Coastline Vans Upgrade Day
Destination: Coastline Vans HQ, Santa Ana, CA
Upgrades: VanCompass Rally Struts (with the 4.3 kit) • S&B 47-gal fuel tank
Partners: DJ & the Coastline Vans crew • CampervanHQ
Range Gained: ≈ 600 mi between fill-ups
Rolling into Coastline Vans
I eased into Coastline’s lot just after sunrise, coffee in hand and 30 K miles of wanderlust on the odometer. DJ welcomed me with the kind of grin that signals a good day of wrench-turning ahead. Handing over the keys felt like dropping the van with family—these folks have dialed in more Sprinters than I can count.
VanCompass Rally Struts — the missing piece to my 4.3
The VanCompass 4.3 kit transformed the van last year—firmer stance, less body roll, real off-road confidence. But after countless mountain passes and washboard miles, I craved sharper control on fast gravel and steadier highway manners.
Road test: Tight, predictable steering through sweeping canyons and noticeably less fatigue after a 400-mile slog north on I-5. The 4.3 + Rally combo feels like the suspension Mercedes should have shipped from the factory.
S&B 47-Gallon Fuel Tank — real overland range
The factory 24.5 gal tank meant stopping every ~300 mi—fine for grocery runs, risky on a Baja detour. Swapping to S&B’s mid-ship 47 gal tank more than doubled capacity and boosts practical range to roughly 600 mi (at my usual 12–13 MPG):
Fewer fuel stops: One fill carries me from Walnut Creek to Moab.
Clean install: Bolts into the stock location—no hanging auxiliary tank.
Rock-proof shell: Cross-link polyethylene laughs at gravel roads and winter salt.
Accurate gauge: The dash reads true, so no mental math at 2 A.M. in the desert.
A quick chat with DJ — Coastline’s “why”
Between torque-wrench clicks, we filmed a short interview with DJ (full video linked above). Key takeaways:
Passion over profit: DJ started Coastline to help folks chase dirt-road horizons, not churn out cookie-cutter builds.
Full-service shop: Beyond custom builds, Coastline handles everything Sprinter—maintenance, suspension, electrical, Revel & Storyteller upgrades, you name it.
Community first: They truly care about the van community and ensure every customer is fully satisfied with the work they preform.
Huge thanks to the partners
Coastline Vans — DJ, your team’s craftsmanship (and coffee) never disappoints.
CampervanHQ — You sourced every part on a tight timeline.
VanCompass & S&B — Engineering that turns big dreams into bigger mileage.
Ready for the next horizon
Fresh suspension and a bottomless fuel tank mean the van’s truly expedition-ready. Utah slickrock, Pacific Northwest forests, or a sunrise shoot on the Oregon Coast—it’s all within a single tank.
Catch you down the road, and as always—
CAPTURING MY VIEW, INSPIRING YOUR JOURNEY.
— Zeke
