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Let's start a new project and what a project! You can follow everything on the blog and in our magazine.
As you know, Lili (our current motorhome) is for sale, simply because it's too small for us, but it has never let us down.
For some time now (about a year), we've been looking for a transporter to convert into a motorhome. We knew exactly what we wanted, but we had some doubts. Should we buy it in Germany or Portugal? Should we buy a motorhome and renovate it, or convert a transporter into a motorhome? What is the legalization process for converting a van?
These questions stayed in our minds for a while until we reached a conclusion. Even though buying in Germany is cheaper, importing the vehicle to Portugal ends up being more expensive (in our case). Plus, in winter, German roads are covered in salt, which causes a lot of rust on vehicles. So, we decided to buy in Portugal.
We didn’t want to go through the process of legalizing a transporter as a motorhome, but at the same time, we wanted to build one that suited all our needs. So, we chose to buy a transporter and work with a company to help us with the legalization process.
We had a few requirements for our van:
It had to be at least 4 meters long and tall enough to stand inside.
It needed a solid base (with minimal rust).
It had to have a reliable engine.
It should be simple and easy to repair.
We flight to Lisbon to see a 1999 Mercedes Sprinter 412D, but it had a lot of rust inside, made a weird noise when turning, and was expensive. The second van we checked was a 1985 Iveco Daily, which was cheap but had rust everywhere, so it was immediately out of the question.
Then, we scheduled a visit to Porto to see a 2001 Mercedes Sprinter 313CDI. We were happy with what we saw – a solid base (with little rust), an engine with 520,000 km but seemingly in good condition, and a fair price.
I looked at Lisa, and we both realized this was going to be our travel companion.
We bought the van! We were, and still are, very happy to have finally achieved what we've been chasing for so long. Now, the real work can begin.
First, we gave it a thorough cleaning: we removed the seats and panels from the back, took out the divider, and started to truly understand the condition of the van we had bought. We became even happier. Of course, there are things to fix and rust to remove, but the foundation is very solid.
At the moment, we’ve identified the following “problems”:
The battery tray was completely rusted (already fixed).
There was rust near the right door (I’ve already treated it, but it will need a permanent fix in the future).
The rear doors don’t close properly (our partner AutoMadalena will sort this out).
The steering wheel and gear shift knob need to be replaced (still to be done).
The rear bumper is broken (we already bought a new one).
There are a few rust spots on the exterior (to be fixed).
For now, these are the “problems” we’ve solved or will be solving soon. A huge thank you to our partners!
Once the van is rust-free, everything is working, and our layout project is approved, we’ll start building the motorhome – which is what truly excites us. But first, we need a perfectly functioning and well-maintained vehicle because no one wants to break down in the middle of a trip.
We already know the exact layout we want, with precise measurements, but that’s for the next article.
Don’t miss anything from our project! If you want to share your opinion, give suggestions, or become a partner, don’t hesitate to send us a message.
Stay tuned!
Carlos Cunha
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