Sprinter 411CDi Murvi build

[egg-fried-rice]

The Victron B2B unit is excellent, you will charge your batteries much faster and more effectively with this device, which can be important when a drive is your only means of topping up your leisure batteries. The Victron B2B will charge at up to 30amp.

I use a Sterling Power B2B which charges up to 60amp so I use a thick cable which is actually welding cable and is a little more expensive but not excessively expensive. It’s also ideal if you have a long cable run (less voltage drop). A cable supplier did suggest a 10mm cable but Sterling Power don’t agree, I won’t say who is right or wrong but I played safe and went heavy duty. (I did once trip a 70amp fuse which was my fault as Sterling recommended 80amp). Below is an image showing the thickness of my cable from vehicle battery to the B2B.

Hope this helps you.

 

[Mickandsej]

Change of tack today, got on with some trimming out, just to give me a boost. Holes prepped for roof speakers, lights fitted, somewhere to put my tools out of the way now..

 

[Mickandsej]

Finished the doors, temporarily wired the lights and fitted the stereo, clock and speakers, sounds great, LiFePO4 battery hooked up for test purposes.

 

[Mickandsej]

Nothing to show you really but over the last few days I’ve completed the roof lining and upper wall trimming, laid a bit more first fix. Have now bitten the bullet and sourced 2x50A LiFePO4 batteries, a Victron mains charger and I’ll lay a cable for a B2B, Will fit one later on. I’d already decided to go gas free, but have beefed up electrics with a pure sine 2kw/2kw peak inverter. And it paid off today when on eBay I bought a brand new 12v compressor fridge from JK for just £200 (statusvwparts outlet).
Means I’ve no need to drill for vents for the fridge (big holes) propex (smaller holes) gas bottles (small holes) LA battery vents (teeny holes). Already have a 400W Remoska for cooking but will “show” a single ring induction hob when I get round to trying DVLA for a motorhome ticket.
Going to start trimming round the side windows in the next day or two then I’ve got next week off to do the glass removal and blanking panel fit.

 

[Mickandsej]

Had a day on trimming today. Might seem the wrong order but it means I can fit the sofa bed shortly to save moving it all the time! Kiravans curtains fitted since pics were taken but ran out of light.
Going to finish the front two bays both sides, then crack on with the rear, hoping to blank the windows in the next few days. Had a try at tinting the windows but it’s not a job I can do properly so will farm that out later on.

 

[Mickandsej]

Built the bulkhead wall and the front wall of the wardrobe, had a little trial fit of the electrical cupboard..

 

[Mickandsej]

So today I thought I’d lift out the pass side step cover to see how I could lay the 16mm to the battery. Found a tiny bit of rust so wire brushed it, cleaned the step out and brushed on some tractor enamel. It bounced off the black sill paint so I decided to wipe it all off with thinners, but then found that lifted the black stuff too. So I spent the rest of the day brushing and wiping thinners onto the black crap and now it’s all off - massive result as it saves me a shed load of prep and paint, I found several blisters so have mopped, Aqua Steel brushed, and knifing putty smoothed over ready for paint. As I should have expected I found a small piece of wending required on the OS sill, bodged over with foil tape & paint, but otherwise the muck was not hiding anything serious.
But did have a nasty moment with the grinder flap wheel, caught a finger on it but it kicked away, lost some claret but live to paint another day.
Treated the van to a quick flashover on the wheels with black peelable paint and threw on the SS Beetle wheel rings…

 

[Mickandsej]

Oh and yesterday I built up the window panels, sandwiched a 2mm strip around the edge with Sikaflex and added the top hat strengthening bars with Gripfill. Also waxoyled the front door and finished the sound deadening on it.

 

[Mickandsej]

Finally! Got round to fitting the blank panels today. Cut out the window, fixed a negligible amount of rust, out with the Sikaflex 552…
I could NOT BELIEVE how well they fitted - I’m going to buy the guy who measured them up a big drink. They look the mutts nutts!

 

[Mickandsej]

Started and nearly finished the dining table, sourced 75mm angle iron, m10 bolts x 4 to spreader plates behind the c/d pillars, re-used the minibus seats I already had with integral 3-point belts. M10/12 all round on the seat frames & fishplates, finished dodomat pro liner and added fleece, ran out of time & energy today so trimming the window frame, wall, drill floor mounts, pre wired USB socket and fit curtains tomorrow. Big job out of the way and nearly completed the carpet lining.

 

[Mickandsej]

Table, seats, curtains, wall and USB in…

 

[Goblin]

Looking good, the blank panels are great but those wheel rings are classy

 

[Mickandsej]

Looking good, the blank panels are great but those wheel rings are classy

Cheers, the wheel rings were after a lot of searching - I was after full covers but impossible to find in 15”. The rings were from VW Heritage, for a Beetle, bargain at £60 in stainless steel. Perfect fit too so unless some scrote steals them they’re on there pretty tight.

 

[Mickandsej]

Advice please - what size MCB should I fit for my 2kw peak inverter? Run from approx 1.5m of 16mm. 2x50AH LiFePO4 with 200W solar, 15A mains charger or 30A B2B. Not going to be running much off it at all, maybe the water heater or small kettle. No coffee makers involved….

 

[Mickandsej]

Been a while since I posted, just nibbling away in between work and other people’s big birthdays..
Coming along steadily, still have bodywork to do when the weather is good, started the bathroom and kitchen in prep phase.
All electrics now laid out and batteries stowed safely out of sight.

 

[egg-fried-rice]

Coming along nicely looks very comfortable.

 

[Mickandsej]

Coming along nicely looks very comfortable.

Thank you, I can’t take much credit for it as I’m simply refurbishing the original Morello interior and working it into a larger van with a different door position. It’s really set up for a day van combo, we never wanted a garage or fixed bed. At 5xseats it’s still a family friendly day tripper but as a couple plus dog it’s our perfect camper too.
Starting the kitchen today weather permitting..

 

[Mickandsej]

Set out the kitchen today - found where to put the inboard fresh & drinking tanks, fridge, and underslung grey water tank. Trimmed excess angle iron from the towbar and modded the spare wheel carrier to hold it, I’ve a Wheeliams rear door carrier arriving any day. Turned the van round to make it all easier! Side bar fitted to nearside, just to make space in the house. Offside will have to wait for completion of the bodywork.

 

[MickWorcester]

You aren’t wasting time.

Bolting the solar to the roof will put your mind at ease when driving through gale-force winds (M62 Yorkshire comes to mind). I know a lot of people use silkaflex bonded brackets which are probably perfectly adequate but for peace of mind you can’t beat the old nut and bolt.

As for the solar panels are you wiring in parallel or series? One guy claims he gets a bit more out of a pair wired in series, can’t say how true it is but maybe it’s worth a try as every drop counts with solar (easy to change later if you want).

I used self tappers and Silkaflex but then added pop rivets as I realised anyone could just unscrew the panel

 

[Mickandsej]

I used self tappers and Silkaflex but then added pop rivets as I realised anyone could just unscrew the panel

Trouble is anyone with a hacksaw can slice through the skinny aluminium z brackets in a flash. I’m fixing it for the motorway and hopefully being 9’ in the air will put the odd scally off the idea…