Your Home Office on the Road: A Converted Mercedes Benz Camper Van
Are you self-employed? Do you dream of taking your life—and your business—on the road? Do you see yourself traveling from town to town, living as a troubadour of old, except for the fact that you use your phone as a hotspot so you can do freelance work for clients at will? Well, here’s an idea that could put you a step closer to that dream: a plan for converting a Mercedes Sprinter into a luxurious camper van. (If you’re going to dream, you might as well dream in Technicolor, right?) Read on for more details.
Go Small but Make it Deluxe
Mercedes Benz is known for manufacturing some of the most iconic vehicles around, and its Sprinter van is no exception. It’s not only spacious inside, but it’s loaded with features that make it worth every single penny of its cost. You’ll be able to fit all the cargo and as many passengers as you’d care to bring along. As a matter of fact, Sprinter’s features make it perfect for both commercial and personal uses.
Why Sprinter? The Sprinter offers good head room, easy cargo stacking, low ownership cost, rear parking assistance, integrated phone connectivity—essential for your dream business—and excellent fuel economy. We’ve included tips here for converting your Sprinter into a suitable work and living space, even if you decide to do it yourself.
Should You Do it Yourself or Buy a Finished Vehicle?
If you know your way around a toolbox, you might want to tackle your van conversion yourself, but if you’re more of a literary type, that might not be the best option for you. The last thing you want is an unfinished project rusting away in your driveway. So be honest: If you start your conversion will you really—and I mean really—follow through? If not, you’d better plan on going to someone who specializes in these conversions.
Make a Plan
Make a list of your preferences, and since space in your customized van will be limited, order it by priority. Of course you’ll need a nice bed, a bright interior, space for working, a small kitchen area, and room for whatever comfort items you feel you can’t live without.
Do Your Research
Go online to get ideas of what others have done with similar projects. Start by mocking up layouts by using tape and cardboard and installing the prototype into your newly purchased van to see how it will look. If you do things right and implement everything in stages your personalized build will turn out better.
Emphasize Quality over Quantity
Make compromises where you must to keep your conversion affordable, but where you can—and where it makes the most difference to you—choose the luxurious over the penurious. After all, you’re going small, so you can probably afford to splurge on some items.
For instance, you could save plenty by building your bed platform yourself so that you can afford to purchase a stellar mattress. Go for a pressurized solar shower instead of a hydronic hot water system for more savings, and choose a propane camp stove instead of a diesel stove for the same reason.
Look for other ways to lower upfront costs and outlays for ongoing maintenance.
Opt for Solar Energy
Why should you buy expensive generators for your electricity needs when you can easily get enough electricity to power up a refrigerator, lights, a fan, outlets for your electronics, and a stereo with the help of solar panels on the roof of your van?
Get by with a Little Help from your Friends
Do-it-yourself projects often require specific tools or skills, but by tapping into your social network you might not always need to buy tools you’ll need only for a short time. If you don’t have or know how to use a powerful table saw to cut your fine birch countertops, for instance, see if one of your friends can help you out.
So dream on, my friend, and take steps to slip into the life of your dreams. Happy trails!