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Messages 1 - 20 of total 20 in this topic |
Guangzhou
Trad climber
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 28, 2014 - 12:23am PT
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Long time I haven't posted. Been busy with grad school and work. Also dealing with horribly cold winter that has no vertical ice and now snow. (Mongolia)
Anyways, playing with the idea of buying a used Sprinter van and having it converted into a camping vehicle for climbing trips. My wife and I would be living in it most summers. (Eight weeks)
Anyone know someone who does conversions for a living?
Van I am considering is a 2009 Dodge Sprinter Dodge Sprinter 3500 Dually Wheels High Ceiling Mercedes Turbo Diesel 170' Cargo
Ideally, I would buy it from here in Mongolia, have it sent to who ever does the conversions so it is ready when I arrive in May or June.
Any advice welcome.
Eman
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2014 - 12:42am PT
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Thanks. Any pictures of your van handy?
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MarkWestman
Trad climber
Talkeetna, Alaska
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Dec 28, 2014 - 01:13am PT
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Visible are "Transit top", solar panels, and propane, all done by Gary:
Two years in and everything remains solid and works perfectly.
Gary's work is impressive.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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Dec 28, 2014 - 01:52am PT
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just buy a sleeping bag,
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2014 - 07:23pm PT
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Thanks for the photos. Cost? (If you don't mind sharing)
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 3, 2015 - 05:52pm PT
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Thanks. Shopping around. Maybe I'll find an already converted van, but if not, I now have a place that can handle it.
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Bad Climber
climber
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Me love van/camper threads. Boy, I was shocked to read Mr.E getting only 14mpg on the hwy. Ugh. Still, super sweet conversion. If money isn't much of an object, I've always been taken by Westfalia conversions to Subaru engines, the so-called Vanuru. I don't have a link right now, but a company in Santa Barbara use to do it. You get the convenient size, ground clearance and classic styling of an early 90's Westy but the reliability, power, and mpg of the Subaru! A brilliant idea, IMHO. I finally gave up on VW after our very expensively refurbished Eurovan started blowing parts. We put a ton of cash into this rig thinking we'd have it forever. Blew a water pump outside Moab in August--had to tow 90 miles. Later at Lover's Leap blew a cooling hose that we were able to patch up with some odd-ball hose picked up in S. Lake. It held for a while, but the legit replacement cost over $300! I'm soooooo done with VW. Drive a Tundra longbed now and tow a pop-up trailer. 17 mpg on the highway, yo.
Yeah, go Sprinter or something similar.
BAd
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John M
climber
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the fact that it slides out is what I like.. And that it can still be used to haul stuff when not camping.
I don't like all the putting stuff together, like the tables. I would not use those. Plus the bench doesn't look comfortable. I like to lounge. The first version has both front seats turning around, which looks more comfortable, but only seating for two.
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MarkWestman
Trad climber
Talkeetna, Alaska
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Sprinters definitely have superior gas mileage, but good luck finding an empty, unconverted shell for under 20 G's that doesn't have over 200K on it. Then you need to convert it.
My van is a Ford E250 and on the highway, using cruise control and keeping it around 55-60 I get almost 18 mpg.
That isn't awesome but it also just makes me plan my trip itineraries a little more intelligently, not so much back and forth. The other nice thing about Ford is that almost anyone knows how to do the repairs (although I haven't had any yet as the van only has 32K on it) and the parts are widely available, and generally much cheaper (especially compared to VW's!).
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 10, 2015 - 07:48pm PT
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Thanks for sharing.
Shopping around on ebay and craigslist
Eman
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Don Paul
Big Wall climber
Denver, Colorado
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Jan 12, 2015 - 09:54am PT
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I just took the seats out and tossed a sleeping back in the back, a few clear plastic storage crates to keep the basics. Drill holes in the side panels and use bungee cords to fasten down the crates if you want. I like being able to easily remove all that and haul stuff around, furniture, construction materials, whatever. My caravan is perfect for this, also relatively small with good gas mileage and easy to park.
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 12, 2015 - 03:03pm PT
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I use to have a pick-up with camper. I basically moved things back and forth like you, but now, I live overseas, so I would only use this when I am in the states for climbing trips. three weeks in winter eight to ten weeks in summer.
Wanting something more practical and comfortable. My wife is especially focused the comfort level.
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 13, 2015 - 02:56pm PT
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Thanks. Unfortunately, I can't see the post because I am not a facebook user.
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EdwardT
Trad climber
Retired
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Jan 13, 2015 - 04:03pm PT
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Forget all that conversion non-sense.
Get one of these:
From $85,476, winnebagotouring.com
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