All modern vehicles including the Sprinter do have some smart electronics connected to the wheels and brakes. Put simply they will detect wheel spin in slippery conditions and brake that wheel so the other one with traction can drive. All you need in 99% of situations if you use common sense. So do not waste your money on a 4WD option for a Sprinter IMHO. Mine does not have this as it is too old.
The Sprinters can be the big LWB van/bus converted, same size as mine, or can be a cab and chassis with a fully built on box which is a bit wider, longer, higher and heavier but the same WB as the big van and dual wheels. So there is your choice as you look at different models.
I do like what Cuppa said "If I were to offer any advice it would be to choose the smallest that you could find acceptable." Now that is the opposite to most peoples rigs and they pay the price for that.
Jaahn
David L said
03:24 PM Aug 25, 2022
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Larger vehicles can be parked across 2 or 3 spaces if you park out of the way . Never had any problems ! Just be aware you can open the door and able to drive out if someone parks too close !
Okay thanks
Cuppa said
08:54 PM Aug 25, 2022
David L wrote:
Thank You Cuppa, I enjoyed reading your post as well as finding it very helpful! I think you have really captured where we are at and what we were looking at hoping to achieve.
I am becoming more and more confident that parking in a small wheelbase motorhome, something like the shorter wheelbase version Mercedes sprinter at 6 m Length overall, will not be a drama in most of the places we will need to pull up. Having done countless car trips in the past involving motels and built-up areas, I see the main attraction of motorhome or caravan option as being able to stay self-contained in nature within the national parks. I mentioned before about being a boatie and likewise there is something magical about being immersed / surrounded by nature but in the relative comfort and safety of a large boat (or motorhome). We do not at all envisage buying a heavy duty four-wheel-drive equipped with snorkel and winch and heading off into the wilderness. I was fascinated watching the Leyland brothers many years ago but didn't want to be them. I can absolutely see the appeal for many but even if it did appeal it is beyond our physical abilities.
You strike the right chord when you said being able to journey just that little bit further from the mainstream camping areas within national parks. That's pretty much what we would want to achieve for a couple of nights here and there. And to do it whilst we are fit enough to enjoy it.
Nice photo by the way, you captured the moment. I am also an enthusiast photographer and currently use a mirror-less Sony with various lenses. I have done a lot of street photography and landscapes, city attractions, night scapes et cetera. I have started to use a longer lens for nature photography and have just started to look at astrophotography. Similarly, I have recently started looking into the world of macro photography. Both these things would lend themselves quite well to national parks stays.
What sort of vehicle do you have at the moment that ticks the boxes for what you want?
-- Edited by David L on Thursday 25th of August 2022 10:37:38 AM
We have a Nissan Patrol towing a Tvan which we have been travelling in for the past 5 years, but have had a motorhome in the past - a converted 7 metre bus (Nissan Civilian). The Patrol/Tvan combo has taken us to plenty of remote places & we have done a fair bit of 4wd'ing of the sort you are not seeking to do. I would not recommend our current set up for your purposes. For us it still works but is becoming harder as our fitness becomes more compromised with age. We expect to make a switch back to a motorhome at some stage, but at this stage are looking for it to be a motorhome which will enable us to continue remote travel off the beaten track, but with the comfort & convenience of indoor cooking & dining. We think 6 metres is about the maximum suitable length. I too use a Sony Mirrorless camera. My A6500 recently died after 4 northern wet seasons in 4 years, I think the humidity probably caused corrosion to it's motherboard & it became unreliable, so I recently replaced it with an A7iii - An A7iv with it's Bird eye auto focus would have been nice, but was too hard to justify the additional cost. Still early days in my journey with the A7iii.
FWIW, if I were not still wanting a vehicle which could tackle any 4wd track & to go off grid for a month or two in between re-supplying as we do now, but still wanted one which would do what you seek I think the one I would aspire to might be the Trakka J2M 6 metre long mid wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter with AWD. Not sure what price they are, other than 'not cheap', but Trakka have an excellent reputation & resale value would be very good. Have never seen one in the flesh but I think if your budget extends to one & you can manage without something larger it would fit your purpose very well. Trakka Jabiru J2M I really like the simple internal layout which maximises the use of space with the two swivel seats on the flat floor.
