🤘 Hey! Up for sale is BessieSmith, my 2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 Passenger/Cargo Conversion, the longest and tallest T1N, built on the highly desirable 158" wheelbase (22' total length). It currently has 225,000 miles on the legendary OM647 2.7L inline-5 turbo diesel engine, which is running flawlessly and routinely gets 24 MPG on the highway.
This van is fully built out for vanlife off-grid camping or state/national park road trips, balancing comfortable living amenities with solid mechanical upkeep.
Vehicle Overview & Recent Maintenance:
- Year/Model: 2005 Dodge/Mercedes-Benz T1N Sprinter 2500
- Wheelbase: 158" WB (High Roof)
- Mileage: 225,000 miles
- Tires & Brakes: Brand new all around as of June 2025.
- Engine/Chassis Maintenance (Nov 2025): New master pulley, new serpentine belt, and fresh transmission cooling lines.
- Check Engine Light: Has two glow plug faults, so... needs a job before your winter snowboard adventure... so call me
- Cab Upgrades: Upgraded to a 7” Boss Audio touchscreen unit featuring Apple CarPlay / Android Auto. I am also including an uninstalled Boss backup camera kit ready to wire into the head unit.
- Storage: BessieSmith was kept inside winter storage from December to April '26
- Body, Windshield, & Rust Status: Two small nicks in windshield. A few body dings - no breaks or big dents. Tiny rust here and there (beneath windshield but none in upper corners). Roof seams are mostly rust free. I hit one in the middle with gray rustoleum.
The Build Out Layout
Driver's Side:
- Large floor-to-ceiling closet directly behind the driver's seat with dedicated storage above and below the fridge.
- Refrigerator: Dometic CRX65T Compressor fridge, thoughtfully mounted waist-high for easy access.
- Seating: 65” x 20” long bench couch with massive storage underneath.
- Full LED ceiling lighting on dedicated DC switches.
- Dual USB charging port mounted to low bedside.
Passenger Side & Kitchen:
- Passenger seat pedestal houses auxiliary battery setup with current run to DC-DC converter.
- Outdoor Shower: Outdoor shower (hot/cold) to use with slider door open and included easy setup shower tent
- Kitchenette: Beautiful countertop layout with storage underneath, a deep stainless sink, and a high-rise faucet. Dedicated footprint left open for your preferred cooktop type. Two burner propane stove included.
Rear Bedroom, Garage, & Custom Insulation:
- Platform bed setup designed around a Queen size footprint (60” x 74”).
- High-clearance "garage" space underneath the bed platform—tons of room to safely lock up multiple bikes, gear boxes, and adventure gear.
- Window Insulation/Privacy: Includes custom DIY window covers tailored specifically for the slider and back doors. They feature a rigid, multi-layer build made from Reflectix (for heat rejection) and Coroplast, finished with a beautiful forest-motif contact paper on the interior side. They secure cleanly to the glass with heavy-duty suction cups.
Electrical & Power Systems (AC/DC)
The power setup was built out using matching high-quality Renogy components for seamless integration and safety.
DC Solar Setup:
- Solar Input: (2) 100W Renogy Solar Panels mounted on the roof.
- Charge Controller: Renogy 40A MPPT Rover Charge Controller.
- Battery Bank: (2) 100Ah Renogy AGM Batteries.
- Alternator Charging: Renogy DC-DC Battery Charger (keeps house batteries topped up automatically while driving).
- Distribution: Dedicated DC marine-grade fuse block feeding these DC Gadgets:
Refrigerator, Water Pump, Maxxair Vent Fan, Ceiling LEDs, adjustable bedside lights, USB charger (wall mount),
AC Shore Power & Inverter Setup:
- Inverter: Power Bright 1500W Inverter.
- Shore Connection: Exterior shore power inlet feeding a 4-breaker AC panel inside.
- Transfer Switch: Integrated Xantrex automatic transfer switch (allows kitchen AC outlets to seamlessly transition between inverter/solar power and campground shore power without blowing fuses).
Plumbing & Water System:
- 20-gallon fresh water tank.
- On-demand 12V water pump.
- 4-gallon electric water heater (heats quickly when connected to power/inverter).
AC and Heat in the Cabin:
- No heater (ask if you need recommendations)
- Air Conditioner (only on Shore Power not for Solar usage) Houghton Belaire 3500
Location: Austin, Texas area Asking Price: $28,000
The van is turn-key and ready for its next owner to hit the highway. Happy to answer any specific mechanical, wiring, or build-process questions from forum members. PM me if you'd like to schedule a viewing or request specific photos of the chassis, engine bay, or roof seams.
Thanks for looking!
I bought it used and mostly converted in April of '25 and spent many hours improving in summer of '25.
