ENGINEERABLE

I'm installing a Fiamma F45s awning onto a T1N 2006 Sprinter van. The first, totally unnecessary but totally awesome step was to 3D scan the area on the van where the awning needs to be attached. Since I have a custom roof rack (2006 did not come with roof rack attachment points), it's tricky to measure the curvatures and make a template. 3D scanning made it easy to get all the features I needed. I used the Einscan VEGA 3D scanner to do this. I was working in full sun. The ye

This is a list of all rubber hoses in the engine bay related to the cooling and air intake system. (There are other rubber hoses related to the transmission, power steering, and air conditioning that are not included in this list.) This list was compiled from data provided in this Sprinter Forum post: https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?threads%2F113082%2F Image of all the hoses in the list. Note that the numbers don't match the above table. Take a look at the respec

For carrying bikes on the Mercedes (or Dodge) Sprinter Camper Van, I've been using a hitch mount rack made by 1UP USA. This is an excellent bike rack. However, I can not use it when I pull a trailer, so we have to put all 4 bikes inside the back of the van, which is very inconvenient. There are lots of expensive rear door hinge mount modular racks for the 2007 and newer Sprinter vans, but nothing available for a 2002-2006 T1N sprinter van like I have. Therefore I need to buil

I tested the Shocker Hitch for towing a trailer with the Sprinter Van. The difference compared to using a standard (anti-rattle) hitch was shocking, lol. Bumps aren’t transmitted from the trailer to the tow vehicle. With the Shocker Hitch, you feel the tow vehicle hit bumps, but you don’t feel it when the trailer hits the bumps. Without the Shocker Hitch, you feel when the tow vehicle hits the bumps, and again when the trailer hits the bumps. Reduces porpoising of the tow veh

There are many vehicle mounts available for the Starlink Mini, but I could not find one that met my needs. I wanted a secure, concealed mount for the Sprinter camper van's roof that I could quickly remove the Starlink from to use it somewhere else. The power also needed to disconnect quickly. Connecting and releasing the Starlink Mini had to be done one-handed, because I'll be standing in the doorway holding on with one hand and reaching onto the roof to remove/install it. Re

The Mercedes Sprinter Van transmission is a bit weak for such a large vehicle. It works, but it could use a more heavy duty transmission. I'm speaking specifically about the NAG-1 transmission. One of the issues is keeping the transmission cool, especially in hot weather and when fully loaded, towing, or going up hill. The transmission fluid passes through a radiator, but the cooling air is preheated by the engine radiator. This is good for cold climates, where the transmissi

Since the van doesn't have leveling jacks, parking on a non-level surface results in sleeping at an angle, which can make it very difficult to sleep. Therefore, I designed the second iteration of the bed to have the ability to adjust the angle in both directions. The bed is attached on one side to 2 vertical t-slot rails on the wall. Hinges are used as the interface between the bed frame and the wall. The hinges can slide up and down the wall. This is the first adjustment tha

Rivnuts (rivet nuts) are the most popular way to add threads to sheet metal, but in mobile applications like the sheet metal on a vehicle...

HOW TO CHARGE THE STARTING BATTERY FROM THE HOUSE SOLAR PANELS (OR HOUSE BATTERIES) OF AN RV Ok, so we're successfully keeping the house...

It's time to upgrade the solar power and house battery charging system. Technology has improved since I first installed it and the charge controller I was using was designed for lead acid batteries, with too few settings for LiFePO4 batteries that I use now. This article focuses on mobile solar power for RV, camper, van and trailer use. Most of the electrical system components that I'll be recommending below are VICTRON brand. Their products might be a little more expensive t