We Traded Our $100,000 Van for a 4x4 CUSTOM Sprinter Van for 48 Hours

We Traded Our $100,000 Van for a 4x4 CUSTOM Sprinter Van for 48 Hours - FULL TOUR!

Рет қаралды 36,490

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 141

@gregoire8376 10 ай бұрын

If Mercedes had five times the number of authorized service centers ( Yup ... 5 X ) I might think about buying one. Every new vehicle is new on day one and the sales guy smiles at you as you leave the lot. Then ... you have to deal with the service guys and gals. In this case you have to find one first.

@raylander6329 8 ай бұрын

Just a note: there are about 3000 Ford dealerships in the US, about 2400 Dodge dealers and 384 Mercedes dealers in the US. Even if you need an oil change you need to make appointments way in advance (as much as a month in some parts of the country) If you need repairs, good luck. Not all dealerships have mechanics trained to fix the Sprinter. Parts come from Germany. Also they have diesel engines (more expensive) They sure look pretty though.

@LisaLightning 6 ай бұрын

Yeah that’s what I heard from my friend who used to drive a sprinter. I keep thinking with all of them sold lately they must be getting more mechanics who know how to fix them.

@FamilyRide-kc8my Ай бұрын

Let me just say I have owned 3 sprinter cargo vans (Not campers) 1 used 2 New. I have not had one single issue with them. The used one I sold to a friend and had 400,000 miles on original trans and Engine. When I owned it and it was around 100,000 k miles and I was getting trans fluid change the shop forgot to tighten oil drain screw and I drove about 120 miles dry on the trans and when it began slipping I took it to repair shop they added fluid and that trans has since had 200-300k more put on it and still running strong. I would not touch the promaster with 10 foot pole, just research all the horror story of engine and trans breakdown at low milage. I have owned the Transit van and they are fun to drive but and are far better than Promaster but not as good in comfort and dependability of sprinters. I don't own a van camper or have not done the van life thing traveling in remote parts of country I have owned my vans as a contractor so to worry about dealer coverage some locations may be legitimate.

@brianjohnson1062 10 ай бұрын

Not impressed for the price it is. Don’t like the door handles, when you put it in office mode, it covers all the windows in the back. Seems very tight inside, maybe without the 4 seats may seem roomier. No black tank ? Coachman has the quality beat by a mile. I’ll give it 6.

@williamgildea8348 10 ай бұрын

That’s a beautiful van. It looks like it’s built well also. Would like to see the two person van. I thought for a second you guys traded in Mr Lemon. The van looks great after all the repairs, hopefully you won’t have any more problems. Thanks again for making my Wednesday 😊

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Thanks William! Nope we are still with Mr. Lemon :)

@JoseMendoza-gq1bx 10 ай бұрын

That rear bed and work bench area is such a great idea. Having 2 spaces to work or eat at while having the space is crucial with small van living. Well designed. Good review ya'll 👍

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! 😃

@janicecrockett1400 3 ай бұрын

Do the people build on a gas chassis. Everybody shows Mercedes but I do not want the high maintenance expense of a diesel.

@bigrobsvan 10 ай бұрын

Only left out one detail... do they take Thors on trade-in? :) Looks really nice!

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

😂😂😂

@Vantravel411 10 ай бұрын

Great video! I had the pleasure of meeting the owners and tour both van layouts while in Southern California… the father has decades of camping experience he’s utilized to create layouts. I love it!!!

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Thanks! So cool!!

@chrishamilton1189 10 ай бұрын

They are not being real in orderr to appease the seller. They want to review more vans so there is a motive to get more vans in the future. Did you notice she didnt stand up in the bathroom? They needed to say if your 6ft, you cant stand up in the shower. This is the problem wtih alot of the vans, in order to use the bathroom you have to sit down. Honestly, I like these guys but alot of the times they wont go over the negatives of the vans like some of the other van reviewers on KZbin.

