make a areostar camper van or buy full size ford camper van

[lightspeed]

i was thinking about using our ford areostar van and make it into a non raised roof camper van by doing most of the work myself , but was wondering if it might not be just as cheap to get a van like i used to have a 1982 ? ford camper van that had a raised top and everything built inside already and maybe put a two barrel adapter and a two barrel carburater on it since it wouldn't be used for pulling anything anyway . what does anyone else think ?
i also think i would rather take out any propane tanks, etc. and just use a microwave oven and a power converter to warm water up to wash up with . (which would also make it lighter ) i lived in a van like this before for quit a while in california . i am wondering by the time i get everything in the areostar van the way i want it (small electric fridge the wood cabinets made up to window level , sink, microwave, a fold out seat/bed combo , small closet ,drawers , area for potable toilet , tv , vcr , area , etc. that with the added weight even though i have a 3.0 v6 that it may not be much cheaper on gas than a van like i mentioned (above ) with a 2 barrel carburater on it as long as it wasn't a big motor maybe a 302 ? . what does anyone else think about this ?

[markopolo]

I'd try to get a hightop van.

Ken got his high top Dodge van for $850.

Many of his comments are here: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=896

[T.Low]

Full size vans are going cheap now.

[lightspeed]

yes with gas prices higher (although not right at this time ) i can see where vans are cheaper but maybe its just me but i don't see that many vans like i am talking about for sale (only the gigantic huge motor homes or class c motor homes which i dont want ) i have looked on ebay does anyone have any special places that list raised top camper vans (that are cheap with hopefully not a kajillion miles with the words for sale "won't last" !lol ) i would like to find something like the 1982 ? hightop camper i used to have or even a 83 on up if it wasn't to high priced and to high on the mileage .

[lightspeed]

just found this link on the internet where looks like a guy is making something like i talked about but wasn't careful saftey wise to himself .
http://www.instructables.com/community/ ... amper_top/
dont see where he showed it finished (if he did ) .