Hey..
Thought I would start a thread consolidating all the resources that have been coming up regarding converting a Metris into a camper. Here's what I have been able to find so far from another thread.
gtrv.com
reconcampers.com/?page_id=86
From user TCP:
The biggest change is that I'm having someone else do it: moreheaddesignlab.comin Asheville, NC. They expect to be able to start in the middle of this month.
Insulation: rattletrap (fatmat.com/shop/rattle-trap-6563) attached to the metal, then ecobatt insulation ecobatt.us/eco_batt.html, then plastic vapor barrier.
A fantastic fan in the ceiling.
Two CL Laurence sliding screened windows on sliding door and the wall opposite. These are flat rather than contoured windows but the company insists that they have worked well on vans with curved walls in the past.
Sink, stove, water storage across from the sliding door.
Cooler: Dometic CF-025DC Portable Freezer/Refrigerator Slim/Tall as it can be slid between the front seats if we need to slide it out of the way (though the top won't open when it is there). We just got ours and tested its fit this morning.
Side walls farther back from the sliding door will be floor to ceiling cabinets, cubbies, shelves, and a fold out table on both sides - though the table only on one side. They will extend to just beyond the wheel wells as that will still allow 4 feet of open space in the bottom.
Ceiling will be white covered thin plywood. Cabinet and shelves will be birch veneer plywood as thin (for weight purposes) as possible and still hold up.
Sleeping will be on a 4 foot wide gymnastics matt on the floor. This will fold up and lean against a wall when not in use.
Seating will be folding chairs.
Mosquito netting on both the back and side doors - though we haven't finalized those plans yet other than that we will be doing them ourselves.
Total cost for the conversion should be about $9,000 of which $4000 is labor.
What we are missing: pop top and seating for additional passengers. What we gain is a van that we can use for many other purposes when we aren't camping. And it should work out a heck of a lot better than our tent.
User Parsi:
For anyone looking for the rear cargo panels, I have part numbers and "preliminary" costs. Preliminary because the dealer was slammed and Metris stuff is apparently still not easily accessible via internet. I hope these prices hold up when I receive the order.
Part numbers 447-690-27-01 through 447-690-32-01 are the rear cargo panels. That's six panels for what I count seven spaces, so I'm guessing the top of the cargo door doesn't get paneled. Not sure why but it's the only thing that seems to make sense.
Part numbers 447-747-11-00 and 447-747-12-00 are the rear door panels.
Costs are $46.00 - $53.00 per panel, depending on size.
That's gonna help tremendously in the insulation/sound deadening aspect of my build.
User Wintu:
I got some news as well . Yesterday i talked to Colorado branch of C-F maier which manufacturer of one of the best pop top roofs in Germany . They told me that the will be bringing their roof for new Mercedes Metris. In the Europe they sell a kit that you can install your self so if people are not afraid to cut the hole in their new van they can save a lot of money. here are some links for anyone who is interested.
cfmaier.com/profile/profile.htm
installation instructions from one of the many conversion companies in UK:
s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshde...lication%2Fpdf
Thought I would start a thread consolidating all the resources that have been coming up regarding converting a Metris into a camper. Here's what I have been able to find so far from another thread.
gtrv.com
reconcampers.com/?page_id=86
From user TCP:
The biggest change is that I'm having someone else do it: moreheaddesignlab.comin Asheville, NC. They expect to be able to start in the middle of this month.
Insulation: rattletrap (fatmat.com/shop/rattle-trap-6563) attached to the metal, then ecobatt insulation ecobatt.us/eco_batt.html, then plastic vapor barrier.
A fantastic fan in the ceiling.
Two CL Laurence sliding screened windows on sliding door and the wall opposite. These are flat rather than contoured windows but the company insists that they have worked well on vans with curved walls in the past.
Sink, stove, water storage across from the sliding door.
Cooler: Dometic CF-025DC Portable Freezer/Refrigerator Slim/Tall as it can be slid between the front seats if we need to slide it out of the way (though the top won't open when it is there). We just got ours and tested its fit this morning.
Side walls farther back from the sliding door will be floor to ceiling cabinets, cubbies, shelves, and a fold out table on both sides - though the table only on one side. They will extend to just beyond the wheel wells as that will still allow 4 feet of open space in the bottom.
Ceiling will be white covered thin plywood. Cabinet and shelves will be birch veneer plywood as thin (for weight purposes) as possible and still hold up.
Sleeping will be on a 4 foot wide gymnastics matt on the floor. This will fold up and lean against a wall when not in use.
Seating will be folding chairs.
Mosquito netting on both the back and side doors - though we haven't finalized those plans yet other than that we will be doing them ourselves.
Total cost for the conversion should be about $9,000 of which $4000 is labor.
What we are missing: pop top and seating for additional passengers. What we gain is a van that we can use for many other purposes when we aren't camping. And it should work out a heck of a lot better than our tent.
User Parsi:
For anyone looking for the rear cargo panels, I have part numbers and "preliminary" costs. Preliminary because the dealer was slammed and Metris stuff is apparently still not easily accessible via internet. I hope these prices hold up when I receive the order.
Part numbers 447-690-27-01 through 447-690-32-01 are the rear cargo panels. That's six panels for what I count seven spaces, so I'm guessing the top of the cargo door doesn't get paneled. Not sure why but it's the only thing that seems to make sense.
Part numbers 447-747-11-00 and 447-747-12-00 are the rear door panels.
Costs are $46.00 - $53.00 per panel, depending on size.
That's gonna help tremendously in the insulation/sound deadening aspect of my build.
User Wintu:
I got some news as well . Yesterday i talked to Colorado branch of C-F maier which manufacturer of one of the best pop top roofs in Germany . They told me that the will be bringing their roof for new Mercedes Metris. In the Europe they sell a kit that you can install your self so if people are not afraid to cut the hole in their new van they can save a lot of money. here are some links for anyone who is interested.
cfmaier.com/profile/profile.htm
installation instructions from one of the many conversion companies in UK:
s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshde...lication%2Fpdf
