Featured Van: Ben’s Mercedes Sprinter Campervan Conversion
Ben came to us with an ex-courier 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and some big ideas. He wanted a fit-out that was comfortable, sustainable, and set up for off-grid culinary adventures. Ben had many ideas mapped out but was ready for us to stretch the boundaries and build the perfect van.
We’re not ones to back down from a challenge, so we put our heads together and created an impressive Sprinter campervan that’s ready to explore New Zealand.
How we achieved Ben’s campervan conversion needs
Ben’s based in Auckland, so it was an exciting adventure to get his Sprinter down to Christchurch to begin the build. Although he doesn’t plan to live in it full time, he wanted the conversion to be functional and have all the comforts of home. A keen cook, we focused a lot of attention on the kitchen and all the necessary components around making it the perfect place to prepare a meal.
Ben’s van is jam-packed with incredible features. From the full shower unit to the impressive electrical system, no detail was spared in this van conversion. It’s hard to pick our favourite features, but here are a few elements that make Ben’s Sprinter stand out
a few Features of this Mercedes Sprinter Campervan Conversion:
Functional and Comfortable Layout
Ben’s Sprinter is basically a small apartment. Seriously, the van has a shower with a composting toilet, a convertible bed area, heaps of storage, a nearly full-service kitchen, and all the comforts of home.
The kitchen is perhaps the most impressive of all. When you step inside, you’re greeted with a massive farmhouse sink, a touch of home that’s rarely found in van conversions and makes washing dishes a breeze. The large faucet fills up pots and cleans vegetables easily, too. Up top, there’s a custom drip dry dishrack and plenty of space to keep all Ben’s spices, oils, and cooking utensils handy. Plus, the fridge/freezer we installed is huge, meaning Ben can store a week’s worth of dinners — and ice cream — inside without worrying about running out or things going off.
The Polaris scratch-resistant benchtops look classy, but also keep the benchtop looking clean and pretty for years to come. Ben plans on spending a lot of time cooking, so this space needed to be as hearty as possible.
The induction stovetop was a first for us and we are stoked with how sleek and functional it is. It’s a twin burner, so Ben can boil water and fry off some vegetables at the same time. What a luxury!
Electrical System to Rule Them All
This van is big and has a lot of special features, so a custom-designed electrical system was crucial. It had to work hard and be able to run entirely off-grid for a long period of time. We used a comprehensive Victron electrical system that fit the bill. The system features 400AH @ 24V of lithium batteries, 1200W+ of solar, and a 4000W inverter charger, all monitored via bluetooth. This means Ben can check his battery levels from pretty much anywhere.
For a system of this scope, we outsourced the planning and design of the electrical system to our electrical wizard, Glyn. Working together with Ben we were able to define a custom electrical system that would suit Ben’s needs year round, all while using sustainable solar energy to replenish his system.
This van has some pretty cool features like:
Excess solar energy automatically diverts to heat hot water when the batteries are full.
Strip lighting is run via an Apple Homepod where it can be controlled via voice command.
Mini inverters with USB-C outlets are placed around the vehicle for convenient laptop charging.
5G antenna placed on roof for internet access in those off grid places.
Remote monitoring of the electrical system.
With energy-intensive components like an induction hob and some long winter stints, it was important for us to find a robust system that would work on the road without any problems. We’re happy to say the custom Victron electrical system delivers the power Ben needs.
Custom Everything
Well, almost everything. Ben came to us with plenty of ideas of how he wanted the space to work. His vision helped us create the final product, which is filled with personal touches that suit his lifestyle. A thoughtful man, Ben left no detail spared.
For a serious space saver, he created a custom over-sink dishrack that acts as a dish drier and storage unit. Wanting more hidden storage, we created an over cab shelf unit that has space for storing gear, more kitchen utensils, and a mobile network router.
One of our bigger custom jobs for the Sprinter was creating specially designed solar panel brackets to hold the 1265W solar panels onto the roof. With heaps of room for creativity, we pushed our design skills even further on this build.
Here’s what Ben has to say
“I got in touch with Matt and Dan in April 2021 about a conversion of a long wheelbase Sprinter. Over the following 12 months, I learned to appreciate their skills as craftsmen, as well as talents in design. What really sets them apart, though is the dedication to the highest standards no matter what challenge you throw at them. Their resourcefulness knows no bounds. And they're just the nicest pair of human beings you will ever have the fortune to meet. So if you have a gnarly campervan project in mind, just go see Matt and Dan. It's the easiest decision to make.”
With loads of special features that make vanlife as comfortable as possible, we had such a good time outfitting Ben’s Sprinter with everything he needs.
If you’re interested in a custom campervan conversion, head over to our campervan conversions page to learn more.
Full spec list:
Custom designed secondary electrical system using primarily Victron components, featuring;
4x 200AH Victon lithium batteries (strung together for 400AH @ 24V)
4000W Victron inverter charger
1265W solar panels, with custom brackets and Victron MPPT solar regulator
Victon Bluetooth system monitoring
Homepod enabled LED lighting
‘Mini Inverters’ located throughout the van for charging laptops and low watt appliances
Shore power hook up
Pre-wired for DC/DC connection if needed in future
Twin burner induction hob
Shower with Maxxair Vent with roll away door
Enzell Eco-Loo composting toliet
Underslung waste water tank
Custom incorporated freshwater tank
Tank monitoring
Farmhouse sink
Methven tapware throughout
Isotherm Slim Square heat exchange water heater
Isotherm Elegance 115L fridge/freezer
Maxxair Maxxfan’s
Custom cabinetry and storage solutions
Convertible bed and living area with Lagun table mount
Custom upholstery for bed squabs
Plytech HPL on all cabinets, Plytech Polaris HPL used on benchtops
RV Labs latching handles on cupboards and drawers
Certified Self Contained
Images by Julie Gursha