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Hey Chris. Thanks for taking the time to share your opinions. It’s not that we are being fake it’s that we were so honored to be asked to do this since we are a very small channel. Would we want to do this again…for sure! We had a blast. This was our first time ever driving a sprinter van and we were so stoked. It was hard to find negatives…but in next week’s video after we live in it we share even more of our thoughts. Again we realize we will get comments that are not favorable to us but we still appreciate you taking the time to comment. ❤️

@heribertorodriguez2085 10 ай бұрын

I can answer to that it is actually exactly 71¾" clearance standing in the shower,

@Rashnak66 10 ай бұрын

these are the perks of being famous, you get to demo cool stuff. Revel floorplan but much higher quality than Winnebago. The office setup with TV is superb (except my feet would smoosh the TV when I'm sleeping)! Fridge size is huge! Big batteries! And price is less than Revel. Couple of minor gripes... exterior grey tank would be a problem during those trips to the Artic. Electric hot water will drain the battery quick. And every dump station I've ever seen was driver side so the passanger side dump will be awkward.

@13redwoodlaneusa7 10 ай бұрын

Pretty cool van and layout. Good accessories too. Can’t wait to see how it works out after you have put it through the paces. Perhaps they will trade you for yours😆

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Hahahaha! Spoiler…we still have good ol’ Mr Lemon 😂 no trades happened!

@justjudy7320 10 ай бұрын

❤❤ I adore my 2022 170 high top 4X4❤❤ I'm so glad I went with the Mercedes because it does drive like a dream even though it's a gigantic van❤ 2 Max Air fans are in as well as the bunk windows❤ got 360 on the roof then for now 200 lithium❤ the insulating is almost done the reflectix is next and then the walls😮

@johnholty3161 10 ай бұрын

I enjoy you videos! The 4x4 ride is nice but you really pay for it. How often will you really need it? For two people I have yet to see a better set up than the twin bed with rear bath set up like the Travato 59K and KL and others. They are very spacious. I don't want a rig that continually requires you to assemble and disassemble your bed every day. I like the K-I-S-S principle. JH

@chuckfarmer2008 10 ай бұрын

You guys planning on going to the Quartzsite RV Show? your fans, Chuck & Leah Farmer

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

In January? We did last year. We are not sure but would love to again if we can. Will you guys be there?

@chuckfarmer2008 10 ай бұрын

Yes, it's January 20-28 and yes we are going. Our dates are flexible. We have a new Coachmen Beyond, it's awesome. Love your channel@@Vancaskeys

@dianejimenez8327 10 ай бұрын

Hi Bob and Hillary 🤗 Thanks for sharing .. Good night ❤

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Thanks Diane! Hope you guys are having fun in your Van this fall!

@TraderChick 10 ай бұрын

I thought this van was very thoughtful. The double table was cool, the back seat and table, the separater is a nice touch, I like the dry flush w no black tank idea. Laveo can be expensive per flush though. Remember when you told the guy Mr Lemon’s wallpaper was coming off at first he was like 🤨🙄, brushing it off, then he actually looked at it and was like 😲😳😳

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Thanks! Hahaha! We've had some crazy van problems!

@IAMHIM15 10 ай бұрын

Great review, Bob looks like he's in his van happy place. 😁 3 questions, what material is that, wood counter/cupboard face? Is that 80/20 aluminum framing? For the ceiling and walls, does it have to be that soft material, or can you get solid, wipeable hard surface?

@raylander6329 8 ай бұрын

Hi there, Vancaskeys We like your videos, however in this one, you said about the Mercedes Sprinter that “It has a lot more power then the Ram Pro Master” How can you say something this misleading? The Mercedes has 188 HP and the ProMaster 270 HP!!!! Huge difference don’t you think? You probably got paid for this review by the dealer, but this is not nice. Read the specs next time, Please

@MrEzoperator 10 ай бұрын

I normally like your videos because you don't hold back. I know this van has some cons and yet you left them out... Come on guys! We know that bathroom isn't great, heck , it is almost NOT GOOD! The storage is VERY LACKING. The kitchen counter is way to low! The four-seater seats make it hard for the average person with hips to pass! That table would never last past year one. I like the quality of some items but COME ON! You two know better than to not be picky! 5 out of 10, because of the kitchen and bathroom!

