Mercedes 811D Off Grid Motorhome

I can’t believe I’m doing this but I am selling ‘Hercules’ my Mercedes 811D motorhome. Through no fault of his own he’s just not getting used enough and he needs to be driven not sat on the drive waiting for the next adventure. I never thought I’d sell him, it’s been a very hard decision to make. I’ve written everything I can think of about him so be prepared for a long read !!

A bit of history. I bought him as a base van in January 2017. I never could find out who really owned him from new but I bought him from someone who had plans to convert him but never did. He said the van had been a camera surveillance vehicle for the police and then for a private security company. Hercules was full of electronics, a huge air conditioning unit and a fat controller chair in the back with blackened windows, so that made sense, and he had very low mileage for an old vehicle; 34,000km on the clock when I bought him. He was perfect for me as the older spec T2 Vario and with an engine that goes for miles and miles and miles as they say.

After a mechanical check over, service and MOT he was then sent to Off Grid Campers in Cambridgeshire for the professional interior build. I’d already put a lot of thought into this before my purchase. I knew I wanted a rustic style hippy van but with all the mod cons. Over the years Off Grid Campers have built some amazing vans with their excellent carpentry skills. The build is beautifully bespoke and was designed to give us the open plan living space we wanted to travel off grid.

The build was roughly as follows and I’ll probably forget something I’m sure –
Full insulation – floor, ceiling and walls
High quality ply lining
Sprayed mdf ceiling with wooden slats reminiscent of a Vardo gypsy style wagon
Beige carpet on walls where there are no wooden features
Light oak style Lino floor
2 roof sky lights each with a blackout blind and fly screen
500w power inverter
240v hook up
3 plug sockets 12v and 240v
LED ceiling lights with switch by side door
LED touch lights under cupboards and above bed
250w solar panel on roof and MPPT solar controller (room for another solar panel on roof)
2 agm leisure batteries
Propex Malaga water heater – gas or electric hot water options
Propex gas air heater and thermostat control – instant heat to keep you warm and toasty
Gaslow LPG gas bottle in a secure cabinet and with external filler point – fill it up at the petrol station and it lasts ages
Carbon monoxide detector 12v, fire extinguisher and fire blanket
Dometic fridge and freezer – same size as a household fridge
Large Thetford Triplex oven, 3 ring hob and grill
100 litre stainless steel underslung water tank with external filler point and tank level gauge in living area
A HUGE amount of cupboard and storage space and worktops
All woodwork is made from Douglas Fir planks upcycled from a hotel in Scotland
12v tv and dvd player on a hanging swivel hinge in bed area
2 usb charger points
Sink with hot and cold water mixer tap
40 litre waste water container, has to be manually emptied
Outside shower with hot and cold water, great for washing dogs and bikes as well as humans !!
Table with seating for 2 – table is removable
Homemade removable bed step / extra seat
Fixed double bed – with a Silentnight double mattress – super comfy
Thetford porta potti and also a Simploo compost toilet for longer off grid journeys
Loads of storage under the double bed accessible from both outside and inside
3rd and 4th person sleeping options – child in table area or adult in cab
No fancy sound system just the original radio and cassette player in cab
Handmade sari fabric curtains on windows – please note the 3 torans pictured are not included in the sale
Professionally made internal cab and windscreen silver insulation screens and handmade fabric magnetic cab screens
Homemade silver insulation screens for all rear windows
Sun shade awning – blue with white stars waterproof fabric attaches to an awning rail channel strip and two poles
Sunn Camp drive away awning and tent pegs
King Camp shower tent
EHU leads and numerous adapters for UK and abroad
Blue drinking water hose pipes to fill water tank
6 levelling ramps and 4 off road grip boards

Isolator switch for the 2 engine batteries
Immobiliser and 2 sets of keys
Spare tyre
Regularly serviced and mechanically maintained
Extremely low mileage – 62572 KM ( that’s just under only 38000 MILES !! )
2 new engine batteries February 2024
MOT till 27th February 2025
Oil and filter change February 2024
2024 – rear wheel arches replaced with galvanised steel arches
6 new tyres 2017
Please note he has been roller painted with Rustoleum combicolor by myself – he was white when I bought him, but he’s more than a white van to me and I like to be different so I painted him green !!

Hercules is registered as a Motor caravan and as colour ‘Green’ on V5 Log book, though MOT checker still says he is white.

Lots of paperwork and receipts and appliance instruction manuals.

C1 7.5 ton on driving licence required to drive Hercules.

Build plan could easily be changed to suit the new owner in many ways – room for an internal shower to be added, double seat could be put in cab for extra seat belt or seat added by side door for extra seat belt, or there’s even space for a small woodburner by the side door and the table seating could be changed into a sofa. Has existing solid metal brackets to add a motorbike rack on the back very easily, this was one of my future plans.
My hippy, bohemian style fabrics can be easily removed and changed if not to your liking 😊

Bad points – both rear door windows are cracked, it was my plan to replace them with windows that open but it’s not been done.
Sliding door does not open from the outside, but opens from inside, I think the handle has broken but I’ve not had it fixed, I’ve just thought of it as extra security.
Oil leak, but not excessive – has passed MOT with this as an advisory for last 3 years – I always check oil level before every journey and rarely have to top it up.
Glow plug light has been on since I bought him, never been an issue with starting even when winter camping
Areas where rust is bubbling around some door handles, bonnet and windows – he is 27 years old after all
Hercules has had dogs and a smoker on board in his travels, he’s had a very good clean but I can’t guarantee you won’t find a dog hair or two, sorry 😬
And basically, he has been used and very much loved since his build in 2017 so please don’t expect a ‘brand new’ van

He is not a high top van so be aware if you are over 5’7” you can’t stand fully upright inside unless stood under the living space skylight.
MWB – vehicle approximate measurements are 3m high, 2.10m wide and 6.15m length.

Please be aware Hercules is 27 years old !! He’s an old man but drives like a dream, super easy to drive, we cruise at 60mph on the motorway quite happily. He has a turbo so hills are no issue and no speed limiter is fitted, he is very capable of driving faster but I drive him with care and consideration as I want him to last for years and years.
I always say it’s not just about the destination it’s also about the journey.. which starts at the turn of the key in my book 😊

Hercules is ready to hit the road be it the UK, Europe, festivals, living in or exploring. He is fully kitted out for you to go now and be totally off grid. We have travelled north, east, south and west in the UK loving every moment, enjoying our home from home comfort, mainly off grid but sometimes campsites. Where ever we go we have been welcomed, and people always come up and say ‘wow I love your camper’ !! I painted Hercules green to blend in with the scenery off grid, but people still get drawn to us !! All in a friendly way, just wanting to know about him and amazed and surprised by the interior when they see it.
Hercules has bags of character that you won’t find in a new van.. he is different and he just makes you smile 😁

Sure I’ve forgotten something, message my mobile with any questions, SERIOUS enquiries please ring me 07876141078 (10am – 8pm only please due to my work commitments) if I don’t answer please leave a message and I’ll return your call.
Collection only
Full payment to be made by bank transfer only.