$52,000
The Golden Age of Mercedes Sprinters
The NCV3 (2007-2009) was built in the “Golden Age” of Sprinters. No BlueTec DEF or emissions black magic required. Some say the 2007-09 Sprinters are pretty close to the perfect van. Well-maintained (maybe even spoiled) this van is ready for any spring road trip.
This high-top Sprinter custom conversion, aka “Vinny” (short for Vincent Van Go), has been designed to provide maximum utility and comfort for van life on or off-the-grid. Craftsman touches include wormy maple countertops and drawer fronts. Vinny runs strong, no mechanical issues, and at 117k highway miles is young for a diesel engine. When Amazon would use Sprinters as delivery vehicles they would get 500k+ miles with good maintenance. With low-sulfur diesel Vinny averages 18-20 mpg.
Features
- Clean CARFAX
- Electronic locking/remote key fobs
- Strong AC/heater
- Cruise control
- Power mirrors
This van is a Dodge by title, but has been rebadged with a Mercedes grill and door emblem. All 2006-2008 Sprinters were built in Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz Düsseldorf or Ludwigsfelde production plants. To avoid “chicken tax” import duties, cargo Sprinters were partially disassembled, shipped to the United States, and reassembled at a plant in Ladson, South Carolina (near North Charleston), in a process known as semi knock-down assembly (SKD). They were then badged as Mercedes, Dodge or Freightliner. Regardless of the brand, all 2008 Sprinters are German-made Daimlers.
Upgrades
- $4,000 exterior rust-inhibitor, new paint, and truck bed liner applied over entire lower panel
- Brand-new (2024) driver and passenger airbags
- Fully insulated interior & fabric paneling. Interior panels of the van have been noise dampened and insulated with Thinsulate throughout. This makes for a very quiet and warm camping experience.
- New rear transaxle in 2021
- New (2023) Michelin tires LT245/75-R16
- RACKattach swing-away 2” hitch receiver (for easy rear-door access while carrying a bike rack or cargo box)
Electrical System
- Powerful solar system with a 160 watt solar panel and 210 amp-hours of house batteries (deep cycle AGMs) to power fridge, house lights and USB outlets.
- SolarSmart MPPT charge controller to trickle charge from the solar panel, or switch to alternator when engine is running
- Victron MPPT monitors panel power/voltage and battery current/voltage
- Three zones of dimmable low-voltage LED lights (kitchen, above upper cabinets & bed area)
- 1000 watt pure sine wave Xantrex inverter with two 110v receptacles to power laptops or small appliances.
- 8 USB charging ports: four in the galley, four above the sleeping area.
- Smoke/carbon monoxide detector
- Propane detector
Kitchen/Galley
- High-top roof allows headroom for a 6’2″ person to stand upright and cook
- TF65 – TruckFridge 65 liter fridge with freezer (yes, it does makes ice cubes) running on 12v
- Three-burner Suburban propane stove recessed under sliding wood countertop to provide more cooking prep area
- Internal propane tank is easily accessed and removable to fuel an outdoor BBQ
- 14 gallon internal, insulated water tank with switched 12v Flojet electric pump. Locking external fill port.
Heating/Cooling
- Espar D2 Diesel Heater with digital thermostat/timer for toasty nights. Runs strong at any altitude.
- Roof vent (Fan-tastic Vent: cranks open w/three speed 12v fan). Great flow-thru cooling with side window open.
Interior Features
- Full-sized queen bed converts to a U-shaped seating area for up to six. Custom cordura upholstery encloses high-quality foam for sitting and sleeping.
- Custom hardwood cabinets above and below bed platform. Huge amounts of storage.
- Three locking galley drawers
- Passenger seat swivels 180˚ to face the galley
- Swiveling Lagun table for additional prep/dining area
- Blackout curtains for total privacy
Stereo/Entertainment
- Pioneer AVX-200 DVD RDS CD Receiver with back-up camera screen. Bluetooth and iPhone compatible.