"Overlanding" has risen drastically in popularity over the last 7-8 years, and prices along with it. Buy used. NO RV will hold its value and the more exotic/expensive/posh or "high end" you go, the more money you are pissing out the window. Let someone else take the hit.
You are used to living conscientiously and minimalistically so keep it that way. There is no reason to increase the complexity of your life, the expenses you have or your ability to manoeuver on the road, unnecessarily.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK! There are MANY "popular" builders on this site, who do not build what I would call "top notch" products, but they charge "Rolls-Royce" prices. This will be your HOME; pick apart every stinking detail that could leave you stranded or outlaying large capital expenditures for repairs. Chrome doesn't get you home, as the old saying goes.
After living in your van for three years and your car for two, it is likely you know exactly what you need and what you want in your next rig. However, you may not think about topics such as warranty, serviceability, resale value, parts availability, insurance, fuel mileage, complexity of systems and so on. One reason that "van-life" is so appealing to so many people is that it is relatively simple and straight-forward. Buy a 500K Earthroamer and much of that goes away. Compare replacing an alternator on an E-250 to replacing an alternator on a Unimog or 379 Pete (parts & labour).
Buying an older vehicle allows you to keep insurance costs low, take advantage of someone else's depreciating asset, eliminate complex, mileage killing emissions systems found on modern diesel trucks (talk to a fleet mechanic or large diesel service center), and gives you a rig that all the "bugs" have been worked out of, likely by the previous owner.
EDIT: Parroted what everyone else said, even though a guy living in cars/vans for 5 years probably is not very "mainstream". Sorry Charlie.
Thanks for the likes to the other guys. Interested to hear what the final decision is.
Cheers
You are used to living conscientiously and minimalistically so keep it that way. There is no reason to increase the complexity of your life, the expenses you have or your ability to manoeuver on the road, unnecessarily.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK! There are MANY "popular" builders on this site, who do not build what I would call "top notch" products, but they charge "Rolls-Royce" prices. This will be your HOME; pick apart every stinking detail that could leave you stranded or outlaying large capital expenditures for repairs. Chrome doesn't get you home, as the old saying goes.
After living in your van for three years and your car for two, it is likely you know exactly what you need and what you want in your next rig. However, you may not think about topics such as warranty, serviceability, resale value, parts availability, insurance, fuel mileage, complexity of systems and so on. One reason that "van-life" is so appealing to so many people is that it is relatively simple and straight-forward. Buy a 500K Earthroamer and much of that goes away. Compare replacing an alternator on an E-250 to replacing an alternator on a Unimog or 379 Pete (parts & labour).
Buying an older vehicle allows you to keep insurance costs low, take advantage of someone else's depreciating asset, eliminate complex, mileage killing emissions systems found on modern diesel trucks (talk to a fleet mechanic or large diesel service center), and gives you a rig that all the "bugs" have been worked out of, likely by the previous owner.
EDIT: Parroted what everyone else said, even though a guy living in cars/vans for 5 years probably is not very "mainstream". Sorry Charlie.
Thanks for the likes to the other guys. Interested to hear what the final decision is.Cheers
Last edited:
