pnichols wrote:

Here's my comments regarding a Class B+ or Class C RV built on a Sprinter chassis:

1. Coach walls and steps are too low to the ground - how you gonna take them reliably off paved roads?
We have not had any issues with our Forest River 2400R MBS going down gravel roads. Like any RV down a gravel road, you need to pay attention to where you are going and the road conditions. Height has not been an issue.
2. Too tall for their dually track-width in the rear - they look unstable side-to-side.
If the unit is equipped with antiwar bars, that problem is not an issue. Ours has the Hellwig setup on it and does not have that effect, unless you are crossing uneven drives in / out of parking lots.
3. Difficult to find emergency servicing when something goes wrong a long way from home.
That can be a point of consideration for the MBS setup as "authorized" service locations are not immediately available coast to coast. However, MB does have road service and will transport to nearest authorized service center if it is an issue with the driveline. This is the only thing I consider to be a PITA with the unit.
4. They're not basement-design motorhomes - where's the several smaller outside storage cabinets that are actually tall enough to fit much into (in addition to the single main one that they all have)?
This is true on almost all MBS units with the exception of the 2400R model. We have enough space that we could overload the untold total CC if we are not careful with the full rear compartment.
5. I don't think that the double coach batteries are right under the doorstep - accessible from the outside or inside, rain or shine ... and kept a bit warm from being located just under the floor of the coach in cold weather. (Warm batteries perform better in the winter - which is when you need them most to perform up to their full potential.)
Our batteries are under the entry way steps, so are enclosed.
6. If you want one with a stronger coach structure you must get one without slides. But without slides, they are just too narrow to get around in.
Not sure I could argue this point very well.
7. The commonly available Ford E450 and Chevy 4500 chassis under a motorhome means you can pretty much carry anything you want in them if you have one of those two chassis under a Class B+ or Class C motorhome up to around 28 feet long.
True - the gas engines models do offer more overall CC than the MBS series do. But then, how much "stuff" do you really need? For our last trip, we carried items we never even used, or thought about using while traveling. Experience will dictate what you really need to have and not have.
8. Diesel is available in whole lot of places but not "everywhere". Gasoline is available in just about every little podunk U.S. town.
I have been running diesel rigs, truck / RV for over 20 years and have never had a problem getting diesel fuel. On the MBS, you do have to be careful what you use as MB does not want you to run anything over B5 biodiesel. Personally, I always use ULSD. There are apps that will show what fuels are available for trip planning purposes.
9. Not a lot of the Sprinter based rigs have a full cabover sleeper bed. You may have to search hard for a cabover bed one that also has the other features you might want.
This is true, but there are many models that do, as is the case with ours. Ours has a weight capacity of 450 pounds and a person 6 foot tall can sleep there. Realistically, this would be for kids, but we use our for storage for bulky, light weight items.
10. It unfortunately may not be recommeded to idle the Sprinter engine an hour or two in order to take advantage of it's large alternator in order to quietly and quickly charge the coach battery bank in noise sensitive drycamping situations where solar won't do it and where the built-in generator may be too load. This idling limitation does not exist, for instance, with the Ford V10.
That's why most class C's have a generator on board. MB does not recommend idling the engine for long periods of time as it is detrimental to the engine.
11. For what it's worth speaking from experience, the Ford V10 pulling our small Class C has continued to pull strong so far up to and through a 11,300 foot pass in Colorado.

pnichols wrote:

Here's my comments regarding a Class B+ or Class C RV built on a Sprinter chassis:

1. Coach walls and steps are too low to the ground - how you gonna take them reliably off paved roads?

Response: Not a problem. A rough two track, not good for any Class C.

2. Too tall for their dually track-width in the rear - they look unstable side-to-side.
3. Difficult to find emergency servicing when something goes wrong a long way from home.

Response: With modern computer operated vehicles-even a GM/Ford owner can have problems in the middle of nowhere. No question there are more GM/Ford shops. The key is a good vehicle in the first place, good maintenance, and good towing insurance. Freightliner (owned by MB) will perform service if there is not an available MB dealer. Also there are a lot of specialty shops that deal with the Sprinter. The same problem can be be said for Toyota, Honda, KIA etc. GM/Ford are more numerous.

4. They're not basement-design motorhomes - where's the several smaller outside storage cabinets that are actually tall enough to fit much into (in addition to the single main one that they all have)?

Response: We have more than enough storage, its one of the reasons we liked the Thor 25H/L.

5. I don't think that the double coach batteries are right under the doorstep - accessible from the outside or inside, rain or shine ... and kept a bit warm from being located just under the floor of the coach in cold weather. (Warm batteries perform better in the winter - which is when you need them most to perform up to their full potential.)

Response: Batteries are under the step.

6. If you want one with a stronger coach structure you must get one without slides. But without slides, they are just too narrow to get around in.

Response: This is a common issue to all RV's, I am not sure its a problem.

7. The commonly available Ford E450 and Chevy 4500 chassis under a motorhome means you can pretty much carry anything you want in them if you have one of those two chassis under a Class B+ or Class C motorhome up to around 28 feet long.

8. Diesel is available in whole lot of places but not "everywhere". Gasoline is available in just about every little podunk U.S. town.

Response: Not really a problem.

9. Not a lot of the Sprinter based rigs have a full cabover sleeper bed. You may have to search hard for a cabover bed one that also has the other features you might want.

Response: Thor, Forest River, Coachman have numerous cabover models. I am sure there are others.

10. It unfortunately may not be recommeded to idle the Sprinter engine an hour or two in order to take advantage of it's large alternator in order to quietly and quickly charge the coach battery bank in noise sensitive drycamping situations where solar won't do it and where the built-in generator may be too load. This idling limitation does not exist, for instance, with the Ford V10.

Response: I don't like idling any engine. Time on an engine is time on an engine. It takes a lot of hours even with a big alternator to properly charge a battery. When off the grid, we use solar(its worked exceptionally well, even in the sun deprived areas of eastern US in the winter)for most of our electrical needs and have an inverter when necessary. Our backup is a diesel generator. We do not use the generator to charge batteries.

11. For what it's worth speaking from experience, the Ford V10 pulling our small Class C has continued to pull strong so far up to and through a 11,300 foot pass in Colorado.

Response: Probably not a problem for a Ford V10 with a small Class C. Every NA engine including the V10 has lost at least 33% of its power, some claim up to 44%, just a fact of nature. In a heavy rig at altitude the loss will be felt.

Oldtymeflyr wrote:

In most respects it just a matter of what the owner likes and dislikes. We like our Thor/Sprinter.