Last December I finally made the choice to trade in my old van. Well, the choice was probably made for me.

I purchased a used 2001 Chevrolet high top conversion van back in 2007 to replace a 1998 Dodge Caravan that was about to drop its transmission. I tend to beat the crap out of my vehicles since I load heavy mobile DJ equipment in the back, to and from events that I host.

The weight of all that equipment has done in several vehicles over the years, including two Dodge Caravans, two Toyota vans, and the Chevrolet van. I have to admit, I really liked the Toyota Vans. They took a beating and kept rolling along for quite a few years.

But, not as long as I had my Chevrolet high top conversion van. I have always admired conversion passenger vans, and when I found this one at a local dealership, I decided it was time to make a purchase. They can be hard to come by. Vans are not the choice of vehicle for most people.

This van was loaded with extras, including six doors, running boards, tinted windows with shades, four bucket seats, a reclining back seat, two audio systems with wireless headphones, a television and VHS player, cool lighting throughout and two air-conditioning units.

I ended up taking out the reclining back seat and one of the middle section bucket seats to make room for my DJ equipment. Over the years, the inside of the van got pretty banged up. That Chevy van kept me on the road for 13 years until it got to the point that it wasn't worth spending the money to keep it running. Plus the rust had begun appearing everywhere including just over the windshield, allowing water to pour in during rainstorms.

That was deciding factor to trade it in for a really nice 2018 Ford van that has everything working, with no rust, scratches or dings. That's quite a step up for me.

I love the fact that I have a van that (currently) doesn't have any issues, but I'm back making monthly payments for the next several years. Hopefully, I can get another 13 years out this van too. Time will tell, but I still miss my conversion van. I hope the new owner is treating it well. Although being realistic, the van is probably being used for parts or was sent to a junk yard. Sigh.

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