Whoops, We Got Stuck - Can a Big Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 Van Tackle a Narrow Mountain Trail?
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- Опубликовано: 22 апр 2020
- (www.transwest.com/frederick) This Summit Adventure Vans Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 RV is only available at Transwest.
(Truck podcast! tfltruck.libsyn.com ) Whoops, We Got Really Stuck- Can a Big Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 Van Tackle a Narrow Mountain Trail?
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I’ve always wanted to know how these vans handle off road! Thank you!
Most of what he did could be done in a 2 wheel drive and a decent driver
@@jimmelvin5556 , yea but he did it in an rv. So that in it's self is cool, and most wouldn't dare to get a class b or c offroad.
Could battery merge make it so that the mercedes battery is dead and then a person is stranded
I’ve taken my 4x4 Sprinter ‘off-road’, but they are NOT Jeeps. The 4x4 is closer to being AWD.
Buy the low roof 4x4 the high roof will flex too much on rough rut roads you probably end up cracking your windshield due to top heavy, that's what I was told.
Where did the "Really stuck" happen? I skipped threw a 2nd time and never saw it....
You guys should do a comparison video of the AWD Transit vs the 4X4 Sprinter off road and MPG etc.
I couldn't find the part where you got stuck
Yeah. Me neither
I suppose it was where he made the U turn.
1) The headline got you to watch, 2) This is an infomercial for Summit Adventure Vans, 3) I wish TFL would be more straightforward in what they are actually doing
Good video. I would love to see a comparison video of a Quigley 4x4 vs Sprinter 4x4 vs Transit 4x4. Offroad capabilities, driving experience , interior etc. Basically a shoot out.
I have 2004 Chevy Express AWD no low range . 5.3 engine with 4 speed auto. 32.5" Wild Peak AT3, 3"lift exhaust and intake mods. Upgraded brakes and rotors. Roof rack, Fow Wing 270 awning, diy solar shower. Bilesten shocks.
I use it for work hauling my dirt bike to the tracks and have a build out for bed and kitchen when we overland to Colorado from Maryland. Last year's trip I was shocked at how well it did climbing California Gulch pass above Animas Forks out side of Silverstone.
200k on the clock and still going strong! Only downside is no low range on super step descents in the back country trails of Colorado. A little low on power at highway speeds climbing out of Denver on 70 west. She gets the job down tho!
Jimmy Augustine quigley Nissan NV is a real 4x4, truck frame so no unibody and big v8.
I'd really like to know what kind of dirt road grades you are able to do if you know any details...have an older Chevy Roadtrek and were scared to try some grades on our last trip for fear of getting stuck. Just as a comparison...
As an Amazon driver I have driven the 2019 sprinter in some very rough terrain and it is a dream to drive and very capable even with 2wd. Super fast shifts, plenty of power, great turning radius, and it handles way better than my GMC Sierra.
How about the acceleration and behavior on the freeway?
I drive a Sprinter 144 and the driving position (you see everything) is so good it’s hard to get back in a small vehicle
Andre I feel you on those seats. I test drove a Sprinter and felt proper knee support for the first time and almost bought it right there. I wish more vehicles offered premium seating as an option.
it's surprising that the company who outfitted the van made zero effort to protect vital parts undernearth the van
I would like to see a towing test between the Mercedes, Transit and the Promaster. Because of the low tow ratings on the top 3 vans I ordered a new 2021 E350 with the 7.3 economy calibration.
Vans are really not much use for towing,a big compressor maybe...
Mercedes & Promaster (and, unmentioned... the freightliner) are all the same; Really only 2 that exist in the "eurovan" segment these days are the ford & the dodge (among aforementioned other badges/names)
I'm right there with you. I needed about 8000 lbs towing but only a few times a year. The rest of the time I run relatively light. I would much prefer a Sprinter or Ford as they both drive much nicer and are more space efficient, easier to park, better economy, etc, but I had to go to a Nissan NV2500 with the 5.6 V8 to get enough towing (rated 9500 lbs but you don't want to actually tow that much). I average about 13 mpg if I baby it; 8 mpg or so towing 8000 lbs. I think the 2020 Transit 150 Ecoboost SWB/low roof is the next best tow rating at 7500 lbs, but their website doesn't make it easy to find the numbers. That might work for me if I pare down my tow, but by the time I'm ready to replace my current '16 Nissan I'm hoping there will be better options.
@@CrimeVid a lot of people with race cars and off roaders tow with vans. I plan to tow a modified Jeep and a Trailer.
