Travelroqs
Active member
So before purchasing my van, like many of you, I got my degree in van building from the University of Youtube. Despite the thousands of hours spent watching youtube videos, I noticed there were still holes in the information. There were still questions unanswered. “Damnit,” I thought, “I will be the guinea pig that fills the holes.” I have never built a van before. I am sure to make a lot of mistakes, but I will document said mistakes and help the van builders of the future. I have never been a social media guy….but that was going to change. I was going to re-activate my long lost facebook account, start an instagram account, and even create a youtube channel.
It was mid 2019. My name was on waiting lists all over southern California for a 2019 144 2500 4x4 Sprinter Cargo or Crew. I called daily until one dealership finally got so sick of me he did the unthinkable. He sold me a van. Someone got cold feet, there was a cargo available. Nice.
View attachment 157045View attachment 157045
Despite my excitement I even remembered to bring my camera. I filmed myself on the drive home. My impressions. My plans. I parked that big beautiful van in my driveway. The next morning I woke up. Measured 287 times and cut a big damn hole in the roof of my brand new shiny van. Pucker factor? You bet. But you all know that. You did the same thing. Just like the thousands of Youtube videos on the Maxxfan installation I filmed every bit. I narrated my way through it. Damn was I funny too. The witt. The sarcasm. The self-deprecating humor. You would have loved it. I got that fan installed. Sprayed it down with a hose. Water tight. Hmmm. I got this.
A week went by. I have to work and all that. Another big hole in my van for my driver’s side T vent window. Who knew all that money was spent on a van I could pretty much cut through with a warm butter knife? Window went in relatively smoothly. I even remembered to film most of this one too. Admittedly there were a few occasions where I forgot to push record so had to go back and narrate after the fact, but no big deal right? I had another window to install the next day. I would do a better job filming. And I would have too...if I had remembered to charge my camera.
I gave up on my grandiose youtube ideas about day four, and without actually editing anything. I was trying to build a van. Something I had never done before. I didn’t need to also think about tripods, and battery life...and pressing record. But I still had instagram right? Ya. I kind of suck at that too. Now, one year later, my van is not complete but it is very functional and it is getting there. I feel a sense of guilt for all the ideas and lessons I have stolen from youtube and facebook forums, and most of all, this very forum and having contributed very little. The truth is, I don’t feel like I am in any way, shape, or form qualified to dole out advice on van building. I am no expert. But I do have experience. And that is why I am going to start this thread.
I am going to go back and discuss my van build. I am going to try to discuss it in the order in which I built the van. Lots of this was in the wrong order. I am going to be candid about the mistakes I made, the frustrations, the joys. Much like my children, I regret not taking more photos. But as soon as I figure out how to post photos onto this forum, I will try to include as many photos as I can (to save me from having to type 1000 words).
Advice. Expertise. You don’t want me on that wall. You don’t need me on that wall, but dammit, if you can learn something from my mistakes, or even one of my rare moments of genius then why not. More than likely it will be the same therapy parents feel when they speak to other parents and they realize their kids aren’t the only imbeciles out there. A sense of relief. That works too….
Here goes…
THE VAN
2019 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 Cargo 144 4x4 (Diesel). Comfort Package. Factory swivel seats. Rear windows. OEM Wood floor with tie downs. Auxiliary Battery under the hood (95ah AGM).
THE FAM
Family of four. Me. Wife. Teen daughter. Tween son. Two year old golden named Rosie.
OUR JAM
Weekend camping trips. Three week road trip every summer. Soccer tournaments. Baseball tournaments. Swim meets. Hiking. Paddleboarding. Surfing. We still love to tent camp, but in some places it is harder and harder to find tent sites as everyone RVs now. Also nice to boondock and sleep in a rest area if need be. Plus...out of town family comes to visit….
THE PLAN
Initially we wanted to seat four and sleep four. I spent hours, with tape measure in hand, staring at all that open space. Oh. The plan I came up with. A staggeringly genius plan. You would have been proud. Then one day, my wife suggested we add a third row so kids can bring friends, or in-laws could come. Um. Great idea honey. More hours spent staring…
So our needs were: sleep four and seat four. Our wants were to seat a few more if I can. Simple electrical needs. Maxxfan. A few LED lights. Dometic chest fridge. Maybe an ESPAR in the future. I don’t need a full kitchen. We are tent campers. I can cook outside.
