Dodge Sprinter van wanted

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steve s

Trad climber
eldo
Apr 21, 2018 - 04:47pm PT
Good luck with the van Steve and have fun with kitting it out to suit " your" needs and tastes.
Over all if you have the skills there is something extremely satisfying to building something to your specs. Now get to work!
GuapoVino

climber
Apr 21, 2018 - 09:53pm PT
I built out a used Promaster. So far so good except for getting a new transmission, covered by warranty. No more off-roaming and hill climbs. It's really convenient but that thing hooblie posted might be more bulletproof. A camper on a Tacoma might be cheaper. Vans are pretty nice though. I fear retribution and attacks after Cedar Wright maligned vans in his latest Outside article.
norm larson

climber
wilson, wyoming
Apr 22, 2018 - 05:00am PT
just finished this build in a Sprinter for some folks. Nice layout.[photoid=528638]r
The bench seat folds up to open to an ARB fridge/freezer.
Tons of storage under the bed. Bikes, gear, ski is whatever. Two house batteries are back there with the inverter etc. you can crawl thru from the front to access the back or the back doors. Dometiic stove/ sink combo. H2O is two five gallon jugs under sink. Propane cabinet in there also.
tradmanclimbs

Ice climber
Pomfert VT
Apr 22, 2018 - 06:06am PT
I am all about function and seamless fit means jack sh#t if it does not function to my needs. I have yet to see a factory conversion that was set up to my needs. when I do a conversion It will be dumpster dived materials and it will not pass JLP' seamless fit test but it will function better than anything you can buy. One of the reasons that I am not all starry eyed over our westy is because it is a stupid system. it is so full of little drawers that the bed is tiny and there is no place to put your climbing gear. there is zero counter space for cooking so you end up prepping your food on the bed which is a disgusting habbit on a long trip. All those little cabnits are hard to access and not practical for living. I much preferred my Syncro with its dumpster dived wood kitchen over the westy for any kind of real trip.
Bad Climber

Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
Apr 22, 2018 - 06:22am PT
Huh, Tradman. Doesn't your Westy have a removable table for eating/prep? My Westy ('78) was cramped compared to these Sprinters, but we never had to prep meals on the bed. Besides, the bed was always in bench mode unless we were sleeping. You're so right about the storage issues. We ended up with space case on the roof. Our routine was once we got parked at camp, we'd pop the top and shuffle any duffels, extra gear up top, then go about our meal/hang. Worked okay. Would have killed for the space of these modern rigs. Of course, I took my '78 VW places I'd NEVER risk in these fancy, low slung vans.

BAd
tradmanclimbs

Ice climber
Pomfert VT
Apr 22, 2018 - 06:51am PT
The swing out table is also a PINTA because with that thing in place you can't get into the closet or the cabnits on that side. not shure where the table went to? when I am living in a van I do NOT want to unmake the bed and fold it up every day. We had both the westy and my Syncro at the same time I much preferred the syncro to the westy for trips simply because my crude set up provided more living space in crap weather...
tradmanclimbs

Ice climber
Pomfert VT
Apr 22, 2018 - 06:56am PT
can't sit up in bed in the westy because of those overhead storage bins and the bed is only a 3rd the width. the #1 beef that I have with most builds is that by the time they are done stuffing the thing full of crap you don't need there is no room to live...
hooblie

climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
Apr 22, 2018 - 07:49am PT
don't need no sinkin' van
WBraun

climber
Apr 22, 2018 - 07:54am PT
don't need no sinkin' van

Yeah one Valley local lived in his Honda Civic year round for 8 years.

Modern climbers are pussies ..... lol
ground_up

Trad climber
mt. hood /baja
Apr 22, 2018 - 08:03am PT
Steve,.. we got a Merc. sprinter with low miles, love it. My buddy got
a Transit. I think either is a good choice. Service is more economical
with the transit. Gas mileage is better with the merc. Any one would
do well to do your own maintenance , oil changes.

Being a cabinet maker/finish carpenter I did a sweet build out for
not alot of money. I would be glad to share the ideas . Hell bring it
up to Oregon and I'll help you do it. Either way it is an awesome way
to go and you won't be sorry.

Shawn
tradmanclimbs

Ice climber
Pomfert VT
Apr 22, 2018 - 08:18am PT
what kind of milege does the transit get??
ionlyski

Trad climber
Polebridge, Montana
Apr 22, 2018 - 08:23am PT
I'd say good points from both JLP and Tradman, on opposite spectrums.

I have had four vans in my run, currently with my 08 Dodge/Merc 3500. All of my builds have failed to merge the finish work into the contours of the windows and doors, etc. looking very home made. My friends comment on how well it functions but yeah, I'm still using milk crates for drawers and bungy straps for this and that.

My problem is that I pull everything out for work in my summer season and then put it all back in when I take the time for a good trip. Usually its in a state somewhere in-between and that's growing old. Hence I never really finish them up.

Arne
JLP

Social climber
The internet
Apr 22, 2018 - 08:47am PT
A West-fail-on-ya is low volume compared to even the short Sprinter, agree there is no practical room for gear.

