|
|
 |
Joined: 3/16/2009
Posts: 4
|
|
|
I'm retired and planning to buy a Sprinter for conversion next spring. I want to get a floor, ceiling, walls, with insulation, power and water done by a commercial business, but pretty much all else I want to do myself. Has anyone else done this, or part of this? My considerations - weight, cost, and personal preferences. I want the sturdy vinyl cabinets, drawers, for storage, not big wood installations. I want to use an Incinolet rather than a toilet that uses water. I want to use solar power to the extent that I can, but batteries or generators or whatever the heck is normal to make up the rest. I want my "bed" to be sort of a futon that will serve as a couch during day, bed at night, storage (more plastic/vinyl drawers) underneath. I want function, not fancy. Can anyone give me some ideas, recommendations, etc.? I will spend a year on the road. Will sell my house, but will want that money to build when year is up. This is real scary to me - the cost of maybe making a mistake. I don't want to have to reinvent the wheel or learn from too many of my own mistakes.
Thanks for any help you can offer. Barbara
Barbara
Barbara
|
|
|
|
 | |
|
|
 |
 |
Joined: 3/16/2009
Posts: 3528
|
|
|
Welcome to the forum !
It sounds like you have a good idea of what you want to do, maybe just not how to do it :quest: I really can't help you at all, I'm not much of a do it yourselfer. I can do some stuff in my stick house but don't have experience with RV's.
Just wanted to say HI and good luck :D
Trudy and Maui Molly the hula dog 
Trudy, Molly & Murphy
"be the kind of person your dog thinks you are"
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
Joined: 3/16/2009
Posts: 954
|
|
|
Welcome Barbara!
I'm not really sure what you are talking about. I do know that Sprinter is a make of RV. Are you suggesting completely gutting one and rebuilding it with your preferences? Wow,... an expensive project if you are only going to be on the road for a year. But maybe I have misunderstood? Tell us more!
Cedar
Adirondack Mts. in NY
'02 Ford Escape
'04 Chalet Arrowhead (C-->)
"One's world expands and contracts in direct proportion to one's courage"....Anais Nin.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
Joined: 3/16/2009
Posts: 179
|
|
|
Sprinters are Dodge/Mercedes vans. . . you can buy them empty. That's what companies like Roadtrek, Great West et al do - then they convert them to ClassB motorhomes. UPS buys them as delivery trucks.
They are having some major problems with a thing called "limping home syndrome". . . you might want to GOOGLE that and read all about it before you pound down the major fundage for one of them.
I have friends who have a 2008 Great West that suffers from the problem and their $92K rig won't go up hill faster than 25mph! Dodge says it's a Great West and Great West says it's a Dodge. . . nobody wants to take responsibility for the problem. It is not a universal problem - not all Sprinters have the faulty thruster, but. . . if yours does. . . YIKES.
I'd give 'em a chance to work out the bugs.
Just a thought.
eKat
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Joined: 3/16/2009
Posts: 954
|
|
|
thanks ekat for the explanation. I had not heard of this. I thought it was the model of Keystone RV.
http://keystone-sprinter.com/
Easy confusion, I guess. The one you describe sounds like something I'd prefer to avoid at this time.
Cedar
Adirondack Mts. in NY
'02 Ford Escape
'04 Chalet Arrowhead (C-->)
"One's world expands and contracts in direct proportion to one's courage"....Anais Nin.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
Joined: 3/16/2009
Posts: 826
|
|
|
I admit I am not the one to be talking to about conversions. I do understand about personal preferences and wanting something done up the way you like. But thinking about the cost and everything? Wouldn't it be easier and a whole lot cheaper to do some major shopping or surfing the net and buy a newer gently used class b or a small class c??
I found this site http://www.sportsmobile.com/ and thought that's a lot of money to lay out and it would buy one heck of a nice used unit. Then using the money saved to change a few things around. Even to putting in a incinolet and solar panels. Save enough you could even look into doing a satellite set up.
But if you have your heart set on doing it up your way? Then that's kool too.
Anyway, welcome to the forum and good luck.
Echo
(who is a)
future full timer
a mom with her daughter back home again, single, stifled and ready to
cut loose with a Pom named Shade!
Echo
(who is a)
future full timer
a mom with her daughter back home again, single, stifled and ready to
cut loose with a Pom named Shade!
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Joined: 3/16/2009
Posts: 1335
|
|
|
I agree with Echo. Unless you are getting a fantastic deal on the Sprinter that you are going to renovate, I would go with a used RV, regardless of the model, with low mileage. Much cheaper way to go as they really depreciate that first year when bought new. Keep gathering information until you are sure then go for it, whatever decision you make.
Good luck!
Marysdream
Its all good!!!!!
2000 Rialta (little Sweetie)
Marysdream
Its all good!!!!!
2000 Rialta (little Sweetie)
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
Joined: 3/16/2009
Posts: 517
|
|
|
Adding my welcome here,too.....Another good resource is our "sister" here....ChrisMiss.....although she and Mac have "remodeled" a Class A, Mac has good references for remodeling.....go into the Open Talk and leave a thread for ChrisMiss to send you a link to their website.....
Lori
;07 Dodge 5th Wheel
'05 Ford F-150
;07 Dodge 5th Wheel
'08 Toyota Tundra
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
Joined: 3/16/2009
Posts: 8476
|
|
|
Here is Chris and Mac's website
http://www.macandchris.com/
Welcome to "our forum".... SO happy to have you join us...Good luck in your building a motorhome...
Joella
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Joined: 3/16/2009
Posts: 887
|
|
|
I just wanted to say welcome to our forum
I'm gonna have to google incinolet cause I've
never heard of it.
I redid an old van a few years back (ok, 4)and
I was tickled to do it and was quite happy with
the results. Lived in it for 3 months when I was
recooperating after a year of chemo. I was in heaven.
Just me and the dog. Good luck in your project.
Ava, Bandit and Gracie
from the desert of arizona,
where the wind blows and the tumbleweeds roll
Ava
from the desert of Arizona,
where the wind blows and
the tumbleweeds roll
|
|
|
|