It’s been a week since that initial post, and I’ve got a lot more information to go on now. But first, Bill (Florida Van Man) and Mike posted their video of their trip to look at and acquire the van.
Category: Van Build
A post covering van building in some form or fashion; components, design ideas, materials.
Holy &*%@$ I bought a van!
After a couple of disappointing van viewings, and poking around somewhat nationally looking at other vans of this era offered up for sale, seeing the conditions they were in and the prices they were asking, I was steadily working my way into “stay the course” mode – others have said “be patient!” And I was…
Van Build #12 – Another disappointing van, and goodies have arrived
First: The disappointing van. Someone on a Facebook group revolving around the T1N Sprinters posted yesterday a fresh FB Marketplace posting for a 2003 Sprinter for sale in Denver, 331k miles, for $6,700. I reached out this morning, the fellow was planning to show it around noon, so I made arrangements to see it and…
Van Build #11 – Stumbled upon a conversion shop today!
While driving to a local reclaimed materials place today (was going to pick up a super-cheap stainless steel kitchen sink), I spied with my little eye a typical STP (Sprinter/Transit/Promaster – I’m just gonna start calling them STPs, so there) van ahead of me a ways, and it took a turn into a little area…
Van Design #9 – Bed Platform con’t ad nauseum, bike storage
This morning I took the two main assemblies of the bed platform and laid them out together, to get an idea of how they’re going to end up position-wise relative to each other. The potential issue with the futon hinges is that they need to be bolted to a fixed support. I’m pretty sure I…
Van Design #8 – Bed platform prototype progress, maybe a rethink on bikes, and a van viewing
Today is a reasonably nice day out, so I decided to get back to work on my bed platform prototype. A couple of of days ago I ran to a nearby hardware store and procured the hardware I figured I would need to finish this off. Naturally I miscalculated and had to run back two…
Van Design #7 – Vertical separator, electrical, projection screen, pantry
I’ve watched a metric ton of van build/tour videos in recent months, squirreling away ideas and concepts that I intend to shamelessly poach for my own eventual project. I think I’ve got a fairly solid plan for addressing several features into one compact area.
Van Design #6 – Bed platform, and a random meeting
Bed Platform Prototype Progress Yesterday was a beautiful day out, nice and (relatively) warm, so I decided to get some more work done on my bed platform prototype. This effort went far smoother and faster than the first try a couple of weeks back, where I ended up splitting a rail by putting too much…
Van Design #5 – 80/20
I’ve had the opportunity to look at a pair of Sprinter vans the past few days. Sadly, the one I was most excited about – a 2006 T1N model (which turned out to actually be a 2005) – just wasn’t going to fly. 250,000 miles was one strike; but then I got out to see…
Van Design #4 – Batteries
(Not much going on on the beer front of late, thanks to COVID-19. Yaaaaaay.) One of the topics of van design and builds I’ve been researching a lot is the electric system, and more specifically, batteries. There’s a fairly wide range of options when it comes to batteries, as far as capacity and cost. Many…