Trading thumb for a caravan

[Coast2Coast305]

I’m sick of waiting for rides, sleeping in the rain, and counting on others. I have been hitching/hopping for a few years but I’m trading it all in to travel in a minivan. I want to gut it, and convert it into living quarters.
I wanted a larger conversion van, but with gas prices i've settled on a mini van. After talking to a few mechanics who've told me Dodge is the way to go, because there are tons of caravans in every town if parts are needed. The gas in an older camper van gets 13 to 15 mpg if you’re lucky. The caravans get 20 to 26 mpg (96&newer). That adds up when we talk coast to coast. I've made a lot of connections over the years and have learned how to find work anywhere so gas should not be an issue. I think I'll save some money, having cooking capabilities as well. Little microwave if i can figure out how to make a converter & a flat grill or 2 burner stove, even a fridgerator.
I have found a few example of some pretty nice conversions on the web.
cheaprvliving.com has a few, with how to's
I am down in Gainesville FL workin a job for now. Found a nice caravan for $2300. Wanna make sure I have a some extra cash before I head out in case I encounter “issues” along the way. Hope to be out early April.
Well. I guess i will be the one picking up the hitchers now, instead of waiting for a ride. To all you hitchers, there's one more potential ride out there. Safe travels

Peace, Chuck

[ceo]

Coat 2 coast,
Dodge/chrysler mini vans are the perfect size and good milage; but be cautious because the transmissions are the most common week point. I had one 2 years ago and I had to scrap it because the trans went ( too much to fix/couldn't find a used one in better shape). Most are electronic controls for everything and are expensive to fix/rebuild. I figured I would let you know. Good luck. Peace.

CEO

[Raus]

1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager is one of the most reliable minivans you can get. We pulled the seats out of the back and built a pretty nice bed. Built the frame in two pieces and for easy in and out. Once they are in I bolt them together. We form cut plywood to fit perfectly in the back and if you use a few pieces then it is easier to use the underneath as storage. (You don't have to rip your whole bed out to reach a certain section.
We made it high enough to use rubbermaid containers for storage underneath. If you're really good you can get a piece of thick foam and form cut it to fit the back as your mattress. We lived in that van for a few weeks in Florida, and for a few weeks in NY while apartment searching. It was perfect for Walmart camping.
You don't have to get that fancy with a stove. Just get a little camping stove that uses those small propane tanks. They cost a couple of bucks a piece at Walmart and if you are just cooking for yourself they will last a while.
I would imagine if you got too fancy with fridge, microwave, and stove, then the back of a minivan would get pretty crowded....

Just my thoughts as a fellow van camper....

[Coast2Coast305]

Ceo & Raus,

Thanks for the input. One of the mechanics i spoke to in town told me to find a caravan that has already had tranny rebuilt. I think i'm gonna wait on buying the van i saw til i find one that has had the trans, the AC, shocks, replaced or worked on already. Seems like those are the big issues with the 96 to 01 models.

Peace, Chuck

[Egypst]

hey there, just wanted to throw in some encouragement for the caravan. I recently bought a dodge caravan, it's a 2000 with almost 200k miles now. I bought it in Kansas, and drove north to the great lakes and than west all the way to Long Island. It was a good 30 hour drive, I went straight through with absolutely no problems, and got between 22 and 40 mpg the whole way. I brought it in to my mechanic after I got here, and other than some basic fluid refreshments, the van did fine.

since than I've taken the middle row of seats out, rugged it, and prepared it with the road necessaries. I didn't do a lot of research before, i had just started my hunt for a car and this one just fell into my lap. it's been the best accident I could have asked for. I definitely reccommend it.

[SteveK]

Have you guys looked into diesel vehicles, and converting it to use veggie oil? Once I get older or (Universe forbid) quit hitching, i'm probably going for a diesel short-bus. Lots of room for your gear, use a hammock for a bed, could install some solar panels on the roof for when i'm off the road for a while, and the veggie oil saves a LOT of costs.

[TheWindAndRain]

I got a ride in Texas from a guy with a oil conversion truck. He had a 50 gallon drum built into the bed of the truck for his oil. The car quit running several times while on the highway, and I felt slightly endangered.

[RangerChris]

Cooking oil can be processed into bio diesel cheaply, if its done properly it can be reliable.