Looking for Advice on Joint Ownership of a Van with Friends

jwrathall on 02/01/2022 - 22:39

I, like many, am increasing in my desire to purchase a van, to then refurbish it to travel the country in. However, like a true OzBargainer, I am voraciously searching for how to avoid spending more than I need to, to get what I want.

Given that to buy a reasonably new van and renovate it nicely costs a lot these days, 4 of my friends and I have discussed the idea of co-purchasing a van and sharing the cost of renovating, maintenance, income, sales, as neither of us want it full time, but for the occasional weekend, small-medium road trip, festival, etc. I thought that I could draft up an agreement/contract to make it as fair and clear as possible in all the areas below. I would love your opinions on whether you think this is smart/stupid/in-between idea, or whether you might have done something like this before, and any lessons? Perhaps you could comment on the contract items that I've drafted below, or add some parts that might be important to resolve? Cheers!

DRAFT CONTRACT ITEMS

Agreeing on Vehicle selection and purchase

Common Ownership and Share Percentages

Clarifying up-front and future cost/income division and payment from a common fund
Purchase
Mileage
Servicing
Fuel
Registrations
Damages
Fines/Tolls/Demerit Points
Car Washing
Rent Income
Insurance
Separate items and accessories within Vehicle that can be excluded, ie subwoofer

Conditions of Use
For how long and how many times per year can each party use the Vehicle?
How is the Vehicle to be rented out, by which company(s) and how does this relate to Owner use regarding priority?
Where will the Vehicle be parked?
Identify where and how bookings are to be made, and how priority is given
Is there nuance in the value of Owner bookings in peak/offpeak periods, such as Christmas, weekends, long weekends, seasons?
How are Inspections/Damage undertaken/managed?
Authority to make decisions
One Owner, or jointly based (majority or unanimous)?

Appointment and Arrangement of Vehicle Manager
Ensure payments required of all Owners into the Common Fund
Purchase and maintain Accessories as required
Manage all dealings relating to

Insurance
Maintenance/Servicing/Repairs
Who will be the insurer?
Coverage amount
Who’s name will the policy be under?
How many drivers can be included in the policy?
If an Owner commits a driving infraction which increases the cost of the insurance, then that person will be responsible for the increase in the premiums

Dispute Resolution Process

Exit/Sale/Termination/Death clauses

Procedures for admitting new sharers

Valuation

Automotive

Comments

  • Quantumcat on 02/01/2022 - 22:42
    +211

    Sounds like a great way to lose friends. I wouldn't do it.

  • Stopback on 02/01/2022 - 22:47
    +2

    The bargains are not having to deal with bad after service support

    Money ain't everything

  • aoeueoa on 02/01/2022 - 22:52
    +36

    I think the success of this is going to be the opposite of a clearly-defined contract. When it comes down to it, if you have to hold someone to wording of a contract they're unlikely to want to be your friends after that and then it'll be downhill.

    For this to work you'd want everyone to be extremely good friends, very generous toward each other, and to be the type of friends who will happily/proactively buy each other things where money is not really an issue. If someone takes the van and it comes back empty you have 1. someone who isn't courteous enough to fill up and 2. someone who's going to be upset about that. If this is gonna work you need a group of friends that would ensure both 1 and 2 are unlikely to happen.

    I co-share cars, motorbikes, and about to be a boat with my bestie. We don't care about these things and money is never a sore point between us. We do whatever we can and if the other forgets to fill the tank we know it'll be right the next time. If there had to be a written contract between us I wouldn't be his mate and I wouldn't want to co-share.

    • jwrathall on 02/01/2022 - 23:00
      +3

      Thanks for your thoughts. I just thought some kind of contract would let people know how things are planned to work. I don't want it to be too wordy, or even necessarily legally binding, but more as guidelines for use, particularly if it's for more than just 2 people. These are good friends, and I would have thought friendships might be more likely jeopardised if some kind of contract weren't written.

      • Hybroid on 02/01/2022 - 23:11
        +13

        aoeueoa's point is correct which you may have missed. If you have to draw up a contract to let people know how things work, then this isn't an advisable venture. Really good friends can borrow each others stuff, occasionally damage or lose things without recourse while at other times add their own stuff into the mix.

        I have maybe 2 close friends only I would happily loan my car or boat to without worry and even if they did damage something, it wouldn't bother me as much. Those are the people I would happily agree to go in halves with something bigger in future.

