Building an Adventure Van

[Geek]

Originally Posted by FatChance

Colorado does not have emissions testing. Only some of the counties on the front range have emissions testing.

Perfect! If I move to the San Juans I can rip the adblue system out of the van. Then I just need to figure out how to reprogram the computer so it'll start

[xdbx]

Originally Posted by Geek

Cripes.. I hope the MB exhaust system goes further than that.. that'd mean I'd spend $42,000 in 600,000 miles on the exhaust system alone? I could buy another van for that.

You guys are funny...

"Rated to" does not equate to imminent failure. This system has been in place since 2008, and there are plenty of 500k trucks that have original exhaust systems in place and still functioning fine.

The only thing I can say with "Detroit certainty" is that they sure as hell dont live in the rust-belt. My exhaust already has a nice coating of rust on it!




Good thing my DPF is shiny clean in a box in the basement...

[Geek]

There are lots of "DPF delete" threads going around on the Sprinter Forum... haven't given it much thought yet. Perhaps I should

[tpirocz]

the ad blue is some nasty shit. it has all kinds of health risks associated with it and you definitely do not want to spill it. it crystallizes and stains just about everything it touches. we had to flush out the hose, nozzle, and pump when we would fill cars at the dealer, otherwise it would crystallize and block up the lines and or pump.

Mercedes has made changing the coding difficult. in the good old days you could go in with the factory tool and make whatever changes you wanted. but now all the coding comes from mb usa over the internet and its a very long sting of 3 digit letter/number combos, that the module interpreters into coding. but like everything, im sure some smart guy has a work around.

[xdbx]

Originally Posted by Geek

There are lots of "DPF delete" threads going around on the Sprinter Forum... haven't given it much thought yet. Perhaps I should

Judging from your earlier comment, you value your warranty. With that in mind, dont even think about it. Infact, don't even consider thinking about the possibility of doing it. Oem's are viscously singling out those who go down that path due to a large number of people abusing the warrantee system early on in the dpf-era.

That said, there's a long and complex list of pros/cons to the modification. Call me some time after your warranty is up and I'll fill you in.

[slackmeyer]

Originally Posted by Hayduke

$7,000 after 100,000 miles? That's not just "not cheap", that's fucking insane. I'm so glad I have a year 2000 PSD.

I was going to mention how glad I was to have a good old 7.3. . . . but I bit my tongue. Till now.

Then again, I get 14 or 15 mpg around town.

[Mr. J]

Originally Posted by Geek

If that were the case.. I'd never let the thing get of warranty. I'd keep trading it in (I have a 100K all inclusive warranty on mine).

If it were anyone but Daniel.. I'd question the numbers.. but he does work in Detroit...

what happens to all the improvements, though? i'll never see the 1100$ back on my tacoma cbi bumper. if i didn't have the 7 year maintenance insurance - or whatever it's called - i'm not sure i would have put it on. the leer cap is marketable to some extent.

[Geek]

The entire interior of my van has been designed to removeable with a couple of hours work (future 4x4 in mind )

I will lose the 2 grand in sound damping / inuslation though...

[Ruffus]

Originally Posted by Geek

The entire interior of my van has been designed to removeable with a couple of hours work (future 4x4 in mind )

I will lose the 2 grand in sound damping / inuslation though...

Why?

[Mercury264]

Originally Posted by Ruffus

Why?

It's stuck in the van

[Ruffus]

Originally Posted by Mercury264

It's stuck in the van

I must be missing some so obvious, I'm making myself look dense.
Changing your rig to 4wd is not hard at all.. Dozens of different options & paths to follow. I've done mix & match fabrication numerous times & have most of required suppliers info saved.

From what I've read about your exploits so far, you shouldn't have much trouble. Actually you seem to be a lot like me All I need to know is what exactly do you want from this system & I'm pretty sure I could get you a fair priced product's list.
Hell if you want to visit the famous Niagara Falls region. I'll help put this beast together.

[xdbx]

If I recall, earlier in this thread he mentioned the future release of a factory sprinter 4x4, and hopes to upgrade to that upon its release.

I read adv too much.

[Geek]

A small percentage of the sound proofing and insulation will be transferable but a large portion is permanently affixed.

...as for 4x4...

There is a conversion kit a 3rd party makes for $20,000.

That said it is made by the same company that made my seat swivels.. .and we know how big of a fan I am of their engineering department

If I go 4x4 it'll be factory when they finally land on our shores.
Time will tell.

[Mr. J]

Originally Posted by Geek

...as for 4x4...

There is a conversion kit a 3rd party makes for $20,000.

That said it is made by the same company that made my seat swivels.. .

they probably use bigger "C" clips. well, one would hope

[Geek]

I decided that knowing how many gallons it would take when the light comes on is more worthy information than how far I can go with the light on (since I always carry DEF with me).

So I went to the car wash (so I could rinse off any potential spillage...) and filled it up to the rim.



5 gallons of Def. $28 after tax @ my local autoparts store.
It took ~4 gallons to fill it.

8553miles/4 gallons = 2138 miles/gallon.
$28/5 = $5.60 gallon

Conclusion: The consumption of DEF over 1000 miles costs less than a gallon of diesel.

Average fuel fillup: $80.
Average fuel range: 400 miles
8553 / 400 = 21 tanks of fuel used over 8553 miles.
21 tanks of fuel costs: $1710.60

So for every $1700 I spend on Diesel I spend less than $28 on DEF which is waaaaaay less than I spend on RedBull over the same amount of driving

i.e. non-issue.