MY 1st GO on a Mercedes Sprinter - Advice & Help Appreciated..

[STEVE4SONN]

FIRSTLY - I am brand new to writing on these forums and actually this is the very first forum I have been on and subscribed to, so please bear with me and if I am boring you please let me know and I will stop!!

Well was this to be a Mid Life Crisis or something I feel is going to benefit our lifestyle, at 62 yrs old and looking at retirement around the corner I want to be able to travel the land at a leisurely pace and not at 100 mph (only joking there). As my work has involved travelling throughout the UK and Europe for 45 yrs but only visiting places to work or to pass through I thought I would buy a van and do it all again at a slower pace and take in the nicer places of each country I have visited through work.
So Christmas this year (2021) I brought myself and my Van-Elf a van to convert into our transportation to these places, well we did ponder on a motorhome NEW / 2nd Hand or a Caravan but as I love DIY and to be honest enjoy projects that involve me using my basic skills we went for (or I went for) the DIY Option of converting an old van and not sure yet if we (I) have made the right decision.
As I am still working and only have the weekends at home to do the work on our (my) van it is SLOWLY coming along, somewhat hindered by the weather, late deliveries off ebay, amazon and others (LPG Shop) but that also takes into the account that I am a very social animal and enjoy having a few slurps at a weekend so some time lost by socialising too.
Where am I up to today, NOTHING 100% complete as Project Managing this van is not like at all running a shutdown or maintenance project that I am so used too, because there are so many options on doing everything and then hiccups along the way so a change in direction, I start the morning of a typical weekend as a cool cucumber but by 5pm I am like the Tasmanian Devil himself.
Maybe it is my fault but I want to do everything I can myself and so much so I want to manufacture as much as possible myself, some photos I think may show you what I have done so far, but I need to put my photos together firstly.
(Let me know how I am doing as really interested in feedback)

Regards
Steve n Sonia

 

[PaulyP]

Welcome to the madhouse (MotorhomeFun) everybody would love to view your pics, no question is too stupid to ask as everybody starts somewhere, plenty on here have done their own conversions so lots of help available, just ask.

 

[B-well]

What do u have to loose, more friends on here and more choice from the advice,. Good luck in your adventures.

 

[phillipsheila]

 

[Jamesh]

Tell us some more details - we all like a good self build!!!

Cheers James

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[gus-lopez]

 

[funflair]

Hi Steve

You are doing great with the posting just need to see the work on the van now

 

[Silkcut1105]

hi well done, ive built 5 over the last 30 years and the last 15 ive had proper motorhomes ,built a merc sprinter about 4 years ago for my son ,the more pics you put up the more help you may get ,but be prepaired for some criticism and hopefully loads of good comments ,welcome and a progress every couple of weeks will get us all interested ,and good luck in your new venture ,ps dont forget to get some insight of the misses as you can gaurantee you will have done something not to her standard.lol

 

[STEVE4SONN]

Well most of those comments were very encouraging, so to add pictures I will try to do my best but please bear with me.

Obviously I will try to put them in some sort of order to where we (I) am today, this will take a few posts / blogs or whatever the name is..
First of all I understand most people give their vans a name, we (I) have not yet, reason being we (I) cannot think of a suitable one yet, the VAN-ELF (Her Indoors) has suggested "ETERNITY" because it is taking quite a while.

This leads me to another question on average how long does a van conversion take, I can only work at weekends so please be kind. LOL

I thought I would introduce you to the van: Mercedes Sprinter - LWB 62 Plate - High Roof, Mileage 94,000

As everyone else possibly we drew out the floor plan and did many, many, designs. I drew the floor to scale on a A3 piece of paper and copied it 10 times knowing that me n the VAN-ELF would come up with different layouts.

Our next step was to strip out all the old plywood lining and rip up the floor and also remove the metal bulk head, this took about 8 hours to do, i was surprised on how easily it was to remove.
Photo's of the strip out.

