Building an Adventure Van

[a1fa]

Geek,

With all your research, and having picked the 2011 model with v6; what do you think about older gen models with the 2.5L? I found a couple of used sprinters locally.

[troidus]

Originally Posted by DirtySantana

I think that there are lots of paint shops out there that are capable of putting out quality paint jobs that exceed that of the factories. Many shops now have the same technology and material quality at hand the real difference is that the factory can do it on a massive scale.

The only way to do it right is to completely strip the vehicle down to the shell and paint everything, inside and out. That's the only way to be sure there won't be an edge to peel up. If you're going to go to all that trouble, have the body stripped to bare metal and galvanized, then start over from primer. That'll help keep it from rusting, too.

I had a door painted once. They masked on the inside of the door where the skin overlap was rolled and crimped to keep it in place. No one could see it, but I could feel the masked edge every time I touched the door. I couldn't stand it and ended up selling the vehicle. They should have removed the door from the vehicle, stripped out all the hardware, and painted the whole thing so that there was no edge to mask.

[Geek]

Originally Posted by a1fa

Geek,

With all your research, and having picked the 2011 model with v6; what do you think about older gen models with the 2.5L? I found a couple of used sprinters locally.

2006 & older get a few mpg better mileage!
If you can find one in good shape.. they rock

[a1fa]

They have a 2010 with low roof for sale :(

[pfb]

Originally Posted by Geek

If Cheryl would let me.. I'd paint it like a P40 warhawk

Love the idea of a warhawk paint job! Absolutely should go for it!

[Geek]

Originally Posted by a1fa

They have a 2010 with low roof for sale :(

For me personally.. the low roof kinda defeats the entire point of the sprinter (6'3" headroom)

[doc_ricketts]

Originally Posted by Geek

To flare space or not











Would allow us to sleep sideways.. giving us an extra foot lengthwise in the van.
Changes the width from 70" to 78-80".

Sticks out 5 inches on driver's side (meaning you need a mirror extension) and 3 inches on the passenger side (so doesn't interfere with slider.

I like the flares, plus you could extend the outside fascia to the rear end and improve aerodynamics.

[MooseKiller]

Just found this thread... Subscribe-ified!

[Lovin' it Strom]

Ever own a glass black car in Colorado? Not even a chance to keep it clean looking and glassy like the pictures. For a true adventure van, why not bedliner it flat black to halfway up then the steal grey paint?


I'd also think it'd be cool to paint it like the Mystery Machine.

[Geek]

Matter of fact..for the past 5 years I've driven a black bmw in Colorado and it is nothing to keep them clean here compared to the 4 different black cars I owned in Canada .



Back to something relevant... We gotta pick out carpet this weekend.

Tan or Grey?

[a1fa]

Neither ;)

[Geek]

Suggestions?

[Geek]

I kinda like this "houndstooth" (tweed?) they used in the most recent flarespace van they just finished...

[Osprey!]

The tweed is classy, but very subtle. It will hide dirt well, but why not do something more outrageous and that fits your personality/business/philosophy in life?

[jake28]

Just make sure the carpet ties the room together.