How?

[loper]

We just built it ourselves. $6k for the base EB van, $6k for the Fiberine 'camper' top, and then customized to our needs / likes. We have seating for 4 and actual beds for 3, along with a huge kitchen counter, great storage, and swivel seats! The only complaints my wife has is that it is too tall (thanks weldtec!) and how small our water supply is.

Following a similar path ourselves. Bought a plain cargo van with the engine and options we wanted, Fiberine top, 4x4 conversion, and building the interior to our own tastes.

It's been spendy, but nowhere near 70k.

 

[Spr-SMB]

I work in an industry that constantly blows me away seeing how much money people make. There are lots of smart people out there that rake it in....Quite honestly if you have to ask how to afford a 70k van then a 70k van is simply not in your budget and not if even worth considering... and definitely don’t pull a HELOC for a 145k revel. The stress will kill you defeating the whole point of the van. Live within your means in all aspects of life and if that means loving a 30k van then go that route... believe me...there are a TON of people that scratch their heads wondering how people can afford a 30k van. I’ve seen some bad ass cheaper rigs that allow you to do the same thing as some more expensive ones.... I also think patients will prevail. We will see a huge influx of inventory when this #vanlife bull **** subsides. Best of luck!! I hope you end up with a rig you love one day.

 

[BenJJ-SMB]

There is a funny line from a movie (Beerfest) that applies here:

"If you have to ask big man, you can't afford it."

In all seriousness though, several others have mentioned this before, hard work and proper prioritization of your efforts is how you do it. I have 2 buddies and myself who would all be considered millennials that had or have sweet vans. The common themes are success in the work place, doing part of the work yourself, and separating it out into chunks. It is a lot harder to drop $70k on a van all at once rather than 4-5 chunks of $15k.

 

[Dhale-SMB]

Interesting thread here so I decided to give my take and experience.
I retired as a CPA 12 years ago on my 47th birthday. Why? Because working as a summer kayak and nature guide was what I knew I wanted to do and not spending 14 hours a day working. I started saving money as soon as I graduated college, and I worked and paid for that, no one has given me a dime in my life. I also invested well and never bought anything I believed was a useless posession such as watches, jewelry, big TVs or even a home. To me none of that **** was worth anything. The only thing I've spent money on in my life were experiences, travel, & really good wine and food.
When I was diagnosed with terminal cancer two years ago I didn't have a problem at all with that because I've lived my life doing what I wanted and spent the prior ten years doing EXACTLY what I wanted. What a regret it would have been to never experience that. I was given six months to live and 99.5% of folks with my rare cancer (NUT carcinoma) never see five years, a total of two individuals out of 400 ever diagnosed have survived. I'm going to be the third! (I hope)
So, all I'm trying to say is spend your money on what you want. Plan for the best but always know life gets shitty for everyone at some point.
And btw, after feeling like absolute **** the past two years I'm planning my next road trip for October till ....whenever I feel like coming home. I'm 59 and young and I don't care what anyone thinks about me even though I am truly a good guy.
Maybe I'll see you on the dirt road someday

Peace,
Dave

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

...So, all I'm trying to say is spend your money on what you want. Plan for the best but always know life gets shitty for everyone at some point.
And btw, after feeling like absolute **** the past two years I'm planning my next road trip for October till ....whenever I feel like coming home. I'm 59 and young and I don't care what anyone thinks about me even though I am truly a good guy.
Maybe I'll see you on the dirt road someday

Peace,
Dave

Dave, it sounds like you had a great philosophy before your diagnosis, and have maintained your philosophy even afterwards. Congratulations on kicking cancer's ass, and I'm sure you'll enjoy your next road trip more than any of us can imagine.




Herb

 

[marret]

Dave, it sounds like you had a great philosophy before your diagnosis, and have maintained your philosophy even afterwards. Congratulations on kicking cancer's ass, and I'm sure you'll enjoy your next road trip more than any of us can imagine.




Herb

+1. Great attitude and something from which we all can learn. Wish you the best Dave.

