Sprinter Van Build : Flares | Windows | Vent

[@cryptoslacker-464]

VAN looks great with all the changes. Looking forward to the inside 😉

[@RianSpaulding]

Really impressed by this! I've never appreciated windows more than I do now.

[@shaunwilkens]

Ha! Thanks man! You know what they say “Windows are the eye to the soul.”

[@bradwhite741]

So much information from such a young man

[@shaunwilkens]

Who are you and why do you leave me such creepy comments?!

[@NewBeRVer]

That was daring, cutting holes in the side of the van. Idk if I’d have the balls to do it. Coming along nicely.

[@shaunwilkens]

Ha! Thanks. It gets easier each time

[@itsnotlevel2]

some people do a horrible job of review and presentation.....you did great dude!! Thank you for the Video!!

[@shaunwilkens]

Thanks For taking time to check it out Paul!

[@troyfreedom]

Just subscribed and really enjoy the effort you go into making an informative video. As a former Airstream mechanic, I really respect what you are doing. Cheers mate. I’m thinking about a van myself as a daily driver for my family of four as well as overnight camping.

[@jaesong9774]

Awesome video! You are too talented! I would’ve been frustrated after opening the boxes and call Lisa for help 😊

[@shaunwilkens]

Haha! Thanks Jae! To be fair, Lisa is pretty good at this stuff

[@rif6876]

Window tint: check out some high quality stuff from tap plastics (no affiliation and never used it), sounds like what you need. Auto film, privacy film, sun shade film, etc..

[@AR9ify]

rif you're stating it is high quality, but have never used it 😂🤷‍♂️

[@rif6876]

@@AR9ify Poor wording on my part, sorry. have used other of their products. have also bought window film and accessories, which were solid quality, but never got around to installing it.

[@JoshSfaks]

Awesome video my man! Looking forward to the van build series!

[@shaunwilkens]

Thanks Joshie! I appreciate you following along

[@wilkhe]

You make it look easy - felt like a 3 minute video - nice work!

[@shaunwilkens]

Thanks pops!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

I'm so sorry, Shaun, I forgot how awesome that your channel is! I'll make sure to not miss any more videos. I watch so many van related channels that I get confused.

[@shaunwilkens]

Thanks Mitchell. I kind of fell off the map for a couple of months but I’m trying to be more consistent with content.

[@blakeconner5359]

instablaster

[@edjustice7755]

Thx for sharing Shaun....so exciting for the build...great progress already! All the best.

[@shaunwilkens]

Thanks Ed! It’s been rewarding so far!

[@lorcro2000]

Dometic makes a series of windows like the ones on your van, the S7P, they're curved to fit a van wall. Also awning style and dual glaze acrylic.

[@shaunwilkens]

Good to know!

[@jesseparris6507]

Can't wait until Flairspace gets some competition. $1600, without paint (another $400 bucks), is steep for just the option of sleeping sideways. These things should cost $500 max each. It's fiberglass, you can make them yourself if you can make a post-rentable mold of each side.

[@dmytroriazanov5065]

I guess because its expensive because its fiberglass. Like surfboards or bikes. Its manual process with a lot of layers. You can do it yourself for sure but you wont safe that much. Check sprinter forum guy made it himself. It didn't look that pretty and he spent around 600? for one flare. Probably with some other technology like ABS plastic it could be cheaper...

[@jesseparris6507]

Dmytro Riazanov respectfully disagree: marine grade fiberglass and two part epoxy is not expensive relative to what Flairspace is charging. The process of making a proper mold for the left and right inserts would be time consuming but If done well could be used to make and sell to others or even be rented out as well. I’ve worked with fiberglass and it’s very easy as long as one follows the guidelines with the molds.

[@dmytroriazanov5065]

@@jesseparris6507 I'm not arguing. I'm just sharing what I saw people do and how much they spend. You might be right.

