Van Purchase Tips

So…you’ve decided….you want to buy a van. Buying a van is exciting and scary and puts a sparkle in your eye. You’ve been thinking about it for a while and have finally made the decision to take the leap. Now the search begins in earnest as you look for your dream van on Craigslist, FB Marketplace, Offerup, Edmunds, ISeeCars, CARFAX, etc. The ads give lots of details and the pictures almost say a thousand words. How do you sift through it all and make the comparisons? AGM or lithium? Shower or no shower? Composting toilet or bucket? Windows, insulation, soundproofing, water tanks, heating, cooling, garage or not, and the list goes on:

You are about to plunk down a lot of money so now is the time to have a critical eye to make the best decision you can about your new home on wheels. Hopefully the considerations below from our experience will help you make an informed new dream purchase. Click on Parts I, II, & III below.

I have also posted a checklist to use in conjunction with the information posted in this section. It is is my hope that you find this useful. Please let me know anything that you see that I should add. I want this to be useful to folks looking to buy a completed van. I am also in the process of posting the build of my van. It will give you some insight to the decisions I made, materials purchased, and the build details that you may want to look for as well.