After a little over two months from the night Nacho the Van was stolen, I finally have Nacho back in my possession. It was definitely two months of uncertainty, wondering whether Nacho was fixable, if the finances lined up with the insurance payout to not only keep it but begin fixing it up, and oh yeah … Nacho had to get a drug test. I am excited to share an update on Nacho with you.
Yes, Nacho did get drug tested. That is now standard for stolen vehicles to look for trace amounts of drugs (like meth) that might be covering the interior. Luckily, Nacho has a clean bill of health. But that wasn’t the biggest concern.
The most significant damage was the destroyed steering column along with suspension, alignment, and, in general, how Nacho drives. Our mechanic was able to source a used steering column, which has been installed, so we were good to go there. However, we’re still sorting through how Nacho handles on the road. In the process, we checked the suspension, which looks great. We had to get new tierods and such. One of the tires was destroyed. We were already planning on replacing the rear two anyway, which meant that all four tires were replaced. Now, with beefier tread, we’ll be better suited for more backcountry trips to serve coffee, work on trails, and ride bikes.
There are still a couple of issues left to fix. It’s been challenging to source a replacement window for the passenger side where the thieves broke in. I had multiple failed attempts to find one and locate a seller willing to ship. Luckily, we now have one, and I’m coordinating with the glass company to install it. The challenge will be that because the thieves wrenched on the window frame with a crowbar, it’s a bit bent along the tracks where the window goes up and down. We’re hoping to be able to bend it in place rather than trying to replace the whole door.
The final issue we’re trying to figure out is how or why the whole van vibrates or shakes at higher speeds. Beyond that, Nacho is back! I’ve installed a few security measures inside to discourage future theft. I also hid an AirTag to be able to keep tabs on it.
I felt a little guilty when I first set out to do a crowdfunding campaign and sell Nacho merch and coffee. I know many of you encouraged me to run a crowdfunding campaign. Thank you again to all of you who bought products and donated. I had assumed that we’d have more than enough between the insurance payout and fundraising and selling gear. I was wrong. Once I get more raised, I still need to buy a security system that includes a kill switch if we can resolve the handling.
Again, I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate your support and encouragement. It feels good to be a part of a community like this. I’m looking forward to serving coffee soon with Nacho!
I’m including the links below if you’re still interested in buying Nacho merch/coffee and/or donating.
