Our Sprinter Van Broke Down in the Middle of Nowhere!
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- We have a story to share with you! On our trip home after having an incredible adventure in Eastern Oregon in our Winnebago Revel Sprinter van (not our Jeep Wrangler), we found our selves broke down on the side of the road in an extremely remote location. It took getting very creative to get ourselves home, get our van home and repaired before we could finally get back on the dirt again. In this video, we share the entire adventure with you as we head to the mountain to find a remote camping spot for the night.
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We're so happy we could help you both out and get you back on the road. We promise you won't regret that ARB Locker or those Overlander HD's. Much love!
Agile Off-road for the win!!!
❤
Three of my friends have sold their Sprinter vans due to multiple failures and a massive lack of repair shops that will do warranty services when you are out and about.
I too have had two friends trade their sprinter vans . Poor service and long waits for a simple oil change , not to mention high price paid for everything .
Just curious: what was the option that they went with?
@@FredJumayao One went with a Dodge 3/4 ton 4x4 SB with a really nice pop-up trailer and the other one loves 4x4 vans and he bought a Ford Sportsmobile. My buddy’s Dodge is cool, but the Sportsmobile is truly bad-ass! Alas, my other friend has bowed out right now because of all of the issues that took place with the Sprinter pissed his wife off something fierce. To be honest, her idea of roughing it is not having a concierge!
Hi Fred ,,, one of my friends went with a Winnie Ekko and the other a Solis .
Ford Transit superior in many ways, especially horsepower with the EcoBoost engine (plus WAAAY more Ford dealers, cheaper service, etc.)
And that boys and girls is how the Sprinter Van got its nickname The Toad
Gutless Toad . .
I use to go Kayaking all the time, but with aging I have not done it in a while; Sir your videos are motivating me to start going outdoors again. It’s good to see that the van was fixed and improvements were made at a cheaper price, thanks for sharing Sir.
Get out there my friend, being outside is good for the mind and soul!
I love my old Cherokee XJs (I have 3 of them) because they’re so easy to fix on the trail. Just carry a spare CPS, serpentine belt, and a set of tools. They also always seem to break the same way every time, so figuring out what to repair becomes second nature. Then again, I find that dealing with broken Jeeps is part of the adventure. I’m glad you guys made it back to civilization!
This speaks volumes about where Mercedes Winnebago's Sprinter's priorities are. When they don't take care of someone with a larger voice they certainly won't take care of the average joe.
I never mentioned that I had a CZcams channel, I wanted to be treated like a regular guy so I could see how they would handle it... or not handle it.
@@TrailReconthey should have looked you up. It’s not like they haven’t been to all the off-road shows lol.
The fact of the matter is while driving you damaged the rear end. While that sucks that is not a warrantable item. Warranty is for manufacture defects. I do find it funny they want to replace the hole axle but that is how the industry is these days. Glad to see everything worked out for you!
@@Kcdaniel88 Correct, definitely NOT a warranty issue.
LOL, thanks for sharing your experience with Mercedes with us. We we looking at the 4x4 merc van, not interested anymore.
Love the story. Sprinter sagas like these are why I have a GMC Savana with a Quigley and a fiberglass high top for a van. Reliability and serviceability.
Small world. At the start of the video I jokingly said to my wife that this was the van we saw on our way to Thomas Mountain. Then you said it was the Thomas Mountain Road. We were in the red Wrangler you saw right before your camp site. Thanks for including a very small bit of our Jeep in the video. This was my second encounter with you two in the wild. The first was July 17. Your yellow Jeep followed your red Jeep going north past Hanna Flat Campground. See ya on the trails! Cheers
Glad you can have such a good attitude about all of that. Also glad you have friends with multiple talents to help out. Good story, and food for thought for anyone thinking Mercedes has any better Customer service than any of the other auto manufacturers. They've all become horrible, and the independent shops are about the only hope we have, now. Just have to find the rare honest ones. Glad you guys are safely home and repaired. Can't wait to see what y'all do next.
Thanks for sharing your story, you made us aware of this potential issue and we purchased and installed a differential guard so we don't run into this issue off-roading. We are often off the beaten path and away from easy help, so this really resonated. Happy and safe travels!
Sprinter vans have put several companies out of business due to maintenance issues. Lord knows they cost me 4x what our express vans did. I parted ways with all but 1 before it was the first one and paid off. However… it’s pushing its limits with me.
