Sprinter Class C 4x4 Conversion

carringb wrote:

CoeyCoey wrote:

SweetWaterSurprise wrote:
I've got a Phoenix Cruiser that has the QuadVan 4X4 conversion. Handles great off road.

I have a Ford E-450 RV right now. Just hate the way it handles. The steering is so lose and sloppy compared to the Sprinters. I'd rather have a 2wd Sprinter than another Ford.

Fixing the E450's sloppy steering isn't difficult, just requires a good alignment shop, and possibly some larger sway bars.

If you took your motorhome to QuadVan, it will handle much better when it's done, since they at dual Bilstein shocks, a steering stabilizer, and sway bars as needed.

I have Bilstein shocks, a steering stabilizer, and sway bars. Still handles like ****. Every Ford and Dodge I have owned had crappy steering and death wobble issues.

CoeyCoey wrote:

SweetWaterSurprise wrote:
I've got a Phoenix Cruiser that has the QuadVan 4X4 conversion. Handles great off road.

I have a Ford E-450 RV right now. Just hate the way it handles. The steering is so lose and sloppy compared to the Sprinters. I'd rather have a 2wd Sprinter than another Ford.

Fixing the E450's sloppy steering isn't difficult, just requires a good alignment shop, and possibly some larger sway bars.

If you took your motorhome to QuadVan, it will handle much better when it's done, since they at dual Bilstein shocks, a steering stabilizer, and sway bars as needed.

CoeyCoey wrote:

I mean order a van and have them cutaway the back. Not cutaway meaning chassis cab.

I see what you're saying, but IIRC the vans are unibody and the cutaway models have a boxed frame of sorts. Sounds much easier to convert a cutaway to 4WD.

SweetWaterSurprise wrote:
I've got a Phoenix Cruiser that has the QuadVan 4X4 conversion. Handles great off road.

I have a Ford E-450 RV right now. Just hate the way it handles. The steering is so lose and sloppy compared to the Sprinters. I'd rather have a 2wd Sprinter than another Ford.

I've got a Phoenix Cruiser that has the QuadVan 4X4 conversion. Handles great off road.

Response to Phil....Gary, off topic but:

- It looks like your 4X4 Class C in the photos had it's stock front coil springs replaced with leaf springs? Does it ride rough in the front, as a result?

It used to ride rough, Phil. Canada Spring added a third and that took care of the porpoising.

- Also, is that black structure on the rear your rooftop boat rack?

Yeppers. Hand crank on drivers side.

- Did the 4X4 conversion on your Class C include replacement of the rear differential with a limited slip or locking differential?

Not to my knowledge. I will drop a line and ask the shop. I bought this after the conversion was done. I know there is not a locking diff. If I hadn't bought this...the next best answer is a locking diff and a lift.


Gary

rjstractor wrote:

MB doesn't make a 4x4 Sprinter cutaway, so anything on a van cutaway would have to be a conversion to get 4WD. There are pickup-based Cs on the market that have factory 4WD but I don't know if they fit your needs as far as space and/or price go.

I mean order a van and have them cutaway the back. Not cutaway meaning chassis cab.

CoeyCoey wrote:


Thanks for the idea. I did check them out, but none of their floor plans work. I am looking for something where the bed is usable with the slides in. I do a lot of long distance traveling and I often stay the night in rest stops, or off highway exits and wouldn't be able to extend the slide for sleeping.

If I went with a new RV, are there any manufacturers that make Class C's from a cutaway? If I ordered a Sprinter 3500 4x4, will anyone turn it into a class C? This would likely be about similar in cost to getting a conversion done I suspect. Plus, I would get all the options I wanted in the Sprinter, and could delete the options in the RV I will never use. Resale would be very good as well.

MB doesn't make a 4x4 Sprinter cutaway, so anything on a van cutaway would have to be a conversion to get 4WD. There are pickup-based Cs on the market that have factory 4WD but I don't know if they fit your needs as far as space and/or price go.

rjstractor wrote:
I don't know how big you need or what your price range but here's a Gemini based on the Ford Transit with either diesel or gas. Add a Quigley 4x4 conversion and you're at around $100,000. I don't know if you are 100% set on a Sprinter, but the Transit is pretty comparable other than a 700 lb lower GVWR.

Thanks for the idea. I did check them out, but none of their floor plans work. I am looking for something where the bed is usable with the slides in. I do a lot of long distance traveling and I often stay the night in rest stops, or off highway exits and wouldn't be able to extend the slide for sleeping.

If I went with a new RV, are there any manufacturers that make Class C's from a cutaway? If I ordered a Sprinter 3500 4x4, will anyone turn it into a class C? This would likely be about similar in cost to getting a conversion done I suspect. Plus, I would get all the options I wanted in the Sprinter, and could delete the options in the RV I will never use. Resale would be very good as well.

Quad Van in Portland is doing conversions on Transit platforms. They had 3-4 in progress and several completed when I was there last April.