Q&A: How to Buy a Van to Convert

How did you decide the make and model?

Originally I intended on finding a sprinter to convert into my mobile home, but after much research and debate, a step van seemed better suited for my needs.

After deciding that a step van was the right fit, I began researching all the step vans available. At this point, I wanted to know which step van had the most reliable engine. I found that the Freightliner MT45 came equipped with a 5.9 Cummins, a highly sought after diesel engine. This was the make and model I wanted, but now I had to decide what length box I wanted. The MT45 comes in several lengths: 12-foot, 14-foot, 16-foot, and 20-foot.

A goal of mine was to be able to fit my van into a regular parking space. In North America, a standard parking space is between 16-20 feet long. When a step van is listed as a 20-foot, this only refers to the length of the cargo box. The length of the cab must also be considered to determine overall vehicle length, and this metric wasn’t as easy to find. I asked multiple sellers to measure the overall length of their vehicle for me to determine which size would keep me within bounds of the standard parking spot length.

The 12-foot box came in at 21-foot from bumper to bumper, so this was my top pick.

What kind of mileage were you cool with?

I didn’t want to invest loads of time, energy, and money into a van that already had a ton of miles. Also, I wasn’t interested in doing a ton of mechanical work on top of the build out, and I wanted to purchase something that I could potentially resell without too much difficulty. I resolved that I didn’t want a vehicle over 150k miles.

How did you budget for it?

I set my budget for the van to 10k based on what I had saved up and what I thought would be a reasonable price for the quality of vehicle I wanted. I searched for vans practically everyday on craigslist, eBay, commercial truck trader, and many different auto sale websites for 6 months prior to purchase. It’s important to check every day so you don’t miss the deal when it shows up.

Where did you find it?

After a couple months of searching the same few sites every day, the right step van finally showed up. It came up on searchcraigslist, a search directory that includes all Craigslist posts that contain your keywords across the nation. The MT45 isn’t an incredibly common vehicle to see listed for sale, so I was willing to travel for the right one.

The van was listed in Eugene, Oregon. Not the greatest news, as this was over 1,000 miles from my home base in Boulder, Colorado, but I was ready to start making my van dream a reality, and I didn’t want to wait to see if one would be posted a little closer to home.

Another compromise involved the length of the cargo box. I was originally planning for a 12-foot cargo box, but this gem was a 14-footer. I dealt with some hesitation at first, but quickly decided the extra two feet would likely not be detrimental in most parking scenarios, and the extra room in my living space would be super helpful, so I was willing to budge on this aspect.

How did you vet the vehicle?

I had already purchased a 6-pack from CarFax (this is usually the best bang for your buck when purchasing a vehicle) and I entered the VIN to ensure this wasn’t a dud (i.e. a salvaged title, major accident, false mileage, 20 previous owners, etc.). The vehicle seemed pretty solid based on the CarFax report: a 1999 Freightliner MT45 with 155,000 miles, it had served as a FedEx fleet vehicle its entire life. The only cause for concern was a minor accident listed with virtually no details. According to the report, the vehicle was auctioned off shortly after the accident to the used car dealership that was now selling it.

I contacted the seller to ask about the accident. The front bumper was dented, but the van had no structural damage — very good news. I asked the seller if they would hold it for a few days while I made my way out there. They agreed and I bought a flight that night for the upcoming weekend.

How did you come to own it?

I flew to Eugene and a salesman from the auto dealership swooped me from the airport upon arrival. 20 minutes later I was staring at the giant van I would someday call home. I took it for a test drive to a local shop for a pre-purchase inspection. The biggest vehicle I had ever driven, I was sitting way above the cars and trucks that were normally on my level. You can guess from here that it all worked out.

Parking is a big concern when you live in your vehicle.

Lexi Lex was on her own adventure when I was purchasing the van, hence this q&a. Always focused on the food.

“To summarize, I was looking for a Freightliner MT45 with under 150k miles and a 12-foot cargo box.”

Even if she missed the purchase, at least she saved the receipts.

John’s first pic in the van.

Shout out to Eugene, home of the University of Oregon and also home of our future home.