Ford Transit AWD vs Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 | Why We Bought a Transit Camper Van
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- Which is the best van chassis for van life? We compare the Ford Transit AWD and the Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 to see which one is best and explain why we chose the Transit over the Sprinter for our camper van build.
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Joe and Kait have been traveling in various adventure based campers since 2015. For travel destinations, camper guides, essential gear and tips from the road visit weretherussos.com and / weretherussos
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I think this was the BEST comparison of vans I have ever seen. You were fair and honest and used two comparable vans. Thanks for your review.
As a Fleet Manager who has seen everything the Sprinter can and will throw at you for over 15 years, be prepared. First and foremost. Have several local options for maintenance and repairs. Ideally a very competent dealer who has trained personnel who know the Sprinter and their issues. Same for an independent shop. I can't stress how important this is. A tech or shop who dabbles with these vs a trained competent tech can be a nightmare both short and long term... Second, and much more difficult in my opinion is a network of repair shops/dealers for issues on the road. This in my opinion would be a major deterrent in owning one as an RV. The coverage in the US of shops and even dealers that are competent with the Sprinter is appalling. Be prepared to spend a lot of money annually on maintenance. The "payback" for us as a commercial distributor varies annually but is usually in the 50K range.. It's an expensive vehicle to own and operate and not as reliable as anyone likes but if your going to put a lot of mileage on it and have a good network for repairs and maintenance it can work. The Transit in the commercial sector is just the opposite. Utilized for lower mileage applications and much lower maintenance costs and better coverage on the road. Won't last as long as the Sprinter but in my opinion makes more sense as an RV platform.
This is a very helpful comment, thank you for it!
Totally agree. Weve had nothing but problems with a Winnebago View. OUTRAGEOUS charges for service and extremely limited network.
thank you for this in-depth. What about ProMasters? Would they be difficult to maintain, in comparison to the sprinter & transit?
@@computer__eyez I have had a ProMaster, 136, for 4 years and almost 50l.000 miles. To date maintenance has been minimal. I had a question when in Fairbanks and the Ram dealer got me in that afternoon. Rubbing muffler diagnosed and repositioned and I was back on the road. Also, in my 12,600 mile Alaska trek I averaged to my amazement 19.2 MPG and that was with Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tires. We did over 1,500 miles of dirt roads, Dempster, (to the Arctic Circle), Eagle, Top of the World, McCarthy without trouble. But being only front wheel drive, it is not the rig you would want on gnarly two track routes.
@@dougal9439 thanks a lot Dougal.
I have been researching ProMaster and wanting to pick one up, from all the data I’ve gathered. This knowledge you have illuminated me with, along with my own research… it seems I am being lead to go with a ProMaster.
That Alaska trek, I was envisioning as I am reading your astonishment, brings a smile to my face. Impressive indeed!
I plan to visit Alaska at some point, it is *high* on my list. Everyone I know wants to go to the Caribbean, I want to drive to Alaska.
Our first RV was a Mercedes based Winnebago View ( a B+ class RV) with the 6 cly diesel. Never had a Mercedes anything before so was excited at first. However got tired of tippy handling, especially in wind due to Mercedes not extending wheel track in rear. Even checking tire pressures was a pain as rear duals were so far back under the body. The biggest thing by far however was maintenance ands repair costs. I could have made a house payment for what an oil change cost, but that was not the worse cost. The worst cost was engine/ exhaust sensors going out four times at a cost of over $1500 each - not to mention the cost of having to go out of our way on RV trips to find a Mercedes dealer and wait for it to get repaired. This is stuff the "RV reviews" online and in magazines don't touch on. Two years ago we traded for a good old Ford E450 based, slightly larger B+ and all has been trouble free, don't need to finance my house for an oil change. Rear duals come out to the edge of the body, and body is wider, and shorter, no more arriving to RV site tired due to fighting the wind. No more trying to find a Mercedes if something needs repair!
My sprinter is stuck in Knoxville with a $16,200.00 estimate for a fuel system replacement because of bad fuel. 🤬
At a certain point, don't you just change your own oil? There looks to be plenty of room in the engine bay of a Sprinter and there's plenty of clearance to scoot under it. Is it difficult?
I just bought a Sprinter and didn't expect oil changes to be costly.
why would you service a german car/van at a stealership? just go to any reputable shop and get it done at a fraction of a cost, search for parts online and instead of 1500 for a sensor you pay 150.
