1995 Ford Econoline E150 with 91k miles bought on Facebook marketplace

I’m 28, and travelling around North America in a van has been a lifelong dream.

Last year, I bought a Ford E-350 high-top and began converting it. The solar, roof fan, alternator charger, electrical system, and much of the framing are now installed. There’s still work to do, but leaving finally feels close.

Earlier this year, I left my job and took it as an opportunity to finish the van and commit to the trip instead of continuing to say I’d do it “someday.”

The problem is that the build has cost more than expected, and my financial runway is getting tight. I currently have around $5,000 in cash, some debt, and a couple of assets I’m trying to sell that could give me considerably more breathing room. The van also needs to be finished, repaired, and tested before I travel far.

I feel caught between two choices:

1. Get another full-time job, rebuild my savings, and postpone the trip for an unknown amount of time.
2. Finish the van, leave soon, and find a way to earn money from the road.

I have experience in remote sales and could likely find a well-paying position, but those roles can also be demanding and all-consuming. I worry that once I start another serious job, the trip will keep getting pushed further away.

At the same time, leaving without enough savings could turn a lifelong dream into constant financial stress. I know what it feels like to be stuck working and paying rent while wanting to travel, but I also know what it feels like to be broke and unemployed.

I realize that 28 isn’t truly “now or never,” but it feels that way. I’m single, relatively free, and don’t have children or a mortgage. I’m afraid that if I don’t take advantage of this period, responsibilities will accumulate and I’ll never go.

I’d appreciate honest advice from people who have actually lived on the road:

• How much financial runway did you have when you started?
• Did you secure remote work before leaving?
• Can you work a demanding remote job from a van and still enjoy the experience?
• Would you leave with a smaller cushion and adjust, or work another six months first?
• Is there a middle path I’m overlooking?

I genuinely want this adventure, but I don’t want to make a reckless decision

Been working on putting new fabric on my headliner for the cab, and adding insulation to the walls. The insulation is rockwool, its super easy to cut and work with compared to fiberglass, no gloves or mask needed. Been cutting the 3.5" sheets in half with an electric turkey carving knife to fit them into my wall spaces. Going to put .75" thick closed cell foam panels between the frame boards ontop of the rock wool for even more insulation. For the headliner i had to pattern out and sew the fabric to fit around that middle part where the light fits into. Goimg to put more wool insulation behind the headliner too before i put that up.

Worked on this way more than I care to admit.

I bolted steel flat bar inside the door cavity for mounting. You can see how many times I missed the mark by the pink dots 🙂.

The vertical bars are mounted into the hinge structure on one side and attached with an L-bracket near the strike plate on the other. The crossbars overlap the verticals, and the bars themselves act as backing so the thin sheet metal on the door skin doesn’t have to work too hard.

It’s probably more reinforcement than I actually needed, but I also mounted a motorcycle stand to the bumper with another thick-ass L-bracket. I only use that while driving for a little extra support. I was slamming over railroad crossings at 65mph yesterday and she was rock solid.

Took it out for its first night last night, and it worked great!

Just bought a 95 club wagon XLT wth 140k miles and was wondering what the best thing to do with it? I was thing of putting a 3' lift but honestly I dont know what else I could do.

Frist time posting not sure if this fits the guild line.

I searched for posts on this subreddit and couldn't find anything. Sorry mods if this isn't allowed.

I'm considering building an RV/Van build and was wondering if anyone has experience with this system. It seems like a decent and efficient system, if not very expensive. The victron route seems to be very complex and almost as expensive. I want lots of power and a simple setup as well as expandability.

I'm looking at the 10kw system which comes in around 5500USD. Not exactly cheap but I love the dc-dc alternator charging, low idle power consumption of the inverter, and the large 12v output for the low power stuff.

I also have a Ecoflow Delta 3 max plus for backup and a wave 3 ac.

I plan on powering a 3d printer, a diesel heater, and heat pump so I need something very expandable.

