Topic: Sprinter 4x4

[Great_Big_Abyss]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2_taXSkiiY

I LOVE this van.  4x4.  Diesel.  Van.  You can fit 5 people, and have a MASSIVE cargo area.  It can tow 5000lbs.  It's low on creature comforts, but I don't really care.  If the wife would have it (and if I had the scratch), I would totally rock one of these as a replacement to the Grand Caravan.  It would make a great camping vehicle, too!!!

$60K US, though.  Gotta pay to play, I guess.

[Fobroader]

It is the best minivan out there.

[rrocket]

It is the best minivan out there.

My boss had one of these Sprinter that was made into an RV. I forget the brand, but it was nice!

Said he used to get 20+ MPG with it.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

It is the best minivan out there.

My boss had one of these Sprinter that was made into an RV. I forget the brand, but it was nice!

Said he used to get 20+ MPG with it.

Yeah, my parents have a Class C that is built on a RWD Sprinter 3500 chassis.  It's nice, but really, really big.  I'm thinking of this more as a normal van to be used as a daily driver, as well as a weekend adventure vehicle. 

I built one on the MB Canada website, and it came to $67 820 + freight/taxes for a Sprinter 4x4 with the standard height roof, leatherette seating, heated front seats, comfort seat package (nicer front seats?!?) rear heating package (additional heat exchanger/added insulation), convenience Package (upgraded infotainment, steering wheel controls, upgraded dashboard), Passenger Comfort Package (more armrests, better lighting, etc.).

The draw to this thing is that you have a HUGE cargo area behind the 3 rear seats.  And it tows 5500lbs.  So, if you wanted to tow a camper and stay close to the beaten track, you can take the family and do so.  Then, the next weekend, if you wanted to go FAR off the beaten track and actually use its 4x4 capabilities, you could fill the back with all your tenting gear, still fit the whole family, and go places where a normal van wouldn't take you. 

[rrocket]

It is the best minivan out there.

My boss had one of these Sprinter that was made into an RV. I forget the brand, but it was nice!

Said he used to get 20+ MPG with it.

Yeah, my parents have a Class C that is built on a RWD Sprinter 3500 chassis.  It's nice, but really, really big.  I'm thinking of this more as a normal van to be used as a daily driver, as well as a weekend adventure vehicle. 

I built one on the MB Canada website, and it came to $67 820 + freight/taxes for a Sprinter 4x4 with the standard height roof, leatherette seating, heated front seats, comfort seat package (nicer front seats?!?) rear heating package (additional heat exchanger/added insulation), convenience Package (upgraded infotainment, steering wheel controls, upgraded dashboard), Passenger Comfort Package (more armrests, better lighting, etc.).

The draw to this thing is that you have a HUGE cargo area behind the 3 rear seats.  And it tows 5500lbs.  So, if you wanted to tow a camper and stay close to the beaten track, you can take the family and do so.  Then, the next weekend, if you wanted to go FAR off the beaten track and actually use its 4x4 capabilities, you could fill the back with all your tenting gear, still fit the whole family, and go places where a normal van wouldn't take you.

I guess it really depends how far off the beaten path you go....

[Great_Big_Abyss]

It is the best minivan out there.

My boss had one of these Sprinter that was made into an RV. I forget the brand, but it was nice!

Said he used to get 20+ MPG with it.

Yeah, my parents have a Class C that is built on a RWD Sprinter 3500 chassis.  It's nice, but really, really big.  I'm thinking of this more as a normal van to be used as a daily driver, as well as a weekend adventure vehicle. 

I built one on the MB Canada website, and it came to $67 820 + freight/taxes for a Sprinter 4x4 with the standard height roof, leatherette seating, heated front seats, comfort seat package (nicer front seats?!?) rear heating package (additional heat exchanger/added insulation), convenience Package (upgraded infotainment, steering wheel controls, upgraded dashboard), Passenger Comfort Package (more armrests, better lighting, etc.).

