Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with van

We are demographic freaks and need a larger vehicle

mecran01 — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:55:17 -0800

I have four kids and we our outgrowing our 1999 Mercury Villager minivan. Suggestions for something reliable and around 10-$15k (used)? Is there a database that lets me search vehicles by their interior footage? It seems like we could save a lot of money if we bought a van instead of an SUV. How difficult is it to raise a van for light dirt road travel without making it dangerous on the freeway?

I'm open to van or SUV. We want something reliable, used, and in the $10-$15k range. Thanks for your help and suggestions. It seems like there is a gap between minivans and 15-passenger vans. We would use it as an all-purpose vehice for any activity that all of us might attend together. We live in Utah, and there are lots of canyons, dirt roads and other outdoor fun we could take advantage of with the right vehicle.

Bonus points if it gets more than 20mpg.

Locking the side-door in a VW Transporter panel van?

knapah — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:33:22 -0800

Is the sliding side-door lockable on the Volkswagen Transporter? I've just rented a VW Transporter (Short wheel base panel van). Is it possible to have the side-door locked while driving the vehicle? There's no keyhole on the outside, no visible lock on the inside, and no lock button in the cab - as far as I can tell anyway.

I need an inexpensive, yet reliable moving company in Chicago?

shrimpsmalls — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:17:34 -0800

Can anyone recommend a reliable, yet reasonably priced moving service/company in Chicago? We are moving September 1 from Bucktown to Ukrainian Village, so the distance is not an issue. I have always rented a van and called on friends to help with the move (friends that we have helped in a similar capacity), but this year I don't have anyone that I feel comfortable asking to help with such a big feat. My bf and roommate is already dreading the move, and given our size/strength differences, moving everything ourselves is going to be very stressful if not impossible. We don't have a lot of stuff, so I am just looking for someone with a van and a few dudes to lift our stuff. We don't have much, but we do have a few nice pieces of mid century furniture that I would hate to be damaged in the process, so I would greatly appreciate any recommendations for a reliable company for the best price.

mechanic for a big van in Toronto needed!

beccyjoe — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:50:11 -0800

Can anyone recommend an auto-mechanic in downtown Toronto that will have the facilities to service a Dodge Ram class b motorhome? It is a campervan that is the size of a regular van but with a higher roof. We keep getting turned away from local places where they tell us our van is too big for their hoists or whatever. It is not huge though, it looks like this

We think we have a wheel alignment / tyre / suspension problem.

If you can recommend anywhere close to downtown that would be great!

Thanks

Seeing California on the cheap

baking soda — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:10:42 -0800

I am planning a trip to California late July with a friend and I wouldn't mind renting transportation to get around. Would it be feasible / possible to rent some kind of hippie van and sleep in it along the coast?

Melbourne to Brisbane: inland by camper

bookley — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:16:07 -0800

We’re hoping to rent a camper van in Melbourne (approx April 13), drop it off in Brisbane a week later. Any advice? There’s a good discussion about driving through Australia here:
http://ask.metafilter.com/52325/Help-me-cross-Australia-in-March

What we’re looking for are some specific suggestions for going inland from Melbourne to Brisbane. For example, we’d like to get a respectful sense of the bush fire devastation and recovery efforts, maybe have a couple stops in some of the wine valleys, find misc things like the sculpture Nick Cave is supposed to be building, plus whatever outback flavour we might soak up without going too far off track -- anything we wouldn’t find in the guidebook.

Any tips about camper rental and travel in Australia are also appreciated, even if it’s just appropriate driving music. We’re not totally committed to the van either -- as much as anything it’s a case that the camper rental companies seem more flexible on one way drives than companies who rent small cars.

Two important parameters:

1) We’ll have already spent a week in and around Sydney and don’t need to head that direction.

2) Quite a few years ago I drove from Melbourne to Tibooburra via the Great Ocean Road, Bendigo, Mildura, Broken Hill, popping up to White Cliffs. One of the most amazing drives of my life, but I’d like to see as much new terrain as possible on this trip.

