Looking for educated opinions on Vehicle purchase

[ScrapIron]

Hey guys,

I,m asking for you guys thoughts and opinions but first a bit of my history. I was forced into early retirement due to injuries i sustained in an accident at work. Of course i lost my home and pretty much everything i thought i owned during th etwo years it took them to put me back together as best they could. Skip all the specifics here.... I purchased my chinook and my dog and i started traveling the country to get my head back together plus it gave me a cheap alternative in terms of having a place to live without being tied down to a brick and mortar home with a mortgage and everything that goes with that.

Approximately four or five months into our journey we were in Oregon when i recieved a phone call that my father had a stroke. Needless to say we headed back to Nebraska because i knew my folks would be needing help with their home and property. I figured i would just stick around until he got well enough to take care of the day to day chores again. Problem is, he never got better, in fact it was a slow decline over the next ten years, he passed away October 27 last year, which brings us to today.

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2025 so they removed the breasts and did a chemo treatment which she did not tolerate well at all so that was the only time she did chemo. SInce then the cancer has now spread to her lungs and she has been given six months to two years to live, mind you that was assuming she did chemo treatments. Once she passes away their property will have to be sold to pay off the balance of the mortgage and of course the estate liquidated.

After the home is sold i will be back out on the road again with my dog. The issue is that my Chinook is now old enough mechanically in terms of the frame, engine and transmission that i know it will need major work soon. The issue is that i wont have a driveway to do those repairs even though i have the knowledge and tools, i lack the physical stamina to be crawling around underneath doing major work. I dont like admitting it but thats reality.

Time being a major factor in my situation because i dont want to not be ready and prepared to hit the road i have concluded that realistically i only have two options....

#1) I buy a 2006 Ford E-350 cutaway with quigley 4x4 with only 19,000 miles on it with a 6.0 litre diesel engine, basically a new truck. Have the camper shell lifted up, drive the old truck out from under it and then back the new truck in its place.

#2) I buy a used 4x4 Sprinter van 2016 and a small enclosed trailer to put a refridgerator inside along with a portable generator, batteries, solar, shower, and storage for my tools, a floor jack, and other personal items.

Im having a really hard time trying to make a decision which is one of my faults because i tend to procrastinate alot. So much so that it has now become an issue under the current circumstances and the small amount of time they have given my mother.

Can you guys share some thoughts and opinions on which way i should go? I have read bad things about the mercedes sprinters, but i have also read just as many bad things about the 6.0 litre diesel engines.

The Sprinter van obviously weighs less than my chinook so fuel mileage will likely be better even pulling a small trailer. But then again pulling a trailer is an added headache in itself.

I need to get one or the other purchased so i can prepare whichever vehicle i get and get ready to hit the road. The reality is setting in at this point when i realized that my mother is now coughing and hacking constantly, that said i know now her health is declining and it appears to be at an accelerating pace.

 

[marret]

Sorry to hear and wish you the best moving forward. I have been through both parents dying, one from leukemia and one due to an aneurism so I have some experience.

Easy to proscrastine in your situation.

If it was me, I’d go with option 1 and the Ford E-series cutaway. If you are going to full-time, I just think being as comfortable as possible is better. Living space is king and you get more with the Chinook. The Sprinter is another whole issue as it ages and finding people to work on it.

Does the Sprinter have a shower? I assume the Chinook does.

Wish you the best. I am sure people will chime in.

 

[ScrapIron]

Sorry to hear and wish you the best moving forward. I have been through both parents dying, one from leukemia and one due to an aneurism so I have some experience.

Easy to proscrastine in your situation.

If it was me, I’d go with option 1 and the Ford E-series cutaway. If you are going to full-time, I just think being as comfortable as possible is better. Living space is king and you get more with the Chinook. The Sprinter is another whole issue as it ages and finding people to work on it.

Does the Sprinter have a shower? I assume the Chinook does.

Wish you the best. I am sure people will chime in.

No shower in the sprinter or anything else for that matter. It is however the v-6 24 valve diesel, 4x4, with dual rear wheels. I was thinking i would install a shower, fridge, sink, and toilet in a small enclosed trailer along with my tools and a floor jack. Then i would install a bed and entertainment in the back of the sprinter. But ya on a day to day basis at this point its a full time job taking care of my 2 dogs, tending to all of the chores around here, and also tending to my own needs. Most days my feet hurt so bad by about 6 PM they hurt so bad i can barely walk. Course you cant stop because they are your parents.

But its the final months or weeks even at this point i will get to spend with my mother so a person just pretty much endures whatever they have to. I wish i could say the same for my two brothers. Golfing every weekend seems to be higher on their list of priorities.

