Buying a Van 101
There are plenty of do’s and don’ts when it comes to buying a new or new-to-you van. We want to make sure you’re set up with the right stuff to make your van build and life easier! With years of experience in the van world, we have learned a thing or two when it comes to buying the best platform to make the build process simple and efficient. Save yourself a potential headache and check out these best practices for buying your rig!
Purchasing a Mercedes Sprinter
These are our recommendations of what to order when it comes to buying new and what to look for when purchasing used! These options are based on our personal experience when building out vans so these features will benefit you whether you are looking to upgrade your adventure with us or DIY!
The Basics Needs:
Cargo Van
High Roof
4×4 or AWD Drivetrains
180° Hinges
Hitch and Trailer Hitch Wiring
Auxiliary Fuel Tap (needed for heaters)
Roof Rails
Basic Wheel/ Tire Package
LED Head Lights
Beneficial Factory Additions:
Factory Swivels
Larger Screen
360° Cameras
Mercedes Premium Plus Package (Mercedes makes changes to this package frequently, so make sure to check with your dealer or click here to build your van on MBVans to view all packages or contact your dealer for all the information.)
Just Say No To:
2nd/Auxiliary Battery
Factory Rear AC
Partition (changes b-pillar and seals)
2nd Alternator
Fully Electric Sliding Door
Fully Electric Sliding Steps
Purchasing a Ford Transit
These are our recommendations of what to order when it comes to buying new and what to look for when purchasing used! These options are based on our personal experience when building out vans so these features will benefit you whether you are looking to upgrade your adventure with us or DIY!
The Basic Needs:
Cargo
High Roof
AWD Drivetrain
EcoBoost Engine
Hitch and Trailer Hitch Wiring
Auxiliary Fuel Tap (needed for heater)
Beneficial Factory Additions:
Parking Sensors
Comfort Cab Area
Factory Swivel Seats
Just Say No To:
2nd Alternator
Factory Rear AC
Transit Adventure Package/ Trail
We believe these packages are great for some people but not all! Depending on your desired build out and presumed adventure van experience will determine if we recommend these options for you! If you haven’t already please click here to view the packages and key differences between them provided by Ford. If you are interested in one of these options please make note of it to bring it up to your sales rep and we can help you decide if its the right move for you!
Looking For a Full Adventure Van Build Out?
Save Your Cash, Avoid These Options:
We consider a “Full Adventure Build” to be a complete interior conversion including but not limited to: interior paneling, aftermarket flooring, electrical upgrades, lighting, plumbing, and more. If this is what you are looking for avoiding these factory options will be the best move for you!
Factory Flooring
Factory Headliner in Coach Area
Factory Plastic Wall Panels
Factory Windows
Factory Rear AC (will make it difficult for an interior conversion, hard to replace with an aftermarket upgrade, and the factory option does not stay on without the van running)
Auxiliary Block Heater (with caveat of living in or consistent travel to VERY cold areas)
We recommend avoiding any interior additions in the coach area
Avoid the “Cargo Ready” package from Mercedes (comes with interior tie down points that will end up being ground off during the build process)
If you are planning on a less in depth build out, some of these options might be just fine for you! These are hard-no’s for those of you looking for the full on adventure van build experience. We will work with you to help you decide what might be right for you based on your needs! Do not hesitate to ask any questions to your sales representative, they are here to help you on your journey!
Winnebago Ekko Best Practices
Are you interested in the hottest Class-B rig on the market? Download our super extensive PDF to learn everything you need to know when it comes to purchasing and upgrading these amazing vehicles. We have spent the last 2 years perfecting these rigs and becoming the go-to shop for Ekko owners.
download our free guide:
Key Take Aways:
- These are simply our suggestions based on what we do in our shop and what we have seen work best for DIY-ers. Take everything with a grain of salt and if you disagree or have questions talk it out with your sales rep!
- All factory exclusions are based on the fact that there are much better after market options that we can provide for you that will ultimately make your van experience better.
- What’s best for one is not best for all. We want you to have the best experience possible so please be detailed when speaking with your rep about what you want and what you are planning to do in your van. There are no “dumb” questions and no detail is too small!
- If you are still uncertain about your general use case or what options might be best for you (after market or factory standard) use us as your resource! We don’t expect you to know everything, that’s why we’re here. Our goal is to educate, guide, and upgrade your adventure from start to finish!
Let's Get Rollin'
Ready to get your van life going? Contact us today and we will get back to you as soon as possible so we van start upgrading your adventure!