Transmission is a Mercedes 7 speed that was first introduced in the early 2000’s.
Please do this same trail in a new AWD Ford Transit. Would love to know how that system does on roads like this.
Will do!
@@TFLtruck And a QuadVan or Quigley 4x4 Transit too please! From what I can find, the MB "4 Matic" is planetary-based, and only sends 30% torque to the front axle, which Ford says their AWD does 100% to either axle. QuadVan does optional lockers as well, not sure about Quigley.
I'm excited to see how well the AWD Transit does. I love the idea of a van that's more capable off-road, and I know plenty of people love their sprinters, but I've witnessed too many issues with Sprinters in urban areas with my employer's vans. It's not exactly something I'd feel comfortable being reliant on in the middle of nowhere.
@@TFLtruck Or do the same trail but actually show us the offroad footage instead of just making an infomercial with a misleading title...
Can’t go anywhere with the transit same ground clearance as the 2 wd . Super low i Drive one every day!!!
You know the old videos were great but the new videos are a real step up in production, keep them coming!
Thank you for the video! While I would never own anything like this Van, it is pretty cool, except for the digital tech.
Never watched an Andre video I didn’t like !
Greg navarra Andre has his own quirks and features. Feels like an uncle.
Yes he's very informative about all the details
What about Eric Andre?
Very cool van. I like how the seat can be moved to the back for the rear gunner position.
How you keep up the pace with releasing a steady stream of new videos is beyond me, but keep up the great work. Kudos to Andre for setting as great example and wearing his mask in public while filling up the van with diesel.
Thank you TFL for keeping the videos coming and keeping us entertained and getting us through this tuff time. God bless you guys stay safe
Proper armrest for the win!! One of the great things about some vans
So what did I learn in this video? Andre is 6.2" 🤣
Thanks Andre! This was quite enlightening! I live close to "outside van" so...They will be doing some limited aftermarket work on mine. Considering what it is, the fuel mileage is quite commendable. They are very expensive but ya get a quality product/experience.
Really cool van. The quality seems to be high end. Great review Andre!!
Such a detailed enjoyable video, thank you for focusing on the things that matter
Can ya'll do a review on the Revel? Would love to see your thoughts and comparisons between the two vans!
Getting rid of our Mercedes Limper was a very liberating day. Finding anyone who could or would work on it ranges from a nightmare to impossible. Waiting times for service and parts are awful. If you’re driving through Alaska and Canada, you’ll be facing a nightmare when (not if) your Limper acts up.
I love mine! 2019, bought it with 20 miles on it.. handles amazing and has plenty of get up for a large diesel van! Very comfortable on long trips and gets great gas mileage, I drove from San Francisco to Los angles off a single tank. Have not got a chance to go off road yet and won’t until I have time to go camping! I would absolutely recommend this van to anyone looking at purchasing a van for any reason. I rented every van out there and gave them a try and I’ve never found a van that is remotely comparable in my personal opinion. I use mine as a road vehicle for my electrical company, but the uses are honestly endless
I know its a commercial vehicle, but that interior looks like a 00s GM product
Haha, right? Thats actually a feature on all MB vans pretty much, the minivan they sell is the same way, very dated shell with some usb plugs and a screen slapped in.
Its a Dodge with a Mercedes price tag.
A commercial vehicle is for being robust not for design. If you want a design van then the V Class Marco Polo edition is it.
I've been in both. The Mercedes is better!
@@chefdan87 It's not a Dodge in any way whatsoever. It's a Mercedes, always has been.
Yes thank you! I've watched video after video on 4x4 Camper Vans, and you're the only one so far talking about it's off-road capabilities!
1:53 That fuel price made me cry.
Such a thorough review as always!
5:05 - It’s over 9000!!! (Insert dragon ball vegeta meme here)
It's important to understand that a vehicle's GVWR is not a measurement of how much a vehicle actually weighs. A vehicle's actual weight is the gross vehicle weight, or GVW. A vehicle's GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle plus any cargo and passengers, not to exceed the limit indicated.
The two numbers should not be confused -- the GVW of a vehicle is constantly changing, but the GVWR will always remain a constant because it is a limit.
A vehicle's GCWR is a specific weight determined by the manufacturer to be the maximum weight of a loaded tow vehicle AND its attached loaded trailer.
I thought the four low button was wheelie mode lol!
My point of entry to this channel was the 4x4 Nissan nv2500 article. Love me some vans.
