VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

So,

New here....hahaha. Anyways.....

My 2007 GM crewcab has almost 350,000 km on it. Time for a new vehicle. A pickup with canopy is too small so we are thinking of buying a Sprinter van.

Summer use: Plan is to travel all of July and August with a van with 2 mtn bikes, 2 SUPS, 2 surfboards, 6 windsurfers, sails, masts etc. eg. Oregon, Gorge, Nitinat, Tofino, MOAB, Westport, LaPush, maybe even Baja or Punta?

Winter use: In winter it will be used for ski/board/snow camping in resort parking lots. eg. Whistler, Baker, Cain, Mt Hood?

We are just starting our van research, with the plan to buy in the next 0-4 months. I would appreciate any advice or input or pictures of the inside storage you used for windsurf gear.

Random Van thoughts/questions at this point are:

1. Go long....ie Sprinter 170" Wheel base vs 144" WB?

2. Is the Dodge Sprinter the same as the Mercedes? Any other models to consider?

3. I assume 2WD with chains would be fine for not too steep snowy roads (a 4x4 would be nice but too expensive.)

4. Thinking a 4 cyl instead of 6 cyl (for fuel savings), don't need to go fast.

5. Cargo style (vs passenger style) - we plan to insulate and add a fold up bed and a PVC pipe style rack inside for ws boards/sails/booms/masts. Plan fora regular bike rack out back for bikes. Rack on top for rocket box or SUPS and surfboards. Post pics of what you did?

6. How easy/expensive is it to install a side window if we buy a cargo version. We want at least one window.

7. Thinking buying used van just to save cash? (<40,0000 km)...our budget is approx. $30,000 - $45,000? New is nice but long Sprinters at $50k-$70k sucks. Any years/models to avoid?

Thanks in advance,

R

Hi, welcome to the community. Hahaha
Just mentioning this cause it opens up more buying options! Used Cargo vans always seem to priced higher than Passenger vans in my research. Guess cause so many contractors want them. Easy to tint windows if you're worried about privacy if you find a better deal on a van with windows. If you're not doing a full on conversion would windows matter anyway plus way better for all the scenic drives you'll be doing.
I think longer is better cause you can never have too much room for gear/camping/kitchen area inside.
Adding a window is easy plus the added benefit of getting whatever style of window you want. Openers etc...Not sure how much for installation as I did my own last time.
Saw a nice Dodge conversion, in La Ventana, in a 2015 model that was well thought out and very professionally done for a DIY project. Have some good latout ideas to share if you want. Sadly didn't take pictures.
Good luck and have fun with the search!

If nothing else, put in a furnace. Nothing like it in winter.

sounds like you need the bigwavedave special. http://www.outsidevan.com/big-wave-dave.php

Some great ideas here: http://www.sprinter-rv.com/diy-gallery/ The promaster looks worthy: https://www.ramtruck.ca/en/2016/promaster/overview front wheel drive gives you more headroom without even requiring the raised roof.

Thx JL!

That DIY site is interesting. Just what I needed.

The Ram Promaster looks interesting....$47,000 for a diesel new, $39,000 for non-diesel. I like the windows. FWD better in snow probly too.
You can get a heavy duty suspension model for $0 extra. Good for Nat or Baja?

Ram Promaster has 159" wheelbase....11" shorter than big Sprinter 170" and 15" longer than short Sprinter 144".

Any long 170" Sprinter drivers know if you are over length on ferry? If you are, they backcharge you at overlength rates for the whole length.

Traction control on the Promaster. Unfortunately the diesel is a $5000 option & uses a robotic trans. that shifts manually for you ?! Why we can't have a standard I will never understand. Look for a youtube video, it's very odd, but you have a manual shift option. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfvt7P1mv_w The 3.6 gas has 260 ft./lb. torque . Diesel 3.0 4cyl. 295 ft./lb. (Note: This is NOT the 6cyl. diesel now available in the Dodge pickup.)

The people I talked to in LV seemed to think that due to the design and layout there was more room in their current Promaster, which they said is overall a bit shorter than their old 170" wb Sprinter. Don't quote me on anything I say. They have the diesel option and love it! I will not be promoting either make as that's up to you to decide.

https://travato2014.wordpress.com/full-review/ http://hiconsumption.com/2015/04/the-ro ... amper-van/

I am salivating. This looks like my retirement plan.

Do they make them in brown? I have a history of brown camper vans.
"The Rolling Stool" and "Stool Mark Deux".

This is not the van you're looking for.

The Promaster is the lower end of the segment. Drive a Transit, drive a Sprinter. They are both leaps and bounds ahead. There is a reason why pickups are not FWD. A gas transit is something like $10k less than a diesel Sprinter and just as good. Though diesel has some advantages that justify the cost. If Ford had a 4 cyl I would've gone that way. 170 WB is over length on the ferry. 4 cyl sprinter is not slow by any means and has the better 7 spd tranny. Mine gets 8.9l/100km with 100 lbs worth of camperized stuff.

Love my 2008 Sprinter. Its excellent off highway. Great clearance even without a lift. Would really like the 4 cyl though, it wasn't available here at the time. Cargo van is way cheaper in Sprinter, even used in what I've seen. The passenger one would be more work to take stuff out and replace than to insulate and put liner in yourself; and adding cabinets and platforms you want to be able to get at the struts for bolting anyway. Ordering new you can get a side window in the cargo and probably find a used one, maybe there are enough around you could find a wrecked part even and swap it out.

The 144 wheelbase has the advantage of being able to park in most standard parking spaces/metred space, etc. At Nimpkish I saw the long wheelbase that a guy lived in full time, various wind toys, a full toolkit, and even a motorcycle on a rear hitch with a hydraulic lift.

I've never taken a close look at the Fiat or the Transit (I know there is a Euro full size Transit, and a mini much more lightly built version that they call a Transit here). Maybe they are bringing in the full size one now?

Apart from the rust, which I should have prevented earlier, its been fabulous on maintenance - a fraction of what my F350 costs every year.

Its surprisingly good in snow if it has the tiniest bit of grip. I was stuck for a few days this winter at my daughters at Red Mt, Rossland, couldn't get up the plowed but no grit driveway and didn't want to bother with chains. Then I tried it after a snowfall, and it chugged right up the hill. If I lived there I think I'd want the 4x4 but the extra expense up front, higher maintenance, and lower fuel economy just don't make it worth while for the odd time.

COme see mine if I ever go to even watch the wind again - I'm on crutches till the summer. And, if your itching to see the details, I'm looking for someone to work on it to tear out my existing stuff so the rust can be got at, then rebuild.

MF4 the Transit (which looks remarkably similar to a Sprinter) has been here for a couple years now. The high roof minivan sized Transit Connect you are referring to arrived in 2010.

Europe's Ford Transit has been front wheel drive for years. The decision for rear wheel drive in U.S. / Canada was typical of the marketing folks. Just like our inability to purchase standard transmissions etc.. http://www.autotrader.com/car-reviews/2 ... iew-222312 ... http://www.wsj.com/articles/ford-transi ... 1419018007 ... http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/ford ... t-rwd.html http://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/the ... all-i-buy/ and for conversion Ideas: http://www.sportsmobile.com/ ... http://www.greatwestvans.com/ ... http://www.gtrv.com/ ... http://www.getawayrv.com/customize-your ... ufacturing ... & as mentioned previously: http://www.outsidevan.com/camping.php

Ha can you imagine buying an Outside van now with a 0.68 USD exchange!