi orange with hp 383).
The 91 Chev van I mentioned in the first post turned out to be a real rusty dog and not due consideration. A garage in town has a 3500 chev cargo and aFord ext cargo sitting side by side with no tags on them. The chev had the oil pan and pickup lying in the floor, not exactly a good sign.
Bob
Pulled the trigger on the bowling alley van. Trying to figure out how I want to do shelves. The slope inward starting at the windows gives a little challenge. Looking for an inverter to add to be able to charge some drill batteries if needed. Guess a 400/800 would do for that. I hardly ever work where there is no power.
I made a pattern out of 1/4 ply for the shelf uprights in my newish GMC. Just copied it over and over. And keeping it for future remodeling. I stripped the walls with 1x3 first about 16" OC. I used self drilling truss head screws into the vans verticle ribs.
As far as Power inverters, I have a 750w all I do with it is run batt chargers..with 750W I cn do a 12v and an 18v ( I have a 6way plugged in) but NOT a 14.4 and an 18 at the same time ( even driving, forget with the enginge off)..so keep that in mind.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"
Thanks, I looked at my 12v Bosch 30 min charger and it was under 1/2 amp I think, the DW 14.4 showed 2 amps.
I thought I was going to attach to the sheet metal for the original wall coverings but they look like they would tear loose pretty easy in a rough situation. The ribs look much stronger. Looking at bolting some Simpson brackets of some sort.
Seems like I remember seeing some heavy angle brackets about 1 1/4 wide with about 2" legs somewhere. Can cut some out of some angle and drill them, use some all-thread and cinch them down.
Considered covering the 24" rise from floor to window with some ply. Will study it in more detail tomorrow.
Dodges get expensive after that many miles when a GM is just getting broken in nicely. Also, I have lost count of how many Dodge rear ends I have seen go out. just this week, the delivery driver from the yard said he was looking for a new drive because the rear end in his personal Dodge had just dropped a rear end. All the guys sitting around eating lunch were just nodding their heads, "Um Hum..."
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Darn, I needed that. Had been looking at Astros and Express/Savana but most were way out of range. I would have hoped that 84.5k was not all that many miles on this one ton beast.
I will probably put less than 4k/yr for the next 4 yrs.
Cheers, Bob
I wouldn't sweat Piffin's comment you go look around at fleet vehicles and see how many of them are Dodges.
They are usually cheaper and holdup longer.
My 99 Chevy Express conversion Van has cost me a fortune in repairs. While my 2002 dodge 2500 just startin to feel brokein.
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
Thanks, I needed that, hate to get buyer's remorse before I even get the title. Going to put a set of tires on it and have the rear and u-joints and get the front end gone through next week.
Here are a couple of GM's I wanted.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=009&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=190144412351&rd=1
This one has salvage title so sort of scary but a heck of a lot of truck.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330159217899&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=014
This is a neat looking Ford, not sure what a "converstation passanger" van is. Is this where "we talk it out?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270158809183&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017
Edited 9/1/2007 11:11 pm ET by rasconc
I have had three ( still have the third driving daily) '85 GM vans. I bought each of them with just about 85Kmiles on them and drove the first two up to 140K or so with minimal cost for tune-ups, one tranny tune at 170 bucks, and a couple of starters and tires, and one master cylinder.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
My truck is a 91 C1500 Silverado and I could not be happier with it. It had 91k when I got it in 98, 126k now. Starter, alt, intake gaskets which is not a lot considering the miles. Clear coat starting to peel. It looks like it was repainted before I got it.
I'm on my second Chev. G20. 190,000 mi., just put in $2500 Jasper remanuf. transmission. 1 qt./1000 mi.. Still consider money ahead. Whaddya do, go out and buy 120,000 mi. Chev. 2500 for $6000 and just inherit more repair bills? I'm good to go for at least another 20,000 mi..
btw ...
for a window van that's a work van ...
my very first van was such a beast.
previous owner build the shelving and "tinted" the windows ...
which ... I later found out was just black spray paint on the inside.
had plans to clean if off and put real limo tint on ...
till I realized how well it worked and how easy touch up was.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
This one has the factory privacy glass, almost limo tint. I have some shade cloth that I was thinking about putting on the back side of the shelves to help keep prying eyes off the goods as well as keeeping things from banging into windows.
I picked up one of the plastic wide angle fresnel lense thngs to put in the back window. I had one in the Ford conversion years ago and a big one in the motor home I used to have.
BTW this one does not appear to have ever had a trailer hitch which I would guess is a good thing. I may put one on to pull my small utility trailer. It would take a receiver and one heck of a drop bar though. I bet backing a 5x8 with that much rear overhang would be a trip.
One thing I have not mastered is climbing into the beast. Think I will have to get some add-on steps. It seems like no matter which foot you put up first you end up getting tangled up.
Not sure if I want to put a sheet of ply or so carpet and padding on rear floor, thought about using some headliner spray glue and putting some padding on the walls below the windows for insulation and sound deadening or just turn up the stereo.
Thought about not attaching to ribs for shelves, just using the shoulder harness upper bolts and some kind of strut and hooking to the seat hook recesses in the floor. Probably more strong of a connection/point than anything I could do otherwise. Also less potential damage and easily reversable.
Bob
first thing I;d work on is a bulkhead.
either manufactured or site built.
worked outta the first one without ...
second had one already installed.
world of difference. Have only had metal/manufactured ones ...
but even ply would work.
does deaden some of the noise ... even an open metal helps hoold the heat/ac in ...
and the coupla times U have to slam on the brakes ...
it's well worth the install trouble!
current "van" had a 10ft box on the back ...
that really keeps the cab closed up tight!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa