Sprinter Build. Very Nice Spec.

[CazPaul]

Wow great work that nice to see something different

 

[CazPaul]

I have to say David if I was swapping vans I would be looking for a nice Sprinter MWB 4x4 and then on the blower to you with my design ideas.

 

[Wissel]

Just a quick one on a few materials that have just arrived.

First, the worktops

The client wanted wooden tops, but this throw up two issues.

1. Wood is heavy
2. Matching the grain

Solution: Use raw Poplar (which is what the high grade Garnica ply I'm building the furniture with is constructed of)

This is very hard to get in the UK (it's North American), but really light for a hardwood.

I'm going to outsource the planing as I really don't want to buy a thicknesser right now (have a Vario to finance ), but I did a small bit to show how it will look. Here's the before:

And the after:

This is just the raw material still with no finish. I may epoxy these, not decided yet.

Then, at the other end of the material scale - the roof deck.

I know a lot of people won't like the idea of a roof deck, but it's what the customer wants.

Wood isn't the best idea here. It's heavy and will need maintenance. Metal will get hot and isn't in fitting with the rest of the van. Space age is the answer.

This stuff is called Millboard. It looks like wood but is actually polyurethane. It's strong, light, pretty and low maintenance. It isn't cheap.

Here's the top:

and the side:

Even close up, I can't tell the difference between it and real wood.

 

[Jamesh]

Any small wood working shop will do it.

Otherwise you can buy a kity 636 and sell it to me!

 

[Wissel]

Any small wood working shop will do it.

Otherwise you can buy a kity 636 and sell it to me!

I very nearly bought the Metabo - it would do what I need it too.

I would of if I didn't want every penny I can save to go towards the Vario (dying to get on with that).

I found a local place that will do the thickness planing for me

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[Otter Spotter]

Love the hardwood grain

 

[Wissel]

At long last a wall is in. This has been quite difficult as the windows, frames and TnG look all need to line up well otherwise it will look terrible.

To get the levels everywhere, I used a Laser:

Which gave me the level to fit the frame. Then the TnG gets fitted with smaller than needed window cutouts, it's attached to the frame, then routered around to get the finished look:

The bottom of this panel is cut on the groove, making it an easy job to join too, to complete the wall:

By the time it's all sprayed it should look pretty good (I hope).

 

[Wissel]

It's been a little chaotic here the last few weeks, but making progress on the Sprinter.

Both walls are now finished and the rear doors are done:

Then fitted:

Then the centre strip (with second draft excluder) and the side trims:

The front panels to finish the area will be scribed in the morning. Then a bed goes across the bottom and a wall unit across the top.

Also fitted the iMass:

 

[Carpmart]

That’s actually looking way better than how you described it a couple of weeks back!!! Top work Sir!

 

[dna]

As a ducato based van owner, I dont know about the sprinters but how do you access the rear light clusters to change indicator / brake bulbs? Are they externally accessed or are you having to leave a way through the panels?

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[Wissel]

As a ducato based van owner, I dont know about the sprinters but how do you access the rear light clusters to change indicator / brake bulbs? Are they externally accessed or are you having to leave a way through the panels?

They're accessed from the outside on the Sprinter (makes life so much easier).

Just open the rear doors and the screws are above/below the lights

 

[dna]

They're accessed from the outside on the Sprinter (makes life so much easier).

Just open the rear doors and the screws are above/below the lights

thats great - i can see how that will save you a lot of work making parts easily removable

 

[EuroTrotters]

Using a 230v domestic one Tam.

I've been running one in my own van for 3 or so years and really like it. Keeps a better temperature and silent, not to mention the cost. With mine, it's power consumption is so low that even with the inverter overhead it still uses less than a standard 12v compressor model. After initially installing with a small Victron inverter, I swapped over to a larger model as figured I may as well have 230v on tap.

This van's electrics work the same as my own, in that there will be 230v always on via an inverter.

Redundant Hymer TV Cupboard Now a Freezer

So, the Old CRT TV Cupboard, with turntable and up and over door. No longer required. Fridge is small, not great and the freezer even more useless. Turntable removed, door modified and hey presto, better use with refrigeration. TM So, the Old CRT TV Cupboard, with turntable and up and...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Terry]

As a ducato based van owner, I dont know about the sprinters but how do you access the rear light clusters to change indicator / brake bulbs? Are they externally accessed or are you having to leave a way through the panels?

When I did the relay with bathroom across the rear I simply drilled and countersunk self tapped the rear lights so I could change the bulbs from outside

 

[Wissel]

Quick one showing the board all fitted:

This was before any filling etc which is now done. Being primer'd now.

I don't think I've mentioned how I like to build furniture before?

Here's the frame for one of the units sat in place:

The bottom section houses the LiFePO4 battery, then 3 x deep drawers above, then a double door cupboard. This is a really strong and light method of cabinet making that keeps everything nice and square.

I like to hide all the fittings when building these as I think it looks neater. Although you wouldn't see it anyway unless opening a drawer or cupboard. The small holes are where the fixings are, these are filled with buffers to aid the soft-closing drawers.

