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Ney Grant
Trad climber
Pollock Pines
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Dec 16, 2015 - 02:02pm PT
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We have a Sprinter we built out. Mostly by Sportsmobile but I did some of the outside work.
Of course it is a compromise - everything is, but we love it. A big big bed, huge storage under it, in/out shower, stove, toilet, etc. etc. And it is just small enough to find parking pretty much anywhere. Yes, I have a handsaw I've used a few times to trim branches. We've scraped up the side on bushes.
I would definitely have gone with the 4WD had it been available two years ago. But of course it depends on your mission. First and foremost, I'd like to be able to get it out of the driveway right now without chaining up.
We spent last weekend in Tahoe when it was 17 degrees in Snow Parks because we like to ski. There are not a lot of RVs that can stand that kind of cold. We got ours with extra insulation and a diesel furnace that is just plain awesome. I chained up once but spent the rest of the time driving on snow in Tahoe without chains (I have good snow tires).
The Sprinter is high clearance (unlike Ford and other vans that actually compete against Sprinters because they are front wheel drive and don't require the body to be high). I added heavy duty springs and off road tires that bring it up a little. I also carry traction tread plates and chains. I have been stuck a few times and wouldn't go anywhere without a shovel.
We haven't tipped it over yet, but it is scary on tilted roads...
For our mission of climbing, remote hiking via adventuring on dirt roads and skiing it is great. Others may need something else.
I posted some photos before so I'll try to select some that are different:
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Ney Grant
Trad climber
Pollock Pines
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Dec 16, 2015 - 02:05pm PT
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Charlie D. posted at the same time I did about his Sprinter.
Interestingly I first fell in love with them when climbing with my daughter in Tuolumne and Charlie had his Sprinter parked in the Lembert Dome parking lot. The big door was opened up and it really brings the outside in - and then all the windows.
Hard to beat that and my wife and I dreamed about them for years before finally buying a van, designing it and having it built out.
Thanks Charlie!
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Dec 16, 2015 - 02:12pm PT
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Diesel will get better mpg than gas. Diesel was more expensive than premium gas up until the drop in oil prices. Then it was cheaper than 87 octane gas for a couple years. Now it's about he price of mid octane 89 gas but I wouldn't be surprised if it goes up again. These are Cali experiences btw.
Two more options above: 1 pop up slide in camper. Put one on a real 4x4 truck and go anywhere. Still good room. A little setup time so not as convenient, especially if you want to pull over and have lunch or use the bathroom. 2. Diesel pusher with a small 4x4 dinghy. Good option if you are really going to live out of it.
It's all compromises and what works best most of the time. For one person or two people on weekends or occasional week or two trips a van would be great. For two a truck camper or class b would be good for weeks at a time. For 3+ people (you may pick up friends or relatives from time to time, but the bigger you rig is the more you run that risk) or spending months at a time with 2 people a diesel pusher with a dinghy would be much more livable, and a real alternative to a second home.
Personally I'd rather buy a used diesel pusher and used dinghy (maybe a forester) with low miles in excellent conditions that pay the same for a new sports mobile.
Add: As an alternative to a second home for two people, for me a sportsmobile would be too small. Thinking about my wife and me traveling for weeks or months at a time, we'd go crazy. But YMMV. For true full time living I'd want a full bathroom where I can take a hot shower, as a benefit you have a toilet everywhere you go, no searching for a public bathroom. Having a full kitchen with a 3 way fridge, range, sink, counter space, hot water for doing dishes, etc. and cupboards full of food makes eating much easier and you can easily make real meals.
There's tons of forums and good info on the net on RVs, but probably a good idea to post here to narrow it down. Plenty of people go full time in RVs after retirement and usually get diesel pushers with dinghys. Big class Cs have much of what diesel pushers do, for much less money up front, but really you want diesel otherwise when you are flooring it in a gas engine going up a pass you can almost feel the money being drained out of your wallet. Still though you could get an American Van based class B for less than half of a Sprinter based class B. When I say class B for a Sprinter I'm talking more the ones with a bigger RV body behind the cab, not just a van type like a sportmobile conversion.
I'd probably say get a used American Van based class B and try it for a year. Then decide if you want to go bigger or smaller. Do you really need 4x4? Do you want to junk the whole idea and buy a house on the coast somwehere?
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H
Mountain climber
there and back again
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Dec 16, 2015 - 03:09pm PT
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Oh ya. The guy from Carson. Did a lot of traveling with his wife. I get the need for space per number of people. He had solar which ran the fridge and I think it was a diesel which also ran his heater. He said that they went some where that specialized in pimping these things out. Seemed like they pretty much was able to order exactly what they wanted.
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Dec 16, 2015 - 03:20pm PT
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Planning on retiring in 2 years? I have been saying that for about 5 years now!
I would consider a 4x4 truck and tow a light trailer. That way the trailer can be dropped off when the tough roads beckon. Plus it would be a lot cheaper than the Sprinter. My main criteria is whether a vehicle can make it into the Ghost River area.
There is no perfect vehicle.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 16, 2015 - 03:22pm PT
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Fair bit of good beta on this site including stuff on wind and solar:
Truck Camper Adventure Mag
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August West
Trad climber
Where the wind blows strange
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Dec 16, 2015 - 03:50pm PT
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I have spent months at a time traveling in a 2wd van. Clearence is a way bigger issue although I don't do snow sports. I have always carried chains and have used them 3 times for mud in 15 years. Never gotten stuck and have logged a lot of crappy back roads.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Dec 16, 2015 - 04:28pm PT
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eKat's Winnebago View 24H is what I'm thinking about in terms of a Sprinter based class B. However it looks like they get about 14-16 mpg. Not much better than my Ford Diesel with 4x4 and at a much higher cost.
Also consider a slide out in anything you buy (van, truck camper, trailer, RV). It's amazing the difference it makes. Without one it can be comfortable but you know you are in a narrow vehicle. With a slide out (or multiple slide outs) it feels like a small house. Very comfortable for extended living for multiple people without having to squeeze by each other.
Again a sportsmobile would be optimal for two people to take weekend trips in, occasional 1-2 weeks trips. But for really living in over months something bigger with a slide out(s), kitchen, bathroom, etc. would be a requirement for me.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 16, 2015 - 04:36pm PT
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Slideouts are great but they add a lot of weight. The camper I'm looking at
will just work on a Silverado 3500 SRW but the same camper with slideouts
requires DRW (double rear wheels) and I don't want them because you can get
rocks stuck between them and ruin tires, not to mention yer day.
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Ney Grant
Trad climber
Pollock Pines
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Dec 16, 2015 - 05:01pm PT
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Yes, that looks nice.
One thing to consider with Sprinters is that duallys (3500 vs 2500s) suck in the snow. Most larger Sprinters (either bigger buildouts or Class whatevers) add enough weight that dual rear wheels are required.
In fact a dually Sprinter delivering xmas presents got stuck on our road yesterday evening and had to chain up. He had snow tires too. Many other cars and trucks went by without a (big) problem.
Again, this may mean nothing for most. Depends on your personal "mission and dispatch reliability requirements".
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Dec 16, 2015 - 06:29pm PT
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They don't waste any space by having a bed built in a room
I'm in agreement but it's all what someone needs. My mother in law wanted a separate bedroom, didn't get one, and regrets it, because she doesn't want to climb up a ladder to the cabover. So she sleeps on the fold down couch. But conversion couch/beds are never as comfortable and supportive as a real bed.
Personally I love a cabover bed. Because it's a real bed/mattress. Mine has reading lights and end tables. And it's cozy but has enough room. It doesn't have to be converted to/from anything. And since it's only a few feet tall it doesn't waste a ton of space over the bed like a full blown bedroom would.
I'm thinking about getting a toy hauler trailer now. So I'd have more room when we bring the toys and for my family of four when needed. But I'd probably keep the truck camper for snow trips, climbing trips, weekend trips etc. Some toy haulers have cool single or bunk beds that drop down electrically from the ceiling. That would be good for lots of campers but you don't see it much. i.e. have a nice real queen/king bed up against the ceiling over the dinette or couch. When you are ready to crash lower it down and have a real bed. But crank it up and out of the way during the day.
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gumbyclimber
climber
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Dec 16, 2015 - 07:50pm PT
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I strongly advise you to investigate the cost of parts before you get a MB Sprinter. I had one, in Oz, and almost had to put a fuel pump (diesel) in it: $4500, for the part. $2500 if we could get one from a junkyard. Brake pads had to be ordered from the UK.
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Oldfattradguy2
Trad climber
Here and there
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Dec 16, 2015 - 08:14pm PT
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Spent some time hanging in one this fall camping with some Cali folks.
They bought one out of the Cali shop and where not happy with the quality of the build, said go to Texas or Indiana or wherever the other shop is.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Dec 17, 2015 - 03:52am PT
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I love liveing in vans thing that sucks is working all the time and not have time to get out on the road...
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Jim Clipper
climber
from: forests to tree farms
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Dec 17, 2015 - 07:14am PT
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I wish I could buy that Dodge, and had enough time... I wouldn't dicker about the price if it all checked out. maybe bring a case of domestic beer, or a bottle of JD. I'm sure I would need some mechanical advice in the future.
http://www.edbeardjr.com/automurals.html
Dingus... yer gonna die
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 17, 2015 - 08:21am PT
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Go big or go home, unless it is yer home...
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Dec 17, 2015 - 09:28am PT
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Ney Grant
Trad climber
Pollock Pines
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Dec 17, 2015 - 09:36am PT
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Many backcountry roads naturally get overgrown and end up about as wide as a jeep. But with that thing above ^^^ I guess you just drive over everything!
But seriously, that is cool as hell but it would have trouble going where even a 2WD truck or van could go.
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phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
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Dec 17, 2015 - 10:28am PT
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There a lot of great information on this thread.
The main themes revolve around total cost of rig, driving issues (distance, gas cost, off-road), and level of comfort desired once camped.
I love my 28' Winnebago, retrofitted with solar panels and a 2000 watt inverter for dry camping, behind which I tow a Subaru Forester. Combo is not so big that I am totally freaked out when I drive it alone. The interior is big enough that having 1 or 2 other people in it, which we routinely do, is comfortable. And the comfort is superb. But I wouldn't have that set up if I were routinely driving cross country. It's great for the "local" stuff I do, but I don't do trips over a max of 500 miles in it. At that point the gas cost becomes a real factor, and the driving is way too tedious.
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