Question on Sprinter based motorhomes

[msmith1199]

Two questions, first I’m considering one of the Winnebago motorhomes on the Mercedes Sprinter Chassis. I currently have a 35 foot DP but I want to go smaller for ease of use and driving back and forth cross country. On long trips I don’t plan on taking the toad. But I do want to have the option of bringing it. The toad is a 2019 Ford Ranger. Because of the aluminum body parts it weighs about the same as a four door Jeep Wrangler. I think about 4600 pounds with fuel. The GCVWR on the Sprinter motorhomes seems to leave about 4000 to 4500 pounds for a toad. So it will be close. I have seen quite a few of the Spinters towing Wranglers. If you’re doing that, how well does it tow that much weight?

Second question, the Sprinter comes with a propane generator. The specs show about a 50 pound propane tank. Anybody know how many pounds of propane the 3500 watt generator uses with a load?

[msmith1199]

Jack Spratt wrote:
We find the over cab bunk works great for storage.
The advantage of having it block the sun while driving is
seldom mentioned but certainly easier on the eyes.
It probably does rob some fuel efficiency, but then
that wasn’t the reason for buying a class c.

I’m doing 7 mpg in my Diesel Pusher now, so yeah, I’m not all that concerned with fuel mileage as anything will be better than 7. My main reason for looking at these smaller motorhomes is so I can head out on cross-country trips and not be 55 feet long and 8.5 feet wide like I am now and can actually use the motorhome for sightseeing and getting into cities and parking in places I can’t access now.

[bobndot]

There is certainly a lot of reading to be done (gray areas) on these MB warranties and pre paid service contracts. Add-on EQ and overloading comes into play.
Just be careful, as you already are aware coming from a 35' DP, everything is weight, slides, water, your food, tools etc.
Will your new rv have hydraulic jacks ? If you decide to add them will you have enough payload ?
If you don't like the way it handles, will you have enough payload to add suspension components to improve the ride. Will those optional upgrades void your warranty or service contract ?

https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?threads/75685/

[MDKMDK]

msmith1199 wrote:
Holy cow guys, I said over sized items like chairs and golf clubs. I’m not going to be carrying bags of concrete in the overhead bunk.

That's good about not carrying concrete bags because if you're towing a 4500lb Ranger, the golf clubs might put you over the OCCC available under the 15250 LB GCWR. It's simple math. If the total weight of the fully loaded vehicle exceeds 11030 lbs solo, or the combined loaded weight exceeds 15250 lbs towing, you're over weight.
Just sayin'.....

[Jack_Spratt]

We find the over cab bunk works great for storage.
The advantage of having it block the sun while driving is
seldom mentioned but certainly easier on the eyes.
It probably does rob some fuel efficiency, but then
that wasn’t the reason for buying a class c.

[msmith1199]

Holy cow guys, I said over sized items like chairs and golf clubs. I’m not going to be carrying bags of concrete in the overhead bunk.

[bobndot]

MDKMDK X2.

OP, why do you want a Sprinter if you plan to load up an rv . ?


pros n cons thread :

https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29503089/page/2.cfm

[MDKMDK]

msmith1199 wrote:

MDKMDK wrote:
Once again, what type of Winnebago motorhome were you looking at? Besides the Era/Boldt/Revel class Bs, which could easily pull your Ranger, there are only the View/Navion, and Vita/Porto class C models built on 3500 Sprinter cab chassis.

I am looking at the Vita and Porto models right now mainly because of the larger over the cab bed. Not that I’ll use it as a bed, but it makes for a great storage area since the outside is limited, especially for over sized items like chairs and golf clubs.

