Promaster build thread

[crofter]

Hello everyone! 

This thread is a gathering spot to post information and links related to Promaster cargo van builds. I will also be posting pics and design info from my super low budget build on a Promaster 1500 for one.
-crofter

 

[crofter]

For reference, I am posting a link to Fraeter Sessions' build thread, very detailed and he includes source information and pics. A very nice Promaster build.
-crofter

Description: link to build thread on this forum, pics and links.
https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=24408&highlight=Promaster

 

[jay775]

interested in this

 

[crofter]

Hello Jay and welcome to the forum!

Promaster conversion step by step:

Step one is to get the van. I am assuming that you want the Promaster cargo van for it's low price, large size and height, front wheel drive, and short turning radius. On the down side is the low back axle and it is not a 4X4. You can expect the Promaster to be at least 10 thousand cheaper than Ford or Chevrolet. Yet it is built on the Sprinter design, called the poor man's Sprinter by engineers.

To save money, you will go online and find a fleet that is being sold off. You will be able to get a one owner, low miles van that has been driven hauling cargo. You will have your pick of many, so look for the best one with some warranty left on it, that you can afford. You do not want to make payments, so look at your finances before you go there. Resist all their attempts to get you into payments. Make sure you have your insurance on it, and away you go.

I recomend camping in your van a few times before you make any decisions on the layout. I changed my mind after a camping trip, and I am pretty happy with the resulting design.
-crofter

 

[crofter]

Let's see if I can scare up a deal for you. 

Here is the cargurus site, which offers quite a bit of information on the vehicle. This RAM Promaster 1500 is in Cali, very low miles 2019 for $20k. Cargurus is calling it a great deal, and it probably is. 

At 22 feet long, it has a shorter box and low roof, which is tall enough for a short person to stand up in, and too tall to fit in a standard garage. If you are over 5'5" tall, you will want a taller roof than this one. But this is the exact van that I bought, so makes a good comparison. The house area measures 6 feet by 10 feet long.

Description: link to cargurus site, van ad.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Use...HB5JHv4S6n_VnOfom_bZMlJ8GYS_NwmBoCpNYQAvD_BwE

For you taller people, here is a very low miles 2018 High roof model, you will pay about $7 thousand more for it but worth it to be comfortable.

Description: link to cargurus site, van ad.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Use...HB5JHv4S6n_VnOfom_bZMlJ8GYS_NwmBoCpNYQAvD_BwE

 

[crofter]

....For you taller people, here is a very low miles 2018 High roof  model, you will pay about $7 thousand more for it but worth it to be comfortable.

Description: link to cargurus site, van ad.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Use...HB5JHv4S6n_VnOfom_bZMlJ8GYS_NwmBoCpNYQAvD_BwE

This one is pretty sweet, looks industrial on the outside & has stainless shelving etc, a fold down counter, lites, backup cam, and a SKYLIGHT! It's at Cascade sales in Portland, Oregon. A big van, long wheel base and a high roof, it is a 3500 for enough power to haul it down the road. Somebody go buy this so I don't have to.
-crofter

 

[crofter]

Specific information, link to autoblog specs chart.

Description: link to chart.
https://www.autoblog.com/buy/2017-R...pcneRHMdueE5sNOc9ysiBwOUknfEOm4Bw69EO_bbCVALL

Interior layout from upfitters site.

Description: link to upfitters site layout measurements.
https://www.inlad.com/product/ram-promaster-layout-guide-136-wb/

-crofter

 

[crofter]

Now that you have purchased the perfect Promaster van for you, you are at a crossroads. You have either:

A. A really great ride
OR
B. Your forever home

If the van is your forever home, you may be (or should be) wrestling with the following:

1. Q: Your budget for the build, and your monthly budget for cheap RV living.
     A: Resist spending a lot of money on anything. My build cost around $750 plus the cost of the van. I repurposed all my used camping equipment for use in the van.

2. Q: Your fears. 
     A: I remember this from Bob's coaching:
FEAR
Feel the fear.
Breathe deeply.
Thank the fear for a wise warning.
Embrace the fear and consider it seriously.
Solve the problem causing the fear.

3. Q: Your ULTIMATE van layout plan.
     A: Start dwelling with nothing, for at least a night or two, then look at layout. There is no ultimate, because change is constant. Think of the ancient Japanese house, where a small space has many uses. After each use, the items are put away and the space is open again. Many ULTIMATE builds lack this kind of flexibility and lack open space in the van.