I had a e90 BMW M3 (the V8 one) for a few years and stealership would quote me around $600 for AN OIL CHANGE, cause some BS reasons, while the a reputable local shop that I usually see working on supras and gtr's all the time charged me $250 ($180 was just the cost of oil and filter)
I have an RV based off of a Ford E450 cutaway chassis. Sure my MPG is not as good as a Mercedes diesel but diesel reliably runs $1 more per gallon and just one unfortunate Mercedes priced repair bill can buy a lot of gas. This and the lack of worry associated with the well-regarded 450 Ford engine. Who needs to live in constant fear of Mercedes reliability or lack thereof.
The newer Mercedes diesels are a HORRIBLE choice. The days of Mercedes diesels being reliable, long running engines are over. We had a GL class SUV (same 3.0L engine as the sprinter) and it was a maintenance nightmare. It would constantly say the DEF fluid was empty when it wasn't (meaning we had to replace expensive sensors again and again or become stranded) and to top it all off, by 80K miles the timing chain was stretched to the point we had to replace it. Many thousands of dollars. Timing chains aren't designed to be replaced. They should last the lifetime of the engine.
As bad as the dealer service cost are going to be on the Ford, the Mercedes will always be more expensive. I have came close twice on buying a Sprinter based RV, but thoughts of bringing my RV to the local Mercedes dealership keeps giving me chills!
Fortunately, I found a local Mercedes authorized repair shop that can accommodate my sprinter base RV for oil changes. Service A and B costs way more at the Mercedes van service shop near me. Currently I take my 2005 Tundra with a camper shell on my off road trips.
I have a 2020 Transit with 30k we put on it in close to 3 years. My maintenance costs are $260 for 3 services. Ford pass points have paid for about $200 of that.
Now I can't say for the awd, but we switched to the transit as are delivery vehicle because of how cheap it is to maintain.
You must not be a man.
@Frank Furter and not all Mercedes places service Sprinters. I had a problem when traveling in northern IL and had to go to FOUR dealers to find one who did!!
Definitely agree that the Sprinter is underpowered. And like others have stated, I have never had a vehicle in the shop more than our Sprinter. I love our van and have spent a lot of time and money on it. However, we are selling it because we cannot be in the middle of nowhere with a service issue and no MB dealer for 400 miles.
What Transit loses in clearance it gains in interior height. I think most people would prefer roomier cabin over couple of inches of extra clearance, but if your mission is going to places less driven, those 2 inches may become a deal breaker. For a regular road warrior though, Transit wins hands down and this video very nicely explains it.
This comment (interior height) does not match up to what I heard? I am very much in tune with heights (6'3") and Mercedes had me sold while speaking of headroom, etc
@@ISNAP4UThe Ford has 3 inches more interior height.
What a great head to head compare. These are the two vans we are looking at. So really appreciate the time you took to prepare and produce this video. Great job.
I was partners with a Ford dealer on a truck rental business. Half of my fleet was gasoline and half was diesel. All maintenance costs such as oil changes, fuel filters, air filters etc was at least three times as much with the Diesel engines. That’s comparing Fords to Fords. I’m sure Mercedes maintenance costs would be even more. Over the years I owned and operated thousands of Transit Vans. They performed flawlessly. I would highly recommend them.
We sequentially owned two Sprinter chassis RVs. A 2016 Airstream Interstate that thankfully we traded on a superb 2016 Leisure Travel Van after only six months of grief with the Airstream. Now we own a 2022 Coachmen Beyond on a 2021 Ford Transit AWD. Having driven the Sprinter and Transit chassis RVs in real world RV travel, the Transit is far and away a more enjoyable vehicle to drive. It cruises effortlessly up and down hills, the adaptive cruise control works flawlessly. The Sprinter labored up hills and was too underpowered to quickly and safely pass even the slower 18-wheelers on any incline. We just had our first Ford oil change and service at the local Ford Fleet dealer nearby. Just drove in without needing an appointment. Left our Transit because they needed to wait for the rack to be available that holds dualies. Cost just $100, and in and out within 24 hours! With the Mercedes we had to schedule appointments weeks in advance, sometimes drive over 50 miles to find a Sprinter MB dealer service, pay 5 to 7 times that amount for the same service. Also, MB Sprinters are not approved for bio-diesel. It was always challenging to find the right diesel station to fill up the Mercedes, often having to phone in advance. The DEF was always a mystery as the Sprinter chassis we had lacked a DEF gauge. Filing it and being sure it didn’t run out was a real nuisance. The Ford is as enjoyable to drive and maintain as a big friendly SUV! Astonishingly the Ford has superior quality control on its build than the MB. We replaced our two MB car/SUVs with two Subarus. Couldn’t be happier. I will agree that the Sprinter has a more rough and ready appearance, the seats are superbly more comfortable, and it’s a higher status vehicle. Alas, the Ford has the stigma of low cost to purchase and maintain! Driving the Sprinter was a labor. Driving the AWD Transit is a labor of love.
