QR Code Link to This Post
I’m already regretting posting this because I’ve had so many adventures in this van, but it’s time to move on to the next thing. I purchased this van from a retirement home in Detroit in 2017 and it’s spent the rest of its life in Southern California(aside from road trips). It still has incredibly low miles for the model year(132,000) and these vans are known for going 350-500,000 miles. I’ve averaged about 22mpg(diesel), and I’ve gotten as high as 28mpg if I’m driving slow and steady.
This van is definitely not perfect, but it’s been super reliable and has taken me all over the US and Canada and never left me stranded. I believe in full transparency so I’ll list the known issues below:
- Rust. Please zoom into photos to inspect. Having started its life in Detroit it was subject to salted roads and it shows. This model is also known for not having a great clearcoat and a lot of them are rusty. It’s never bothered me as the engine has run great, and if anything the outside being ugly is a bit of a crime deterrent. The rear doors were rusted through under the windows when I bought it, and I just sealed it with Eternabond tape, but you can find used replacements if you keep an eye out. The roof also has a rubberized coating to prevent leaks.
- No A/C. It didn’t work when I bought it and I never got it checked out. I spend most of my time in mild climates, so I have always just rolled down the windows. Probably not reasonable in Phoenix.
- The windshield is definitely ready to be replaced. It has multiple cracks.
- This isn’t an issue necessarily, but there’s no running water in the van. There is a sink and a 32 gallon wheel well water tank, but I never cared to have running water so it never got plumbed. I have most of the parts to finish it, it was just never a priority. The sale will include PEX pipe, fittings, a water heater(for an outdoor shower), a pump and accumulator, and a shower head. There is also a small gray water tank under the sink and a water filter that can be installed for clean drinking water.
- The flooring(luxury vinyl) is just floating(install not finalized) because I wanted to see how durable it was before committing to it. It ended up scratching pretty easily so if I were to keep the van I’d probably swap it out, but I do have some spare flooring that matches so some of it could be replaced with fresh pieces.
- It’s a 20 year old van, so it has its quirks and small issues, but it’s been rock solid and the oil has always been changed on time. Last April I also had quite a bit of work done. I took it to a Sprinter repair shop and had them replace anything they thought needed it. This included the coolant system, the serpentine belt, transmission flush, ball joints, and a few other things(I have the itemized bill). I also just replaced the battery in February.
The build is rough around the edges, but it’s been solid. The build includes:
- 400w solar panels
- Bluetti AC200P solar generator(contains battery, inverter, and AC/DC plugs). This is wired to a DC fuse block that routes to the fridge, fan, lights, and USB outlets.
- Maxxair fan with remote
- A few USB outlets around the van
- Dometic CRX-1065E 55L refrigerator
- Portable propane stove with storage spot above the fridge
- Platform for queen size bed(I’ll dispose of the mattress in the photos)
- Tons of storage under the bed
Please reach out with any questions. I’m open to reasonable offers and willing to make a deal for a quick sale. There are people trying to sell these vans for $25k+, but I think mine is a pretty realistic price for its condition with low miles. It’s currently titled and registered in CA(has always easily passed emissions testing as well) and if I can’t sell it in a reasonable amount of time here I’ll take it back there to sell it. I’m still finishing up the final cleaning of the van, but I wanted to get the post up.