Wow - THX for showing us how you get into a vehicle & sit down in the seat... Who would have thunk it so easy.
Great video! Very informative and quite well done! Thank you!!!!!! I also like your realistic mileage numbers. Often I see folks claiming 19, 20+ MPG for their Sprinters. My mileage is more in line with your number of 15.5 MPG. I haven't seen 20 MOG Since I was driving my 4 cylinder 2-wheel drive Sprinter. With the the 6 cylinder 4X4, 15.5 MPG is more like it. With diesel costing $5.00+ a gallon now days (April 2022), I'm going to try reducing my highway driving speed from 70-75 to 60 or so to see how much fuel economy improves. Nowdays, fuel economy counts more than in days of long ago. What a difference a year and a half makes! Thanks again!
Did you notice a difference in mpg since changing your driving habits?
@@tomfagro6744 Thank you for your question! Yes, my mileage has improved driving a bit slower. Also, drafting helps. With the active cruise control, I can easily stay a safe distance behind a large truck and MPG benefits by a couple of mile per gallon. Only trouble is, most large trucks go a bit slower than one would normally travel in a sprinter van. I must say, however, even driving a bit slower and drafting when possible, my average MPG is nowhere near 20 MPG some Sprinter owners say they get. By the way, diesel is up to $5.69 a gallon here in Miami, June 2022. I remember paying $2.39, which I thought was a high price back in very early 2021. Diesel has increased 138% in this very short period of time, the price of diesel is way more than double what it was in January 2021, so every mile per gallon really counts these days.
Andre, Nice comprehensive look at the Summit Van and the Sprinter 4 x 4. Interesting that you found the new Mercedes seats to be so comfortable. I have a Winnebago View on a 2015 chassis. I’ve done some suspension upgrades as I’m running much closer to maximum GVWR. Not that I often push the mileage limits on any given day, but one day I put in 564 miles and didn’t have a sore back or butt! I’m sure the van you tested could be improved with the addition of Sumo Springs to control body roll. On my class C, I did Sumos on the front and Helwig replacement rear stabilizer bar. It’s not quite a minivan, but the handling is pretty predictable!
I want to buy this and live down by the river so I can finally become an inspirational speaker
Motivational
Pretty easy to get confused with that transmission shifter, looks like a windshield wiper controller.
You probably would only make that mistake once. 😂 I have an ML350. Same thing. Never had an issue.
Never had that issue on our 2019 GLC
I have a Revel which is similar. You get used to it, but yeah I’d prefer the shifter on the dash.
I liked the vid but I watched it because of the title. I don’t like being misled.
Ok its nice to have nicknack things pointed out that are seemingly obvious, BUT... It woulda been nice to see the awning in action, also the hose in the back that gets white water; Is that plumbed into the webasto, so I could give my self a hot shower?
Since it's an RV there's no lemon law protection either....
lolwat, rvs have no lemon law? is it cause they all leak like motherfuckers?
@@0xsergy pretty much.... check out Steve Lehto here on the RUclips he's a lemon law specialist
A red diesel fuel cap? Interesting, usually they are only green
The Red cap is a MB thing for pay attention dumbass! EG: In Canada, pump Diesel filler handles are Yellow and Green is for Ethanol with gas being Black or Red (Premium). In Europe, Diesel filler handles are either Black or Yellow with gas being Green. So, there is no real standard and varies from country to country.
@Dirty Harry He’s not calling him a dumbass, he is saying that Mercedes-Benz is using the bright red color for the cap so that some dumbass won’t accidentally fill it up wit the wrong fuel.
@@Rosteius thank you for that interesting information. I had not considered it being from a European manufacturer, I'm used to the American green ones.
A few points:
"Mid level" trim van with 7" MBUX, factory seat swivels( the best) and basic instrument cluster.
Option the LED's, larger 10" MBUX and upgraded colour instrument cluster, fog lights, electronic parking brake to free up more space, 360 deg camera for tight parking and offroading.
The lion energy batteries are very mediocre in the Lifep04 battery market, its a shame they used them.
Terrawagen makes a great mudflap relocation kit that increases clearance for 275/70/17's
Toss on a lift kit from Agile Offroad or VanCompass and you'll have even better ground clearance. Both also make skidplates, winch bumpers and tire carriers.