Former Mercedes Diesel Owner
The only question that matters is "does the Sprinter engine have an EGR valve?" If it does the diesel engine intake manifold will foul with diesel exhaust gases at around 60000 miles. Repairs cost, at a minimum $6000. If the diesel engine's oil cooler is located in the valley between cylinder banks, it will fail at around 65000 miles. Cost unknown but would involve tearing off the entire injection system. Good luck!
When we bought the Mercedes diesel sedan I said it would be the last car we purchased. I was wrong. It was the last Mercedes we would ever purchase.
Delete all that non sense
@@rthilson Not so? Explain.
@@mountainstream8351 you will eliminate 90% of these issues but if they test emissions in your area you probably can’t
I like how you're not trying to push one van manufacturer over the other. I agree on most of your points regarding looks, power, comfort, service. I have a Leisure Travel Van built on a Sprinter 3500 cutaway chassis. But if I were to choose a more nimble option for my camping adventures, I would seriously look at the transit myself.
As a Brit, years ago, we had 4 TV channels with a few car shows between them. Remember, those series had separate staff dedicated to sound, camera, lighting, script, direction and production. I'm sure each series cost a small fortune to make and paid for the lifestyles of the above staff.
The video you have made is as well presented and informative as any of those past professional car series. Excellent.
Appreciate that - thank you
I’ve had my Thor sprinter for 4 months now and been enjoying everything about it, no regrets. I’m glad we picked it over a transit build. At the end of the day you got to enjoy what you see in your driveway. Put a smile in my face that I own one.
Interesting mindset "image is everything "!
@@chrisdevalcourt648 I want German supermodel looks with a decent personality 🤣
YOU like it. That’s what matters at the end of the day, not other people’s random opinions.
As long as it stays in your driveway, I think you'll be fine.
@@nunyabeezwacks1408 lol.
I knew a Sprinter tech back a couple years ago, and with the stories he told me about maintenance cost, parts, labor and especially rust issues with that van after a couple of years, I would go for a Transit anytime.
One of the reasons we went Promaster. Surprising to me during my research how awful so many people said the MB is. That said, the PM isn't a Toyota, quite a few minor build defects and concerns over longevity.
Meh, just sell it once the extended warranty runs out.
In the UK pretty much all the big supermarket grocery delivery vans, Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, Ocado, Morrisons, are Mercedes, with the odd Transit or Iveco here and there. Those are used sixteen hours a day, seven days a week, 362 days a year. So they must all be happy with reliability and service costs.
Our Ford has been undrivable ALL summer of ‘23 because of “no parts” to repair available! I think they are all going to AMAZON!!
Forgot to mention price difference. That alone is a decision maker. Great video thank you. ❤
Not disagreeing for disagreement sake... but what price difference? The Sprinter cargo van is $3k more... which is about 5%... but the sprinter gets 20-25% better fuel mileage. Perhaps that doesn't resonate with someone that only puts a few thousand miles on them every year.
@@16vjohnny That is a huge savings in fuel.
Always such a great job reviewing and explaining different RVs - thanks Joe
This is one of the best comparison videos to date. Outstanding work!
Thank you for taking the time to do this side by side comparison. Good job as always Joe and a thumbs up to the camera gal! I’m driving my third Ford with an ecoboost engine and they perform great through mountains.
Awesome! Thank you!
My father and I have a 2021 awd eco BEAST transit and could not be happier.
This was a fantastic video. Thanks for taking the time to put it together!
Great video! After owning and traveling in Sprinters for several years, we bought and converted our first Transit. Yes, I agree the Sprinter is better looking but once you drive the Transit, looks start to matter less. The Transit is the “spork” of vans, not the winner of the beauty contest but it checks all the boxes when it comes to versatility.
I own a Ford Transit 350 and am very happy. service is easily available at our Ford dealership. I am 5'4" tall so height is no problem because the Sprinter is a few inches taller. Bed wise I can sleep across and there is plenty of room for my dog too. the kitchen and upfront shower are great and convenient. the van is easy to drive on all terrain and pickup speed is great I am happy to own the 350 Ford Transit dual axle camper van.
