T1N Sprinter vans are timeless, high quality vans manufactured by Mercedes-Benz from 1995 to 2006. To nowadays, they proceed to draw van lifers as a consequence of their sturdiness, gasoline effectivity, spacious interiors, and accessibility of parts and repairs.
Throughout the event you’re contemplating a T1N Sprinter conversion for van life, chances are high excessive you might have to know additional relating to the conversion course of together with the challenges, recommendation, and regrets of van lifers who’ve gone by way of it prior to you.
Let’s dive into the nuts and bolts of T1N Sprinter van conversions with two {{{couples}}} who at present dwell full-time of their self-converted T1N vans.
Tyler and Oak
Tyler (@tygoesoutside on Instagram and TikTok) lives full-time in a T1N conversion alongside collectively along with his accomplice, Oak (@oak.thetree), and their cats.
1. What impressed you to undertake a T1N conversion?
My accomplice and I had been desirous to convert and dwell in a van for a extremely very very long time, and we merely occurred to discover a actually reasonably priced T1N sprinter on Fb Market.
2. Please describe the conversion course of. What sources did you profit from that may make it simpler to? What are various of the climate or supplies you used all through the assemble, and why did you select them?
The conversion course of was chaotic. We had no expertise, and we’ve now been actually merely making it up as we went alongside.
Maybe primarily primarily essentially the most mounted useful helpful useful resource all by means of your complete course of was www.faroutride.com. That that that they had good designs for a lot of the climate of the assemble that we’ve now been primarily primarily essentially the most confused about.
Other than that, there have been some YouTube movement footage about inserting in a diesel heater, random articles about image voltaic and electrical energy, and loads of others. We went with Renogy for our complete image voltaic and battery setup due to it was good to have the pliability to get every little consider a single place, they usually additionally’ve been tremendous sturdy for us.
For inside supplies, we principally used picket. Our partitions and ceiling are cedar planks due to it was easier to go effectively with the curve of the van by inserting in them lengthwise versus bending sheets of plywood.
Our cupboards are a mixture of cheaper Residence Depot plywood and nicer baltic birch stuff that we used to chop weight. It’s stiffer and stronger for any given thickness which lets us use thinner stuff for some parts.
3. What have been essential challenges you encountered within the midst of the conversion, and the way in which by which did you overcome them?
The largest disadvantage was the cabinetry. It was the half that required primarily primarily essentially the most precision and was the most effective to get improper.
To be dependable, our cabinetry isn’t the best-designed stuff within the market. It turned out implausible, however we would’ve completed bigger if we’d taken additional time on it.
4. What recommendation would you give to any individual contemplating a T1N conversion?
Plan out every little issue about your assemble prior to you begin. The entire thing will go smoother and likewise you’ll spend rather a lot a lot much less cash.
5. In hindsight, is there one factor you might have completed one other means within the midst of the conversion course of?
I’d have completed additional analysis as an alternative of merely assuming we would resolve it out as we acquired into it.
Sam and Whitney’s T1 Campervan Conversion
Sam and Whitney (@back2naturevan) dwell in a T1N 2006 RWD Dodge Sprinter 2500 with their cat.
1. What impressed you to undertake a T1N conversion?
We chosen a T1N for quite a few causes, a limiteless one being the two.7 liter 5 cylinder turbo engine. These engines routinely run earlier 600,000 miles, with many reaching the 1,000,000-mile mark. This platform has been confirmed to be considered one of many dependable and fuel-efficient selections for a full-size van.
We now have been furthermore capable of buy our 2006 for $8,500, permitting us to pay money, which we weren’t capable of do for newer fashions. Remaining however not least, our van, Hyperion, might be the longest, tallest sprinter obtainable giving us the scale we would have appreciated. The T1N checked all of our containers.
2. Please describe the conversion course of. What sources did you profit from that may make it simpler to? What are various of the climate or supplies you used all through the assemble, and why did you select them?
The conversion course of began with a 3D mannequin sketch up. Whitney’s background is in inside design, so effectivity was all through the doorway of our priorities. We furthermore deliberate on dwelling in it full time, so getting every little issue we wished was vital.
This was our second van assemble as we’ve a 1985 VW Vanagon that we reworked to a weekender. We knew what we favored and didn’t like for an additional future van assemble.
We used utterly completely totally different web site sources, our current data and expertise, boards, and (really) YouTube to create our utterly completely totally different van functions and designs.
We principally have 1/2” baltic birch cabinetry and extruded aluminum platform mattress. Each have been chosen for his or her mild weight and power.
3. What have been essential challenges you encountered within the midst of the conversion, and the way in which by which did you overcome them?
Our conversion went fairly merely. One subject that we did battle a bit with is getting dependable service on the precise van. We had just a few electrical elements and the engine was working wealthy. We wished an primary look to search out out any potential future elements.
We did take it to a mechanic retailer that was a European car retailer. They took it in, sat on it for every week, after which educated us they “don’t work on diesels.”
We then took it to a Sprinter-specific retailer acknowledged to be one amongst many few remaining locations with individuals who know all about T1Ns. We acquired an estimate in your complete factors he really helpful we do, which was inside our price differ, so we had them full these factors. It took pretty a bit longer to get as soon as greater than what was quoted due to “that that that they had not gotten to it nevertheless” (though we scheduled the drop-off).
Inside every week of returning it to us, we had various of the same elements, plus just a few extra ones. The van went as soon as extra as quickly as additional, and we had the same delay in getting the labor completed, however this time the problems have been principally remedied.
A couple of months later, we had just a few traces (coolant and transmission) fail, which upon inspection, undoubtedly have been cracking and displaying indicators of age. We, as quickly as additional, puzzled how in-depth the overview of our engine was. Extended story transient, discovering individuals who know this engine is a bit sturdy. Nevertheless, this has prompted us to get far more accustomed to our engine, and we now have the vainness to variety out most repairs on our non-public!
4. What recommendation would you give to any individual contemplating a T1N Sprinter van conversion?
Regardless of the story above, we do plenty of the mechanical work on this van. It’s terribly helpful to know among the best methods to work on this car, and be succesful to be taught. An professional is that it’s simple to work on, however a con is that it’s older, so it’s going to break down merely from pure positioned on on the climate.
Nonetheless there are a collection of implausible T1N Sprinter teams on Fb, the Sprinter Present Dialogue board, and completely totally different sources like www.millionmilesprinter.com which have dependable, confirmed, parts and hyperlinks to YouTube movement footage of among the best methods to rearrange them.
5. In hindsight, is there one factor you might have completed one other means within the midst of the conversion course of?
Maybe put in a gasoline differ. Nonetheless that’s a future plan!
Should I do a T1N conversion?
T1N vans are spacious and are acknowledged for being sturdy vans that will run for a extremely very very long time. You probably have the time to dedicate to discovering out relating to the intricacies of adjusting a T1N Sprinter van (and repairing all of it by means of the time you non-public it), then it’s a strong various for a full-time residence on wheels.
Throughout the event you’re not very helpful just about vans, although, chances are high excessive you might have to rethink. Because of the {{{couples}}} talked about, it might be sturdy to look out mechanics who’re educated on T1Ns and have the provision to work in your van in a properly timed approach.
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