My father had multiple health issues as he declined after the stroke. Poor circulation which caused the calfs of his legs to swell and become painful to the point he couldnt walk and they literally started turning purple. But then it got to the point he was having to pee every 15 minutes so they removed part of his prostate, after that it was a rapid decline because he was losing blood internaly and they couldnt get the bleeding stopped and they said he likely wouldnt survive the surgery if the went inside to fix it. He said he didnt want the surgery so he went into hospice care and within 2 weeks he was gone.

 

[kbeefy]

Sorry about your Parents, I lost my Dad, My wife lost her Dad, Brother and Mother all in the last 18 months.

My Dad used to say, 'getting old ain't for wussies'.

I am a pretty huge 7.3/6.0 fan ( have at least 5 right now), but have a hard time recommending them now that they are so old. Having said that, if I found a '06 quigly 4x4 with 19k, I'd be making alot of things happen to purchase it.
If you can't at least comfortably remove and reinstall a turbo or injector, I would advise against.

I'm also not a huge fan of Sprinters, for maintenance and repair cost.


Is 4x4 a deal breaker? If your considering towing something, would a larger class C towing a more capable 4x4 be an option? I totally get the 4x4 infatuation, I have had many. I've now altered my travel methods (for the time being), to Mediocre off road performance hauling ridiculous off road performance. I can't camp where I used to, but I have far more creature comforts at camp and my toad can go places I never would have considered (for the day).

IMHO, towing for a day or a trip is OK. Making towing mandatory is inconvenient, and I would only do it if it was temporary.

In the last 8 months I have done 8000 miles/60 days boondocking not towing (in our E350 2wd) and 4000 miles/30 days boondocking while towing (in our F250 and 32' gooseneck).

 

[ScrapIron]

The 4x4 is a deal breaker for me. The reason being is i will literally be full timing in it likely until i expire myself. That means i will be driving in all kinds of weather in all kinds of new places again. Although i dont do the offroad thing anymore i do end up in off the beatin path places frequently due to lack of forsite and planning plus being to lazy to look at an actual map.. SInce i dont believe in paying $50 - $100 per night for RV parks that kinda leaves me doing truck stops, rest stops, sams clubs, blm land, state parks and recreation areas, and the sort. Im of the opinion that you just can not squeeze life into the confines of a sprinter van by itself.

Thats where the trailer comes in. Install a shower, a sink, refridgerator, propane stove, extra solar on the roof, batteries, and a portable generator inside a medium size metal job box mounted on the trailer tongue. Then shove my rigid portable tool boxes full of tools in the back of it. I would stick a raised twin bed in the trailer above the tool boxes. The van would also get a twin bed in the back but nothing else other than clothing storage, primarily because with two dogs they need open floor space to lay down comfortabley.

Regardless which vehicle i pick theres work to be done even when i get it home. The issue is the time crunch, not just in terms of my mother but also the fact that the vehicles wont just sit there waiting for me to procrastinate night after night trying to justify one over the other. Likely i will head to Arizona in the winter time and then head back to the midwest in the summer times.

I have the tools and knowledge to change a turbo and injectors and pretty much anything else that could go wrong. Knowledge and tools arent the issue in regards to vehicle repairs. Its the heavy stuff that my body cant do anymore. Im at the point in life where you bend your knees to squat down to take a bolt out of something and then having trouble getting back upright. My days of laying under a vehicle and manhandling a transmission out are gone. But i can still do the easy stuff.

But even if i put a new truck under the chinook i will still get a trailer simply because i have to many tools that have to go with me. Certainly i will liquidate some of my specialized tools like a cam bearing driver, snap on tool boxes and other items that rarely get used. However my basic hand tools were taken out of the snapon tool chest and placed in portable Rigid job boxes and there are 5 large boxes plus 4 medium boxes. I dont have that kind of floor space in the chinook even.

 

[86Scotty]

Sounds like your biggest collection and what makes you happy are your tools. For that reason I would want a trailer but it still seems to me you could make life a lot simpler with a small motorhome. If there were a modern Chinook that was affordable (robust, bulletproof, easy to convert to 4wd) lots of people would be in one. Honestly if I were you I'd keep on the lookout for a specialized truck of some sort if not a small MH. Something like one of these box trucks that someone has convertered to 4wd or a government truck of some sort.

 

[landcruisin-SMB]

If there were a modern Chinook that was affordable (robust, bulletproof, easy to convert to 4wd) lots of people would be in one.