I think Transit looks way better than Sprinter. The only problem I have (living in Europe) is that I can only buy Ford with diesel engine, unless I get used, imported one from USA.
@Grzech I agree, the Ford does look better imo.
Did you convert your Transit to 4WD? If so, who did the job and how much did it cost?
@@joeblow1942 Quigley and another company (I forgot their name) make 4x4 conversions and they cost approx 20,000. Ford comes with factory AWD
A few of the Sprinter features you noted are now available in the Transit as of 2022- Keyless push button start and 360 degree cameras. The 22's also have a larger infotainment screen, though the downside of that is more of the controls are onscreen instead of easier to use buttons.
We've got a 2021 148" HR Transit we love, and chose it over the Sprinter for many of the same reasons you did.
Good to know - thank you
I own a long, tall 350 Transit with limited slip, AWD, and (OMG!) ecoboost. Keeping the speed between 60 and 65 the mileage stays between 14 and 16 mpg.
This is very helpful. I've had an LT on order since last September, but given the long wait I finally bought a used Classic. I haven't canceled the LT order yet and was hoping to see comparisons like these. The power, or lack thereof, on the Sprinter makes me nuts. But, given the recent price increase on the LT and paying almost $15k in sales taxes and fees to register it after just going through that on the Sprinter, I'm not sure the power difference is worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Very detailed and honest comparison. I bought my 4x4 Sprinter in 2015 but for the more accessible maintenance, I would have preferred the Transit if they had the AWD option. There were two after market conversions to 4x4 but they were very expensive (approx 20,000$) and not very reliable. The Sprinter is very good, I prefer the diesel engine, I like the van, and never had a problem in 135,000 miles. Regular maintenance is actually easy done even by a non-professional like me and parts are not expensive ( labor at the dealership is) but every time when I drive in a remote area, far from home, I keep thinking what would I do if something malfunctioned in my van`s engine. I always carry tools and a diagnostic device, CZcams offers a lot of info, but I am not sure I would be able to fix something broken. My ideal van would be an AWD Transit with the diesel engine.
Great comparison video, those are small things that make a big deal.
I actually prefer the Transit after driving for Amazon, I hate the shifter & I don’t like push button starts. But you pointed out some things I didn’t notice
I’ve always appreciated your videos ever since I started following you both. My partner and I are Roadtrippers and just have been using tents to sleep in, but have started doing the beginning research into what kind of van we would like. So, thank you for always have informative and fun videos, honestly!
You're very welcome Olga
Appreciate the great job you did in this video! Thanks for sharing your experiences
Having both I have the exact same feelings. I wish the transit interior was as polished as the sprinter. I do like driving the transit better and I think it’s more ‘car like’ on longer rides. Great video..
Joe and Kait, my main reason for choosing the LT was after reading all of the MB horror stories on FB. People getting stranded for literally months without the use of the van, just scared me out of the MB. Good comparison of main points of each. Many thanks guys!
I bought a Mercedes diesel, and babied it from day one. Then, the transmission went out and cost a fortune. NEVER buy a Mercedes!
What year and model?
@@judgedredd8876 Ford dealer maybe..since his reply was so prompt.
I drove a fully loaded EcoBoost Transit from MA to Denver. Even going constantly uphill on the high plains, I was getting about 15mpg. And did get 17 on one stint.
I like how thorough you are in describing what is important to you and your family. Thanks.
You are so welcome!
I have a med roof med length transit 3.5 natural aspirated AWD 2021, gas miles low 16.2 to high 19 mpg, 10 speed transmission and lower powered motor than eco boost is slower going up hills but down shifts 2-3 gears depending on slope, 31 gal tank can go 500 mile without refueling, drivability is great, people watching from behind have mentioned how the transit hugs the curves with stock tires and is easy getting in and out. Also custom order allows front swivel seats, totally satisfied for my uses! Also with my avalanche grey color, I have a more custom feel than all those generic 4x4 Sprinters loaded to the kilt with roof racks, ladder, and rear door lockers because of overbuilt camper interiors, I have placed a generic pickup carpet kit from my 8’ bed pickup that allows full floor length hauling and when sleeping the carpet kit has full length bed and storage in both wheel well cabinets plus is totally removable leaving a full size cargo van floor footage, I’m very happy as this option verses Sprinter has saved me $50,000 and more over the camper build Sprinter.