 

[WhitH]

I'm only going to contribute by saying, I've enjoyed and am encouraged by this thread. A lot of smart and wise comments that were handled well in the way they have been expressed. An all too rare combination these days that deserves recognition.

 

[Dhale-SMB]

WhitH,
I couldn't agree more, its nice to have a real discussion and not just rants online, that's why I rarely post. This forum is different.

Thank you BroncoHauler & Marret for your comments, much appreciated.

I actually cringed after I posted my comment yesterday thinking I may derail this thread. I certainly didn't mean too but it struck a nerve. I always thought, always, since I was a kid that I was different because I just did what I wanted and knew what was right. I've always gotten along well with everyone however they all think I'm a bit weird. I kinda like that !��

I've been so-called "successful" in my professional life and enjoyed it, I just knew what I'd enjoy more 12 years ago. In 2015 i bought my 2004 E350 Sportsmobile for $65k cash. I've enjoyed every single day driving it, even the days I was broken down in the middle of nowhere(Actually I've enjoyed those more)

I live in Provincetown MA, at the tip of Cape Cod surrounded by ocean and the Cape Cod National Seashore NP. It's a town of 2,500 year round (55,000 summer) individuals, this amazing group of artists, writers, fishermen, drag queens and other lovable and loving misfits like myself.

If anyone ever finds themselves out here April to November then hit me up, I'll be traveling during the winter. I'll show you some amazing places on both land and sea. I've even got a spot for you to park your Van and plug in for free, and that beats paying at least $400 a night for a room in the summer.
Thanks to you all.

Peace,
Dave

 

[86Scotty]

I actually cringed after I posted my comment yesterday thinking I may derail this thread. I certainly didn't mean too but it struck a nerve. I always thought, always, since I was a kid that I was different because I just did what I wanted and knew what was right. I've always gotten along well with everyone however they all think I'm a bit weird. I kinda like that !��

I'm totally glad you contributed. The title of the thread was 'How?' but you and several others have gone past the how to the 'Why'. Why we choose to prioritize what we spend vs. how we got it is always fascinating to me. So many people get in the rut of living life like everyone else.

#Vanlifers, and by this I mean people who choose to live in a van, off grid, digital nomads, etc. etc. (not the social media #vanlife fad folks), mostly all question the normal pattern of school, job, house and kids, die. There is more than one way to live your life and sometimes there are BIG reasons!

Good stuff Dave.

 

[shenrie]

How? No idea how you start in this hobby now. There is no way in hell I could be part of this hobby if I wouldn’t have purchased everything I did before the vanlife hashtag got invented. Now all the manufacturers realized they could raise their prices to the ungodly amounts they are now. I feel sorry for the average Joe that wants to get involved with this hobby. Honestly, it’s not reality for someone like me.

I know all the van related companies are getting while the getting is good, but imho, they have all exceeded reality with their pricing. Are the products good? For the most part and that helps justify the price increases, but seriously the pop top I bought in 2013 has more than doubled in price now. Has the performance or options doubled? Possibly, but not from I’ve seen. Are they better now? Definitely! Enough to justify twice the price? I can’t understand how, but I am simple minded potato head. So maybe I’m too dense to understand.

 

[N147JK]

Are they better now? Definitely!

I'm not sure they are better. I am more attracted to the older designs than the new ones. The older units feel more solid and better built. Might be just an illusion.. or maybe it's my age!

 

[86Scotty]

How? No idea how you start in this hobby now. .

How do I thank this post 15 or 20 times?

I'm right there with you Shenrie. I have to hold my tongue a lot.

The trickle down has gotten so bad that you can't even buy a beat up ambulance on the cheap anymore. Look them up, what was 5 grand years ago is now 30.

