2015 Work Vans - What happened to AWD/4x4?

Working on launching a new business here hopefully this summer, and having a tough time figuring out what I'll do for a vehicle. I thought a van would be perfect, since I'll want my stuff covered up (electronics), and want the organization capabilities and storage height of a cargo van. I saw the new Chevy City Express (same as the new little Nissan from what I hear) at the dealer yesterday and love the size and fuel economy, and I also dig the Ford Transit Connect for the same reasons. Super practical, BUT all of the new mini cargo vans are FWD. So, I thought maybe it'd be worth checking into the full size work vans from Ford and GM. Seems that the new Ford Transit lacks the 4x4 they used to offer in the E-Series vans, and the GM vans don't offer the AWD they used to. The Merc Sprinter/Ram ProMaster look about perfect (esp with the diesel), but they also lack the 4x4/AWD capability I seek.

So what happened? Is something around the corner that I haven't heard about? Am I just missing something on the websites? I'd be happy to go used, but DAYUM people want a fortune for used vans and work trucks, even with like 200,000 miles on them. It's to the point that I might as well go new...IF they had the drive system I wanted. And yes, I'm pretty sure I'll NEED AWD/4x4 around here. Heard of too many contractors getting stuck around here to want to compromise.

Where's my [insert obligatory, imaginary TGR Cargo sport wagon with a diesel, AWD, and a stick here]?!

http://www.outerbanks.craigslist.org...929542792.html

Sprinter is AWD next year.

Hot tub repair?

2015 Sprinter w/4x4 can be yours for the low low price of $45K

^^^
Where is that $45K Sprinter

The 4X4 van has been the unobtanium of mountain contractors for years. The Express AWD are pretty good but only a 1/2 ton which is really not enough for plumbers and sparkys. I'd be rolling a transit connect if it was AWD. If you want factory 4X4, a chasis cab with a stand up height work body is the best route if you need to be able to work inside. If not just get a topper with reach-in tool boxes and a sliding bed if needed. Check your insurance as not all companies consider your tools locked in a topper or tool box "inside a locked vehicle".

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Originally Posted by 4matic

Sprinter is AWD next year.

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Sweet! Just looked it up. Car and Driver said it's pretty much going to be the only option out there if you want a factory van that powers all four wheels.

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Originally Posted by North

2015 Sprinter w/4x4 can be yours for the low low price of $45K

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Pricey, but a new GMC van w/ a diesel STARTS at $42,495 and that's a stripped down model with RWD only. Plus, the Sprinter should get pretty decent mpg! The current models get exceptional mileage, but I'm sure the 4x4 and it's associated 4" lift will make it take a small hit. Worth it.

Would be awesome if Ford, GM, and Nissan take a hint and start trying to compete. With the Sprinter being the only option, I bet we're going to start seeing a ton of them around here. Can you say "ultimate ski bum vehicle"?!

Looks like production is already limited, '15 orders being pushed to '16, etc. So a more accurate statement may have been:

2015 Sprinter w/4x4 can be yours for the low low price of $45K....in 2016 or beyond.

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Originally Posted by North

Looks like production is already limited, '15 orders being pushed to '16, etc. So a more accurate statement may have been:

2015 Sprinter w/4x4 can be yours for the low low price of $45K....in 2016 or beyond.

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Doh! What's even weirder is that a related article I just read said that due to the "Chicken Tax" the US imposes, Mercedes ships them fully assembled, but then once they get to the outgoing port, they disassemble them almost entirely, and then reassemble them when they get stateside. Adds like 8% to the cost, but saves almost 25% due to the absurd tax. What the heck?
http://autoweek.com/article/car-news...nd-chicken-tax

Yup, chicken tax is absurd. BTW Merc is supposedly going to have actual mfg of the Sprinter in NA eventually.

Ford Transit had a similar issue, came assembled from Turkey and then did the disassembly/reassembly thing. I think that's why you can't get windows in the back with them.

As for it all drying up, they're all car-based 'vans' in the name of fuel economy.

Sportmobile west had a 4x4 option ready to go 6 years ago. They also had the only 4x4 mercedes sprinter in the states. Merc said NIEN to the sports mobile conversion. If the awd has the same looking transfer case and front end it is pretty rad/weird looking.

Fwiw Chevy and ford never offered factory 4x4. The rigs you see tooling around are aftermarket conversions from quigley and advanced in SLC for the most part.

I have an awd 1500 express (just ceased production) and it is decently capable but as mentioned not a heavy hauler.

I'm sure the aftermarket co's are working on designs for the new city vans so there should be that option too at some point.

