Forum Discussion

Naio's avatar
Naio
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2016

Trying to decide if I should do this...

So, searching for a couple of months, everywhere west of the Rockies (and a little past them) has not turned up the van I want, with a high top.

There are zillions of original-top vans, of course. And there is one junker van with a high top, and a guy with a business transplanting them. I could buy an excellent original-top van and have him put the top from the junker onto it.

The junker top is a nice one. Far nicer than I can afford new. It has two layers, insulation between, and built in cabinets all around.It has no cracks on the exterior, but some on the interior. It also has a history of leakage and mold, from some small penetrations ignored for too long.

The mold is my concern. I can seal the holes and refinish the cabinets (removing them entirely to get at all bits). I have lots of experience refinishing and rebuilding wood things.

But there is presumably lots of mold in the insulation. Will I be able to seal it up enough that it's entombed in there, and mold spores won't filter out? Even with the vibration of driving? I have allergies.

In a couple months I will be leaving for my summer abode, which is semi-rural and far from any good place to find used vans. So I would likely not have another chance to look until fall, and I would prefer to have the summer to WORK on my new van so I can be living in it by fall.

Should I do the transplant? Or just stop trying to push the river, and move to a new van when one shows up?

I don't expect y'all to decide for me :). But I'd appreciate your thoughts on the topic.
  • Ask if doing an ozone treatment would kill the molds and spores. If that won't "cure" the problem then run away.
  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    agesilaus wrote:
    I would want to tear the insulation out and not attempt to entomb it.


    Is there a way to get to it? It is hard foam, put between the layers of fiberglass at the time of manufacture. I was assuming I could not get it out.
  • Have you looked into old ambulances or handicap vans? They have high roofs.
  • I would want to tear the insulation out and not attempt to entomb it.