      • beesquared on 04/01/2022 - 15:34
        +1

        maybe don't call it a contract. I think each person should document their pros and cons, then work through the possible issues and work out the best way to proceed. Personally, don't so it, lots of alarm bells going off.

      • magikz on 04/01/2022 - 18:51
        +2

        I actually think OP is more correct than what aoeueoa is suggesting. If you rely on vague notions of what is and isn't courteous then inevitably someone is going to be upset. Saying that the other person shares the same level of care / hakuna matta attitude makes a lot of assumptions. At least if it's written down, or at least discussed, then everyone has a clear idea about expectations.

      • SkMed on 05/01/2022 - 10:38
        +1

        I'd say don't use the word contract and you shld be fine. Just call it the van rules, or guidelines. Not too wordy and specific and not a contract. Just a list of stuff you all agree on written down somewhere, just in case anyone forgets anything in the far flung future.

        Tbh, doing some like this with good mates could easily strengthen your friendship rather than having it end in disaster as everyone is saying. If you're the kind of people who want a camper van, into vanlife and want to share a minor assets, then I assume you're pretty easy going and likely not to have major issues like most people here might with their supposed mates…

        I'd only do something like this with my long term mates (10+ years) and/or people I've lived with previously. Definitely not a mate I made last year at uni or a festival type mate.

    • bobbified on 02/01/2022 - 23:52
      +3

      ^^ What this guy said - if you have to have a contract for something like this, you're not good/close enough mates to be doing something like this. Contracts are for businesses, not a group of so-called mates.

      • Tleyx on 04/01/2022 - 18:38
        +2

        A contract avoids misunderstandings

        • bobbified on 04/01/2022 - 18:40
          +1

          That's the point - if you're close enough to someone, you'd understand them a lot already.

          • Tleyx on 04/01/2022 - 18:40

            @bobbified: It's not about understanding them it's agreeing before hand

            • bobbified on 04/01/2022 - 18:46

              @Tleyx: If you're close, I assume you would trust that person to be reasonable too. You don't need a contract that covers every single possible scenario. You would pick very specific people for this kind of thing based on the type of person you know them to be.

              For example, if you know someone's a tightarse, you wouldn't want to get involved in anything like this with that person. There's a very good chance there'll be an argument about money! A contract isn't necessarily going to help you very much in that case.

              • Tleyx on 04/01/2022 - 21:01
                +1

                @bobbified: It's just the basic common scenario.

                It doesn't hurt to get a contract just so you don't have misunderstandings

                • bobbified on 04/01/2022 - 21:18
                  +1

                  @Tleyx: The problem is, getting a contract isn't just "getting a contract". You're indirectly telling your supposed close mates that you don't trust them.

              • Jackson on 04/01/2022 - 22:18
                +1

                @bobbified:

                you know someone's a tightarse, you wouldn't want to get involved in anything like this with that person

                That just excluded everyone on Ozbargain

                • Tleyx on 05/01/2022 - 09:17
                  +1

                  @Jackson: Maybe that's why this is so unpopular here everyone expects everyone to be like them

    • Bobby Hill on 05/01/2022 - 21:27
      +1

      I would say the opposite.

      Everyone argues that they have a great friendship until push comes to shove. And then they come running back here complaining that their friend hasn’t “paid them back” or “returned their scooter”.

      "Friendship" is a broad term. The majority of people haven’t been in a tested friendship. Heck, notice how people use qualifiers such as "extremely good" friend or "bestie". Why differentiate between "friends"?

      If you have genuinely bonded with a person and have maintained a stronger connection in the aftermath, then you would appreciate the nuance of that relationship and would agree that it’s the exception, not the norm. Furthermore, expectation is a two-way street. Ironically @auoueoa's co-shareing is exactly that - an implied contract based on expectaions.

      A contract sets expectations and removes uncertainty, instead of bellowing it away until a conflict arises. It facilitates equitable outcomes and it’s the olive branch that represents commitment and respect for the other parties. If your friends are offended by it, then that’s the red flag.

  • Benoffie on 02/01/2022 - 23:11
    +5

    Yeah this won't end well.

  • FLICKIT on 02/01/2022 - 23:22
    +15

    One person babies it and the next drives it like they stole it because it will only cost them 25% of the repair costs, win win ?

