First 1500 miles with a 2024 AWD Sprinter

[EbS-P]

I wanted to report back my intitial impressions owning a new 2024 AWD high roof passenger van.

It’s HUGE, I look down to drivers in super duty pickups. I can see the top of any suburban. They look so small next to me.

It drives well and parks easy enough. It’s under powered by American standards. 211 HP and 300 is for pounds out of a 2.0L twin turbo i4 diesel. Onside is the gas mileage is good. I’m averaging 21-22 at 70 mph and 19 overall (50/50 city highways).

It has giant blind spots. Blind spot assist is a a great option that should be standard.

Fit and finish is ok. Seats are comfortable. Ride is decent with 850 pounds of people.

Oil change interval is listed at 20k miles and will cost $300+ at the dealership. oil change, fuel filter, and transmission fluid change known as a B service can run $1300-$1600. So I’ve read.

I’m super excited to plan this years vacation. We will get on to some BLM roads and other places I probably wouldn’t have taken my Honda. And we will do it with more comfort and be better organized for a 3-4 week trip.

I’m upgrading rear shocks and adding some slide out storage for coolers and other equipment and adding a rack to securely strode Costco tubs and foot locker storage containers. I added a hitch.

After all my research I concluded that the AWD sprinter is the most capable AWD van in stock configuration and has the most options if you want to improve off-road performance.

 

[4x4prepper]

I never regretted having a winch on the front of a truck or in the bed. Though on more then one occasion I regretted not having a front winch on my 1985 Ford E-250 4x4 van, especially when towing a loaded dual axle trailer off road and getting stuck axle deep in the mud going uphill.

So, if I was taking my family off road in a vehicle, in a remote area, I would want at least a winch on the front bumper. Maybe a skid plate on the fuel tank.

The diesel might not make as much HP/TQ as a gasoline engine, but, it is MUCH safer to carry an extra 10 gallons of diesel then it is of gasoline.

Whatever care is required at 100k miles must be a dozy since the extended warranty for 120k is $2000 more then the 100k. So, I would certainly have at least a working passing knowledge at doing PM myself.

> G660 with 28”, 36” and 52” bars

I just bought a new Farmertec 660 with the "carbon fiber", skid plate, better carb, etc. Might not be as powerful as my modified FT 660, but, it is easier to start. On my older one, I had to replace the pretty much all the trigger setup with OEM Stihl to get it reliable. They run 32" full comp fine though I have not tested them on my sawmill, yet.

I guess yours is the 144" WB.

If you trust retread tires enough, I found a place that sells the chevon V type tread that look like they will be awesome off road. I have 5 of those (tirerecappers) tires to go on my truck and I am going to do a head to head against the treadwright "kwedge" treads. See how each deals with the GA clay mud.

I use to own 30 acres in ME and live in MA and NH, and I found keeping a set of tires for off road and/or winter was a better option then compromising with "AT" type tires for all around driving all year. Today with cordless impacts and aluminum jacks, swapping out four wheels and then torquing them to spec in your driveway is not that big of a deal anymore.

One thing I found REAL handy is having antennas on both sides about two inches taller then the roof line. When creeping under trees, or through a parking garage, or into a drive through, I rather know I do not have clearance before I hear scrapping sounds.

 

[EbS-P]

We will see where the adventure takes us. We’re headed to the Grand Canyon this summer. 2400 highway miles there.

I like the antennas. The official height is 9’8”. I just call it 10’. Its most limiting factor is its size.

Im definitely not trusting a retread at 80mph in the summer on I-40. I’m probably more risk adverse than the average person. Good tires are drop in the bucket for what this van cost's new. And I’m not hauling a spare set of tires 5-6k miles (yet).

Doing my own oil changes is something I can do. The transmission fluid requires a new pan with filter (no drain plug) and is a PITA to check the level. (There is not one dipstick on this rig)


My 660 is going to slab this oak before Christmas

 

[begreen]

I like the antennas. The official height is 9’8”. I just call it 10’. Its most limiting factor is its size.

I almost took off a camper roof vent on a Ford van in a parking garage by this reason. Fortunately I was going slow and could back up when I heard the initial contact.

 

[4x4prepper]

> Im definitely not trusting a retread at 80mph in the summer on I-40

Neither would I 🙃

When going on long trips, especially out of the country, I believe in carrying two spares. Because if you run over trash in the gutter or hit a big pothole, it is not unheard of to destroy two tires.

25+ years ago I was a vendor at a computer show in Quebec, so, I loaded up my 2x4 Ford van to the roof with two spare tires inside under the boxes. We get to the border, after driving hours from MA in a bad snowstorm, late at night, and the custom officer says he can't let me pass because ... studded tires are illegal in Quebec. So, I had to unload everything and change my two tires while customs watched. I never regretted having a floor jack in my trucks .

To be fair, it literally was like driving into another country because as soon as we crossed into Quebec the roads were free of snow and ice build up, even though it was the same storm only 300 or so feet apart. They did an amazing job, I never needed studded tires again until I crossed the border back into the USA.

Besides the diesel engine another plus for the AWD MB van is there is a ton of aftermarket support for it. Even american van carries a bunch of stuff for them now.

> It has giant blind spots. Blind spot assist is a a great option that should be standard.

I was looking through the AV site at the MB offerings, just out of mild curiosity, and this seems like a good system. Not clear if it has a RECORD function or not. Might be better them most Amazon offerings, though without recording, might not be worth the money. The birds eye view towing a trailer and backing it up might be handy if your blind spots are the C pillars.

RVS inView 360° HD Quick-Install Camera System $1099