2018 SPrinter

[grantwilson]

new van! by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
So, changes from last one:
Queen bed instead of Full. Still the same layout, but wider
Front will only have a winch and hitch mount
Spare tire mounted to the door (rear bumper is just too killer to the departure angle)
Fridge will be under the kitchen area and slide into the door opening for ease of access in or out of the van, driver side cabinet will stay about the same, with smaller drawers instead of one big one.

Let it start!


I will keep a running tally of what i buy, literally as i buy it. I am not including any tools i buy, but i will factor in stuff left over from last build (some sound deadening and insulation for example), along with links to what i get on amazon, or another source.

Sound Deadening 2 boxes - https://amzn.to/2xkq3Mu - 127.98 (two boxes does a whole sprinter very well)
Installation tools - https://amzn.to/2LutUJH - 14.99
Insulation - 50 linear feet - https://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-Thinsulate-TM-SM600L-Acoustic-Thermal-Automotive-Insulation-for-van-and-car/131754566187?hash=item1ead2f222b:m:mQsMt9R9kVO_5FNr6jaI3KQ - 600.00
Speaker adapters for door - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Speaker-Adapters-for-6-5in-speakers-made-to-fit-2007-17-Sprinter-NCV3-cab-door/141887556531?hash=item2109284bb3:m:mqnhvfnNVg7VtUD5gQ3IYaA&vxp=mtr - 26.00
Speaker panels for rear door - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sprinter-NCV3-high-roof-upper-rear-door-panels/132001261454?hash=item1ebbe3678e:m:m2rs-20X9AmEqeaafqX9ycA - 100.00
Vented seat base panel for heater intake - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Slotted-Access-Panel-for-Sprinter-NCV3/131415027792?epid=886230286&hash=item1e98f23050:g:hj4AAOSwa39UyG8D - 28.50
Espar D2 Heater with muffler, and easy start timer - http://www.heatso.com/eberspacher-airtronic-d2-12v-2-2kw-heater-kit/ - 992.00
Renogy 200ah batteries (x2) - https://amzn.to/2krTAuo - 595.98 (on sale)
Renogy 100 watt panels (x3) - https://amzn.to/2s9bPZK - 318.87 (on sale)
Midland Radio - https://amzn.to/2s8XlsC - 149.99
horn - https://amzn.to/2IOERnD - 24.94
Air Tank - https://amzn.to/2IOF2iN - 57.95
Air Bulkhead fitting - https://amzn.to/2s47GWX - 10.14
Rear shower - https://amzn.to/2sg90oZ - 50.00
Solar Y connectors (2 pairs) - https://amzn.to/2IQ0HLO - 17.00
ram mount - https://amzn.to/2GPKW1w - 32.99
Ram mount base - - 9.95
Carpet for lining flares and trim (2ea) - https://amzn.to/2GQ0ceH - 65.32
Foam for lining flares (qty 5) - https://amzn.to/2Lv9jF9 - 65.00
USB plugs (x4)- https://amzn.to/2ILM3VP - 44.00
12V plugs (x4) https://amzn.to/2LsnVF8 - 28.00
Quick fuel connector for heater - https://amzn.to/2Lub6KI - 9.88
Ceiling LIghts (8) - https://amzn.to/2IKm40R - 65.98
12v dimmer - https://amzn.to/2xb2Xb2 - 30.00
Roof Solar Entry - https://amzn.to/2GRSgJT - 20.00
Main fuse panel - https://amzn.to/2LxCmIe - 35.96
driver wall fuse panel - https://amzn.to/2IOOpiD - 31.97
Solar wiring - https://amzn.to/2KVEQPy - 41.99
110 plug shore power - https://amzn.to/2s8z1am- 16.95
water Strainer - https://amzn.to/2xfL7nf- 8.11
water pump - https://amzn.to/2xckXBR - 71.13
Cable Ports (x4) https://amzn.to/2LsclKd - 90.88
rear switch panel - https://amzn.to/2JdeWcC - 57.72
front switch panel - https://amzn.to/2J7BFHe - 68.33
terminal studs (to add stuff to front battery, and manage rear battery connections) - 51.88
Flarespace Flares - http://www.flarespace.com/products/flare-set-for-mercedes-sprinter-van - 1750
Inverter/charger - https://amzn.to/2ILmEHA - 515.98
Ctek Smartpass 120 -https://www.quadratec.com/p/ctek/d250sa-dc-battery-charger-40-186?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6J7YBRC4ARIsAJMXXsdNzVWFwcdkzmpn5FAJghAVdukl19pTWqXl52tV9mom5GL0eI6UoNYaArdxEALw_wcB - 304.99
Victron BVM 712 - https://amzn.to/2IMsj4j - 206.55
Victrom 100/30 mppt - https://amzn.to/2J3DmFH - 226.10
Battery switch - https://amzn.to/2INVJio - 24.19
Total as of may 25 -6,948.26

