We are 4 months into our Sprinter Van conversion and it is starting to look pretty amazing, if I do say so. Just a month after our little bundle arrived, we found our Sprinter, the dream-mobile for any true adventurer. But with zero experience on converting a van, a great amount of time had to be put into research, prior to even beginning any actual physical labor . Not to mention, we now had some precious cargo in tow and needed to make everything much more safe & secure then we would of done for just ourselves. (The Husband litterally spent 3 days alone on just securing baby’s seat to the Van)
Since there doesn’t seem to be any paying positions for a couple, a baby and a dog to tinker around with their own van conversion (super lame), all of this has been occurring on evenings and weekends after work, and inbetween bouncing, feeding, swaddling, and making silly faces at a newborn.
Soooo, this process could go waay-hay quicker, if one had a little more free time, but we are just stoked to have got this much done so far. It is awesome being able to customize a space completely the way you want!
remove and destroy linoleum flooring…why was this here??
Clean empty sprinter van shell, post a little demolition
removed floor mat and passenger seat to add a swivel chair
first layer of insulation, reflectix everywhere
More on Insulating the van
Fantastcic Fan, we’ve got ventilation
2nd layer of insulation with non-carcinogenic thinsulate
floor base and a 3rd layer of insulation sealed with Gorilla Tape
three 100watt solar panels secured to the roof, enough power to run a Nespresso for all your cappuccino needs
hole cut for sunroof above the bed for evening stargazing, no turning back now!
bed frame base fits around wheel wells, pieces of the original inside pastic walls were scrubed and cut to fit for the start of some under bed storage compartments
**Although this design did not work as well as we hoped, check out the remodel, so much better!
ceiling is covered with a plastic vapor barrier, thin cedar fence planks are screwed in to create studs for the siding, vinyl faux wood flooring is installed
Ikea recessed lighting running off solar (it actually works?!), white cedar MDF wall pannels
not quite done but the adventure must begin, packed with just the necessities (clearly)
Packed with tools, parts, surf and snow and baby gear, we hit the road just before Christmas. Who knew that 8 months later this nomadic adventure of exploration would still be our life…..
Complete cost to convert this Sprinter Van, plus a list of parts we used and where to buy them, all coming in the future!
Tobin Gutermuth
September 6, 2017 at 5:24 amHello!
What sun roof did you use?
Tom Merchant
January 29, 2016 at 3:16 pmkeep me updated : )
Tom Merchant
January 29, 2016 at 3:14 pmHey there,
Got the same van a few months ago!
So much new surf time with my friends and family. Love your conversion pics!
Julie Ann
May 19, 2016 at 5:36 pmAwesome! How’s the build out coming along? Are you doing it yourself?
Chris
January 7, 2016 at 1:32 amSweet!