Sorry you guys had to go through all that and the unfortunate experience with the Mercedes dealership. We love our Sprinter (the lack of power is a major downside along with available service centers though we live close to one which so far has been great) and one of the first things we did after purchase were to get all the skid plates available that we could since we go offroad often. This was before Agile came out with the heavy duty diff cover and air locker. I was going to put off getting the locker, but after watching your video its next on the list.
Breakdowns and crazy misadventures make for the best campfire stories.
Now I know why my buddy who paid $220,000 for one of these fancy sprinter off-road vans only camps in parking lots 😅. What a ride, but it’s all part of the adventure, and now you have a great story. I love your positive attitude, I would’ve been fuming after paying 200k for one lol.
What a story! Thanks for sharing it with us. It can be heartwarming when people who don’t have to help out then go out of their way for people having a tough time. It renews faith in our fellow humans. Big takeaway is to stay far away from Sprinter vans and horrible Mercedes service. I’m glad it finally worked out for you.
I've had my Entegra launch 4x4 for almost three years now added 20k miles and took it to some questionable places with zero issues on the Mercedes side of it (knock on wood). First thing I bought for it was that diff cover and skid plates from Van Compass as extra insurance. I just put in my order for the AO lockers three days ago. Haters are gonna hate, I'm glad everything worked out for you.
Thank you for sharing your adventure and experience. I have watched your channel Brad for years. I have enjoyed even more with Regina being involved and watching her experience grow. Thank you Both for clean entertainment and Your Service to Our Country. Blessings to you.
Funny rental coincidence. A few days before your trip my wife and I flew to Redding to pick up our truck and do some over landing on our way home to NY. Our airline left us stranded in San Francisco so we rented a car and drove the last 3 hours. We left our rental at the Redding airport - The same Cherokee you drove home.
Due to flight delays that week our trip was cut short by 4 days. We managed to squeeze in several CA off-road trails before we left and then visited some in Utah and Wyoming as we headed home. It was a crazy experience for us as well but an experience we treasure.
Yup, kinda figured you would have problems with this van.. Although, not the problem I expected.. Through my experience in the towing industry, I've noticed that these vans don't seem very reliable and the lack of available service options creates an endless list of problems.. The scary part, to me anyways, is that I've personally seen a bunch of these vans burned up from the engine back! Then there's the Manufaturers roadside plan..Pretty much the same with all the manufacturer plans.. They just don't care.. They're too quick to give up on finding you a tow and don't even bother to call the customer back.. in most cases they are contracted with 3rd party call centers like Agero, Allstate roadside, Honk and a handful of others who have a very poor reputation at best for actually getting the job done.. AAA definitely does a better job in most cases. But, still has their moments..That said, Keep it and make sure you have rv coverage on that policy.. Being from Bend, I am not a bit surprised by your experience at that Mercedes dealership. They are shady as hell! I've personally repossessed vehicles from employees there that they were deliberately trying to hide and have not heard one good experience from anyone.I hope you don't have any more problems, But, I'm not gonna hold my breath either..lol..
Sometimes the stories, good or bad, that spawn from our adventures teach us a lot about ourselves! Prime example of adapt and overcome! Glad you guys are safe, that’s all that really matters and you both have a smile and a great story to pass on…thanks for sharing, always a pleasure to come along!
Owl vans. I can see and feel the change when the secondary alternator is set to standby.
Interesting story - thanks for sharing.
And nice to see your dog in an episode. Every overlander channels should have a dog as part of the show 🐕.
Thanks for sharing, what an adventure! Also, I live in Garner Valley (right below Thomas Mtn.) The burned areas were prescribed fire done this past June to reduce fire danger in the area. I mountain bike and explore Thomas Mountain almost every week since I live here. Love the yellow post sites up there! Thanks for testing out the van and sharing with everyone, we are all curious!
That's good to know! Thank you for the info. 😊
Thanks for sharing your story! We are huge fans of your channel. After more than 200 nights out on the trails with our Tacoma the last four years we are building a Sprinter 170 to enhance our longer distance trips and adverse weather seasons in the southwest... and beyond. Fortunately have not had an unfortunate circumstance like you share in this episode, but love hearing about your experiences and comparisons, as we are also discovering the differences between light truck and van exploring. I really appreciate your candidness and willingness to share your whole story. Thank you for what you do!
thats what Sprinters do !
What an amazing...adventure?! The Trials and Tribulations of Travel Vans! And thanks for the reminders of how beautiful Idylwylde is; one of my favorite places in California. After 70 years its no longer "home". Glad to have you and Regina and your smiles and optimism! Thanks for taking us along!
