Living in a van down by the river

Discussion in 'General Survival and Preparedness' started by hot diggity, Oct 19, 2025.


  1. SB21

    SB21 Monkey+++

    I've got an '88 extended body van I used for work yrs ago ,, it's a storage unit now,,, the 351 was a slug , slow as hell .
     
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  2. Polecat

    Polecat Monkey

    Mine pulls 7.5k trailers alright (although that may have more to do with the C6), but the brakes are only a suggestion and the gas mileage is a solid 9-10mpg regardless of how heavy it's loaded or whether or not I am pulling something (also probably more to do with the C6; you can't get good fuel economy with a 3-speed transmission, I dun care what anyone says heh).

    I bought it because the mileage was so low and the body was in such good shape, but if I had a do-over I'd probably look for an E-350 with a 6.9 or 7.3 IDI. Yeah, also a slug, but I like 'em. Can run 'em off used motor oil and the like.
     
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  3. SB21

    SB21 Monkey+++

    I pulled one of those construction dump trailers one time full of dirt and bricks ,,, was really surprised that it pulled it as good as it did ,, I was impressed . But it was still a slug . I used it for a work van ,, I just hate riding in a work van ,, there's always something rattling around and the noise bouncing off the metal walls .. it was just always noisy .
    A buddy of mine has an old full 4 door, long bed F350 , 7.3L truck ,, he said he'd like to take the van body and put on his truck frame . That would make a cool ride . I told him he could do it if he wanted to ,, but I don't think he will.
     
    Tempstar likes this.
  4. oil pan 4

    oil pan 4 Monkey+++

    Living in a van down by the river was a joke 30 years ago. Now it's a reasonable life goal.
     
  5. CheroKiya

    CheroKiya Monkey

    Yeah just watched a utube with a kid from wyoming, big kid, bought a 8' toy hauler and converted it to a camper. Ended up with 2 windows, solar, a double bed, tv, lights, diesel heater, and put a custom wrap on it as well by all by himself while road tripping. Cost ~$6500. He wasn't livin' in it though he just likes road tripping. Boy was I envious.
     
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  6. Polecat

    Polecat Monkey

    20251214_123207-2.

    20251214_123257.

    Pretty redneck I guess, but it hasn't caught on fire yet.
     
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  7. kissmybrass

    kissmybrass brass monkey Site Supporter+++

    that looks familiar. nice job. somehow i had a 22gl main tank in my e350. i got a 45gl main and 50gl reserve here.
    f-350/e350 is same tanks. nice guy, cool shop. 95gl goes way farther then 22.

    Shop – Aero Tanks Enterprises
     
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  8. Tempstar

    Tempstar Monkey+++

    love to find an old early 2000's E-350 with 4WD, they just aren't any to be had in these parts.
     
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  9. Polecat

    Polecat Monkey

    I think mine has an 18 gal. It doesn't get very far! I have a 38gal to put in it but I haven't gotten around to it yet.
     
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  10. Polecat

    Polecat Monkey

    I missed out on an 82 E350 Pathfinder 4x4 conversion for $1500 not long ago. It had the 7.3 IDI (my favorite diesel engine), but the body was pretty bad and the engine needed work. I hesitated a day and someone else bought it. D:

    I should have bought it, pulled the body off, fixed up the engine nice, chassis-coated everything, and put the body off my E150 on it. Imagine a 4x4 E350 diesel 7" lift on like 38s or something with an ox locker in the back and a lunchbox locker in the front..... You could climb trees and sht.
     
    Seawolf1090 likes this.
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