Dodge Sprinter: Van haulin'

Tooling around in Dodge's new Sprinter van, I couldn't help but think it has come 40 years too late. via Austin American-Statesman

[Kern]

Dodge screwed up by cancelling the Ram Van, which was popular. The Sprinter is narrow and too european, totally not a dodge product. Now the GM full size vans and Ford E-Series are the only good options.

[steve tilotta]

I replaced my Ram van with a Sprinter. While the outside of the Sprinter is narrower than the American made vans, the interior width is the same. The Sprinter has narrower walls & doors, but it is also double walled (which my Ram van had very little of. My van is set up for my carpentry/ handyman work & it beats Chevy & Ford by a long shot. I have more usable space in my 140" standard roof Sprinter, than Ford or Chevy has in their longest versions (extended), plus I installed my ladders inside (attached to the ceiling) & I still have more head room than a empty Ford or Chevy van (& this is with a 5" raised floor I installed). It was a no-brainer for me to choose this van over the competition. I felt I would be throwing my money away otherwise. The only other option I had was a box truck, but they only get 8 to 15 mpg & they cost a great deal more.
I have pictures of my van on Sprintervan in the photo section under "A Sprinter Carpenter Van".
Steve

Kern wrote:

Dodge screwed up by cancelling the Ram Van, which was popular. The Sprinter is narrow and too european, totally not a dodge product. Now the GM full size vans and Ford E-Series are the only good options.

[steve tilotta]

Oh I forgot,
One my favorite things about the Sprinter over the domestic vans, is that there is no interior engine cover to remove & that there is so much room in the engine compartment to work on the engine.
Steve

steve tilotta wrote:

I replaced my Ram van with a Sprinter. While the outside of the Sprinter is narrower than the American made vans, the interior width is the same. The Sprinter has narrower walls & doors, but it is also double walled (which my Ram van had very little of. My van is set up for my carpentry/ handyman work & it beats Chevy & Ford by a long shot. I have more usable space in my 140" standard roof Sprinter, than Ford or Chevy has in their longest versions (extended), plus I installed my ladders inside (attached to the ceiling) & I still have more head room than a empty Ford or Chevy van (& this is with a 5" raised floor I installed). It was a no-brainer for me to choose this van over the competition. I felt I would be throwing my money away otherwise. The only other option I had was a box truck, but they only get 8 to 15 mpg & they cost a great deal more.
I have pictures of my van on Sprintervan in the photo section under "A Sprinter Carpenter Van".
Steve
<quoted text>

[cameraman288]

why do you think a van is bad because its "too european"?? the sprinter vans are gorgeous and fuel efficient, as well as practical.

[steve tilotta]

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to call a Sprinter "gorgeous". When my wife first came to the dealership to see what I was buying, her comments were: "You want to buy that thing?"
People stare quite often at my vehicle & not one person has ever complemented it's looks. But, most people can see the advantages of this van over the others as a work van very easily.
Steve

[Ray]

Too European? That's funny....I didn't think Canadians were Europhobic. It's practical, gets great mileage given its size, it can haul an army of people and it's made by Mercedes Benz (hence the looks). What more could you ask for?

[ROY]

WE HAVE A 2006 DODGE SPRINTER, THE TALL SHORT ONE 2500. I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS TOWED A TRAILER WITH THERES? THE BOOK SAYS 5000 PDS. WAS JUST WONDERING HOW IT TOWES AND WHAT THE POWER AND GAS MILEAGE IS? ANY INFO WOULD BE HELPFUL.

[steve tilotta]

I don't know Roy, but I would sure like to know whatever happened to 'ol Kern. I think he was just trying to stir up some stuff with his one & only post. The problem with his arguement is, that most of us have owned the domestic vans & we know exactly what we are NOT missing.
Steve

[Fred]

So, what's with all the SE Texas Sprinter owners on here ? I guess we all know a good thing when we see it :)

[Altered State]

Strange thing that exact posting has turned up word for word on two US and one Canadian forum , same thing no reply.
You can tow a larger load with a h/D hitch, the sprinters from the upgraded 2007 Spring release are good for internal loading of five tonne.
Current fuel ratings average for Diesel about 23 MPG, gas 18 to 20 MPG, depending on use, fuel and axle ratios , single or dual wheel make a difference.
Altered Sprinter

[Tracy Stuart]

I'm just now looking at sprinter as a possible camper type rig for family of 3. several questions i'd like input for:
should i definitely get diesel? like to hear pros/cons of versus gas engine.

any options out there for "aftermarket" rv components if I get cargo type? roadtrek is too expensive and i'd like to rig it myself, if possible.