The main reason keeping us from Vanlife is the limited selection of possible vans. Ford, Mercedes, and Ram . Waiting for Toyota to wake up and save the day.
I think even Amazon tried sprinters at one point
At least the Ford can be made very capable with just a few bolt-ons. And it's mostly Ford stuff too.
As a Central Oregon resident I'm glad the folks in Burns Oregon were so helpful. I hope everyone you met on your journey home was as helpful. Please remember to pass kindness and help forward when you can. Also thanks for confirming in my mind to keep my TJ and stay away from the vans.
Next video: Top 5 upgrades for U Hauls
LOL! If I can get my hands on a 4x4 Haul, I'm in!
Thank you guys for sharing this experience. I think the Axel cover will be next on order. Appreciate your insight.
Loving my GMC Savana with Advanced 4wd right now! Not as much room but much more reliable and more power.
This video definitely has a different feel to it. Top notch.
Great story. Hilarious. Thanks
Holy guacamole- Mercedes what an embarrassment!!! Thank goodness for actual good people and AAA. Glad you guys were able to work around this. What a nightmare!
What a situation to be in, but as always you applied one of your "rules" and managed to take things in stride. So good to see and hear from you both after the Aussie adventure. Until next time... Travel safe, and thanks for bringing Rocket along.
I got my VC Baja brackets installed and added the rear diff skid plate after watching your video...thanks!....while I was at Owl I said what the hell and had them put in the twin ARB compressor also. I really enjoy your videos. Thanks
What a great adventure! Thanks for sharing the story and also nice sprinter upgrades!
I am very pleased to hear that you received a family/friend welcoming in the town that you broke down in. I am amused that you were surprised about the hospitality that you received. Here in Nebraska. I would honestly say that there probably is three people that wouldn’t have given you the exact same “Shirt off their back” treatment in our whole state.
I guess we take it for granted. It saddens me a little bit that people act so surprised when others do things that growing up we are used to.
Again, thank you for all the experiences that you share with us. Also, thank you for including your family and all of your adventures. Both personal and business. Very inspirational.
If you ever want to wake up every single day and get treated with the same hospitality. You’re more than welcome to come and visit in Nebraska. if you do, I would be willing to bet that every single person you pass on any highway, roadway, or trail. Will wave at you like they know you.
Yes, sprinter van and problems go hand in hand, glad everything is good⭐️😎🤩
I’ve driven many Van , the sprinter was the worsed as popular as they are and the great name they seem to have , they do tick lots of boxes and there isn’t much to compare them with . I’d personally prefer the 4x4 with the removable camping pod
Wow, what a nightmare. Yet you've turned it into an interesting and informative story said with a smile. It reminds me of a quote, which I will alter a bit, from the movie Eiger Sanction. In the movie, things are going horribly wrong on the face of the Eiger and two of them have this brief exchange:
Anderl Meier: You're very good. I have really enjoyed [climbing] driving with you.
Dr. Jonathan Hemlock : We'll make it.
Anderl Meier : I don't think so. But we shall continue with style.
Love that Regina is more involved now, you guys mesh great.
Thanks for all the details. You both have such a great attitude when dealing with adversity on the road. I'm going to add that rear diff cover to my 2019 Revel upgrade list right now.
It’s good to see Rocket is out with you.
Funny story, at least you made the best of it and came out laughing. 😀
I've been pretty remote in places and come around a corner, there's a sprinter van! My thoughts weren't your broken part, it was after 80 miles of washboard and rocks how are cabinets and fittings doing!
Glad it got sorted, 10,000 dollars is a hard number to swallow.
Glad to see you got a real off-road vehicle a 4WD Van, thanks
Further watching.....looks like ill be purchasing some skid plates. Thanks
Wow! At least you kept a positive attitude. We love watching your adventures! I wish we could do it more often. We love going out on adventures!
I really enjoyed this video. It was real life and relatable. I think if you don't have an occasional good story then you are not doing it right...
Awesome to see some sprinter stuff! Ex wrangler owner who loves your channel and have been building a 4X4 170 sprinter build. Will be excited to see more!
