Our new 2019 170 WB 4x4 Build

[Daniel]

Just finished our west coast family vacation and left our 2016 Sprinter in storage out in Washington. We got back to Texas and our 2019 4x4 had arrived at the dealer. I can't wait to build it out and get it out on some adventures. We love having a van out west but wanted my daily driver Sprinter back again so traded in my car for this new Sprinter.

 

[Daniel]

Started building out the bed platform. I will use the rails I purchased from Overland Sprinters. I set the rails at 30" high and used some of the factory holes in the same location as a guide.

I had some 11 gauge 1” steel square tubing cut to 69 1/4” for the cross members. Just doing some test fitting and then I will paint it all black.

This same setup has worked great for us in our other Sprinter build so we will do it again. It is a bit overkill but I am a big guy.

 

[Daniel]

Painted the bed rails black using a textured black paint.

Cleaned the 1" square steel tubing cross members with lacquer thinner and then painted those as well.

Spaced the first 6 cross members evenly across 48" so that I can lay my full plywood up to that point. I will have a smaller plywood board for the remaining of the 76" length.

 

[Daniel]

in order to bolt the cross members I drilled the holes in the marked spots I measured and then added rivnuts to secure them to the bed rails. I have learned that using blue loctite really helps keep things from shaking loose.

 

[Daniel]

Next I added the birch plywood cut to dimensions 48"x69 1/2" to the top of the cross members. I then drilled holes to get through the wood and into the metal crossbars before finally securing it with screws.

 

[Daniel]

Next I used a piece of insulation board from a previous project to figure out the area I needed to cut from the final piece of plywood. I wanted the plywood to be as close as possible to the doors when shut.

Once I cut the first side out I used the drop from the cut as the template for the opposite side.

After a bit of sanding to clean it up we tested it with an air mattress. We will purchase a king size memory foam bed and cut it to size to fit.

Here is a video I made of my bed install.

 

[Daniel]

I decided a laser scan of the van would be a good idea. By profession I use laser scans for design work that I do. The scan is of my bare sprinter before I added the bed. I am laying out how I want my shower and galley now.

Bare interior facing the front

From the back and doors removed

A shot of the interior without the outside of the van included.

I added the bed platform and the thickness of the mattress I plan to purchase. Inserted the shower stall I plan to build with a 32"x24" shower pan.

View from front of van looking into drivers side

I plan on using a 22 gallon water tank I found online at Agile Offroad. Added the weight so I can try to track and keep weight even in van.

View looking toward where I plan to add a galley.

 

[Hodakaguy]

Very cool!!

 

[Hodakaguy]

Looks great. Your bed is similar to what I have planned

 

[Daniel]

Came across a 2 person bench seat in Austin, TX. Decided to use it instead of building a bench for my work station.

Plan to mount my electrical system under the seat since it has an easy fold up seat feature.

Used grade 8 flanged bolts and nuts with large washers. This is not for a passenger to ride in but I want it super secure anyways.

Here is a short video about my thoughts on the seat install.

 

[Hodakaguy]

Seat came out great! Nice DYI article as well. That's going to be a handy addition!

Hodakaguy

 

[Daniel]

Seat came out great! Nice DYI article as well. That's going to be a handy addition!

Hodakaguy

Thanks its not for everyone but for a bench seat when I am on the computer I think it will work.

 

[Daniel]

I think I may have found a solution for my table/kids bed pedestal. Not cheap but I think the 20" adjustment and 28" adjustment height will work well. Heavy duty for sure.

3-Stage 1660230-BLK

www.springfieldgrp.com

 

[Daniel]

Update:

Roof rails installed

Here is a video I did using the guide that Hodakaguy posted.

1st MaxxFan Deluxe added in front position

Made a video of the MaxxFan install.

Started insulation to the van. Thinsulate SM600L for the headliner and started the walls.

I took the Sprinter to get the bfg K02s from my 2wd Sprinter swapped onto the 4x4 Sprinter.

Then we took it to do some fishing!

 

[Daniel]

Found a local fabricator that is building me an aluminum shower pan 42”x32”. Once he finishes I can get the shower walls installed and continue on with the build this week. Very excited.

 

[Daniel]

Wanted to share a quick video I did on an easy route to get the shore power connection routed from outside the the van to inside the van.

 

[Hodakaguy]

Wanted to share a quick video I did on an easy route to get the shore power connection routed from outside the the van to inside the van.

Looks good

Hodakaguy

 

[Daniel]

Built the shower out. Took video along the way.

• Thetford Curve Toilet: https://amzn.to/2VrtWs4
• Wedi Board: https://tinyurl.com/y5wcydaf
• FRP Wall Panel Board: https://tinyurl.com/yxzk67bq
• FRP Fast Grab Adhesive: https://amzn.to/3quwDaG
• Redgard Waterproof: https://amzn.to/2L0m7Yn
• Sharkbite Fittings: https://tinyurl.com/y5dojbmq
• US Cargo Ltrack: https://amzn.to/3qlI980
• 12V Dimmable RV Lights: https://amzn.to/3odKq3b
• Hepvo Sanitary waste valve: https://amzn.to/39xUoII
• Universal Shower arm: https://amzn.to/36wayk5
• Shower Head: https://amzn.to/3og1e9M

First I designed a custom shower pan 32"x42" made out of aluminum with a corner drain.

I then used 1.5" metal wall studs to frame up a shower enclosure.

One thing to note is that since none of the Sprinter walls are straight you just have to take your time and frame slowly.

I located a spot in the corner that I wanted my shower head to be positioned. I also pulled all the factory wiring all the way back to the rear tail lights and back up camera and relocated the wires into the another area of the wall so that they would not be pinched by the Wedi Board that would be going over the framing.

I installed the Wedi board as a waterproof backing board for the inside of the shower.

I

Next thing was to add the redgard waterproof membrane to the top of the wediboard. Yes overkill but I want it to last.

When it is dry it turns a bright red.

This process took multiple days because each step needs to fully dry.

Next up I purchased FRP fiberglass shower paneling and a metal shear to make cutting it easy.

Since the back wall has a curve I decided to screw it to the framing and I would cover the screws with a piece of Ltrack that could be used to hang shower things like towels, soap, etc. After the FRP adhesive dried I taped off the edges with painters tape to reduce the amount of caulking mess.

I then hung the Ltrack.

I added a dimmable touch light in the corner and the wife loves it. Thanks Hodakaguy for the write up on that one.

The Thetford curve potti fits great.

It was a ton of work but well work it.

I started fitting the outside walls that will be wrapped in marine grey tweed. lots of measuring lol! I still need to finish walls and the door.

The 1/2" PEX water supply will run from the back hot water setup.

I have to say this was the biggest task but this means no more camprounds for showers and even less time away from things we want to do on the road.