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I see the van-life guru Bob Wells recommends Chevy/GMC vans (or Fords with the inline-6 engine).
That makes sense to me... body-on-frame construction, rear-wheel drive... they ought to be robust,
and easy to fix when something does break. Judging by some online reviews I've seen,
Dodge Promasters have endless problems.
I see the van-life guru Bob Wells recommends Chevy/GMC vans (or Fords with the inline-6 engine).
That makes sense to me... body-on-frame construction, rear-wheel drive... they ought to be robust,
and easy to fix when something does break. Judging by some online reviews I've seen,
Dodge Promasters have endless problems.
My Ford v6 had 160,000 miles on it when I bought it, now has 230,000 miles on it. Only major work I've had done is brakes and shocks. Runs great.
Between sliding side doors and hinged ones.... is there any reason to prefer one over the other?
Hinged doors are simpler, of course. Do sliding doors ever get stuck or jammed?
Between sliding side doors and hinged ones.... is there any reason to prefer one over the other?
Hinged doors are simpler, of course. Do sliding doors ever get stuck or jammed?
My 20-yo sliding door does this thing once in a while where the latch mechanism doesn't properly latch when I'm closing it. Then I have to use a solid part of my anatomy on a particular area on the door to 'butt' it back into place. But that's the only issue I ever have with it. My observation is that in general, it's a robust mechanism.
Some people find the barn doors handier, because you can mount things on them. They're right, that is handier. OTOH, the sliding door is definitely handier when you are moving large objects in and out of your van. But either way, it's not even close to a deal breaker.
Standard roof or high roof? This, I suppose, can't help but be a matter of opinion...
but I'd be interested in hearing opinions -- how important is it to be able to stand up inside your van?
Standard roof or high roof? This, I suppose, can't help but be a matter of opinion...
but I'd be interested in hearing opinions -- how important is it to be able to stand up inside your van?
Very. I wouldn't be able to cope in a minivan, all hunched over.
Do I get crosswinds trying to push me off the road? Sure, sometimes. But it's still the best purchase I've ever made. 80k miles and counting.
Standard roof or high roof? This, I suppose, can't help but be a matter of opinion...
but I'd be interested in hearing opinions -- how important is it to be able to stand up inside your van?
I have a standard roof on my cargo van, and I am 5'3". I find not being able to stand straight up a bit annoying at times, but really, most of the time it doesn't even cross my mind.
Personally, I wouldn't like to be faced with attaching rooftop solar panels to a hightop van. So if solar is in your plans, make sure you understand this issue. People do it, but it's not as straightforward as bolting your panel to a flat metal roof.
I have a standard roof on my cargo van, and I am 5'3". I find not being able to stand straight up a bit annoying at times, but really, most of the time it doesn't even cross my mind.
Personally, I wouldn't like to be faced with attaching rooftop solar panels to a hightop van. So if solar is in your plans, make sure you understand this issue. People do it, but it's not as straightforward as bolting your panel to a flat metal roof.
I probably wouldn't do solar panels.... I'd be trying to keep things as simple and basic as possible,
and a day of driving would recharge the power unit.
Perhaps the biggest downside of a high-top van is that it might be too tall to fit through a standard garage door opening?
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another question
