Sprinter Upgrade Story | Before Photos & Phase 1 RV Conversion
$8.5k cash to the seller
I have been shopping for a good, used Class B motorhome, Sprinter / Promaster / Transit van from July, 2015 until I purchased a 2007 Dodge Sprinter on February 3rd, 2016 in Lakeland, Florida. All that time I encountered many fake Craigslist ads which wasted much of my time. I knew I had to buy at the oldest a 2007 model if Sprinter as the generation before that is too short inside for me. I spotted a new listing on CraigsList and called the owner at 2 am which is two hours after he listed it at midnight. He was asking only $10,000 for it because it needed a new $4,000 turbo and said he was prepping it for show and I had to wait several days until he was done. He also stated he would take $9,000 firm. I offered $8,500 if he would let me have it without prepping it for show and he agreed (it needed the old wrap removed which is a difficult job when that old).
I purchased tickets for and was going to watch a SpaceX launch, but chose to drive an hour west to Lakeland to go get this good Sprinter I was particularly interested in due to it having a low price, a roof air conditioner and vent and being the perfect length (20').
When I arrived to look at at the Sprinter, I noticed the owner removed a bed frame and some insulation as he didn't know I would have wanted that left installed. That's good though because I ended up building a far superior metal beam supported bed frame that was much thinner and didn't need any legs.
I arranged for it to be repaired at Tampa Freightliner as Dodge dealers often don't have competent diesel mechanics. They discovered the van also needed a new intake manifold, adding $3,000 to the repair bill.
Since ordering parts and completing the repair work was expected to take a week, they let me do some work on the van in their parking lot while parts were being shipped. On Saturday, February 6th, I worked on the van all day and they locked me in. I was stuck all weekend which was fine with me because I wanted to continue working on it. I slept in it after building the bed frame, but got very cold as it got down to around 40 and the van was not yet properly insulated. Even after hooking up a space heater with a generator, it was very cold in there. I couldn't sleep Sunday night because of very noisy backup sounds of nearby industrial machines and was approached by the Monday morning crew at 5:30 am. They were baffled that I was there all weekend and said they were surprised the Sheriff didn't spot me there as it's patrolled after hours. Good thing the Sheriff didn't catch me taking a dump in the ditch then!
I purchased tickets for and was going to watch a SpaceX launch, but chose to drive an hour west to Lakeland to go get this good Sprinter I was particularly interested in due to it having a low price, a roof air conditioner and vent and being the perfect length (20').
When I arrived to look at at the Sprinter, I noticed the owner removed a bed frame and some insulation as he didn't know I would have wanted that left installed. That's good though because I ended up building a far superior metal beam supported bed frame that was much thinner and didn't need any legs.
I arranged for it to be repaired at Tampa Freightliner as Dodge dealers often don't have competent diesel mechanics. They discovered the van also needed a new intake manifold, adding $3,000 to the repair bill.
Since ordering parts and completing the repair work was expected to take a week, they let me do some work on the van in their parking lot while parts were being shipped. On Saturday, February 6th, I worked on the van all day and they locked me in. I was stuck all weekend which was fine with me because I wanted to continue working on it. I slept in it after building the bed frame, but got very cold as it got down to around 40 and the van was not yet properly insulated. Even after hooking up a space heater with a generator, it was very cold in there. I couldn't sleep Sunday night because of very noisy backup sounds of nearby industrial machines and was approached by the Monday morning crew at 5:30 am. They were baffled that I was there all weekend and said they were surprised the Sheriff didn't spot me there as it's patrolled after hours. Good thing the Sheriff didn't catch me taking a dump in the ditch then!
|
|
Frog skeleton found (center) in tool storage - passenger footwell
|
Another animal skeleton found: Starter battery compartment
|
Sprinter Cons So Far (mostly ergonomic complaints)
(Overall best option, but quirks I notice...)
(Overall best option, but quirks I notice...)
- Changing spare tire is dangerous, potentially very dangerous, and very dirty
- Main battery is located under driver's foot well, unsealed: Potential off gassing of chemicals into the cab / living area.
- Extremely rough ride if hit any bump; no option for low load softer suspension except for expensive air suspension
- Lower part of seat tilts too far down with no option to tilt up; not nearly as comfortable as many other vehicles
- Hand brake sticks out too far next to driver's seat - very annoying for pets and people can snag on it
- Sliding door floor area and seat brackets have sharp angle and edges that can injure skin on your legs
- Great inefficiencies and/or greed regarding very high cost of parts and labor
- Too many sensors cause warning lights
- Headlights do not shut off if left on; no reminder if exit side door; same sound as ignition
- No lighted ignition housing (difficult to find at night)
- Ugly grey color standard cabin
- Horn is very wimpy; I added an auxiliary horn
- Quality and workmanship no better than American or Japanese vehicles
