shouldbeasy's 'home away from home' 2017 4x4 Sprinter build

shouldbeasy

Observer
Hi Shouldbeasy

I'm following your fantastic van build from the UK.

I have just purchased an Mercedes Benz 319 4x4 Ex Demonstrator 3 weeks ago to convert into an adventure van.
Your build is inspirational ?

Please can you tell me which tires and size you are running on your new wheels for summer mode?



Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk
315/70R17 BFG AT KO's on the Black Rhino York 17x8 - certainly provides the look I was going for.
 

shouldbeasy

Observer
Well, I hate doing write ups on items which are half finished which is why this update took so long (that and I've prioritized my energy to other efforts and not forum posts lately...) but alas, here is my auxiliary tank write up which will hopefully help someone in the future. Certainly not a simple bolt on mod!

First off was discovering that the diesel tank acquired is nothing specific to the Sprinter but the standard Titan Tank Spare Tire diesel tank kit which can be purchased at any of their retailers. This resulted in one significant problem - the tank would not sit flush again the bottom of the vehicle as the cross member interfered and would have resulted in crushed tank sides if you attempted to secure the tank. So... first hurdle was to build a drop down bracket which would allow the tank to clear the cross member and be sandwiched between the body and the tank.

Bracket tack welded
So4AG7Sh.jpg


Completed bracket
1Gtlgojh.jpg


Bracket in place in the tank
N5DhTQJh.jpg


Moving on to the next hurdle, this one was self inflicted as I placed the filler neck exactly where I wanted it and that went fine - the issue was when I drilled a hole for the piece to go through the body and back to the tank. Unfortunately when I did so, I lined it up 'straight' and thus, the hole was just a bit too close to the rear leaf spring hanger and so I had to drill another. Whoops. Oh well, shouldn't be too hard to weld in a plate to cover it (or I take the easy route and silicone in a hole plug...).

Original location of the filler neck
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BAD Location
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GOOD Location!
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The next step was to secure the tank to the vehicle and I used a HUGE piece of redi-rod to accomplish this. I may integrate a skid plate in to this rod so I went for overkill on the sizing. I had the room so why not?
dPFiybRhjpg


Redi-rod was cut down from this - much easier to install the tank when it could hang lower.
UyaYamGh.jpg


Installed
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Next was on to the plumbing and unfortunately the supplied fitting from Titan had a pinhole leak in it... it was quickly rectified with a small weld bead but still inconvenient.
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Filler neck installed
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Ran in to an issue with the plumbing where the 'obvious' spot to install the supplied fitting was not going to work - there is a check valve which prevents the diesel from entering the tank from this location. Bummer, would have worked beautifully.
YbYLdv8h.jpg


So, it was a bit more complicated in that I had to drop the tank, remove the fuel pump, drill a hole in the top of the tank (while reaching inside to catch chaff) and then install a fitting to allow the diesel a uninterrupted flow in to the main tank.
Location of the diesel feed line hole - I went with a nice flat area on the tank. Little did I know but it aligned with a cross member and so a bit of cutting was required to get the fitting to clear.
AEECGkEh.jpg


My fitting was a bit too long and so I made a stainless/aluminum washer sandwich to prop it up a bit - there is another washer below the aluminum spacer
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After doing some fitting I trimmed down the hose elbow to be as short as I could get it - this picture doesn't reflect that but does show the overall layout.
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Notch created for the fitting - unfortunately I had to make it even larger but in reality it won't affect the integrity of anything.
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Wiring along the underside moving forward to the cab
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Titan controller installed
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shouldbeasy

Observer
Next on my hit list was the boat motor mount and in turn a new place for the MaxTrax - I figured the driver side of the vehicle was bare enough that the ladders could go there as the boat motors HAD to go on the rear swing out, I couldn't think of anywhere else to put them. All in all I'm happy with the look and the functionality - just need to go out fishing now!

reX2wYEh.jpg


Butyl tape used on the exterior 4 mounts in order to keep them in place - I should have moved it further in towards the center of the disc as it spread out and I had to delicately cut it away from the vehicle afterwards. Lesson learned! On the interior I also used some aluminum as backing material so that the sheet metal isn't deflecting trying to hold the ladders in place. It's very secure.
p9jdkjqh.jpg


Used some washers to add some distance between the backing plate and the MaxTrax
PqrYC6Mh.jpg


MaxTrax mounted!
b13wGVKh.jpg
 

shouldbeasy

Observer
And so, off I went to the boat motor mount - using another piece of aluminum as a backing plate I drilled some more speed holes and then fitted a square piece at the top for support. Unfortunately the first one was too wide (3") and so I had to drill new holes and move the mounts over to accommodate a 2" wide piece for the boat motors to sit on. Thankfully I just used the previous holes as additional mounting for the rail going around the box.

q1GKSbnh.jpg


SrqkJFrh.jpg


apxB5Evh.jpg


Too wide!
vIzdFqph.jpg


Much better
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Using some Kryptonite U-Locks to secure the motors to the vehicle - works great! Thankfully the locks are only 6" deep and hold the motor legs in place. These pictures show my temporary 2x4 but I decided to put in the work and make it out of aluminum.
ozVEZcSh.jpg


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shouldbeasy

Observer
ThCPE6hh.jpg

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Some pictures of my yellow fog light set up - I FINALLY got them to work but holy crap, never change the bulbs to anything but stock. The circuit detects a different line resistance and simply won't work. I had to cut the stock bulbs apart (used my cut off wheel and destroyed the socket until I had just the two electrodes from the filament sticking through) at which point I plugged them in to my LightForce Striker 170 housings and ta-da! Finally functional fog lights - they're not the brightest but they work and I don't have to deal with another relay circuit (and I'd hate to lose the functionality of the dash switch).
 

MAXTRAX

Supporting Sponsor
Next on my hit list was the boat motor mount and in turn a new place for the MaxTrax - I figured the driver side of the vehicle was bare enough that the ladders could go there as the boat motors HAD to go on the rear swing out, I couldn't think of anywhere else to put them. All in all I'm happy with the look and the functionality - just need to go out fishing now!

reX2wYEh.jpg


Butyl tape used on the exterior 4 mounts in order to keep them in place - I should have moved it further in towards the center of the disc as it spread out and I had to delicately cut it away from the vehicle afterwards. Lesson learned! On the interior I also used some aluminum as backing material so that the sheet metal isn't deflecting trying to hold the ladders in place. It's very secure.
p9jdkjqh.jpg


Used some washers to add some distance between the backing plate and the MaxTrax
PqrYC6Mh.jpg


MaxTrax mounted!
b13wGVKh.jpg


Easy to access! Nicely done!

MAXTRAX
https://us.maxtrax.com.au
 

shouldbeasy

Observer
Your van is looking really purposeful. Love the pic from the front on the bridge! :)

Thanks! I had a blast being out on the trails in the van for the first time and it held its own. I just need to keep in mind the limitations it has (open center differential, open front and rears too) and there is a bit less hunting for the perfect line as it's so big you just kinda have to take the line where it fits!
 

Jostt

Adventurer
Very good job, the pics are very Nice, I have here a big group of sprinter conversión fans, they love your project, congrats...
 

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