With the platform bed in the van, it’s almost impossible to open the rear door from inside the van. We drilled a hole in just the right place to let us get out in a hurry.
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Rear door grab handle how-to
Here’s a quick how-to video on adding grab handles in the rear door area. There are already some threaded holes, but you might need to use one of the holes that doesn’t have threads. The video shows how to install a rivet nut to bolt the handle in place.
Grey water really is grey!
The water you’ve used for washing yourself or your dishes is known as grey water. And guess what? It really is grey! It’s not likely to be good for watering the neighboring bushes, especially if you plan on staying in the area for a while. It’ll start to stink and attract flies.
12 Volt electrical systems for vans – the basics
Here’s a basic overview of how a 12 Volt system works in vehicles. If everything that goes on under the hood of your car is a mystery to you, this article might help out.
It also covers the most important pieces of adding a house battery and charging system to your van conversion, and the things you need to consider when you wire up your fridge, fan, and electrical outlets.
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Why Mercedes’ Auxiliary battery package isn’t a good starting point for a conversion
Although lots of people specify the auxiliary battery (option E28) when they buy a van for conversion, or even try to retrofit the pieces that come in that option, it’s not clear that it was designed for the types of use it gets in adventure van conversions. It’s not clear that it’s actually any use for conversion vans.
Not all lithium battery management systems are created equal
Different lithium battery manufacturers use the term BMS to mean different things. It’s important to know what you’re getting because the battery management system is used to keep the system running smoothly and protect the battery from permanent damage.
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Will I blow up my battery if I plug in multiple charging sources?
Your battery can’t regulate how much charge it receives. It has no smarts at all. You could easily damage it by pushing too much “charge” into it. The thing is, that’s really not going to happen if you build your system correctly.
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How to replace Sprinter door and dash speakers
The stock speakers in a Sprinter are cheap and nasty. They sound just about OK with the engine off, but they can’t compete with road noise and have no dynamic range. Here’s how to take them out and replace them.
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80/20 sink cabinet build details
Several people have asked for the exact specifications of the sink cabinet we built. It fits really well behind the sliding door pillar and in front of the bench seat in the third row position. Here’s a detailed look at the design and the parts you’d need to order to build your own.
Magnetic mosquito nets
Who knew you could have so much fun looking at a web site that sells magnets? K&J Magnetics is an awesome site, with detailed information on each magnet they sell that helped us find just the right strength magnets for holding a mosquito / bug / insect net on to the metal walls and through the plastic B-pillar cover.