A New Sprinter 4x4 170, DRW, GVWR 11030 Has Been Ordered

[EmMay]

VAN, Should Be a 2017:

PKG A Options;Cruise; Power Windows; Heated Swivel Seats;Black Leatherette;
SW Instrument Cluster with Leather Wrap; Heat Insulated Cab Doors; Slider Door and Rear Window Tinted; High Idle; Down Hill Speed Regulation;Suspension HD; Fuel Gauge Optimizer;Rear Window Defrost; Delete radio; Delete LOGO Rear Dr+Slider
Graphite Grey

March 24, SMBwest visit for DYI Interior walkthrough and meet up with ROB R. (unless he's on the road, possible will be) for Audio Package run through. WiFi Booster cradle/antennae;GPS antennae Navigation System, BackUp camera;Stereo am/fm/apple play/usb/CD, Front/Middle/Rear speaker system with adjust to isolate areas; usb/computer hub at rear counter drive side

Interior Options Present:
Cherry Cabinetry no full length cabinetry (32", a section or so of overhead at side, but want maximum window visibility); Loncoin; Larger 23-38 g Water, tbd; Overhead Cab, Espar Airtronic/D2/D5 tbd; Awning and Slider Windows (at slide door sider window) all Tinted;manual Porta Potti Curve; Exterior Shower w/Curtain; Privacy curtain; Extreme Weather Insulation; Dual panel Solar w/28000w Inverter;Attic Deluxe Fan; CB Radio
Full Sofa; Galley Propane Stove/Sink/Side Cabinets (all to drivers side;small side cabinets at sofa front (when extended as bed they'll be right there);bolster to house ports potti and double as foot stool; custom extension, rectangle to fit at sofa rear when extended to push bed size to approx. 55"-60"; sofa forward at rear of van by approx. 22" to accommodate storage containers that we pack gear/clothes/food/etc. into.

We will provide pictures of layout after March visit and we have a printed plan

EXPECTED DELIVERY from Deutschland - November/December, 2017
PENCILED Build Start - February 21st, 2018
Potential Pick-Up date - End of May, 2018

We are taking this project in three month increments and are in the official first quarter. We are comfortable with the ebb and flow that will arise as we move forward and are not considering that anything has to happen before it's time or that everything will move lock step within projected timelines. When it's ready, we'll be ready too...

[Fitz]

Congratulations! Standing by for all the build details as they happen!

[EmMay]

Fitz,
End of March visit will cover some details for the Interior:
Tick List needs to cover D5 or D2 Heater - Water Heater options and Propane System as well. We want to use a cook top in the galley so figure propane is best option; on the other hand we need reliable heat and want hot water for the exterior shower. It seems like the Espar is best for that... we have a plain interior build design and feel like this is a pretty significant focus to start.
Any redirects you can offer to Threads relative to these would be appreciated; meanwhile we'll research as well.
Looking forward to supply build details, it'll be a trickle to start but should start hot and heavy by the end of the year!
m.

[Fitz]

EmMay,

We have the Espar D5 and couldn't be happier with the way it performs for both space and water heat. For us, it always works and always works well. We haven't tried the included electric water heat option as shore power to provide the electricity is something we typically don't have.

Propane and a fixed cook top is something we thought deeply about and ultimately decided to omit. For us, there are no regrets to that decision. We carry our two burner Partner stove in the Deluxe box on the rear bumper and we have brought it inside on occasion to cook with, but for the most part if we prepare anything hot inside it is a product of the microwave. If we were to have a fixed cooktop it would have to be a flush mount in order to allow unhindered use of the counter top and I know we would regret the loss of the storage space under the counter where the cooktop would be installed. This is a personal use case decision and reflects the way we use the van. We don't stay in one place for long and we have simple meals when we are out traveling. If we are in one spot long enough to cook something a bit more complicated we do so outside, typically with the BBQ or a dutch oven with the Partner stove on the side if needed.

Question: Wouldn't this thread fit better in the Sprinter Chassis section? That's where I went looking for it tonight when I sat down to respond.

[EmMay]

Floor Plan and Upper Diagram started, will leave off 'possible' cabinet at passenger side.

[EmMay]

Order Specs Interior/Exterior to date:
(Van has a few options that are not too far off standard, like DRW @ 11,030 GVWR to hold the extra load steady and smooth, but it's basic stuff.)

Cabs.,Lower Walls, Trim, Cherry Wood; Counter Tops, Eclipse - Gray

Rear Sofa, Vinyl, Light Gray/Charcoal; Loncoin, Light Gray
Vinyl Window Trim, Light Gray; Vinyl Door Panels, Light Gray
Uppers, Cornices, etc, Interweave Gray

23 g H2O Tank; Propane Furnace, H20 Heater
Pre-Wire A/C; Raptor Liner
Manual Porta Potti; Exterior Shower and Curtain
Privacy Curtain; Extreme Weather Insulation
Solar Panel x2; Solar Plug, exterior
Second AGM Battery; Awning
Thule Track; Additional Porch Light, front Passenger side;
Trojan Side Ladder; LED light pair
Zippered Screens rear and slider; Attic Fan Deluxe
Upper Rear Compartment; 20" LED Light Bar

Windows: 2 tall sliders 40"x24" 3 tall awnings 40"x24"

Audio:
DNX893 Kenwood; Back up Camera; XM Radio rear roof mnt antenna;
Aux radio input at galley for computer plus audio; 4G cradle mounted booster
Excelon Speakers at doors dash, overhead bin facing back rear bin facing down, mid van as well;
7005 amp with sub woofer with tuned enclosure; Wireless remote

[EmMay]

Aluminess is right in our backyard, well, we do live in san Diego and a typical drive of thirty plus minutes is considered striking distance. So, we'll hit up the crew there to figure in the rear and front bumper set ups. Seven way pre wire so rear hitch, not positive that front brush guards will be in the mix.
Interested in a low profile front winch.

[EmMay]

The solar plug is designed for a Zamp model portable panel set-up. When posting up under tree cover we will be running a set of portable panels during longer camp outs. Nothing is cheap, these will be an addition to the two Fixed Mount panels on the roof.

We like Goal Zero set ups as well Portable Solar Panels, Nomad & Boulder Solar Panels - Goal Zero

[TomH]

How tall are the two of you? Since your bed is so high to begin with, have you considered putting one or even two Flarespace bumpouts where the rear side windows go? That could make the bed considerably longer. Let me know if you want to see some pics of beds extending into Flarespace bumpouts. I can give you some links. They do not interfere with the sliding door; in fact on the 170" the slider may not even reach it.

Edit: Actually, they are in this post of my build thread.

[EmMay]

TomH,
I checked those flare spaces out on your thread. We will seriously consider them; however, on the height end, we are 5'9" and 5'8" tall. We sleep in the e350 Ford from side to side, we barely fit if fully extended but we both sleep with just enough curl to fit in there comfortably. We're on four years of this working.
The Sprinter is going to be approximately the same, but we do have to say, those flare spaces are an impressive extra area creator.