While driving to a local reclaimed materials place today (was going to pick up a super-cheap stainless steel kitchen sink), I spied with my little eye a typical STP (Sprinter/Transit/Promaster – I’m just gonna start calling them STPs, so there) van ahead of me a ways, and it took a turn into a little area that’s chock full of those stereotypical long slender buildings all subdivided up into shop spaces. I think I’d only driven up into that area once in the distant past, but I thought… is there a conversion shop up in there?
Sure enough! Outside their garage door and ramp is four or five STPs. I park, grab a mask, walk inside and announce myself from a distance.
I fully expected to be told “appointments only”, or “we don’t let folks come in here ever” – but no, the general manager came out and met me, along with his five-month-old super-friendly pup, and he was incredibly friendly to a complete stranger coming in off the street.
I said I’d love to chat with folks there on what they were doing, and perfectly happy to make an appointment to do that and come back another time, but no – let’s chat now! Don’t have to twist my arm.
This particular shop has been in business for about four years, I’m told. As with most of these shops these days, they’re booked up months in advance. They seem to favor Sprinters; they have a CNC machine, have patterns already created for their usual cabinets, so it makes things go smoother. I did ask if they handled other vans, and they have in the past, won’t turn one down if it comes around in some cases, but it just makes things more difficult.
I inquired about a variety of the typical aspects of van builds and how they handle things. Havelock wool is their insulator of choice; they had quite a few of the big bags tucked into a corner. Electric – they tend to stick with Victron equipment as a rule – no surprise there. Water tanks – I asked about how they typically place things; fresh water inside, gray tank is either a small one in a cabinet or a larger one installed under the floor. The topic of propane came up; they basically don’t touch it, apparently over insurance concerns. They’ll run lines, install stovetops and the like, but they simply won’t hook up a can/regulator. They leave that to their customers.
I thanked them for their time, and left with a business card for their salesperson. Hopefully I can manage to get back to this shop again sometime soon and, well, talk shop some more. I expect there’s plenty I can learn from these guys, and they didn’t seem reluctant to chat. I expect an offer of tribute (a six-pack of good craft beer) wouldn’t hurt, either.