W114 250 Camper conversion

[1971 250/8]

Installed both trunk lid and antenna.

TRUNK: Mounted & wired two LED bright lights.

ANTENNA: Height makes a huge difference obtaining digital signals depending on geography. The idea is to clear scrub brush and anything 18' or lower. Found a heavy duty telescopic pole designed for pool cleaners (ProTuff 16') and mounted a King Jack antenna to it. Pictured set up is about 11' off the ground (range is 11' - 19'). Antenna is removed from pole when not installed. Pole stores on chassis subframe when not installed. (This pole can also be used as a flag pole... and I'll be doing that from time to time!)

Also lined the water tank with bubblewrap. (Thanks CTH)

Next project is installing the rear doors and fiberglassing over the gaps.


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[1971 250/8]

In work bonding rear doors to the frame. This required removal of the rear door hinges since the gullwing gas struts apply constant upward force on the forward doors pushing them outward on the lower end by about 1/4". So that required realignment of the rear doors to set flush.

Rear doors were gutted and excess metal cut off to reduce weight (basically a skin).

Rear doors were riveted into place with brackets, and gaps were sealed with Liquid Nails Fuze-It. Then bondo was applied over the gaps and door handle holes.

At the same time the lengthwise horizontal chrome strip holes were filled in except four holes on each side for running light installation.

Pictures show current progress. Over the next week the bondo areas will be fiberglassed over and sanded.

To me, it's starting to resemble a light weight camper

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[1971 250/8]

Documenting rear door placement process..

Sanded filled gaps

Filled rear hollow door cavities with insulation / put foam board in window cavities

Covered window foam board with foil (to prevent epoxy resin from melting foam)

Applied 2 layers of fiberglass over window openings and gaps and pressed firmly into place using aluminum foil (pressing hard along edges)

Removed aluminum foil after epoxy cured

Surfaces require sanding and filler. I'll be using Bondo Glass to achieve a smooth surface, to be followed with thick primer

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[1971 250/8]

Added running lights and replaced old bulbs with LED bars. Sides are done; Rear three are red, forward two are amber (pictures don't show the true color, the LED lights themselves are red and amber along with colored lenses, but these pictures look like white LED lights behind colored lenses)

In work on tail light LED upgrade and adding a set of rear running/brake LED bars.

These running light additions came about after speaking with the CHP guy that will eventually do my trailer inspection. He advised having better-than-good lighting at night. Makes sense to be seen well, I've seen a lot of trailers (especially older ones) skimp on lighting and reduced visibility could be hazardous while trailering at night or in fog, rain. BE SEEN was his advice.



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[cth350]

you could run LEDs along the whole length of the old chrome belt line. Hook them up to a arduino or similar to make them a little marque that spells out something like the classic news zipper.

-CTH

[1971 250/8]

Instead of buying new weather seals for the tail lights I decided to give Flex-Seal a try. Sprayed on a heavy coat and let it cure. Turned out ok.

The bumper is three ply HDPE 4" tube (for fishing pole storage). There really isn't a requirement on trailer bumpers so this design adds to functionality as a camper. Bumper looks long... but its width equals maximum trailer width measured from door handle to door handle.

Also installed two brake/running lights on trunk lid to improve night time driving visibility.

Final two pictures are before and after.

In work finishing up trailer wiring.

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[1971 250/8]

Quick update: All wiring completed. Ran 7-pin adapter wires through PVC and bolted that to propeller shaft tunnel.

Winter work shutdown. Only thing left to do is body work and painting... when weather warms up next year.


Merry Christmas Benzers.
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[1971 250/8]

Hey guys this is my final update on this forum. No longer a Mercedes owner.

These pictures taken today. Camper will be painted by end of month. You can track final progress here:https://www.tundratalk.net/threads/my-diy-camper.771664/