4x4 Sprinter Van: Still Worth It? What I Wish I'd Known Before Vanlife

After two years and 25,000 miles, I share my thoughts on what I wish I had known before buying our Mercedes Benz Sprinter 4x4 high roof diesel. Make no mistake, we love the van, there are just a few things we wish we had known prior.

Instagram: @outdoorbros_

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0:00 Intro
0:31 The Perspective
0:53 144" vs. 170"
1:37 2WD vs. 4WD
2:36 Fuel Consumption/Gas Mileage
3:58 DIY vs. Professional
4:30 Build Budget
4:56 True Value
5:25 Up Next...

[outdoorbros_]

What else should I have known before I bought this? Questions on the build? Drop me a comment below.

[RossBattersby]

MPG....its a burning question, but also a math one. I run a 170 4x4 at about 10k lbs. Yup she is heavy. Roof rack, lights and lots of goodies inside. I get on average 16 mpg. I have 275 tires. Here is the important part. I rarely hit 70 mph. I know the 144's are comfy and drive like a car (but they don't stop that quick) and they have the aerodynamics of a small house. Far too often people complain about mpg, and then reveal they are going 70 plus mph. It's a van, not a car, it's a heavy large thing, not a low light vehicle. If you go to the breakers yards, there are a lot of Sprinters totalled because end damage. Driving too fast, driving to close (tempting as your field of view is so good) but they cannot stop in time. It's a van; used for deliveries in cities, stop and go, slow transport of materials. Here you are with your family and bikes humming down the freeway at over 70 mph. Enuff said. So to get great mpg, cruise control, max 60-63 on the dial (65-66 actual with larger tires) keep the revs at 2k or close for cruising. Manually shift if she struggles. Eliminate un-needed weight. Every pound counts. But please go slow, its cheaper, see the countryside, not a blur...and be safe. Your wife and kids will thank you.

[briannorwick]

Great video. My wife and I are at a similar stage of ownership both in terms of mileage and time owned.

I'll confirm that:

1) The longer van is easy to drive, maneuver, and use. In paritcular, our Ford Transit 148" Extended length maintains the wheelbase of a truck, but has the extra overhang - we park in grocery strore parking lots with ease by backing the van onto a perimeter parking spot. We also wanted the shorter length for the reasons your described, but if given the chance again would stick with the longer van again.
2) We have the RWD Ford Transit and have crossed Canada in the winter, been up to winter Norway and driven through a Bulgarian winter. We have a limited slip differential, and chains. I would share that in my experience, we didn't need 4WD. When we needed chains, I still would have put them on if we had 4WD because of the sheer slipperiness of the ice below the tires.
3) We started as well with 20MPG and now with the full weight of 9, 000lbs we average 14MPG.

As for the value - I agree- once you get into it it changes your life! We are so happy to have the van in our lives.

I enjoyed your perspective and clear communication. Cheers and happy travels!

[zakzwijn]

Thanks for this, I'm in the market for something like this. I'm based in Europe and the AlphaVan is a prime candidate. Sure, I could TRY to build the thing myself, but

- I dont have the skills
- I dont have the tools
- I dont have the time
- I dont have the motivation
- I dont have the space
- I do have the money to purchase an already built van

So yeah the choice is pretty simple for me. I have a budget of around 300.000-350.000 euros.

[kensoutham]

We had a 2wd 170” MB and opted to go shorter and AWD for our self build out. The build out our first wasn’t our first rodeo as we have owned several VW Westfailias, a Pleasureway MB and we like the easier parking of a 19’6” van over a 23’ van. We have had a Ford Transit AWD for a bit over 2 years and are happy with our Euro style design that no one had on this side of the water in 2020. A garage and E/W full time bed (with a small slide instead of flairs) were on the must have along with all the usual comfort items. Our van would be closest to a Storyteller van but we were not forced to have a number of options that didn’t meet our needs or that we didn’t want. 2 years in and we don’t want to change a thing on the basic build; we only want to upgrade our bed mattress, so the design is perfect for us.

[PavewayJDAM]

Caution to DIY conversions. Track and try and keep all that added weight LOW in the vehicle. These are narrow vans, mostly lifted, and just because the payload is what it is, the vans are not designed to carry the max factory payload rating 100% of the time, with the Center of Gravity 3-4-5ft above a stock cargo variant and be safe.

Chose lightweight options on materials the higher up you go.

[CycoWarriorx]

Yosemite in the snow is probably the most scenic, stunningly gorgeous places in California…. 😎🍻

[binyamj]

Good tips, but I’m not paying someone $100k-$200k (not including price of van), when I can do the exact same work for $25k-$35k. A power supply from one company was $25k before labor! I priced out the same exact components for $6k.

[lightning]

Two wheel drive with a locking differential and chains. Unless you are traveling on those roads that mandate 4wheel drive/4wheel drive with chains then buy the 4wheel drive. I remember traveling in California and running into police roadblocks that would not less you pass unless you had four wheel drive and/or chains. Great video.

[patfuck]

I'm getting 11 mpg with a 40foot RV !! you're making me rethink about selling it thanks . beautiful van btw

[Liimpy]

Add Amsoil all in 1 to the fuel, keep the fuel system clean, it help alot with mileage, i add it to every fill up, the cost of the additive negates any fuel savings, bit you'll notice the van will just run better

[NullStaticVoid]

I'm a single dude with no pets, so I fit in a SWB Transit just fine.
I could certainly fill up a long wheel base van with all my toys and junk. As it is I end up using my bunk for storage in the daytime and throw it all on the floor at night.
As far as gas mileage, I've gone out of my way not to have a bunch of crap poking off the top of the van creating wind resistance.
Weight is an issue too, but I can only control that so much. Roof racks are superfluous. I can mount solar panels without them. I don't plan on walking around on the roof in a drone video or storing stuff up there. Plus they cost a ton!

[anthonylozano]

Wow. I have a Ford Transit AWD gas version and I get 18 mpg. Same wheelbase. Did my own build as well. Costs a lot more to build than I thought as well. I keep my road bike in the garage. Too afraid of thieves. Great channel. Just found it.

[ploglet]

Those MPG's are insane. We have a 2wd Sprinter from, that is fully loaded from OSV and we always get 20-22mpg and that is going over the high passes here in Colorado. This is after 60k miles of driving. The change in tires would make a huge difference but then it is the 4wd and higher stance that kills it. Tough choice between 2wd and 4wd.

[MegaCystic]

Im honestly blown by the tone and way you drag words out. Blown away.

[jeffpickens]

Great video . I’m building one now, well done explaining the pros and cons . Family of 3 for this build, so pretty much in the same boat with the second row of seats . Cheers, stay exploring .

[symonty]

Thx for the video, Many years ago I looked at starting a build myself, used to fix cars when I was younger and had no money, the difference between a pro build and normal skills on such a small platform is something most dont think about till it is too late.
now looking at an airstream interstate 19 with E1 ( 12Kw battery system, all electric no propane ), deisel 4x4... ends up like $220K.. but full bathroom and shower, runas aircon / micorwave / induction all from battery .... NO RV park for me!
This information was very helpful, thx.

[adunnthing]

Great video, and I think your point about the reasons for why you would buy something like this are valid, it's never going to be economical, but it does give you the ability to perhaps do things you wouldn't ordinarily do.

[bradleyleeper]

First! Love the content man, simple, short and sweet!

[VoIPPortland]

Sprinter now following the Transit with AWD, no more 4WD. The 'van to have' now is the Transit Trail 2023.