We certainly don’t need to go in the straightest fastest line either, and I don’t mind under or overshooting Brisbane by a day’s drive, if it means a more interesting route. (Would be quite keen, for instance, to spend time in the rainforest area between Byron Bay and Nimbin.)

Thanks for any suggestions.

Help this man keep his van.

pantsonfire — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:18:56 -0800

How can I tell if my '87 GMC Safari Van is up to driving from Philadelphia to Louisiana? I'm moving to Louisiana. Cargo vans seem to be very expensive for one-way rentals, and I have a sad sort of attachment to my crappy old van.

What are the odds of this beast hauling all the way from Philly to the Gulf?

I just had the starter, fuel pump, serpentine belt, and belt tensioner replaced. Before I go, I'll definitely take it in for a brake job and an oil change. But at 195,000 miles, what are the odds this thing will make a 1400 mile highway trip? It leaks a little oil and power steering fluid. Also, I noticed a little bit of white gunk under the oil cap. But not too much.

Fellow travelers will be my girlfriend, my dog, my cat, and the various personal belongings I don't feel comfortable moving in the shipping container that's hauling the rest of my stuff.

Thank you for your advice and/or suggestions for affordable alternatives!

NYC Limo/Van Referral Needed

Man with Lantern — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:39:33 -0800

I'd like a referral for a service in New York City that can provide transport for six people, and luggage, from Penn Station to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. There are dozens - if not hundreds - limo services to choose from so I just need help separating the wheat from the chaff. Thanks.

van driving in NY

raphael19 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:11:21 -0800

Which highways (or roads) should i avoid while driving a van in NY? I need to move some stuff from the city to upstate NY with a van (15'-17' long). It is a 20 miles drive. How do i determine which highways are commercial? I don't want to have a ticket. Mapquest has an option as "avoid highways". Would that help me? Or through which source or website can i get the correct route? Thank you.

What is this Mies floor plan?

GaGaLoc — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:19:06 -0800

Can anyone provide more information about this Mies van der Rohe floor plan? I remember seeing it in a slide show while in architecture school years ago but all I can find on Google is this small picture:

http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/oxford/Oxford_Architecture/0198606788.mies-van-der-rohe-ludwig.1.jpg

(I can't see the link in the preview so I just pasted the address here...)

I'm pretty sure it was never built but I could be wrong. I've always thought it was an incredible beautiful floor plan and I would love to know more about it.

work vehicle ideas

schwap23 — Fri, 30 May 2008 06:52:28 -0800

Seeking recommendations for a work vehicle for a cabinet-maker. Is it a mini-van? Is it a station wagon? Whatever it is, it doesn't cost much... I've been working as a freelance cabinetmaker/carpenter/commercial artist for almost a year now, driving my tiny Geo Metro 4-door and borrowing a friend's giant van (E-250) when it's time to move something big or heavy. While it's a workable solution, it's becoming pretty clear to me that a larger vehicle of my own would make a lot of sense. But what should it be?

I've been trying to think about my wants abstractly so that I don't become fixated on one particular vehicle and miss something obvious. So, now I have a list of desires, but no idea what would fill them best!

The list:
- Should be able to carry up to 5 4x8 sheets without dying (a roof rack might be OK)
- Should not look so crappy that clients question the quality of my work.
- Should not kill me on either maintenance or fuel (20mpg is my goal)
- I live in Chicago, and only have on street parking available (if the vehicle somehow enabled me to raise my standard of living, there is off-street available)
- A side effect of living in Chicago: a truck is sub-optimal, as there are a number of places that have restrictions on trucks, but vans are excepted.
- Used is always better than new. Period.

What say you? What do you drive? Is it awesome? Sucky? Why?

Who gets what in a band breakup?

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:05:24 -0800

Bassist buys the tour van then quits the band in the middle of the tour. What's a fair way to distribute the money now that it's over? The agreement at the beginning was that the bassist would be financially responsible for the van and that he would keep it when the tour was over. The bassist has 3 months to find a vehicle but doesn't look for one until a week before the tour, and buys one for $2400 the day before the tour begins.

