Project "Groot" (A New Direction) - Mercedes LWB Sprinter build.

[RedFrame]

Since we decided a change of vehicle was in order, on the way back from Europe at the end of June, we've spent lots of time discussing, and making lists, firstly of requirements and then trying to find ways of achieving them.

After selling the Burstner last week we picked up the "new" van this Tuesday, it's a '68 plate LWB W207 (new shape) 314 manual which gives us 4300mm x approx 1730mm of load space to play with after insulating and lining.

We spent a lot of time looking at what was on offer on various websites and looking at what each Brand offered as a doner vehicle. I would have dearly loved to find a way into the big commercial auction houses in Manchester and Leeds area, but couldn't... Over a month or more of looking I found that everything on the web was fetching a premium price and quite often had evidence of mis-treatment either externally or in the cab area, so I decided to have a look at the "Used Approved" Mercedes Commercial offerings and was pleasantly surprised at the prices and quality of some of the offerings. Groot can only be described as "immaculate" both inside and outside and comes with a 24 month warranty, £3000 MOT failure cover and 24 month European breakdown recovery.

As a background, we both work, so getting away for a weekend (on a regular basis) is important to us and when we do this we tend to use CL type sites and opt out of EHU or alternatively we will Wild. When we get away for longer, perhaps "oop North" for a week, it will be in Winter and we will Wild for the whole holiday (we wouldn't head South in the UK for a holiday). When heading to Europe we tend to mix between "Wild", Aires/Stellplatz, and very occasionally, a well priced ACSI site.

Maybe a bit boring but I suppose I should start this thread with those "requirements", as Groot will be built around them.

Be able to sit up in bed.
Be able to stand up in Van.
Be able to carry Motorbike and trailer inside van (Save on Ferry/Eurotunnel tickets).
Not make beds every night.
Onboard Flush Toilet - Cassette.
Onboard Shower
Sink.
Twin Beds
Fridge/Freezer (Compressor)
Microwave/Convection Oven/Grill (Electric)
Single Induction Hob
External Gas for Cadac or similar
Heating
Hot Water (15L)
120 Ltrs Fresh Water (onboard)
40-60 Ltrs Waste water (underslung, insulated, heated)
Alarm/Disabling system
Tracker
"Captain's" seats
Roll out Awning
Well Vented
Remis Cab Blinds
TV/mini - Projector
4/5g Wifi or 4/5g signal booster.
External Video.

This is Groot as he came to us...

I'll update tomorrow with progress for the rest of the week.....

Cheers
Red.

 

[RedFrame]

I've put together a basic scale image of the proposed layout together using Tinkercad and measurements provided on the Internet. This gives me an idea of how it will work and approximate dimensions.

Before I insulate and line the floor, walls and ceiling I want to "mock up" the bed wardrobe and shower/toilet. This way I know that the size of the bed is not going to irriate us for the life of the van.

By doing this we confirmed that Chris needed an extra 100mm and I needed 50mm on the length of our beds. The plan now is to mock up the Shower/toilet and wardrobe in cardboard to check the galley width and shower width/length will work for us. It will also allow me to position strengthening in the right places behind the lining.

A bunch of bits arrived yesterday too, I fitted the Remis blinds, which was surprisingly easy.

And started planning to cut holes in the roof for the vents (all the roof furniture needs fitting before I insulate it). The downside being the weight of the Fammia F80 awning!! I'm going to have to head over to Drexxer 's place for a bit of assistance with that one...

Cheers
Red

 

[Stoosal]

Going to be following this as pretty much the same way we’re going and our want list is almost identical!

Did you consider an overcab drop down bed at all? Do you intend to travel with motorbike in van or simply to get thru ferry/tunnel type journeys?

Good luck!

 

[RedFrame]

Going to be following this as pretty much the same way we’re going and our want list is almost identical!

Did you consider an overcab drop down bed at all? Do you intend to travel with motorbike in van or simply to get thru ferry/tunnel type journeys?

Good luck!

Hey Stoosal,

No we didn't consider the overcab drop down, for two reasons... Firstly the way we use a van, I tend to stay up a quite bit later than Chris then might take a "power nap" during the day so loosing the "lounge" if one of of us needs to use the bed eliminated that option. Secondly I can't see us being able to stand up in the lounge area if there was a drop down up in the ceiling.