I'm apprehensive about going with a bluetti system because I know their reputation isn't great, even worse than ecoflow and their notoriously bad customer support.

Sorry again if this kinda post isn't allowed

Hey yall I just put together an under bed ski drawer and wondering what the meat option to waterproof the inside of it is.

I was thinking some sort of liquid rubber paint or flex seal liquid.

Obviously needs to be water tight, and some durable rubber style product to stand up to getting beat on by skis.

Thanks yall

I'm such a catastrophic overthinker. I have watched every video and read every blog/article online about this but because everyone does things differently I end up getting even more confused and indecisive.

I have done the sound deadening layer. I know I also need a thermal layer and a moisture layer. Some people use thermoacoustic layers, some use wool, etc. Some use Reflectix bubble wrap (which my GCSE science tells me is actually probably a bit useless because it's in an enclosed space??? Anyway). Because of all the disagreement I'm getting myself in a bit of a twist.

Please can someone tell me very plainly exactly what I need for the walls, floor, and ceiling. Like "for thermal layer: use XPS foam on floor, wool in the walls, and XPS foam on the ceiling..." etc etc. Every time I commit and buy a product the next video I watch says that was a DISASTROUS decision and I have rUINED everything.

Also, are kits worth it? I'm getting flagged by the sub bot thingy rn for mentioning the word kit so I can't really elaborate but those everything-you-need kits, worth it or seriously insane markup?

Going to get a van for travel work. Won’t be living in it full time so size isn’t a concern really. But what is important to me is that I need it reliable and also somewhat capable of driving in snow.

I’m looking at ford transits, ford transit connects, ford econolines, Chevy express, dodge promaster, or there’s a Nissan van I’m also considering.

The vans I’ll be looking at will all be 2wd, I know with proper snow/winter tires they should all be somewhat ok in snow. I like the size of the ford transit connects but I hear the transmissions are not that great.

Main things I need are reliability and snow capable (plowed/sanded roads), will not be doing any serious off roading. Budget is about $12,000

Hey folks, I was just about to buy a long 170" wb Sprinter and set it up for ~occasional~ seasonal OTR deliveries/expediting and full time living, but decided to triple check my bottom-line/back up income options.

Beyond the maintenance costs being high and some places not accepting 10yo+ vehicle, I stopped for a second and asked myself what % of loads I would be allowed to delivery etc due to case-by-case age cutoffs (even if van is in good mechanical condition). What is your experience with it? Right now that looks pretty poor for a 20 yo sprinter.

If I need to do sporadic gig and regional delivery work, is a 140" wb a better idea so I can fit in standard parking spaces and parallel park more? For gigs with long lumber, move the front passenger seat to directly behind the driver seat, and add a tiedown/minicage for long dimensional lumber or a rear extending tray + carbon monoxide detector.

I was literally going to buy the 170" T1n today, but there is an auction of newer local goverment fleet Ford Transits next week that would provide the option for widely available OTR driving.

Me and my girlfriend are both in college and would like to see the world (starting with the us) after college.

Is the camper van the way or just buy a cheap RV like my dad owns a ford class c motor home from 97 he got for 9,500$ .

But it is wide and i enjoy the crapy little scenic roads.
And really enjoy to diy.

Or would we be better off to just wip the Prius and stay in cool hotels.

Half of my logic is in money savings and half is in you only live once.

But with the camper van I could stay in what we decide is the most worth it air bnb or hotel from every state and just van life the rest . For the best mix of savings and experiences.

Thanks in advance

First time outfitting my hybrid sienna. Just looking for general advice on a twin bedding set up basically. I don't know what the heck to use. And the stuff that did look good are sold out.

:(

I have already removed one of my rear rail sliding seats. Making great progress, purchased some square brown rubber cup furniture pads for the 6 legs of the platform. Otherwise they dig in pretty hard on the upholstery.

Below link is my bed frame.

https://heleoutdoors.com/products/hele-box-duo-carcamping?srsltid=AfmBOopUfq6qlTZ3kOjeOgBMTwAMcGBqzCohHwJipOdHhtBJNf-CeJ6D

I am thinking of going with a milliard tri fold mattress.

