Anyone make the switch from a Taco to a Sprinter?

A friend of ours had a Sprinter van and sold it for a Tacoma and a trailer. He sent $37k for an empty van and then kitted it. Main issue was handling and issues on the freeway in the wind. Turned out to be pretty unstable. We use a trailer behind the Tacoma as well, but I also use the bed as a pickup truck should be used. Sprinter is more specific to camping, can't use it for that much else, and I wouldn't want to daily drive it.

 

FYI you can put the bed on an adjustable height platform and raise it outta the way for activities. My buddy has this in his. It's pretty slick.

 

There are also some commercial slide in camping modules made or you can make your own.

 

I own a 4x4 sprinter. Great van to drive. 4wd system is not so good. Not shift on the fly, and have been stuck places I shouldn’t have been. First oil change also replaced the EGR valve. Not a vehicle I would want to own with no warranty. Would much rather drive my Tacoma.

 

I’ve been lurking the van world too after a starting to feel claustrophobic crawling into my shell/bed platform. I would like the ease, safety and stealth of a van when solo camping/hunting. I feel so trapped and vulnerable in the back of my shell if someone wanted to cause trouble.

However vans pretty much suck to drive around compared to about any other style vehicle. I’m starting to think a full size suv is a good compromise. Can be a ff if needed. Comfortable on the highway. 4x4 is pretty standard and cheap. Parts/repair is easy enough. At least as good of mpg as a van. Can add a RTT to accommodate a family of 4.

 

If you're not worried about 4x4 you could always get a cheaper Nissan Cargo or Ford Transit as well?

 

have you looked into vagabond camper? might be a better and cheaper option for you.

 

Yeah, I've seen systems like that - like in the Revel. But I just assumed that having to clear out most of your storage just so you could lower your bed would be annoying. The fact that the bed moves out of the way to store more things is great.... but what happens when you want to go to sleep?

If I go this route, for me, it's pop-up or nothing....

 

I think one of those camper vans are cool but the trend is making them seem more desirable than they should be. Unless you’re REALLY committed to that van life, I think they’re way too specific to be a replacement for a normal car/truck.
I’d either get a teardrop to tow behind or rtt if it becomes too cumbersome to continue packing the camp and bike gear into the current truck. But for me right now, 2 bikes and road shower on the bed bars, tent/pd/bags in the truck, cooler, wood, tools in the bed. It’s working well. It’s nearing its capacity limit. But it’s working well.

 

Keep in mind that he said he has a company car as his DD. The van will be a secondary vehicle that's primarily for one purpose- camping, and probably an occasional trip to Home Depot. He is not going to be driving it every day- which would be horrible

This is pretty much what I do with my Tacoma. I DD a car and use the Tacoma for when I go hiking and camping, and an occasional trip to Home Depot. I typically only drive it once a week to hike locally, and then live in the back for three weeks on vacation. I am much more a car guy than truck, and I know I'd get used to it, but I'd much rather drive my Evo than my Tacoma.

 

Could also check out the Nissan NV. They're based on the Titan, so they should drive just like the truck. There are some pretty sweet looking ones roaming around SLC...https://www.kengarffnissanslc.com/nv-passenger-vans/

 

You can add a hi-top or even a pop top to a Suburban or Excursion (shame Ford quit making them); there are plenty of examples on the web. Another option would be a Jeep with something like the Ursa Minor top (yeah, I know, it's a Jeep).

 

Sounds like you may as well get a wedge camper for the truck!!!

 

While I like the built out sprinters, it just seems like the next stage in the insta #overlanding trend. Gotta keep it new and fresh.

YMMV.

 

That’s a good point. They do seem cool but I’m willing to bet a normal tow vehicle and a small off-road teardrop wins in almost every category.

Except stealth camping and the throw it in park and crawl into bed/crawl out of bed throw it in drive categories.

But on IG lots of these people have pretty elaborate sprawled out glamping setups with their vans.

 

You're thinking of the wrong Econoline... I just came across this one yesterday.

 

Groovy rape van bro.

 

just my .2 cents....

I owned a lifted 4x4 02 e150 chateau edition. Lifted, full carpet, full a/c. I loved it and so did everyone else. I wanted to build up the inside for camping luxuries, But I ended up selling it.

I have learned alot about vans, and the reason why I sold it is because that wasn't the best platform to build from.

I do like the sprinters, especially the head room, but if i were you I would build my own econoline.

The idea platform IMO, is a E-250 xl in a 7.3 diesel equipped with barn doors.

The e 250 comes with bigger frame, and axels and breaks. The xl is slighty longer for more cargo area, and barn doors would allow wider wheels without hitting the slider door. And the 7.3 diesel engine is a tank, and whatever added weight you throw on it wont ever notice. And if you can easily take the family loaded up and tow a trailer no problem.

If i had the space and cash I would just keep hunting for a fleet 250 diesel and build it up the way i want.

and if you add a high top you have so much more head clearance.

Just want to say im a van 100%.

Good luck

 

Just made the leap!

 

The Youtube channel posted above is mine. I've had a variety of travel rigs/campers, the last of which was an extended cab Toyota pickup with a 4Wheel Pop Up Camper. I made the switch to Sprinter in 2017. (I still have a 2000 4Runner as well.) There is no perfect vehicle. I'll give the pros for the Sprinter--they are nice to drive...the seating position puts your legs down rather than out and I can drive it for hours on end. I have a 2WD with the 4 cylinder diesel and it averages 24-25 MPG, sometimes more. I can drive 600 miles on its 24.2 gallon tank. Being able to stand up, have diesel heating and a complete living space accessible straight from the driver's seat is an absolute game changer. I travel with a 6 year old child on trips as long as 30 days, and the Sprinter makes that easy. I have a single 300 watt LG house solar panel on the roof and I can run the refrigeration, induction cook top, coffee maker, charge drone/camera batteries etc with no worries about power. The van is nice in pretty much all respects. You really appreciate it when it turns nasty outside and you have a warm, comfortable place to go to prepare food, sit around and play games or whatever you like to do.

BUT, Mercedes charges a lot for service. I've found the basic maintenance to be even easier than the 4runner, so I do it myself. I've done the oil, filter, diesel fuel filter and other basic maintenance tasks myself with no issues. The Mercedes 4WD sucks. It's expensive, can only send 33% of the power to the front end and the center differential cannot lock. It's an open differential, and it struggles when it shouldn't. Here's an article I wrote on its issues. So.....I still have my 4Runner. But I've found the 2WD Sprinter has been able to get me everywhere I have asked it to go offroad. The height is a much bigger factor offroad than the number of driving wheels.

Don't try and replace a true 4WD with a Sprinter. They don't offer the same capabilities.

Here's a video I recently posted of our trip to Colorado during COVID, and it shows a few of the design characteristics and the places we like to take it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSgpJrEnZJc

I'm sold on the Vanlife, despite the fact that no van will ever go where a Tacoma or 4Runner will go.

Ken