Bigfoot/Lake Monster Search Van For Sale
Posted by: Loren Coleman on January 25th, 2011
Photo: Colorado Bigfoot location by Robert Mason, 2010.
A friend of mine, Robert Mason, whose cancer has advanced to a stage where he cannot drive, has sent along the following. I felt if anyone reading this might be interested in a van fully outfitted for cryptozoological field trips, his recent email might be of interest.
Robert’s message follows:
Unfortunately, because of the present state of my health, I will no longer be able to make use of the RV vehicle that I have desired all my life, and must sell it, in part for funds that may be necessary for significant future health care expenses not covered by Medicare.The vehicle will soon be posted on 2 or 3 commercial web sites that sell vehicles, but this morning it occurred to me how often recommendations passed on from friend to friend can lead from a “for sale” to a purchase with both parties ending up more satisfied with what they want than what they can they can get through commercial sales sites. So, I am forwarding the information on to my friends.This 2006, 16′ Mercedes Diesel-Turbo Sprinter van which has been fully converted into an RV has 61,100 miles. Federal Express gave up its entire American fleet of its small trucks of domestic vans in 2003 and replaced them with the Mercedes Sprinters because after extensive research they determined that the maintenance and repair fees on the Sprinters would be way cheaper than these same costs with domestic vans.
My 5 cylinder Diesel Turbo engine is rated by Federal Express after it’s study with a 750,000 mile life and the power train with 500,000 miles before needing rebuilding and the maintenance charges are estimated at 1/2 of domestic van maintainence fees. In other word the 61,000 miles is inconsequential, and after my almost 10,000 mile 4 month trip through the Pacific Northwest and then into Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and then back home to New Mexico, I averaged nearly 24 miles to the gallon, and that was with more than half of my driving on Interstates going 80 mph. No passenger vans can get anywhere near that mileage.
I had cabinetry, and Kitchen galley installed by SPORTSMOBILE, I think the largest conversion company of Vans to RV’s in the U.S. I then continued on with the work of 6 more master craftsmen. The first was a Solar/Electrical genius and creator of solar inventions that are being used and highly praised in Australia, Pacific Islands, Central America and Haiti. He installed a solar panel, two electrical storage batteries, wired the whole van for 12 volt DC current to operate lights, all my electronic needs, water pump, all appliances… in short all of my electrical needs. I never even needed to use the external 110 electrical system in 4 months of travel because I had all the power I needed from my solar panel.
I had a single bed frame and mattress installed, with plenty of storage made under the bed. Also, if someone wanted to adapt this bed frame for a two person frame it would be possible to do this for probably less than $500. The whole outside is virtually like new– no scratches. I also had a custom made stainless steel 24 gal. water tank situated at the rear of van, at the head of the bed frame. You will see it in the photos with the custom made blue canvas cloth cover, with the red strap.The electrical pump is behind the tank and brings water very efficiently to the kitchen sink that is installed.
As you can see in photos, I also got installed the device to rotate the passenger chair 180 degrees to the rear, and also had a very efficient wooden two shelf cabinet made that fits in behind the driver’s seat. Also, you will notice in the photos a new rear towing bar. And beautiful curtains, not showing in any of the photos, but painted by an award-winning painter. They go up in 2 minutes with Velcro attachments.
I am asking $45,000. This will only get me the dollars I have spent to purchase and to transform the vehicle into the RV.I did a 2 month nationwide search to find this Sprinter, which included so much Internet research time and exploring time which required two plane trips to Florida and Texas before finding the vehicle I was searching for… and then two more full months, to fully convert it to a classy RV– I am not trying to recoup any of this money and time. So what I believe is, a buyer is going to purchase the results of a very big project for an extremely reasonable price!!So if you think of a friend or connection who could have an interest in my Sprinter please pass this info along.Thanks for your help,Robert Mason
For those seriously interested, please contact Robert Mason directly at [email protected] and tell him that you heard about this from Loren Coleman.
I wish the International Cryptozoology Museum could afford something like this, but sincerely, I just want to help out a friend and extend this opportunity out to all my friends here. Never can tell when someone could be able to obtain something like this for your use.
Robert Mason
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
Looks like a very sweet ride; it’s sad to learn Mr. Mason needs to separate from his dream crypto-van due to health-related issues. I wish him the best of luck.