[@max4296]

Awesome vid and breakdown of the process and costs. Looking forward to insulation! -Max

[@shaunwilkens]

You bet Max! Thanks

[@lifefarout8856]

Nice work! Thanks, very helpful.

[@koningbolo4700]

wow, 2 grand for flare outs... I think I will start fabricating something myself... I will go for a removable option on one side (the sliding door moves to close to the body of my van to leave any practical flaring room (maybe 1 inch or so) and since the DMV in my country does not like vehicles which are not symmetrical left to right I would need to start moving light armatures and need to do an extra inspection (both of which are a major pain in the you know what) So my plan is to cut a hole, fit a door seal style rubber trim around the edge, make a panel which is curved like the panel of metal I cut out (basically two sheets of 1/8 inch plywood glued together in the shape I need, slightly exaggerated to compensate for any spring back) and a plywood collar which goes in between the van and the curved plywood panel when I like to use the full length bed. The collar should end me up with about 8 inches extra bed length. Obviously the plywood panel and collar will be fibre-glassed and painted over for durability...

[@stuffs6335]

Awesome! Please show detail on artic tern window installation. There are very few videos on KZbin. We don't mind longer vid. Detail explanations are useful for us. Thanks

[@shaunwilkens]

Thanks! I’ll try to get around to it but this video was very helpful for me: kzbin.info/www/bejne/majbY2ZseJifb5I

[@jasonfrade1117]

Super impressed by the progress so far. I love the fact that the window comes with the screen and blind built in. I’m curious about the process for cutting the holes out of the side of the van specifically what the reason was for all the blue tape before you cut it?

[@shaunwilkens]

Thanks man! Tape on the outside was to protect the door track and door stop. Tape on the inside was to give me a straight line to cut across the panel supports.

[@razor3003]

Hi Shaun, sorry I'm joining the party kind of late but do you still have the van?

[@shaunwilkens]

Nope, sold it after about year of owning it

[@陈大文-w8m]

Thx for sharing Shaun. Where to buy these awning style windows ? Do you have address link ? Many Thanks!

[@shaunwilkens]

You bet! www.ternoverland.com/arctic-tern-window I’ll add it to the description as well

[@陈大文-w8m]

@@shaunwilkens Thanks a lot.

[@itisconsulting]

Great job man!

[@shaunwilkens]

Thanks Bill!

[@alextran8585]

Thanks for the great video! how close were you cutting it with the arctic tern window on the sliding door and the flarespace?

[@shaunwilkens]

It was within a couple millimeters. The spacers I put in the sliding door track helped a lot

[@jacobbaynes2166]

Did you have any trouble fitting the Tern Overland window on the sliding door due to the flare? I have flares and am about to install a Tern Overland window and I’m concerned with it not fitting because of the flare. Thanks!

[@shaunwilkens]

I had an issue with the shade/curtain sticking out. Basically I had to make the frame in the sliding door window as thin as possible then I added washers to the sliding door track to have the door open slide open further away from the van

[@jacobbaynes2166]

Thanks. Did you make the frame under 1 inch thick? And where on the sliding track did you install washers?

[@shaunwilkens]

I believe so. Basically I made the frame as thin as possible while still leaving some width for the bezel to grab onto and suck down on. In the sprinter there are nuts inside the van that hold the sliding track on. I took all the bolts out and added nylon washers. I started with one thin washer towards the front of the van and increased the washers towards the back. I think the back was extended about 3/8th of an inch or so. The thing to keep in mind is that this will make your door a little harder to open/shut since it’s being pushed out as you open it. Not a big deal in my mind though.

[@imperfectadventure]

@@shaunwilkens would love to see more detail on this, I'm also planning the same plan with the flares and tern.

[@sheermindforce]

Nice editing

[@shaunwilkens]

Thanks buddy bud bud

[@AlexRodriguez-gw8xt]

Nice work! I’m curious about the switch from 158 to 140? I’m looking at doing a build and can’t decide between a newer 140 or the2006158 wheel base..