Love that you used identical Storyteller builds for this comparison, it really brings the focus to the increasingly small differences between these two very capable platforms. Others have noted that the 2022 12" console in the Ford Transit has 360 camera view and feels very well integrated (with Fordpass, wifi and carplay). I'll be curious to revisit this in 2023 when Sprinter gets a new AWD system.
Love remote start and wi fi. Can also schedule starts for my Transit on the app.
Wonderful side by side comparison! Thanks for sharing with us!
Great to hear a review/comparison from somebody experienced in both
That was interesting, they both had some positive points going for them. The limiting service availability & power on the Sprinter were significant reasons to choose the Transit. Take care guys.
Thanks Bonnie - you as well
@@Weretherussos
No one is going rock crawling with these vans. Nor will they do serious off-roading in their camper van. These AWD/4x4 vans are meant for regular National Park dirt roads (light off-roading).
@@travelinman482 Excellent comment.
I would add that these vehicles are for work in the city and paved roads.
Likewise, the service availability (and power! I did not realize that the Sprinter put out < 200 hp!) in itself outweighs just about everything. Transit is the clear choice for me.
And Thanks Russos for this video! It definitely helped me decide which one to get (if and when I get one that is).
@@robertlee3778 all diesel engines have significantly less horse power than the gas engines because gas engines work at higher rotations per minute. It means that the cylinders rotate a lot but with less force. The torque is important and that is the force transmitted to the wheels. Ford is superior there as well, 400lbs/ft compared to 325.
Great video! Seems like maintainability is my priority for cross country travel. The other stuff can probably be handled, like swapping out the seats, putting on a lift, etc.
We’ve been driving our 2014 Sprinter as our daily car with long trips several times a year. Our gvw is 8900 pounds, we have a 2 wheel drive 4 cylinder turbo engine. We get 25mpg and live in the mountains. I regularly drive 60-65 mph up steep mountains on I-5. We pay 12$ for DEF about every 1500 miles. It has been a great van for the 70k miles we’ve driven it. Maybe we just got lucky, but I wanted to share my experience over the past 5 years. Best wishes and thanks for a great video.
That’s great! The older pre 2019 4x4 Sprinters seem to get better MPG and are more reliable
Great video all around. Well shot, great explanation on everything
Serviceability was my deciding factor in getting the Ford instead of the sprinter. I really wanted the sprinter but getting it worked on was going to be a pain because I live in a smaller town and to get it serviced I would have had to drive it over 2 hours away from me. With the Ford I could get oil changes and any major issues taken care of in my hometown.
Love the DRZ on the back on the Transit. A man of culture, I see. Cheers!
Really excellent video! Especially appreciate the real world opinions and features of both vans. Thanks again and happy travels!
You’re welcome!
Nice video! Very informative! I will be sharing this with friends. Thank you! Safe travels to you and Kate!
Very good comparison vid. The best one I've seen so far. I personally would go with the transit.
Great comparison! I am shopping now, and maybe as more of an update, Ford also offers a pushbutton start now and depending on what package you get for interior upgrade, you also can get a 360° view camera. By the way, I have no clue how those cameras work because they literally look to me like the cameras hovering over the middle of the van! For me, the entryway of the transit is some thing I would have to get used to because I am fairly tall, and I do have to duck down… I got to use one that had a handle installed on the pillar, and that actually helped, because when I grabbed it, I naturally went more forward into the van then up and into the van.
What a great objective video. So well done. Clear, covers everything and gets right to it. Please keep up the great work!
Thanks. The way you explain things is very clear.
I have experience with the sprinter van working for Amazon but I would want the upgraded Ford Transit for all the reasons you said. Thinking ahead about services is really important and having more headroom is important for me. The sprinter is a fantastic van but it isn't worth the extra costs if you can't afford it or would rather use your money for other things.
One problem with comparing these two vans is they're both changing pretty quickly. For instance you point out the Transit doesn't have push button start, but it's now an option on the 2022s. The screen got bigger and it gained 360 cameras too. The Sprinter, otoh, is dropping that 4x4 system for AWD and a different engine. So all the aftermarket accessories will have to be redone, probably a max of 2 inch lift, but it will probably more readily available and easier to get serviced than the current 4x4. And maybe none of that matters anyway if you can't afford brand new and are comparing, say, 2020s. But in that case as you go back in the time the Transit loses features pretty quickly, as Ford has been aggressively updating it.
