Ah yes, the frilly curtains! Well the current owner is Maureen in the UK and she was just expressing herself I would think, giving her "home on wheels" a personal touch. She put a lot of stickers of places she visited on the doors though! I am jealous of her overlanding adventures!
1994 Mercedes-Benz 814D/3700
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GR8ADV
Explorer
Mike I was trying to be subtle on my Canadian situation for you :sombrero: I am a Canuck, my whole family is in Vancouver (much closer than Montreal per mapquest) and I travel there quite often. I would be glad to manage this vehicle for you for a small token of say, three weeks use per year. :elkgrin:
4x4kayaker
Observer
wow, what kind of mileage do these rigs get. I'm selling my sportsmobile, live in WA perhaps a Canuck in Vancouver wants to enter into a business proposition with me? OR perhaps I can import it using my New Zealand passport somehow?
Ford Prefect
Expedition Leader
It would certainly not be without cost, but it would appear, Mike, that you could take the vehicle to an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI). and have them test the truck to see if it can qualify to come into the USA because the EPA matches the requirements. OR if it can be altered to match at which time it could stay. It might be worth it to you Mike. (or anyone else who loves this rig)
Ford Prefect
Expedition Leader
Yeah that beasty sure needs a once over, perhaps twice or three times over...
Still. It certainly looks like a better deal than a sprinter once all is said and done. Larger inside, all set up and ready to go, just a bit tired looking, but really it could be easily put back into service with little more than changing all the fluids and rubber I should think.
Cool van.
Still. It certainly looks like a better deal than a sprinter once all is said and done. Larger inside, all set up and ready to go, just a bit tired looking, but really it could be easily put back into service with little more than changing all the fluids and rubber I should think.
Cool van.
mog
Kodiak Buckaroo
Brotwagon / Breadtruck size van ?
So while I have as much love for this van as the next guy, why not a US solution?
If this is the perfect size/layout platform why not just go with a Grumman stepvan?
.
Pretty much the same overall dimensions and the engines are about the same: Mercedes 4.2l Turbo Diesel, Grumman 3.9 Turbo Diesel (and much more support for the Grumman's 4BT). While I don't know of any ‘stock' Grummans with 4x4, they are/were straight front axle, so a pretty straight forward swap for a driven front axle. Not as sexy as a Mercedes, but you could go with whatever axles, transfercase, wheels/tires, etc you like with lots of cheaper support/parts. And for us south of the border guys (25 years vs. 15 years) you would not have to leave it north of the border some of the time. Good shape 2x2 ‘bread-trucks' can be had for $4k all day long.
I've always liked this size and have looked at a few Mercedes 309s (2 wheel drive only in the US) but the ones I've seem were WAY underpowered (non-turbo engines) and had major rust issues.
.
Of course I'm not slamming this 814 at all. I hope someone on the Expo buys it, so we can hear of it future adventures.
View attachment 184027
So while I have as much love for this van as the next guy, why not a US solution?
If this is the perfect size/layout platform why not just go with a Grumman stepvan?
.
Pretty much the same overall dimensions and the engines are about the same: Mercedes 4.2l Turbo Diesel, Grumman 3.9 Turbo Diesel (and much more support for the Grumman's 4BT). While I don't know of any ‘stock' Grummans with 4x4, they are/were straight front axle, so a pretty straight forward swap for a driven front axle. Not as sexy as a Mercedes, but you could go with whatever axles, transfercase, wheels/tires, etc you like with lots of cheaper support/parts. And for us south of the border guys (25 years vs. 15 years) you would not have to leave it north of the border some of the time. Good shape 2x2 ‘bread-trucks' can be had for $4k all day long.
I've always liked this size and have looked at a few Mercedes 309s (2 wheel drive only in the US) but the ones I've seem were WAY underpowered (non-turbo engines) and had major rust issues.
.
Of course I'm not slamming this 814 at all. I hope someone on the Expo buys it, so we can hear of it future adventures.
View attachment 184027
mhiscox
Expedition Leader
Oh, well, that's a really fine question, but a bit of apples to oranges. Stuart/Maureen's van has a passenger seat, a normal passenger side door, a front footwell for the passenger, more appropriate gearing and better suspension and ground clearance. Some of this might matter and some might not. Same with the 4x4 setup, though that is, however, one of the most special things about the van.
The step van might be just a few thousand dollars to buy used, but the build-out and the expedition equipment of the 814 would cost tens of thousands to replicate, particularly if you count your time for anything. After all, there's a whole book written about choosing and installing the systems and equipment for this camper, so I think you can safely assume it is comprehensive and well chosen. And if you did want 4x4, there's a considerable additional expense. If you do the work yourself, that would save some money, but Quigley and their competitors get something over $12K to do a comparatively straightforward conversion of an E-Series van to 4WD, so I can't imagine any commercial shop would engineer and install a one-off for less.
Just as Mog was not slamming the Mercedes, I've got nothing against the step van concept. In fact, I have spent dozens of hours looking into the feasibility of using them in lieu of the smaller and harder-to-build-out Sprinter. I just want to make sure people will be adding in the considerable costs involved in trying to make any step van into an expedition truck with anything like the capability of this 814.
And FWIW, if anyone is pondering this general form factor, you might consider starting with a used tool truck. They are routinely spec'd with better engines and running gear than the delivery vans, though, not surprisingly, that's reflected in their price. Check here:
http://www.tooltrucks.com/classmain.php
for about a hundred examples.
pattersonimages
Adventurer
Well let me know when your ready to buy it. It runs and supposedly drives fine. I'll be more than happy to test drive it and if purchased, I'll drive it up to Washington and the border for you. Only cost you fuel and a flight back. Allegiant flies from Bellingham and Southwest from SeaTac both to Reno, NV so there are cheap flights either way.