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[dazandandrea]

Looks great. Is that the extruded , quick build frame ? Ive seen it used in plenty of factories etc for building guarding around fixtures etc.
Lovely job

 

[Wissel]

Looks great. Is that the extruded , quick build frame ? Ive seen it used in plenty of factories etc for building guarding around fixtures etc.
Lovely job

Yep, this one is Bosch Rexroth 2020 (20mm x 20mm).

It's available in loads of sizes and with a huge range of fittings. Not the cheapest option, but worth the extra cost I think.

BR Aluminium Profile - BR Range - ALUMINIUM PROFILE & COMPONENTS

Bosch Rexroth Aluminium Profile

www.aluminium-profile.co.uk

 

[Tombola]

What sort of Lithium/solar are you thinking about Wissel I assume the fridge is just 240v

 

[Jamesh]

Quick one showing the board all fitted:

View attachment 613881

This was before any filling etc which is now done. Being primer'd now.

I don't think I've mentioned how I like to build furniture before?

Here's the frame for one of the units sat in place:

View attachment 613882

The bottom section houses the LiFePO4 battery, then 3 x deep drawers above, then a double door cupboard. This is a really strong and light method of cabinet making that keeps everything nice and square.

I like to hide all the fittings when building these as I think it looks neater. Although you wouldn't see it anyway unless opening a drawer or cupboard. The small holes are where the fixings are, these are filled with buffers to aid the soft-closing drawers.

Nice but not my cuppa tea!!

 

[Wissel]

What sort of Lithium/solar are you thinking about Wissel I assume the fridge is just 240v

There's quite a system going into this (it's a fulltimers van who works online).

The heart is a 460Ah Roamer LiFePO4, then a lot of Victron bits:

On that board there are 2 x 30a B2B, 3 x MPPT and a 24v regulator (for the Philips Hue lighting that's going in).

There's also a 2000w Multiplus, Shunt and Cerbo Control panel (with all tank sensors and Ruuvi temp sensors) as well as 900w of solar on a custom rack. And yes - 240v fridge

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[Ingwe]

Just like to add my total admiration of Wissel on this project. To follow someone so on top of their game, with skills I could only dream of having, is a privilege. Really looking forward to seeing the finished van. Total respect!

 

[A and B in the Huzzie]

Why are you using 3 MPPTs?

 

[Wissel]

Why are you using 3 MPPTs?

As the panels are high voltage, there's no real benefit to fitting the panels in series. So we went with separate MPPT's for each panel to avoid any issues with shading.

TBH there's not much difference in cost between using 3 x smaller MPPT's or 1 much larger one, plus if one ever did throw a wobbly, the other two wouldn't be effected.

Just like to add my total admiration of Wissel on this project. To follow someone so on top of their game, with skills I could only dream of having, is a privilege. Really looking forward to seeing the finished van. Total respect!

Thanks. Cheques in the post

 

[A and B in the Huzzie]

As the panels are high voltage, there's no real benefit to fitting the panels in series. So we went with separate MPPT's for each panel to avoid any issues with shading.

TBH there's not much difference in cost between using 3 x smaller MPPT's or 1 much larger one, plus if one ever did throw a wobbly, the other two wouldn't be effected.

Thanks. That's a good idea.

 

[Wissel]

A little off topic, but my god one of these would make my life easier:



No more templating, could program a panel once and rattle the same off at any point, need a perfect circle - done in a minute.

Not cheap at £3300, but made by the sister company of Festool, so likely great quality.

If I didn't have a Vario to build....

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[Fat Albert]

A little off topic, but my god one of these would make my life easier:



No more templating, could program a panel once and rattle the same off at any point, need a perfect circle - done in a minute.

Not cheap at £3300, but made by the sister company of Festool, so likely great quality.

If I didn't have a Vario to build....

You know you need it for the Vavrio build. Looks a great big boy's toy, that you must have in your arsenal

 

[Jamesh]

You know you need it for the Vavrio build. Looks a great big boy's toy, that you must have in your arsenal

One of these sold on ukworkshop for £1k iirc....

Cheers James

 

[mitzimad]

how does a laser work in a van when i built ours i only used a level as a straight edge everything was measured from the floor

 

[Terry]

A little off topic, but my god one of these would make my life easier:



No more templating, could program a panel once and rattle the same off at any point, need a perfect circle - done in a minute.

Not cheap at £3300, but made by the sister company of Festool, so likely great quality.

If I didn't have a Vario to build....

Hi David don't worry you won't need circle's

 

[Wissel]

how does a laser work in a van when i built ours i only used a level as a straight edge everything was measured from the floor

Was just an easier way to do it when there are 12 lines going around the outside. The laser is on a tripod, so once set, the level line doesn't move.

I could have measured from the floor, but having the laser made it really easy to get each panel spot on before fixing

Hi David don't worry you won't need circle's

Yeah, until someone says "I want circles"

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