We decided & agreed to the plan which involved 2 x windows, one in the door and one on the opposite side at the rear of the van, well if you read my intro I work away from home Monday to Thursday evening, so the only item I have had done to the van is to have the windows installed and the company that did this came to my home and did the windows and completed install of the windows was fantastic, clean no mess and at a reasonable price too.
However when I arrived home that Thursday evening I was very keen to see the windows in the van, on my approach to the van I saw the window in the door and it looked great, smoked glass and i saw a change to our (my) van. However by now the VAN-ELF had joined me on my inspection and when I walked around the back of the van I was very surprised to see that there was NO window on the rear panel of the van but the window was actually installed right on the opposite side of the other window, well I threw my arms up in the air and was totally annoyed that the window installer had put the window in the wrong place. So out came my mobile to make that call to the window installer but then the VAN-ELF said very sheepishly that she had told him where to put the second window.
Now we have been married for 41 years and the vicar said to us "Never go to bed on an Argument" well believe me we have had some late nights, but to be honest I am happy with how it has turned out, so we are over that one now. We did then redesign the floor plan moving the shower & toilet closet mid van.

Think that is enough for tonight, anymore on this post will bore you all. Believe me this project has had more near misses than than Port Vale FC.. Sorry Robbie Williams.. LOL

Sorry if this post has been too long.

Steve n Sonia

 

[Littlewheels]

I presume you will remove the double cab seat to replace with a single that will swivel.

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[STEVE4SONN]

Hi Steve

You are doing great with the posting just need to see the work on the van now

Thank you for the encouragement, I am putting together my photos taken so far and going to start posting what I have done so far..
But feed back is a great help as it guides and helps to point you in the right direction..

 

[Jamesh]

Nice!

A straight rust free sprinter quite a find.

What's the layout to be?

Glad that your Mrs is taking interest in your van!

Mine has moved on to other projects. (Tbh my van serves as a welfare van for charity work 90% of the time and a elderly parents visiting machine 10% of the time. )

Cheers James

 

[suavecarve]

I presume you will remove the double cab seat to replace with a single that will swivel.

Another vote for changing the seats to captain seats which if incorporated then sort of push you towards a front lounge area.
Personally speaking, I would be purchasing the best seats available as you may end up using them as the equivalent of your home lounge chairs.

I would also be going through the several threads that have done this before, and I would be putting loads of photos up (cos I like photos !)

Best of luck

 

[fat haggis]

Van looks lovely and clean A fantastic base for you to have a great van mate think about rear airbags as well.k mate make a huge difference when the van will be heavy when finished. I’ll be watching this build

 

[STEVE4SONN]

Another vote for changing the seats to captain seats which if incorporated then sort of push you towards a front lounge area.
Personally speaking, I would be purchasing the best seats available as you may end up using them as the equivalent of your home lounge chairs.

I would also be going through the several threads that have done this before, and I would be putting loads of photos up (cos I like photos !)

Best of luck

Another vote for changing the seats to captain seats which if incorporated then sort of push you towards a front lounge area.
Personally speaking, I would be purchasing the best seats available as you may end up using them as the equivalent of your home lounge chairs.

I would also be going through the several threads that have done this before, and I would be putting loads of photos up (cos I like photos !)

Best of luck

Another vote for changing the seats to captain seats which if incorporated then sort of push you towards a front lounge area.
Personally speaking, I would be purchasing the best seats available as you may end up using them as the equivalent of your home lounge chairs.

I would also be going through the several threads that have done this before, and I would be putting loads of photos up (cos I like photos !)

Best of luck

I presume you will remove the double cab seat to replace with a single that will swivel.

Hi. There.. Littlewheels & Suavecarve..