They made the pleasure way excel up through 2014. Fiberglass body, shower, the works. Just the gas engine options though, never made one w/ a diesel. Ujoint even said in one of their videos that they prefer those over the Chinooks.

Or road trek 210. Similar thing but on a chevy platform.

For long term stays, the extra width of the fiberglass body makes them feel a LOT bigger.

 

[mikracer]

Have you considered a truck with a cabover camper? I feel like you can open up a lot more options if you go that route and it would be easier to work on if needed.

 

[ScrapIron]

I have considered alternatives, but due to the time crunch my only viable options time and cost factor considered, are put the low mile ford e-350 quigley chassis under the chinook or fly out to oregon and pickup the sprinter van.

I dont want to purchase someone elses nightmare, i know the E-350 quigley cutaway chassis only has 19,000 miles on it. I have also seen video and pictures of the sprinter in orgeon. Both seem to be solid trucks with veifiable history on them.

Keep in mind these are both used vehicles as i am not rich by any stretch and i also have to buy an enclosed trailer whichever vehicle i choose.

With that said, i have been watching youtube videos and checking prices on parts if i ha dto repair a sprinter out on the road and its looking like parts prices for them are rediculously high so im kinda leaning towards the E350 Quigley truck. I started calling shop syesterday trying to find someone who can refit the chinook camper onto the new chassis.

So far no luck because im in the midwest i guess.

 

[kbeefy]

For a shop to do that job might turn into a project as expensive as buying a much more expensive rv to start with... I thought you were going to do the swap yourself.

Being a former shop owner, and mechanic, and familiar with the E350 chassis, RV stuff, and the ford 6.0, I would plan on somewhere in the range of $20-30,000 for that job. And it's going to be an endless list of little things noone thought of keeping it in a shop for 6 months to a year, at $150/hr+ labor rate.

I don't know what year your chinook is, so if it's a different year than the quigley there could will be further complications.

 

[86Scotty]

Totally agree ^^^

 

[ScrapIron]

I would be doing it myself. All the shop is being asked to do is lift the shell up 10 inches, drive the old truck out from under the shell and back the new truck underneath, install four new body mounts so it doesnt fall off during the three mile drive back to my folks place.

They wouldnt even need to lift it ten inches imo, undo all four body mounts, pull the truck forward two inches, place a jack under each rear shock mount in the rear, remove the rear wheels, set the rear axle down on top of wheel dolly's and roll the chassis out from under the shell, reinsall the rear wheels. Reverse procedure for new chassis.

If they want the cabinets out to lighten it even more i will yank those out as well because i want to install new cabinets and a 12 volt fridge once everything else is done.

Everything else will be done by myself wiring, removing water tanks and drain pipes, rear bumper, flooring, personal belongings, four of the eight body mounts, propane tank, two batteries, overhead console and side panels to access the cab bolts and screws that attach the cab to the shell. The biggest job is the wiring, not lifting the shell. If i had a hoist i would certainly do it myself but i dont.

If it takes them six months to lift the shell with a hoist and back the new truck underneath theres definately a problem. I appreciate your thoughts and certainly not disagreeing if i was asking them to do the entire job for me, who knows when it would be finished.

My Chinook is a 2005, the diesel new truck is a 2006. The only difference is mine is a V-10 and the new one is a diesel.

The only wiring that goes into the cab of the truck or frame are battery cables for a battery isolator solinoid, a generator start switch, air suspension control wiring wich i insalled, rear entry door lock wiring, rear view camera, tail lights, and clearance markers. I may be forgetting something but thats the majority of it.

Other chinook owners have done this exact same swap in their back yards, it isnt a big deal. I cant do it here because the driveway is sloped.

The propane tank doesnt even need to come off but i want to replace it with a new one. The carpet was removed long ago and i installed floating vinyl plank flooring. It just clicks together. When i installed it i had to install a sub floor to raise the floor half of an inch to raise it above the tops of the body mount bolts. Once i remove the flooring their is full access to the body mount bolts from inside.

 

[kbeefy]

I forgot you were looking at a cab and chassis, that should make it better. Maybe you can find someone with a lift at home.

 

[ScrapIron]

This guy is alot braver than i am, wet dirt and wooden blocks. Again it isnt a complicated job. With that said you can see the shell itself isnt that heavy even with everything still inside of it. This guy left the batteries in it, the generator, the cabinets, etc... and still lifted it with a bumper jack on wet dirt. lol

 

[Fitz2]

I bought my 2016 Sprinter new and at 100k+ it's been, and still is, a solid vehicle. I think the NCV3 (4wd became available in 2015, production stopped in 2018 with the introduction of the VS30 in 2019) is the model to have, thus if it's a Sprinter you want you are looking at the right one. Like all modern diesels it has a DEF system and that causes many of the issues you hear about, the same issues that exist with other manufacturers when you recycle exhaust.