  • Muzeeb on 02/01/2022 - 23:23
    +4

    Not worth the future pain. AVOID!

  • Domingo on 02/01/2022 - 23:29
    +5

    Just at surface value, if you want to travel the country in it, what are the odds that if it's a 5 way split (given you said yourself and 4 friends), it will be available for at the times for the duration that you want it for?

    • jwrathall on 02/01/2022 - 23:42
      -1

      We would use a booking system that would be somewhat limited by amount of use/peak season/first-in-first-served

      • pharkurnell on 03/01/2022 - 00:02
        +28

        Theres more chance of walking on the sun in thongs than this working as you expect…

        • jwrathall on 04/01/2022 - 23:22

          I'm not naive to the fact that not everyone is going to get their exact wishes of booking times. As we are friends, I feel there will be leniency here. Even if someone is slightly getting the raw end of the deal, it will still (IMO) be more cost effective to do this, as long as each of our expectations is not super high.

          The website below has a very similar system to what I'm suggesting, for boats.
          https://boatequity.com.au/

          • pharkurnell on 04/01/2022 - 23:27
            +1

            @jwrathall: Your mind was made up already by the sound of it, with all the people saying bad idea, looks like you dont want to hear that.

            good luck.

            • jwrathall on 05/01/2022 - 17:01

              @pharkurnell: This discussion has definitely made me think twice. I'm probably erring on not doing it now… perhaps I have too optimistic a mindset. The reason I raised this post what because I had doubts and wanted peoples opinions and comments, and I have taken a lot on board. The majority of comments seem to centre around:
              a) a misalignment of expectations
              b) my friends being sly and dishonest about use
              c) disagreements on purchases + maintenance

              I'm a pretty easy-going guy, who doesn't freak out about a ding or scratch, or a slight imbalance of use equity. I am perhaps overly optimistic, and I'm pretty torn about what I'll end up doing. I might just pick 1 friend to go halves in, and that way you can be sure if something goes wrong, where it's coming from.

    • Bobby Hill on 05/01/2022 - 21:45
      +1

      This is the biggest issue with co-ownership agreements and the biggest area of contention (OP - see above re my comment on contracts).

      The premise of purchasing a boat/van/holiday home together is that everyone has limited time to enjoy the asset. Thus the idea is, if you cannot enjoy the asset full-time, why not split the cost with others and share it equally.

      However, the only available time for most people are during the peak holiday seasons, especially when you have to deal with compulsory leave over the Christmas break and public holidays.

      OP - a booking system is not going to solve this if people only have specific dates of the year they can actually use the van in the first place.

      You are going to have to do a cost-benefit calculation, but you are honestly much more better off hiring a van when you need to, especially if you quantify the reduced stress and added certainty.

  • SF3 on 02/01/2022 - 23:41
    +5

    A lot of assumptions for this to have the slimmest chance of success.

  • afoveht on 02/01/2022 - 23:46
    +12

    A lawyer once told me "The path to hell is owned with good intentions." That was about 10 years ago at $550/hour and the only specifics of the meeting I remember now.

    • Lastchancetosee on 03/01/2022 - 08:40
      +15

      Pedant alert - it is 'paved', not 'owned', but a valid point nonetheless.

      • afoveht on 03/01/2022 - 11:06
        +16

        Yes, autocorrect is also paved with good intentions.

  • upended on 03/01/2022 - 00:12
    +8

    neither of us want it full time, but for the occasional weekend, small-medium road trip, festival, etc.

    Why don't you just hire a van instead and enjoy the experience with your mates? I'm sure you have thought about this option. Any particular reason you all want to buy?

    • jwrathall on 03/01/2022 - 00:23

      To save on the cost of hiring decent vans. There are massive overheads and fees the booking sites charge. We also intended to renovate it ourselves.

      • FLICKIT on 03/01/2022 - 01:08
        +7

        We also intended to renovate it ourselves.

        If that's the plan buy your own non-campervan bus or van and fit it out yourself…

        I paid $6k for a semi-rough but mechanically sound 1997 Hiace Commuter bus with 130k on the clock in 2016, I did my own cheap & basic fit out so I could carry a motorbike in there long distance and be comfortable… I built it and modified it along the way to suit what I was doing at the time… 3 laps of the country plus lots of local trips, 80,000+ km later, she's well and truly paid for herself many times over and the capital upfront cost is minor compared to the fuel costs and money saved by having free accommodation while roaming around the country…

        If/when I did/do it again I'd throw more money in at the start…

        • jwrathall on 04/01/2022 - 23:30

          Yes, I lived in a Hiace Commuter for 3 months, and loved it, but a 2006 model that had a lot of maintenance and repair costs. I agree that van life is the best, but I only want it for short term use. I don't want a rusting, mechanically unsound van, as I've seen firsthand the struggles (I'm not mechanically minded, but older vans have been the bane of some of my friend's existences).