@FamilyRide-kc8my Ай бұрын

@dogs_r_forever 10 ай бұрын

Video title is a little click baity, but that's ok, love you guys.

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Haha! Thanks ❤️

@garyn.4771 10 ай бұрын

This van conversion is one of the better ones I have seen, you both did a great overview of the van. Starting in 2022 MB Sprinter changed from a V6 3.0L engine to a I4 2.0 along with a 9 speed transmission and went from 4WD to AWD. The new engine increased the HP and torque. I might have missed this but don't recall if this was a 2WD or a 4WD version and if it was 2500 versus 3500 (dual tires) Sprinter. I would be very interested if you could find out what the Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCW) is. I have found most Class B van conversion companies never provide the actual weight of their vans and their rear ends typically sag a bit. Not sure if I'm being too skeptical of their cargo capacity.

@jim-uu2db 10 ай бұрын

Not so sure about the gray water location. Is this to encourage people to dump gray water in street gutters? Some areas it is illegal to dump even gray water while camping. Didn’t see a mention of a stove. Think this is a overpriced toy for most people that wouldn’t need the 4 wheel or off road extras. Man, way too many lights. Also what kind of toilet is that? After emptying a cassette toilet for 4 years I said never again and switched to a black water tank. Hope you are happy with this but doubt you can do a honest review since you aren’t paying for it.

@billseibert9289 10 ай бұрын

I love the mirage van!!! What do you guys think of the 170 Mirage van? Were you able to look at it in person?

@jeffcampsall5435 6 ай бұрын

Where do you guys sit on the 250/350 (3/4 vs 1 ton) debate for a camper van?

@Erica_Brenda 10 ай бұрын

that MaxxAir fan is 900 CFM? OMG Most home bathrooms have a 50 CFM fan. That thing is amazing! Careful, it might suck your hat off. hehehe just kidding but considering the size of the van, that fan will be VERY effective!

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Hahahaha!

@Erica_Brenda 10 ай бұрын

@@Vancaskeys giggles

@lindacuozzo7500 10 ай бұрын

I was surprised Hilary didn’t comment on the height of the kitchen counter as a negative. Maybe she will after using it on their trip.

@Pam24K 10 ай бұрын

May be nice and well done but I would not buy a Mercedes. Too expensive, too expensive to maintain, and diesels overall are more expensive!!

@philipevans1027 10 ай бұрын

Going from a fiat to a merc anything after don't matter but the price us in the uk have the vw crafter as good but cheaper and can go cheaper MAN vns exactly the same as the crafter but costs lessx

@blackcatrose4257 5 ай бұрын

What no solar? Ick. Id add a solar mod. A good lithium battery and alternator charger. 😊

@johnthomson5730 10 ай бұрын

At first, I thought wow, they did what we did today, bought a new RV. We are moving from our Travel Trailer to a sort of van life. We bought a 2024 Winnebago Ekko. My preference was for a B-van but the wife really wanted the Ekko, so what was I supposed to do? We gave up a while ago on buying and even finding one, but prices have really come down, and boom, a buyer backed out on a recent delivery at a local dealer and now it is ours. Now, that said, y'all need to do the same with Mr. Lemon and get a new van! Please!!

@Patrick_Ross 10 ай бұрын

What did you pay for your EKKO? I’ve offered 165k to several dealers and no takers thus far.

@Patrick_Ross 10 ай бұрын

Let this be a lesson to all prospective buyers to avoid Thor like the plague!

@Charlie-zl6pc 10 ай бұрын

I was waiting for this to come out. Great meeting you guys.

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Charlie! It was great meeting you and your family too!

@vanmileswiththeKochs 10 ай бұрын

Very nice van! Looks pretty small inside with the two extra seats. But overall awesome Van.

