cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

MERCEDES SPRINTER RV not a conventional conversion

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer
Not conventional, well my idea is. To Build an RV to live in but also make a separate food van to trade out of as well. I am a female so I want to keep it small as possible but have everything in it - plus build it myself and all that on a Mid wheel base.
92 REPLIES 92

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer
So food van complete. Now it's time for a place to sleep.

THE LIVING AREA BEDROOM

Yep thats it. A small area almost as long as a camping bed. The width which fits the length of a pillow.
If I felt I needed more then I would of taken an old Toyota coaster. But I wasn't into old and I like small so at the moment I am ok to work in with what I have. A Mid wheel base sized Sprinter, not conventional.

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer
So got my Taxation audit finished which costed me value able time.
I was feeling very discouraged when I had to take out the Gas fridge and exchange it for an electric one. Dave from the RV super store at that time, told me about a guy who went for inspection with his food van and he was knocked back for several things including 12 volt wiring not being done from an Auto electrician. Well Dave said "you know, after all that trouble this guy runs a very successful crepe business now and he eventually got the approval. So chin up you'll get there."

And guess what, I am now a proud owner of the very first - MOBILE FROZEN YOGURT VAN specialist! I think?!? Well it's the new trend in Australia but it has yet to explode - never the less I am now in, that is the most important when starting any new business. You must be in it at the beginning. When it peaks it is too late.

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer

My 87 year old dad you may recall. He was at my right side at the beginning of this project. Well he has health issues and does not have the drive to do too much. So if he does feel ok he asks if he can help. But somehow his reasoning seems to have deteriorated over the last months. Simple things which would of previously to him been obvious are no longer. He also sees it now to. It's almost like an overnight change has happened to his ability to think straight when working on small jobs, like putting a fly wire screen kit together. eg. didn't see why the last piece couldn't go on because, he'd put the corner pieces on first. As I pointed it out to him he still didn't see, it was only after I rebuilt it that the penny dropped. I always ask his opinion every step of the way. He has been my teacher and coach, with any sort of building I had done in the past. All that I can do is due to him.
I love my Dad and I am so greatful that he still is bright and can still get around ok for a 5 times Great great grand dad.

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer
View of finished side. That big thing sitting on the bench top. Is not a cloths dryer, it's .
the ice-cream machine. I just love ice-cream so much I had to have one.:-)

The other side. You'll have to excuse the mess on the floor as we are still in construction. In fact you can also see the gas fridge was just removed in this photo as the lining was yet to be done.


A bit blue this one. A few more days before inspection. Note the canvas awning rolled up.


Ok now here you see the counter I built. This is for serving out the back end of vehicle.
In the picture it is up, opened to allow access.


Now banner with counter down, also view of the canvas awning - which simply rolls up at the back door as seen above. The metal struts must be removed and the straps unhooked. Will show more detail later on that.

I am in not satisfied at the appearance from a customers perspective. So I have plans for the side window and permanent signage all yet still in the pipe line.

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer
Ok all fridge stuff aside.
Council Inspection deadline coming up 2 Weeks to go and every thing must be honkey dorrey.
Have still some final touches to do. Like sealing all corners / joins. Worst of all is the back of the van. Which has to be covered with panels and sealed. This job I did not want to start. It's one big fiddle. But it has to be done.
At this time I get a phone call from the Tax deptement and they want to do an audit - all because of the cost involved on this project and me claiming so much tax back all of a sudden. Well with 2 shows booked and council inspection coming up, plus the tax department breathing down my neck. It all seemed impossble to me to get everything done in time. TOTALLY STRESSED OUT now --- me at over 1/2 a century old, time is my enemy. I can do nothing more as just keep working as long and hard as was possible. At this point I said to myself, "ok If I don't make it then I will cancel the booked shows and forfit the site rental I'd already paid, same goes for the inspection." This was the only thing which had a carming effect on the whole situation at hand.

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer
Compliance plate for GAS no fridge!

New Mircowave and the New fridge - Had to line all walls and the back but used vents for air circulation as the space required was not sufficiant on it's own. Now have to secure it but needs to be moved for cleaning at the same time.

The fridge is a 12V fridge 158 ltrs runs at 4.5 amps. Also with a transformer 240 V running at 1.08 amps. Must change plugs over no switch so a bit inconvenient to boot.

Wont be able to run it any length of time with out hooking up to house hold power source. Solar panels also wont cut it. - I would need 2 solar panels and 3 x 260 amp hour batteries so I am told to run. All too much weight and money. So looking into using "Dry ice packs" Anyone else use them? What ever I am now limited as to where I stay over night. Very sad indeed.

