Should I Rent a Truck or Buy a Craigslist Beater Van?

"willkinton247" (willkinton247)
08/29/2014 at 13:10 • Filed to: Conundrums

I'll be needing to move soon, and I'll probably have to end up renting a truck to move all of our stuff into a new apartment. But...what if I didn't rent a truck, and instead bought a beater van or truck?

Stay with me here. Looking at the cost of a 10' truck from U-haul, there is a base price of $19.95 and a per mile cost of $1.29. It looks like I'll end up driving a bit over 60 miles at a minimum, combined with around $11.00 in insurance and fees, and I'll end up forking over at least $110.16 before taxes or gas. I have no hope of ever seeing that money back, and if I needed to move something again, I'd have to rent something else.

So what if I buy a beater pick up or a van instead of renting one? I obviously will have to make more trips, which means it'll take more time to move and probably use more gas. Also, it will definitely cost more to buy up front. I'm not going to be able to to find a working car for $110. I also would have to take into account registering and vehicle taxes.

That being said at the end of the day, I'll have another vehicle. When I'm done moving, I could always sell it again. When you buy a car for $500, there isn't really any more room for it to depreciate. There's even a chance that I could list it for more than I bought it for, turning a profit.

Also, because my fiance and I will be in a new apartment, I would venture to guess that having a vehicle capable of carrying a lot of stuff will end up being useful again once we figure out what furniture we would need.

Venturing on Craigslist, I've found several vehicles that could do the job:

The first is a 1992 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , my favorite minivan of all time. $800, a new transmission and engine, and 200k miles. I could definitely fit a queen size mattress in there (our largest item) and I bet I could re-sell it for about as much as I pay for it. The major drawback would be $800 is more than I would like to fork over initially. On the other hand, I would be the proud owner of a midengined, RWD drift van. I also have a dream to race a Previa in LeMons.

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The next is a 1989 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Turbo for $500, with 110K miles. Once again, I bet I could get that amount back when I go to sell it.

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Then there is this 1994 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for $600. A pick up would also be useful, and I could probably tow with it.

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So Oppo, what do you think I should do? Should I rent a truck, or buy a Van? Do you have any other ideas?

DISCUSSION (38)

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:13

I vote Voyager Turbo because boost gauge in a minivan.

Rainbow > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:15

If you're going to be making multiple 120-mile round-trips, you'll be spending a lot of time on the side of the road or in a garage. Unless you were planning to get a nicer, newer van or truck to keep, rental is the safe way to go.

HammerheadFistpunch > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:15

don't forget the cost of tax, license and registration, plus emissions and inspection (if required). Not worth it for a single time.

jkm7680 > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:15

Buy a beater van or something! If I had a van, I'd let you borrow it since I'm DC area but sadly I don't.

Pixel > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:19

Rent the truck. Getting everything in one move makes it so much easier.

Also with all the stress you will be dealing with due to the move, you don't need to add the hassle of buying & registering a hoopty van, plus the hassle if it breaks down, then the added trips and the need to unload the thing at a later date.

willkinton247 > Rainbow
08/29/2014 at 13:19

Oh, it'd be less than that. The 60 miles for renting the truck takes into account driving the truck from the rental center to my parents house, to the new apartment to my fiance's parent's house, to the new apartment to the rental place.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:20

A crappy van/truck is what I would pick though I am sort of an all or nothing guy. The rental is safe and probably easier, but the purchase of a van is risky and very Jalop.

$kaycog > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:20

I say rent for reasons already given.

505Turbeaux > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:21

save that Turbo Voyager. I have never seen a turbo with the wood. Only plainsides ones. That thing could be tucked away for some later date too. Really only looks like it needs some paint and hubcaps to be right again.

OPPOsaurus WRX > HammerheadFistpunch
08/29/2014 at 13:22

don't you have some amount of time to do that? He could buy it, move his stuff, and park it for sale before that time would even expire

CalzoneGolem > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:25

Why is this a question? Why was that a question? Is this also a question?

willkinton247 > HammerheadFistpunch
08/29/2014 at 13:26

I thought about that. I'm not entirely sure what the total cost would be for all of that on a $500 van. I remember when my grandparents gave me their first car, I had to pay $80 to register it. I'm not sure what the tax would be on it, but VA taxes at 4.05% or $75, whatever is higher, so it would probably cost $75 in tax.

Rainbow > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:26

Oh, alright. It's probably doable then, but I still would go with the rental. It's just less risk that way.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:30

Buy a van!!!

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > $kaycog
08/29/2014 at 13:31

But then there is no van and vans are great for things besides transportation.

Aaron James > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:31

You'll lose a whole lot more than $110.16 by paying insurance and registration on something you only use a couple times a year. Most apartment buildings won't let a beater sit in the parking lot forever either. Especially if it's the 3rd car for a two person lease. If it sits in the parking lot and never moves people will complain about it and the landlord will take action, I know this for a fact, I've been there. I would rent the truck, it's a life expense, no need to recover the cost. Think of how great it will be to be on your own with your girl, that's certainly worth $110.16.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H!
08/29/2014 at 13:31

YES

willkinton247 > CalzoneGolem
08/29/2014 at 13:31

Because? Don't you know? Yes.

Mattbob > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:32

TURBO VAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You could have so much fun with this. A turbo previa would be the ideal vehicle though.

willkinton247 > 505Turbeaux
08/29/2014 at 13:33

I know right? What are the chances that those become cool in the future?

Aaron James > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:34

So you'll pay at least $155 dollars plus insurance to save $110.16.

HammerheadFistpunch > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:34

so $145 right deposit...what would renting cost?

CalzoneGolem > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:34

A) Buy a beater.

B) All of the above.

505Turbeaux > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:37

those are cool now! I had a friend in high school that loved his plain white one. thing was all built out. This was 18 years ago of course but they are desirable. Also from some time ago, see here http://www.turbovan.net/turbovan.html

(also note on this site all plainsides, no woodies)

willkinton247 > HammerheadFistpunch
08/29/2014 at 13:40

At the very least, $110.00, before sales tax. I'm also pretty sure the van would end up being used for more than just moving this one time.

BigBlock440 > willkinton247
08/29/2014 at 13:41

I'd love to encourage the Voyager, because those turbo vans are awesome and are fairly easy to put in the 12's, the truck is probably the better buy. It obviously depends on the condition of each, but I feel like you're generally less likely to run into problems with a $500 truck than with a $500 minivan. Also, the truck will be easier to fix if it does break.

$kaycog > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
08/29/2014 at 13:48

Not for everyone.