2012 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 Dually | Off-Grid Conversion
I love this van and it’s a tough decision to let her go, but I’m just not hitting the road as much as I used to and she deserves someone who will take her on more adventures.
2012 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 Dually | Off-Grid Conversion – MAKE me an OFFER
I love this van and it’s a tough decision to let her go, but I’m just not hitting the road as much as I used to and she deserves someone who will take her on more adventures.
Recent upgrades:
New Starter Battery
New Blower motor & regulator
AC recharged
Sprinter B Service Performed which included oil change, new cabin & oil filters
New Headlights, high & low beams replaced
New glow plug + module
I bought her in January 2021 from a couple who did an incredibly thoughtful, full off-grid conversion. These two knew what they were doing. Since then I’ve kept up with mechanical maintenance (records available), added custom wood cabinets with hinges that hold them open, seat covers, a new flexible backsplash, and a full set of Van Essentials window shades for every window including the windshield. They fold up for easy storage and use magnets to stay in place. She’s been back and forth between the Bay Area and San Diego over the past year and runs like a beast.
She’s best suited for someone who’s comfortable learning the systems on board. And honestly, with AI these days, troubleshooting electrical and solar questions is easier than ever. As with any rolling home, there’s always something to dial in, but the bones on this build are excellent and the Victron setup is surprisingly user-friendly once you get familiar with it.
Electrical
The couple built her with all three charging methods: solar, shore power (standard plug-in), and alternator charging while driving. For the brain of the system they went with the full Victron suite, which cost a bit more than Renogy but is absolutely worth it. Here’s what’s in there:
- 2x 100Ah Battle Born lithium batteries (widely considered the best on the market)
- 4x 100W Renogy solar panels
- Victron 3000W inverter/charger
- Victron solar charge controller with Bluetooth app
- Victron smart dongle and inverter switchboard
- Victron DC to DC charger
- Victron battery monitor (programmable)
- Exterior waterproof shore power hookup
- Marine power board for charging phones and the cell booster directly off DC power, so you’re not draining the battery every time you need to charge your phone
- Cell signal booster, a must-have for remote spots. They took this van to some very remote locations and rarely had signal issues
- LED ceiling lights and garage LED strips
- 3 outlets with USB ports
Plumbing
- 30-gallon fresh water tank with gauge monitor
- 4-gallon Bosch electric water heater
- Shurflo water pump
- SeaFlo accumulator tank
- Under-counter drinking water filter
- PEX plumbing with SharkBite fittings, secure and leak-proof but easy to remove if needed
- 10-gallon grey water tank mounted under the sink to prevent freezing in cold climates, drains with a single switch so you never have to mess with valves
- Nature’s Head composting toilet, tucked away and vented outside the bottom of the van. Zero smell, no black water tank, keeps you off grid longer
- Outdoor hot and cold shower with a bamboo mat and eucalyptus printed curtain. Honestly one of the best features when you’re parked somewhere beautiful
Interior
- Espar D2 diesel heater, tested in below-freezing temps and keeps the van toasty
- Isotherm under-counter fridge. A lot of van builds use a Dometic or chest fridge for efficiency, but the couple didn’t want to dig through a chest fridge every time they needed something. The Isotherm has the same efficiency, stands upright, looks great, and is deeper than it looks. It can hold about a week’s worth of groceries
- MaxxAir fan with remote control and rain cover, pulls or pushes air depending on the setting. Open the bunk windows and you get a great cross breeze in summer
- Passenger swivel chair, one of the best features in the van. Rotate it to face the main room, or turn it sideways, prop your legs on the driver’s seat, pull the curtains and you’ve got a cozy little recliner. It creates a surprising sense of having a separate room in a small space
- Pull-out wood table, 40″ and rated to 200 lbs, great for coffee, working, dinner for two, or movie night
- Queen memory foam mattress, comfortable for most people up to around 5’11”. Full disclosure: it’s a couple inches short of a true queen so very tall people may want to keep that in mind
- Full size 24″ deep kitchen cabinets with plenty of storage
- 1.5″ butcher block countertops
- 4ft bench with additional storage
- Havelock wool insulation throughout. The couple did a deep dive on insulation options and landed on sheep’s wool for good reasons: it’s eco-friendly, doesn’t off-gas any chemicals, is hypoallergenic, naturally manages moisture so condensation isn’t an issue, won’t grow mold, and is a better acoustic buffer than most alternatives. It was a deliberate choice and a good one
- Two sliding bunk windows with bug screens, passenger door vent window, and two rear door windows
- Apple CarPlay radio and backup camera
- Garage fits a mountain bike with room to spare
Worth noting: there’s some surface rust on the body, which is common for a van this age. It’s cosmetic and hasn’t affected how she runs.
Maintenance records available. Priced to sell and open to offers. Serious inquiries only.