Rockford Fosgate Power 400.4 - - 300.00
Rockford Fosgate T1650-S components (2 pairs) https://amzn.to/2JgygGh - 430
Amp Install kit - https://amzn.to/2ITtSNW - 25.34
Line Converter - https://amzn.to/2LE5cqz - 8.16
Black and read heat shrink for terminal stuff - https://amzn.to/2GXQ4k2 - 8.99
4ga terminals (battery connections, inverter, etc) - https://amzn.to/2JezMIP - 9.99
0/1 terminals (for main wire to Ctek,) - https://amzn.to/2LBB5jq - 11.54 (it was almost same price to buy 4 a it is 10, so i got 10)
PA System - https://amzn.to/2sqZgZd - 149.99
Total as of May 28 - 7802.27

And more parts
BFG KO2 - 285/75-16 x 5 - https://amzn.to/2H6BHtY - 1000
ARB Single Compresor - https://amzn.to/2xu7Yvc - 266
ARB Air up kit - 34.62
Weather Tech floor mats - https://amzn.to/2xveVME - 195
Warn Zeon 10S platinum - https://amzn.to/2Jmu7Av - 1595.85
3091

Total as of 5/31 - 11151.12

1/4 air line - 19.00
3M super 90 (6 cans) - 54.00
Air fittings - 24.00
Rubber Grommets for wire pass thru - https://amzn.to/2sKOL2W - 16.10
AirUpDown Kit - https://updownair.com/ - 260.00
Tern Overland Window (biggest one)- 410
Headliner shelf - https://vanwifecomponents.com/product/shelf-headliner-for-sprinter/ - 400
Electrical plug (x2) - https://www.ternoverland.com/other-components - 102
Water fill (same link)- 49.00


Total as of 6/6/18- 12485.22


Ram mount stuff - https://amzn.to/2MabAWq and - 46.93
Van Compass suspension - 2492.49

TOtal as of 6/7/18 - 15024.64

Wire totals - 450
Flooring - 180.00
Aluminum for fabrication- 680

Total as of 6/10/18 - 16334.64

Ceiling material - 80.00
pvc trim board for window spacers - 14.00
Rubber gasket for metal to metal areas - 8.00
latch for bed - https://amzn.to/2LVRNt9- 6.49
Outlets for driver side wall-https://amzn.to/2JNaVg6 - 22.99
200a CB for inverter - https://amzn.to/2JJWiua - 27.99
150A CB for smart pass- https://amzn.to/2JKD5IJ- 23.99

total as of 6/17/18- 16517.46

bedslide ordered
BEDSLIDE S 62" X 43"
(1-6243-S) - 899

total to date:
17,416.46
https://www.etsy.com/listing/288760045/1-yard-36-x-55-lilly-pulitzer-summer
Ordered the fabric for ripplewear to make my shades

Total as of 6/19
17570.90

Misc Home Depot run - 174.34
Rack lights - https://amzn.to/2yxxnVr - (x3) 110.99
Side and rear rack lights - https://amzn.to/2JY7ByZ - (x3) - 30.00

Total as of 6/22 - 18168.18


Dometic Stove (mo8322)-https://amzn.to/2zkuSX8 - 499
Dometic Faucet - https://amzn.to/2MRYLQo - 100
Dometic CFX75DZ - https://amzn.to/2KRhGKs - 1k
Fridge SLide - https://amzn.to/2MRygKZ - 300
Penguin 2 AC unit - https://amzn.to/2u8wc9l - 800
Thermostat and air distribution panel - 250
MAxxair Fan - https://amzn.to/2tWJMxh - 250
spray adhesive (6 cans of super 90) - 66.00

total as of 7/5/16 - 20633

 

[grantwilson]

Parts are starting to arrive!
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Picked up the audio today, components front and rear and a killer amp. Got a great deal on it all, so worth it

Also picked up a new box to make it easier to get tools to the van, and keep from just dropping it all on a table like last time.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Also used the van as a truck to take home the craigslist find of the day. 500.00 year old mower!
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
and finally, took some time to attach velcro to the back of the patches i got from expo and the trip out west. Waiting to pull the headliner down and when i put it back up, ill throw em all on again!

