Building an Adventure Van

[Otis the Sasquatch]

Finally got to drive a sprinter. I transit construction equipment, and one of my customers bought a couple of 3500's.




They were "strippers". Manual seats etc. Didn't even have cruise control.



They outfitted them as pipeline inspection trucks.
Just a reminder,



because on the right rear was the filler for the



to fuel this



which powered all this.

Camera line reels.



And the operations console.



They mostly use big International box trucks, but they wanted a couple of "smaller" rigs for tight urban work. I heard these two will probably be the the only built. The fabrication chief said it was too small of a box for his needs. Not much room left for the cameras and misc crap that needs to be packed along.





Took it St Louis to Denver, scaled @ 9280 lbs (will get another 1000-1500 lbs of crawler-cameras & etc later) and not much wind, it got about 20mpg running 70mph all the way (governed).


I think I like these Sprinter thingys. But spring for the Cruise control, at least.




Otis

[Geek]

27 outside?

Money well spent




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[Geek]

Had a crazy storm come through overnight.. Felt like the van was going to flip over.

If it is windy like that here very often I'll bet those arches don't take as long as you think to form (I'm looking though through arch in Arches N.P. out the windshield as I type this.

Almost felt sorry for Paul & Derek sleeping on the ground outside (the didn't even bring a tent) but in reality no sympathy needed...

'I don't get to sleep in the dirt nearly enough' -Paul A few years ago

... To each their own




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[a1fa]

Dude! Make sure you got plenty of diesel.. That's cold!

http://www.solar-electric.com/rvsoelsy.html

[Lovin' it Strom]

Saw this article and thought it could go here....at least for some ideas.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/...ntcmp=features

[Geek]

Did I mention how much I enjoyed my D2 this weekend?

[TooFast]

Looks like your fantastic fan vent is open..eating beans last night?

Did Paul and Derek head wuss out rather than sleep under the stars?

Or maybe they sleeping under the van?

[Geek]

A couple of ride pics before the snow came...

on metal masher:






Cane creek:

[Geek]

Note to self: take heed in the forecast before you leave.

If there is crap weather forecast.. put the bike inside the van instead of being lazy and throwing it on the back bumper

[ian408]

I'd think you want a plug for the exhaust too.

How do you like the trials tires?

[a1fa]

Originally Posted by ian408

I'd think you want a plug for the exhaust too.

How do you like the trials tires?

MT43 is the way to go, brah.

[Geek]

I love the MT43 on the rear in the steep stuff.. but can't stand it on the front.
I'm currently running an MT21 on the front with it.

[a1fa]

TKC80 Front, MT43 rear here!

[zgfiredude]

Originally Posted by Geek

Note to self: take heed in the forecast before you leave.

If there is crap weather forecast..

What?


You are going to want to really get all that mag chloride schmagma off of your bike ASAP! Looks like good riding for awhile anyway!

[zgfiredude]

For emergencies like this, get some Tyvek and just make a burrito (not pun intended) out of the bike to keep it clean.

Or one of this style of deflectors for the Sprinter....