The reason most van builders don't use the Transit chassis is because it's very difficult to upfit compared to the Sprinter. Transit has a very odd shaped roofline and very deep unnecessary wells/bracing. If you want a proper 4x4 overland van you'll have to get one of the Sportsmobile Ford E series cab chassis vans that they make to look like an Econoline. Come 2021 they'll have a proper V8 !
I love your vids
Loved the mosquito screens . Nice video, like a little vacation.
They are deriguer in Australia
Nice van Andre...great video...is that column gear shifter.?.looks like turn signal lever maybe..🤔
Nice!!
Seems like a cool little rig. Could be a lot of fun.
Andre, you are a treasure. I love your videos. I know I'm gonna give it a like before I even watch it.
Hi, nice van. Where do you have the back door roller blind from? Could you send me a link where I can buy it?
What happened to the stuck footage? Many people see the "4x4" badge on the back, but don't realize the Sprinter can only send 33% of its torque to the front axle. Worse yet, the transfer case can't be locked, it's an open differential just like the front and rear axles. When you put it in a difficult situation, it will send power to the wheels with the least traction and it relies on the brakes to try and sort it out. So a Sprinter is only sort-of 4x4, until you need it most, then it sends power where you don't want it.
I think we would all like to see a comparison with the Transit AWD. It lacks a low range, but the 10-speed transmission gives it lower gearing than the Sprinter, and it has an intelligent center diff that can move power where needed. The Transit needs a lift, which Van Compass and Agile Offroad have addressed. Would love to see such a comparison.
Good Morning My Good Friends Of The Fast Lane Trucks & God Bless You & All Of You're Whole Families Today From You're Good Friend Timbo White
Timely! I’m Van shopping!
Now that we are house bound by can these be purchased for half off? Under $50k?
Can you all do a comparison between the Sprinter and the Transit. We see an awful lot of the Sprinter videos. I'd love for you all to show what an AWD Transit can do.
Why doesn’t anyone keep a pair of work gloves in their truck specifically to pump gas? Those handles... you may as well stand on the sidewalk offering passerby’s free rectal exams.
how is maneuverability of sprinter van vs f250? many thanks.
what is the brand of the removable seat on L track rail?
That got all "stopmotiony" at the end. It was quite comical.
Great vid. I was always wondering how these would handle on various terrains.
Would love to own that van. There's so many places I could go in Atlantic Canada alone let alone the rest of the country but a quite a bit out of my budget for now. But anyone can dream
This is not a lw base , is the 6 meter van , 7 meter van got lwb . 20 mls per gallon on the Highway easy.
The 4 zylinder with 164 hp is much more efficient , and you can give him a upgrade to 245 hp and the mileage is still amazing
my Sprinter takes around 8.5 Liter ( ca 2.5 gall ) on 64 miles , even on a fresh ride not over 3 gallons ( 90 -100 mls/ h )
on German Highway of course ....😎 nice Vid !
cool van
nice set up also use it as normal van with the beds folded up very handy
Saw this exact truck in St.Louis MO today!
I don't understand this fascination with push button start and electric gear selection.
Keys and mechanical shifters work. When you are really into the back country reliability is much more valuable than fancy gagets.
There’s no proof that push button start & electronic transfer cases are any less reliable than traditional setups, so your point has no merit.
I personally like it.
@@krasnaludek298 everyone i know with electronic transfer cases i've known has had problems with them at some point. half of them don't even work after the first 10 years of ownership and become a money pit to fix. never owned one myself but uh, i'll take a direct linkage thanks. direct linkages can fail too, for sure, but the advantage is that when they do you can get under the car, move the lever manually, and get yourself home. if the button fails i don't think you're actuating an electric motor inside of the transfercase manually. I'm preaching though cause my current car has a push button and auto unlocks when I get close and I really like that even though it's just another thing to go wrong.
Real good reporting, as always, but I have to ask, how are things like this selling these days?
These Sprinter 4x4s are decent if you live or travel in areas that get snow. Their wheelbase is like a crew cab full-size, as stated in the video, but they’re brutally top-heavy; making them worthless on trails beyond a simple & relatively light fire route.
I prefer the Ford Transit builds I’ve seen - slightly smaller scale & without the added top heaviness.
Limited 4x4 abilities but enough to cope with rough roads and snow
When are you guys going to compare the 4x4 sprinter to the new 2020 all wheel drive Ford Transit?
Everyone loves those touch pads on the new Mercedes. I like Mercedes but I’d like to point out that blackberry was using those exact same touch pads 10 years ago.
just watched a vid about van life, they ran out battery after a few days of rain. That merge switch is more than a good idea,
I have a similar 2020 Winnebago Revel (also bought from Transwest). Winnebago build quality is subpar but it’s still awesome 😁😁😁
10:52 Hey Andre, that's airplane type adjustable seat track.