          I guess by having more people, we could get a Sprinter 2016 or later for $35k+ and allow $15k to deck it out.

      • LFO on 03/01/2022 - 19:03
        +2

        To save on the cost of hiring decent vans.

        A brand new "decent van" (if all agree on what that is) could be between $50,000 to $90,000 (and up).
        Add the conversion and might be touching $130,000 or up to the sky.

        Alternatively why not rent a fully set ~$190,000 Sprinter for about $300 a day. A lot lot less for very long hiring … and long long hiring will be perfect when +4 (or 9!) months means 4 different users …

        • jwrathall on 04/01/2022 - 23:34

          I've thought about this. IMO an owned van is an asset that can be resold, and renting as much as we would (say 40 days per year) would cost $12k per year just renting. I would rather put my money toward something owned.

        • Jackson on 05/01/2022 - 00:11

          A brand new van is not what someone typically means when they say a "decent van", in this case he means one that is decent enough condition that's big enough I would hazard to say. No one is chopping up a brand new van at home (in case they are thinking about saving money) and even less are going to spend the 130k+ as you say.

          I have been considering kitting out a van for some time, and just in the last few weeks I have seen a 37L fridge for 170, a gas stove for 150, a roll of pex for 19 bucks. Add a bed, a solar panel and battery, some taps and a sink and you are all set. You can even not do a sink and just add a bed and use facilities on the road. Can cost you bugger all

          • LFO on 05/01/2022 - 12:22
            +1

            @Jackson:

            Can cost you bugger all

            Yes, agree 100%. But will the other van partners have the same feelings?

            Just by chatting with friends about "my expectations" (none of theirs) and virtually immediately starts with the "toilet" and "shower" needs

            Also a van with no side windows is "claustrophobic" for some, calm dark paradise for a few of us.

            Standing up is absolutely essential for some but not for all.
            Cooking one and every meal inside the van is another, bringing cooking smells as wonderful and homey or very unpleasant for others.

            And the bed!! Always flat and ready or having to make it every time?

            Will everyone involved agree on everything?

            and renting as much as we would (say 40 days per year) would cost $12k per year just renting. I would rather put my money toward something owned.

            Long term renting will cost a lot less. As in one contract of 9(?) months to share between all.

            Ownership also bring maintenance, servicing , rego and insurance. Ain't free.
            An old modified van is priceless for the owner but no so for a buyer. It is a funny asset …

            Nice good topic to chat about it.

            • Jackson on 05/01/2022 - 14:19
              +1

              @LFO: Yeah I have been mulling over these points. TBH I think I'd rather have a small bbq/stove to cook on that I can remove and do under a 2.5m awning (another thing I bought recenly for about $50 from the anaconda deal). The main question is do I need an oven, or just a toaster. I can't see myself sitting there cooking a slow roast for hours on end. the second question is electricity or gas? Gas is definitely easier and more convenient, electricity if you only plan on saying at people's houses or powered sites (which is some people's schtick). I took an induction cooktop away with me last time and I could power that off the car directly up to 1000W (which is the maximum my inverter will do) and I think it's compelling compared to gas. Even though it was only on 1000 from a max of 1900, I could do everything I wants just a bit slower than at home, and no need to carry a bottle.

              I picked up an electric instantaneous hot water heater for 37 bucks off ebay and I'm amazed at how decent it is. Everyone in the family has used it and are fine with it, even the ones that love hot showers are ok making the concession. Could potentially fit it to the side of the van on a bracket and take a small plastic matt to shower on. The toilet, I really think people don't want to rely on one on the road if they can help it, but a small chemical one from Aldi might do the trick in an emergency. There's toilets available for people to use just about anywhere up and down the eastern seaboard.

              The bed is one thing I haven't settled on, it really would depend on the size of the van if you can afford to keep it out, and how many are travelling. 2 people you could keep it out, 4 (2 adults 2 kids) you need a setup that can be put away.

