Sprinter vs Transit: Van Lifers Weigh In

Whether or not or not or not you’re new to van life and looking for the ultimate phrase journey machine or a seasoned full-timer fascinated about an improve, you’ve most undoubtedly encountered the nice Sprinter vs. Transit debate all via your analysis.

The Ford Transit vs. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter argument has divided van dwellers for years and divulges no signal of being resolved quickly. With the mannequin new Ford Transit Path added into the combination in 2023, there are relatively extra components and alternatives to ponder when deciding.

Ahead of I weigh in on this delicate topic and reveal which van I chosen for van life, let’s get two factors straight: Transits and Sprinters are notably well-suited to van dwelling, and you might convert every van in practically any means you may take into accounts.

Nonetheless, there are essential variations between Mercedes-Benz Sprinters and Ford Transits, and selecting which is most attention-grabbing in your van life wants comes proper down to non-public alternative.

On this textual content, we’ll check out every van in depth, weighing its execs and cons and contemplating worth, gasoline monetary system, and suitability for van life.

Let’s begin our Ford Transit vs. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter debate by diving into every van

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Overview

Till merely just lately, Mercedes-Benz Sprinters have been the van of alternative for DIY conversions. Sprinters have been spherical for a extremely very very long time, with the distinctive Freightliner launched to the North American market in 2001.

The Sprinter van was spherical extended before Dodge ProMaster vans and Ford Transit vans, so Sprinters bought an exact head begin on gaining a trustworthy following.

Sprinter vans might be found with three fully fully completely different wheelbases (144”, 170”, and 170” prolonged) and might be found as cargo vans or passenger vans.

Most Sprinters have diesel engines, and fashions from 2022 and earlier are usually accessible with every 2-wheel-drive or 4-wheel-drive. In 2023, Mercedes-Benz switched to 2-wheel-drive or AWD on their Sprinter vans (no additional 4-wheel-drive).

Yow will uncover older, used Sprinter vans for spherical $20,000, however you’ll pay upwards of $60,000 for a barely used 2022 4×4 model. A model new 2024 AWD Sprinter usually begins spherical $53,000.

With a recent silhouette and intelligent branding, there’s little question that Sprinters have an irresistible enchantment that has made them the darlings of Instagram.

Social media is filled with pictures of attractive Sprinter conversions which have helped propel van life into the favored consciousness. 

Mercedes Sprinter Excessive Roof Specs

Mercedes Sprinter Execs

Mercedes Sprinter Cons

Ford Transit Overview

Ford Transit Overview

Though Ford is a trusted title that has been spherical since 1903, the North American market didn’t present the Ford Transit van till 2015. Transits shortly turned a dominant power all through the economic market.

Contained in the remaining 5 years, the Ford Transit has began to make waves all through the van life neighborhood, and extra people are selecting the Transit for part-time or full-time van dwellings.

In 2020, the Transit skilled an overhaul, and Ford launched the long-awaited AWD drivetrain and a raft of high-tech upgrades, together with adaptive cruise administration and pre-collision help.

Most Fort Transits have gasoline engines, though 2020 furthermore seen the discharge of a 2.0L EcoBlue diesel choice.

In 2023, Ford launched the mannequin new Transit Path, a beefy improve from the standard Transit, that encompasses a 3.5″ elevate over the identical outdated mannequin.

The Ford Transit Path actually appears to be identical to the half. Plus, AWD capabilities come as customary. 

The Transit Path incorporates pretty a few exterior selections, together with a skid plate, facet rails, mudguards on all wheels, a novel entrance black grill with marker lamps, and Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse all-terrain tires.

You’ll usually pay loads a lot much less for the standard Transit or a Transit Path than a Sprinter.

Costs typically vary from spherical $15,000 for an older used Transit van to upwards of $40,000 for a mannequin new mannequin. The mannequin new Ford Transit Path is additional comparable in value to an AWD Sprinter, beginning spherical $51,000.

Ford Transits don’t have the Sprinter’s perceived “drool problem,” however folks respect how the cheaper price ticket permits them additional wiggle room all through the worth range to splurge on upgrades. 
Pretty a few stylish van conversion companies present Transit conversions and have merely just lately began tackling Transit Path van conversions, along with to this automotive’s recognition.

Ford Transit Cargo Van Specs

Ford Transit Path Cargo Van Specs

Ford Transit Execs

Ford Transit Cons:

Sprinter vs Transit: Factors To Consider

On the lookout for the easiest automotive for van life can look like a frightening course of. Whether or not or not or not you intend on altering a van to reside in or having a van professionally reworked, there are such a lot of factors to consider that it will most likely really actually really feel fairly overwhelming.

