You just don’t plug in the Espar. It comes with a lot of wire and looms and little metal connectors for you to do your-self. The on/off control, the altitude compensator and the fuel pump all have to have multiple wires and none are just plug and heat. Only the main connection to the heater just plugs in – thank you very much and turn on the heat.

I have been a little intimidated by 4 or 5 pages of instructions in 5 different languages complete with electrical diagrams that look like hieroglyphics. But – and I saw that with hope in my voice, I shall “get ‘er done.” This week. Next week we are heading to the northern coast of California and if I don’t have a working heater my wife will be very . . . upset (ahem) – not to mention the dog who starts to shiver when you say the word “cold.”

Today I started the add the Espar into the space that used to be occupied by the Suburban heater. You have two choices of mounting, one using a mounting plate and cutting a hole about 5×3 in the floor or just using a rubber grommet and drilling 7 holes. I tried the drilling but if you have a SMB Sprinter that won’t work.

The floor is too thick and you will need to cut a oval circle in the shape of the rubber grommet. I went ahead and cut the hole and will finish up tomorrow and post pictures here.

I still think it is cool being able to just plug my drill and saw into an outlet on the Sprinter and not worry about extensions cords. I should do the work at the park instead of my driveway!

Today I switched the standard emergency brake with the folding one. Why this isn’t standard on any Sprinter that is going to have swivel seats, I don’t know.

It took 15 minutes or less. I needed a 16mm socket and wrench, a small block of wood and a rubber mallet. The wood and mallet were to get the front cover of the emergency brake off. The rear cover comes off easily. After that it is unplug 2 wires, remove the 2 bolts that hold the brake in place and pop loose the pin that holds the emergency brake cable.

Now to set the brake I pull up on it like normal and then just push the handle down. The handle is out of the way for swiveling the driver’s seat. To release the brake I just pull it up until I hear it engage and push the black release button.

Those Sprinter owners who have a swivel seat know that it doesn’t swivel when the emergency brake is set. Or you have to swivel the seat first and then try to set the brake.

I am not a big emergency brake user myself. In my old Eurovan every time you set the brake it would tighten (adjust) the rear brakes. So I would set it only every month or so to reduce the wear on always tight brakes. Right or wrong – I don’t know.  Just seemed like a good idea.

So back to the Sprinter. For my adjustable idle control to work, the emergency brake (eb) needs to be engaged. Since I use the adjustable idle control while camping, most often I have the seat swiveled. The cover of the brake looks like a scarred Spartan warrior.

Enter the folding eb! This is spected on some newer RVs now and it is easy to retrofit. I called the parts department (Jeff) at my dealer (Rocklin MB) and it took about 5 minutes to order, shipped to my home. Part number -  Part # 906-420-03-12. It should cost you $133 or less and takes 5 days from Germany. It is a returnable part if for some reason you don’t like it.

This afternoon I pulled the Suburban heater out of the Sprinter. It took a couple of hours with the only tool used being a screw driver. In its place, under the gaucho will be a storage cabinet big enough to at least hold a couple of pillows. They must be the hardest thing to store out of site in a B.

While I was removing it I noticed a metal bar from the gaucho has been rubbing against the water tank – enough to build up some plastic dust. I’ll be at Sportsmobile in a couple of weeks to fix the gray water tank and I’ll let them look and tell me if it is normal or not.

I have the chrome inlet/outlet for the heater still on the side of the bus. Wish I could think of some creative way to cover the holes. Any ideas?