"When buying a used vehicle. Inspect. Know what to look for and what to ask. Come prepared with a list of specific questions. Take your time. Bring a mechanic friend to help inspect! Test everything."

[I promise the rest of these wont be this long]

- I did a lot of research and consideration when I decided to dive into #VanLife. There was so much to consider! Buying a new vs used vehicle. Brand. Model. Year. Entry price point vs expected fuel economy. Built or to-be-built. Availability of parts. Availbility of service centers around the US. Difficulty of repairs / part replacement. Et cetera et cetera.

Initially, I was a bit crazy and I started researching the specifics of building a custom van with an electric powertrain/drivetrain.... I went deep into the EV forums and crammed my head with new information and also looked at companies that already had commercial electric vans for rent to see what was possible from an engineering standpoint. The expected pricetag and time commitment for this build was a bit staggering.

So I chickened out and started researching the Sprinters.

I read a ton, starting with the new vs used arguments. Essentially, new = working, but expensive entry cost, prone to crippling failure without an EGR delete (more on this later), and expensive/complicated to repair with a sparse network of repair shops that would even touch it or be able to order parts for you to wait weeks for.

Then used, you'd want to buy prior to 2007 when the EPA introduced the stricter emmissions regulations that sort of crippled diesels manufactured and sold in the US. Pre-2007 means high, high mileage. While these vehicles are notorious for pushing 600k miles, you just never know what kind of dramatic issues and wear that you may be inheriting.

Out of curiosity, and after calling various Mercedes dealerships around the US, I found that the one closest to home in California had the best deals and rebates. I drove to the Laguna Mercedes dealership and looked at a brand new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter high roof cargo van with the intention to build it out from scratch. But the best that the dealer could do was around $41,000 for a basic high roof box on wheels. That was simply much too much, regardless of the expected savings in future fuel costs and consumption because of the efficient diesel engine.

I encountered this article warning against the Mercedes Sprinters, new or old, altogether. I brought up all of the points in the article to the Laguna dealer. They were aware of the article and they could not dispute the points that the author brought up. So, I bailed on the Sprinters.

So I looked at the comparable high roof versions of the Ford Transit, the Nissan NV, and the Dodge Ram ProMaster, but they were all around the same price for what I wanted - an empty canvas, a basic box on wheels. The entry cost was just TOO HIGH. I still had the unknown but most likely $10,000+ cost of building my sustainable tiny home on wheels.

If I were to buy a sub $10,000 used, American-made, gas-guzzling vehicle, say 9 mpg... at $2.00 / gallon for fuel PLUS expected repairs with cheaper, plentiful replacement parts that could be worked on at a huge network of mechanics all throughout the US, it would take me *pulls out calculator...tap tap tap tap* .....a REALLY long time to even approach the entry cost of that Mercedes Sprinter.

I found a great article written by a long-time vanlifer. He essentially said:

HEY YOU. YOU THERE. GOING CRAZY WITH INFORMATION OVERLOAD. READ THIS! Don't worry about finding the perfect van right away. Don't worry about the build or the floor plan. Don't worry about any of that. Just see if van life is right for you first. I've been doing this for a LONG time. Think I still have the van I started with? No. I've gone through at least 6 new, start-from-scratch builds and each time I start over, I know better what I can live with and without...what is nice to have vs what I must have. So, throw a mattress in the back of a beater and go camping. Hell, go sleep in the car you already have. See if VAN LIFE is right for you. Then go from there... Don't worry about having the most perfect, future-proof vehicle on your first try.

So, after taking a few deep breaths, I hopped on Craiglist to look for a cheaper, used vehicle. I found myself in an aggressive, fast-paced, piranha-filled used van market. Good listings disappeared within the first few hours they were posted. I chased a few seemingly GREAT deals, but ultimately had them sold from under my nose, probably because I asked too many questions right off the bat.

Then I found my van...

In my research and used van searching and forum hopping, I had become familiar with the van conversion company called Sportsmobile and sort of associated the name with....very nice floor plans and builds and thoughtful craftsmanship from experienced RV, motorhome, and vehicle-dwelling veterans....and $$$$$.

Sportsmobiles, new/used/whatever, were always VERY expensive. Like for retirees who didn't want a big ol honking class C RV but wanted all the luxeries that typically come inside said bohemeth.

The fact that this was 1) nearby 2) a very new listing 3) a SPORTSMOBILE conversion!!! 4) sub $10,000 5) seemingly immaculate interior 6) low mileage ..... I mean it seemed perfect, and it sort of was.

I called the guy right away and told him I wanted to come see it. He said he'd been getting a lot of calls already but no one asked to see it yet.

I drove over to Rancho Cucamonga with Julie and my little "used vehicle inspection list" and met the guy and saw the van. It looked great. Little bit of surface rust and chipped paint. It was an old vehicle. The inside was as immaculate as it seemed in the pictures and I was already in love and knew I was leaving with the van.

I asked him if he knew of any issues mechanically and of course he said, "None that I know of! It was owned by my grandparents and they rarely used it. It's been parked for a bit, but we drive it up to Big Bear now and then. Runs great!"

So I asked for a test drive and off we went. It drove great. Sold. And straight to the mechanic.

Manny the mechanic and my new best friend for the coming months did an initial assessment and that's when my never-ending? van fix list began.

So...to wrap this up....Drive it around the block. Accelerate and brake hard. Make sure the odometer and spedometer is working. Test cruise control. Ask about fuel economy. Listen for chirps and taps and cracks and anything that could be something. Ask about it.

Inspect the tires and any exposed rubber for wear and dry rot. Check all the gauges and error lights. Check for rust ....EVERYWHERE.

Check seals and gaskets on doors and windows. LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE.

Test everything that uses electricity, speakers, radio, cabin lights, headlights, brakes, turn signals, power windows and locks. If it's a conversion, check the "house" electrical applicances. Look closely for areas that look like water has come in ...water-stained wood is a good indication.

I'll stop there.

Lesson Learned.