Building the Escape Pod
The full details of the 2019 update to the Sprinter have been released now. The new van has a longer-looking “snout”, updated cab interior, but almost identical load area. Mercedes will offer a gasoline version in North America but it’s not clear whether we’ll get the new front wheel drive version.
There’s a copy of the 2007 Sprinter service manual circulating online. Most of the content of that manual is still applicable to later model Sprinters, although it’s obviously missing information about the DEF, DPF and other emissions systems.
It was only designed to run on Windows XP and a really old version of Internet Explorer because it relies on ActiveX to run. We updated the files so the manual works in newer browsers and across different platforms (Mac, Linux). Continue reading “NCV3 service manual (2007 vintage) – HTML version”
If you have a Crew or Passenger van, it’s likely that you have the rear door panels installed. These have handy storage compartments in them.
If you want to insulate behind them or install a rear view camera in the license plate area, you’ll have to remove the panels.
Just recently we realized that we never described how to do this on the site. We’ve had several people ask how to take the trim off the door handle area, so here’s the missing information. Continue reading “Removing the rear door panels on Crew and Passenger vans”
The MaxxAir fan is great, but it can’t do its job if the rest of the van is sealed up. It needs a flow of air in/out of the vehicle. We’ve thought about replacing the window behind the driver with an aftermarket vented one, or making another hole in the floor or step area to act as a vent.
Before we did that though, we wanted to try these slide-in metal vents from EuroCampers. They fit in the driver’s and co-driver’s windows and are held in place when you roll the window glass up.
First impressions are that they are functional but not the type of quality you might expect for the cost.
Continue reading “Front window air vents from Reimo/EuroCampers”
When you order a Sprinter, there are loads of different options you can choose. Some make more sense for a conversion van than others. Some come in packages which are great value. Others come in packages where there’s little additional value at all (Mercedes branded flashlight, anyone?)
Here’s a list of most of the options you’ll care about, what they really mean, and whether they’re worthwhile having for a conversion van.
Continue reading “Ordering a Sprinter – what all the options mean”
If you call a dealer and ask how much their Sprinter A and B services cost, it won’t sound too terrible. That’s because dealers have started quoting just for an oil change, not the additional preventative maintenance that is required.
Once you drop the van off, they’ll subsequently let you know the extra cost -and time – for items such as replacing fuel filters, etc.
Do your homework. You need to know what items are typically required during the two types of service and you need to make sure the dealer quotes for all of them before you commit to getting the service done.
Continue reading “Sprinter A and B service costs – how to avoid dealer tricks”
It’s tempting to add hatches, sockets, ladders and racks on the outside of the van to provide better access to utilities and to provide places to strap stuff on.
The problem is, every hole and every screw or bolt is another place where you’ve breached the protective paint layer, so it’s an opportunity for the van to rust.
Continue reading “Why we tried not to make holes in the outside of our van”
For such a big van, the Sprinter has terrible key fob reception for locking and unlocking the doors. Most of the time, you have to be within 20 feet of the vehicle for the remote control to work.
There are a couple of things you can do to improve reception though.
We made some window shades for our van a while back using Low-E. They work great but they are a pain to store. We decided to make them fold so they’d take up less space.
We tried stitching them with a sewing machine, melting them with a soldering iron, just smooshing them together, but the best overall technique was to use a hot iron on the fold lines. This is how we made it work.
Continue reading “Making foldable window shades from Low-E foil-faced foam”
We were concerned that every composting toilet reviewer had somehow lost their sense of smell at the same time they started using the unit. How could a bucket full of poo NOT smell bad? Well, either we both lost our nose function too, or the composting toilet we installed really doesn’t produce any nasty fumes.