want a 4x4 van for almost free?

[Platinum Pete]

A few weeks ago I sold a beloved 1987 Toyota Cargo van with 4wd and a 2 inch lift to a kid here in Portland. He was planning to drive it with some of his bikes to Philadelphia, which I thought it could do if he had a little maintenance done first (flush fluids, oil change). I'm not sure if he did the work, but I got a letter from the Sweetwater County Sheriff in Wyoming that the van had been abandoned along I-80. The van can be retrieved for the cost of the tow, but it probably needs some kind of work done. It is a totally kick ass van, I have another as my mini-RV for sleeping at trailheads and parking lots and I love it. It is grey with an A-Team stripe up the side.

If anyone wants to head over to Sweetwater County and pick this thing up, I'll work with you on documentation. I'm not going all that way to get thhe van back, but it pains my heart to think that the beautiful beast is going to the crusher.

[lemon boy]

I have absolutely no use for such a thing, no time to go get it and nowhere to park it....but I am really tempted.

somebody pick this thing up!

[Core Shot]

I think it could be the sister vehicle to the TGR orange pickup

[El Chupacabra]

Paging bio-smear to the Toyota AWD van courtesy phone...

[corn dog]

Is it possible to call dibs on this beast? I had a non4x4 version and loved it, except for it breaking down too much, but I think I just had a dud.
Hmmm, I'm headed out of town for a week, but maybe I can figure something out, if no one else gets there first.

[natty dread]

PM sent pete, I have a friend who would really want this van and who is really deserving of a good deal. He's owned 2 previous toyota vans and knows how to work on them.
Let's try to make this work!

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

Good on 'ya for offering it up to the collective, Pete.

I'm sure we could all chip in for a case of Tangerine Krylon for the lucky recipient......

[fez]

Is it possible to call dibs on this beast? I had a non4x4 version and loved it, except for it breaking down too much, but I think I just had a dud.
Hmmm, I'm headed out of town for a week, but maybe I can figure something out, if no one else gets there first.

you really need to sell that condo and buy a big house with lots of land. someday you're gonna be like the cat lady with paths leading through the piles of old new papers around the house. except instead of newpapers it will be ski gear.

[Cirquerider]

FYI Sweetwater County = Rock Springs / Green River.
I'm sure anyone willing to pick this up will have a great adventure.
The cost of filling the tank with gas probably exceeds the value of the vehicle.

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

FYI Sweetwater County = Rock Springs / Green River.
I'm sure anyone willing to pick this up will have a great adventure.
The cost of filling the tank with gas probably exceeds the value of the vehicle.

Well worth the cost. If nothing else, just to see a piece of some of the most beautiful (relatively) unmolested land left in this country.

[corn dog]

you really need to sell that condo and buy a big house with lots of land. someday you're gonna be like the cat lady with paths leading through the piles of old new papers around the house. except instead of newpapers it will be ski gear.

That is my dream!!

[Platinum Pete]

Natty PM'd me first, followed by Corn Dog 3 minutes later.
Here's what I told them:

I'd be stoked to see this van live on.

The letter from the Sweetwater Sheriff says:
The proper procedure to obtain this vehicle is to bring a proof of ownership to the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office in Rock Springs and then pay for the tow bill. After proof of ownership has been verified and the tow bill has been paid the vehicle will be released to you by the storage yard. After 30 days the storage yard has the right to charge a storage fee, and the vehicle may be put up for auction or destroyed.

The van was tagged abandoned on August 18, so 30 days from there is September 17th.

When I sold the van I gave the kid all the documentation, the title and reg, everything. He said he was going to the DMV before his trip, but I have no idea if he did or if the registration didn't go through before he ditched it or what. That may create legal title issues down the line. I don't mind creating a phony bill of sale saying I sold it to you or a buddy, but this kid has my signature on thhe title and I'd hate for the legal system to get pissy. I have no way of contacting the kid, I don't even remember his name.

About the van: 1987 Toyota Cargo van 4wd, 2 inch lift, 187k miles, no seats in back, front seats have some rips, auto tranny, locking hubs, badly cracked windshield. When I sold it, it needed an oil change and fluid flush. It had plenty of highway power, good mileage (high 20's), and no overheating problems. These vans are nototious for cooling system problems, especially if you drive thhem too hard - which is my guess as to why this van was left on the side of thhe road.

- Pete

[bagtagley]

Well worth the cost. If nothing else, just to see a piece of some of the most beautiful (relatively) unmolested land left in this country.

I'd say there is no shortage of molestors in that area.

[Tri-Ungulate]

ToyoVans are awesome. I've run through 3 2WD versions (first one sold to buy the second, which had a 5-spd stick and a camping setup, third one to replace the second that I flipped on Route 666, third one currently in the garage in back, needs some work). The 4x4 versions are even better - they're the ultimate dirtbag skier/climber mobiles and being Toyotas are super durable. Cool of Pete to offer it up - somebody take him up on the offer!

[corn dog]

I can't do anything for just over a week, and don't reaaaally need it, but if no one has moved on it by then I will explore it further.

[Platinum Pete]

here's a pic:

[iceman]

It's a bummer, but I don't think you can give the thing away, Pete. You sold it to the kid, he has all the paperwork including title and registration...it's his, even though he abandoned it. Maybe you could work something out with the sherrifff like a mini-auction or something, I dunno.

[G]

These vans are nototious for cooling system problems,

I had a van just like that once. Got it for free, because the owner thought he overheated the engine and blew it all up. Turns out it was just a broken radiator cap. $7 fix and the thing ran great.

And, it was painted plain white, looking at it from the side, it looked like a big white lump. We called it "the mogul"

[El Chupacabra]

These are popping up all over the place...

Free '87 Toyota 4WD van in Reno:

http://reno.craigslist.org/zip/206263531.html

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

I had a van just like that once. Got it for free, because the owner thought he overheated the engine and blew it all up. Turns out it was just a broken radiator cap. $7 fix and the thing ran great.

And, it was painted plain white, looking at it from the side, it looked like a big white lump. We called it "the mogul"

Awesome.

[LIP]

It's a bummer, but I don't think you can give the thing away, Pete. You sold it to the kid, he has all the paperwork including title and registration...it's his, even though he abandoned it. Maybe you could work something out with the sherrifff like a mini-auction or something, I dunno.

If the dude had registered it, wouldn't the notification of abandonment have gone to him since he would be on the books as the owner? Worth checking into anyway.

[Platinum Pete]

If the dude had registered it, wouldn't the notification of abandonment have gone to him since he would be on the books as the owner? Worth checking into anyway.

I think the timeline of events has the probability of new owner registration at about 50/50. He may have submitted the papers and left town, broke down, and some clerk is just now sending out his new reg and title. Or he might have said, "fuck it, I'm going to rack up some parking tickets before I register this thing and never pay them."