I see. You might want to do a little homework on using that cab over bunk as a closet for your "stuff". The View/Navion are OCCC challenged models, in that when loaded for travel, they don't always have a lot of room left over in the GVWR/GCWR "weight budget" for extra things, particularly heavier items. You might want to investigate that aspect of your search, particularly if you're also going to push the combined envelope by towing a heavier towed, like your Ranger. It all adds up.
We didn't like the beluga whale look of the cab overs when we ordered ours in 2017, and deleted it on our 2018 Navion (that isn't an option on the newer models, you have to have the cab over on the View/Navion in 2020). That increased our aerodynamic front profile, and removed almost 200 lbs of weight, by not having the cab over. It worked out for us.
I think you'll find that OCCC is a problem for some of the Sprinter based chassis units, as they aren't as "robust" in that department as their Ford counterparts.
I have no experience or knowledge of the OCCC/GVWR/GCWR specs of the Vita/Porto models, but as they are shorter than the Veiw/Navion you might be OK, if the shorter length has also increased the OCCC capapcity, and improved the GVWR/GCWR numbers.
With or without the cab over, you'll have no problems towing, if the numbers are all within spec. The 3.0L V6 turbo diesel has plenty of power for towing.

[carringb]

Beware that overhead cabs are terrible from an aerodynamics standpoint, and sap a lot of power. This might be difference between maintaining a reasonable speed while towing, to being relegated to the truck lane, since the Sprinter only make 188 horsepower.

[msmith1199]

MDKMDK wrote:
Once again, what type of Winnebago motorhome were you looking at? Besides the Era/Boldt/Revel class Bs, which could easily pull your Ranger, there are only the View/Navion, and Vita/Porto class C models built on 3500 Sprinter cab chassis.

I am looking at the Vita and Porto models right now mainly because of the larger over the cab bed. Not that I’ll use it as a bed, but it makes for a great storage area since the outside is limited, especially for over sized items like chairs and golf clubs.

[Oldtymeflyr]

The manufacturer of the propane generator will probably have a spec for how much propane it uses per hour. Our Onan is a diesel generator and per Onan it uses approximately .4 gal/hr at full load. Look around, you can probably find the spec.

Sometimes we tow a 3500# boat, sometimes a 2011 Ford Ranger that weights in right at 4050# per scale. In the mountains both slow things down. On the flats with some interstate hill we do not notice the boat, with the Ranger it will drop down a gear. We travel on the interstates at 60-65 mph.

Many times we will not pull anything, Our Thor FourWinds is very agile, parking has not been a problem.

Good Luck.

Rick

[Gonzo42]

We have a Winnebago View. We really love..
Propane generator runs very clean, especailly compared to deisel. We tow a Daihatsu ROCKY, with never a problem. We use less than 2 gal of propane on a weekend.
The Turbo diesel V6 MB engine has plenty of power.
We get 15 MPG. Towing at 65 MPH, non-towing at 65 MPG.

[MDKMDK]

Once again, what type of Winnebago motorhome were you looking at? Besides the Era/Boldt/Revel class Bs, which could easily pull your Ranger, there are only the View/Navion, and Vita/Porto class C models built on 3500 Sprinter cab chassis.

[Grit_dog]

BUT, an emissions in tact tune, easily bumps up the 3litre to where it should be.
There are canned tunes that get the MB diesel right up to the numbers that the newer pickups are running. Big difference from the anemic factory offerings.

Personally if you want to tow, I'd get an Ecoboost transit van. 310/400 is enough motivation.

[Grit_dog]

Unless the 3litre Sprinter diesel is offered with better specs than what I read, the detuned 185/325 diesel will be a poor choice for towing much at all.
Unless you really like taking in the sights from the right lane driving sloooowly!

IMO, none of the econo vans like Sprinter and Transit are good tow vehicles, not what they were designed for with their micro mini motors. Save for the V6 Ecoboost transit.
It's the only one that puts out good power numbers for towing.

Not a dig on these vehicles, just not what they were made for.
If you want the compact footprint of a B or small C AND want to tow stuff, that's where a pickup and TC shine. A big TC, even on top of a (economical) gas HD truck will blow the doors off a Sprinter when you hook a trailer to it.

Every RV is a compromise and Sprinters compromise with towing.