The Idea

We interrupt your normal broadcasting for this important message: our family is expanding.

May I introduce the Yellow Submarine

Jake has been wearing me down Jake and I have been discussing the idea of a stealth camping vehicle since moving to SoCal. It would solve a lot of the random issues we sometimes find ourselves in. Windstorm in Death Valley. Visiting XYZ town where hotels are hella expensive. Delaying the start of a roadtrip due to lack of camping options enroute. ISU tailgating and bowl games stuck in the back middle seat of a truck and wanting to jump into traffic to escape that particular hell.

So ya see the need?

We started with a blank slate and a budget of $10k to include the vehicle and any sort of build out that would be required. Any vehicle we could reasonably and comfortably sleep in were considered. We looked at 4Runners, nope is all I will say about that experience. Foresters, too tight. Sprinters, too expensive.

And then we found an ambulance. A Ford E-350 old skool ambulance to be exact. I fell in love with the picture online. Jake was more logical. It could have engine issues, high mileage, dead people and ghosts. We saw it in person and we both loved it. One problem, no current title.

This started the ambulance spiral. All of a sudden we wanted an ambulance, a box truck, maybe even an overhead space for a lofted mattress. And then we saw the prices…back to the original search.

We saw vehicles and met some scammers. Oh, its in your uncle’s name with a replacement title? Your boss’s vehicle, you say, she isn’t in town? The carfax says 80k more miles….no title, engine light flashing, broken windows. One weekend, after five hours of driving around the greater LA area, we took a break at a brewery. I took over looking at ads.

There it was, a Ford E-250 van with a roof rack and the best part was, it was yellow. Cyclone Yellow, to be exact. It was calling to me. Jake confirmed that he had reviewed the listing but passed it over because of the color.

He hates the color yellow. How are we together?! I made a compromise, let’s look at it. We don’t have to buy it, but if it fits the bill I will be the one to repaint it.

After much convincing we were sitting in a parking lot waiting for the yellow van the very next day. The guy was real, the owner listed on the title and had current tabs. Anyone hear the angels singing yet? The engine was in good shape, tires decent, just a few dents and scratches on the body. Took it for a ride, drove the best of all the vehicles we tried. We negotiated and a fair price left both sides feeling good.

We celebrated with drinks and daydreaming of our soon-to-be sick-ass-build.

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