A plumber friend of mine just build a sweet service truck. It's a 1 ton gasser ford van chasis with a customer cutaway full height work body. It was then converted to 4X4 by I think Advanced and uses mostly 1 ton truck parts available in the aftermarket (A Quiqley/Sportsmobile weakness). It set him back some $$ but is the most functional work vehicle I've seen

My SIL drives for a courier company in northern BC, and she's on her second Sprinter. Only RWD, but she doesn't have any problems in the snow.

The Sprinter doesn't have a block heater either. It just starts up by itself when it gets cold and idles until it warms up, then shuts itself off. It's cold outside, Hal.

Probably more beat up than you want, but the sled tour companies in town are always selling them here, I've seen Quigley conversions here for ~$4K. They get used for wildlife tour companies all the time. The sled guys trade them out frequently. Ridden hard, put out wet though.

Not sure what your 4wd requirements are but I just got a ram promaster and with the stock tires handles surprisingly very good in the snow.

With legit snow tires it will be fantastic.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...in_in_2011.jpg

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Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

A plumber friend of mine just build a sweet service truck. It's a 1 ton gasser ford van chasis with a customer cutaway full height work body. It was then converted to 4X4 by I think Advanced and uses mostly 1 ton truck parts available in the aftermarket (A Quiqley/Sportsmobile weakness). It set him back some $$ but is the most functional work vehicle I've seen

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Actually incorrect on sport mobile -they have full military wrap parts and are twice as bomber as advanced and I think quigly is upgrading-Ride in a 100% sports mobile 4x4 with the dyna track and that monstrous transfer case-then again they are for serious 4 wheeling and not work.

$12K.....PM me

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QnMcN6aWje...0003_large.jpg

Is that door custom?

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Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

Is that door custom?

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oh it's custom


here's the custom interior...



http://blog.paradizo.com/wp-content/...40px_409px.jpg

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Originally Posted by booner

$12K.....PM me

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QnMcN6aWje...0003_large.jpg

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Originally Posted by booner

oh it's custom


here's the custom interior...



http://blog.paradizo.com/wp-content/...40px_409px.jpg

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Haha. That's pretty awesome. Reminds me of this:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/311...m-will-ferrell

Anyhoo, the more I look into the work van thing, the more I think it might be worth holding out for the Sprinter 4x4. I checked out the Quigley conversions, and they would definitely do the trick, but when you take the cost of the vehicle plus the conversion, you're quickly getting into the price range of the Merc. Now throw in a diesel, and you're into the 50K+ range with the GMC/Chevy vans. Might as well go with the Mercedes at that point which has insane usable space and fantastic mileage for the size. Hopefully they get their Charleston, SC plant up and running soon so they won't be assembling the stupid things twice! In Germany at the airbases, I spent quite a bit of time with the Sprinter, and then our squadron picked up the Dodge branded version when they finally brought them here. I've always been impressed with them, and would love to have one for my "fleet" of 1. Unless GM, Ford, or Nissan comes up with a decent competitor first, that is. Doesn't sound likely.

In the meanwhile, I might try and make do with my current vehicle + a cheap trailer, if I can find a decent enclosed one. That should do the trick for a few months to a year...maybe.

What's the new business in Big Sky? I do IT contracting in the area, and one thing to think about is insurance for your vehicle, especially if you plan to work at the YC. I also do some work for a big oil company, so I need lots of insurance to cover me, and this is much cheaper on older vehicles. I use an old Nissan Maxima for 95% of my driving, but also have a Land Cruiser if the roads get bad. When I started up a couple years ago I looked into insuring my new F150 and it was very expensive, not too bad on a 96 maxima though...

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Originally Posted by Scrubadub

What's the new business in Big Sky? I do IT contracting in the area, and one thing to think about is insurance for your vehicle, especially if you plan to work at the YC. I also do some work for a big oil company, so I need lots of insurance to cover me, and this is much cheaper on older vehicles.

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Can't say what the business is quite yet. It's not a big deal, but being a small town where everybody knows everything, I want to keep it at least sorta hush hush until I get it up and running. I'll be happy to spam the forum here with my wares once I get started. I'd like to give you locals here a mag discount, and will definitely hook you all up on service just to get my portfolio built up quickly.

That's an excellent point about the insurance. I definitely will be doing Club work, and the insurance for my current vehicle won't be that bad since it's right over 10 years old, but it might be pretty nasty on the Merc. I had better check into that. Can't be breaking the bank on the new business right off the bat. Will I need to insure the trailer too? I'm assuming so.

Austin: Good luck with the new business !

