Ski RV's, who's sleeping in parking lots?

[Dantheman]

It went out a port where the propane water heater exhaust was previously. A van life friend suggested keeping the air intake inside. Better combustion and it's usually much warmer inside as it's backup for the wood stove while I'm up skiing.

Cold air is better for combustion air since it's denser and has more oxygen. Also, your exhaust air has to be replaced by something and if your intake is inside you'll be pulling in cold outside air from somewhere. But, it's not going to kill you or anything.

[Name Redacted]

I was like that before I could afford one so I feel your pain. With 50,000 flawless miles I wouldn't trade mine for anything.

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Just jinxed yourself with that humblebrag fella.

One of my work vans was at the dealer waiting on a backordered nOX sensor for months. Luckily, I wasn’t living in it like some people. Imagine an entire camping season gone because of a bad sensor on your $200k van.

Im happy with my setup. Reliable, and 1/3rd the price.

[frorider]

This is a 500+ page thread. I think we’ve covered most of the reasons why the Merc isn’t the smartest choice for a van. But that’s more from the logical (too narrow in the back) or mechanical (google it) perspective. Fastfred made an insightful post…the Sprinter may be the inferior choice from those perspectives but it pulls chicks better in the Whole Foods parking lot.

Despite the rust issues etc I have a soft spot for the gen 1 sprinters that have 300k miles. Legends.

[SchralphMacchio]

Heh I need to post a photo of the parking lot of the Sprinter service center in Eugene … biiiiiiiiig backlog of vehicles!

[Huskier]

He's just jealous that we get to spend $800 for an oil change and can't fit through the drive-through. Hater.


-Supposedly- the new 4 cyl turbo is relatively problem-free.

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[fastfred]

https://youtu.be/hfKOLJisA9o?si=eLeKzYC07-gGcD-O

I just park at whole foods to look cool only trash camps at Wal-Mart ballers do whole foods

Change my own oil 129 bucks all in

[Trackhead]

A friend has a sprinter and said it has a lot of gremlins. Are they really that nuanced? Or is it just Sprinter hate because, well, some of them are easy to hate.

[Hopeless Sinner]

A friend has a sprinter and said it has a lot of gremlins. Are they really that nuanced? Or is it just Sprinter hate because, well, some of them are easy to hate.

The Sprinter van/Winnebago Revel was the worst purchase of my life. It self defeats itself in 4wd, has numerous "safety" features that need to be turned off every time the ign is turned off, cruise control drops out if there is no traffic (WTF) and both winters I owned it the DEF system cost me $900 each year to get it fixed. Every oil change and maintenance item costs multiples of American branded trucks and vans.

[byates1]

^ 100%

[fastfred]

its a german luxury brand
yes it has some sucky shit to it
not sure where to start and end the conversation

all modern cars seem to suck one way or another these days

overthinking the sprinter is the first issue
getting it in and out 4 wheel drive is a pain in the ass

anyone can change the fluids it's a car

[Name Redacted]

all modern cars seem to suck one way or another these days

Yup. That's the point. But at least most modern cars aren't also built to be lived in and cost $200k+. That's the messed up thing.

Another funny story I heard: Dude, recently divorced, in his 50's, bought a Sprinter and drove down the Baja. Breaks down in some town middle of nowhere where it is difficult to find a mechanic to work on a Mercedes. Friends back home hadn't heard from him, started to worry, one guy goes down to check on him, knows roughly where he is. Turns out, he is just living it up a block from the beach in his broken down Sprinter that he got towed to a campground. Hookers come by daily, friendly ladies who bring their own blow, just chillin eating fish tacos and pink tacos. No worries, doesn't know when or if he will return to the US.

[Hopeless Sinner]

Yup. That's the point. But at least most modern cars aren't also built to be lived in and cost $200k+. That's the messed up thing.

Another funny story I heard: Dude, recently divorced, in his 50's, bought a Sprinter and drove down the Baja. Breaks down in some town middle of nowhere where it is difficult to find a mechanic to work on a Mercedes. Friends back home hadn't heard from him, started to worry, one guy goes down to check on him, knows roughly where he is. Turns out, he is just living it up a block from the beach in his broken down Sprinter that he got towed to a campground. Hookers come by daily, friendly ladies who bring their own blow, just chillin eating fish tacos and pink tacos. No worries, doesn't know when or if he will return to the US.

Just came to add to my post. I would never go to Baja with a Sprinter, having had the experience of being in a broke down truck in 1986. Thankfully I was stuck at Las Brisas campground in San Jose, waiting for Aero Manana to deliver my parts that my parents sourced in the US.

I've owned 5 or 6 BMW's so owning another German brand was nothing new, however MB really wants you to NOT hurt yourself but they fubared their own product in the process.

[beaterdit]

Hahaha that’s awesome.

All the big three modern full size Van platforms have their issues. For Sprinters I think the older ones were better, they’ve gotten worse with the DEF systems. Pro masters are full of gremlins from friends who have them. Newer Transits seem to have their woes with the big rear end recall debacle and electronic issues. The failed Transit Trail is just comical, I feel bad for anyone who bought one of those. Generally people seem able to live with them all though.

