Questions about DIY conversion

Ballenxj · May 14, 2013

Thanks for posting Gus, looks good. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> What model Merc is that? I was looking at a 300D a while back. <br>-Bruce

Simran · May 14, 2013

1995 E300D
I have a 1976 300D as well.
I was going to dust it off this last weekend
when I was home but no time.
gus

Ballenxj · May 15, 2013

Interesting, I wonder what kind of mileage can be expected from a Diesel? The one I was looking at is an 81 300D with very low miles, and still looks good. Very well cared for.<br>-Bruce

MK7 · May 15, 2013

Insurance wise for a van that you convert on your own, it would be insured as just a personal van. Whatever cool stuff you add to it, the average insurance carrier will not consider it should your van gets damaged, vandalized, stolen, etc.  So if the van is worth $2,000 and you put on $5,000 worth of extra stuff, it's still only going to be reimbursed up to $2,000 or less. There are some provision for extra coverage on a bigger stereo system and maybe rims, but you'd have to pay extra for that. There's Specialty Vehicle insurance, where you'd get your van appraised for all the vandwelling addition and the carrier will charge you extra based on it. But it's not going to be cheap.

VanLifeCrisis · May 15, 2013

Im 6'4 and i have a chevy cargo van.  It is pretty decent for room (bed goes from behind driver seat to half over the wheel well), but i would highly recommend a high top of some kind so you can at least mostly stand.  There is not enough headroom for comfort.   I think if i had the money, i would opt for an rv.  Or maybe a sprinter that i could modify, they have a lot of headroom and good mileage.  Of course, i have only 1300 invested in my van so far and look to come out less than 2500 total...so there is that part...