Howdy! My name is Steve, and I’m the creator of Sprinterventurer.com.
This is my first attempt at this “About Me” page, so I expect to update it a bit before I’m completely happy with it.
Like many of you, I was entranced by YouTube videos about people buying a Sprinter Van and converting it into a campervan, and then having many awesome adventures!
It is hard to convey in video form just how much work is involved in this process. I don’t want to go into too much detail here, as each point could be one or more whole articles and or videos.
I have basic automotive skills. I can change oil, change a tire, replace a battery, do a basic diagnosis of check engine lights. (Hint, you’re probably going to see lots of these!) If you decide you are going to purchase an older vehicle, I think you should have at least this level of knowledge. Taking it to the shop for each and every little thing will result in astronomical repair bills.
I am good at fixing things in general. I have worked in IT for over 20 years, where I fix things for a living. Even though I fix computers, servers, storage networks, and sometimes the computer code that runs on them, some of the basic troubleshooting skills transfer to the automotive realm, or anything, really. You just need to learn a bit about the basics of the new thing you want to fix and know how to find help with The All-Knowing Google. I will go more into this in another article.
I’m not afraid to take some risks. It’s important to intelligently recognize the risks inherent in any course of action and decide which risks are worth taking. For instance, some people are irrationally afraid of flying on an airplane, but think nothing of getting into a flimsy car and hurtling down the road with oncoming traffic and instant mangled destruction mere feet away. My point of bringing this up is that you should think of risks with the van. The chance of fire from poor wiring. Storing propane in the van? Cabinetry not secured properly? What if I break down in the middle of the desert? You have limited resources, so you should allocate your funds to best cover the risks that are addressable.
I expect to edit this page a bit, but that’s what I have for now.
Thanks for visiting my site!
Steve