I’ve been wanting to get back into van life for a while now, and I’m trying to figure out how much I should realistically save before buying my first van. I used to live out of my old 2001 Toyota sequoia, but unfortunately it broke down and I ended up having to scrap it for $400. I’ve been without a car for a few months now. Luckily, I have a motorcycle that gets me to work, but with winter approaching, that’s becoming less and less ideal.I work full-time Monday through Friday and pick up side jobs on the weekends whenever I can. I’m also paying rent, so trying to save $15k for a van feels like it could take forever. A friend keeps recommending that I spend around $15k to get something reliable, but I’m curious what people with actual van life experience think. Is that really what it takes to get a decent van, or is it possible to find something reliable for considerably less? There’s a few things I’d love some advice on if anyone is willing to share. I live in Colorado by the way. But I’m willing to buy one from any state.

What is a realistic budget for a decent, mechanically reliable van?
What years, makes, and models should I be looking at?
What are the biggest red flags to look for when buying a used van?
What should I have inspected before handing over the money?
I’m not looking for anything fancy or a fully converted van. I’m perfectly happy starting with something basic and slowly building it out myself.

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve actually bought cheaper vans and built them into their homes. What did you spend, what would you do differently, and what advice would you give someone starting from scratch?
Thanks!

looking for suggestions for a front bumper that's under $500 shipped, and gives it a rugged offroad look.

New Montana rep gonna have a guard to prevent him getting the knock. ????

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