Which VAN should YOU convert? | VAN LIFE
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- Опубліковано 6 лис 2018
- I've converted a few vans and I get asked so frequently which van is the best van to convert. Well, in this video I'll answer all your burning questions about tech specs, dimensions, pros, cons, some of my opinions and why I have them. ~~~ CLICK SHOW MORE ~~~
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#transit #promaster #Sprinter
I bought a new 2018 ram promaster 2500 and started to convert it to camper van and the reason i got the promaster is exactly the reasons you mention.
I looked at all the pros and cons of all of the vans and to me promaster was the winner its not perfect but it fits my needs.
Great video like always but miss Allie.
Take Care
Thanks Joe! Allie will be back in no time!!
Glad you liked your promaster too
I agree with you everyones needs are different and I'm not pushing the ram promaster on anyone.
My conclusion after many hours of researching was that the promaster fit my needs better than a transit or sprinter and the important points for me was exactly the same Trent pointed out on this video.
Thx Matt.
Take Care.
@Matt Crone This would be an interesting video for someone (or me) to make. I'm in a class c bens and my house batteries are not connected to the house batteries... what's up with that?!? So frustrating when I boondock more than I plug-in. I'm still learning, but this is another reason I'm thinking of downsizing into something that better fits my needs.
@@TrentandAllie
I once lived my four door sedan for about six months before getting an apartment near my work. So, the Express or Econoline vans would be an upgrade for me. Lol
I have no idea why I watched this whole video. I’m not buying a van. I’m not living in a van. Could. Not. Stop. Watching.
Yay!! That’s awesome!! Thanks for watching even if it was useless to you haha
I did the same thing 3 mos ago and I’m hooked on these two!! 😂
4:49 Mercedes Talk; 8:12 Transit talk; 10:55 Promaster talk. FWIW, I am 5'4" and can stand up in an unbuilt low top Promaster and, were it not for my tall hubby, I'd be rolling in one of those for the fuel economy....on balance, I'm happy with the 'trade-off'.
I'm about 5'5''. Did you have a little clearance in the promaster?
What little I know about vans I've learned from you. You're always articulate and clear, easy to understand. Well done. Again.
SO happy to help Eliza!! Thanks for watching :)
I know damnnnnnn I couldn’t get a clear answer from NO other video!!!!🙄🤷🏽♀️
Bought one of the first Promasters in the US in 2014 and it has never let me down. For a long time, I was the only PM on the road.
This was so informative wow. As someone who is looking to get into Vanlife I'm really grateful that you put all of this information in one place for me in a very straightforward manner. This will definitely help as I look into which van will best suit my needs, thank you!
Some great information but I wish you had shown some pictures of the vans you are describing.
Yes, I Really Want Information Butt I Say Butt I Do Like Visual To See To Take In w/Information!
If y’all don’t quickly look those up! He did the hardest part!
yes yes yes I was thinking the same thing but we appreciate the info
Visuals would have made me watch the whole video
Thank you for being our one stop shop for all of this. It's a pain but necessary task to decide which features of what each type of van are and how they do or do not meet one's needs. You save us so much leg work.
Oh man we were just about to go and look at the Sprinter this afternoon as we want to build this winter, but after watching your video, you brought up some amazing points. Thank you for taking the time to do this.
This was so helpful! I'm slowly working toward van life after I graduate, and this definitely helped highlight the difference between the vans. Thank you!
I was pretty dead set on a sprinter Mercedes class but you made some very valid points about cost of repair
Love our Promaster 3500 RV. One thing with all of them is that regular dealerships that don’t have a hoist that can lift these things hate working on them. Make sure you have a network of dealers with hoists.
I went with the Promaster 159" high roof for the reasons you mention, and even though it's taking me a while to build it out, I love it.
Great minds think alike!! :)
I went the route of an older class B. 2005 Roadtrek with low miles... for me definitely the right decision...
Great vid
Trent researches tons of info, Trent gathers aforementioned info, puts info into excellent comparison video in one take that actually wears him out. Trent answers comments which are all “We miss Allie!”
