Types of Vehicles

I recently received this question from a future traveler: "I've been looking around at my own option to travel once I graduate in the spring. What should I think about getting? Vans I have come across range anywhere from $1200-2500, depending on the options. I was mostly concerned with MPG and found it very difficult to find a vehicle that got decent gas mileage."


I asked Dan the Handyman if he would write a 3rd post for my page, regarding this question, because I know he has more to share about this particular topic...

What type of vehicle should I consider living in?

by Dan the Handyman

First off let me give you a brief history of what I've lived and traveled in. Shortly after high school when I was 19, I traveled west from Michigan to California, zig zaging through National Parks along the way. I drove a 4 door Chevy Lumina sedan, and I had my camping gear with me in the car. I realized that I was actually sleeping in the car more than I was taking the time to set up the tent. I reclined the passenger seat all the way flat and slept that way for many nights. After 2 1/2 months, however, I was definitely ready to move up to something a little more comfortable. I had arrived in California, and as luck would have it, a new friend had a large Chevy step van for sale and I bought it.

Here is a picture of my old step van the "Gray Whale" parked in Sausalito, CA, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Gray Whale logo was on the van when I bought it. I think it added to its charm, and it looked more like a work truck than an RV, which added to its urban stealth camping qualities. I have a warm spot in my heart thinking back to those days living in the San Francisco bay area in the Gray Whale.

This is the partition wall I built behind the drivers seat in the Gray Whale. The "Castle" doors led to the secure living quarters in the back of the van. I wish I had more pictures from that time in my life but I am happy that I have what I have. I traveled to the Burning Man in the Gray Whale and got into building art cars.

The Gray Whale is the biggest vehicle I have lived in. I had a loft for my bed, a two-burner coleman stove, closets, and a booth with folding table set up in back. I was able to save a lot of money by living in my van around San Francisco and Marin County. At that time (almost 10 years ago) rent was $1,000.00 and up, per month, for a one bedroom studio apartment. I was able to travel to Hawaii, and later Thailand and Burma, with the money I had saved.

Step vans offer a lot of space, second only to buses, but they really don't get very good gas mileage. When I lived in the Gray Whale I would keep it parked a lot of the time and cruise around on my bicycle. Ten years ago gas was also much cheaper than it is today.

You do not necessarily need a large vehicle to live in. I also cruised across the western states for a while in a small Toyota Tercel that got FANTASTIC gas mileage. I ripped all the seats out, except the drivers seat, and built a platform from the passenger side to the back seats to sleep on. It was comfortable to stretch out and sleep in, but had only minimal storage space. The book "Ten Consecutive Years Living In Cars" by Craig S. Roberts describes this approach in great detail.

After owning several different cars, trucks, and vans, I feel that medium to full size vans offer the most space without sacrificing too much for gas mileage. Bigger vans like step vans are a little bit harder to park, and you have to be aware of height restrictions.

Some of the best used vans available in the U.S. are Ford Aerostar and Chevy Astro CARGO VANS. I like cargo vans much more than window passenger vans because it's much easier to make the interior space private. The Aerostar and Astro are both 6 cylinder mid sized vans. They both get 15 mpg in town, but the Aerostar gets 22 mpg highway compared to 20 mpg highway for the Astro. They are not as good as a car, by any means, but compared to full size vans that get 10 to 15 mpg, they're a good compromise. You can buy these vans used for $2,500- $3,000. To find out the mpg ratings for all major automobiles from 1985-2008 go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

Older carburated gas engines get worse mileage than more modern fuel injected engines. Diesel engines get better mileage, last longer than gasoline engines, and usually cost more. A great big step van with a gas engine might get 8-10 mpg, whereas a diesel step van of the same size might get 12-15 mpg. The new Dodge "Sprinter" vans have 5 cylinder Mecedes diesel engine and get 25-30 mpg, but the bad news is that they are very expensive. You can expect to pay more than $15,000 for a decent used sprinter. They do offer standing headroom like a step van, but for $15,000 you might might want to wait a few years for the prices to come down.

Alternative fuels are an exciting topic to bring up when talking about vehicles. Using waste vegetable oil to make fuel for your diesel engine is fun and good for the environment, but trying to do it on the road could become a real project. People have done it, but it is a much simpler operation to manage if you are stationary. First off, you have to set up a routine to pick up oil from a local restaurant. Then you need to have all your processing equipment stored somewhere in order to make the fuel. Some people have mounted bio-diesel processing equipment onto trailers that are pulled behind their vehicle. (There is no better way to draw attention to yourself than to be pulling around a lot of strange equipment. An enclosed utility trailer would be best to try and be discrete, and don't forget to vent out any toxic methanol and methoxide fumes) The actual collecting and processing of vegetable oil into bio-diesel can become a part time job in itself and may not warrant any financial gains from making your own fuel. It is a lot easier to go to the gas station and fill up while you're on the road. It might be fun to make a statement or be in the local newspaper, but remember your time is valuable, and less is more. Bio diesel is available in all 50 states now for purchase, and you can find gas stations that have it at the pump on the Internet. Click Here to locate U.S. locations where you can fill up on BioDiesel at the pump.

T. Boone Pickens commercials have everyone's attention when it comes to Compressed Natural Gas - The same stuff piped to houses in cities to run the stove, furnace, water heater, etc... You can buy used fleet vehicles, cargo vans, and work trucks that run on CNG. It's not as dirty as gas, and the engines last longer. CNG isn't as energy dense as gasoline, so you have to store more of it on board to get the same range. CNG is less expensive, mile per mile, when compared to gasoline. CNG does not have the same national distribution system as gasoline, so it is more difficult to find places to fill up. Many people who use CNG fill their vehicles up at their homes and businesses, where it is piped in and run through special compressors to fill up the tank. In summary, CNG isn't nearly as convenient as gasoline currently is.

Petroleum based diesel fuel and gasoline are incredible natural resources that we will run out of in my lifetime. We have no alternative that can match its utility and energy density. As the age of cheap oil ends, humans will witness the quality of modern life deteriorate. We must plan accordingly.

Big hugs,

:-)

Dan The Handyman