I'd be interested to learn of others who really drive the crap outta their
vans, going places and having fun using the van as I imagine it was designed
to be used...
  So far this year (and I am leaving for the Arizona and California
desert/mountains one more time next week) I've been to S.California (and to
the dentist in Algodones, Mx)  twice (from the Portland, Oregon area) N. Cal
once, southwestern Utah once and BC once.  Probably  drove to10 Washington,
Oregon, Montana and Idaho towns over the spring and summer, to make a bike
race. Usually somewhere within a few hundred miles of home.  I like leaving
the afternoon before, in time to pre-ride the course, then camp in the van
for a good rest, up for breakfast and the race..
  I certainly couldn't do all that traveling if I still  had to use my Ford
250 Diesel truck for recreation like I did before fuel hit $3.50+ per
gallon..  Buying my $3k van and putting another $1k into pre-emptive
maintenance has been a real smart move...
  Others use their vans like this?

  Don Hanson