Less than 1/4 of the way into the tour the bassist has a falling out with the rest of the band (to put things charitably) and abruptly takes off, leaving the van and all documents behind. He asks the band to pay him $2400 immediately, telling them to sell the van for more than that when the tour ends and to keep the extra money. Band feels they have no obligation to pay upfront, but plans to try and sell the van at the end and send the bassist his money at that point.

Over the rest of the tour it becomes clear that the van was not purchased in good condition as the bassist had said. The van breaks down multiple times. All the tires, the alternator, and the tensioner have to be replaced to keep the van running. The repairs run $850, which the band pays for. Two shows are canceled as a result of the van breaking down, representing ~$175 in lost revenue. The band still plans to sell the van for a profit, recoup their costs, and send the bassist what he paid.

Just before the end of the tour the transmission fails. The repair is estimated at $2k. The band finishes the tour and spends many hours trying to sell the van, but the best they are able to get for it in its condition is $1500.

How much money should each party get?

Does the band have a right to keep any of the money they spent on repairs? The bassist screwed the band by taking off in the middle of the tour. He did keep to his agreement to provide the tour vehicle, but the band incurred significant costs because he was not diligent in getting the vehicle checked out. The remaining band members must also take on the bassist's share of band expenses which existed before the tour. What's fair?

Going, going... back, back... to Cali, Cali...

dead_ — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:23:28 -0800

I'm moving to California. What's the cheapest way to haul my crap--including a small sports car--for 1,700 miles? I don't need much room. Maybe a large cargo van would be enough. Or even just an SUV. The only furniture I'm planning to take is a bed. I'd like to rent some type of truck/van that can tow my Honda behind it. I need to find a company that will let me rent one-way only.

I've looked around quite a bit, but everything seems incredibly pricey. Has anyone done a cross-country move like this before? Can you recommend a good rental company, or any other advice on just how I can get my stuff out west without going bankrupt?

What's wrong with Ludwig's Van?

ludwig_van — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 01:46:13 -0800

Help me figure out what's wrong with my old crappy van. It's a 1992 Chevy conversion van (automatic transmission). The alternator and tensioner failed last week and I replaced them. I was driving it tonight and it was doing fine going 65 on the highway, but then when I exited it started getting stuck in a low gear and refusing to shift to the next one, so I couldn't accelerate past 20. But then it would work normally for a few minutes at a time before getting stuck again, and so on as I drove home.

Can you tell what could be wrong with it, and estimate how much it should cost to fix?

Van Morrison sample

dooabledawg — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 05:14:07 -0800

Calling all Van Morrison fanatics. I'm trying to identify a sample of music used at the end song "A town called Paradise" on the album "No guru, no method, no teacher". I can't upload the music here (don't know how) but the sample appears 5 minutes and 18 seconds into the song. It's driving me mad cos I heard the piece before, many years ago and I can't place it. I think it's a classical piece and was used in an epic western film like "The magnificent seven" or something like that. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

New VW camper van?

toastchee — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 06:17:01 -0800

What is today's equivalent of a VW Westfalia camper? I think VW discontinued the Weekender and Camper models. What is a good equivalent for weekend camping that you can buy new?

Get a band in a van to get out of NYC?

andrewraff — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:48:25 -0800

Where do we rent a van in the NY metro area to move 4 people, instruments, drums and amps for a short jaunt from Brooklyn to Philadelphia, DC and back to Brooklyn towards the end of this month? Besides being able to carry all of the equipment, price and convenience to the Downtown Brooklyn/Carroll Gardens/Gowanus area are the major considerations. Is it best to go with one of the major chains or is there a smaller, local place that is cheaper yet safe and reliable?

To van or not to van?

punkfloyd — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:06:41 -0800

I am looking at a 1985 VW Westfalia camper van. Does anybody have experience with this year and model? Pros? Cons? Reliability? It is in great shape, everything works and the price is right. THANKS!

