Of the 8,309,417 things I have to do to get my canoe business up and running, buying a van is one of them. For the past few months I have been eyeing passenger vans in a 500 mile radius. Picking the right one at the right price is not easy. Obviously, there is no need to go out and buy a nice new van to run people up the river. That’s the last thing they care about when you come out to spend a day floating the Buffalo River. There will be coolers that have been dragged through the mud, nasty wet dogs, and who know what else getting in and out of the vans. Do I go with a later model van with high miles in hopes that it has been well maintained? Do I look for a fleet vehicle so I know it has been on a maintenance schedule? One owner? Should I go Ford, Chevy, Dodge? Does it even matter?
After a few weeks I ran across a Craigslist listing on a Ford E350 that was used by a company that hauled around people in a home health care. We agreed on a price and set up a time. Well lo and behold I find a light on the dashboard glowing. So we take the van to a mechanic to determine the extent of the problem. It turns out to be the alternator- no big deal. I feel like I was being gracious in offering the following terms: the seller pays for the alternator and I will pay for the labor or put it in myself. After all it’s only fair since the agreed on price was under the assumption there was nothing wrong with it. Well apparently Mr. David found a better offer after our deal because this dude vanished like a fart in the wind. So my search continues…
Well after searching to the end of the internet and back again… twice, and looking at a small handful of potential river wagons, I find a freshly posted Dodge Ram B3500 for sale in Little Rock Craigslist. I found from previous experience that if it’s a really good deal on Craigslist, it’s either a fraud or it will disappear in a day. Time was of the essence. I had to strike. After a few emails and phone calls I learn that the van is owned by a drug and alcohol recovery center. It only has 83K miles and has been mechanically maintained but it is otherwise pretty scratched up- PERFECT!
So the journey begins. I book a Megabus ticket to Little Rock for $8.25. That’s right eight dollars and twenty five cents. Well I did splurge and paid the extra 25 cents for Megabus to SMS my reservation number. Hey, I’m a big spender- what can I say? Then I have to scramble to get my training buddy Ike to come get me and take me to the bus station. He agrees and says he’ll be on the way. I carefully count out the cash and check it again, load my 9mm and tuck it in the proper place and off I go.
Upon arriving at the bus stop(gas station @ Roosevelt and I-40 with bars on the window) I am finally picked up by the maintenance man from the center. He brings me to the facility where the van is. There I meet with Andrew, the COO. He takes me out to the van for a quick gloss over. I kick the tires, take it for a quick spin, throw the money down and head for Tennessee with nearly a full tank of gas to boot!
After a few weeks I ran across a Craigslist listing on a Ford E350 that was used by a company that hauled around people in a home health care. We agreed on a price and set up a time. Well lo and behold I find a light on the dashboard glowing. So we take the van to a mechanic to determine the extent of the problem. It turns out to be the alternator- no big deal. I feel like I was being gracious in offering the following terms: the seller pays for the alternator and I will pay for the labor or put it in myself. After all it’s only fair since the agreed on price was under the assumption there was nothing wrong with it. Well apparently Mr. David found a better offer after our deal because this dude vanished like a fart in the wind. So my search continues…
Well after searching to the end of the internet and back again… twice, and looking at a small handful of potential river wagons, I find a freshly posted Dodge Ram B3500 for sale in Little Rock Craigslist. I found from previous experience that if it’s a really good deal on Craigslist, it’s either a fraud or it will disappear in a day. Time was of the essence. I had to strike. After a few emails and phone calls I learn that the van is owned by a drug and alcohol recovery center. It only has 83K miles and has been mechanically maintained but it is otherwise pretty scratched up- PERFECT!
So the journey begins. I book a Megabus ticket to Little Rock for $8.25. That’s right eight dollars and twenty five cents. Well I did splurge and paid the extra 25 cents for Megabus to SMS my reservation number. Hey, I’m a big spender- what can I say? Then I have to scramble to get my training buddy Ike to come get me and take me to the bus station. He agrees and says he’ll be on the way. I carefully count out the cash and check it again, load my 9mm and tuck it in the proper place and off I go.
Upon arriving at the bus stop(gas station @ Roosevelt and I-40 with bars on the window) I am finally picked up by the maintenance man from the center. He brings me to the facility where the van is. There I meet with Andrew, the COO. He takes me out to the van for a quick gloss over. I kick the tires, take it for a quick spin, throw the money down and head for Tennessee with nearly a full tank of gas to boot!
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