Wow! What an adventure. Thanks for all the info regarding the van fix. I plan to get a Revel as soon as I can sell my home so I can complete some bucket list items. Now I know what to add to my van for better adventures. Thanks!!!!😘
I think I now now why the relative that owns one did all the upgrades to his(the one I took on a trip) and why he grumbles when he is asked about Mercedes repair techs and warranty work. His is now sitting on 35's nitto recon grapplers. He and his wife also take ether there TJ (TJ is under going a transplant axles and 4.2 stroker inline 6 it's a direct replacement!)or JL 2 door Rubicon with them on most trips. ! Because they got stuck in the middle of South Dakota and had problems getting a rental as well. Lessons learned the hard way are unforgettable. Thanks for all your great videos Brad and for including ones like this one.
Yayyyy HD diff cover is in place... I knew you would add it ...
MC & Miss Ragina, you folks are truly inspirational, and I'm appreciative of the calmness that you show when dealing with . . . You fill in the blanks
Although I'm a Toyota guy I love the content of your CZcams programs
Thank you
PS: NO SPRINTER FOR THIS GUY
Since you know and have had him in one of your episodes, surprised you have not viewed Venture4WD's videos where he discussed several issues and improvements to his sprinter van. Thanks to yours and other CZcamsrs the videos I have viewed I was able to make smart decisions on the modifications to my JL which I have enjoyed. Another excellent source for local 4x4 repair shops is the local 4x4 clubs. Learned to use this resource from other off-roaders that plan trips and organize logistics into new areas. Glad it worked out in the end. Thanks for sharing.
great story, thanks for sharing
I admire this marriage
the dealer just gave you their “get-out-of-my-face” quote, I have experienced something similar. Great decision going for the locker. You just have to get out of the box and do the best of things.
Thanks guys
What a story! For some reason never realized you are in San Diego. Been watching your videos for a year and began hitting baby trails since I got the Rivian truck. Thanks for mentioning Agile. I’ll keep that in mind for any mid-adventures in the future. Happy trails!
Welcome to vanlife! I’m not a Jeep guy, but definitely love my vans and Agile rocks!, Looking forward to your next Van adventure!
Love watching your journey in the sprinter.
The skid plate offered by Owl Vans $367 is cheap peace of mind. It will take about 30 minutes to install with 3/4” and 5/16” socket. Thanks for sharing your ups and downs.
Love that gulch!
Moral of the story don’t buy a Mercedes
I’ve looked very closely and done a ton of research on both the sprinter van, and the new Ford transit. I know that eventually I will end up in a camper van it is the most logical choice for full-time living as an adventure athlete for me. I also grew up in a 1969 Ford poptop camper. All of my research and conversations with owners at various expos rallies and trailheads have all led me to believe the best option for an off-road camper van is a Ford Econoline, 1992 or newer with a four-wheel-drive conversion. There’s simple mechanical systems that can be worked on anywhere in parts sourced anywhere they also have more than adequate amount of interior space. My neighbor has three of those Mercedes vans and I have taken pretty extensive looks at several of the conversions out there and boy those shiny new interiors are very provocative and tempting but when things go bad and they always will you’re looking at a long time for parts and service and very expensive repair. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate and enjoy watching the content of you trying out a new type of transportation. I’ll continue to watch no matter what you drive.
Y’all are awesome. I can remember when Regina was worried about 35’s being to big on her yellow Jeep. Now she is wanting 37’s on the van. That’s great. Keep up the great video’s. Something’s for me to dream about.
Unless it’s a GWagon AMG
No doubt. The bad press Mercedes just earned in this video is outstanding. Spread the word! I’ve been contemplating one for awhile now…. I will most certainly buy used and not rely on any factory warranty… Agile Offroad does so much better!
Regina complained about the power in the van. Is at a 4 cylinder?
I watch most all your videos and this is the first of me seeing your dog!!
Rocket is my boy, he is just over 13 years old. He's made a sneak appearance here and there, but he's just getting too old these days to take out on long trips.
What a story! I know it was quite a trial to go through but it sure made for an epic story and learning experience. Thanks for sharing!
WOW, JUST WOW!!!!! Unfortunately at a certain point, there’s only so much you can do. I’m glad that you got help, and that both of you were handling the situation the best that you could. Sometimes all you can do is laugh to get through a stressful situation! Great job thinking outside the box with the rentals!
I would just go back to the Gladiator and the Cherokee for this type of exploration, and use the JK and JL for more difficult things
Thanks for sharing, its not always glitz and glamour while traveling.
great story!
Geeez, you just gave away my secret go-to transportation. Uhaul has saved my bacon multiple times when thier weren't ANY rental cars available. I Even drove a 5 ton cube one way, just me and my suitcase, from AZ to Montana. lol.
