Mercedes Diesel Sprinter motorhome
We are looking at a 2015 Winnebago Navion 24V. Anyone had any problems with this engine/chassie/model? We have never owned a diesel and would like to hear from those who have.
Forum Discussion
CharlesinGA wrote:Dakzuki wrote:
The Sprinter cutaway is not unibody....only the vans are. They build class As on the same chassis (sans cab). The Transit is of the same construction. Oil is not a problem if you know what you're looking for. NAPA sells it and it goes on sale for cheap regularly.
Crawl under yours and look, it IS a unibody construction. What Winnebago uses on the Via, is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cowl chassis, which does not have the MB hood, fenders, grill, bumper, A pillars, etc. It is still a unibody of frame, and firewall/cowl. Its just that a lot of MB parts have been left off or cut off and WBO fabricated pieces to take its place.
This same process was used on some pesudo Class A MH's 30 or so years ago, using the Ford E Chassis, where the manufacturer removed fenders, hood, etc and cut away certain structural parts of the cab and then built a Class A type body around the front end of it.
http://www.winnebago-rv-motorhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mercedes-benz-f50-chassis.jpg
Mercedes also has a low frame variant designed especially for camper use. The top of the frame rails is 8 inches lower than a standard Sprinter, the rear suspension is trailing links and coil springs to lower the height, and optional air suspension is available. Three wheelbases are available, 141 inch, 151 inch. and 161 inch (curiously all shorter than the standard 170 inch wheelbase used on a Sprinter now). The rear track is 7 inches wider and variable overhangs at the rear are also available. However the GVW is only 3.5 metric tons, 7700 lbs, this chassis is more designed for the smaller European campers/caravans.
Low chassis, cutaway and cowl models.
Charles
That is not a unibody. The scuttle area is likely stressed sheet metal primary structure but you are looking at a ladder frame.