Regards
Cuppa
-- Edited by Cuppa on Thursday 25th of August 2022 08:55:10 PM
-- Edited by Cuppa on Thursday 25th of August 2022 08:57:57 PM
David L said
10:41 AM Aug 26, 2022
Cuppa wrote:
We have a Nissan Patrol towing a Tvan which we have been travelling in for the past 5 years, but have had a motorhome in the past - a converted 7 metre bus (Nissan Civilian). The Patrol/Tvan combo has taken us to plenty of remote places & we have done a fair bit of 4wd'ing of the sort you are not seeking to do. I would not recommend our current set up for your purposes. For us it still works but is becoming harder as our fitness becomes more compromised with age. We expect to make a switch back to a motorhome at some stage, but at this stage are looking for it to be a motorhome which will enable us to continue remote travel off the beaten track, but with the comfort & convenience of indoor cooking & dining. We think 6 metres is about the maximum suitable length. I too use a Sony Mirrorless camera. My A6500 recently died after 4 northern wet seasons in 4 years, I think the humidity probably caused corrosion to it's motherboard & it became unreliable, so I recently replaced it with an A7iii - An A7iv with it's Bird eye auto focus would have been nice, but was too hard to justify the additional cost. Still early days in my journey with the A7iii.
FWIW, if I were not still wanting a vehicle which could tackle any 4wd track & to go off grid for a month or two in between re-supplying as we do now, but still wanted one which would do what you seek I think the one I would aspire to might be the Trakka J2M 6 metre long mid wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter with AWD. Not sure what price they are, other than 'not cheap', but Trakka have an excellent reputation & resale value would be very good. Have never seen one in the flesh but I think if your budget extends to one & you can manage without something larger it would fit your purpose very well. Trakka Jabiru J2M I really like the simple internal layout which maximises the use of space with the two swivel seats on the flat floor.
Regards
Cuppa
Ah yes, I saw your blog. very interesting. Again you are correct in what we are wanting and in fact I have been looking at the Trakka J2M for the last few days. It ticks a lot of boxes for us and the "M" for medium wheel base in AWD version / 6m overall length makes it more agile than the J2 and J4 longer wheelbases @7.125m.
Both the J2 and J4 longer wheelbases come in AWD versions also and have some obvious advantages in extra space. The J4 has two additional seats, pushes the bathroom/fridge 400mm to the rear and picks up extra kitchen bench space but has an east west bed. the J2 (just two front seats) also pushes the bathroom/fridge 400mm to the rear and picks up extra kitchen bench space and gains a North south bed.
The new prices are north of 200k, J2m starting from 203k, J2 from 220k and J4 from 230k.
There is also Horizon and paradise vans but haven't explored them much yet. The paradise I know is a longer van and very expensive (but seems to come with more). It doesn't appear to have the sliding side door, replacing it with a conventional door access. It looks geared more to the luxury end.
I have the Sony A7rIV and have been very happy with it. The extra pixels do come in handy for larger prints (which I do) or for cropping images or for say macros where edge to edge lens sharpness may not be the greatest and you can again afford to crop away the edges.Mostly though, those extra pixels are not required.
The picture below is not exactly a bush theme lol but taken handheld in 2019 pre Covid
and this one in Scotland
-
-- Edited by David L on Friday 26th of August 2022 11:28:51 AM
-- Edited by David L on Friday 26th of August 2022 11:30:14 AM
woolman wrote:i have just discovered the Suzuli Jimminy is now the only car to flat tow. Not the most comfortable as a passenger car, good to go down the beachffishing though.
My solution is a 30 foot motor home and car flat towed behind. Takes about 2 minutes to unhook and buzz off in car to look around. Been motor homing since 2007. Before that we had a caravan but found the problem being full, time on the road is not enough weight allowance in caravan. You will run jnto same problem with a motor home to drive on a car licence, 4.5 tonne. Most of those motorhomes can have option to be upgraded to 5 or 5.5 tonne, which means you need a light rigid drivers licence, just requires a driving test.