I have purchased and fitted swivel bases to my existing double seat and the drivers seat, these are fantastic and do open up the living space in the van, luckily my seats are in good condition and I do need the double seat to allow my grandson the privilege of travelling with us on some trips.
Will change out the seats for Captain Seats at a later date as I am surprised how easy it was to change out the seats, the only issue I have is the handbrake needs adjusting because you have lower the whole of it and the slack has to be take up in the cable under the van.
I was going to show this in my write up, photos of the seats I do not have, but I will take some this weekend.
Regards
Steve n Sonn

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[STEVE4SONN]

Van looks lovely and clean A fantastic base for you to have a great van mate think about rear airbags as well.k mate make a huge difference when the van will be heavy when finished. I’ll be watching this build

Thank you Fat Haggis.
Rear Air Bags is that to adjust or strengthen the rear suspension, where is the best place to get these and how easy are they to install, the suspension on the van is really good on the rear already but as you kindly pointed out there will be that extra load of the Cooker, Water Tank, Furniture and the VAN-ELF's Curling Tongue's.. lol

 

[shawn&emma]

Another vote for changing the seats to captain seats which if incorporated then sort of push you towards a front lounge area.
Personally speaking, I would be purchasing the best seats available as you may end up using them as the equivalent of your home lounge chairs.

I would also be going through the several threads that have done this before, and I would be putting loads of photos up (cos I like photos !)

Best of luck

Replaced our old sprinter seats with pair of Jag seats found on Marketplace. As you say ours are the only seating so needed something comfy which they are.
Wired electrics to the leisure battery so can operate any time without having key in ignition.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Welcome to the forum. I’m a bit of a sprinter nerd. So ask away if you have any questions ?

 

[Littlewheels]

You might want to consider these side extension panels for the rear,they add an amazing amount of width to what’s really a narrow van and help if you are considering a bed across the rear.

<Broken link removed>

 

[Littlewheels]

Space Pod.

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[STEVE4SONN]

Replaced our old sprinter seats with pair of Jag seats found on Marketplace. As you say ours are the only seating so needed something comfy which they are.
Wired electrics to the leisure battery so can operate any time without having key in ignition.

Hi. There.. Shawn & Emma..

Those seats look great and comfy you say too.. I will have to look at getting a couple of those, never thought of using car seats, that is the beauty of talking to people and getting so much advice.
To be honest most of the people who point you in the right direction are people that have hands on experience doing the conversions or having motorhomes.
Regards & Thank you for taking an interest..
Steve n Sonia.

 

[STEVE4SONN]

Space Pod.
View attachment 527587

That looks absolutely amazing, love it. Did you get the whole van resprayed or was that how you brought it.

 

[STEVE4SONN]

Welcome to the forum. I’m a bit of a sprinter nerd. So ask away if you have any questions ?

Hi. Euro Trotters.
Definitely will ask questions some of which may be daft ones, but seriously it is a minefield.

Thank you kindly for showing an interest..
Steve

 

[fat haggis]

Thank you Fat Haggis.
Rear Air Bags is that to adjust or strengthen the rear suspension, where is the best place to get these and how easy are they to install, the suspension on the van is really good on the rear already but as you kindly pointed out there will be that extra load of the Cooker, Water Tank, Furniture and the VAN-ELF's Curling Tongue's.. lol

Lots of great deals on sprinter kits for your van on eBay mate. Great prices
If you are fitting out the van yourself you will be able to fit the air assist kit to your van no problems. Plenty of advice on fitting on here. It’s a no brainier if your doing a new build van

 

[Geistguy]

Hi. Euro Trotters.
Definitely will ask questions some of which may be daft ones, but seriously it is a minefield.

Thank you kindly for showing an interest..
Steve

No such thing as a daft question on here - some of the answers may be though All answers will, of course, be in the best possible taste !

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[Puddleduck]

IanF fitted easytop semiair suspension (did I get that correct Ian?) to his van and says it is a great improvement. Mind anything that Ian adds or fixes is always a really good job.

 

[Figaro]

Great thread, keep the photos coming and

 

[IanF]

IanF fitted easytop semiair suspension (did I get that correct Ian?) to his van and says it is a great improvement. Mind anything that Ian adds or fixes is always a really good job.

Yes indeed Helen