Thanks Trent great informative video especially w/o Allie being there😂
Just doing my best to serve our community!! Thanks for watching and giving me a laughable comment!! Thanks Stephen
Your opening text was awesome!
As someone who just found your channel and is scrolling through some videos I know to come back to this one when I run out of the more fun ones, thanks!
Holy smokes! Thanks for all the dirty deets! Sure gave us a new perspective. Promaster sounds pretty good. It's gonna be a hard pick to be honest. The Pro looks pretty cool. We hadn't looked into it yet. This whole vanlife idea is only a week or so old for us, but we are seriously obsessed now. SO thank you for all this info. We really appreciate it & will keep you posted what we go with! - Erin + Brian
Just a note on historical accuracy, the Ford Transit has been manufactured by Ford since 1965, it is the grandfather. The Sprinter was first produced by Daimler Benz (Mercedes) in 1995 as a counter to the Transit
MB L319 since 1955...
Wrong! The transit was a van the size of a Chevy Safari. Benz had huge vans way back.
@@techs8660 He's probably thinking of the Ford Transit VE6 model which began production in 1986 and looks strikingly like a dad or grandpa (low and high) model of the Sprinter TN1 (initial production date 1995)...so claims wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit ; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_Sprinter
I already have since this August Im the happy owner of a Dodge Ram Promaster 2018 - 1500 - 136 wb and I love it. I started slowly converting it, 2weeks ago I found a cabinet maker to make the furniture. I’m looking foward to start living in it. I love your vlogs they are always interesting and fun Thanks Nat
Thank you Natalie!! That is so refreshing to get a nice comment like this :) really appreciate it and good luck with your van build :)
Trent, nice job breaking down the van pros & cons. I especially liked your -----Van Life Necessities----- links, very handy, thanks!
Great vid man, very informative 🤙🏻
I had to edit this to say that it took me weeks of research to figure out all the information Trent gives in this video.
Spot on 💪🏿😎
Thanks Van Jitsu!! I really appreciate that man!
It was a lot of hard work for sure!!
Yup. Made all the same comparisons and came to the same conclusion as you. Ram Promaster, long wheel base, not extended...but I did want diesel and have changed my mind on that. Going with gas. 👍 Very helpful. Thx for all the hard work and info.
Thanks Tami! Great minds think alike!!
I've been agonizing for awhile which one I wanted to get. Always figured Sprinters were the way to go, but I think I've settled on the Promaster. Thanks for the video!
Hands down the most helpful van life for newbies upload on YT.
Thanks a bunch mate
thanks Trent we will get a van in the near future, we have learnt so much from watching you guys, and will continue to follow you and Allie much love
Thank you so much. Saved a ton of work (on my end). Love you guys.
Wow! Trent , that was a "van load" of detail! So much work on your part. So yes, gold star for this video. And I'm not even looking for a van so not sure why I watched. Lol.
Haha That's awesome!! Thanks for sitting through my boring info spilling rant haha. Glad you enjoyed even if the info is useless to you ;)
this is one of the most informative and helpful videos I've seen on living in a van.
Thx for the effort Trent. Salient points covered and your frustration, to naysayers, evident. Soldiering on to effective coverage and conclusion worth your time and my time.
It's a lot of info to digest but clearly done, thanks Trent. The width of the promaster is the decisive factor for me as you can fit a bed widthwise.
Yeah that's a huge plus!
Yeah, I am 6' and have a sideways full/double, whatever one calls it.
Lots of info.. Appreciate it. Watched it 2 times.
Awh... How I wish that Americans used the metric system. I have never converted as many feet and inches in my life. Soon I will become comfortable enough with feet and inches and feel American lol.
As an American, I second that notion. It’s a major pain.
Lol....Nope...
We came damn close. I forget exactly when, but I'm going to say 50 years ago. It was proposed, and it looked like we were going to go metric. But, there were enough dunderheads even back then to raise a big stink about it. The proposal died a quiet death and now we're even more stuck with these weird units which are a pain to convert even amongst themselves much less with units of the rest of the world. On the bright side, just about every one of us is holding a handy dandy conversion tool in our hands. Meanwhile yeah, two sets of hex tools...
