what to look for wheb buying a van for conversion
And then you think y'all've plant the used van you're going to live out your #VanLife dreams in. Excellent. Y'all've read our weblog post "Buying New vs. Used Vans" (LINK) and have decided that used is the only feasible option for y'all. Groovy. Now let'southward make certain y'all take all of your ducks lined up and your T's crossed or whatever before handing over any of your difficult-earned cash.
First things first: When you purchase a used cargo van, you have to understand yous're buying a vehicle that was probably worked out of – heavily. We're talking rode difficult and put away wet. You know what we mean. We've had vans come up in with the floors smashed out, deformed walls and warped components, fifty-fifty though they have thirty,000 miles on them and are two years former. You ofttimes (notation: unless you lot buy from a friend) have no idea where and how that van was used. Story time: Nosotros had a van come that smelled kind of baroque. We scrubbed information technology downwardly and soaped upwardly what we could, but there was still this lingering odor that had seeped into the soul of the van. The new owner reached out to the previous, only to find that their Transit had previously been used to transport toxic chemicals from a fracking site. Gross.
You also never know how heavily they loaded the van. Did they do some serious towing with it? Usage like this causes frequently undetectable damage to the powertrain, a significant and expensive component. We all know how we drive rentals, and the same mentality applies to these work vehicles. Use the chart below to vet any used van before even considering purchasing.
Bonus points if they're your friend and will give information technology a serious rub downwardly. This is the near important step you can take. Since they don't accept any skin in the game, they have no reason to hold dorsum any bad news. It'due south zip to them if you don't buy it, and not to knock your Net knowledge, but they know what they're doing. Alternatively, if they stop up saving you from buying a lemon, you might come dorsum to them as a customer the next time you get some work done.
A full general exam of the suspension can be carried out by pressing downward hard on 1 corner and seeing how quickly information technology bounces back. It will return to its original position speedily and smoothly if the shock absorbers are in a practiced condition – no dillydallying. Listen for squeaks, creaks, and cracks – all of those signs are bad news and expensive to fix. Ensure the tires are the right ones for the van and that the article of clothing is fifty-fifty beyond the forepart and rear treads which is also a tell-tale sign of bad pause or alignment.
Be wary of rust. If you tin can run across rust on the torso, there'southward probably mode more than rust underneath. Dents and scratches are okay as long as you're okay with them, but brand certain the gouges don't have any exposed metal that could leave to future rusting.
To land the obvious, leaks are never a skillful matter. Peculiarly if it's oil or manual fluid. They can point to much bigger, much more than expensive problems.
Simply do information technology. Open the doors from both sides. Make sure no weird smells come out of the air vents, which often indicates other issues.
You'll be able to decide on your own whether or not its history is good to go.
Sometimes a unproblematic "Anything I should know?" is enough to showtime the conversation on the van's previous life. Yous can ask point bare what kind of work the van was used for. It'south upwardly to them to be honest though.
U.S. law requires a minimum 2/32-inch tread; however, yous're going to want something well over that if you plan on taking your van anywhere exciting. Know if yous can negotiate new tires into the deal or if the ones on in that location will work.
Is the steering tight or exit room for a lot of play? Does it make a funny noise when you accelerate or restriction? Do any lights flicker on the dash, indicating important warning signs? Make sure you similar the manner it drives also. If you let go of the steering bicycle, does the vehicle stay straight?
If something doesn't feel right, or if you experience like you're compromising too much – walk away. That noise you call up you hear is probably a legitimate concern and not worth the risk. Make sure you ever run into in a populated location and bring a friend for condom and backup opinions.
We'd dearest to hear virtually your own van-buying feel in the comments beneath. Whatever other tips or tricks you'd recommend?
Source: https://thevansmith.com/blogs/beginners-guide-to-the-vanlife/the-official-checklist-for-buying-a-used-van
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