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If you’re looking into purchasing your own van and you’re stuck between choosing one of the classics or a newer transit/sprinter there are 3 major things to consider: your budget, your knowledge of cars and mechanics/your willingness to deal with mechanical issues, and what your future plans are for the vehicle.Tackling the first two points together, your budget and knowledge of mechanics come hand in hand when thinking about purchasing a vehicle to convert. If you have zero knowledge of cars, it’s safe to say that the newer the vehicle the better. However, if you’re willing to deal with mechanical issues and want to purchase a cheaper van, you could still consider an older model. Some common problems that older vehicles have are with their starter, alternator, or batteries and can typically be easy to fix with a Youtube video and basic tools.
Our first van purchase was a 1991 Chevy G-20 that we demo-ed and built out on our own and it lasted us a full year of adventures with minimal issues. That being said, it’s not always the case that older cars are such a breeze to work with. Because we knew what to look for and listen to while searching for the right vehicle and test driving them out, we had a better chance of getting a hassle-free van. Companies like Lemonsquad (https://lemonsquad.com/) can help you with this process by providing a service of car inspections so that if you’re not great with cars, you can still have the peace of mind that a professional has taken a look at it before you buy it. Newer vans will always have the advantage of having a clean slate but it could definitely be part of your adventure journey to rehab an oldie!
Another major thing to consider when purchasing a new or old van is what your plans are for the van and if you’re looking to build it out or not. Most companies will not take partially or fully built vans because of the amount of work and liability involved in demo-ing or working with existing setups. Some sell their own van while others will accept only specific van models that are completely empty. Here at Ventura Van Builds, we will take your van in any state to build it out according to your goals and your budget. So if you’ve purchased a van that is not accepted by other companies, fill out a quote with us and we’d be happy to help you!
On a final note, encourage you to make sure that you do your due diligence and talk to the builder you’re hoping to hire before purchasing your van so that you’re on the same page as them and don’t make any mistakes purchasing the wrong type of van. We very often get clients that have purchased the wrong type of van or an already built van and were then turned away from multiple companies because of that. While we are happy to accept the business, we know that a number of people have purchased vans because of certain Youtube videos or influencers and then feel that they made a mistake. There’s no harm in reaching out to companies beforehand and asking for advice or a consultation and it could save you a lot of money and time.