Building an Adventure Van

[bmwktmbill]

Originally Posted by Trixie

What model is that? A winnebag?

It's a denutted, gutted and slutted Minnie Winnie, 1974 Dodge chassis.
I believe the engine is a 360 but it might be a 318.

Purchased for the price of the tires...$700(tires are new, all 7).

Going out today to bolt up re-gasketed exhaust headers.

Inside is stripped out except for the table/bed combo.

Got a couple of bids on foaming the inside.

Anyone with experience doing that?

bill

[Geek]

Haven't been doing much to the van except driving it.

Added DEF again at 37,000 miles.

Had a tail light bulb go out.
Typical German over-engineering - there is a trick to getting the things off the van, but if you know the trick it is well designed and easy to do (I found the trick on youtube so I didn't break all the clips )








Tip for future Sprinter owners:

When you go to places like Advance Auto Parts or Autozone and you ask for something like a tail light bulb for a 2011 Mercedes Sprinter and their computer says they don't carry the part you need.. ask them to look for the same part for a 2007 Dodge Sprinter.
What do you know! Lots in stock!

i.e. their databases are not up to date and do not know that ALL sprinters since 2007 have the same bulbs, etc.

[a1fa]

You should consider upgrading to LEDs anyway...doh.

[ian408]

Originally Posted by Geek

When you go to places like Advance Auto Parts or Autozone and you ask for something like a tail light bulb for a 2011 Mercedes Sprinter and their computer says they don't carry the part you need.. ask them to look for the same part for a 2007 Dodge Sprinter.
What do you know! Lots in stock!

A good parts man will know what's interchangeable. Too bad those are in such short supply.

[RedRocker]

Originally Posted by ian408

A good parts man will know what's interchangeable. Too bad those are in such short supply.

Last time I went in a Checker auto supply and asked for pressure plate bolts, guy asked what a pressure plate was.

[Holaday]

Hey Geek

Great Sprinter build. I was gonna buy a 20 yr old Eurovan Westfalia but now I have decided I don't want to spend that much on a old vehicle. So I'm thinking Sprinter. I'm gonna use it for basically the same thing you are using yours for. Tired of tenting. I'll keep it pretty basic till it's paid off. I just want to sleep in it and be able to swivel the seats around and sit in it when the weather is bad. I don't really plan on spending much time standing in it. I'll cook at the picnic table or portable table under the awning off the van. I'm 6' 2" but I think I'd be ok with the standard height crew van. Cheaper and better on fuel. What are your thoughts on roof height now you have had yours for a while. Thanks Blair

[Geek]

imho, buy the tall one... that's the point of the sprinter for me.

I would gladly give up a mpg for the tall one. I LOVE being able to stand up inside. Getting into your riding gear.. or out of... or getting changed.. etc - it is so nice being able to stand up and stretch out in the thing.

Being able to stand up and walk around the bikes when you are tying them down.. being able to put a tall bike inside like the 950 and it fits no problem and without having to crawl around being bent over. You don't have to compress the forks or remove the windscreen on tall bikes.

The extra vertical space also provides tons of storage if you put in top cabinets like I have - all for free (no extra length).
My one upper cabinet down the driver's side is more than enough to hold all of two people's riding gear - helmets, boots, kneepads, armor, ride pants, etc - completely with space left over - and you've not used 1 inch of floor space.



...but I'm biased

[Holaday]

Food for thought. They have some wicked deals on right now. MB is discounting the price by 4K plus 1K fuel card. Unfortunately that's only on remaining stock no standard height but at least 1 Crew like yours available.

[Geek]

They are changing the headlights and some other cosmetic things rumor has it.. so they probably want to clear the current "look".

[a1fa]

I wonder if Ford will be in the mid 20s, or high 30s like the sprinter?

[troidus]

Originally Posted by Geek

...but I'm biased

And bought stock in 80/20 Inc.?

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by Holaday

Hey Geek

Great Sprinter build. I was gonna buy a 20 yr old Eurovan Westfalia but now I have decided I don't want to spend that much on a old vehicle. So I'm thinking Sprinter. I'm gonna use it for basically the same thing you are using yours for. Tired of tenting. I'll keep it pretty basic till it's paid off. I just want to sleep in it and be able to swivel the seats around and sit in it when the weather is bad. I don't really plan on spending much time standing in it. I'll cook at the picnic table or portable table under the awning off the van. I'm 6' 2" but I think I'd be ok with the standard height crew van. Cheaper and better on fuel. What are your thoughts on roof height now you have had yours for a while. Thanks Blair

Have you considered the Nissan NV (assuming they're offered in Canada)? I've seen them bought OTD in the mid-$20K(US) range. Owners are reporting upper-teens for MPG, with a high-roof and V6.

Originally Posted by Geek

imho, buy the tall one... that's the point of the sprinter for me.

I would gladly give up a mpg for the tall one. I LOVE being able to stand up inside. Getting into your riding gear.. or out of... or getting changed.. etc - it is so nice being able to stand up and stretch out in the thing.

Being able to stand up and walk around the bikes when you are tying them down.. being able to put a tall bike inside like the 950 and it fits no problem and without having to crawl around being bent over. You don't have to compress the forks or remove the windscreen on tall bikes.

The extra vertical space also provides tons of storage if you put in top cabinets like I have - all for free (no extra length).
My one upper cabinet down the driver's side is more than enough to hold all of two people's riding gear - helmets, boots, kneepads, armor, ride pants, etc - completely with space left over - and you've not used 1 inch of floor space.

...but I'm biased

Having lived OTR as a truck driver for 18yrs, I have to agree. Going from a flattop cab to a mid-roof to a stand-up sleeper makes one spoiled and not willing to go back to a flattop.

[Holaday]

[QUOTE=ducnut;20253882]Have you considered the Nissan NV (assuming they're offered in Canada)? I've seen them bought OTD in the mid-$20K(US) range. Owners are reporting upper-teens for MPG, with a high-roof and V6.


Looked at them online. I'd go drive one if they had a diesel version. If I'm buying new I want a diesel. I have a Toyota Echo for day to day driving, so I'm not in a rush to buy. I think I'll wait till late spring and see if there is any sign of the Ford Transit. Till then I'll keep saving towards my down payment.

[Geek]

My muffler arrived from Turkey




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[nomad5326]

Geek,
Do you know if you could reinforce the tall roof and then be able to put in a poptop to sleep 4? I know as is, the tall roof will not support the weight of a sportsmobile or eurovan poptop conversion. I currently have a Westfalia but as you know with the rear engine, you can't pull things in/out.....and it's slow!

Thanks and love following your work!