My 2 years old white sprinter 4x4 crew van start showing rust spot on body panel , when they can fix this? That why I only lease it not buying.
Try spraying anti-rust paint on it. Cheap and (usually) effective.
Can you explain the doorjam sticker saying that the vehicle is only meant for 2 seat belts but it having more seats
Nice
LED headlights need to be standard equipment at this price point.
They are on the 2020 Revel.
Costco Puma socks - I see you :) Have some myself
Those beautiful gas prices at 1:52 wow
I have a sprinter van the emergency brake is not that complicated calm down
The dash probably isn't a good place to put those cupholders. A serious rear end collision could cause it to fly at your face if the airbag doesn't stop it.
CJ Osman no air bag right there
I have an all wheel drive Chevy Astro that could have got out
" We got really stuck" where was that,..when you did a 180 on the trail, was that at about the 16:20 mark? Too bad we didn't see how you got out of that!
Really a great van for the purpose,.the MB Sprinter has always been on or in my wish list,...and Andre's video has whetted my appetite for more of this.
nice van as long the warranty is not over
I work for Mercedes-Benz FedEx puts DEF in their cooling all the time
hahaha Why does that NOT surprise me?
The other trick is putting DEF in your diesel filler { when they are next to each other}
Good for road hazards not four wheeling
Winnebago Revel has the perfect setup for this sprinter chassis
does 2wd sprinter also do this level of offroad?
A 28 minute advertisement for the RV company.
Love my 07 jeep wk 3.0 CRD
I would have liked to know what the Highway MPG was in that configuration.
As we showed, it was 15.5 mpg. Andre did a highway run home after filming and got 16.5 mpg.
Thanks
Where is the getting stuck part?
I’ve always wanted to see what these 4wd vans can do on trail.
nice one , awesome,, what is the exact Sprinter model ? cargo capacity or caracteristics ? thanks a lot 👍
No getting out if you live in Michigan.
hay andre, wranglerstar converted his ford van into a four wheel drive. i wish i was doing other vehicles and i would do the conversion that cody t wranglerstar .com did. check it out i think you truck guys might really like.
The only Mercedes I’d want.
Not enough info on the interior amenities of the van.
I don’t think I would like that gear selector. Looks fiddly and also flimsy.
It's not fiddly. All the way up for reverse and all the way down for drive. Press button for park. It's the best and easiest type of selector everyone should use it. It makes parking so quick because your hands remain there. Up reverse down drive up reverse down drive. You operate it with your finger. It's great. Flimsy.... Maybe. This new stalk Mercedes is using isn't as solid as their old version of the stalk which also looked nicer.
I'm a paramedic and I work for a company that has a fleet of these converted into ambulances. I've spent a lot of time driving and being inside these vans. Here's my take:
Pros: Interior is well laid-out with a surprising amount of space for it's size
Cons : We have a on-site mechanic that takes care of these and he says they constantly need to be worked on. Reliability is a real issue. Many in our fleet have had major repairs under 100k. The company is switching to Fords due to these issues. Turbo-Lag is really bad. It takes several seconds at full throttle to get any power. Center of gravity is very high with a narrow wheelbase makes body roll side-to-side very bad. Carrying any momentum into corners is nerve-racking. Driver has to go extremely slow in order to not throw everyone around in the back.
Overall: Everyone at work still prefers the Mercedes to the new Fords just because of the layout of the front cab is far superior (Fords are super cramped up front even though they're larger vehicles). Buyer beware, I would not want to spend my own money on one of these mostly due to the reliability issues.
This is narrow because it's made for narrower European streets. The reliability issue is strange. Mercedes vans are bulletproof. Is it diesel?
@@SDav21 Mercedes vans are far from bullt proof. I blew 2 vans up myself. Same deal, my company went all in on Mercedes and switched to Ford because they were so unbelievably unreliable.
@@BigMateo24 hard to believe. Were they petrol or diesel?
@@SDav21 I'd agree on the bulletproofing of Mercedes and being the best, but only up to around 20 years ago. Today they are sadly as bad as the worst. Spoken from 25 years Mercedes ownership.
@@BigMateo24 Here Ford does get a look in especially the Transit
Where’s Nathan been lately?
Mostly on TFL Car and TFL Now.