• Price range. You’ll ought to resolve how relatively loads you’re desirous to spend on a van and, should you intend on a DIY conversion, how relatively loads that’s additional extra more likely to worth. It’s furthermore an outstanding suggestion to consider budgeting for repairs and repairs.
• Lifespan. When you’re planning on promoting your automotive in some unspecified time eventually, it’s an outstanding suggestion to consider resale worth. Diesel vans, considerably, are going to carry their worth for longer.
• New/used. Maybe the easiest scenario correct proper right here is to discover a evenly used van with low miles that’s nonetheless beneath guarantee. That may sound like a unicorn, however these vans are within the market!
• Excessive. Shorter of us don’t even have to fret an excessive amount of about inside peak inside the case of the Sprinter vs Transit argument, however this might be a predominant consideration for taller folks. Don’t overlook that you just simply merely’ll lose not decrease than two inches for flooring and insulation!
• Utilization. How you intend on utilizing your van can have a huge impact on which automotive you’ll want. When you’re going to be touring considerably relatively loads in the course of the winter, for instance, a 4×4 van ought to positively be in your radar.

Sprinter vs. Transit: The Nitty Gritty

Let’s see how these two vans have a look at in 4 essential areas.

1. Repairs Prices

Let’s face it: each automotive wants repairs, and caring for components is essential when your automotive will be your individual house!

Apart from budgeting for normal oil and tire adjustments, you’re well-advised to have further financial monetary financial savings when one issue surprising occurs.

A Ford Transit is solely not solely additional pretty priced upfront, nonetheless it’s furthermore cheaper to deal with.

Completely different components are pretty priced and broadly accessible, which is an enormous bonus.

You’ll even have further peace of concepts in a worst-case state of affairs since Ford sellers and mechanics are in nearly each metropolis.

Repairs is among the many many predominant causes solo US feminine van lifer Ricki (@rickiontheroad) chosen a Ford Transit to name residence: “I went with a Transit on account of it’s low-cost and extra areas will service it. Whereas Sprinters may want repairs loads a lot much less usually, the considered needing repairs in a distant metropolis and no individual desirous to work on my automotive was ample to get a Transit.”

Colby and Eric (@engineerswhovanlife) agree with Ricki: “The benefit of repairs and servability of an American-made camper van was essential for us. Residing on the street full time, we have now obtained heard horror tales of Sprinter house owners having to pay for 200+ mile tows after they break down, or components being actually highly effective to supply. Fords are in every single place correct proper right here, and we have now obtained under no circumstances had a problem with towing or components.”

Factors are significantly fully fully completely different inside the case of proudly proudly proudly owning a Sprinter. Web boards are filled with horror tales about DEF sensor failure, black lack of life, and the dreaded limp mode.

When an enormous problem arises, a dealership is generally the one place capable of assist, so that you just simply’ll need to go looking your method to the closest large metropolis.

Keith and Hannah (@keithandhannahh) are full-time van lifers who reside in a Sprinter van, they usually agree that the preliminary worth of the cargo van plus the dearer repairs prices are the one cons to picking a Sprinter vs. a Transit.

“In our opinion, the one con is the value on account of a Sprinter prices barely additional (not all the time). You may spend additional on components to revive it, however we purchased a mannequin new van and haven’t had any fixes on account of we keep with all the upkeep. We’ve all the time had an outstanding expertise with Mercedes, notion in them as a model, and like to see how relatively loads they’ve embraced the van life area,” mentioned Keith and Hannah.

Add inside the truth that restore prices could be substantial and you may presumably have to attend weeks for components to achieve, and it’s no marvel this might be a sticking diploma for lots of people all through the Ford Transit vs. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter debate.

2. AWD/4×4 Choices

For these touring as soon as extra roads, considerably all via winter, a 4×4 Sprinter is definitely most likely probably the most participating choice. The draw once more is you’ll can purchase a 2022 mannequin (or earlier) since Mercedes-Benz not makes 4×4 Sprinters as of 2023.

A 4×4 Sprinter has a relatively loads greater clearance than a typical 2WD mannequin, and it will most likely go virtually wherever, making it last for off-grid adventuring.

As of 2023, Mercedes-Benz makes AWD Sprinter vans with diesel engines. Though you’ll have to spend additional upfront for a Sprinter van with AWD or a 2022 (or earlier) mannequin with 4×4, it must protect its worth should you ever need to market it.

The AWD Transit and Transit Path have gotten more and more stylish, although they’re solely accessible with a gasoline engine.

Colby and Eric (@engineerswhovanlife) wrote an article on their weblog about why they selected a Transit over a Sprinter (and ProMaster). They mentioned they like how a Transit has “the shorter wheelbase of the Transit driving additional like a automotive and the AWD drive put collectively.”

Though it’s an infinite step up from the 2WD Transit, you’ll have to pay for a lifted suspension to make sure that you additional clearance on a typical Transit. As talked about earlier, the Transit Path not decrease than has a big elevate of three.5” in contrast with the identical outdated Transit.

When you nonetheless desire a 4×4 campervan and are leaning in path of a Ford Transit, you may pay for an after-market 4×4 conversion.

Though you’ll pay spherical $13,000 for a Quigley’s conversion from Sportsmobile, the general worth may very successfully be lower than what you’d pay for a 4×4 Sprinter, leveling the having enjoyable with subject all through the Sprinter vs. Transit sport!

