oldmansknees
Pittsburgh
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Joined: 03/02/2008
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I made it to Craig Smith Rvs yesterday to check out Bs. I was quite impressed (and I never expected to be) by the Sprinter based PW and LTV. The driving experience was great!
They had a very clean PW with 10K miles that is the "older" model. I've also seen some unowned "older" models still on dealer lots.
My questions:
1. what are your thoughts on the older 2.7 litre 5 cylinder engine vs. the newer 3.0l 6 cylinder?
2. Older headlights vs. the new style?
3. Propane generators - any problems vs. gasoline?
4. Anything else you think I should know about these (I don't know what I don't know - if you know what I mean!) I'm brand new to diesels.
Thanks - y'all are great!!!
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turninghawk
Gatlinburg, TN
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Joined: 09/11/2003
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Great vehicle, BUT one thing to consider. Our dealership purchased two 2006 Sprinters. One needed service, so we began looking for a servicing dealer. Well, you just can't drop into a Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, or Freightliner dealer because VERY FEW of them are Sprinter servicing facilities. We found a total of TWO servicing dealers in the entire state. TWO!! Something to consider down the road.
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topless
Wichita, KS
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Joined: 08/03/2004
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The I-5 2.7 liter motor is a workhorse. It gets 5-7 more mpg(typically 20-24 depending on speed) and loses nothing to the newer V6 in power. The 2.7 doesn't have the same emission system either, will burn any diesel fuel, even (horrors) Low Sulfur Diesel, if Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel isn't in the pump. ULSD is supposed to be, but. They are not completely trouble free, however. One item that pops up is a plastic turbo silencer, mounted on the pressure side of the turbo. They tend to crack and cause the ECU to go into limp mode. They fix them under warranty, but there is an aluminum one that is sold (aftermarket) that fixes it forever. Some owners carry a factory part in case it cracks out of town, others just replace the plastic with metal and forget it. Properly maintained, the motor is good for 500,000 miles pretty easy (according to the Fedex drivers).
I've never seen the newer headlights, the older vans have a very cool feature; adjustable headlights. There's a dash mounted wheel that lets you adjust the angle of the lights, near to far. I've driven many miles at night and the lights are better than many cars I've owned.
Biggest draw back to a propane genset is the smallish tank, however that is only an issue if you intend to boondock and run the genset a lot. We don't. We use the genset when we park and leave the dogs inside. The upside is propane gensets don't gum up if they sit. They also don't get the oil dirty with carbon buildup.
Turbo's are different than a normally aspirated engine, in that they let a small engine make the same power as a much larger one. Off boost you get the fuel economy of a small motor. When you go up in altitude, the turbo doesn't slow down like an NA engine. I liked my Sprinter before I traveled to the Rockies. I was amazed at how it performed in high altitude and with the ability to select the gear I wanted, use the engine for braking downhill. There have many spirited debates about gas vs diesel, but that's not your question (fortunately).
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Shearwater
NE Ohio
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Joined: 12/23/2004
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I doubt that you will find many people who have owned both the older and newer models so a valid opinion based on long term experience will be hard to come by.
The switch from the 5 cyl to the 6 cyl motors was made to meet pollution standards. The cab area was extended slightly to accommodate the larger engine so that the newer models are slightly longer without any increase in the length of the cargo area. The new models are a few inches wider and this may be important to you. In general, B's are limited in interior space and a few inches here and there can make a lot of difference.
The 3.0 engine has the same HP rating as the 2.7 but has more torque at the expense of about a 5-10% decrease in fuel economy. The performance of the 2.7 was perfectly adequate so I don't see any large advantage in the newer engine. The 04 to 06 Sprinters, however, have a thing called a turbo resonater that is absent from the later models. This is prone to failure so that if you do go with an older model I recommend replacing it with an aftermarket part that costs about $100. For more info on this subject do a search in this forum on turbo resonater.