You will need to do research on towing capacities on your proposed motor home and what car can be flat towed. As far as i am aware Suzuki grand Vitara are the only one to legally flat tow, but not all models. If you have the towing capacity and /or a light enough car you could have a light car trailer. Since we srarted flat towing I have discovered some light tilt trailers that if I change cars will be looking at one of these trailers. Our motor home is 6.9 tone but only 1.8 tonne towing capacity.
It at first it appears a mine field but just fully reach regulations for your state and capacities of motor home, trailer and car. Before you order any vehicle. It will finally make sense.
Neil
Thanks Neil
Yeh I think if I was a full timer then that sounds about right for what I'd be planning to do, or at least wanting to try. I didn't know that the Vitara was the only one that could be flat towed or for that matter that there were specific rules beyond overall towing capacity and GCM. Thanks for heads up.
Jaahn said
07:08 PM Aug 27, 2022
Ah yes, I saw your blog. very interesting. Again you are correct in what we are wanting and in fact I have been looking at the Trakka J2M for the last few days. It ticks a lot of boxes for us and the "M" for medium wheel base in AWD version / 6m overall length makes it more agile than the J2 and J4 longer wheelbases @7.125m.
Both the J2 and J4 longer wheelbases come in AWD versions also and have some obvious advantages in extra space. The J4 has two additional seats, pushes the bathroom/fridge 400mm to the rear and picks up extra kitchen bench space but has an east west bed. the J2 (just two front seats) also pushes the bathroom/fridge 400mm to the rear and picks up extra kitchen bench space and gains a North south bed.
The new prices are north of 200k, J2m starting from 203k, J2 from 220k and J4 from 230k.
Hi David
Well your budget is greater than mine, around a quarter of a million dollars with a few options added is well past what I think about ?? Good luck ! Insurance cost !
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Saturday 27th of August 2022 07:17:44 PM
David L said
03:53 PM Aug 28, 2022
Jaahn wrote:
The new prices are north of 200k, J2m starting from 203k, J2 from 220k and J4 from 230k.
Hi David
Well your budget is greater than mine, around a quarter of a million dollars with a few options added is well past what I think about ?? Good luck ! Insurance cost !
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Saturday 27th of August 2022 07:17:44 PM
Hi Jaahn
Yeh the staggering prices have not escaped my attention
I have also been looking at the more modestly priced Kea and Jayco second hand Sprinter based campervans. I mentioned earlier that a new Merc Sprinter costs around 60k (depending). It seems odd that a camper conversion should add almost 200k
Other sprinter campervan recommendations or experience with van conversion companies welcome
David L
All modern vehicles including the Sprinter do have some smart electronics connected to the wheels and brakes. Put simply they will detect wheel spin in slippery conditions and brake that wheel so the other one with traction can drive. All you need in 99% of situations if you use common sense. So do not waste your money on a 4WD option for a Sprinter IMHO. Mine does not have this as it is too old.
The Sprinters can be the big LWB van/bus converted, same size as mine, or can be a cab and chassis with a fully built on box which is a bit wider, longer, higher and heavier but the same WB as the big van and dual wheels. So there is your choice as you look at different models.
I do like what Cuppa said "If I were to offer any advice it would be to choose the smallest that you could find acceptable." Now that is the opposite to most peoples rigs and they pay the price for that.
Jaahn
Okay thanks
We have a Nissan Patrol towing a Tvan which we have been travelling in for the past 5 years, but have had a motorhome in the past - a converted 7 metre bus (Nissan Civilian). The Patrol/Tvan combo has taken us to plenty of remote places & we have done a fair bit of 4wd'ing of the sort you are not seeking to do. I would not recommend our current set up for your purposes. For us it still works but is becoming harder as our fitness becomes more compromised with age. We expect to make a switch back to a motorhome at some stage, but at this stage are looking for it to be a motorhome which will enable us to continue remote travel off the beaten track, but with the comfort & convenience of indoor cooking & dining. We think 6 metres is about the maximum suitable length. I too use a Sony Mirrorless camera. My A6500 recently died after 4 northern wet seasons in 4 years, I think the humidity probably caused corrosion to it's motherboard & it became unreliable, so I recently replaced it with an A7iii - An A7iv with it's Bird eye auto focus would have been nice, but was too hard to justify the additional cost. Still early days in my journey with the A7iii.
