Used van conversion

[Bigfoot-THOR]

How common is it for people to take a used 2wd van to SMB for conversion?

I was just wondering if this is a way to save a bit of money but still wind up with what you want in terms of floorplan and options?

Also, if you are shopping for a donor van, other than the obvious things like V10 or PSD, what other body options should you look for? Most of the cargo vans I have seen have sliding doors and no side glass....

 

[jage]

No side glass is a plus, you can put type and size of windows where you want. Look for rear windows though, you get power on the front doors that way.

I'd get the factory rear air if I were DIYing.

 

[Bigfoot-THOR]

Oh I meant a lot of cargo vans have no glass in the side door even if they have barn doors.

My current van has rear door glass but no power anything, though it is pretty old.

Do you think this might be a cost effective option or should I just keep looking at used SMBs? The issue I am quickly seeing is that used SMBs have 6 of 8 features I want but there is usually one or two things that are deal breakers.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Skywagon-SMB]

If your van is more than just a very few years old, I don't believe SMB West will touch it.
Bill

 

[jage]

If your van is more than just a very few years old, I don't believe SMB West will touch it.

Depends on who you talk to on which day. The implied reason they won't do a PH on an 80's era is only because they no longer have the mold...

But there is a point of vanishing returns. It's expensive to have them put in a full build in a van, not necessarily cost effective with an older one. The trick to shopping used SMBs I think is to find the 4 things you can't possibly change (layout for example) and understand what you can (propane addition) or are willing to change to get those other 4 "must haves".

 

[Bigfoot-THOR]

I was thinking maybe a 2007-2009. If I went older than that I would just look for an already built SMB. And I haven't don't the math yet, might make no sense. But I have seen ex lease cargo vans pretty cheap. (that's how I got my current E350)

 

[UJOINTOFFROAD]

This van was a 2wd SMB & converted to 4wd, turned out very nice! He's a member here too.

 

[dhally]

You can find used cargo vans with the right options, but you have to patient and ready to pull the trigger. I just got a 2009 E250 with 400 miles for $20K. It has barn doors, all the power options, traction control, upgraded grill and rear bumper, and even rear AC.

The E350's with the bigger engines seem to be much harder to find, though. I have seen a couple of almost-new Quigley conversions. They also have all the power options, and the big motor, and go for $33-$37K.

 

[Bigfoot-THOR]

Here's a guy who had a SMB transformer build done in 2009 on a 2004 van.... so they definitely do it viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5764

On the bigger engines, when I bought my 99 V10 in 2003, there wasn't a big selection of them, but I was able to find one for a very small premium over the 5.4. Diesels were harder to find though, they seemed to be more in passenger vans.

I wouldn't have thought you'd find rear AC in cargo vans....

What are other options you would look for? Power windows/locks would be nice. Barn doors with glass in them (SMB can't add that later, only the rear glass, right?) I don't really care about bumpers/grille. Rear AC sounds good.

 

[TwoVans]

My build was an '09 cargo I found in Ohio for about ten grand less than MSRP. Oh, and it has factory rear a/c.

 

[dhally]

...
I wouldn't have thought you'd find rear AC in cargo vans....

What are other options you would look for? Power windows/locks would be nice. Barn doors with glass in them (SMB can't add that later, only the rear glass, right?) I don't really care about bumpers/grille. Rear AC sounds good.

I wouldn't have thought you would find rear AC in a cargo either. The dealer said it might have been intended for a florist. Power locks are a must for us. It gets tiring walking around the van to lock and unlock the doors every time you get in or out.

I didin't think I would care about chrome either, but it DOES look better than a white van with black trim. Plus the chrome grill includes upgraded headlights and the rear bumper is a lightweight hitch.

 

[Bigfoot-THOR]

I am starting to think the math works out pretty well.

$15k-$20k for a lightly used van a few years old.
$15-19k for a 4WD conversion (SMB is $19k)
$22k for an EB50 build out
$6k for PH top
$5k for wheels/tires/bumpers, ish.
========================
So $67k ish for a newer van (I assumed a cheaper van but SMB 4x4), configured exactly the way you want.

A lot of the used SMB 4x4 EB V10/PSD vans from 2003-2007 are in the 50-65k range, and some don't have PH tops or bigger bumpers, and many have higher mileage.

What am I missing?