Camper van

[royce]

I started a pic album on my profile page about a sprinter 170 ext 4x4 van that is getting dolled up to camp out of.
Hope to have it ready in the spring to hit the road.

Royce

 

[LXCam]

Is that was the vise morphed into Royce? New or used and what's it got for motivation? I for one can't wait to see what magic you work into it, good luck bud.

 

[royce]

Is that was the vise morphed into Royce? New or used and what's it got for motivation? I for one can't wait to see what magic you work into it, good luck bud.

The vise is in the shop waiting for someone to claim it!
New, with a 3.0 diesel and 5 speed auto trans.
I'm looking forward to this project too.
Thank you

Royce

 

[hh76]

I've been interested in doing the same. I'm looking forward to seeing how a talented guy like yourself puts it together.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Royce! Take lots of pictures and keep us posted!

This is on my to do list between now and when I retire.

Phil

 

[jabin]

what a great platform to start on. I wish Ford would do a 4x4.

 

[royce]

I've been interested in doing the same. I'm looking forward to seeing how a talented guy like yourself puts it together.

Thank you, it should be a good ride.

Royce

 

[royce]

Royce! Take lots of pictures and keep us posted!

This is on my to do list between now and when I retire.

Phil

Will do and thanks.

Royce

 

[royce]

what a great platform to start on. I wish Ford would do a 4x4.

I studied all of them and the sprinter fit us best.
Thanks

Royce

 

[sixty4]

what a great platform to start on. I wish Ford would do a 4x4.

Authorized by Ford. Here is my old van.

 

[4EyedTurd]

Authorized by Ford. Here is my old van.
]

Is that a Quigly conversion?

Royce, I’ll be following along to see the awesomeness

 

[2oolhound]

That's all fine and dandy it looks like a nice rig and everything but the only problem I can see is once you have it all tweeked and ready to go, how in the heck are you going to be able to stand being away from your shop for so long? ...or are you putting a fab/machine shop in it?

 

[royce]

Is that a Quigly conversion?

Royce, I’ll be following along to see the awesomeness

Thank you Sir, I added a few pics to the album and the ceiling sheathing is all fit up.

 

[royce]

That's all fine and dandy it looks like a nice rig and everything but the only problem I can see is once you have it all tweeked and ready to go, how in the heck are you going to be able to stand being away from your shop for so long? ...or are you putting a fab/machine shop in it?

I'll be OK so long as I have plenty of bullets, fish hooks and a good boat!
Also, I have a 3000W inverter so I can do smaller projects out in the country, if I get the urge.

Royce

 

[nonhog]

Cool and thanks for the thread.
I have been toying with a camper van a number of rungs down from a Sprinter. LOL.
It's waiting for me to switch to 4wd from AWD.
Have the stuff but need the energy.
Be watching.

 

[WoodsTruck]

It's waiting for me to switch to 4wd from AWD.
Have the stuff but need the energy.
Be watching.

My dad used to use these Astro vans for work. Quite capable really.

My Bronco was out of order one year and I wanted to go elk hunting. My dad told me to bring his AWD Astro van to camp. Lets just say the road is not smooth. It handled everything very well except the pickup sized mud holes that were rutted underneath, took a couple tries on some of those.

The big issue was the large windshield did not take well to the body racking in these holes and broke the windshield. Otherwise, worked well.

 

[royce]

Cool and thanks for the thread.
I have been toying with a camper van a number of rungs down from a Sprinter. LOL.
It's waiting for me to switch to 4wd from AWD.
Have the stuff but need the energy.
Be watching.

Thank you and it is my pleasure.
Got started on the walls today and added a few pics.

Royce

 

[vwracer]

Van is going to be awesome! What did you use for insulation?

 

[royce]

Van is going to be awesome! What did you use for insulation?

Thanks vwracer,
The first layer is 3/4"armaflex, mostly for sound.
After I get the sheathing fit and T-nuts in the furring strips for the sheathing, it will be spray foamed.

Royce

 

[royce]

Big milestone today,
A couple hundred rivet-nuts set, a few hundred T-nuts installed, furring strips glued and bolted in and all the ceiling and wall panels bolted in.
Now to pull the panels out, add some more conduit and get ready for spray foam
Pics added to album

Royce

 

[NASTYZEN]

Looking great Royce! Good call on the spray foam, that's the way to go. It's going to be a piece of art like all the stuff you touch.
Unless one has some wealth, this type of camper is kinda out of reach for most, unless you build it yourself.

We were shopping for one this fall, but decided the slide on pickup camper was better for us. I already have a pickup and don't really have the time to build a camper nor want a third vehicle.
If ever you RV in my parts of the woods, your more than welcome to stop by my place. Might need a couple days to shoot the ****.

 

[royce]

Thanks Nasty,
I'm a big fan of spray foam and hopefully I won't distort the skin too bad.