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

It's a small one. You could get a bigger van. But agree we would probaly take the extra storage over the extra seats.

@Davefromcanada411 10 ай бұрын

I love watching your channel! Fun and educational - Dave From Canada

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching Dave! 😃

@danielcavazos-il7vs 10 ай бұрын

Mmmm I’ve been thinking about it and $100000 seems a lot for a camping van. The benefits simply don’t add enough value to justify the spend.

@williamboyle8918 10 ай бұрын

Well this one is only 169k.. crazy

@ScottGlisson74 10 ай бұрын

Thats close to being a cool van. That cabinetry doesn't look like it will last.

@martykong3592 10 ай бұрын

:) THANKS MUCH for sharing and Video! I was kind of surprised when Bob said it was peppier than your, for a Diesel? WOW! Maybe Bob can have one of these instead of a StoryTeller $$$$$$ :) All the BEST and ENJOY! Cheers :)

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Thanks Marty!!! 😃

@philipevans1027 10 ай бұрын

Have a look at true blue travelers what they do with 3 different van conversation in 6 weeks each , I'm sure you'll love them . I'll marry them both lol there so funny xx

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@lynnvalenti9532 10 ай бұрын

How much solar? What is the suspension?

@heartsong1555 10 ай бұрын

You didn't trade in your van. Be honest!

@rtshort 10 ай бұрын

Bob's right. It is called a restraint. It restrains the car seat, not the child. Not that I'm taking sides with a man you know. :)

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Hehehe!

@kirkg3458 10 ай бұрын

Hey guys. Love it! Maybe you can get them to fix and customize Mr. Lemon? God bless!

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Hahaha! That’s a great idea! 😅

@nam_yunsoo 10 ай бұрын

축하드려요 🙂Congratulation !! Awesome !!!

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

❤️

@barbaragrazerrobinson1207 10 ай бұрын

First tip baby crib sheets work great on those type of mattress Features I love over my storyteller. The back cargo area I would have to purchase the storage and seat extra from an outfitter. The toilet if one had a choice consider a cassette type. That system they have can get costly. Otherwise based on the price so far it was pretty cool. Interested in the battery life and warranties. Can’t wait for the other videos. ❤🎉

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Great tip Barbara! We didn't even think of that!

@chrislastname3167 10 ай бұрын

Another van builder to check out! Thanks for the great review. It is good to see the work from someone else's view.

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Our pleasure!

@VanDoghies 10 ай бұрын

Great job on the comparison video! Did you get a chance to also take the van off-roading for a future video? The Sprinter 4x4 action is amazing to drive vs Promaster.

@BWT599 5 ай бұрын

Last week I didn't have a campervan and spent years watching all these channels. This week we picked up our Jayco Terrain 19Y and are thrilled how incredible the van is and how it's already adapted to our motocross/hockey/ daily driver for our young family. One thing that has changed my perspective greatly when watching van life videos with the Sprinter 144 is that the van is big to drive but actually very very tight interior wise in real life. I had always thought the rear passenger seats in the Jayco were way spared out but they are right there behind the driver's seat by 70% less perceived space before we picked up our van. Although I'm loading up the drawers with small items and larger items, I'm gonna have to take everything out and weigh each item in a spreadsheet as the max payload creeps up a lot when you have heavy motocross bikes in the garage with a full tank of water. I was stoked I only used 3% of my battery while cooking off the induction cook top. The next thing I'm looking forward to is flushing all the anti freeze out of our tanks as the dealer had it winterized.

@livingworkingoutsidebox 10 ай бұрын

So did you trade in your old van and buy one of these? Not sure if anyone would want the gray water dump on the passenger side 🤔 😳 would not work for camp grounds. If your out on blm land your dumping you gray water on the ground which is OK if you use bio degradable products. Would you just be so far upside down in your van to even trade in your van? Most people end up being buried and can't get out. Sorry if this came across a little harsh. Not my intention. I thought from the title you were able to trade in your old van and got a new one.😢 You should be enjoying some beautiful getaways. It's truly a shame how the industry is just building garbage 💩 and charging champagne 🍾 prices.

