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Splater
climber
Grey Matter
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Sep 29, 2014 - 06:03pm PT
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Onspot chains:
Q7: How much does the ONSPOT system cost?
A: Approximate pricing for vehicles WITH air brakes is $1595. per drive axle for the kit plus freight and installation. Systems WITHOUT air brakes are approximately $2075. for the kit plus Freight and installation.
Q16: How much weight will the system add to the vehicle?
A: The ONSPOT system typically weighs 125 pounds per drive axle for a large vehicle with air brakes.
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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Sep 29, 2014 - 06:37pm PT
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I have an '07, V6 3.0 liter turbo diesel.
I love it. I have gotten between 20 mpg(every day of the week and at 80+ mph all day) and 28 (in Yellowstone with 45 mph speed limit).
It is not a dirt road vehicle. If you have a bunch of weight in the back it helps for traction. It is just too long for good traction even though it has a really tight turning radius. I have a feeling it would be OK in the snow with a bunch of extra weight in the back and with chains.
I've been on a couple of dirt roads where I was pretty gripped. But, I have yet to get stuck. It has really good low end torque.
I can easily sleep the family of 3 and one dog and carry as much camping gear as it's dimensions allow and is humanly possible to stuff in.
Sprinter's rule.
I don't think it is mechanically that complicated. The engine is totally accessible, the suspension etc. is the same as my old Dodge Van (1999). It's not like a modern vehicle where you look in the engine compartment and can't ID a single component.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Sep 29, 2014 - 06:42pm PT
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What is the deal with the transition of the Sprinter from Dodge to Mercedes Benz? When did it happen?
Is there a preference between the two manufacturers, in terms of price, performance, or repairs?
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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Sep 29, 2014 - 06:51pm PT
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Love it!
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WBraun
climber
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Sep 29, 2014 - 08:09pm PT
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I don't think it is mechanically that complicated.
Just wait till you have to work on that engine.
Be prepared to have torch ready for the front grill bolts on the diesels.
The bolts and fasteners have Loctite on them because the diesels vibrate.
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BuddhaStalin
climber
Truckee, CA
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Sep 29, 2014 - 08:33pm PT
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Dont forget, the Ford Transit (not the Connect) is here, and its right on par with the Sprinter.
Do yourself a favor and dont work on your sprinter yourself.
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BuddhaStalin
climber
Truckee, CA
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Sep 29, 2014 - 08:35pm PT
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Sprinter was never an actual dodge, it was leftover from their previous affiliation, its alwys been a mercedes despite its badging, it was badge engineered into the didge sprinter and also a freightliner sprinter, all being the same.
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ionlyski
Trad climber
Kalispell, Montana
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Sep 29, 2014 - 09:03pm PT
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Do yourself a favor and dont work on your sprinter yourself.
Take it to somebody else if you want but don't be afraid to work on them. Piece of cake to change your oil and fuel filters. I smacked a deer going 70 when I first bought mine and totaled the whole front end clear back to the radiator and A/C condenser. Ordered all the parts and snapped them back together myself. The quarter panel came primed and I matched it with white. The whole thing looks and drives perfectly after 6 years and I saved $4000 bucks at least. Course I still spent $4k hitting the deer.
All in all, I've found everything easy to work on. I've heard brakes are straightforward too.
Arne
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i'm gumby dammit
Sport climber
da ow
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Sep 29, 2014 - 09:04pm PT
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Sprinter was never an actual dodge, it was leftover from their previous affiliation, its alwys been a mercedes despite its badging, it was badge engineered into the didge sprinter and also a freightliner sprinter, all being the same. this. open the hood on a dodge and everything underneath has mercedes logos.
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ionlyski
Trad climber
Kalispell, Montana
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Sep 29, 2014 - 09:07pm PT
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The version I have (2008 3500 diesel) is completely Mercedes built. Not a Dodge part on it. They were shipped from Germany with the driveline disconnected to the Dodge and Freightliner dealers, who had the contract to sell, service and supply parts.
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BuddhaStalin
climber
Truckee, CA
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Sep 30, 2014 - 01:08am PT
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Yup, and now that chrysler and merc arent affiliated anymore, they use a fiat van, which is also not dodge, just badge engineered....and FWD.
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justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
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Sep 30, 2014 - 07:30am PT
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bump
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Wormly81
Trad climber
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Sep 30, 2014 - 10:05am PT
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I have a 2011 144" and use it all winter ice climbing in the Northeast with Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 snow tires. I have had no problems. I keep it filled with gear to keep the weight over the rear tires. I have a set of chains I keep in the back which I have never needed. I've pulled over once in conditions where it wouldn't have been smart to be driving any car on the roads and just went to sleep and finished the trip early the next morning. Things to think about include making sure that if you are pulling into a nasty parking spot or unplowed road, that it's uphill.
I'm actually more concerned in the summer about getting it stuck in deep sand or mud without the Nokian's on. That being said, its gone out west and back twice, and there hasn't been a trailhead it wasn't able to make it to including the CA Needles among others. Think of it as a two wheel pickup truck. That's what it is and that's the type of performance you get (although it is heavier so you need to be overly cautious about sand).
With regards to cost, in my opinion it's a luxury. That being said, there are few things that bring me as much pleasure as having a rolling condo and gear closet ready to go at anytime.
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Sep 30, 2014 - 01:39pm PT
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there are few things that bring me as much pleasure as having a rolling condo and gear closet ready to go at anytime
Amen!
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Marshall
climber
bay area
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Dec 22, 2015 - 09:40am PT
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Bump.
Can anyone comment on Sprinter reliability relative to, say, the Ford Transit? I realize that Sprinter is the van de jure for the climbing glitterati, but various web forums suggest worse reliability compared to current competitors.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Dec 22, 2015 - 07:33pm PT
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I had a durango rental that had that traction control. Got stuck on flat ground. hideous!
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dee ee
Mountain climber
Of THIS World (Planet Earth)
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Dec 23, 2015 - 03:56pm PT
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At M.ville.
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BuddhaStalin
climber
Truckee, CA
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Dec 23, 2015 - 04:17pm PT
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2010 and newer are MB.
They actually have always been mercedes, they were just badge engineered as Dodge and also as a Freightliner. The new big dodge van like thocking has is a Fiat, not sure if it uses a dodge engine, but might also be fiat powered. Chrysler uses their partners to make what they dont know how to make.
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