Saludos!
GeoMac Granddad Oh man!!!!
I wish the rest of the world used the non metric system.
Lots of great information...I know more about vans because of you! Thanks for that..Had no idea there was so much available.
Thank you, thank you!! You did an awesome awesome job explaining a parallel comparison of the 3 major van types. I really thank you so so so much. Now Im ready to buy my van!!
Great fact-finding Data in a short period of time. -Thank You!
This has been tremendously helpful, thank you so much!
SPRINTER SWAAAGG! Trent, dude, I was really hoping to hear your opinion at the end so I could read heated opinion comments. Thumbs up for serious effort and research here!
I'm sure they'll file in when people that love sprinters see the video haha!! Thanks though! I put a lot of work into this
This is so awesome. Thank you so much for compiling, organizing, and sharing this info!!! 🎉
Aww, I’ll gently touch the like button since I think you did try hard 😂. Seriously though, this is one of the most informative van comparisons I’ve seen. Not just 2 vans pulled side by side, where the van layout plays a huge factor into what van people like. I’m super torn on what van we’d choose, But i think the pro master is the way to go for sure. But 4x4 is pretty important, so it would be hard to not have it. But the ease of working on the pro master and the repair costs are so small compared the the sprinter. My husband could basically do most if not all the work himself. Just wish the made a 4x4 option. One day maybe we will jump in (not as a permanent ‘house’, but some epic vacations in our off seasons on the ranch) but 3 small kids kinda puts a hinderance on that for now. No idea how we’d make a layout work....
You'd have to do big bunk beds and sleep like sardines haha. It's rough with that many people!!
Trent & Allie haha, ya pretty much. They are only 4 and 3 (twins), right now, so they can fit in a lot smaller places but still I think it would be crazy tight. But since it would be more for like long vacations (like travel across Canada for a month type thing) and not so much stealth camping, maybe some sort of bunk situation with a bathroom and small kitchen but cooking mostly outside would work. No idea what that would look like thought. But motorhomes/trailers are pretty inconvenient in lots of ways to travel with which is why we don’t really want to do that. Anyways Maybe we will have to wait 18 years and go when their gone. Lol
My parents fit a family of 5 inside a van to sleep when I was growing up. Seats folded to a bed, parents slept there. My older sister slept under their heads across the van. Just sleeping bag on the floor. Kids don't need mattresses. Little sister was in her playpen between drivers seats and the main bed. And me? Oh I definitely had the absolute BEST spot of all. I slept in a hammock that hooked above the front drivers seats. It had metal hooks that clipped over the metal ridge that went above the windows. Loved that perch, best views.
This was the 1964 and on, with 7 year age diff from youngest to oldest kid. No seatbelts or carseats back then though. Little baby sis was in the playpen while driving too. We used that van which had a fold up table, and a little icebox and I cant' remember if there was a sink. Coleman stove cooked outside. When we couldn't fit in there to sleep we had a tent, but many times just slept on the ground under the stars. One time in the tent it rained too hard, My dad took us into nearest town and mom took us to a movie, and my dad took down the campsite by himself in the rain. God I miss him. Very rarely we would get a cabin, and once a houseboat which was awesome. We had a couple of little boats we'd put on top sometimes.
I was an idiot and married a guy who doesn't like camping.
Recovering Soul wow, awesome memories! My mom remembers camping much the same, the 4 sisters and their parents all in a little camping van. Hard to do these days. We usually take tents but having a van would be amazing and so much more versatile.
@@kristawheale8785 It deffinately instilled a love of nature in me. As an adult the only way I could go camping was to tag along on my sons boy scout trips. Backpacking camping, summer camp, whatever I could do. We climbed Mt. Whitney when I was 50. Amazing memories and for me at least, a once in a lifetime experience. I made it to Assistant scout Master before he outgrew it. I got some great photos of a Black bear and her cub. Just right on the trail in front of me. Woooow. As a kid we would catch lizards and frogs, and always lots of fishing.
