Newbie: Buy an old Ford, install new poptop, then what?

[Nathandeuel]

As for finding the 4.6L disappointing, I hear you, but also I do currently drive a Honda Fit! So the bar is low!!!

[shenrie]

Not when you factor in weight. The van weighs twice what the fit weighs empty and only has roughly 60-70 more hp. Plus the way they are geared. My 89 civic wagon with a 1.6 will spank my 7.3 van light to light. It’s kinda embarrassing.

[Nathandeuel]

Hey all, the dealer delivered the 2015 Express to my very tough mechanic, who loved the state it was in. I took it for a test drive, local roads and a bit of highway. In great shape. Felt like a more of less brand new vehicle. I'm working with the salesman to negotiate a price right now. Woo! (I'm starting to imagine the epic saga of outfitting this thing...popping top, awning, surf racks, passenger seat configuration, bed couch table storage fridge shore power etc etc. Psyched!)

[marret]

Awesome, good luck!

[Nathandeuel]

Got the Chevy! Now the work begins

[marret]

Congrats. Gotta love another GM van owner on the forum.

[Kase3875]

I have an 03 e350 7.3 with 205k miles that is coming up for sale For $25k in SoCal. 2wd with arb lockers and on board air. Not a pop top but sleeps 2-3 easy with seating for 5. Moderate buildout with solar and fridge. Awning. New mud terrains. Aluminess rear bumper with storage box. Plenty of storage. Fantastic fan.

[Kase3875]

Originally Posted by Kase3875

I have an 03 e350 7.3 with 205k miles that is coming up for sale For $25k in SoCal. 2wd with arb lockers and on board air. Not a pop top but sleeps 2-3 easy with seating for 5. Moderate buildout with solar and fridge. Awning. New mud terrains. Aluminess rear bumper with storage box. Plenty of storage. Fantastic fan.

having trouble with photos

[Nathandeuel]

Update: We got the 2015 Chevy Express 2500. I took out all the passenger seats and found a guy in Long Beach who fabricates 3-passenger benches that fold flat into a bed. He installed a nice blue one for us. My daughter fits perfectly on that, and then my wife and I can sleep on the carpeted floor in the back, on a foldable mattress that fits perfectly! I had the local rack place install Thule bars on the rain gutters, and on the bars I put our old cargo box and surf racks. We camped a few weekends around SoCal and had a blast. Then, a month ago, we left LA and have been on the road ever since. Have slept outside of the van only a few times. It's been great!!! Surfed up and down the coast, from Mendo back to LA. Then up to eastern Oregon, Montana, a magical night off-road in the Badlands. Now we're at our folks's places in the Midwest, getting ready to drive back to LA via NOLA, Dallas, NM, and a campsite in the mountains above LA, right before a three-night stay at San Onofre.

Note: We've been super-safe with Covid protocols. Mask usage is lower the closer you get to the Mississippi. Worst I've seen is a truck stop at midnight in Iowa, where no one wore a mask but a scared-looking African-American family.

Wish list: A buildout so my wife and I aren't sleeping on the floor, but on a platform under which there is storage. Some kind of fan. A fridge with solar and battery etc. Hitch for a cargo rack and/or bikes.

Big wish: A Coloardo Campervan pop top.

SO FUN. LOVE MY VAN

[Nathandeuel]

That van looks sick but 25k was more than we could spend! Thanks