FWIW, if I were not still wanting a vehicle which could tackle any 4wd track & to go off grid for a month or two in between re-supplying as we do now, but still wanted one which would do what you seek I think the one I would aspire to might be the Trakka J2M 6 metre long mid wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter with AWD. Not sure what price they are, other than 'not cheap', but Trakka have an excellent reputation & resale value would be very good. Have never seen one in the flesh but I think if your budget extends to one & you can manage without something larger it would fit your purpose very well. Trakka Jabiru J2M I really like the simple internal layout which maximises the use of space with the two swivel seats on the flat floor.
Regards
Cuppa
-- Edited by Cuppa on Thursday 25th of August 2022 08:55:10 PM
-- Edited by Cuppa on Thursday 25th of August 2022 08:57:57 PM
Ah yes, I saw your blog. very interesting. Again you are correct in what we are wanting and in fact I have been looking at the Trakka J2M for the last few days. It ticks a lot of boxes for us and the "M" for medium wheel base in AWD version / 6m overall length makes it more agile than the J2 and J4 longer wheelbases @7.125m.
Both the J2 and J4 longer wheelbases come in AWD versions also and have some obvious advantages in extra space. The J4 has two additional seats, pushes the bathroom/fridge 400mm to the rear and picks up extra kitchen bench space but has an east west bed. the J2 (just two front seats) also pushes the bathroom/fridge 400mm to the rear and picks up extra kitchen bench space and gains a North south bed.
The new prices are north of 200k, J2m starting from 203k, J2 from 220k and J4 from 230k.
There is also Horizon and paradise vans but haven't explored them much yet. The paradise I know is a longer van and very expensive (but seems to come with more). It doesn't appear to have the sliding side door, replacing it with a conventional door access. It looks geared more to the luxury end.
I have the Sony A7rIV and have been very happy with it. The extra pixels do come in handy for larger prints (which I do) or for cropping images or for say macros where edge to edge lens sharpness may not be the greatest and you can again afford to crop away the edges.Mostly though, those extra pixels are not required.
The picture below is not exactly a bush theme lol but taken handheld in 2019 pre Covid
and this one in Scotland
-
-- Edited by David L on Friday 26th of August 2022 11:28:51 AM
-- Edited by David L on Friday 26th of August 2022 11:30:14 AM
Ah yes, I saw your blog. very interesting. Again you are correct in what we are wanting and in fact I have been looking at the Trakka J2M for the last few days. It ticks a lot of boxes for us and the "M" for medium wheel base in AWD version / 6m overall length makes it more agile than the J2 and J4 longer wheelbases @7.125m.
Both the J2 and J4 longer wheelbases come in AWD versions also and have some obvious advantages in extra space. The J4 has two additional seats, pushes the bathroom/fridge 400mm to the rear and picks up extra kitchen bench space but has an east west bed. the J2 (just two front seats) also pushes the bathroom/fridge 400mm to the rear and picks up extra kitchen bench space and gains a North south bed.
The new prices are north of 200k, J2m starting from 203k, J2 from 220k and J4 from 230k.
Hi David
Well your budget is greater than mine, around a quarter of a million dollars with a few options added is well past what I think about ?? Good luck ! Insurance cost !
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Saturday 27th of August 2022 07:17:44 PM
Hi Jaahn
Yeh the staggering prices have not escaped my attention
I have also been looking at the more modestly priced Kea and Jayco second hand Sprinter based campervans. I mentioned earlier that a new Merc Sprinter costs around 60k (depending). It seems odd that a camper conversion should add almost 200k
Other sprinter campervan recommendations or experience with van conversion companies welcome
David