I love the look and the functionality of the Adventure Wagon system. Although it is clearly beautifully engineered and a high quality product, my wallet did not love the price. My build was inspired by Adwag and Outside Van, with a bit of OurKaravan and some Hodakaguy. Just not as cool (think Festool vs Black and Decker).
I can’t divide this up by days….so I will divide it by project….TO BE CONTINUED
It was mid 2019. My name was on waiting lists all over southern California for a 2019 144 2500 4x4 Sprinter Cargo or Crew. I called daily until one dealership finally got so sick of me he did the unthinkable. He sold me a van. Someone got cold feet, there was a cargo available. Nice.
View attachment 157045View attachment 157045
Despite my excitement I even remembered to bring my camera. I filmed myself on the drive home. My impressions. My plans. I parked that big beautiful van in my driveway. The next morning I woke up. Measured 287 times and cut a big damn hole in the roof of my brand new shiny van. Pucker factor? You bet. But you all know that. You did the same thing. Just like the thousands of Youtube videos on the Maxxfan installation I filmed every bit. I narrated my way through it. Damn was I funny too. The witt. The sarcasm. The self-deprecating humor. You would have loved it. I got that fan installed. Sprayed it down with a hose. Water tight. Hmmm. I got this.
A week went by. I have to work and all that. Another big hole in my van for my driver’s side T vent window. Who knew all that money was spent on a van I could pretty much cut through with a warm butter knife? Window went in relatively smoothly. I even remembered to film most of this one too. Admittedly there were a few occasions where I forgot to push record so had to go back and narrate after the fact, but no big deal right? I had another window to install the next day. I would do a better job filming. And I would have too...if I had remembered to charge my camera.
I gave up on my grandiose youtube ideas about day four, and without actually editing anything. I was trying to build a van. Something I had never done before. I didn’t need to also think about tripods, and battery life...and pressing record. But I still had instagram right? Ya. I kind of suck at that too. Now, one year later, my van is not complete but it is very functional and it is getting there. I feel a sense of guilt for all the ideas and lessons I have stolen from youtube and facebook forums, and most of all, this very forum and having contributed very little. The truth is, I don’t feel like I am in any way, shape, or form qualified to dole out advice on van building. I am no expert. But I do have experience. And that is why I am going to start this thread.
I am going to go back and discuss my van build. I am going to try to discuss it in the order in which I built the van. Lots of this was in the wrong order. I am going to be candid about the mistakes I made, the frustrations, the joys. Much like my children, I regret not taking more photos. But as soon as I figure out how to post photos onto this forum, I will try to include as many photos as I can (to save me from having to type 1000 words).
Advice. Expertise. You don’t want me on that wall. You don’t need me on that wall, but dammit, if you can learn something from my mistakes, or even one of my rare moments of genius then why not. More than likely it will be the same therapy parents feel when they speak to other parents and they realize their kids aren’t the only imbeciles out there. A sense of relief. That works too….
Here goes…
THE VAN
2019 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 Cargo 144 4x4 (Diesel). Comfort Package. Factory swivel seats. Rear windows. OEM Wood floor with tie downs. Auxiliary Battery under the hood (95ah AGM).
THE FAM
Family of four. Me. Wife. Teen daughter. Tween son. Two year old golden named Rosie.
OUR JAM
Weekend camping trips. Three week road trip every summer. Soccer tournaments. Baseball tournaments. Swim meets. Hiking. Paddleboarding. Surfing. We still love to tent camp, but in some places it is harder and harder to find tent sites as everyone RVs now. Also nice to boondock and sleep in a rest area if need be. Plus...out of town family comes to visit….
THE PLAN
Initially we wanted to seat four and sleep four. I spent hours, with tape measure in hand, staring at all that open space. Oh. The plan I came up with. A staggeringly genius plan. You would have been proud. Then one day, my wife suggested we add a third row so kids can bring friends, or in-laws could come. Um. Great idea honey. More hours spent staring…
So our needs were: sleep four and seat four. Our wants were to seat a few more if I can. Simple electrical needs. Maxxfan. A few LED lights. Dometic chest fridge. Maybe an ESPAR in the future. I don’t need a full kitchen. We are tent campers. I can cook outside.
I love the look and the functionality of the Adventure Wagon system. Although it is clearly beautifully engineered and a high quality product, my wallet did not love the price. My build was inspired by Adwag and Outside Van, with a bit of OurKaravan and some Hodakaguy. Just not as cool (think Festool vs Black and Decker).
I can’t divide this up by days….so I will divide it by project….TO BE CONTINUED
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