[Tracy Stuart]

just found the string which addressed my question. very helpful. i'll check it out. any reccs on which sprinter to get?
which years/models to avoid, etc?

[Kern]

steve tilotta wrote:

I don't know Roy, but I would sure like to know whatever happened to 'ol Kern. I think he was just trying to stir up some stuff with his one & only post. The problem with his arguement is, that most of us have owned the domestic vans & we know exactly what we are NOT missing.
Steve

Hi!

I have been reading this forum frequently. If you like this van, thats OK, but I think it is too narrow and bizzare, but this is a popular ambulance van in Europe. But even in Europe it is outsold by Peugeot Boxer and Citroen Jumper. Here, I think the new 08 E-Series is the best van available. Sprinter is tacky, its like a train!

[Altered State]

Hello Kern
You are referring to a multi badged Fiat Iveco, resold with a different front clip.
same as the Dodge and freightliner which is a Mercedes-Benz weight carrying capacity ranges from 3.5 to seven ton
The difference with the Fiat or Peugeot Citroen is the vehicle has a fully compliant truck chassis and that means a full seven ton load not one and a half or one tonner depending on what you optioned for on the Old Dodge ram, internally the rams difference compared to the Sprinter is three inches with the O7 model it's two inches and its double walled with a V6 which the Fiat does not have, the height is for loading configurations as there are four height options to choose from verses three on the Older Sprinter, with the overhang model the longest in it's class its over 22 foot long with a carrying capacity of five tonne fuel efficient of an average of 20 to 23MPG depending on how you push it, with safety standards no other make can match in it's class.
The ram was outdated, unsafe and had to be replaced with a new model, the Sprinter fitted the bill as opposed to the costs involved to design and produce a New platform for a upgraded Ram for 2007mandates in both safety and EPA standards etc.
Even the 08 E-series is heading for a closure in 2010 as it no longer mets the US standards in both cafe' fuel requirements and safety aspects, The Ford UK Transit, is the replacement being looked at, seriously for the US, as Iveco is a GM option.for 2010
It might look like a train, but it goes like a bullet, no other van can perform like a Sprinter in it's class.
Sprinters have outsold every make of commercial based vehicle in the world today, Ford runs second Iveco third,VW Crafters are No one in as many ways in Germany only but it is a Mercedes Sprinter, remember both Citroen and the Peugeot are a re badged Fiat! they like Ford and GM US are at the end of the road.
Sprinters are sold as Mercedes-Benz Dodge/Freightliners and VW Crafters, the difference with the VW Crafter is they retained the older Sprinter engines as an upgraded unit on a stand alone basis along with quickshift auto trans with h/D clutches and braces.
I agree the shape may look a little odd to some but world wide the old Ford and GM units are the odd ones out in the new bunch of commercial based vans today, even in passenger units, try getting into the last set of seats in both Ford and GM and see the end results of Kids squawking and yelling at mom and dad
Take your time and look and compare specs of these vehicles and you will see why their popularity continues to grow year by year, especially with the high powered fuel efficient Diesel options.
Altered Sprinter

[Kern]

Altered State wrote:

Hello Kern
You are referring to a multi badged Fiat Iveco, resold with a different front clip.
same as the Dodge and freightliner which is a Mercedes-Benz weight carrying capacity ranges from 3.5 to seven ton
The difference with the Fiat or Peugeot Citroen is the vehicle has a fully compliant truck chassis and that means a full seven ton load not one and a half or one tonner depending on what you optioned for on the Old Dodge ram, internally the rams difference compared to the Sprinter is three inches with the O7 model it's two inches and its double walled with a V6 which the Fiat does not have, the height is for loading configurations as there are four height options to choose from verses three on the Older Sprinter, with the overhang model the longest in it's class its over 22 foot long with a carrying capacity of five tonne fuel efficient of an average of 20 to 23MPG depending on how you push it, with safety standards no other make can match in it's class.
The ram was outdated, unsafe and had to be replaced with a new model, the Sprinter fitted the bill as opposed to the costs involved to design and produce a New platform for a upgraded Ram for 2007mandates in both safety and EPA standards etc.
Even the 08 E-series is heading for a closure in 2010 as it no longer mets the US standards in both cafe' fuel requirements and safety aspects, The Ford UK Transit, is the replacement being looked at, seriously for the US, as Iveco is a GM option.for 2010
It might look like a train, but it goes like a bullet, no other van can perform like a Sprinter in it's class.
Sprinters have outsold every make of commercial based vehicle in the world today, Ford runs second Iveco third,VW Crafters are No one in as many ways in Germany only but it is a Mercedes Sprinter, remember both Citroen and the Peugeot are a re badged Fiat! they like Ford and GM US are at the end of the road.
Sprinters are sold as Mercedes-Benz Dodge/Freightliners and VW Crafters, the difference with the VW Crafter is they retained the older Sprinter engines as an upgraded unit on a stand alone basis along with quickshift auto trans with h/D clutches and braces.
I agree the shape may look a little odd to some but world wide the old Ford and GM units are the odd ones out in the new bunch of commercial based vans today, even in passenger units, try getting into the last set of seats in both Ford and GM and see the end results of Kids squawking and yelling at mom and dad
Take your time and look and compare specs of these vehicles and you will see why their popularity continues to grow year by year, especially with the high powered fuel efficient Diesel options.
Altered Sprinter

Well, I am only informed about US and European Vans. Peugeot is very popular in Europe and Ford Trasnsit is too. Thanks for informing me that it may replace the E-Series. I like E-Series van with the new grille for 2008.

[Kern]

And I dont believe that Boxer and Jumper are re-badged Iveco Dailys!

[Altered State]

Kern wrote:

And I dont believe that Boxer and Jumper are re-badged Iveco Dailys!

Kern My suggestion was to look and learn before a comment can be made with credence
Fiat Iveco comes in two weight classes the first up to 3.5 tonne then its big brother ranges up to 7 tonne.
Read this link and then research, and then you will learn from the experience.
http://www.google.com/url...
Peugeot Boxer (94-06) Review - Parker's
Altered Sprinter

[Kern]

Altered State wrote:

<quoted text>
Kern My suggestion was to look and learn before a comment can be made with credence
Fiat Iveco comes in two weight classes the first up to 3.5 tonne then its big brother ranges up to 7 tonne.
Read this link and then research, and then you will learn from the experience.
http://www.google.com/url...
Peugeot Boxer (94-06) Review - Parker's
Altered Sprinter

True, I forgot about the FIAT DUCATO, but it is not an IVECO!!!

This may be different in Australia, but in Europe Iveco is a seperate brand with one model, Daily.

[Jim]

I am looking at a Sprinter as a mini- motor home. I drove one for the first time the other day and was very impressed by basically every thung but the ride - very rough! Maybe I should have expected it. It is a truck after all. Are there any tricks that can soften up the ride without compromising that fantastic handling?

[Altered State]

Jim wrote:

I am looking at a Sprinter as a mini- motor home. I drove one for the first time the other day and was very impressed by basically every thung but the ride - very rough! Maybe I should have expected it. It is a truck after all. Are there any tricks that can soften up the ride without compromising that fantastic handling?

Jim which year was you driving the old Sprinter or the new Sprinter?
Single wheel base or dual ! there is also an option for H/D suspension,
Road surfaces rough or smooth, Sprinters have a firm suspension as it's a European design, or if it starts to slip , you'll know it before a Chevy lets go, on you, as to the ESP traction control Ride can be altered to suit, shocks, sway bars and air suspension.
One thousand possiable options are available.
Altered Sprinter