Baby Stepping & Prepping - Plan Sprinter home.

[mnpaul]

Hi Patty, I just bought a 2006 Sprinter with over 200k miles.  Liking it so far but I have only driven 300 miles around town on it.
Will know better in a week after taking it out to California from Minnesota.
I definitely agree on not buying too much stuff until after you have a van(for fit reasons) and after a couple trips to figure out what's important.  This first trip I'm just setting up camping stuff and other items I already have to see how it goes.
If you plan on buying newer I'd check out the Ford Transits.  I came very close to buying one.  I'm talking about the full size Transit not the Transit Connect.  You can not stand up in the Connect.  I went with the Sprinter because buying used was so much cheaper and I'm not sure what my plans will be after my year of travel.
The Transit Medium roof is just tall enough to stand upright and the High roof is really high but could be trouble driving in winds.
I highly recommend checking out BobBski 2017 he has a 2016 Ford Transit 2500, 130" Wheel Base Med roof.
https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-BobBski-s-Prep-for-launch
https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-BobBski-2017

 

[PattySprinter]

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-BobBski-s-Prep-for-launch
https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-BobBski-2017

I am in CA - Would love to visit Minnesota! LOL! Thank you for the lead to Bob.
I have five adult children and the last one to leave will launch early next year - so that is when I plan to launch also. 
I really adore the Metris - though I am open to other vans and ideas.
Need to gift and sell, sell, sell my treasures first.
How long is it in the back of a sprinter from back doors to back of drivers seat? I can't figure out if it is 10' or 13'.
Thank you for replying - Patty

 

[jonyjoe303]

The advice I would give everyone is get the biggest solar panel that will fit on your roof. I started with 120 watts, then replaced it with a 240 watts, thats on a small astrovan. Better to have the power and not use it, then to need power and not have it. I get up to 15 amps out of the 240 watts. 60 watts will only get you 3 amps (which is what I get when its overcast). You won't regret having a large panel.

 

[PattySprinter]

The advice I would give everyone is get the biggest solar panel that will fit on your roof. I started with 120 watts, then replaced it with a 240 watts, thats on a small astrovan. Better to have the power and not use it, then to need power and not have it. I get up to 15 amps out of the 240 watts. 60 watts will only get you 3 amps (which is what I get when its overcast). You won't regret having a large panel.

What do you use your solar power for?
Right now I have two 60 watt panels with a tripod ... I could add two more to make it 120 ... or I could start over and go straight to 200-300 ...
I want the panels unattached so I can park in the shade and putt he panels in the sun.

 

[frater secessus]

You'd be able to stand in any of the high roof vans (Sprinter, Transit, Promaster, NV2500).   Maybe even in the midroof Transit (72") depending on how much floor/ceiling you install.  

Here's a page I put together about the tall eurovans, including 5yr TCO from Edmunds.  Just to muddy the waters.