J
Ford parts cost half MB parts. Ford service is half also. The 3.5 EcoBoost V6 is in millions of Ford cars and is a proven reliable engine. The MB has lots of $$$ Problems. Lets be honest.
He's not comparing "changing" vans. Your mind is wrapped around a brand. He's comparing "these" vans - not the brands. He's clearly comparing utility and efficacy. What he has done makes sense. You are sharing an unrelated opinion that has no place logically, nor reasonably.
My husband has the ford truck with this exact engine. Hes been waiting ALL SUMMER for some transfer case part on theFord. All summer. They told him to drive but he’s risking destroying the engine. Luckily we have a GMC explorer high top family van & has been driving it instead. I used to love Ford. Not anymore. We live in the suburbs of Chicago. Hes called everywhere & NO one has the part! Ford has lost our loyalty
Perfect timing,I’m looking for a short wheel base van to use as a daily driver and be able to pick up and go at will.
My interest is a used Roadtrek agile but this review is heaven sent.Off road is not important to me.
Great review cutting back and forth between the two vans very informative.
Thanks for the review. My experience with MB is fewer dealers and much higher maintenance repair costs than Mazda, for example. I've owned both brands as well as Ford, Chrysler, Nissan, Kia. Now in the market for a camper van. Will take a serious look at Transit after this review.
Really appreciate the honest comparison! Just wish Ram would offer a 4x4, especially with full time off-roaders in mind.
I've heard but never seen the European version of the ProMaster that has a 4wd system. Unfortunately you can't get it here.
@@Weretherussos in EUROPE ITS THE FIAT DUCATO,,NOW THAT, ITS ANOTHER EURO CO OWNS CHRYSLER, RAM, THERE FIAT DIESEL EINGINES HERE NOW !, 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
We have a transit and ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! We didn't do a traditional build - but we have a "base camp on wheels" and couldn't be happier!! ~Karen & Shannon WOY
Thanks for the quick comparison. Love the video
Thanks for doing a great comparative video. As someone who loves German engineering, I gravitate toward the Sprinter, but in terms of practicality the Ford would be the logical choice. As you pointed out, Ford dealers are nearly everywhere. Safe travels!
Really interesting comparison. I went with a promaster because it was wider with squarer walls. It’s not a 4 wheel drive so I guess it’s not part of your comparison but I love it. And it gets 16-20 mpg.
Thank you for your comparison. I am sure the clip helps many to make a better choice to choose. Happy trails!
Great video. After talking with you and Kait at one of the van expos, we switched from Mercedes to Ford for many of the reasons outlined in this video. We are now playing the waiting game. Thank you both!
You're welcome and hope the wait isn't too long.
Excellent video! I was fixed on getting a Sprinter, after hearing all your comparisons, I think a Transit would be the smarter choice for my purposes, thanks!
You’re welcome!
Everything else aside, when you said you had your foot buried to the floor and it was losing speed going uphill, that's enough for me. I can't stand an underpowered vehicle, especially a "go-anywhere" vehicle that could accumulate things on your journeys. Great review.
Learned a few things thanks! I’m thinking for for all the practical reasons.
Very nice to have your insight when considering both options. In a time where it can be difficult to find a test drive vehicle available, we really lean on these types of videos for help.
Great info -The selectable 4×4 system, with low range, will no longer be available next year on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2023 they are going to AWD. Different engines too.
Great video. Thanks. I was really surprised to see the Transit have more headroom then the Sprinter. From the outside it looks like the Sprinter would have more.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the helpful comparison. Great Video!
Really great compare video. Thanks!
Thank you for a great comparison. We've been torn between Mercedes b class vs Ford Coachman Beyond RB and this helps. The interior height is a biggie as my husband is 6'1", plus I've not found a Mercedes with a RB twin set up. We like this floorplan as it feels so much more open than others. Anyway, thank you. Love your videos.
As you may see from a prior comment, we owned two MB sprinter vans and now own a 2022 Coachmen Beyond 22C AWD Li3. We really love our Beyond. It may not have the room of the Sprinter LTV 2016 Unity, but it is so much more nimble to drive and park. The build quality is excellent. The Li3 is worth the money. You can get a better deal depending on shopping as price varies a lot from dealer to dealer.
@@bobshoe1 Thank you for commenting. It's appreciated.
My favorite is the Mercedes Sprinter, but I'm beginning to like what the Ford Transit has to offer!👍Thanks for sharing!🤗
You’re welcome
Very good info to help guide a decision on which one to choose. Thank You!
