Building Out A Party Van - Tragedy or Genius? Time Will Tell...

[Will D]

Sometimes you're given an opportunity that's just too good to pass up. I had one of those opportunities this week, and after jumping on it I ended up with a Mercedes Sprinter van that is WAY out of my league. Here's some background:

A few years ago my brother-in-law took over an HVAC business after his boss died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Turns out my brother-in-law is amazing at running the business, and in just a few years he's grown it substantially and earned more money than I'll probably see in my entire life! The wife of his boss gifted him the van shortly after he died, and since then my brother-in-law has hardly used it, except for an annual backpacking trip to Michigan every few years and short drives around town to keep it running.

As I've considered growing my business these last five months or so, I decided to ask if he'd have any interest in selling it. The van is entirely above my station, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to see if he'd ever thought about it and how much he'd want for it. I was floored when he got back to me and offered it to me for less than half its value, just as a way of supporting me as I grow my business. Wow! So here's what I got, for less than the cost of a used minivan... It's a 2008 diesel Mercedes Sprinter, 170" wheel base, with 70K miles, and a SICK party van conversion.

So these are the before pics, and I'll keep this thread updated if anyone wants to follow along as I turn this masterpiece of a vehicle into a transformable cargo work truck...

 

[Will D]

So where would you start if you were in my shoes? Got any creative ideas on how I could make this buildout awesome without breaking the bank? Keep in mind that :

1) I don't plan to buy a truck mount any time soon. Sorry guys, it just doesn't fit my business model... One day perhaps, but not now. I have great success with portables and OP machines on my commercial contracts, and I won't go into debt for a truck mount.

2) This is an incredible party van, and I hope to use it that way for family trips. So anything I do to it needs to be easily removable. Thankfully the four bucket recliners are super easy to remove, and I'll store those in my garage except when it's being used for work.

This is gonna be fun!

 

[BIG WOOD]

By the time you finish gutting out and prepping that van for your business, you might have the funds to get a truckmount for it.

If you do, look for a used truckmount that has a diesel Kubota engine, like the prochem Apex or similar. Not the apex570! It's a gas and won't work.

But back to what you're trying to do...Are you sure you want to gut that beautiful van? You could sell it for a work box/van that's easier to maintain. I hear that Mercedes diesel vans are very expensive to maintain

Me personally...I wouldn't combine it with work and family trips. Our equipment can leak and smell bad and it will make that luxury party van get junked out and not enjoyable to take a trip in.

 

[Will D]

By the time you finish gutting out and prepping that van for your business, you might have the funds to get a truckmount for it.

If you do, look for a used truckmount that has a diesel Kubota engine, like the prochem Apex or similar. Not the apex570! It's a gas and won't work.

But back to what you're trying to do...Are you sure you want to gut that beautiful van? You could sell it for a work box/van that's easier to maintain. I hear that Mercedes diesel vans are very expensive to maintain

Me personally...I wouldn't combine it with work and family trips. Our equipment can leak and smell bad and it will make that luxury party van get junked out and not enjoyable to take a trip in.

No intention of gutting it. Mostly just moving stuff in and keeping as much “as is” as possible. I really don’t want to sell it. It’s one of those vehicles that is sentimental to my brother-in-law, and while he didn’t require it, I know he loved the idea of keeping it in the family. I also told him he could still use it for his annual backpacking trip, which is what got him over the edge in agreeing to sell it to me in the first place Long term I’d be open to a truckmount, so I’ll come back to your prochem Apex idea when I have the money for it.

One thing I need to figure out is the floor. It has carpet now, and I wonder if I can find something rubber or plastic instead. Might put some water tanks in the back so that I could run my portable from the van on occasional residential jobs or where short hose runs are possible. It’ll probably be a mix-match of used equipment I’ve collected this year, organized in a way that provides maximum flexibility. As the business grows I’ll keep upgrading things, but for now it’ll be more of a hodgepodge carpet cleaning limo, with blue party lights that would make @Mark Saiger proud The goal here is to spend little and make lots- we’ll see!

 

[Kenny Hayes]

What do you currently use for a work vehicle Will?

 

[Will D]

What do you currently use for a work vehicle Will?

A 2006 Pontiac Montana. Love it, but the engine mount is almost rusted through and on its last leg. Before that I was using my 2002 Honda CRV. That’s my personal vehicle, it’s just too small now for all I’m doing.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Man, that Montana ain’t it, but I sure hate to see ya mess up that Mercedes with carpet cleaning equipment! It’s too fancy, even being an 08.

 

[icleancarpetz]

A 2006 Pontiac Montana. Love it, but the engine mount is almost rusted through and on its last leg. Before that I was using my 2002 Honda CRV. That’s my personal vehicle, it’s just too small now for all I’m doing.

I have a 1998 pontiac montana i bought for $1200 a few years back 140k miles. Got it painted to match my business color then had it logo and now use it to park in shopping centers for advertisement. It has paid for itself several times over.
I dont use it other then move from shopping center to shopping centers. Runs like a champ!

 

[icleancarpetz]

A 2006 Pontiac Montana. Love it, but the engine mount is almost rusted through and on its last leg. Before that I was using my 2002 Honda CRV. That’s my personal vehicle, it’s just too small now for all I’m doing.

Get yourself a work van from a contractor has taken care of it and low mileage. Even a chevy astro will fit for your business model.

LEAVE THE MERCEDES AS IS snd enjoy it for weekend trips, outings etc. You trying to retro fit it to fit your needs will only lead to a junky work van and no weekend family trips van.


Now go and get that brick out your head about converting that mercedes van and work on getting a real work van.

Do what you want of course.,,,my 3¢

 

[Mikey P]

I made my first million out of a Datson B210 Hatchback...

can't you fit the equipment you have now all in that backspace?


Use it like that, along with a well formulate do0r magnet until if and when you decide to get hitched to a truckmount

 

[BIG WOOD]

A 2006 Pontiac Montana. Love it, but the engine mount is almost rusted through and on its last leg. Before that I was using my 2002 Honda CRV. That’s my personal vehicle, it’s just too small now for all I’m doing.

Sell the Montana, AND the CRV and buy a good work box/van with that money.

Use the Mercedes now as your personal vehicle in place of the CRV and enjoy your job AND life. If you combine that work and travel in that Mercedes, you'll regret it

You'll be working most of the time in your future box/van anyway, so just accept it, lol. YOu'll use your personal vehicle much less, the busier you get in this business.