& i have major 1st hand experience, doing exactly what yer gonna blow yer Brain apart, with..
things to consider:
- level of mechanical expertise.. if you can diagnose & repair in field, that has a very solid monetary equivalent.. if you are good at busking, jugging or spanging, it is close to about 2 solid weeks of good daily pulls, or more.
- budget. DO NOT let your legal stuff lapse on the vehicle.. you *can* drive a long fucking time without registration or insurance or even a license, & although i am sure you are not considering doing so, all it takes is one pull-over to seriously fuck you up..
maybe i am a coward for so asserting, but dealing with cops is the absolutely *worst* waste of time on the road, other than physical illness, being harassed by *other* violent, needy, stupid shitheads, or exposure to shitty weather, when stranded..
-- based upon how deep your desire to experience is, budget starts from foot to vehicle, and is more or less multiplied by distance/drive-time..
a van will run you 33 cents per mile a mile, minimum..
if you *really* want to pad your calcs, use use 1/2 buck per mile, & neither includes food.
1,000 miles in a *legal* well outfitted, strong, heavily geared up van will cost you $400, including paper overhead (reg & ins).
you don't actually have to *have* that $$, since you can busk, but it's a good figure to use because it can include minor expenses for flats or minor shop repairs, assuming you are not mechanically inclined & you find an honest garage..
a fucking loose fuel line will cost you $60, minimum, if you are Smiled Upon..
the thing is not that you have to run by numbers, but you do need to have an idea of what to expect from yourself on a reasonably long-haul excursion.. i mean, yeah, after you get your vehicle you can just fucking go, & see how the wind hits you, for sure.. but if you are thinking of using your van as a place to live, long term, with no place to return to, then you have to have a grip on certain practicalities...
--- if you are thinking of living in your van, long term, especially with someone else, look at getting an extended van, preferably 6 cylinders. (a hard combo to find), with less than 110K... most extended vans are 8 cylinders, & costly to drive..
if you just want a van for yourself & one other to tour in, & use as a runabout, a 4 or 6 cylinder with front wheel or all wheel drive is a good choice.. if yer after a hippy van that you can cram 6 people & 4 dogs into, ****after you rip out the seats**** (or a cargo van), & can't get an extended van, any **reasonably sound** ford, chevy or gm will do..
do not get a shit-bucket, unless it is a diesel with under 150K, or a good sounding, good feeling shit-bucket for under a grand..
shit-bucket is a highly malleable condition.. make sure the windshield is ok.. a busted windshield across the driver's view is an easy cop excuse.
if you have any friends or family who are solid, +10 years of professional or semi-professional mechanical experience, have them go all over whatever you are going to buy.. generally... very, very, very generally... if a larger van is running without a hell of a lot of noise, without pulling to the side, & rides without a lot of hard, minor vibrations & doesn't bottom out on larger bumps, you're good to go, assuming all lights work..
if you can find an old Dodge Xplorer, (yes, spelled Xplorer) from mid 70's to mid 80's or newer for a reasonable price (1500-2000$) with about 70K on it, you are probably fucking golden, unless the sacrifice of room (for the sake of self-containment.. shitter, small shower, gas stove, furnace,fridge, bed) is too much.. they are classy, classy, classy vehicles, though.. the 8 cylinder bastards only get a little better than 10mpg, so beware, but otherwise they are absolutely the *best* conversion vans to ride, other than one you do on your own..
& that's my 2 cents for the moment..
good luck!!
j
