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Meo, i'm very happy your getting good results for your tests...
You might enjoy some of the impressive video's Bart made of the Green Valley, AZ Monsoon storms, lately. He has a YouTube channel.
My sister has a 1998 grand caravan with a blown transmission. 188k miles. My Nissan Cube is in great shape, with 88k miles, but tight storage. My Cube is fiberglass, thus I'm unsure what I can attach to her.
I do need more room. I don't know if it's feasible to attach a rear swingout bracket and a basket/holder of some sort of a rooftop carrier to the cube.
Or, do I get the caravan fixed and use that? Such a toss up. I just don't know.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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I usually buy mini vans based on $0.10 per remaining miles to 200k. And prefer under 50k miles for under $12k. (Not likely available at today's inflated prices.). For better economy and more future years of use, I would look to a 2014-2020 Caravan with VVT engine. (~25-28mpg highway). I prefer an RT or GT trim package that has better suspension, bigger brakes, sway bars, towing package (without hitch from factory).
I consider 188k too many miles to feasibly install a new transmission into a Caravan. ($3500 repair + whatever else it may need in the next 50,000 miles).
Might go to 300k miles if it has had new struts, and front end (steering component's) + water pump, radiator, and if it currently has new tires. But a MN car will die an early death due to rust.
Cube should last to 200k, but would be too small for me.
I know most people would find the Cube too small, and it is small. It worked for me at the LTVA because I bought a small 2 person tent and put the larger things in that. It was cramped while actually traveling but I was okay with that. Now I'm thinking more on caravaning with a group, depending on whether that's going to happen this year, and would be moving every two weeks as it would be BLM land.
I think it's to my benefit to keep the Cube for at least another year, until things settle down and prices are more realistic. Of course, who knows what the ultrasound will show tomorrow. This is all contingent on whether I'm fixable.
But, my question is still, is it feasable or realistic to put a rooftop carrier or swing away carrier on the Cube?
I would stay away from a 24 year old Dodge with nearly 200,000 miles on it. A Ford Transit would be better. I am guessing a rooftop carrier would be feasible.
The issue with roof racks, they kill fuel economy. The drag created causes that.
I saw quite a few roof carriers in Quartzsite and was wondering what they did to the gas mileage. I also like the idea of a swing away better because it would be so easy to get into. It also adds to the overall length of the car though and some of the parking at the stores in Quartzsite are pretty tight. One thing I've always enjoyed about the Cube is how easy it is to drive and park.
I'm trying to gain more space while keeping it easy to drive. Taking out the seats created a lot of room and once I got to a campsite where I was staying for awhile and set up the tent, it was cozy. It was the actual traveling and staying at rest stops where it became cramped.
I still feel you’d be ripped off with the Caravan. I would not trust it on a long trip. It’s not they are bad vehicles. It has a lot of miles, it has age, and it has known issues.
What it would cost to fix the caravan it would be more than what the vehicle is worth. Fix the transmission and the engine lets go. It will either nickel and dime you or cost a lot more than you thought.
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I wish it would rain here. It's supposed to be in the 90's again next week.