I don't know anything about new headlights. The ones on the old model work perfectly well.
Generators - I don't have a generator and have never felt the need for one. Personally I think they are a PITA and unnecessary unless you want to run the AC when you don't have shore power. Other forum members may have other opinions - they most always do. The one disadvantage with propane is that you probably have only a 7 or 8 gallon propane tank and would have to fill it more frequently. On the other hand, propane probably burns cleaner than gas and you might have fewer long term problems.
I would suggest that you make your decision based on cost and how you like the layouts of the different models. There isn't much of a downside in going with the older model and you may see a substantial difference in price.
Good luck.
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Shearwater
NE Ohio
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I just thought of one more difference between the two that might be important to you. The old models have a fixed steering wheel that is more vertical than most cars. This takes a little getting used to. The newer model has a tilting, telescoping wheel.
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Hit The Road Jack
Treasure Coast of Florida
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Joined: 10/20/2005
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oldmansknees wrote:I made it to Craig Smith Rvs yesterday to check out Bs. I was quite impressed (and I never expected to be) by the Sprinter based PW and LTV. The driving experience was great!
They had a very clean PW with 10K miles that is the "older" model. I've also seen some unowned "older" models still on dealer lots.
My questions:
Thanks - y'all are great!!!
Don't understand why you never expected to be impressed by the Sprinters superior performance?
AFA's the newer 6 cylinder Diesel engine is concerned?...IMHO, "If it works don't fix it"
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AsheGuy
Raleigh, North Carolina
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Joined: 11/15/2004
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Our 2005 LTV is on the 2004 Sprinter chassis and we could not be happier with it. We did have the turbo resonator go out but it was not a catastrophe and covered under warranty. Yes, the newer Sprinter has some nice updates but nothing that offsets the reduced MPG in my mind. The power in general and in the mountains specifically is amazing for the 5 cyl engine size.
For us, the propane generator is quite satisfactory. We don't use a generator much so the fuel tank size is not a factor. But it is nice when needed, e.g. a lunch stop along the road where the coach a/c or microwave may be needed.
We would definitely make the same purchase again. See our blog (in signature) for some of our extended trips in the "CQ" as we call it.
David & Margaret - 2005 LTV 210B 3S
- Our Blog -
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KHJPHOTO
San Luis Obispo, CA & Lancaster, PA
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Joined: 11/21/2004
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No tech notes here; but I have 39,000 on my Pleasure Way TS 2007, built on a Sprinter2006 frame. Have around 73 hours on the genset. No problems, Found the tank size to be fine.
Have never run out of LP. MPG is easily 21 -24 . Towing a small open motorcycle trailer with a total loaded trailer wright of approx. 1400lbs. MPG is still around 19 in a no headwind.
Sitting in San Luis Obispo, CA now after a drive from PA strong headwinds coming across
PHX and the MPG was down to 15.
Very happy with my PW. Love it! Wonder way I support a house!
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clayway
Florida
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Joined: 04/17/2006
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We had a 2006 Roadtrek Sprinter that we recently sold to move up to a larger Class C. Room can be an issue if more than two are traveling, at least in our case.
As for the Sprinter:
1. I never had a big vehicle that was more fun to drive I really miss that
2. Power was ample including fully loaded through the mountains.
3. Milleage was 20+ whether city or highway driving
Some issues:
1. Service can be a challenge if your local dealer does not have a certified technician.
2. On some models the paint was an issue, ours was one of those. I would suggest you check to roof seams for rust. We had to have everything removed and painted at our expense. Roadtrek and Chrysler blamed each other. Althoug I do believe it is a Chrysler issue.
3. If you are going to use the generator a great deal, propane is not he way to go, propane tank is not big enough.
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david_42
Oregon
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Joined: 04/08/2005
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Servicing might be less of a problem than some people are saying. My local garage isn't listed anywhere, but they have a certified MB mechanic because the casino uses Sprinters as buses.
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