I wanted all the safety features so had to get the big screen on my Transit so I don’t have knobs for climate control and other systems. If the “Sync4” system ever goes out it’ll be big bucks I’m sure. Pre 2022? had the exhaust manifold issue, it’s like a $6k job. I haven’t experienced it but apparently the Transit AWD system likes to disable itself to avoid overheating in situations where you need it most off road. Using the right electronic drive mode and if you’re off road, better suspension damping seems to help.

I’ve only really had one electrical issue on my Transit so far but it was a two month battle with the dealer to get them to own it and by then I fixed it myself. It was just the factory digital rear view mirror. Service rep insisted it was an aftermarket unit they couldn’t service. Ford dealers are a crapshoot with knowing much about the Transit but at least the engine and driveline are common components. Still think its prolly better than the Merc dealer Sprinter experience but ya know, different strokes for different folks.

As far as paying $200k, or even $130k for camper Van, even though they seem to be everywhere, I still think those people are the minority. Building it yourself is still a chunk of change if buying brand new but not in that neighborhood.

[Hopeless Sinner]

Did I mention Sprinters range sucks? For those transiting or camping in NV, after the first trip or 2, we never skipped the chance to refuel.

[beaterdit]

Glad I got the 33 gal tank, Tall AWD Transit is pretty thirsty.

[El Chupacabra]

its a german luxury brand

Counterpoint: it's a delivery van.

... made by a company that also builds ridiculously overengineered, complicated, expensive, fragile cars.

[fastfred]

Did I mention Sprinters range sucks? For those transiting or camping in NV, after the first trip or 2, we never skipped the chance to refuel.

40 gallon tank
plus 10 rotpax tacked to the outside helps with the range

[easyrdr]

I had a sprinter van. There was always something wrong/something didn't work right. Finding a dealer willing to work on it was a pain in the ass. The Mercedes dealer by our house refused to work on sprinter vans, so service for us was a 3 hour trip south. It took 5 years but I finally convinced my wife to sell it. Best day of my life was watching it pull out of my driveway.

Fast forward to now, my wife says she misses the van and wants to get another one......fuck me.

[fastfred]

my buddy has the transit sometimes I'm jelous
he had the manifold issue took it to two dealers before the third would fix it under warrenty
he says why don't you do the other side that isn't cracked cause it's going to crack since it's made from the same shit metal

ford said no we can't do that unless you want to pay for it

I carry a few extra misc sensors around with me

it's like buying a starter cause your starter is starting to go out and throwing it in the truck bed for a year waiting
usually I just crawl under the truck and hit the starter with a hammer though

I've offroaded the living shit out of of my van finally scared the shit out of myself and pulled back cause I was really over doing it
numerous times I got her to donkey punch up on three wheels
scratched the piss out of it too on narrow ass 4x4 roads
lucky for me I have a good spotter and my partner is ok with me yelling and screaming as we try to back the big ass truck up and turn her around when we find ourselves way over our heads which happens way too much

scan tool misc overide obd moduals can help for insurance too got me a few

feel like I'm going to go DPF DEF delete and hack the whole system out at 100k miles
major after market suspension work

yes some people get the friday at 4pm build and that sucks
but I've seen a 2024 2500 diesel chevy turn into a brick

just bought a 2025 tacoma manual transmission waiting to find out what can go wrong with that

cars suck
but having lots of cars is fun

[fastfred]

I

Fast forward to now, my wife says she misses the van and wants to get another one......fuck me.

vans are like wet vaginas everyone wants one

time for happy hour

my favorite is finding the middle of nowhere desert
sitting around naked in the sun and drinking beers

[Hopeless Sinner]

40 gallon tank
plus 10 rotpax tacked to the outside helps with the range

This is how I fixed my range issues:

[m2711c]

https://youtu.be/hfKOLJisA9o?si=eLeKzYC07-gGcD-O

I just park at whole foods to look cool only trash camps at Wal-Mart ballers do whole foods

Change my own oil 129 bucks all in

self serve fer only $129.00 american??

such a deal!

[Huskier]

The Sprinter van/Winnebago Revel was the worst purchase of my life. It self defeats itself in 4wd, has numerous "safety" features that need to be turned off every time the ign is turned off, cruise control drops out if there is no traffic (WTF) and both winters I owned it the DEF system cost me $900 each year to get it fixed. Every oil change and maintenance item costs multiples of American branded trucks and vans.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. The Germans have this weird restrictive idea of "safety" (I.e you are an idiot that needs to be protected from yourself) and also at the same time can't be bothered to put together a functional emissions system. See the Bluetech class action, etc. Long history of acting in bad faith and owners end up holding the bag.

The cruise control is the most flabbergastingly, somehow both good and terrible at the same time system. Also if you are losing speed in cruise there is a non-zero chance it's actually your EGR valve stuck closed.

There are some dead horses that you just can't help but keep beating.

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[byates1]

self serve fer only $129.00 american??

such a deal!

Weird. I get a motorcraft filter and 6 qts of 5/30 for ~27$

[jackattack]

Every fucking rv is a compromise. As stated, none of the vans or campers are problem free. Choose one and be a dick about it.