 

[BeeDub-ClassB]

New base vans are, relatively speaking, still priced the same as they were in the past. Not that they are cheap, just that they haven’t skyrocketed. Although a new Transit is definitely more than a new e-van was. Despite what Instagram shows, all you need to sleep in one is a foam pad and sleeping bag

Heck, I used to sleep in the back of my 1980 Honda Civic station wagon…

 

[shenrie]

^^^ I wasn’t referring to the actual vehicles themselves, but more speaking of the upfitters, but the premium price for the 7.3 vans is a good example. I could never find a 4x4 7.3 van for the price I paid in 2012.

I'm not sure they are better. I am more attracted to the older designs than the new ones. The older units feel more solid and better built. Might be just an illusion.. or maybe it's my age!

Specifically speaking I was directly talking about smb vs ccv. The ccv units imho are better in many ways than the smb tops, even though I prefer the looks of the smb top. Even if the only better quality is the width of the bed, it’s definitely an upgrade, for me anyway.

How do I thank this post 15 or 20 times?

I'm right there with you Shenrie. I have to hold my tongue a lot.

The trickle down has gotten so bad that you can't even buy a beat up ambulance on the cheap anymore. Look them up, what was 5 grand years ago is now 30.

Agree. It’s frustrating. Life throws the curveballs and sometimes you’re catching them upside the head. I’m super glad we have our van but I also ponder selling it cause as it sits #vanlife has priced me out of being able to continue with the build we started. Luckily, the basic build we did way back is bare bones but we have sleeping quarters and in all reality, that’s all we really need to get out. I am very thankful for that. Especially for the sanity of my better half.

We sold our pickup to fund the van and sold a racecar to fund the pop top. I’m glad people are finding ways around the insane prices and getting outdoors, but honestly I don’t see how folks are doing it. Props to you newcomers figuring it out, but again I feel for those not well off enough to join in on being a camper van owner. It really is the best way we’ve found to get out more easily and often.

In 2020 we got 65 nights in the van. Almost exclusively just weekend trips and not more than 3 hours from home base. If it wasn’t for the van, there’s no way we would have tent camped that much.

 

[86Scotty]

Agree. It’s frustrating. Life throws the curveballs and sometimes you’re catching them upside the head. I’m super glad we have our van but I also ponder selling it cause as it sits #vanlife has priced me out of being able to continue with the build we started. Luckily, the basic build we did way back is bare bones but we have sleeping quarters and in all reality, that’s all we really need to get out. I am very thankful for that. Especially for the sanity of my better half........
In 2020 we got 65 nights in the van. Almost exclusively just weekend trips and not more than 3 hours from home base. If it wasn’t for the van, there’s no way we would have tent camped that much.

My friend, sometimes life forces you to do things you don't want to but with that particular van, how much you love it and how much ya'll use it? Don't sell unless you absolutely have to!!!! If food is on the table the thought of selling will pass. Your van is a great example of something truly irreplaceable. The money you could get for it, whether hard one or easy, is replaceable.

 

[Otter-SMB]

This Stuff vs That Stuff

How?

Something that always strikes me in these discussions is the idea of priorities. We all have them and we make our choices based on them. How do so many people make ten times more or ten times less than I do? They had different priorities. Those might have been influenced by privilege - or lack thereof - or just different ideas about what’s important. And sometimes it’s just about random luck.

Some people wonder how I have the things I have even though I never made a ton of money. It’s pretty simple. I have THIS stuff because I did without THAT stuff. Life is always a trade-off about something. I’m fine with my choices and I’m always happy to hear that someone is fine with theirs. I don’t waste any time criticizing the choices and priorities of others and I don’t brook any critique of mine. What’s important to me is enjoying my life and that has driven just about every decision I’ve ever made. I’m happy to say it’s worked out pretty good so far and, by the looks of it, it’s worked out pretty well for a lot of folks here. Lucky us, however we got there, and whether we have a $10K van or a $200K van or anything in between.

:b5:
.

 

[N147JK]

Something that always strikes me in these discussions is the idea of priorities. We all have them and we make our choices based on them.

Pretty much sums it up in 2 short sentences, and applies to every aspect of our lives. I only wish we did a better job of ensuring that our children understood this as early as possible.