MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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My ex student niece has a plan to buy a Mercedes Sprinter to convert into a camper van and live in it! Does anyone have any experience of this or alternative vans that might be cheaper but suitable?
There is loads and loads of people making bits for this platform and different layouts. The only downside of the sprinter is it's too narrow to sleep across the van. If you want to do that then you need the fiat ducato or it's Citroen Peugeot version. Be aware the vw crafter is the same van.
We nearly bought a sprinter but ended up with the ducato for the transverse bed as it gave alot more space to live in
We’ve converted a Ford Transit. We looked at lots of options, Sprinter, Vito, Vivaro, Ducato, Crafter, Movano etc before going for our Transit. Personally, I’d keep an open mind as to brand and model and buy the base vehicle on condition, as long as it’s big enough for the planned conversion.
If we did another van, I think we’d have a better look around for a Ducato (or derivative), as there’s lots of aftermarket conversion products available for them. Pleased with our LWB high roof Transit though, as it nips along on long journeys and returns about 32mpg (FWD 125 bhp). It’ll just about fit into a supermarket parking space too!:))
Couple of self build campervan groups on facebook. Loads of advice on what van to choose, layouts, pitfalls etc. As above, Sprinter too narrow for a transverse bed unless those using it are short arses. I quite fancy the idea but Mrs Shep is dead against, citing the number of luxury weekends away we could have for the price of a bloody van. Not to mention the faff factor during conversion and driveway space lost.
Quite happy with my iveco daily.
Wouldn't have been my first choice but it's worked.
If they are living in it. Stuff the carpark fitting. Get as big as you can , plenty places to park that don't involve a standard car parking space.
More of an issue is that there's no such thing as a stealth van when someone's living in it.
I'm in the process of doing a conversion of a Boxer now.
Here's a good thread from here about doing the same van (Ducato).
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/family-friendly-bike-carrying-camper-build/
Millions of Sprinter videos on youtube.
This series is good:
I am converting a relay just now and others have said you can get 1800mm bed in transversely (legal requirement for a camper) also the sevall (relay boxer and ducato) vans are all galvanised post 2007. gearstick in dash and handbrake on door side of seat (gives easy access to back when bulkhead removed). Transits and mercs suffer from rust at about 10 years old.
of course at the expense of space don't forget bulkheads give imo invaluable protection from.projectiles in a sudden stop incident....
I've converted 4 Vans now, all smaller (T2, T4 X 2 and now a T5).
depending on what they're after you can spend £1000s on various bits or a few £100 on something practical and useable.
SBMCC forum is a really good resource.
I've only done smaller Vans, if/when we replace the T5 would look at Ducatos etc as they are big enough to build a fixed raised bed with bike storage underneath with a toilet/shower next to it. Or a bed across.
Thing that puts me off the sprinter is how much they rust.....
Live in as in travel around Europe having fun ducking in and out of campsites or live in as in park in the car park at work because we can't afford a house?
Later is going to want to be more comfortable, more self sufficient but less mobile.
I've got an old Maxus with a two berth bed, shower and toilet, its a great tool for just going away in, but my company are putting up the last of their LWB Relays next year and I'm umming and ahhing, about whether to get one. would give me a load more space, and I could build a bed above a bike space in the back.which would make me far easier than carrying them on the back as I do at the moment.
I've fitted Eberspacher heaters for warmth, but if I did it again, I'd pick up a Chinese one for much cheapness.
Depends how much she has to spend and if living full time?
The Fiat Relay is a good van, Iveco engine and fully galvanised but no Xlwb available. Citroen & Peugeot same van but transit based engine.
Sprinters can be had in Xlwb but are narrower and taper in more. Rust, injector seals. Hold their value well
The transit is crap (as a Mk7 owner), awful clutch, rust, handbrake in middle of cab, rust, oh and they rust as well as rusting. I hate mine.
The couple of van lifers near me are living in a Sprinter Luton and the others have an Iveco minibus. Both have log burners. Not sure what the insides are like but they appear for a few days park on a quiet industrial side road then disappear a few days later.
Urgh wood burners In vans. Stupid things.
I have seen sprinters modified so that you can sleep sideways across the rear. I see it is possible to buy the panels but seem very expensive. The one I saw was home made.
http://www.flarespace.com/products/
Oddly enough these off-grid stealth van conversions keep popping up on YouTube when I put it on. The Mercedes seems to be the one to use, most going for the raised bed - bikes in sliding tray combo. They seem to sleep across the van with no problems.
"They seem to sleep across the van with no problems."
Lots of people just lie about the length of their bed for the reclassification .
I can sleep Cross my van 2 feet off the floor in the guest bed.... 4 ft off the floor in the fixed 7ft long bed I cannot sleep sideways due to the taper.
I can't sleep sideways in a Duxato, let alone a Sprinter. I doubt your niece will have tfat problem.
Sprinters are great van but rust for fun. Ducato Relay Boxers are galvanised.
Get the basics right in terms of planning the layout and requirements and then the detailed build and it is fairly straight forward.
Brilliant....thanks Guys!