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hoipolloi
climber
A friends backyard with the neighbors wifi
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Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 11, 2010 - 07:15pm PT
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Anyone own one?
Likes, dislikes, major problems, issues, etc?
I am in the market to possibly get one of these bad boys. I am looking at getting a used one, because they resell for quite cheap, but I worry a little as many are likely company cars, with careless employees driving them. However, they seem to resell really cheap, even with the sub-100k miles on them.
Thoughts, experience?
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willie!!!!!
Trad climber
99827
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Mar 11, 2010 - 07:29pm PT
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Fleet vehicles (white, no glass) are practically free these days.
The trick is to find a privately owned 1991 or older Econoline. With a straight six 300. 3/4 ton is best. Expect low teens MPG.
You don't even have to jack it up to change the oil or starter etc. Parts are cheap and easy to change. Many 300 sixes saw 200,000 miles.
These were my work rig of choice until I became aware of the whole "oil thing".
If it's gotta be a van, make it an Econoline.
Bruce Berry was a workin man
he used to load that econoline van..... - Neil
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euro-brief-guy
Boulder climber
Auburn, ca
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Mar 11, 2010 - 07:46pm PT
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I've got a 1999 v8 econoline that I bought new. It was a fleet vehicle that I had a custom camper conversion done to it. Drove the crap out of it when gas was cheap (15mph). Now I take it camping about twice per year.
I'm with Wes, It's a great vehicle, no problems other than the crappy gas mileage.
Anyone want to buy it?
~70,000 miles
3 way frig
propane double burner stove
fold out double bed
sink w/ water tank
lots o storage
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Mar 11, 2010 - 07:51pm PT
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The used Sportsmobile we bought is an Econoline Van. Runs great with 100,000 miles on it. Gets about 15 miles per gallon if you don't run it too hard.
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willie!!!!!
Trad climber
99827
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Mar 11, 2010 - 07:51pm PT
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I should add that 1997 and newer is OK if you got the money and don't want to fix it yourself.
92-96 sucked big time.
Barn doors! Sliders are bad.
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rich sims
Trad climber
co
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Mar 11, 2010 - 08:21pm PT
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Put 250K on my 98. I bought it used with 10K on it. With the same load my 4X4 ranger gave about the same gas millage (the ranger was always over loaded).
I may even put it back on the road if I sell my 250 4X4 and go back to two wheel drive.
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville
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Mar 11, 2010 - 09:27pm PT
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VW vans can only dream they were as big and comfy as Econos !
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elcap-pics
climber
Crestline CA
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Mar 11, 2010 - 10:11pm PT
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Ive had a few and liked them.. get a conversion van as they are cheap and nice for trips.
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Chinchen
climber
Anacortes, wa
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Mar 11, 2010 - 10:43pm PT
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The year my brother graduated high school we both decided to go work at Crystal mountain here in Washington for the winter. After building a bunk in the back of his new econoline and outfitting ourselves for the winter months we started the drive from Bremerton to the mountain, only about 2 hours away...
My brother had procured the van, a mid 70's version with a three on the tree clutch just a few weeks before.
About the time we passed through Enumclaw third gear went out....we soldiered on knowing that if we could just make it to the hill we would be good. Once on the winding road up to the mountain second gear went....
We crawled into the parking lot, picked a spot up against the snowbank and parked the old beast.
She never drove again, to our knowledge. After a few coooold weeks eating top ramen and tortillas over our whisperlite we both quickly found girlfriends in the dorms. After a particularly big snowstorm we never saw the poor beast again....
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miwuksurfer
Social climber
Missoula
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Mar 11, 2010 - 11:17pm PT
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Do it. I have a 2000 with about 120k. I ride my bike to work, so its mostly a cragging/road trip vehicle. I moved to Montana a couple years ago and was worried about not having 4wd, but I just bought some studded tires and some kick-ass chains for winter. Everybody makes fun of it until we take a road trip then they all want to buy one themselves.
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Graham N
Social climber
temecula
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Mar 11, 2010 - 11:30pm PT
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Our 98 was bought at 35K miles and now has 366K on it. One engine replacement at 250k. A BEAST.
I usually take the seats out of it if im going on a long trip but still only get about 13mpg. Its the 7.5 liter v8.
My advice, find a diesel v8. gets about 15mpg and you can run veggie and get your fuel cheaper (provided you stocked up before your trip).
Just wish there was a pop top available that wasnt from sportsmobile. that roof needs to be higher.
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willie!!!!!
Trad climber
99827
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Mar 11, 2010 - 11:35pm PT
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There's always the 1ton 4x4 extendo Clubwagon. Econo's big brother.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
mun jae upso yo
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Mar 12, 2010 - 12:20am PT
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Singer had a big ol' van, once upon a time.
Conn did, too.
Fords. They were nice.
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willie!!!!!
Trad climber
99827
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Mar 12, 2010 - 12:41am PT
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Yup. I don't drive mine much anymore. I still have the 4x4 to move large items, but I mostly operate out of a corrola these days.
For well over a decade, I fired one up every morning. I've swapped that starter out at least six times. I can't even find the starter on the corrola! I'm not kidding. I've got the new starter in my hand ($200!), and I literally can't find the old one in there! Parking on a slope works really well here.
