What would you buy for $40k?

[Paddy]

I'll throw in a vote for 2003-2008 sprinters. They come high top or higher top, get 22-25mpg, have excellent approach and departure angles, and we have taken ours in a multitude of places that no van should go. You don't get 4wd, but with care, skill, pressures, and tyres you can do pretty well. They have good ground clearance too.

 

[markley]

FYI, 4x4 van, low miles, excellent condition, just posted for sale on forum and listed here on VT Craigslist: https://vermont.craigslist.org/rvs/5712737633.html As the seller, happy to talk, regards, jml

That is one sweet ride. I'll take that into consideration..thanks!

 

[markley]

I'll throw in a vote for 2003-2008 sprinters. They come high top or higher top, get 22-25mpg, have excellent approach and departure angles, and we have taken ours in a multitude of places that no van should go. You don't get 4wd, but with care, skill, pressures, and tyres you can do pretty well. They have good ground clearance too.

I definitely like the gas mileage that the sprinters offer. So what happened after 2008?

 

[FDM2012]

I originally bought this E350 a year ago to build out as a 4x4, but I like it too much as a passenger van when family
and friends come to visit, that I only put bench seats in it that fold out to a bed, and have called it good.



Comfort wise, it is great for road trips, but with the 5.4 it only gets around 14-16 mpg and my appetite was still wet for an offroad rig.
So the black one now just normally just sits gathering cobwebs and I went the 4x4 Ambo route........
Ambo Build thread: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/159270-New-Member-New-Rig?p=2102869#post2102869

Moral to the story: Even if you outsource the build, you can go either route for well under $40k and have it
just the way YOU want it. Not someone else's idea of a good rig. You already have your budget figured out,
so now it all depends on how much time you want to put into it. And don't be afraid of getting a 99.5-03 7.3 PSD.
If you can find one with less than 180k (have it checked out by a diesel PRO) and with a minimal
amount of effort and expense, you can have something that might very well get you 18mpg, f you do your
homework and keep your foot off the pedal, which is hard to do when knowing you have all that torque just
waiting to Hammer Down!


I haven't need Ujoint (yet...), but I have read TONS of great threads where he has EXCELLENT feedback. If you are close to them,
then there you go.

Or, with only having 33's, this rig (5.4) will still have plenty of power to do what you want....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-E-Seri...afa8b983:g:zzkAAOSwRoxXn47O&item=282119944579

 

[luthj]

I definitely like the gas mileage that the sprinters offer. So what happened after 2008?

2009 and up have additional emissions gear which adds complexity and can impact reliability. The newest I4 with 7 speed (2014+) seem to have worked most of the bugs out though. 04-06 have EGR only so can be simpler to fix/maintain. Though they are getting up there in years/miles.

 

[Paddy]

Engine mamangement problems, decreased mpg, emissions problems, and DEf fluid. Overall decreased reliability and increased maintenance cost. An early sprinter can buy back its high parts and Maint cost with good reliability and mileage, if you take those two benefits away all you're left with is a fancy box that's always in the shop.

 

[markley]

What are your thoughts on this?
http://asheville.craigslist.org/ctd/5692488134.html

Seems like it's in good condition and it's close by (as is Ujoint!).

 

[villageidiot327]

What are your thoughts on this?
http://asheville.craigslist.org/ctd/5692488134.html

Seems like it's in good condition and it's close by (as is Ujoint!).

other than the vents cut into the side, and the back mirror, it looks pretty good.

the vents could be a cool thing though, easy to turn into a plate for outlets, water fill, etc.

 

[markley]

other than the vents cut into the side, and the back mirror, it looks pretty good.

the vents could be a cool thing though, easy to turn into a plate for outlets, water fill, etc.

Yeah, wasn't sure what the vents are for? But I agree it would be nice for outlets, etc. The mirror would definitely go as I'd get a high roof installed.

It seems like I can find a number of 5.4 v8 vans in the $15k range (with around 130k miles).

 

[markley]

Well..I am reviving an old thread I started last year. I have put a lot more thought into this and I am leaning towards buying new and building out. While I have put a lot of thought into getting a Ford e-series, the gas mileage and build out (particularly having to cut out the roof; then not having smooth walls) have sort of steered me away. I think I have narrowed it down to a Sprinter 144 or a Transit 140 (ecoboost). I am still undecided if we will need the high roof..thinking the medium roof may work for us. It looks like the base price for a Sprinter would be around $50k and a Transit closer to $40k. The $10k price difference does include the 4x4 on the Sprinter, so with that and the better gas mileage I am not opposed to spending the extra money. However, the cost to maintain a Sprinter is a bit of a concern. I am also not sure that we will really need 4x4...although it would be nice to have. Any thoughts on the new Sprinters? I have read plenty of horror stories with the cost of maintenance of newer Sprinters.

Regarding the Transits, my uncle works for Ford it would likely be able to get me a discount. Either way, we will likely be special ordering.

Thoughts/Suggestions?

Cheers!

 

[mezmochill]

Buy used and use the money saved for the build and/or for taking more time off to use the van.

You need clearance, approach and depature angle and skill before you need 4x4.

Good luck.

 

[markley]

Thanks for the suggestion! Yeah, I've been searching but seems like used are hard to come by. Ground clearance is definitely more important to me at this point (which sways me to a sprinter). If only I could find a 2008 used without a ton of miles...

 

[Bbasso]

Maybe something like this?
http://advrider.com/index.php?threa...350-hr-el-3-2l-motovan.1195659/#post-31243851

 

[willywalderbeast]

Back to your original question, I was in the same boat as you. Same budget and needs/wants. After looking at sprinters, transits, busses, ambos, etc. I made a decision on a Chinook. Having had it for 6months now and two cross country trips, I'm glad I went this route over anything else. Cheap to maintain V10, E350 Chassis so lifts and 4x4 conversions are available (I decided on just a 6" lift opposed to 4x4), much cheaper then a new van that would still need 10-15k camper fit out. You can get a nice Chinook for about 20k. Then use the other 20k on updates/mods etc. Thats the route I went, said and done with my interrior renovations, upgraded solar and other systems, 08+ front end swap, 6" Weldtec lift, front and rear bumpers, tires, rack, etc. and a full respray I'll be into mine for under 40k and will have a very nice rig capable of getting me off the beaten path while still having all the amenities. Check out my thread for more info http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/167170-E350-Chinook-Build

 

[markley]

Back to your original question, I was in the same boat as you. Same budget and needs/wants. After looking at sprinters, transits, busses, ambos, etc. I made a decision on a Chinook. Having had it for 6months now and two cross country trips, I'm glad I went this route over anything else. Cheap to maintain V10, E350 Chassis so lifts and 4x4 conversions are available (I decided on just a 6" lift opposed to 4x4), much cheaper then a new van that would still need 10-15k camper fit out. You can get a nice Chinook for about 20k. Then use the other 20k on updates/mods etc. Thats the route I went, said and done with my interrior renovations, upgraded solar and other systems, 08+ front end swap, 6" Weldtec lift, front and rear bumpers, tires, rack, etc. and a full respray I'll be into mine for under 40k and will have a very nice rig capable of getting me off the beaten path while still having all the amenities. Check out my thread for more info http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/167170-E350-Chinook-Build

Very Nice! Yeah, I haven't really considered a Chinook. I guess finding one may be difficult? I'll have to keep my eye out...any suggestions on where to look to find one?

Thanks!