Don't trade the van...sell it outright...then you will not take as much of a loss or none at all....kelly blue book it see what it says avg retail etc....but trading it in will screw you everytime.
The emergency fund is exactly that a emergency fund ...you should not be concerned on the rate of return but the ability to get at it quickly....you never want to tie it up in anything you pay to remove it on....
Generac is not new they are the units in bigger form of course that all the hospitals use to back up in case of power outage....they are the industry standard....which is why in major company with power outage needs use them....they are great and reliable....so if you get one you will be very happy
As I see it ....to many vans to little work....I have a nice cargo van....yea just sitting ready to roll...but.......after what I see on here I think I will keep my little auto courier route for now....it pays great....actually better than most van runs on here...yea it gets old but hey I'm home...
I put in 9 hours or 45 hours per week drive apx 2000 miles a week in my car getting an avg of 36 mpg for 1300.00 or an avg .65/mile so you can do the math home weekends can work more if I want to and carry small amounts of mail and medical stuff...not bad when you do the cost on it