That said, I agree with what has been said above. As I age I am discovering that what used to be small jobs have become "bigger" over time. I think in your situation I would put priority on shop repair availability in the places where you plan to be near the top of the list. You are going to be out on the road and you will find yourself in situations where repairs will need to be done by others, set yourself up for success by driving something that has plenty of support. Hard to beat a Ford for that. That said, my Sprinter has a lot of miles left in it and I'm planning to keep driving it.

You have my heartfelt sympathy for the situation you are in with your parents. Good for you for being the one they could depend on. Mine are both gone (buried in Iowa, near you in Nebraska), cherish what time you have left with your mother.

 

[Timerider-SMB]

Condolences for your ongoing family losses . . . been there, done that three times lately, and just got the last Medicare bill for my late father-in-law last week (almost a full year after those medical services were rendered).

My two cents is this:

You know how to live in your Chinook with your dogs. You know how to work on a Ford. Even though everything in this situation is old and getting older, sometimes the certainty of "the devil you know" is the better option.

I've read and appreciated your posts on this forum for the past several years, and thereby know a tiny bit of your intellect and skills, so I'm going to recommend the low-mileage Ford option, because:

1) Ford has a better (and cheaper) parts and repair support network, even if you have to pay someone else to do the work, and

2) I think the Ford would be a better vehicle to tow a trailer with, and

3) fully mating your Chinook to its new Ford chassis (with a few upgrades) and putting together your new trailer to carry you to your own "finish line" will likely help to heal your soul - both before and after your mother passes.

 

[bidgoodr]

Hey guys,

I,m asking for you guys thoughts and opinions but first a bit of my history. I was forced into early retirement due to injuries i sustained in an accident at work. Of course i lost my home and pretty much everything i thought i owned during th etwo years it took them to put me back together as best they could. Skip all the specifics here.... I purchased my chinook and my dog and i started traveling the country to get my head back together plus it gave me a cheap alternative in terms of having a place to live without being tied down to a brick and mortar home with a mortgage and everything that goes with that.

Approximately four or five months into our journey we were in Oregon when i recieved a phone call that my father had a stroke. Needless to say we headed back to Nebraska because i knew my folks would be needing help with their home and property. I figured i would just stick around until he got well enough to take care of the day to day chores again. Problem is, he never got better, in fact it was a slow decline over the next ten years, he passed away October 27 last year, which brings us to today.

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2025 so they removed the breasts and did a chemo treatment which she did not tolerate well at all so that was the only time she did chemo. SInce then the cancer has now spread to her lungs and she has been given six months to two years to live, mind you that was assuming she did chemo treatments. Once she passes away their property will have to be sold to pay off the balance of the mortgage and of course the estate liquidated.

After the home is sold i will be back out on the road again with my dog. The issue is that my Chinook is now old enough mechanically in terms of the frame, engine and transmission that i know it will need major work soon. The issue is that i wont have a driveway to do those repairs even though i have the knowledge and tools, i lack the physical stamina to be crawling around underneath doing major work. I dont like admitting it but thats reality.

Time being a major factor in my situation because i dont want to not be ready and prepared to hit the road i have concluded that realistically i only have two options....

#1) I buy a 2006 Ford E-350 cutaway with quigley 4x4 with only 19,000 miles on it with a 6.0 litre diesel engine, basically a new truck. Have the camper shell lifted up, drive the old truck out from under it and then back the new truck in its place.

#2) I buy a used 4x4 Sprinter van 2016 and a small enclosed trailer to put a refridgerator inside along with a portable generator, batteries, solar, shower, and storage for my tools, a floor jack, and other personal items.

Im having a really hard time trying to make a decision which is one of my faults because i tend to procrastinate alot. So much so that it has now become an issue under the current circumstances and the small amount of time they have given my mother.

Can you guys share some thoughts and opinions on which way i should go? I have read bad things about the mercedes sprinters, but i have also read just as many bad things about the 6.0 litre diesel engines.

The Sprinter van obviously weighs less than my chinook so fuel mileage will likely be better even pulling a small trailer. But then again pulling a trailer is an added headache in itself.

I need to get one or the other purchased so i can prepare whichever vehicle i get and get ready to hit the road. The reality is setting in at this point when i realized that my mother is now coughing and hacking constantly, that said i know now her health is declining and it appears to be at an accelerating pace.