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer
Major set back today. After all that hard work started looking like I could finally get council inspection done soon. Unfortunately today the gas man came with gas compliance certificate. Now here in Australia we have someone checking on the gas fitter (plumber) called ESV (energy safe victoria) Who also has to issue me a compliance plate as well. Well it started out ok needed little things which had a solution like puting a notice on a vent which has fly wire on it. (Vents must be regulary cleaned) - Cut a second hole in gas container - join a pipe underneath hole and lead it away from the front facing to the back of van.
Then HWS fleu too close to the opening of the back door. Yer sure - didn't realise that you could get Carbonmonoxide poisioning with large doors opened from that HWS Anyway not to bother he found a little solution for that to. I MUST put a plastic cover to fill the gap between door and van body inside.
Then my plumber puts the shut off value behind a wooden wall, now I am expected to make a littlte hatch. Right heading on, The fridge!
As the seals where not permanently sealed on the fridge with sikaflex and only sealed via the closing of the side door. He doubted it's function and said NO the fridge had to go. So to take fridge ou I had to brake all seals and 2 walls. I will chat with him again tomorrow via the phone and abuse the SHI......T out of him.

Only joking - I am imagining a stratagy which he may agree to. So I will discuss this with him just incase I can't get a refund on the 182 ltr Thedford. Crossed fingers on this - wont slepp or sleep until it's over what ever the outcome. This is just the beginning. Council inspection I can see things they might like pick on.

Just needed to tell you - by the way I rang ESV to find out what happens. All before inspection takes place. Get this. I was told that useally 1 or 2 appliances must be taken out and changed. Make sense! Make money, and keep them in a job.
Then the plumber says I must get the compliance certificate back.

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer
antiquedrose wrote:
You are amazing!! This has to be my fav thread on rv.net, ever. And love your Dad, it's fun reading about him, too.

Please keep posting, including when on the road.


Gee thanks Anti. It's nice to see you get some amusment from it.

Yesterday - Cut that big side panel after carefully shaping the profile and re checking measurement in 86 F heat. Only to find out oh SH........ Dam I cut the wrong side.
It being my last piece I chopped it off and will have make a join now with scrap. WHAT A B......
no, "blow" I was going to say.

I am getting there, in bits and pieces. The doors for the other side oh hum 1 peice missing, then needed profie holes drilled. So I hope 4 trips to Bayswater 15 mins away will evetntually get the lot together.

Although my fun didn't stop there try fitting stoppers for a door with 15cm width - no room for drill etc. you wouldn't of wanted to be around at that stage - grunting and groaning and plenty of... well just use your imagination. All that for a tiny door.


2 hours latter fitted the next one including black trim board - great enjoyed working under normal conditions again. Moving on to the next one - the next set back, hinges wont work for the idea I had to open it downwards, another trip to Bayswater.
So, feeling like a bit of a wasted day more or less.

antiquedrose
Explorer
Explorer
You are amazing!! This has to be my fav thread on rv.net, ever. And love your Dad, it's fun reading about him, too.

Please keep posting, including when on the road.

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer
Looky! One side done! Picked up new Ice-Cream machine.



Working on the other side now.

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer
free radical wrote:
Cu2 wrote:
In the meantime.

Needing signage so have ordered these banners. As I have to move fast they were quickly designed, I hope they will be all right to start with.



It would be great to have your feed back so I might be able to improve on them next time.

what the heck is a Robber dog?lol


It's another name for a
Frankfurter in a roll with Crispy onion and tasty cheese. Lol

free_radical
Explorer
Explorer
Cu2 wrote:
In the meantime.

Needing signage so have ordered these banners. As I have to move fast they were quickly designed, I hope they will be all right to start with.



It would be great to have your feed back so I might be able to improve on them next time.

what the heck is a Robber dog?lol

MAU_MAU
Explorer
Explorer
Very Good (hen hao!)

I have a Honda 6500 and it is an outstanding generator.

Keep up the fantastic work.

Zai Jian...............Rob
Roadtrek 170 Popular

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer
See what looks like the clear glass door? It separates cabin area. It can only be opened if unlocked - from the food prep area only! If it is locked then entry is only possible though drivers compartment. At same time the Shower door can only open if the clear door is in open position, the shower door then will only open right angles to the other side of the open clear door - so if your in the food prep area there is no way entry is possible as the door blocks it off completely ๐Ÿ™‚
I will update photo's to show what I mean later, but for now this is how it will look from food prep area.

Cu2
Explorer
Explorer
Canadian Rainbirds wrote:
I have enjoyed following your posts so far and hope to see it through to the end. Far more than I would ever have considered. Whenever you get discouraged, check out this guy's thread.


Great and this guy didn't finish. I intend to finish this epic sager of my life. Keep reminding me if I stop posting. As you see I promptly got back with more after reading your post. Thanks for the reminder.