Townes Van Zandt's Mr. Gold and Mr. Mudd

dios — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:55:23 -0800

Card players, I'd appreciate some help in dissecting a song about poker called Mr. Gold and Mr. Mud by Townes Van Zandt. I've always liked the song. But the last few times I've listened to it, I've started to become interested in whether there is actually a comprehensible narrative to it. Knowing Townes, it is entirely possible they are just wispy words put together and not intended to specifically make sense. In fact, I'm pretty sure of it. Nevertheless, I've always been curious because he uses phrases that I can't tell if they are real poker lingo or just Townes being Townes.

So, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help me decide if there is a comprehensible narrative here, and if not, whether the phrases he uses have meanings in cards (e.g. "three fireballs on the muddy side") or if they are just lyrical words.

Here are the lyrics:

Mr Gold and Mr Mud
by Townes Van Zandt

The wicked king of clubs awoke
it was to his queen turned
his lips were laughing as they spoke
his eyes like bullets burned
the sun's upon a gambling day
his queen smiled low and blissfully
let's make some wretched fool to play
plain it was she did agree

He send his deuce down into diamond
his four to hart, and his trey to spade
three kings with their legions come
preparations soon where made
they voted club the days commander
gave him an army face and number
all but the outlaw jack of diamonds
and the aces in the sky

He give his sevens first instructions
spirit me a game of stud
stakes unscarred by limitation
'tween a man named Gold and man named Mud
Club filled Gold with greedy vapors
'til his long, green eyes did glow
Mud was left with the sighs and trembles
watching his hard earned money go

Flushes fell on Gold like water
tens they paired and paired again
but the aces only flew through heaven
and the diamond jack called no man friend
The diamond queen saw Muds ordeal
began to think of her long lost son
fell to her knees with a mother's mercy
prayed to the angels every one

The diamond queen, she prayed and prayed
and the diamond angel filled Muds hole
the wicked king of clubs himself
fell in face down in front of Gold
now three kings come to Clubs command
but the angels from the sky did ride
three kings up on the streets of Gold
three fireballs on the muddy side

The club queen heard her husband's call
but Lord that queen of diamond's joy
when the outlaw in the heavenly hall
turned out to be a wandering boy
Now Mud he checked and Gold bet all
and Mud he raised and Gold did call
and the smile just melted off his face
when Mud turned over that diamond ace

Now here's what this story's told
if you feel like Mud you'll end up Gold
if you feel like lost, you'll end up found
so amigo, lay them raises down.

________

Also, I couldn't find an online recording of Townes singing this, but I found a decent enough cover by some guy on youtube if you want to get the general gist. Note: Townes was to this cover a Hyperion to a satyr. If you are unfamiliar with him, check him out.

Accellerate/Coast method more fuel efficient than cruise control?

Quarter Pincher — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:39:28 -0800

Question about cruise control vs. a special acceleration/coasting technique in terms of fuel efficiency. If you've got say, a speed limit of 45, and while driving on flat clean road, no wind aside from your own forward movement, etc, you accellerate to 47, coast until you're down to 40, then accellerate to 47, coast back down -- could this period of brief gassing up and long coasting by momentum, use less gas than having the pedal down the entire time and keeping at 45 (which I would assume cruise control would do)?

Would there be an ideal range (instead of up to 47 and down to 40, and back up/down) that would achieve greater efficiency? Would it be better to quickly accellerate to 47, or slowly (as the transmission gear may affect gas consumption)?

What mini van should my sister buy?

autojack — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 14:36:44 -0800

Please recommend a mini van for my sister! She will soon be having her third kid, and the hand-me-down Buick LeSabre she drives now isn't going to cut it anymore. The tough part with this one is budget - she needs to get something for around $16k. I'm an amateur car guy, but my focus is mainly sports cars. I can give her some general advice, but I really know nothing about what brands and models of mini vans are good. She found a 2001 Honda Odyssey with 40k miles on it that was in her price range, but after we did some investigating and learned that those are notorious for transmission problems, she decided to pass on that. I've heard that most of the vans in the 2000-2004 years had drivetrain problems of one sort or another. That seems to make things difficult, then, because newer models generally aren't in her price range.

