We’ve had our Mercedes Sprinter van for over two years now. It’s a 2.1, 6-speed diesel that gets about 28.5 miles per gallon. We’ve driven it all over Europe since January 2020, and the engine has been fantastic, with no problems at all.
Before we started traveling around Europe, we fixed it up a bit. We replaced seals in the coolant area, loosened and re-oiled the suspension bushings, and changed the fuses and wiring for the van’s electrical systems.
While traveling, we had to replace the windshield because of a chip that turned into a crack. We also changed the front and rear brake pads, put on new rear tires, and replaced the hand brake.
We turned the van into a home on wheels with everything we need to live comfortably and travel off-grid. We’ve been using it to explore Europe this year and plan to return at the end of the year. We are selling it because we’re ready for a new project next year that will challenge us again.
We chose the best products we could afford to make sure the van was reliable and comfortable as our full-time home. We’ve been traveling in it for almost a year and haven’t had any major problems, except for a faulty B2B charger, which we plan to replace with a Sterling model when we get back.
Below is a list of all the main parts we’ve installed in the van.
- Windows: We have five Sprinter windows with 80% tint from VanPimps, which keep it nice and private inside.
- Heating: A Webasto Thermatop C300 diesel heating and hot water system is installed. It heats up the van and gives us hot water in about 5 minutes and has a thermostat to keep the living area warm.
- Sleeping Area: The van has a king-size bed that can transform into a large U-shaped sofa.
- Water Tanks: There’s a 100-liter tank for fresh water and a 75-liter tank for used water, both with monitors to check levels.
- Water Taps: We have one filtered tap for drinking water and another for washing dishes.
- Shower and Toilet: There’s a full shower and a Thetford Porta Potti toilet, which we can move out of the way when showering for more space.
- Seats: The driver and passenger seats are new, reclining, and adjustable. The passenger seat can swivel.
- Power Supply: Our van has a big battery bank, an inverter, solar panels, and various charging options including USB sockets and mains plugs.
- Cooling: A MaxxFan with seven speeds is installed on the roof.
- Fridge: There’s a 65-liter fridge with a small freezer.
- Internet: We have a 4G booster and a Huawei WiFi box that works great everywhere.
- Safety: The van is equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm.
- Dining: A Lagun table in the living area is fully adjustable.
- Cooking: We use a portable 2-burner camping stove, stored in the kitchen with dedicated space.
- Blinds: Custom thermal blinds from Blinds2Go help keep the van cool in summer and warm in winter.
- Insulation: The van is fully insulated with a mix of materials for comfort in all seasons.
- Storage: There’s a large wardrobe, multiple overhead cabinets, and under-bench storage accessible from the back. We also have a full-length custom roof rack for extra gear.
- Extras: We’ve added magnetic fly nets on doors, an awning for shade, and a shoe tidy at the entry from Ikea.
All of these features make our van a comfortable and practical home on wheels.
We’ve been living and traveling in our van for a full year, so we want to be very honest with anyone who might want to buy it. Here’s what you need to know:
- Interior Paint: The inside of the van needs a new coat of paint. Since the paint is white and we have a dog, it gets marked easily. If we haven’t sold the van by the time we return, we’ll repaint it.
- Kitchen Worktops: The countertops are scuffed from lots of use. If we were keeping the van, we’d replace them.
- Table: The Lagun table has a slight tilt, which makes it hard to work on. We’re using an extra leg to keep it level right now, but we’d replace it with a new table that has a fixed, yet removable, leg if we kept the van.
- Wardrobe Shelves: Two shelves in the wardrobe have bent over time. We can replace them with thicker wood before we sell the van, if necessary.
- Dent in the Van: There’s a dent on the side of the van. We can get this fixed when we return to the UK, or the new owner can choose to have it fixed before buying.
If someone is interested in buying the van before we return to the UK and make these improvements, we’ll consider that when setting the price. This way, the new owner can handle the updates and still feel good about the price.
Price: £27,995
Contact: courts.louise.stevens@gmail.com or visit www.quirkycampers.com
Van Tour: Check it out on YouTube.