I left home in an Econoline. I love 'em. Hell, I like the word itself, ECONOLINE. Awesome.
Too bad we were never supposed to drive, eh?
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Mar 12, 2010 - 01:36am PT
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My 1969 E300 Ford Econoline 1-ton is still sitting out in front of my house and runs quite nicely thank you. Has a 302 V-8 that is exactly the same as the early Mustangs so there are tons of spare parts everywhere in the country. Just used it this afternoon to haul my bicycle out of town to a good riding spot about 5 miles away at the Redwood City-Woodside border. You can cook in it, eat in it, sleep in it and stay warm and dry in it. Only problem now is that it seems to attrack Da Heat. This summer the Redwood City Sheriffs boxed me in and checked my ID three times. They must figure I'm a transient or an illegal. But it's so easy to work on that if it weren't for the lousy gas mileage I'd keep it forever.
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Bowser
Trad climber
Red River NM
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Mar 12, 2010 - 01:36am PT
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We used to have a '65 econoline. Three on the tree, six between the front seats. My wife used to drive it from Durango to Purgatory for work. It took some getting used to sitting so close to the front of the vehicle.
The passengers used to argue who got to sit on the motor to stay warm. If you pushed too hard on the brakes the pedal would "snap" to the floor and lock up all 4 brakes.
We never saw any others like it, it had barn doors on both sides and the back. We ended up selling it to some hippies for 300$ back about '97 or so. I wish we would have kept it. Dam, I don't even have any pictures....
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Mar 12, 2010 - 01:44am PT
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I have a 2001 150 Econo. small V8. got it new as a stripped utility van and put in floor, insulation, panelling, extra window, bed and extra seat. 15 to 17 mpg if you drive carefully and slowly. 130k miles so far and only one real mechanical problem with it. the "Ignition Coils" (one on each spark plug) go bad. I replaced one at the dealer which cost a lot. over $300 if I recall. If you had to replace them all that adds up. But so far the rest are holding in there, although one misses occasionally on cold mornings.
The other hassle is to even change the spark plugs is a big pain. Again a dealer charges over $400 because they are so hard to get to. As a result I'm still running the originals. Other than that everything's been working fine.
I used to have a Toyota Tundra. By comparison the bodywork on Fords is sh#t, the doors are crocked, the windshield sprayer aims the wrong way. stupid stuff like that. But now its close to 10 yrs old and I've had little problem with it so I don't complain.
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waulrat
Big Wall climber
Santa Rosa, CA
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Mar 12, 2010 - 03:17am PT
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well I have to say, I'm not much of a Ford fan, although my good buddy had one for his first vehicle. It was a 1988 and it ran like a champion! It had at least 400,000 miles on it, with out a SINGLE problem. (his father ran it as a delivery van for his cabinet company) We went on tons of surf trips, climbing trips, and late night excursions to in & out. Complete with a couch in the back and a nice little sound system we installed, it was quite the van. So all in all, I would recommend it to anyone.
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Juan Maderita
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Mar 12, 2010 - 05:36am PT
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Econoline? Hell yeah! Suits my needs perfectly. They are real trucks on a beefy frame, not some undersized uni-body wannabe. Not into compromising, I have 4 vehicles, each with a designated purpose. I'm on my third 4WD Ford van, this one an E350 (1 ton) Super Van (extended), luxury passenger conversion, V10, Warn 12,000 lb. winch, locking differentials, onboard air compressor, custom springs damped by Rancho adjustable shocks.
Gas mileage is hideous (sub 10 mpg), thanks in part to a heavy right foot, but that is not much of a concern for me. The fun of each trip distracts from the pain at the pump. Savings comes from commuting to work with a 4 cyl. mini-truck. What other vehicle can take 10 of your best friends plus their gear to Baja, eat up dirt roads and relish the 4WD sections, is able to tow a 20' enclosed trailer and dune buggy over the mountains without breaking a sweat, haul unlimited amounts of gear, and have a comfortable full-size fold down bed with the touch of a button at the end of the day?
If economy is a major factor, then a gas engine full-size van is not for you.
If you need a full size van and expect to drive a lot of highway miles, then a diesel engine might be considered for the MPG benefit (approx 50%).
Engines and engine management systems have come a long way from the 80s/early 90s. Depending upon where you live, passing smog tests can be of critical importance. Modern engine management (computer controlled fuel injection and ignition) is cleaner and will make good power at altitude. I'd second the idea of a 1997, or newer, van.
Happiest in the Sierra de Juárez, Baja:
Full-sized base camp theater:
Plenty of room for two Norwegian families and camping/climbing gear:
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Wack
climber
Dazevue
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Mar 12, 2010 - 09:08am PT
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Bruce's Van would be parked at CR, a giant billboard saying; "Miles I'm climbing today, please come tool me". My buddies rig was about the same vintage but the E150 version. Lots of trips to the Valley, JT and Tahoe. Replaced the starter in 15 minutes in Placerville. Never stranded us dead on the side of the road. Room for enough passengers that there is always someone capable of being the designated driver. The best recommendation for the E150 came from his wife, she hated it.
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