Building Out A Party Van - Tragedy or Genius? Time Will Tell...

[Will D]

Sometimes you're given an opportunity that's just too good to pass up. I had one of those opportunities this week, and after jumping on it I ended up with a Mercedes Sprinter van that is WAY out of my league. Here's some background:

A few years ago my brother-in-law took over an HVAC business after his boss died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Turns out my brother-in-law is amazing at running the business, and in just a few years he's grown it substantially and earned more money than I'll probably see in my entire life! The wife of his boss gifted him the van shortly after he died, and since then my brother-in-law has hardly used it, except for an annual backpacking trip to Michigan every few years and short drives around town to keep it running.

As I've considered growing my business these last five months or so, I decided to ask if he'd have any interest in selling it. The van is entirely above my station, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to see if he'd ever thought about it and how much he'd want for it. I was floored when he got back to me and offered it to me for less than half its value, just as a way of supporting me as I grow my business. Wow! So here's what I got, for less than the cost of a used minivan... It's a 2008 diesel Mercedes Sprinter, 170" wheel base, with 70K miles, and a SICK party van conversion.

So these are the before pics, and I'll keep this thread updated if anyone wants to follow along as I turn this masterpiece of a vehicle into a cargo work truck...

 

[Will D]

So where would you start if you were in my shoes? Got any creative ideas on how I could make this buildout awesome without breaking the bank? Keep in mind that :

1) I don't plan to buy a truck mount any time soon. Sorry guys, it just doesn't fit my business model... One day perhaps, but not now. I have great success with portables and OP machines on my commercial contracts, and I won't go into debt for a truck mount.

2) This is an incredible party van, and I hope to use it that way for family trips. So anything I do to it needs to be easily removable. Thankfully the four bucket recliners are super easy to remove, and I'll store those in my garage except when it's being used for work.

This is gonna be fun!

 

[BIG WOOD]

By the time you finish gutting out and prepping that van for your business, you might have the funds to get a truckmount for it.

If you do, look for a used truckmount that has a diesel Kubota engine, like the prochem Apex or similar. Not the apex570! It's a gas and won't work.

But back to what you're trying to do...Are you sure you want to gut that beautiful van? You could sell it for a work box/van that's easier to maintain. I hear that Mercedes diesel vans are very expensive to maintain

Me personally...I wouldn't combine it with work and family trips. Our equipment can leak and smell bad and it will make that luxury party van get junked out and not enjoyable to take a trip in.