              Maintenance and servicing isn't that bad, many people willing to slum it are also motivated enough to do the basic maintenance themselves, let alone people who are happy to mod a van for travelling

              and yes agree, it's a great topic to chat about

  • raptormesh on 03/01/2022 - 01:06
    +8

    Hiring a van seems like a more prudent option…

  • bazingaa on 03/01/2022 - 03:25
    +1

    Deja Vu : https://10play.com.au/five-bedrooms

  • tallkid123 on 03/01/2022 - 06:32
    +29

    What a terrible idea. Honestly, you should all buy your own damn vans and then you can drive them around as a convoy.

    • DemocracyManifest on 03/01/2022 - 08:44
      +2

      Underrated comment

    • jwrathall on 04/01/2022 - 23:36

      I can't quite fork out $50-$80k on the van that I would want (removing older vans), so finance is the problem for me here.

  • Euphemistic on 03/01/2022 - 07:02
    +3

    I agree that a contract you front is a good way of setting the ground rules and making sure everyone understands expectations. others have said that a contract will ruin friendships and you should just trust each other, but at least if you go on up front with agreed expectations you have all agreed to. You don’t need a contract but you need a written agreement.

    I don’t think that a 4/5 way ownership model will work very well. It’s too many owners. What are the odds you’ll all want to travel at the same time? You need to have an agreed exit strategy for when inevitably one party wants their own full time ownership of a (different) van or just wants out. Too many chances for change in circumstances that mean the ownership needs to change. Might work with less owners.

    • jwrathall on 04/01/2022 - 23:39

      Thanks for your thoughts. It would be a secondary weekender type vehicle, or for holidays. I agree, it might not be perfect, but perhaps just 2 owners might be a better idea.

  • foxmulder on 03/01/2022 - 08:34
    +4

    If just seldomly used, why not just rent a van whenever you need it?

  • Waltervp on 03/01/2022 - 09:29
    +5

    Yep, rent a van! Great way to lose friends and money. A great way to explain it is the group house situation where these 4 friends lived together for 4 years and had to leave. On the last day they asked each other who felt paid the majority of bills, bought the most food, did the most cleaning,… they were all convinced they each did most!!!! None felt it was ever fairly distributed and they all felt they were supporting the others. They all drank a lot and took enough drugs to not let it worry them too much fortunately….

    But in your case you will all feel taken advantage of! Don't do it!

  • 82norm on 03/01/2022 - 09:34
    +2

    If something goes wrong and neither parties agree on whose wrong, right etc, then you could be left in a dilemma. Having each other then take sides could ruin friendships etc. Just be mindful of that.

  • Iluvfreebies-freeDel on 03/01/2022 - 09:38
    +4

    Just hire a van and share the cost of each hire.

  • b0rnwithabeard on 03/01/2022 - 09:39
    +11

    this is one of the worst ideas i’ve heard

    • zombie hunter on 03/01/2022 - 18:33

      No second.
      Worst share in a commune

  • pegaxs on 03/01/2022 - 09:53
    +19

    Can’t see that going wrong when it’s your turn to have the van and Johnno decided he wanted to extend his trip to QLD for another week and just tells you to “chill dude”.

    Or when the van shits a water pump in the middle of Bumfuk, Idaho and everyone says “I wasn’t driving, I didn’t break it so I’m not paying.”

    Or you go to drive it and Simmo always leaves it out of fuel every time he drives it.

    Or it needs rego and insurance paid, but Smithy drags his heels on his share for 3 months until he says “yeah, I’m out” and wants his share returned and back dates it to before rego and insurance was due, even though he used it the most since rego was due.

    • GrueHunter on 04/01/2022 - 11:51
      +2

      this guy groupvans

    • Euphemistic on 04/01/2022 - 12:33

      But the contract will cover all of those eventualities so there won’t be any issues. /s

      • pegaxs on 06/01/2022 - 11:48

        OP's next thread… "Had a contract for a vanshare with some friends and now Simmo and Damo don't want to pay their share and telling me to shove it up my (fropanity). What do??"

    • Jackson on 05/01/2022 - 00:37

      Your mates sound like a pack of ****s

  • OzHunterNSW on 03/01/2022 - 10:10
    +1

    Forget about it. Sounds like more than two people. Going to cost thousands just for the "van"… then thousands more to refurbish.