The draw to this thing is that you have a HUGE cargo area behind the 3 rear seats.  And it tows 5500lbs.  So, if you wanted to tow a camper and stay close to the beaten track, you can take the family and do so.  Then, the next weekend, if you wanted to go FAR off the beaten track and actually use its 4x4 capabilities, you could fill the back with all your tenting gear, still fit the whole family, and go places where a normal van wouldn't take you.

I guess it really depends how far off the beaten path you go....

I doubt you'd be doing any rock crawling in this van, but I'm sure it would be more than capable of doing fire-roads and logging roads.  You know, places you wouldn't feel comfortable taking a FWD vehicle. 

[johngenx]

It's a very winter capable Sprinter.  Ski bums will buying these up once they're old.

[Gurgie]

I just built one... $70k for how I'd like it 

[Fobroader]

Crikey....$75k kited out how I like it 

[Fobroader]

I've seen lots of rust on the Sprinters. Is it a real issue or do the owners just not take care of them?


Sent from my BLA-L29 using Tapatalk

I've noticed that too but the vast majority of them are commercial vehicles so I wonder if it is just neglect or an actual issue.

[Ex-airbalancer]

I've seen lots of rust on the Sprinters. Is it a real issue or do the owners just not take care of them?


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I've noticed that too but the vast majority of them are commercial vehicles so I wonder if it is just neglect or an actual issue.

I think it more of an issue
A lot of rust at the back door hinges

[tpl]

Are the older ones built by Dodge a) cheaper and b) more prone to rust?       I think I saw a comment about the rust somewhere.

[ktm525]

They rust worse than a Mazda3 rear wheel wells. 

A better proposition is a used Chevy express 1500 AWD. With all the scratch saved (say like $60 k or so) you can customize any way you want. Plus I trust a Chevy 5.3L more than any FGV

[Fobroader]

They rust worse than a Mazda3 rear wheel wells. 

A better proposition is a used Chevy express 1500 AWD. With all the scratch saved (say like $60 k or so) you can customize any way you want. Plus I trust a Chevy 5.3L more than any FGV

I think that would be the safe and affordable option. 6" lift kit, some 35's and thats actually a pretty good offroader

[johngenx]

I know quite a few mountain bums that have bought old ones and turned them into campers, and it seems that if they rust, they REALLY rust, and if they don't, then you're good.  The percentage that rust is high, but for some odd reason, it seems possible to get one that is solid and stays that way.  Were the bodies made in more than one plant?  A smaller production in the "good" plant?  I have no clue.  Some guy Franz that worked only a few Tuesdays a month that was really good at the rust proofing?  That actually sounds plausible.

[EV-Light]

....or a Truck! You can buy a decently equipped one for $54k and save the rest to do whatever...


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[Blueprint]

It is the best minivan out there.

No, that would be the Odyssey, or Pacifica PHEV (open to debate). The Sprinter is a full-size van, heck it's a cargo truck in max length / height / dualie wheels.

All generations rust, their steel doesn't seem well-adapted to NA. I kinda like the new Ford Transit vans, sharp interior in passenger versions, and speedy with the EcoBoost V6. Rode in a shuttle Transit in Hawaii and I was impressed with the interior.

[Blueprint]

They rust worse than a Mazda3 rear wheel wells. 

A better proposition is a used Chevy express 1500 AWD. With all the scratch saved (say like $60 k or so) you can customize any way you want. Plus I trust a Chevy 5.3L more than any FGV

That (1500 AWD) was cancelled a few years ago due to lack of market interest. My Dad had a Safari awd with a similar suspension setup, thing was awful on the road, unlike the rwd version.

[ktm525]

They rust worse than a Mazda3 rear wheel wells. 

A better proposition is a used Chevy express 1500 AWD. With all the scratch saved (say like $60 k or so) you can customize any way you want. Plus I trust a Chevy 5.3L more than any FGV

That (1500 AWD) was cancelled a few years ago due to lack of market interest. My Dad had a Safari awd with a similar suspension setup, thing was awful on the road, unlike the rwd version.

Yeah they were dropped. I would only buy used. There are oodles out there for cheap. Safari's were awful. The full sizer is much better. More road hugging weight.