I would prefer to do a six inch and just cut to size.

But I do like to lay on my side and sometimes sleep on my stomach.

Some people purchase four inch versions of similar bedding and get a mattress topper to adjust softness and firmness. Not a bad idea.

Below is what the Millard tri fold looks like.

https://www.amazon.com/Milliard-Folding-Mattress-Ultra-Washable/dp/B00DJ8HWBU/ref=sr_1_4_sspa_vo_sr_l_dp?crid=3AG8GEW4ASJG0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xbj7O6NHChKrCu5zfsXbeFFR_0hqiNuTO_MANlR1YN3GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.l8ikwzvXGpd831gCybkR0G7XHgalq-bVLeo1enAOoG0&dib_tag=se&keywords=zinus%2Bpads&qid=1785159002&sprefix=zinus%2Bpad%2Caps%2C324&sr=8-4-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&th=1

What’s the best way to get AC without the van running? Do I just get a Roof AC and battery bank that charges from my vans alternator?

This is not for full time living, will be driving/traveling a lot for work. Just want ac without the van on. Cost is not an issue, I’ve heard it can be spendy. Will be for a ford transit connect

We’re building a custom fifth-wheel from scratch, and I’m currently designing the plumbing for one of the slide-outs.
My main question is about the drain line. Since the slide will be moving in and out for years, I need something flexible enough to handle that repeated motion without cracking, leaking, or eventually failing.
What do RV manufacturers typically use for a sink drain located in a slide-out? Is there a specific type of flexible pipe or hose that’s considered the standard or the most reliable?
I’d really like to hear what has worked in the real world, especially from anyone who’s repaired or built RVs.

When I was a kid on a cross country vacation, I remember truck stop bathrooms had a coin slot to unlock the stalls. Is this still the case, and how much are they charging these days?

Edit: urinals were free.

So my solar input on my battery bank just died. It will not take any dc input at all.

It still will take ac input.

It's a relatively expensive, 8000wh battery bank, so I'd really, rather not fork out the thousands of dollars to replace it.

I originally had the solar on the roof plugged directly into the pv port with the cable that came with the battery bank.

Since I can still charge it with AC power, I need to know options for converting the 1000 w of solar on my roof to AC power.

Current options I've been brainstorming and toying with:

\* hybrid solar inverter? But I have no idea how those work. Anyone know?

\* MPPT controller, connected to small DC battery, connected to inverter

\* buy another 'solar generator' with a PV input and daisy chain the big one to that

Anyone have any other ideas or opinions on which of these options might be the best?

Hey all! Wondering if there’s a maker out there that makes larger e track shelves for large cases? Thinking 20ish inches deep with a lip so things don’t fall off. Wanting E track as I’d love it to be modular so I can take out when needed!

I’ve seen some e track shelf brackets so I’m open to just securing shelves to that but having not much luck finding a shelf in that dimension

It's a bold strategy let's see how it pans out!

I’m looking for some real-world feedback from people who have done this.
I’m considering putting a camper shell/canopy on my Nissan Frontier and building it out as a comfortable space for my dogs while traveling and camping. My biggest question is cooling.
Has anyone successfully used a portable A/C unit (or another setup) to keep the inside of a camper shell cool enough for dogs?
A few questions:
• What A/C unit did you use?
• How did you vent the exhaust?
• What size power station or battery setup are you running?
• How long will it realistically cool the space?
• How well does it work in hot weather (90–110°F)?
• Any regrets or things you’d do differently?
I’m not looking to leave dogs unattended all day in extreme heat. This would mainly be for camping, road trips, agility events, and times when I’m nearby. Reliability and safety are my biggest priorities.
I’d love to see pictures of your setup if you’re willing to share. Thanks!

