Selling my 2019 Mercedes Sprinter 170 4×4. I’ve taken it cross-country on a beautiful trip to Alaska and back in the three months that I’ve owned it and had intended to live and travel in it full time for a few years. I have decided that I am better suited for a brick and mortar life and driving a little car and so am passing on this beautiful van to it’s new caretaker. Though a 2019, it was purchased new in the summer of 2020 and built out by a professional home contractor named Paul Kirkland and his wife, Faith. They did an amazing job creating a tiny home on wheels.
Their custom build started with Kilmat sound deadening. Five windows were added (all open for venting) and 2 Maxxair ceiling fans. The van is fully insulated with Thinsulate and heated with an Espar diesel heater which is plumbed directly into the van’s main fuel tank.
There is 3/4 marine plywood covered in Lonseal vinyl on the floor. The walls are 5mm Baltic birch plywood with landau foam and Duramax tweed fabric. The ceiling is ship lap cedar. Upper and lower cabinets are built with extruded aluminum frames and covered in bamboo plywood. The countertops are black walnut. All the wood is finished with marine Spar varnish and is baby-soft smooth to touch.
In the galley there is a large Isotherm marine fridge that holds a lot of food and beverages, a Ruvati undermount sink and a two burner induction cooktop. Hot water is supplied by an Isotemp electric marine water heater which heats water to piping hot very quickly. There are three huge drawers under the induction cooktop and four overhead storage cupboards. Under the sink is dedicated gray tank and there’s also room under the sink for a large trash can.
The van also has heated swivel seats that power adjust, a 10.25” screen which I think has built-in satellite navigation, distronic cruise control, auto-dim headlights, Apple Car Play and I believe Android Auto Play, etc. Behind the drivers seat there is a bench with full-storage underneath. A small is safe bolted to the frame inside the bench and a swiveling Lagun mount bamboo top table is mounted to the side. Interior lights are LED puck lights with dimmers on multiple individual zones. There are also two reading lights at the head of the bed.
In between the rear jump seats there is a drain fitting in the floor for using the indoor shower (I have never used it but have the components) It drains into a 28 gallon gray tank that is mounted in the spare tire carrier. The grey tank has a heating pad on it for use in cold weather as does the fresh water tank though the fresh water tank is mounted inside the vehicle. There is also an outdoor shower at the back of the van.
The bed is very comfy and on a folding frame. The panel at the foot of the bed folds up out of the way exposing the two jump seats and shower area. The panel at the head is on an electric lift so you can sit up in bed and read, watch a movie or just hang out with friends.
In the garage area on the drivers side is the 30 gallon fresh water tank and a storage cubby above that. On the passenger side are the 4-100 ah Battleborn lithium batteries, a 3000 watt Victron inverter-charger, a Victron solar charge controller, 2 Victron 30 amp dc-dc chargers, a Victron Lynx distributor and the ac breaker box. Another little storage cubby is above that.
The van originally had a Natures Head composting toilet when I purchased it. I prefer the Trobolo separating toilet you see in these pictures and temporarily removed the door to fit it but I still have the Natures Head and I will reinstall it and remount the door when the van sells. There is nothing wrong with the Natures Head toilet, I just happen to like the one I am using better.
On the roof is a Flatline Van Co roof rack with 300 watts of solar. There are two raised crossbars that can be used to mount a cargo box on the roof or skis or canoe, etc. A Roam Built ladder is mounted on the driver side. Behind the ladder is an Aluminess Surf Pole you can strap paddle boards or surfboards to (photo shows only one mount. I temporarily removed a second board mount and will reinstall).
On the rear doors there is an Owl Vans spare tire carrier, Owl Vans B2 mount and Owl Vans Expedition box (a great place to keep the bits and bobs for your van like oil, hoses, bungees, tools, etc.) There is also a sturdy rear step that mounts directly into the trailer hitch. On the passenger side of the trailer hitch is the shore power connection. On the driver side is an air chuck connected to an ARB dual compressor mounted under the hood.
For exterior lighting there are two Rigid scene lights on each side. Mounted on the rear of the roof rack are two Rigid spotlights. Up front on the bumper is an RB Components mounting bracket with four Baja Designs lights, two are spots and two are fogs. The lights are controlled by a Trigger Sixshooter Controller on the dash. All the wiring in the van is marine rated and the plumbing is Pex A expansion type.
The van had four new BFG KO3 tires mounted on the Black Rhino wheels on 5/22/24. It had new brakes and rotors replaced on 8/19/25 and some kind of flush that cleans out the diesel system (you’d have to ask Mercedes what it’s called, I’m just the messenger and don’t really understand this stuff!). I also replaced the dash heater module thing as I felt the heat was not hot enough. There is also a full zip screen installed in the rear for bugs, as well as one on the sliding door. And every window has VanMade insulated magnetic window covers.
The price of the van listed reflects a clanky sound from the rear that I am having looked at. The Mercedes mechanic said it could be the rear-differential which could cost 6-10k depending on where you get the work done-much less if you do it yourself. A different mechanic said it could be a u-joint but he’s unable to get me in to look until September 16. The price I am asking reflects the 75K I paid three months ago MINUS the cost of the potential future repair if you buy the van and fix yourself. If the van doesn’t sell before my appointment I will adjust the asking price upwards closer to 75k to reflect what it costs me.
Keep in mind that the van runs great and the Mercedes mechanic said he wouldn’t even bother fixing it yet because it’s not that bad. But I wanted to disclose that there’s an issue beginning that will need to be addressed someday-though no matter what you buy there are issues that will need to be addressed someday!
The van has been a great little home on my trip but I am just not cut out for solo full-time travel and am not comfortable driving a vehicle this big. It turns and handles surprising well so it’s not the van’s fault; it’s just too much for me. So that’s why I am selling.
This van is very cozy and comfy and beautifully crafted with quality workmanship and an eye for detail – it’s a real head-turner. I can’t tell you how many times people have come over to check it out and ask questions. One guy recently said to me: “Wow…that guy put a lot of time and money into this”.
(Note that I will be removing the stickers off the back and keeping the Crow that is mounted on the bike rack area. I drove back to Seward Alaska to get it so it comes with me : ) Speaking of bike racks…I also have two pipes that came with the van that mount over the Owl storage box that the previous owners used to mount bikes on. Those will go with the van too of course. Aaaand, the little storage pockets on the back door are mine and I will be keeping them (though I can tell you where I bought them in Grand Junction Colorado if you want to get some!