I have been watching both of your adventures. I love it. Great energy from both of you, just stating our trips,adventures you are very comforting to see how people still can be..
What an adventure y'all had. Hopefully your experience only will get better. Thanks for sharing.
Yikes! I had been thinking hard about a Sprinter conversion van. Thanks for this.
Customer service is #1 no matter what you do or where are you go? Hopefully Mercedes sees this, and has a better approach for the next customer. Glad you made it home, great conversation piece around the campfire😬
LOL!! Great story!! We also have Sprinter van that we had an engine failure on, with the same warranty that you guys had, and they wouldn't cover the engine, because they said we didn't have an OEM oil filter. We also work with a lot of Freightliner trucks with Detroit Diesel and Cummins engines and have found over the past few years that is how they are also getting out of covering stuff under warranty. It's truly unfortunate too. It's funny, we are Class A Rv'ers that are transitioning into overlanding and you guys are going the opposite direction from overlanding into an RV! We had a lot of fun with our RV over the past 30 years. We hope to have as much fun in our Jeeps!!
What a story!
You broke down where my folks are from in Eastern Oregon. Really great people.
Thank you for explaining your dealings with Mercedes. I was considering one of these for future travel. You have made my decision a lot easier. No thank you Mercedes!
Great to see your Revel content, mainly because I have one too! Sorry to hear of your trials/tribs -- I definitely recommend skid plates for engine, xfer case, and diff. I also have AO RIP kit to stiffen suspension (it's much heavier than a std cargo van) and run 275 tires - huge difference! I also removed the hose holder and redirected exhaust to the rear. Get a pedal control to improve throttle response. If you haven't done so, get ceramic tint for front windows; much more comfortable in hot weather. Agreed, it's not a rock- crawler but it will get you to place most other vehicles cannot get to and you'll be ready for camp in 5 min. Lastly, don't listen to the haters, there are attentive, responsive MB dealers (with dedicated Sprinter dept) out there - it doesn't sound like Bend has one, though. The Revel 4X4 FB group is a must for info. Looking forward to more Sprinter content! 👍🏼
Thank you, Ford it is..
What a story 😀Thanks for sharing
M-B Sprinter : Warning this vehicle is highway ready only.
Thanks for sharing. You always have such interesting vlogs and good info.
You are so welcome!
Great video! We have a sprinter too! Thx for sharing… gotta get that agile diff cover! 👍👍
Quite a saga, but all’s well that ends well. Enjoyed your story. Keep moving. Thanks 😎
Selling the PowerWagon is coming back to haunt you. I really wanted to see more of that!
Great video.
Unfortunate circumstances.
Will be passing on the sprinter van purchase.
They treated you like a inconvenience.
That's no bueno.
Great channel Brad and Regina.
Not all adventures and memories take place off the beaten path. We have other friends that have had similar experiences and laughable memories on trips on the hard. Laughed along with you both as you revisited your journey to get back home. Glad you're back safe. All the best. 😉✌
Sadly this is an all too familiar story with MB and the lack of support and customer service. I've been deciding between going Jeep vs. MB van and this has helped me move towards the Jeep. Thank you for being open and honest. Hope somebody from MB is watching.
Jeep and fca in general also have abysmal customer service so I woudnt factor that into your decision making between the two.
Now that’s an adventure an great story,glad all is good an your safe, good case of adapt an over come an being positive, as always stay safe 👍👍👍
Ah man, if I'd had known you were THAT close to me, I would have picked you up & drove you to Redding
Great story...
Glad you enjoyed it!
I feel your pain on MB. I had to replace the front brakes on my 2015 S550 recently. I had to replace rotors and pads and it was $2000 just for the parts. Originals only had 50,000 freeway miles.
Banks makes a great diff cover. Banks can help you with power too.
What and adventure !! I wish I could say your issues at the Mercedes dealership was the first time I have heard such a story but no such luck.
Thank you both for providing the details or trials and tribulations as it were of your trip in the Sprinter. Great content as always
Really like the van, enjoy the adventures in it
Glad that the rough part of your trip is in the rear view mirror. Perhaps people do not realize that the roots of the M-B Sprinter is as a European city delivery and Tradesman (plumber, electrician) vehicle which is pretty far from use as a Recreational Vehicle. Fortunately you are now in the care of Agile OffRoad who have first hand experience and knowledge in making the Sprinter much more moderate off road capable.
Would be cool to see you in a 4x4 converted Ford E350 van on one tons and 37s
First time coming across you two; I learned something.