 

[grantwilson]

And more parts
BFG KO2 - 285/75-16 x 5 - https://amzn.to/2H6BHtY - 1000
ARB Single Compresor - https://amzn.to/2xu7Yvc - 266
ARB Air up kit - 34.62
Weather Tech floor mats - https://amzn.to/2xveVME - 195
Warn Zeon 10S platinum - https://amzn.to/2Jmu7Av - 1595.85
3091

Total as of 5/31 - 11151.12

This weekend the build starts basically!

 

[adventure_is_necessary]

Are you starting 100% fresh or will you be using donor parts off of the first sprinter?

 

[grantwilson]

Are you starting 100% fresh or will you be using donor parts off of the first sprinter?

The only donor parts really are some left over sound deadening and insulation and some wire.

The rest is 100% fresh.

 

[adventure_is_necessary]

The only donor parts really are some left over sound deadening and insulation and some wire.

The rest is 100% fresh.

More power to ya! Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

 

[grantwilson]

The weekend has been pretty busy and awesome. A ton of work got done and pretty happy with the progress.

The stack of parts is getting a bit large, so let's start putting some in there to get it down!
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Friday after work, decided that i was going to strip all the pieces out of the front (a pillar and b pillar trim headliner etc) so i can start running wires for the PA and speakers.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Then I applied the sound deadening, put a ton of Thinsulate up there, and moved on to some other areas
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

After that was finished, I went to the rear doors. Pulled the lower panels off, applied sound deadening there and thinsulate, as well as pulling the wires for the rear door speakers
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Saturday not much got done. My friend Justin came over
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
He need his electrical system installed, so i knocked it out for him in like an hour or so
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
he still has to hide some cables and do some other crap, but he was headed on a trip this week and needed something functional, so i hooked it all up for him.

The one thing i did work on Saturday, was hiding the god awful wiring harness back there. I pulled the entire body harness from the headliner to the rear out of its home and removed all the clips.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
I actually pulled it all back out, and then rerouted it behind the side area as well then put it all back on sunday correctly.

Sunday was alot of wiring finishing up front and my friend Rob (the guy who bought my Subaru) helping out with sound deadening and insulation.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
I finished some wiring on the PA, mounted the siren/speaker in the front, a single row lightbar and then ran the trigger wire for the relay for the ARB compressor that I will install on Monday hopefully. The balance of the evening was spent redoing the rear harness like i mentioned above to run behind all the body panels and not to be seen again.
We got 3/4 of the sound deadning in the upper portion of hte van done. I ordered another box of sound deadedning to finish up what was needed, and am waiting on more thinsulate from Hein as well as some other parts so i can do the audio stuff. Also mounted up the rear batteries using some holddown loops and 1" webbing straps I sewed up with velcro closure stuff to keep it tied down. No batteries sliding around here!
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr


Next up is getting the flarespace flares dropped off for paint when they come in this week, Sorting a Tern Overland window, pulling the floor for insulation and running main power wire for hte Ctek Smartpass to the rear, making the rear passenger wall to mount all the electrics to, and sorting electrics out. Tons of fun!

 

[grantwilson]

Pallet arrived today!
Correct winch is on the way, they sent steel instead of synthetic. All good, dont need it for a few weeks anyways
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Headed to get tires put on now!
Since the pallet came in, and i now have my compressor, took the afternoon to put it in.
Started with stripping down the harness to only what I need. Using the PA system aux switch to trigger the relay, so only needed that wire hooked up to something (other than the power and negative) So took out the extra solenoid subharness and switch harness, re loomed the whole thing then installed it.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Lower is final harness (with full length of positive and negative i trimmed to length when installed)
Mounted the compressor on the lower frame rail up front to keep it closer to the UpDownAir module that will be installed later this week to air up and down all 4 tires at once.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
and final wiring up to the Aux Battery
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

 

[grantwilson]

 

[grantwilson]

Got my Van Wife Components headliner in.
Covered the bottom with carpet (yes i prefer carpet to tweed and other materials)
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Swapped out the hardware for some stainless (Of course, since that's what I sell lol).
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Took some time to get it in and fit with some bracket tweaking, but I got er done
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Also mocked up the water tank profile that we will build from stainless
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

And since the wiring came in, pulled the floor and started laying out wire!
0/1 from battery to rear for smartpass
4ga for battery connection (2 batteries)
8ga for fuse box crossover (one on each side for ease of adding in circuits later)
12ga for water pump
I will be adding romex today for 110 outlets as well
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Laid in some battons for the floor space for wires and insulation.
I think today will end up being air system day, since my air up and down system will be here, and mount the tank and hose and all that stuff for everything after work. Also test fit my flares that will get here today and them drop them off tomorrow for paint.

PROGRESS!