Excellent and fair comparison between the two vehicles. Very good presentation without the "noise" you get with most presenters. Thanks.
Glad you liked it!
This was great, my husband and I have teetered between gas and diesel and feel that the gas will serve us better as well. Head room, handling, power, looks like the transit is the best fit for us as well. Thanks for the great comparison
You’re welcome!
Here's another ding on the diesel fuel option. As if it wasn't stressful enough to find diesel on your travels, you can't get 5% sulfur everywhere as suggested by Mercedes for the fuel. So many stations only have a Biodiesel option. This means it will run a little dirtier and you'll have to get oil changes more frequently than the standard 20, 000 miles.
I once had a problem with a Ford campervan in the middle of nowhere, Arizona. A small garage in a tiny town fixed it up, no problem. I think the point about maintenance and repairs is an especially good point if you're planning on traveling to remote areas (eg, Utah, Arizona, etc) where finding a Mercedes repair shop could be really hard if not impossible.
Great comparisons. The vast network of Ford Dealerships throughout the country is a huge plus.
The transfer case on the Sprinter is a thing of the past.
Interestingly Transit despite not having 2 speed transfer case has a lower 24:1 overall crawl ratio than Sprinter with low range 20:1, thanks to granny gear 9 speed auto. Transit also has an optional limited slip differential in the rear. The Sprinter has an open diff. The Sprinter also doesn't have a center diff lock. So off-road it traction is a problem Transit will usually come out on top. The Sprinter will get ahead on ground clearance.
I was sold on getting a sprinter, and then I drove one on a trip we took to the Olympics. I found it to be severely underpowered. So much so that I really disliked driving it on inclines or where faster acceleration was necessary. I then drove a friend’s Transit with the Ecoboost. Night and day difference. I felt it had comparable power to my truck. In the end I couldn’t justify dropping six figures on a van I hated driving, although the cockpit was much nicer on the Sprinter, it just wasn’t worth the lack of performance.
Agreed
Excellent points and a very useful video! Many thanks!
Excellent comparison - thank you!
I drive a transit for work and it's very uncomfortable . The dash layout doesn't work very well either. With diesel you get better fuel mileage and diesels last much much longer than gas engines.
We`ve had our 4x4 Sprinter for over a year now, and love it. Average around 16 MPG between freeway and city/trails. We did upgrade the suspension to a Van Compass 4.3 which helps a lot with off roading as well as freeway high winds. Only thing I don’t like is when stopping on an incline, the turbo has to spool up before it will move. Sometimes, I wonder if it will move at all even with my foot smashed on the accelerator. Never test drove the Transit, though wish I had. I did test the Ram, and really disliked it mostly due to lack of torque and stopping power. This was after owning 2 Ram pickups that I thought were great.
And I think the ram is front wheel drive only! Not good
for traction when building out a camper with all the weight
on the rear .
at work we have a 2wd 3500 dually, it gets over 25 mpg. yes it is a dog up hill
We have a ford truck with this same engine. Parts unavailable all summer of ‘23. Not drivable. We just bought a sprinter rv, our 2nd, and will hope its ok. Our 1st one, other than alignment was fine
@@melissal3383 The 3.5 EcoBoost? What parts are you waiting for? Is it a common issue and/or recall so potentially 1000s waiting for the same parts?
@@user-3tf67bk46u i know it needs a few parts. Believe it or not, its a GASKET!! We would normally have just put something that fit but last year we put a few gaskets on our boat’s vacuum toilet system. And one failed right out of the Amazon box. They looked & felt identical. Both toilets needed this duckbill thing. We found one Dometic but had to order a 2nd non-dometic one from Amazon. a boat mechanic found us one and that was the issue. We couldn’t believe that it failed bit it did. We cannot take a chance with an “engine”
Fantastic and thorough review...very well done 👏. 👏
Glad you liked it!
Good info and great editing. Thanks.
Much appreciated!
Having driven a sprinter for the past 8 years (both the 4cyl and 6cyl diesels) my thoughts are this: The current gen Sprinter looks so much sexier than the current Transit both inside and out. But unfortunately the sprinter is just a maintenance nightmare and what some might now know so that not all Mercedes dealerships have a sprinter tech so that 400 dealer number is likely significantly less in terms of dealerships where you can have your sprinter worked on.The Transit is so much better in a lot of ways but I just can’t get over the looks of it. The sprinter is just so sexy but it comes with a LOT of baggage. In the end I think the Transit is objectively better but subjectively the sprinter looks 10x sexier. If you care about that kind of thing 😬
Don’t forget about the Stough 4x4
At the end of the day the sprinter is a high maintenance woman and we know no matter how good she looks in the end she's going to cost you the most and certainly won't be so sexy to you ....like my pappy use to say beauty is only skin deep but ugly if Plum to the Bone !!!