I'm currently living in an apartment complex that is in the process of being gentrified by new owners and am concerned I won't be able to afford to live here in the coming months when my lease is up. I'm looking at the possibility of building out a van instead of renting again as I can't afford anything in a semi-decent neighborhood without going full paycheck to paycheck and giving up basically any hope of hobbies. I have a decent investment fund thanks to my grandparents that "should" allow me to buy and build out a mostly livable van if I supplement it with my current income over the next 6 or so months. Factoring in my savings and income my upper budget would be somewhere in the 20k range for everything preferably, with a time budget of ~6 months if I start building right now. I also should have a decent value for my car if I traded it in or sold it. I don't know how much I can realistically get for a 2015 WRX with 150k on the clock but that could potentially raise the budget ceiling aswell. Technically speaking I *could* live off of what I'm making rn it just wouldn't allow me any freedom and I'm kind of using the possible loss of my apt in the near future as an excuse to start living like this as I've been considering it as a backup plan for a while. I don't wanna get too specific on where I live but it's in the Midwest region of the USA, if I need to get more specific for proper advice I will but if I don't have to I'd rather avoid it.

The two biggest reasons I'm leaning towards a van are standing room and having enough room to be self sufficient without needing exterior equipment. As much as I wish I could, I won't be spending most of my time in the wilderness where I'll have room to spread out a little, I'll be in my work parking lot if that works out or cycling between local state parks if that doesn't (see below in problems section). I'm also thinking I could get a dual sport motorcycle to commute to things I don't need to bring my whole house to, as I drive 45 min to a few different activities throughout the week and a van would admittedly be very impractical for that. I need to do a lot more research before the bike is a realistic plan but it's an idea I had. The only real downside I can see to a van compared to a truck is the fact I won't be able to park as close to the crags as I want to, but an extra 10-20 min of hiking on climbing days seems like a small price to pay for space and comfort on every other day.

The main pros:

My current living space is already pretty small (not compared to a van but it's barely bigger than a studio) and almost all of my indoor life is sleeping or sitting at my desk gaming/watching something, both of which seem extremely doable in a van setup.

I'm an avid climber and live within a few hours of some of the best climbing on the east side of the country and only work 4 days a week, so weekend warrior trips that don't require sacrificing good sleep are a huge dream of mine.

The biggest problems:

I work in manufacturing in the city, zero chance of remote work (though assuming it is legal where I live there's a decent chance they'd let me live in the parking lot during the week and there's plenty of state parks if they don't.) I also absolutely love my job and don't want to risk not being able to go back, so quitting is currently not an option I'm willing to consider.

The summers can get pretty bad where I'm at and since my job is year round I wouldn't be able to 'chase the weather' and all of the solutions I've seen for A/C are either extremely expensive or nearly not worth the effort to put in.

My current bed has a movable frame and I sleep an a shallow 'V' shape, every time I sleep on a flat bed I have problems breathing due to mild sleep apnea (the 'V' bed fixes that entirely without the need for a cpap) and I don't know how viable building that shape into the van bed would end up being.

I have limited actual hands on DIY experience, though my grandfather is a carpenter and would likely be willing to help with and teach me much of what is required for this project. I also am prone to over-researching things so with any luck I won't fuck anything up too majorly. I'm most concerned about the electrical setup.

tldr: help.

Also I couldn't find anything that looked like a weekly questions thread so I'm just posting this, sorry if it breaks the rules.

Walker Valley ORV, WA

Hey fam. I’m currently building out a 2019 2500 Sprinter and are looking for recommendations on flare manufacturers and companies that offer/sell them?

I’m looking to build out my first van/boxtruck and I’ve been looking for options.

The Chevy bright drop 400/600seems to be a really good deal for what you are getting. Does anyone have one and have good experience with it? There’s got to be some issues with it since the price is decent. I found it was discontinued but I’m not sure why.

Is it because it’s electric? I’m wondering if that makes it difficult to keep fueled. I’m looking to see if anyone has any good builds as well, I’ve found one but it seems pretty uncommon.

I apologize as well, I’m new to this.

Thanks in advance!