Leisure Travel Vans Sprinter chassis: What I love & what I don't

[@rogerz8051]

Enjoy your time in Key West! We'll be heading there to the Navy base campground in February. Love Ft Zachary Taylor State Park, the bars and restaurants (esp. The Boathouse Bar and Grill) around Bight Marina and of course the Key Lime Pie! Our '16 RAM Promaster campervan didn't have a good TPMS either. Just one light if any of the tires was low. Highly recommend the TST TPMS system. Continuously displays tire pressure and temperature. Handles up to 40 tires I think! Also added a LED mirror / rear camera rig to address seeing out back. Superb wide angle view during the day, but it's not great at night with headlight glare from behind the van. Really surprised to hear the new Sprinter does not have those built in.

[@Pagosa]

I love our TST for the Airstream, but won’t add them to the LTV. You have to replace the valve stems to metal and so many people get stem failures and wake up to flat tires and a trip to the tire shop. I’m OK just checking them every morning. I have a remote rear camera I sometimes use as well.

[@andrewheywood9786]

Hi Brandon, love watching your videos as I am still in the “considering options” phase. I do think the TPMS is a vital addition, but also think this is a feature not requested by LTV rather than Mercedes not offering it. I also agree that rear view camera should be available, maybe by the time I am ready to commit, it may be added, I know there’s a 2 year wait list and improvements are added each year. Hope your dog gets better soon!

[@Pagosa]

Thanks so much, good luck on your process!

[@OreoSurLaRoute]

My first two mods were a TPMS and replacing rearview mirror that includes a dashcam and a separate rear view camera.

[@kevinheinicka7479]

Brandon, enjoyed meeting you at the Flamingles Rally. Always enjoys your videos and your products. Thanks for making the trip to the Keys.

[@Pagosa]

Great meeting you as well! Had a blast!

[@norm4907]

Brandon, agree with your first two point. When I got my 2022 UTB first things I did was add Borg stems + TPMS, the nice thing is this is active so you see it all the time and it gives you temperature. Most factory TPMS are passive and only alert you when there’s a problem. I also installed a full time rear view camera and changed the mirror to a display, looks factory. Funny thing is my 2022 has a great door armrest with a leather padded support.

[@Pagosa]

I was going to add the Borgs and a TST, which I use on the Airstream, but I've had so many people tell me that the Borgs leak constantly. So I will just check manually every morning.

[@norm4907]

@@Pagosa get them installed properly. They are a game changer. Just drove down from Montréal to Sarasota and would not of done it without TPMS

[@Cjlaub]

LOVE the Keys! Thank you for the footage. Question: what chair are you sitting on and is it one you recommend?

[@Pagosa]

Keys are great! We carry two chairs, the one I’m sitting in is a pod rocker and the other is a Nemo Stargazer. Love them both. I have links to them on our gear recommendations here: pagosasupply.co/gear-suggestions

[@kevinkimball715]

The dash compartment for your phone and connections causes my phone to overheat due to the sunlight coming in through that big windshield. So I can't put my phone in the compartment because it shuts down. I'm going to be looking for a way to remove the lid, but I fear that the phone will still overheat up on the dash. Cutting a small notch in the cover for the wires should be simple enough and I may just do that. I also agree with you on the TPMS. The rear hubcaps project out so I have to remove them in order to check the tire pressure or add air. A minor thing, but a constant reminder that something that is standard on all other mercedes sprinter vans, should be on that chassis due to the weight of the vehicle and the potential impact of a low pressure tire.

[@Pagosa]

I use the holes on each side of the radio to store my phone. Seems to do good there

[@babarock2000]

Sorry about the pup. Hope for fast recovery.

[@Pagosa]

Thanks! Janet says she’s doing great

[@BeeCreekPhotographySpicewood]

Thanks for sharing! Looks beautiful there. We just got back from a 9 day trip to the east coast and spent 4 days in Charleston SC and back through the south side of the blue ridge in northern SC to catch the last of the colors. The thing that bugs me is the Mercedes fresh air / recirculate button. We went down on I10 and crossed many locations were there were fires going with smoke blowing across the hwy and every time I would push the button to close / recirculate the air 5 min later it was back to fresh air and we were choking on smoke again. This is an PIA feature, if I put it on recirculating it should stay there not go back to fresh after a few min…. Other than that we had a great trip.

[@Pagosa]

Wow, that’s crazy. Wonder if that is all of them or if yours just has a glitch

[@robertsladky7359]

Hello Brandon, great videos, keep them coming. I have a 2019 Unity, but built on a 2018 Mercedes chassis, last model before your upgrade which first took place in 2019. I have had Class A motor homes for years prior to the Unity and always installed TPMS on all six tires, I did the same for my 2018 Unity. Like you said, why don't the offer this??? Anyway they warn not to install the sensors that just screw on the valve stem, for the valve stems on the Mercedes are rubber, and the centrifical force of the sensor will bend the rubber valve stem and eventually cause a leak. So these systems are sold two ways, the sensor that screws on a valve stem (which by the way is supposed to be steel/metal) or the internal/incorporated sensor/valve stem, (like the ones most cars and trucks, and I am sure are on the other Mercedes vans) which is what I installed. Works great, constant readout of pressure, warning for low/high pressure and temp. I ordered it through Amazon, please let me know how I can send you a picture of the unit so you can show if you like.

[@Pagosa]

Hey Robert, bet you are enjoying the nimbleness of the Unity Vs the Class A. I use TST TPMS for my Airstream, but have talked to so many people that have installed the borg metal valves for TPMS on their LTV and have constant leaks. So I will just check my pressure everyday instead of adding the metal stems and TPMS. Hopefully they will include this in future models.

[@marckonny999]

Great video, we have a 2019 Wonder FTB and the cost over the Sprinter at that time was a lot less, that was one of the reasons for going with the Wonder. Either one would be a great choice. Do your homework, things have changed since we started looking back in 2019. LTV has some fantastic new floor plans and upgrades to both models. Check them out.

[@Pagosa]

Yes, have done a couple of videos with Dean on the new MBL. Great floorplan

[@dpfreeman1]

Where did you buy your LTV? My husband was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. We would like to buy a LTV and travel while we can?

[@Pagosa]

I purchased mine from Vogt RV in Fort Worth, TX. So sorry to hear about your husband. An LTV is a great way to travel for sure.

[@bourbontraveler]

I hate the crosswind feature Try driving through western Texas in high winds the sprinter keeps hitting the breaks and pulling I find it dangerous. You can’t turn it off

[@Pagosa]

Yup, happens to me every time up there and twice today here in Florida

[@bourbontraveler]

@@Pagosa you should be able to turn it off

[@niccom7639]

1:00 there is a bug on your arm shoo it off

[@Pagosa]

lol, glad it didn't bite me