Sprinter vs. Promaster | Which van is best for you?
Finding the Right Van for Your Conversion Can Be a Challenge.
There are many options when it comes to purchasing a van. However you really only have 3 options that allow you to stand up in your van:
Mercedes Sprinter
Dodge Ram Promaster
Ford Transit
In this post we will be comparing the Mercedes Sprinter to the Ram Promaster.
Fellow vanlifers Trent & Allie were nice enough to take us on a tour of their Ram Promaster conversion and discuss some of the reasons why they opted for the Promaster.
Less Expensive Purchase Price (brand new) compared to the Mercedes Sprinter
Slightly wider and more square body than the Sprinter
Front Wheel Drive may perform better in snowy conditions. Additionally because it is front wheel drive the floor in the cargo area is lower which gives you more overall height in the back.
Unleaded gasoline engine which does not require specifically trained mechanics to work on it.
The Dodge Ram Promaster comes in 3 different lengths: the 136" wheelbase, the 159" wheelbase, and the wheelbase extended. Each one of these vans has 76 inches of interior height inside.
One of the great things about the Promaster is that the walls are more square, which means if you're building out your own van you're going to have an easier time building in it. The promaster is the widest of all the vans as well so if you're planning on sleeping side to side, this is a great option.
The specs for each configuration are listed below:
Overall we loved their build! It is honestly one of the best builds we have seen in person. We totally appreciate why they opted for the Promaster.
However… we have LOVED both of our Sprinters.
Our current van is a 2014 and our first van was a 2008 Dodge Sprinter. We had great luck with both of these vans.
Why we choose the Spinter:
Diesel Engine. Better fuel efficiency and plenty of power for climbing mountain roads.
We love the way it drives. This is really important. No matter what van you purchase make sure you test drive it and enjoy driving it. It will not only be your house but also your everyday driver.
Longer wheelbase for more space inside
Resale value - The Sprinter holds its value very well compared to the other vans out there. We found this really important when putting in over $25,000 for our conversion.
The Sprinter van comes in three lengths:
1. The 144" wheelbase
2. The 170" wheelbase
3. The 170" wheelbase extended
All three sizes of the van have an interior height of 77.8 inches. The biggest perk of a Sprinter van is the turbo diesel engine - these vans are known to last for 500,000+ miles.
The specs of each Sprinter van configuration is listed below:
A common misconception of a Sprinter van is that you have to take it to a dealer to get all of the maintenance done. This isn't the case, you can often find a great local Sprinter mechanic or someone who works on diesel engines, which will end up saving you thousands!
