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briham89
Big Wall climber
los gatos. ca
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Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 7, 2012 - 02:38am PT
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I'm graduating from college next summer (hopefully!) and I am hitting the road for as long as I can. Major time will be spent in the Sierra, but longer drives will also be in store (Squamish, Indian Creek ..etc) I am good at working on cars, but would much prefer to drive it instead of being under the hood, especially far away from home (and tools). If I get something soon I can work on it all year before taking off...but again would prefer not to... I have been looking into westfalia vanagons primarily, but I am concerned about reliability. Any other suggestions / what does everyone think is the best option???
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ionlyski
Trad climber
Kalispell, Montana
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1990 Subaru Legacy Wagon of course.
Arne
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ionlyski
Trad climber
Kalispell, Montana
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Or for a classier entrance, the last year made, 1993 Volvo 240 Wagon with leather interior.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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I put 250K dirtbag miles on my '85 Subaru GL wagon. Removed the back seat and built a sleeping platform into it. Cush.
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bullfrog
Trad climber
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Another thumbs up for the 240.
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skywalker
climber
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I bought a "cheap" fleet cargo van (astro, no rear seats) with relatively low miles. Tricked out the inside my style and it lasted till I got married and had kids. I sold it dirt cheap cause the situation dictated it had to go. I lived out of it months at a time!
Just sayin...
S...
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briham89
Big Wall climber
los gatos. ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 7, 2012 - 02:52am PT
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I'm liking these options. Way cheaper than an actual camper vehicle. Pull out a couple seats, make a platform...boom. Time for craigslist scanning. Keep the ideas coming, thanks!
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
the crowd MUST BE MOCKED...Mocked I tell you.
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Dodge Sprinter van, but these are pricey new or used.
Failing that, Toyota Taco with a hi rise shell/pop top camper? Reliable, fuel efficient in a 4 cyl.
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~kief~
Trad climber
state of Awakening
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Van down by the river
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generationfourth
Trad climber
Arizona
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i think for mpg, reliability, and flying under the radar a toyota sienna, or honda odyssey would be perfect
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Don Paul
Big Wall climber
Colombia, South America
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Dodge caravan, can get them cheap, plenty of space to sleep in, V6 has enough power to tow.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Go for a four cylinder if you want to save money.
.....
If you have dough for a newer rig, the Ford transit.
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Another vote for the Volvo 240 Wagon. An inexpensive and parts plentiful vehical that is reliable and easy to work on. They get great milage, have amazing cargo capacity, full length sleeping, decent off road ability, and very fine hiway characteristics. AND, they will run forever.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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If you are going solo and driving a lot of miles a small hatchback, Honda civic, stick, I have a 96, gets almost 40 mpg CTif driven carefully
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k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
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Nice rig eKat !!
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ruppell
climber
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A van is the way to go. Astros are OK but have some issues and suck on gas. If you want something reliable and cheap look for an 86-89 toyota van. Mine has 317,000 on it and I've put on 150,000 of those myself. Replaced the alternator three times. And the brakes once. I know plenty of others with close to the same milage that still are going strong. If you pay a little more you can find one with actual 4 wheel drive(meaning a transfer case). Super easy to customize and way incognito if you get a cargo model.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Need a price range brobrahdudeguy.
That's really going to be what decides your options. Sure, a Sienna or Odyssey would be a good choice and reliable, but you're not likely to find one worth driving for under 10k either. Sprinter would be pimp...if you have a spare 20k laying around.
Westy? No. Having owned and lived in one, they're great...as long as you have the Subaru 2.1 in it instead of the always broken, underpowered POS VW engine. Otherwise, plan on limping over passes and having 1-2 stranded roadside episodes per year, plus another 10-15 days a year turning wrenches. In addition, because the body and amenities really was sweet, and hippies love em, the ones in decent shape commmand a premium.
Nothing fun about those 240s, but the engine was basically a tractor engine, they are pretty long lasting. No idea how hard they are to work on, not bad from what friends say (but good luck getting oddball, old euro parts in BFE Utar). That's a big upside of the Detroit fleet car stuff (i.e. Astro), you can get parts for it pretty much anywhere and they're cheap, tons of them in the pick n pull yards for used parts, etc. Those 6cyl Astro engines were pretty good, trannies not so much.
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briham89
Big Wall climber
los gatos. ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 7, 2012 - 12:02pm PT
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Hahaha I think Locker has a winner there.
I have about 10 grand saved up for a car, but the less I have to spend on the car the longer I can stay on the road.
eKat that van looks pretty appealing. I like the soccer mom cover up. The "secret dirtbag van"
Elcapinyoazz are westys with rebuilt engines a decent option or are those engines still crap? I've been looking into buying one with a blown engine and swapping either a Subaru or ford engine into it. Is it worth the work? Or should I stay away?
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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The rebuilts VWs engines...I wouldn't touch one myself. The Suby swap is semi popular, but it is a big project and involves more than just sticking a different engine in it, like you'll need to get the conversion parts to mate it to the tranny, mess with the wiring harness, etc.
There are some good resources on the web.
10k, I'd get the Honda or Toyota, and be happy to never turn a wrench on it, sell it after you're done and get most of your money back (or drive it into the ground if you don't mind driving a minivan as your daily). Or if you need part of that 10k for living, go the Astro route, just find one that already had the tranny rebuilt.
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Enthusiast
Boulder climber
Port Townsend WA
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A Ford Ecoline van is very simple, cheap, durable and has a lot of space when the back is cleared out.
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