If you go to the boise craigslist and type in "champion" to the search box you'll see all these 4x4 vans owned by the Federal Government.

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Originally Posted by Harry

Austin: Good luck with the new business !

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Thanks, vato. I'm still going to keep doing my current work as long as it's still available, but with the way the oil markets and drilling schedules have been, I'm trying to have a back up plan ready to launch almost the moment I inevitably lose my job. In this town it's a good thing I know how to turn a screwdriver, because it doesn't seem like having a degree is worth anything here from what I've experienced. Seen too many ads that say "[Insert degree here] and minimum 4 years experience required: $11-12/hour." Only make peanuts AND miss out on pow days? Umm, nope! I still don't plan on making a ton from my new business, but at least I can schedule appts for AFTER we get first tracks, and THAT'S what matter most. Well, that and keeping the lights on.

It sounds like you're already going the trailer route, but that's what I would have suggested, considering it's what I did.

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Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

If you go to the boise craigslist and type in "champion" to the search box you'll see all these 4x4 vans owned by the Federal Government.

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Hey! Thanks for the heads up! That may be the ticket. Just looked them up and they have excellent prices. The good thing about government vehicles is the maintenance is typically hyper scheduled. I had to do a a thorough walk around every time I drove our squadron van, and had to fill out this silly maintenance form like every day. The bad thing is that many of those vehicles rarely get driven over 30 miles/hour (if they're stuck on base). Still, I'd take my chances with one at those prices. Will definitely check into those guys again when it's go-time!

Or this? http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...utm_medium=cpm

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Originally Posted by riser3

Or this? http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...utm_medium=cpm

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Yup! After comparing all my options, I had actually decided to go that route. Now I'm just having to wait until I make enough money from the new business to have the loot for one. No matter how you pay for it, MB dealers want $10,000 down before they'll place an order.

If I were to get a new Ford or GM van plus the Quigly conversion, it quickly puts you up there in the price category of the Sprinter, which comes factory with 4WD and heck of a lot more work space inside to boot. I don't know about the 4WD versions, but the old 2WD ones get fantastic mpg for their size. Hope I can get the business to grow enough to justify one soon, as I'm quickly growing tired of working out the back of my SUV. A trailer's probably next as something to get me by in the meanwhile.

I researched the hell out of this when I decided to buy a new van and convert to a 4 season camping vehicle.

The awd sprinter isn't a Mercedes conversion per se. Think of it as a Mercedes-approved awd aftermarket. Quigley and Quadvan 4wd Transit conversions are Ford approved, can be serviced at Ford dealerships etc

Sprinter forums give you all the details but bottom line is that older versions had great drive trains but body rust issues, current ones have a good body but DPF system issues and a poor dealership support network compared to the ubiquitous Ford dealerships across NA.

Basic gasser Transits go for $29k; 4wd conversion adds $12k but is real 4wd with hi/lo transfer case and Ford Raptor parts. Interior dimensions etc similar to Sprinters.
I bought the turbo diesel Transit 250, up sized tires to 29.5 inch dia BFGs,and 3.55 Detroit true trac rear end. Getting 4wd conversion this summer. Big plus of any Transit is 6 spd trans, very reliable and shifts well.

Awd sprinter owners report 17-18 mpg. Diesel transit owners get 21-24 mpg with 2WD; I'll be one of the first to have diesel 4wd transit but guessing I'll get around 19. Heavy AT tires impact mpg but that's life.

I don't think there are any vans other than Transit and Sprinter worth considering.

https://www.tetongravity.com/images/...935__forum.jpg

Mine will be a moderate 4wd truck ie no addl lift, but since it's a Ford you can go for a true off-road system with ARB lockers front and rear, 4 inch lift, etc. It's basically an F150/raptor drivetrain so sky is the limit. Aftermarket aluminum bumper with winch, etc etc.

Mercedes helped create this unibody van market in U.S. but now Ford has swooped in and is outselling the Sprinter by 12:1 ratio last I heard. I see tons of transit wagons and cargo vans on the road these days. Saw none a year ago.

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Originally Posted by riser3

Or this? http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...utm_medium=cpm

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Roof-mounted A/C unit?

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Originally Posted by frorider

https://www.tetongravity.com/images/...935__forum.jpg

Mine will be a moderate 4wd truck ie no addl lift, but since it's a Ford you can go for a true off-road system with ARB lockers front and rear, 4 inch lift, etc. It's basically an F150/raptor drivetrain so sky is the limit. Aftermarket aluminum bumper with winch, etc etc.

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This is rad, and purposefully built. Nice work.