No matter your layout, everything needs a place where it’s accessible and doesn’t need to be moved to cook or sleep or get at something else. IMO you just can’t accomplish that for 2 people in much smaller than a Sprinter sized vehicle. The Westy thing does well, but it’s cramped and not versatile.
the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
Apr 22, 2018 - 09:21am PT
Congrats shipoopi. Older vehicles with low miles are usually the best value.



Beds are always a challenge. A 2 person bed takes up a lot of sqft. If you have a bed that doesn't need to get converted/folded away in a van it's going to take up a lot of space. Cabover campers solve this by having a bed with low head space over the cab. Many Pop tops solve it by having it under the pop top. If I was doing a van conversion I'd want fold away beds or a dinette that gets converted. I want to be able to stand up to change clothes etc. I want a table and chairs/bench to eat and do work at, I want a bed I can sit up in. I don't think you can fit that all in a van without some kind of daily conversion happening.
Willoughby

Social climber
Truckee, CA
Apr 22, 2018 - 09:39am PT
Just curious, but does anybody bivy NEXT to their cars anymore? I've had Tacomas since '97, but I still love to plop down under the stars if the moon's not too bright.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Apr 22, 2018 - 09:53am PT
^^^^ That is SOOO retro, braj! So we rolled into Fairbanks at about 0300. We voted to go to the diner instead of getting a room for a few hours. I said, “I’m not drinking crappy joe for 5 hours, I’m gonna get some shuteye.” I threw my bag down next to the car and promptly started stacking Z’s. Next thing I know it’s getting light and I hear voices.

“He’s breathing, I can see his breath!”

I opened my eyes to a small crowd standing over me looking worried. There was even a TV camera!

Did I mention that it was January? Hell, it was only about -20F, braj.
hooblie

climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
Apr 22, 2018 - 10:32am PT
what ... did aunt edna ruin it for sleeping up on top?
Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
Apr 22, 2018 - 12:50pm PT
Wow, this took off, Things are pricey?
please bare with me.
Everyone of these seems to be east of anywhere you want to go. so why the visit might be worth it? Think of the return road trip!


1) green, near new, but low roof? & full of bench seats:
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=453173812&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale


2)Seems like the ticket!longer wheelbase but. . .
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=475377346&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3FstartYear%3D1981%26sortBy%3DderivedpriceDESC%26incremental%3Dall%26firstRecord%3D0%26endYear%3D2019%26




3)Again longer;170 in Florida
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=476011445&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3FstartYear%3D1981%26sortBy%3DderivedpriceDESC%26incremental%3Dall%26firstRecord%3D0%26endYear%


4) Now this is where you might want to go Washington state
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=461613342&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale
NutAgain!

Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
Apr 23, 2018 - 10:34am PT
Reilly, that's a funny story :)


Just curious, but does anybody bivy NEXT to their cars anymore

Family style:


But if it's pissing rain, a little more shelter is convenient:



But it's still pretty darn nice to walk from driver seat to bed, just lay down and go to sleep, with no prep work and no getting wet :)
Happiegrrrl2

Trad climber
Apr 23, 2018 - 11:45am PT
Beds are always a challenge.

My bed does double duty as a (kind of) couch. You can't bend at the knees in a sitting position; it's more like a lounging, but if you want to sit for short periods of time(eating, putting on shoes), then you just sit at the head of the bed, and that's fine.


What I have is a long rectangle of foam(fabric-covered) that came with my first van and was part of the fold down seat/bed. It went the width of the seat, is maybe 8 inches deep, and 12-16 or so inches in the height. This makes for a perfect back rest, which I place the long way on my be, against one of the side walls. If I want more back supporty stuff, then I put my pillows against it and I'm good to go.

My van (1990 Ford E-150) has a queen sized mattress, and even with that size, there is a channel available along one side to lace small to medium sized bins. A woodcrafter could build out a long box which would be more pretty. In the bins go small clothing items, and two hold materials for my chalkbags making stuff. Someone else could use them to stow just about anything that fits in a smaller bin - arts supplies, medicines and toiletries, or other things that you need to get to frequently.

I agree that having to dig for something is a big pain, but with under-bed situation, it's kind of hard not too. My bed is comepletely open at front and back end, with 2x4 "legs" in each corner, and another 2x4 left front and back center. can't imagine there is a more open-accessible way than this. What I do is store the not-so-often used items in the center toward the front under the bed, as that is the hardest to access. There are bins AT the front, which are cooking pots, and my craft inventory stuff. But the not-often stuff goes behind THAT. Access from the back is cooking foods on one side, and climbing gear on the others.

I solved one storage issue that made me happy. I used to have my outer clothes in a big bin. Now, I made an attic above the bed, by sliding 1 inch boards in the space created with wood panels that hide LED lights and the decorative wood frame around the side windows, The attic is just at the back portion. I used accessory cord to make a netlike way to keep things from falling out during driving. The front of bed still has headroom to sit up in.
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