With regards the bike, if I'm going to a track day then I would just chuck it in the back. For Europe then we envision it going in the back along with the MotoLug trailer for the journey down to the Tunnel and across to France, then unload and tow at our first overnight on the other side, this is because I imagine putting it in and taking it out every day for two weeks would be a PIA.

Cheers
Red.

 

[Stoosal]

I’ve been struggling with bed idea as well.....I’m sure you’ve looked thru all different ideas same as us.

There are some where you can have overcab bed and still sit under it (link...hope it works?) or have both overcab and rear bed but that would be too much for us. A lwb is probably needed though.

We’re going round in circles at the moment!

<Broken link removed>

The Weinsberg Outlaw idea is also our other idea...... permanent bike storage but not much room to sit up that’s for sure!

Broken Link Removed

Your plan is most likely the way to go!

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[RedFrame]

There's a lot packed into those two and very nice they look!! They are both close but don't quite tick all our boxes. One thing to mention is that they all seem to have a sink in the "bathroom", we're not doing that, we will use the kitchen sink for washing hands and brushing teeth.

Cheers
Red.

 

[WESTY66]

I’ve been struggling with bed idea as well.....I’m sure you’ve looked thru all different ideas same as us.

There are some where you can have overcab bed and still sit under it (link...hope it works?) or have both overcab and rear bed but that would be too much for us. A lwb is probably needed though.

We’re going round in circles at the moment!

<Broken link removed>

The Weinsberg Outlaw idea is also our other idea...... permanent bike storage but not much room to sit up that’s for sure!

Broken Link Removed

Your plan is most likely the way to go!

I tried getting onto the bed at one at Smc, not a ‘kin chance, even though it had the most amazing desirable garage, try to keep the thread going with your builds, cos even with having a motorhome some of us are still interested in van builds and other peoples ideas

 

[mitzimad]

sounds like your loosing a lot of space to save the cost of a trailer on a few ferries
does any one know how ive got unnderlines or how to get rid of it ?

 

[TinaLes]

Have you considered using the widening pods at the rear of the van to make a longer transverse bed, I see quite a few upmarket Merc conversions have now incorporated them. I think they are almost invisible on The Hymer 4x4 due to the graphite colour on the top sides.
Maybe also have a bed that can be lifted as a whole on vertical side runners to get enough room underneath for the bike, then lower back to normal when you remove the bike.
Good luck with the fitting out, there are loads of specialist conversion companies that can help you source bits & get some great ideas from.
Best wishes.
LES

 

[bigwood]

Before we bought our first van I looked the bed layouts at a show. I am 6ft so I asked a few dealers about the length of the beds.
The answers varied but most could not understand you need a bit more than 6ft to be comfortable. With my head on one side wall and feet touching the door is not comfortable.
One secondhand dealer did get his tape measure out and said he was surprised the beds in a T4 he was selling were 5’. 8” long.
If I was building my own van the bed comfort would be my first priority the rest could be adapted from there.

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[funflair]

sounds like your loosing a lot of space to save the cost of a trailer on a few ferries
does any one know how ive got unnderlines or how to get rid of it ?

Yes you underline go to the text tool top left and turn it off it looks like U.

 

[JMHerts]

Hi, I hadn't realised there was a self-build section to the forum until a number of self build/conversion questions started popping up.

I'm really pleased to hear about your build as last week we purchased a 2019 LWB sprinter . Just like you, we went via the Mercedes-approved used scheme. We are not starting our build until January and will be handing it over to a small conversion company but moved quickly to secure a van with air con which seems to be a rare option in a Sprinter, although quite common in a Crafter.

It would have been good if Mercedes hadn't removed a light bar from the top of the van and left 4 holes in the roof without any cover on a week when there was very heavy rain.

We're not very good for mechanical things and oily bits in cars etc so the warranty gives some assurance, and I got 2 years free servicing thrown in.

I wasn't planning on the Remis blins but it's good to know they are easy to fit should we want them later. In many ways, your specification is similar to ours, and I hope to include new wheels, a wheel carrier, we are looking at 12v aircon as well. Arm rests for the drivers seat would be good and possibly recovering the seats in the future although that's maybe a year way as I'm over budget already and the build hasn't started.

Good luck with the build. (I hadn't noticed the date of the first post, hope for a few updates)

Jamie and Mark

 

[VXman]

No update by the OP since August? To busy building or other reason?

Owning a 7.5 metre motorhome because we wanted fixed beds and to carry a motorbike inside, I find the the amount of stuff proposed to be in this van quite ambitious for the size.