Forum Discussion

ntar827's avatar
ntar827
Explorer
Oct 30, 2015

Chevy, Ford Sprinter

From reading here and my own experiences, the Chevy motorhomes are easier to drive than the Ford motorhomes. The issue being largely the front end suspension.

How do motorhomes on a Sprinter chassis compare to Chevy and Ford?

Thanks

Nick
  • rjstractor wrote:

    I've heard that the ride and drive is better in a Sprinter, but it's not an across the board comparison. The Sprinter is smaller and lighter with less towing capacity. It's like comparing a "1/2 ton" to a "1-ton" pickup, one will ride smoother and get better mpg, the other will be bigger with higher towing and hauling capacity.


    ^This exactly. Different animals completely. You can only go up to a 24' coach on a Sprinter, and they hardly make any coaches that small on the E-series, except a small handful on the E350. Unless you are only looking at 22'-24' coaches, the chassis comparison is mostly irrelevant. If that is the size you are looking at, they you should also compare the Transit, which is very competitive with the Sprinter.
  • Maintenance. Get it anywhere with a Ford or Chevy. With the Sprinter you have to find a Mercede$ dealer who also has the Sprinter software and diagnostic equipment - not all do - or a Dodge or Freightliner shop with it. Again even fewer of those do. If a Limp Home Code gets set on the Sprinter you only have 2nd gear and Reverse until you get to one of those dealers. Road service can't help. If it happens on Saturday morning nothing happens til Monday. The tow can be a few miles to several hundred.

    Most of the time Sprinters perform well and have more cockpit room, by a large margin, are as quiet, or quieter, in the cockpit. and get 15-20 mpg. The wheelbase is Sprinter van narrow and you get a lot of rock and roll when you enter a street at an angle, such as leaving a gas station.

    Loved to drive mine. That didn't compensate for the insufferable German over-engineering of the engine electronics. I've had Dodge and Ford Class C's, never a Chevy. Now drive an E-450 - crowded cockpit, hot on the passenger side, harsh ride, but when I want to go it does.
  • ntar827 wrote:
    How do motorhomes on a Sprinter chassis compare to Chevy and Ford?


    I've heard that the ride and drive is better in a Sprinter, but it's not an across the board comparison. The Sprinter is smaller and lighter with less towing capacity. It's like comparing a "1/2 ton" to a "1-ton" pickup, one will ride smoother and get better mpg, the other will be bigger with higher towing and hauling capacity.
  • I have a sprinter chassis .MH and its great four times the leg room than ford or chevy. and I get 20 mpg.
  • ntar827 wrote:
    From reading here and my own experiences, the Chevy motor homes are easier to drive than the Ford motor homes.


    :?