4. Q: Your Destinations, where to camp first?
     A: My first dweller camp was at Walmart in my pickup. First dweller van outing was Tillamook, Oregon gathering before my build, in an empty van. I researched boondocking locations online before going boondocking. I am currently at 1% completion of my camping bucket list after 3 years. There is lots of camping out there.

5. Q: Your income, working on the road?
     A: I had fulltime job when I bought the van and during the main build (there are phases of construction). Then I unexpectedly took early retirement, tried camp hosting a couple seasons (workamping). Your work could be a trade you already practice, or you could train for a new job skill.

6. Q: Your Stuff.
    A: I sold a few items, but most of my priceless treasures were donated at Goodwill, and they were glad to have the donation. I used a storage locker for a couple years while going through this process. Think minimalism.

7. Q: Domicile, and do I want Real ID?
     A: Arizona is the answer to so many questions, and Nevada is the answer to other questions. Also consider South Dakota, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. YMMV.

Keep some notes, I use a spiral notebook for lists and planning, sources to go back to, drawings, notes from watching endless youtube videos. 
-crofter

 

[LERCA]

If I bought something like that in Oregon but I intend to remain a California resident (and they are very strict about living here and driving cars registered in other states) would it pass the smog here? Do all states now have the same strict emission standards of California? I’ve seen much cheaper vehicles in other states and it kills me. In a year and a half I could sell my car and pull some money from my retirement savings and buy something nice for cheap. But not here. Anyone know how that works?
Edit: Crofter do you have any pics of the inside of your van posted somewhere? Would love to see what you did.

 

[desert_sailing]

Washington State does not require a smog test to license a vehicle... maybe commercial rigs but I have never had to do it, not with a passenger vehicle nor with my van. I think California is pretty  strict in the emissions department. I am not sure how to get around that if you want to maintain official Cali resident status.

We in Wa State recently voted to reduce the the cost of tag renewal back down to 35$ as the State has been adding various fees to when we last voted on it and now the tax is out of hand again. It is a particularly divisive topic up here between the I-5 corridor/bubble and the rest of the State.

The people voted on the initiative and won and then the Gov took it to court to have the result dismissed. Amazing. It is still being played out. Hopefully the voice of the people will prevail. I guess if an entity doesn't like the result you just take it court and move the goal posts.

 

[B and C]

Texas has counties that require smog tests because of the big cities in them. Then there is the rest of the state that only has safety inspections.

Edit to add: After a vehicle become 25 years old, it is exempt from the smog test but not the safety test.

 

[crofter]

If I bought something like that in Oregon but I intend to remain a California resident (and they are very strict about living here and driving cars registered in other states) would it pass the smog here?....

Portland metro area has smog requirement. You could request the smog test as part of the vehicle history.

I will post a link to my build when I get organized, soon I hope.
-crofter

 

[highdesertranger]

the smog inspection are not in the whole state of California. only in counties with more than 50,000 people. that means that the most of the north(State of Jefferson) and a few others don't do smog inspections. highdesertranger

 

[LERCA]

Those were some great inexpensive vehicles Crofter. I have to look into all this.

 

[LERCA]

All I could find on the California smog exemptions as far as counties is there are only 6 counties that allow certain zip codes within them to be exempt. Not the entire counties.And they were San Berdoo, San Diego, Riverside (3 of the largest) as well as Placer and El Dorado. I’m surprised at even those few zip codes. California has brutal smog laws and high prices on registration. The only way around would be if I bought something really old which I won’t. I’m wondering if an out of state car would pass our smog. I doubt it or everyone would be buying in Oregon, Nevada and AZ. Sucks.

 

[B and C]

From: http://www.californiacarlaws.com/smog-laws/

"Smog inspections are required in the following counties: Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Ventura, Yolo, and Yuba.

The counties of El Dorado, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sonoma require smog certifications within certain zip codes only."

Do you live in one of the listed counties?

 

[highdesertranger]

well that list is not correct it doesn't even list all the counties.

where are Modoc, Lassen, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Inyo, Mono, and Alpine counties, those are just a few off the top of my head that don't require smog.

highdesertranger

 

[B and C]

That is not a list of all the counties in cali but only the ones that require smog. At least that is the way I read the site.

 

[highdesertranger]

ah, ok that makes more sense as there is a boat load of counties not on the list. which means they don't have smog inspections. highdesertranger

 

[crofter]

Well, I just noticed that there are no pics of my van in this thread. Guess I will have to clean house and take some pics.
-crofter