 

[grantwilson]

A big issue for me while in arizona was having to air up and down like 3 or 4 times a day depending on where i was going. With the weight of the van and handling, I don't like to run low pressures on the street. I don't mind the TIME it takes to air up and down, but more the process. It sucks going from tire to tire and squatting forever and im lazy.

So, when I saw these guys at Expo West, I jumped on it. I'm a super hardware nerd, and the materials and choices they made on this product is outstanding. All stainless construction, it appears as brass on areas on the quick release chucks (which are a work of art in their own) and just general awesomeness.

The things of note on this system.
If you have an air tank, you have to plumb it PRIOR to the air management unit. Same for horns or air chucks. I will be using a 3/8 to 1/4" tee and running the hose back to the tank from the front and teeing the air horn off of that line.
They dont really have a universal setup. I bought the JK version, and just bend the mount flange to the angle i needed to clear the hood using a vice and a really damn big adjustable with tape on all surfaces then screwed it into the super thick core support plastic. Good enough for the girls I hang out with.
It includes the fitting for the compressor you need and a good amount of hose. I required some more 1/4" and 3/8" line due to the size difference between the JK/JL and sprinter, but that is cheap and i had the 1/4 on hand anyways.
You will need to make brackets for the air valves at the tires. I used 1 x 2 x 1/8 angle and trimmed to size and appearance. some 5/16 holes and off to the races.
Whole process took about an hour and a half, so not all that bad, for just the unit and hoses and brackets and stuff.
Unit costs about 260 bucks without compressor and jazz.
That being said. Here is the required pics!
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

 

[blackntan]

Grant any more pics of fitting your CB. were have you wired it into and did you go through roof etc for antenna , and did you buy the headliner shelf complete BnT

 

[grantwilson]

Grant any more pics of fitting your CB. were have you wired it into and did you go through roof etc for antenna , and did you buy the headliner shelf complete BnT

not a CB. just a PA. I use midland units for comms. CB is pretty antiquated

 

[grantwilson]

 

[grantwilson]

 

[grantwilson]

Installed me some window!

The Tern Overland windows are pretty much the bees knees IMO. Super solid construction and huge opening radius.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Also got some awesome power and water ports for the van from Tern Overland as well. The covers are being painted to match currently with the flares

And the install video!

 

[grantwilson]

Did alot of fabrication these past few days. Working on editing video, but here is some . photo and talk about it.
Built the bed.
Materials used include 1 x 2 x 1/4" rec tube for the frames, and 1 x 1 x 1/4 for the overlapping section for the recliner

Basic frame is welded up
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Made the second portion that will be the recliner back when we want to sit and look out the back and read, or make out or whatever
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Threw it into the van for a test fit
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Then it was time to build out the sides
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

next up is the water tank, ceiling ribs, and skinning the rear panels, and making doors for them.

 

[grantwilson]

Not a ton of pictures, just doing a bunch of small work that takes time.

"Fabricated" some roof rails so I didn't have to negotiate the large number of holes in the roof beams.
used some 2" x 2" aluminum angle with some slits and bends and then rivnuts to the side of the roof cross beams.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Then i mounted some of the boards for the ceiling at the end of the evening.
These take about 20-30 minutes a piece to do at a leisure pace.
Have to put them up, clamp them together so the lines are all lined up, then measure the hole position, predrill with 1/8", take it back off, open the wood to 5/32 and the angle for the rivnut, install the rivnuts, put the board back up and throw in the 1 1/2" Stainless Hex Button Screws
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Did 10ft pieces this time so there are no splices. One continuous piece. Should finish the ceiling this afternoon, then label it, pull it all out, and paint it on saturday hopefully to put back in.

Also got some stuff back from paint
Flarespace Flares are all painted and pretty, may install on sunday hopefully.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
The Tern Overland water and electrical covers are all painted as well to match. Super impressed with the job the shop did on all the stuff.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

And Lastly, the driver side wheel well water tank
26 gallons
Will mount to the wall, and the structure I made
Leaves enough room to have the bedslide in this one, where the last setup was about 4" difference into the cargo area. Inches literally matter here. Crazy.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

 

[grantwilson]

Water tank is all done, just gotta weld on the brackets for support, and install!
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Starting to mock up electrical components to put on rivnuts and and heat shrink and stuff. Gotta build some 90* terminal blocks for the inverter to clean up the wiring a bit.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

 

[grantwilson]

A big thing is done, and marked off the list.
Water tank is finished and installed. Bolts to the wall and the structure for the side to support it.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Also started to skin the passenger side battery/wheel well cover
Will also be covering everything panneled with foam and fabric for a nice touch surface on everything. got some nice outdoor fabric that should hold up quite well.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
I do have to move the Ctek forward a bit, but this is why we mock stuff up right?