Does anyone here have one - preferably the cargo van. But if you have the rv version I need to know a few things about them.

What's been your experience with them - Fit and finish, engine repairs, cost of engine repairs, etc.

Looking to buy one when we return from overseas. Currently in Nairobi with the Dodge (in sig).

 

Look for the older models with the inline 6cyl Mercedes diesel!

 

Run from them as fast as you can.

 

Never saw one with a 6 cyl engine

 

I thought they were five cyclinder. They drive super. They get great mileage in the diesel version. I have seen good reports on durability. I have a friend with the dually version camper and he loves it. Gets 14 - 18 mpg, pending conditions. Can't beat that. The fit and finish depends on the company that does the conversion - - they are not all alike. Do your homework there.

Bob

 

We have two at work for delivery vehicles. They are 02 models that we bought new. They get great mileage 22ish mpg. Repairs are so so but we use them for delivery vehicles so they get beat on and driven by different drivers who shall we say might not drive the best or treat teh vehicle like their own. Between them we have had to replace a couple of injectors and a few other things but nothing that would scare me from buying them again. In fact when the time comes to purchase more or replace them I would buy them again for our purposes. They arent perfect but again nothing has scared me into thinking they are a pos. Now they have changed many things on them from what I have read over the years so my experience may not carry over to the newer models.

 

14 city isn't so good considering they have small engines. Now if you were to say 18 city and 22 highway - then it maybe worth it.

 

Of course you have to remember that these Sprinter RV conversions are heavy and if it's my wife packing the RV, the suspension is groaning!

 

Not sure what this is a sign of, but the Dodge dealer here says the Sprinters have basically kept their service department alive in tough times - they get LOTS of them. But then, as pointed out, they're usually driven in town as delivery vehicles by drivers intent on a schedule and not so intent on taking care of them...
I do know Airstream bought a ton of them, as did Fleetwood, and has been selling conversions with them as the platform...and I visited the western Sportsmobile (4WD and interior convertor) facility who had a lot in different stages of conversion by people who thought they were great. (one guy had the whole interior Line-X'd after having an interior for surfing put in - didn't want rust anywhere)

 

I know RV Magazine did an article on the Class C version about 2 years ago or so. Really good review, too. Test driven up the California 101 and back, and other than it being slightly underpowered on some of the hills they did average about 14 MPG.

They might have that article online ....




Kris

 

I don't think we are considering I said this was in a heavy, dually motorhome conversion. And, the acceleration is quite amazing. If you are buying the bare van, it gets much better than that. My AC man has them and says with his guys driving them hard, they are averaging over 16 loaded down with all kinds of goodies and that is ALL city. Try 18 on the road with a Ford or Chev conversion motorhome style van and see what you get. Hey, I get 12 on my rig at 24,000 pounds, but that is a Cummins.

Bob

 

They can't exceed the GVWR of 9500-lbs.

 

Very true....but my DW can All I'm saying is that you load up a Sprinter/Mercedes/Freightliner van to 9500lbs and we know from these forums that people will ignore manufacturer's GVWR stickers once the clothes and pots & pans start moving into an RV or tools & equipment on a worktruck. 14-18mpg from a 2.7-3.0 (depends on year) liter 5 cyl is better than a gas engine.

 

The flex fueler in sig towing the Airstream gets 15 mpg. Empty 22. I just thought a Sprinter might be a better choice.

 

I'm told by a PM the V6 engine was better than the I5 which had a tendency to throw rods. Anyone else have this problem?