    Just buy a secondhand already fitted out van. Do your trip, then split the difference.

    No one… and I mean no one, is going to buy a makeshift van.

  • jrvb42 on 03/01/2022 - 10:19
    +6

    This just made me think of the roommate agreement between Sheldon and Leonard on Big bang theory. And likely to cause as many problems. If you have too many friends, go right ahead.

    • foxmulder on 03/01/2022 - 17:23
      +3

      One episode when four of them bought and shared a time machine.

  • WT on 03/01/2022 - 10:41
    +2

    too complicated.

    something that may work instead is chipping in for a fridge, battery, inverter, portable solar. Something to cook with, a decent tent, tarps etc then just use your own cars and sleeping bags

  • Alexxx on 03/01/2022 - 15:32
    +1

    I wouldn't do this, have a good mate that did something similar with a boat. Inevitably the others wouldn't bother cleaning or fuelling it and one even forgot to renew the rego, in the end they asked him to buy them out and that was the end of it.

  • belongsinforums on 03/01/2022 - 15:53
    +1

    You can rent vans super cheap if you drive them to return them to their origin.

    • serpserpserp on 03/01/2022 - 17:38

      Wait… There are people that rent cars at a fraction of their cost?

      • pharkurnell on 05/01/2022 - 17:50

        I dont believe it…. not possible..

  • deme on 03/01/2022 - 16:02

    Getting legal advice from OzBargain is not a deal.

  • johnno07 on 03/01/2022 - 16:18
    +8

    I cannot describe how much of a f***ing nightmare this sounds like.

  • greatlamp on 03/01/2022 - 16:27
    +7

    Since you seem like the responsible one in the group, you're the most likely to end up with the short end of the stick.

  • pembajak_sejati on 03/01/2022 - 17:12
    +2

    in 12 months op will post and ask opinion here on how to enforce the contract and come out from deep hole

    • 91rs on 03/01/2022 - 17:18
      +1

      But all the legal fees get split 4 or 5 ways too when they do the wrong thing??
      This is the worst idea ever.

  • tessel on 03/01/2022 - 17:23
    +1

    No

  • El cheepo on 03/01/2022 - 17:27
    +3

    1 friend drives it on their turn and scratches it, doesn’t say anything.

    Another friend takes it and decides to take it off road and accidentally smashes a hole in the sump, does a dodgy fix to save money.

    Another takes it for a 5,000k drive and never checks and overheats it and cooks the engine.

    You jump in and find all this crap wrong with it and wonder why you didn’t just rent a van.

    There are other services available for people that like to be tortured…

  • RolandWaites on 03/01/2022 - 17:27
    +3

    Keep in mind if there's five of you, there's a reasonable chance you're going to get to use it on the dates you want once every full cycle. So if you want to take it away over Easter, you're likely going to be able to do that twice a decade. Do you think you, or your friends, will still be enthusiastic about driving this thing around in 2032? What happens when it comes to things like upgrades. Maybe you reckon it could do with a new washing up system. Your mate reckons go Gumtree and get one for $150, but you think it's a good long-term investment to spend $1000 and get something decent. Who wins that one? How about when it has a major failure needing repair, like a head gasket, and you want your mate who hasn't seen the van in two years to send through a few hundred bucks to help with the costs?

    The van life is a great dream, but save up a bit longer and maybe try do it by yourself or with your best mate.

  • echineon on 03/01/2022 - 17:28
    +1

    The only way I think it might just work is:
    - A very close knit of friends who have kept each other in check through thick and thin
    - Even then, all of them would have different income level/outlook on finance
    - Pool as much money one could together, set a budget for a used van, get one, that way no one get to say I put more than you did, you all put in as much as you could
    - everyone pool their labour together to get the van to the level of needs/comfort with what you built/save; as each has put in their labour working on the van, I doubt they would want to flog it
    - flog it and have the group talk when someone is not contributing/respecting common property, please don't get petty but like genuinely looking out for other (are you struggle with finance, with family, etc., don't dwell on you didn't fill up the tank on your last trip).

    Good luck, my mates are too lazy and so do I, hope it works out for you.

  • serpserpserp on 03/01/2022 - 17:36
    +1

    Who gets the subwoofer when you break up as friends is going to be a big fight…

    • zombie hunter on 03/01/2022 - 18:34
      +1

      Who cares about the woofer. I want the wheels

  • gimli on 03/01/2022 - 18:12

    This will depend on your friends. But seems like a fun idea if you can get it to work.

