Projections of Metris use

I use mine primarily as an office and crash-pad. We use it as a work van for my wife, who does not drive- she cleans houses as a maid. Contrary to what some people think you don’t need a lot of stuff for that job; we have done this work out of an A-class sedan when the Metris was in for service. She carries an Oreck XL, a mop, a long swifer stick that is rarely used, and a canvas supermarket shopping bag full of basic cleaning chemicals and A standard swifer stick. Sometimes, when she does a house that has specific smell issues (such as a house with a large dog, or a house where someone smokes) we carry a second vacuum (still an Oreck XL- we own half a dozen) that is designated for such a house so as to not spread that oder to other customers.

Where the Metris excels for our work is that it serves perfectly as my space to wait. I have a fold down desk on the back of the front passenger seat, a tablet mount on the headrest of that seat, the standard three position bench, three naugahyde cushions from a long-defunct 1970s sofa. and two recharageable crappy 10” fans I bought off of some internet site.

I can sit in the second row and work on my tablet with the keyboard on the fold down desk. I can sit there with the desk used to hold a cold or hot drink (depending on the season) and watch YouTube quite comfortable. I can read a book, several of which fit comfortably in the seat back pocket. I can take those three cushions and arrange them in the space between the door and the seat in the second row, and lay down and do various above activities while laying down- or just nap.

In the summer I do this wearing light shorts and an undershirt, and clip each of the two rechargeable fans to the drivers side grab handles on the front and second rows, point them at me, and turn them on, leave both front windows down, and the drivers side sliding door is left open. As long as I position my van with the sun facing the rear window, this is quite comfortable on all but the crazy-hottest days, as long as I have plenty of cold water (I put this in two glass bottles that fit in the front door bottle holders, and a big thermos filled with ice and water).

In the winter, I dress in nice wool long underwear, overalls, and warm flannel shirts, and I can do the same. Coffee or tea is substituted for the water, and works perfectly well. (Obviously, the van is buttoned up in these circumstances)

The van is never running for either scenario, and I have done no conversions or wiring to accomodate these features. Just a MB-branded universal fold down table, a cheap Chinese tablet Mount that can be pulled off with velcro, the clip fans, and the couch cushions. It has the space, comfort, and versatility to accomodate these uses built in, drives very tightly and maneuverable, and I love it.

Perhaps my next van will actually be a short sprinter with a sofa and a desk with a rolling chair, fantastic fan, and so on. Maybe not; this has a number of advantages. But for my needs, it is perfect.