California Couple Buys 340,000-Mile Used Camper Van for $4,300: The Story Behind 'Crayola'

Escape Camper Van, a popular rent-a-van outfit, announced its closure and liquidation of assets—including its entire fleet of converted rental campers—several months ago. The news caught the attention of an old acquaintance of mine, someone I frequently discussed cars with years prior. After seeing the liquidation post, he decided a used camper van might be the perfect fit for his needs and purchased one.

At first, the story seemed too mundane to revisit, but curiosity led me to an old conversation with this person. That’s when I stumbled upon an image of the same van I had written about last year. After a bit of detective work, I managed to track down a way to reach out. Fifteen years had passed since our last contact—hardly an eternity in today’s digital age—but he responded almost immediately. Pleasantries and contact details were exchanged, and soon after, Will Angel shared a detailed report on his newly acquired camper van, which he had named “Crayola.”

Meet 'Crayola': A 2012 Ford Econoline with 340,000 Miles

The van is a 2012 Ford Econoline E-150, painted in a vibrant color scheme to match its name. Unlike a wrap, the paint job was applied directly to the vehicle. Inside, it features a fully customized camper interior, though it came with nearly 350,000 miles on the odometer.

Angel explained the purchase:

“After seeing your story on the bankruptcy auction, my wife and I decided to grab the van to try a different kind of bopping-around. We got it for around $4,300 after purchase, auction fees, and DMV bother, and figured that a running E-150 with a clean title and a passed smog test wasn’t going to lose us much money.”

While this logic may be specific to California’s used-car market, $4,300 for a running vehicle with no check engine light is a rare find these days—especially one offering this level of utility. However, Crayola’s custom upgrades made it appealing to a very niche group of buyers, and Angel and his wife considered themselves part of that group.

From Auction Yard to Home: The Van’s Journey

Angel picked up the van at a freight yard in Antioch, where it had been sitting among 30 to 40 other Econolines and Transits. The drive home was uneventful but not without surprises. Upon closer inspection, they discovered the van had ancient, leaking shocks, a worn ball joint, and rear brakes that were metal-on-metal (despite the fronts being brand-new).

“Not a ton of effort beyond fluids,” Angel noted. To address some of the mechanical issues, he repurposed some Yokohama Geolandars from his previous Honda Element, as they happened to be the right size and load rating.

Interior Upgrades: Personal Touches for a Nomadic Life

Angel and his wife made several interior modifications to enhance comfort and functionality. They built a new table, upgraded the curtains, installed wood-esque flooring, added a budget-friendly CarPlay head unit, and repaired some broken trim. As a finishing touch, they placed a small raven figurine inside, along with some abalone