We looked at the Leisure's and Pleasureway's and just could not justify the cost for something that would not hold up to the rough roads we travel or freeze up in the winter and is not even 4 wheel drive.

We have had a couple of truck campers and are looking forward to not having to get out of a pick-up to climb into the camper and the top bunk. We are easing up on old!!!!

I'm thinking I'll sell my truck, because this sprinter will do everything my truck can, only better and I have a few trailers too.

I'm here to say it is not a project for the fiscally timid!

Royce

 

[memphisnate]

What type of spray foam do you use? Is it just the canned stuff from a big box store (Great Stuff, etc)?

 

[royce]

What type of spray foam do you use? Is it just the canned stuff from a big box store (Great Stuff, etc)?

I will either hire it done or use a 2 part frost pack

 

[royce]

What type of spray foam do you use? Is it just the canned stuff from a big box store (Great Stuff, etc)?

2 part frost pack or may hire it done

Royce

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Here is another approach
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/rvs/d/2007-mercedes-sprinter/6760606880.html

 

[bad_idea]

Interested to see how this build goes.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Here is another approach
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/rvs/d/2007-mercedes-sprinter/6760606880.html

"This custom Airstream Motor home was custom built requiring over 4000 hours and using the highest quality components available." Man, that's a lot of time to build even a custom camper.

 

[royce]

Here is another approach

Wow, that is quite a project, so cool.

I finished spraying the insulation, but need to get it trimmed.
What I have found difficult is to commit to a floor plan and make sure the utilities are in place before the foam.
This seems like a huge milestone.
Thanks

Royce

 

[rmack898]

Hey Royce, did you get bumped around in the quake? My BIL is in Delta junction and we have not heard from him yet. Hope all is well.

 

[royce]

Hey Royce, did you get bumped around in the quake? My BIL is in Delta junction and we have not heard from him yet. Hope all is well.

Some felt it here in Fairbanks, but I did not.
I don't think Delta Jct felt it much, either.
All's well here, not so much in Anchorage, Palmer and Wasilla.

Royce

 

[rmack898]

Thanks Royce.

 

[Vicegrips]

Here is another approach

Wow, that is quite a project, so cool.

I finished spraying the insulation, but need to get it trimmed.
What I have found difficult is to commit to a floor plan and make sure the utilities are in place before the foam.
This seems like a huge milestone.
Thanks

Royce

Nice job Royce, I understand about commitment on floor plan. I’m in the same boat with my ford e350 I plan on doing a camper convention. But I’m planning on building everything so it can be disassembled easily p. If you need a fast way to trim the foam a grinder with a wire wheel makes short work of it but it makes a bigger mess than spraying the foam

 

[royce]

Nice job Royce, I understand about commitment on floor plan. I’m in the same boat with my ford e350 I plan on doing a camper convention. But I’m planning on building everything so it can be disassembled easily p. If you need a fast way to trim the foam a grinder with a wire wheel makes short work of it but it makes a bigger mess than spraying the foam

Thank you Visegrips,
It would be great to see some pics of yours.

I've also worked towards making this one easy to put together or take apart, by using a couple hundred riv-nuts and a few hundred T-nuts.
Trimming the foam was a nasty chore, using a pull saw, side grinder, DA sander, flat board sander and full face supplied air respirator.

Recently got grooves milled in the floor for radiant hydronic heat and also got the floor sealed.
Moving forward, slowly.

Royce

 

[Stuart in MN]

Neat idea, I've never seen anyone use hydronic heat in a van or camper before.

 

[royce]

Neat idea, I've never seen anyone use hydronic heat in a van or camper before.

Thanks Stuart,
The germans have some neat little 12 volt diesel fired boilers, which is nice to tap the vans fuel tank and not have to mess with propane.
Another plus is you can generate the domestic hot water with it, as well.

Royce

 

[LXCam]

I finally figured out how to access your galleries yesterday Royce. I really like the heat sinks for the hydronic heating. I've never really paid paid much attention to these systems simply because of where I live. Are those something you came up with? And as always, very nice work on the project.

 

[royce]

I finally figured out how to access your galleries yesterday Royce. I really like the heat sinks for the hydronic heating. I've never really paid paid much attention to these systems simply because of where I live. Are those something you came up with? And as always, very nice work on the project.

That is good LXC,
There may be a few pics you can enjoy and or spark some ideas from.

The transfor plates are manufactured and were left over from when I built our home many moons ago.

Thanks for the kind words you always have.

Royce

 

[NUTTSGT]

Neat idea, I've never seen anyone use hydronic heat in a van or camper before.

Me neither and I think it's an awesome idea.

 

[royce]

Me neither and I think it's an awesome idea.

Thanks, should be way cozy.
It is not anything new and surely not my idea.

The floor, walls and ceiling panels all bolted in, ready to start fab for cabinets and bunks