3. Suitability For Conversions

As we’ve already seen, there’s way more inside standing area in a Excessive Roof Transit and Excessive Roof Transit Path, which may very successfully be the clincher for taller buddies.

Though there’s loads a lot much less area in a Transit, the sq. kind makes it simple to do a fast and pretty priced conversion.

One completely different large plus is the Transit’s inside width, which makes it potential to put in a mattress width-ways, liberating up additional dwelling and home for storing contained inside the van.

Colby and Eric (@engineerswhovanlife) have chosen Transit vans twice (about to be 3 cases)! They mentioned that one set off they like them for a conversion is the added peak: “The Transit is the tallest of the three additional frequent chassis. The inside standing peak of the Transit is 4” taller than the Sprinter. Eric is tall so this was a must for us!”

When altering a Sprinter, the most important revenue is the ample area inside, considerably all through the 170″ wheelbase prolonged mannequin.

As soon as you intend on dwelling in your van full-time or with youngsters, the large area inside a Sprinter may make it a transparent frontrunner. 

Though you’ll most definitely ought to sleep lengthways in your van moreover you is maybe shorter and prepare flares, there are an extreme quantity of methods to combine home for storing into your design.

4. Diesel vs. Gasoline

When contemplating the Sprinter vs. Transit query, among the many important variations is the gasoline every van makes use of.

Most Sprinters have diesel engines, which suggests elevated gasoline monetary system and an extended lifespan.

The gasoline monetary system of a Sprinter is among the many many the rationale why van lifers Keith and Hannah (@keithandhannah) chosen a Sprinter for his or her DIY conversion: “Sprinter vans are nice dependable, have an superior gasoline monetary system even after the vans are constructed out, and protect their worth. We’re not tall, so livability is nice, and in our opinion, it appears to be like the best.” 

That mentioned, diesel is dearer on the pump, and discovering the Terribly Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) that Sprinters require may very successfully be an exact drawback should you journey to Central or South America.

As soon as you intend on prolonged worldwide journeys in your camper van, you’re most definitely elevated off going with a Ford Transit van, irrespective of its inferior gasoline monetary system.

Why I Chosen a Sprinter Van

When my husband and I shopped for a campervan to name our residence and reside in full-time, we researched stylish trendy chassis, together with Sprinters, Transits, and ProMasters. 

I believed-about the Ford Transit Path over the Sprinter. I appreciated the cheaper price ticket, and my husband and I grew up driving Ford autos.

Plus, since my husband is tall at 6’5”, I questioned if he may stand additional comfortably in a Transit Path.

Nonetheless, I knew I wished an educated conversion and wanted my van achieved when my residence lease ended. I wished to rule out the Transit Path as these vans weren’t accessible then.

I lastly went with a 2022 Sprinter van to have 4×4, a dependable van for full-time dwelling, and a van with excellent resale worth.

I furthermore just like the look of a Sprinter, and my husband discovered he may come up inside it with out having to squat or bend.

I respect having the peace of concepts of a 4-wheel drive van on steep, rocky roads and through winter circumstances in Colorado (the place we spend various our time).

Ford wouldn’t make 4×4 vans, so I already felt hesitant about going with a type of vans in case I ever discovered myself in a tough place on the street.

Since I think about to reside in my van full-time with my husband and canine, I wished a dependable and high-quality chassis.

Though companies on Sprinters are costly, I respect how Sprinter vans don’t must be serviced as usually and typically have components that want completely different since they’re made with top of the range from the get-go (in my expertise).

I furthermore chosen a Sprinter over a Transit on account of resale worth. I knew my household would do van life for 1-3 years and finally need to promote the van.

I’ve not nonetheless reached the intention the place I’m trying to promote my Sprinter van, however I really actually really feel assured that I’m going to get a reasonably good return on funding when the time comes.

Look was not an infinite take into accounts our determination, however since my husband is a photographer and enjoys taking drone footage of our van in epic areas, it’s a specific plus!

Ought to I Get a Sprinter or Transit?

When you’re hoping for a verdict on which automotive is best for van life, you’re out of luck!

Sprinter and Transit vans are excellent alternatives for van dwellers, and every has distinctive execs and cons.

Though Keith and Hannah (@keithandhannahh) chosen a Sprinter van, they mentioned, “A Transit van might be an in depth second!”

I agree and may merely see us switching from a Sprinter van to a Ford Transit (considerably the Transit Path) sometime, considerably if we buy a house and need a van for part-time touring.

I’ve nothing adversarial to say relating to the Sprinter aside from the preliminary excessive price ticket and costly service prices.

The Sprinter vs. Transit debate rages on, so it is worthwhile to weigh the professionals and cons and resolve which most practically matches your wants and worth range.

I hope you’ve discovered this textual content material fascinating and useful in your quest to go looking your dream van. Please be fully glad to depart any questions or solutions beneath!

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