I have been getting lots of deep, philosophical questions on the van. Decided I better share some more info on the forum:
Is it in perfect condition?
No. It is a 15-year-old van...it has some issues. There is a shallow dent/scrape in the driver’s side. There was some paint work done to the RF fender. The paint on a small section the side door just below the window looks calcified/scaley. The paint cleans up pretty well but should be clay’d, compounded, and waxed. Otherwise, the paint appears a little chalky.
The interior shots tell the story. The carpet is clean, but a little matted. There is some wear to the driver’s and passenger’s seats. I could go on. But it is a well-maintained machine and most everything works perfectly.
Mechanically, it is in excellent shape. Neither I nor the one previous owner ever skimped on service, maintenance, or repairs. It runs like a champ. There are some small niggles:
• The fuel hose between the filler neck and the tank (rubber) is cracked. I pulled it taught and re-clamped it, but it needs a new piece of rubber hose sectioned in
• There is a suspension rattle that alludes me. Sounds like a chain rattling.
• The van is probably due for an oil change and front-end alignment
• The windscreen is cracked—which I will fix
• One of the driving lights needs a new bulb
• The dome light does not work properly
There’s probably more; but I will be driving it to Monterey next weekend without any concerns. And I would take it to Pataqonia tomorrow if I could. Moreover, I would put my wife in it and let her go anywhere...as long as she brings me back a sammich...
Is it 4x4?
No. It is two-wheel drive with limited slip differential. It would be worth $10k more were it 4x4. As you can see by my pictures, that has never kept me from taking the road less traveled.
It
is lifted. The work was done by Camburg (
http://www.camburg.com/) in Huntington Beach. I have driven some back-country roads where a 2wd pick would have gotten stuck. This thing is so heavy that it maintains grip in all but the most awkward or slippery situations where even a 4x4 would start to struggle. The weight is a detriment, too. Moving that mass up a hill or holding it during descents is tricky. When gravity overcomes grip you are at the mercy of physical law... In general, I think a van is a terrible platform for off-roading. This is a good compromise. I can get where I want to go on the NFS and fire roads, but don’t do anything stupid.
What engine does it have and what kind of gas mileage do you get?
It has a 351 and weighs 3+ tons. Gas mileage reflects that: 12 – 15 mpg if you drive smart; 10 – 13 if you don’t.
Why are you selling?
I am selling mostly for financial reasons. Our income this year will be off by 50%... We cannot justify keeping a 6th (yes, 6th) vehicle registered and insured when we only use it 10 times a year.
Thanks for looking,
bb