Sexy things usually come with baggage in my experience.
If you get stuck in the middle of the road, being sexy doesn’t really help….
@@ES-vt4zn if you’re wallet runs dry, the sexy thing will need a new home
For our lifestyle, the Revel fits us best. I think it’s wonderful that there are options to suit everyone! Congratulations on your storyteller!
Agreed!
Really *EXCELLENT* comparison.
Well done comparison. Thank you.
Nice comparison. I have a question. You mentioned that Mercedes has just under 400 dealerships nationwide. But not all dealerships are equipped to work on Sprinters so the 400 dealerships are the ones that can work on Sprinters or is the numbers of Mercedes dealerships for Sprinters far less?
You two produce really good and interesting content. Keep up the good work!
You’re correct and I don’t know how many of the 400ish work on Sprinters
True, I lived in Central California and had to drive to Southern California for Sprinter service. Often with the "check engine light on." UN-NERVING!
@@Weretherussos OMG join one of the many Sprinter groups and get the info on local dealers..MB or non MB in the know. This vid sounds like an info mercial for Ford. Happy trails!
Interesting video. Thank you.
We have the MB, very satisfied but here is what I dislike:
1) Too many electronic sensors make you totally at the mercy of MB for maintenance. You need the MB computer to fix many issues, even a 300$ OBD2 tester don't work.
2) Dealership are scarce. Here in Quebec, we had owners have their RV towed 800 km to a dealership, and the wait time for repair is 3 months. (Not a typo, 1-2-...3 months).
3) The dreaded 'you have 10 starts left. Inacceptable for anyone, especially for travelers. And there is no way to bypass, even in an emergency situation.
I still love ours, but because we boondock a lot in remote areas, the next RV will be on a Ford chassis.
Good summary - thank you for sharing that.
Awesome video. It was very helpful! Thanks!!!
Enjoy your videos. Good to see you and Kait jn McCall. Thank you for the stickers and T-shirts.
Our pleasure! Great meet you as well!
One of the main advantages of a Class B (van) over other form factors of RV's is the ability to easily fit into standard parking places. Urban parking spaces are nominally 20 feet long, but the 22 foot Ford Transits fits just fine. The 24 foot Sprinter is pushing it a bit. Adding a cargo box or bike rack on the back makes the difference even more critical.
The only down side that I've heard of with AWD, is if you loose a tire at 50 percent of it's wear, you have to replace all of them.
You could do tire rotations with your 5 tires by using a full size spare. Then, if it does happen, just replace the spare. AWD is nice.
You, sir, are a steely-eyed review guru. Thanks for the no BS, all-useful, objectively controlled, no superfluous content video!
I appreciate that!
Excellent comparison. I am familiar with both and completely agree. Life is full of choices and compromises.
Great video. I just got rid of my 2016 sprinter. Had nothing but problems with it since day one. Looking into a ford now. Just wondering about those twin turbos now. Not a big fan of turbo engines. Can these turbo engines be trusted? Thanks.
The 3.5L twin turbo has been around for over 10 years and has been well proven from what I've read.
@@Weretherussos
Including the turbos??
Great comparison. My friends all choose the Transit over the Sprinter. I love my Sprinter and I’d probably love the Transit, too, for different reasons. But, the clearance on my Sprinter 4x4 has been essential for boondocking and exploring national forest land. I’ve gone over some very unkempt, gnarly terrain and anything with a lower clearance wouldn’t have cleared the rocks and ruts. And, the van is pretty 🤣. Ps I wanted diesel hoping that this thing will keep running for a very long time. I use it as my RV and my daily driver. I’m fortunate to have a local Mercedes dealer who gets me in within a day for service. That’s unheard of in most parts of the country and I could see how not having that type of access to a dealer would be tough.
At the end of the day, we’re out there in our vans, whatever make/model they are, and we’re living life, making memories.
Agreed. Sprinters rock, and the additional ground clearance is excellent.
I appreciate the focus on the merits of each of these vehicles. Many times these types of videos focus on the individual amenities, which the owner opted for...
Thank you
Great comparison. Thank you for this