@milesfong3901 10 ай бұрын

Watched a few videos of Truvans and this is the first four seater I've seen. Love the bed with flares and the door separater.

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it!

@conchscooter 10 ай бұрын

I try to understand why four wheel drive is such a fad. I can park in a paved lot with my custom built Promaster. It’s a nice van and the interior is well thought out but all that extra expense and complexity and reduced fuel mileage to go where? Cheers Michael touring Nicaragua

@annabellegettingwell1531 10 ай бұрын

Only thing I would change is a convection microwave oven

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Oh good add!

@garychristison763 10 ай бұрын

I like the switch panel. The mass production RV companies are going with a touch panel that's cheaper and I hate. Who cares if you can control it with a phone app. If it fails everything fails. I have no problem pressing an old fashioned switch. Also like the solar hatch over the bed negating my concern that you block off side window ventalation with those insulation pull over covers. The roof hatch cracked open should give plenty of ventalation.

@kalyanchakraborty7082 10 ай бұрын

Always loved your videos. I see Bob like a WWE fighter in this video. If he hasn’t changed his appearance, then camera maybe an issue. Super wide angle brings out the hidden fighter in us 😊

@leolaniukeulady4172 10 ай бұрын

Great guns. A Mercedes’ is way expensive to repair. Turned mine in on the lemon law. But then again your last one was Mr. Lemon. Hope this works for you‼

@markniblett4857 10 ай бұрын

Oh I could see this coming from a couple months ago. Once I saw 4x4 and a light bar I knew Bob was like a spaniel with that cut off tail spinning in a circle. Sir Edmond Hillary on the other hand?? That looks really nice enjoy your time and testing we look forward to your input. Hillary when Bob gets Bobish bring him to the park and let him run. All good dogs / husbands need exercise. Thanks guys

@VanlilfewithDaleandBailey 10 ай бұрын

Looks like a great layout. Do the bedroom windows have bug screens?

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

The side bedroom window did not in this van. But the screen on the back unzipped and let air in.

@VanlilfewithDaleandBailey 10 ай бұрын

@@Vancaskeys that’s a big misstep to me. Thanks for the review.

@heribertorodriguez2085 10 ай бұрын

Actually yes the window came whit the screen but we forgot to put back

@heribertorodriguez2085 10 ай бұрын

If it is window on the flare comes whit screen

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

@@heribertorodriguez2085 thanks for clearing this up! It does come with a bug screen!

@MPGunther1 10 ай бұрын

The kitchen counter height appears to be for vertically challenged people :-) Seems like a good value for the $$$

Ай бұрын

Is there one with a sec s single bes?

@Blztrls 10 ай бұрын

Congrats on your first custom van review. Looking forward to pt 2. As an owner of a self converted custom Sprinter van I’m always interested in seeing other custom conversions. This is an interesting layout though not my preference. I think a lot of the negative comments are because they didn’t use higher quality finishes in the cabinetry. I think when you’re doing a custom van using real wood finishes for example makes the van look so much nicer. Those laminate and fabric finishes look kinda generic and IKEA like and doesn’t differentiate it enough from the mass produced van conversions. I’m wondering how the price of this conversion compares with Humble Road and other high end custom van builders.

@hideawayhomesllc5103 10 ай бұрын

Spending more to live with less...I would love to see your massive trip through Texas and around Michigan in this van to see if both of you are still alive at the end.:)

@jamestreanor182 10 ай бұрын

Love the rear office

@johnnierisper 10 ай бұрын

Bob, did you and your wife say, you trade your van for a new van. Awesome! you and your wife can stand up comfortably in it, and it is almost like the van you wanted so bad and your wife said no, because she could not barley stand up comfortably or laid in the bed. We are waiting to see how you fit in the bathroom. Enjoy your new van 😊

@dreidalugdug7208 10 ай бұрын

NICE BUT THE PRICE😊

@racquel9911 10 ай бұрын

Lol!!! Starting right here... Bob what's this? 🤣🤣🤣😅

@MelindaAustin-dx9pv 10 ай бұрын

How much???😮..