As others have said, sorry to hear about your parents; so many of us baby boomers have experienced the same thing. I recommend a Ford over a Sprinter. We have a 2017 Ford Transit 250 which SMB partially outfitted for us. We've put 93,000 miles on it and had very little surprises with it. Prior to that we had a VW Eurovan, and liked it a lot, except when it needed service and especially parts, it was a nightmare. If you're in a Ford, there are dealers along almost every exit on the interstates. If you're in a Mercedes or a VW, there are far fewer dealers, parts are much more expensive, and far fewer mechanics that know how to work on them.

 

[vanagonman]

I wouldn't exactly write off the 2005 v10 e350. How many miles, what maintenance do you think needs to be done? I'm not sure i would trade a 2005 v10 for a 6.0 if you want to avoid servicing the engine.

 

[ScrapIron]

I wouldn't exactly write off the 2005 v10 e350. How many miles, what maintenance do you think needs to be done? I'm not sure i would trade a 2005 v10 for a 6.0 if you want to avoid servicing the engine.

It needs more than just maintenance. I started converting it to 4x4 and then stopped after i got the front end under it. It still needs the transmission output shaft changed, then a transfercase bolted on. Then the drive shafts and exhaust system need to be modified.

That will complete the mechanical portion of the project. But then the interior needs a complete remodel considering the truck is 20 years old at this point. Then even though it runs, it currently has just over 100,000 miles on it. It just sits here baking in the sun so now the clear coats on the fiberglass shell is all baking off, meaning it needs repainted which i cant do. Theres just to much to do in a short period of time.

Considering the totality of the project i dont have the time to complete it. Im heading to california to pick up a Sprinter van in the morning. Im just hoping the van is what the guy is promoting it to be. I have tons of pictures and phone calls but we all know how things go sometimes with used vehicles. Just crossing my fingers and hoping i come home with a vehicle.

I have my own physical limitations that prevent me from working on it most days. Compound my own issues with the fact that my last immediate family member has been given a limited amount of time. I need to be in position to leave here on short notice. So now im just focusing on getting a vehicle that doesnt need anything major mechanically done to it. Once i get the sprinter here i will pickup an enclosed trailer to pull behind it.

I plan to put a 12 volt fridge in the trailer, a propane cooktop, a battery bank, solar panels, insulation, vent fan, and an AC unit with a portable generator on the trailer tongue.

The reason i chose this route is because i have been unable to locate anyone within a 50 mile radius of me that is willing to lift the chinook shell off of the current E-350, then back the new E-350 under it and set the shell back down. If i had found someone willing to do that i would just keep the chinook, get the camper shell repainted and then remodel the interior myself.

I had to make a decision, i couldnt sit here procrastinating for the next 6 months trying to find someone to lift the camper shell off this truck and set it down on the quigley chassis. Unfortunately there isnt that kind of time to waste at this point, even though i wish there was.

 

[Fitz2]

A couple of Sprinter-specific points to look at during your inspection:

1. You didn't give the mileage of the vehicle. MB calls for checking the ash content of the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) at 100k miles. There are ways to flush the DPF, but MB calls for DPF replacement at 2.6g. For reference, at the 100k mile mark my Sprinter measured 1.2g.
2. This generation of Sprinter has a known problem with the plastic retaining clips that are used to hold the molding trim in place on the side and door panels. The plastic clips are inserted into holes in the metal panels, the problem is that they do not seal and thus allow water to get into the door, thus leading to water accumulation and rust at the bottom of the door. Look for rust all along the bottom of the doors. If present, look closely and weigh your options. If not present it is an easy fix to take a trim tool to pop off the panels and then to seal the clips.
3. The stock Sprinter suspension is not much to speak of, especially as you add weight. I would look to see if the rear springs, rear shocks and front struts are stock and I would judge the ride on your test drive accordingly.

If you buy the Sprinter, here are a couple of items I would recommend addressing:
1. The bolt used to attach the rear upper shock is a weak point. I carried a spare for years and then installed a double shear bracket when it became available. This is not a hard fix, I would recommend doing it before adding a bunch of weight and going out on the road.
2. There are two power steering hose clamps that are prone to working their way off, easy fix.
3. Regarding #3 above, I would give serious consideration to upgrading suspension components as you add weight to the van. There are some really good aftermarket options out there.

All of these items are detailed in my build thread here on the Forum, you can find pictures and specific information there, or feel free to reach out.

If you do purchase the van, (this goes for any new-to-you vehicle) I would recommend bringing a good code reader along for the drive back. I have a Blue Driver code reader that connects to my smart phone, as you know there are lots of other options out there.