    The main sticky points I see is deciding who gets to use the van when. (I assume everyone would want the van during holiday periods?)
    If you have 4 friends maybe each friend keeps the van for 1 month on a rotating roster. (You may need to make the roster for few years ahead so holidays etc are evenly distributed).

    I think for this to work the cost has to be trivial enough for each person that they wouldn't mind paying for it even if they don't end up using the van much. Ultimately, there probably will be 1 friend who doesn't get much value out of it compared to another who gets super value out of it.

  • Series4Episode10 on 03/01/2022 - 18:14
    +2

    And the law of averages said "Thou Shalt Be Friends NO MORE!"

  • LFO on 03/01/2022 - 18:49

    Well … key issues could be what everyone think is "important"

    Toilet?
    Shower?
    Oven?
    Bed always done? (no folds up crap)

    And:
    Lots of windows around van or none at all?
    Solar panels or a bigger alternator?
    Air conditioner or fans?

    Lots of different individual choices.

    One thing is sure. I have seen lots and lots and lots of small motor-homes/vans parked inside peoples houses (but still visible) and they never ever seem to get away, to travel.
    Perhaps is a two or three experiences and then never ever again?

    Rent one first to be sure if it is and will be your thing.

    • jwrathall on 04/01/2022 - 23:48

      I have vanlifed a bunch before, and lived in vans for about 5/6 months of my life… I love it!

      • LFO on 05/01/2022 - 12:10

        I have vanlifed a bunch before

        That is a plus plus. Well done!!
        I am aiming to the same!!

        Regarding joint ownership, do they all share the same passion?

        • jwrathall on 05/01/2022 - 17:10

          Yes, all of them are open-minded, and have lived in vans at least for a couple of weeks. If my friends were the more corporate-type who want everything their way and to be purely $ and asset focussed, I'd be more concerned (as it seems 95% here are).

  • Dreamcast on 03/01/2022 - 19:13
    +4

    There's always going to be that one douche who ruins it fot everyone, contract or no contract.

    Don't do it.

  • solidussnake on 03/01/2022 - 21:24
    +1

    This is not the way

  • CocaKoala on 03/01/2022 - 22:46

    This makes no sense at all. I cannot believe someone rational will think of this as a good idea.

  • Vote for Pedro on 03/01/2022 - 23:04
    +2

    Don’t. Do. It.

    /End thread

  • mitt on 03/01/2022 - 23:24
    +3

    Buy it yourself. Pay for it yourself. Rent it to them at mates rates to recoup costs.

  • PhatChedda on 04/01/2022 - 00:59
    +1

    Bangbus?

    • meowsers on 05/01/2022 - 15:30

      Hahahaha I came (no pun intended) to post this exact comment. God bless you sir/ma’am.

  • Sidog on 04/01/2022 - 01:47
    +4

    You've literally sucked all the fun out of owning a van with four mates, congratulations.

  • SkMed on 04/01/2022 - 07:59
    +1

    Really all depends on how your friendship is with these mates.

    I used to live with all my close mates in a 9 bedroom house for 9 years.
    Ive been renting a permanent shared space for band/rehearsal with 8 mates the past 5 years.
    And I did share a bomb of a car with one mate for a couple years.

    All of these were without any contract, major issues or loss of friendships, if anything these experiences strengthened them. So really it all depends on you and your relationship with your mates.

    Im guessing most people commenting here don't have really solid long term friendships, but this kind of thing can definately work just fine if they are actually really good long term mates (like 10+ years).

    With the car we just did it informally as I got it super cheap. Split the regggo and mechanical repairs. He dinged it a few times but didn't bother me as it was a cheap old car and he was learning in it.

    I also recently considered buying a house with my closest mate (and still might in the future), and splitting a vacant beach block with several others. Close mates are always going to be more reliable than any boyfriend/girlfriend/wife/husband at the end of the day, so it's going to be less risky than joint ownership with a significant other tbh…

    • SkMed on 04/01/2022 - 08:04

      I'd also say you should all agree that you aren't going into this to make a profit, and should assume that when it comes time to get rid of it you should all assume it's worth $0 (it might be I'd someone crashes it or it gets stolen etc.)

      Also, if any of you are precious about the exterior appearance (dings/scratches) then it's probably not a good idea either.

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