This is the 5th Sprinter we have built. Each one has been an improvement on the others. This van is no exception. We wanted to be comfortable and prepared to go almost anywhere. We wanted to take all our toys with us.
So... we added complete insulation to stay warm and deaden outside road noise. Then we added a state-of-the-art Ellwell Timberline forced air and radiant floor heating system that runs off the diesel in the fuel system. For hot days, we had to have Nomadic Air Conditioning and a MaxxAir fan. Both are located over the platform bed.
We wanted to have enough battery to run everything we needed, so we installed a complete Victron electrical system with a 5400 A/H LIfePO4 battery, 400 watts of solar panels, a 30A shore power charging system, and twin DC-DC 50A chargers while you are driving. Our 3KW pure sine inverter means that you can have 120V electricity as well. There are plenty of 120V and 12V outlets and, of course, conveniently placed USB and USB-C ports.
We like to cook when we get to our destinations, so we made sure to have a single burner induction stove, an 86-liter Isotherm refrigerator/freezer, and a deep hot/cold water sink. There is a 32-gallon freshwater tank and a 15-gallon grey water tank.
At the end of the day, when you need to refresh, there is an exterior hot/cold shower complete with privacy curtains.
To smooth out the bumps, we added a complete set of King off-road racing shocks and King Struts and a VanCompass 3-leaf mini spring kit.
For safety and comfort, we installed our patent-pending EZ-Exit electric push-button rear door opener so that you can open the rear door from the platform bed. You may not realize that most vans with raised platform beds have made it impossible to reach the factory mechanical door release. This has two ramifications: You will need to climb over each other to get out of the van through the sliding door at night, and there is a huge safety factor. In case of an emergency, you will not be able to exit the back door. It is illegal to have a non-functioning rear door on a van, and almost everyone ignores this!
We have Flare pods that allow us to put a 6'3” by 52" mattress in the back. In turn, this gives you about eight more square feet of living space.
There is a bench that extends from the platform bed to the driver's seat, and it easily converts to two more front-facing, belted seats or as a second bed that is approximately 5'4" and almost 40" wide.
There is a waterproof Pelican storage box on the back to store tools and wet things outside of the van. There is also a slide-out tray to make it easier to access all the things that you will pile in the "garage." We also have 3-way lighting systems for the garage, both the rear doors, and the sliding door to make it easier to get oriented when you come into the van at night.
There are window shades and curtains for all windows in the van.
We provide a built-in router to help with cellular reception and, for a usage fee, Starlink satellite reception.
There is a custom-cut carpet in the van to allow you to easily clean it up if you make a mess. And last, and probably not least, there is a Joolca portable toilet that tucks nicely away until it is needed. We also provide a propane two-burner Jetboil Basecamp stove and all the free propane that you can use.
And there is a Joolca cassette toilet which we think is the best of the bunch.
There is an engine-mounted compressor to inflate tires, air mattresses, and SUPs.
We also have a portable propane firepit/wok stove. We do not charge you for the use of the firepit. We do charge you for the refueling cost of a 20lb propane tank.
Despite the freedom this van provides, there are a few rules:
Pets of a reasonable size are fine to bring with prior approval. You must be responsible for making sure that when you leave, all traces of the pet go with you.
There is no smoking. This does not need an explanation, and your deposit will suffer if you decide to sneak any smokeables into the van.
There is, specifically, NO Burning Man Festival attendance allowed. We will know if you decide to hide going there, and we Will charge you a $10,000 cleaning fee and be unhappy with you despite your explanations about how well you took care of the van. Just do not do it.
This van is an AWD. It is good on fire roads and in the snow. It is NOT a rock crawler. It is also in perfect body condition. If you drag it through brush or low-hanging trees, please be prepared for the financial consequences.
This van is our baby. We built it with love and for our own enjoyment. We are glad to share it with you, but treat it with the same respect that you would show when a friend opens their house to share with you
