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The Vanlife Community

144 members • Free

2 contributions to The Vanlife Community
Our van is in a process of crafting
Hello guys, First time writing in here. Let me introduce ourselves. We are Mihaela and Philip - a couple that chose (like all of you in here, I guess) to change their lifestyle for a better one where we can both enjoy travel and outdoors, and at the same time peace and quiet alternative of a home on wheels. I work as a NGO consultant for various projects, and my partner is an IT engineer and support. For more than two years we’ve been looking for a good second hand van, researching a lot what vanlifers are saying about best models, etc., and we finally chose (and found) a 2016 4x4 Sprinter 319 CDI MWB L2H2. Long-story short we first fixed what needed fixing and then started crafting it with a friend last Winter. Our friend was offered a job in Dubai in the meantime and of course he chose to take it, so we had to find someone else to continue with the project following our design (yes, we paid for a Vanspace account for the purpose). After some time we found two pro’s to help us complete what we’ve started. One of them is doing the cabling, electronics, plumbing, etc. more technical stuff, and the other is a carpenter doing the furniture, insulations, floor, etc. Now, we ended up having a few things that we wouldn’t need due to some mistakes of our friend (like placing the air-con in the wrong place, for instance), and here it is a question for you: Which is the best place where we can sell them? We have a bathroom window of Dometic, Clesana toilet, 4 sides for a shower cabin (white PVC), leftover plywood, partition wall (the original one behind the front seats), a big fan with a net, and an inverter. Of course by the end of the project we might end up with some more leftover stuff. :)) Here are some pictures of some of those stuff.
Our van is in a process of crafting
0 likes • Nov 1
@Christine McNamara Good to know. Is he doing the carpentry only or everything? Our crafters are respectfully the carpenter in Sao Luis and the other one near Tomar.
0 likes • Nov 1
@Christine McNamara Could you please share his contacts in case we need something our crafters cannot find or provide?
An older van is easier to maintain?
Hi! I never posted on this platform so not sure I'm doing it well. I just heard that vans older than 2005 are easier to fix and maintain but I am still not sure it would be a good idea to buy an older van, considering I will invest a lot in the interior. What are your opinions? This is part of the chat gpt's answer: "Why Older Vans Are Easier to Fix 1. Simpler mechanical systems (less electronics) Older vans — especially those made before the mid-2000s — rely on mechanical rather than electronic systems for things like fuel injection, ignition timing, and diagnostics.That means: - You don’t need a specialized computer to read error codes or reset the system. - A mechanic anywhere in the world can usually understand how to repair them with basic tools. - You can often fix small issues yourself on the road (broken belts, fuel lines, sensors, etc.). Example:A 1998 Mercedes Sprinter or a 2003 Ford Transit can often be repaired in a small-town garage in Spain or Morocco. A 2019 Sprinter, on the other hand, might require a diagnostic laptop and a certified workshop."
2 likes • Oct 22
@Larissa van Leeuwen Actually one of our crafters is going to do exactly that for the Drop vents (quoting) :))
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Mihaela Tsarchinska
2
1point to level up
@mihaela-tsarchinska-6116
Hi, I’m Mihaela. I’m born and lived most of my life in Sofia, although throughout the years I also traveled a lot. In ’24 I became a full-time nomad.

Active 5d ago
Joined Sep 27, 2025