@joyofanimation 10 ай бұрын

Wow…nice van! After trying it for a few days you guys are going to be spoiled compared to Mr. Lemon. I see a “new” van in your future…….Love your videos.

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Thanks!!! You are probably right! 😂

@ramontoro 10 ай бұрын

If you have the $$$$ for that unit, nice , it looks great , just enjoy the ride on the road , and … hello from Puerto Rico

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

@@ramontoro hi!! 👋 it’s definitely not in the budget at this point 😂

@robsmith2647 10 ай бұрын

I want it!!

@robertaccorsini4663 10 ай бұрын

Too small

@benp3597 10 ай бұрын

Humble road builds some nicer vans!

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

We will have to check them out!

@TimGamble 10 ай бұрын

Sprinter looks good on you guys!

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Haha! Thanks!

@JohnSeitz 10 ай бұрын

Yet another amazing video you guys!!! It’s a decent build, but I’d be interested in the price. Some of the core components (electric water, and diesel heater) look a tad too home built. I assume not RVIA approved?? Hindsight 20/20 but honestly curious as to why you didn’t look at the Sanctuary when you traded in the Rize? At the time maybe 20-25k more for a Sprinter 4x4 with nice truma water and heat, and 400mh lithium battery. Granted still a Thor but build quality seems a tad higher. Full disclosure I’m a happy Sanctuary owner for almost two years and Thor has been really good to us. Looking forward to part 2 of this.

@heribertorodriguez2085 10 ай бұрын

Some of this build wasn't rvia but on the current production line it is RVIA approved and the option you can go from 200 amps up to 2,000 and all the bateries inside not exposed on the outside weather.

@Dave-zl2ky 10 ай бұрын

Cassette toilet? Excellent review.

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Thank you! 😊

@lynnknight2046 10 ай бұрын

They have some very innovative ideas.

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

❤❤❤

@dcasandman 10 ай бұрын

Interior looks 5, function though looks nice.

@David-jo4gt 10 ай бұрын

Is it as good or better than Storyteller?

@RodWmson1950 10 ай бұрын

It's really aggravating when you Vloggers use clickbait to attract viewers. Be better than that. 😢

@williamboyle8918 10 ай бұрын

Wah

@LisaLightning 6 ай бұрын

Says they traded for 48 hours. Maybe you didn’t read whole thing?

@teriyvette1595 10 ай бұрын

Luv it, very persuasive review 😊

@timgoodsell4053 10 ай бұрын

All these vans start to look the same. I used to be a fan of the Bs. No more. Way too predictable.

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

There is only so much you can do with that small of space 😃

@wilburjones2705 10 ай бұрын

Where is the stove

@heribertorodriguez2085 10 ай бұрын

The stove is storage on one of the drawers so you can connect on any of the outlets and place you like to cook

@vickiemadrid3910 10 ай бұрын

That is a very innovative layout. The van looks very sturdy with good quality workmanship. Have fun!

@Vancaskeys 10 ай бұрын

Right! We thought so too!

@jim-uu2db 10 ай бұрын

The layout in the rear just seems to be a copy of several,other production vans, nothing really new.

@doughalldorson8663 10 ай бұрын

To small ,loose the two extra seats ( can’t sleep 4 anyway) and as another comment said check out Humble road ,he builds amazing vans

@ccartee1 10 ай бұрын

Let me start off my comments by saying, there are no solutions, only tradeoffs. I didn’t make that up, Thomas Sowell did. But having said that, it is pretentious of me to project my tradeoffs to others. One thing common tradeoff is cost vs quality. It isn’t always true, but it is commonly true. The tradeoff for Mr. Lemon is that is was more affordable and lets folks with more limited budgets experience vanlife. If you’re really getting tired of the Thor quality, maybe it is time to consider saving up and spending more on a van with more quality?