[@shaunwilkens]

Thanks man! I wanted a shorter van so I could maneuver a little better. The newer 144 vans are a couple of inches taller on the inside which makes it so I can actually stand up straight inside.

[@Trishpage312]

This is great!

[@shaunwilkens]

Thanks Trish!

[@gabakusa]

why don’t you buy an extended van ?

[@shaunwilkens]

Didn’t want one

[@mrsir8685]

Great work is there any insulation on the flares did you add any and did that effect the length thank you

[@shaunwilkens]

Thanks! I added some thin closed cell foam padding and it hasn’t really affected the length. You can check out my insulation video if you want to see it. I may do paneling in the flares which will cost me about 1/2 inch total.

[@mrsir8685]

@@shaunwilkens Thank you so much for replying kudos to you

[@SMITHYSKONTIKI]

Good video and great info only one thing for me your sat driving on the wrong side of the van and driving on the wrong side of the road lol

[@shaunwilkens]

Haha, I felt the same way when I lived in New Zealand. Just watch my vids in a mirror?

[@sinfullyblondie]

very nice job !!!but no spoilers hmm what a tease jk can't wait to see Your finished work

[@shaunwilkens]

Haha, thanks! I’m excited for it to be finished

[@sinfullyblondie]

@@shaunwilkens Big Smiles.. I bet You are and try not to leave us waiting to long cuz to much anticipation drives me nuts 😆😜 Have a Great Nite.

[@FBall-im8ui]

I bought a Canadian version of this light, forget the brand right no, but it is curved for teh sprinter , perfect fit, here in BC just North of you, sold by company in Lethbridge Alberta

[@shaunwilkens]

What is it called?

[@chefduane3742]

Are there any structural issue with cutting out the side panels for the flares? It looks like you also cut out some support beams. Does that cause any flexing issues with the body or roof?

[@shaunwilkens]

The holes that you cut out for the flares are the same as what would be cut out if you had the passenger version with windows. The “beams” were just there to cut down on noise and vibration (they were glued on the back to the sheet metal). The structural beams in the van are untouched. Hope that helps!

[@chefduane3742]

@@shaunwilkens Yes, it does. Thanks!

[@SebastianDaniec]

Hi Shaun, what size are those side windows? Great video!

[@shaunwilkens]

They are the 550x700 mm windows

[@Frankiez220]

Whatever are you expecting that you might have to make a quick exit from the window?

[@shaunwilkens]

My first van had a fire in the middle of the night when i was living in it! Guess that made me a little more cautious.

[@dehaanpainting9793]

What type of adhesive did you use or do they come with it?

[@shaunwilkens]

They came with the adhesive. At the time I believe it was Sikaflex 221

[@dmytroriazanov5065]

what is the distance between flares?

[@jamesgoodwin2450]

What are the flares made of?

[@shaunwilkens]

They’re fiberglass

[@lorcro2000]

Should have gotten a Transit, more length choices (and cheaper/better value for money).

[@shaunwilkens]

This van was exactly what I was looking for

[@zachzywiak3403]

Emergency exit lol

[@dubious6718]

Instead of putting in windows you could have bought a Sprinter Tourer

[@shaunwilkens]

But then I wouldn’t have insulated windows that are awning style. Also, I didn’t want the window to take up the entire panel

[@lakai2699]

Where are you???

[@brandonwhite772]

What’s next??

[@shaunwilkens]

Watch to the end of the video and you’ll see ;)

[@aberdeendeltaforce]

So overpriced those flares, much cheaper and better quality in Europe, literally half the price.

[@shaunwilkens]

What are some of the flare brands in Europe? (In case any Europeans stumble across this video/comment)

[@aberdeendeltaforce]

@@shaunwilkens Just in the UK there are Evo motion design space pods, A2B conversions, clear cut campers all under £600 for a pair.