Any advice the Hive Mind has would be appreciated, but the kinds of things that really warm my heart are, "I've owned x car for y years, and in that time I've had to do the following repairs on it..."

Help us buy a van in Spain!

Acey — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 09:19:37 -0800

Have you bought a vehicle in Spain before? Some friends and I are looking to buy a van in Spain with which to travel around Europe, and we need your help! The trip starts in just over two months, around the 25th May. The intention is to buy a van in Spain, drive across Europe for three weeks, and leave the van with friends in Belgium. We will then retrieve the van later in the summer and sell it. The cost of the van and the insurance will be split between 5 people. We decided against rental as we have no way of getting it back to Spain straight away, plus, I believe you must be over 21 to drive a rented van in Europe.

Now here's the problem: we need to purchase a van in Spain for the start, but my friend whose house we are starting from (in Murcia) has no way to get back before then to arrange it. We need to know whether you can buy a vehicle remotely from another country and do the paperwork, or if someone needs to be there. Also, many of the vans we have looked at are in another province, which might throw up other paperwork issues. It is possible that we can arrange for someone we know in Spain to purchase on our behalf, and take a look at what we are buying. Still, this might raise other problems.

We have two drivers: one is 25 and licenced to drive in Europe, one is 20 and may or may not be licenced to drive a van of a certain size. Then there's the issue of insurance - is it possible to insure for only two months? Can that be done remotely too?

I'll be available to respond with further information for a few hours and again tomorrow, but any help you can give would be very much appreciated.

Thank you hive mind!

How to get around town in style?

furtive — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 11:24:38 -0800

What sort of classy vehicle would you recommend to tour around town with 9 passengers? I need to book a vehicle and driver to show nine people around the island of Montreal over a period of two days. One of the passengers will be the president of a big pharmaceutical company, so we can't all just get in the back of a '64 Belvedere.

Would a limo be appropriate for this? Is it too low? Can you actually see out the window in one? What about a mini-bus? It needs to be nice. Has anyone been in one of those stretch Ford Explorers? Do they make ones that aren't 100 feet long?

Any pics or links of suggestions also appreciated.

Providing electrical power on the move in a van.

thegeezer3 — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 18:44:13 -0800

If i want to install electrical appliances, drawing upto 6kw, in a van how do i go about this? The appliances could be used for extended periods of time in the van i.e. upto 3 hours continously. They may require upto 6kw of power.

I have thought of a few ways but dont really know much about these options and am open to more. I need to consider installation, implications of use (e.g. choking on C02 :P), initial cost and running costs.

Heres my thoughts.

1) Buy a van thats already fitted with some form of power generating facility. Surely companies need this feature. What about those FBI spook vans kitted out with tvs and stuff or the FOX News vans? I heard the fuel cell vans could do this. Is this true?

2)Install a deisel generator. How loud, expensive are these things and can they easily be fitted into the van? What about ventilation etc.

3)Big battery units PB-somethings. Can they power 7kw???? Im rubbish with electronics so i dont understand limitations etc.

4)something else i didnt think of.

Anyhelp would be greatly appreciated. Ive searched google for VAN + electrical + appliances in various ways but keep getting stuff about van de graffs exploits in electricity.

Should I save my dying van?

ztdavis — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 19:27:47 -0800

My van's transmission is very sad. It's on the verge of being considered a junker car: should I repair it or buy another crappy car? I drive a '95 Dodge Caravan and the transmission recently made a high pitch whiny noise (the sound a wind-up toy car would make it if were as big as a van). More importantly, though, it doesn't shift into the top gear. It drives around town fine for the most part, but I can't get on a highway lest it try to drive at 5000 RPMs.

The van already has no air-conditioning, needs new tires, and has a cracked windshield. I'm a college kid with one year left, but I need a car to get to work. I'm more poor than rich.

Is it even worth taking the van in for an estimate for repairs or should I just drive it until it dies and then by a $500 junker car to get me through the year?

Have any of you had a similar problem in the past? How long did the car last after the trouble began?

Am I risking imminent death by driving it around in its current state?