Interesting vid! I wish I had watched this before I did my van conversion. I went with a Renault Master and I am happy with the final result but this would have saved some research and time.
Having wanted a tiny house for a few years, I just realized that I really need more mobility and less gas money, so I'm seriously looking into van life now. Thanks for a really informative comparison!
Thank you so much! You answered exactly the right questions I had. I watched like 10 other videos and yours is the only one that gave such great info. Pro-master it is!
Nicely done, Trent! Great info for a lot of people! Thank you!
Thanks AhmaLyra!!
My husband and I are seriously considering life as nomads and I love the idea of living in a van like yours but he is a drummer. Don't think his drum kit will fit in a van! heehee
That would present quite the issue haha
Thanks Trent. I found this very informative and not at all boring. I can definitely see why you guys have the one that you do. Particularly the width since the positioning of your bed. I think since I'm a single individual - I could go with your model -with the regular length and go with a twin bed. I've been looking back-n-forth over the 3 - trying to obtain some of this info. Now I have it all right here. I think Ram oughta hire you . . . you make them shine in a "fair" comparison sorta way. And just fyi . . . you don't HAVE to yell at the cam . . . I actually had to turn down my volume.
I just get so worked up i start raising my voice haha. Sorry about that
If you aren't sure which size bed to put in, there are bed frames that pull out to make a full or queen if suddenly the need arises. Or you could put in a murphy bed over some other seating arrangement which could be changed in size if the twin doesn't work out. I'd rather have more room to move around or store things than have a luxurious bed.
I really like how you are talking about these vans. A true person. Good job man
Job well done Trent. I can't believe you did it in only 1 take. I'll bet that made you happy! Thank you very much.
well it was like 40 minutes long haha I had to cut it down but I did my best LOL glad you enjoyed it
The voice of experience is valuable. It's obvious that you have given this a lot of thought.
I put days of thought into choosing our vans!!
Well, the important question would be, "What would Frank choose?" (WWFC?). Low jump in, swing out doors vs slider, best right front seat for dogs, does the window roll down so he can get some doggie head out the window sniffs, is there room for him between the 2 front seats to see squirrels or other gogs while driving, are the door panels dog proof plastic, etc.
Maybe someone should do a Frank tv mini-series or 60 minutes interview on "WWFC?" Could be groundbreaking journalism. Ya, I'd watch.
Haha that’s sounds like a great project!! We may have to do that!
Awesome Video with lots of great information. I'm in the beginning stages of trying to start my van build and this was very helpful. Thanks again. 👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾
This video was absolutely incredible. 🔥🔥🔥 I am extremely appreciative of this video. Thank you!
Hi Tren. I do have the diesel Promaster that I'm converting and I have found an independent garage that will work on it. They have actually been far, far more helpful then any of the local dealers. It took a bit to find this shop but they've been great. They actually work on anything. They've been around over 60 yrs and have great techs.
You have found a diamond in the rough!! That's awesome! You're probably getting a reasonable rate from them as well!
May I have the name of the business please? I have looking into building one as well. Thanks so much!!!
The only thing that I'd like to add is that so far in my experience with my Sprinter the only time it needs a dealership repair is when dealing with the engine itself. I have had lots of other repairs so far since my Sprinter came very neglected and all were dealt with by my Nappa repair shop with parts no more expensive than for my Ford.
Loved this video! I think you did a fairly good job of not being biased or at least acknowledging that you might favor the promaster a bit 😋 but you definitely presented all the facts quite well!
Thank you I tried to let opinion play as little part as possible. I really tried to base all statements on facts.
Again a BEAUTIFUL video. Thanks thanks and all the best for your whole Family ❤️
The back round reminds of a locker room at an ice skating rink!
Thank you for the information all in one place. I am currently saving and shopping for a van in one of these models. I am trying to decide between the Promaster and the Transit. I am short enough to get by with the Med roof on the transit. I will be looking at all the comments you get also; more information from your subscribers because you have the smartest group. Thanks.
Thanks Maggie! Happy to help with some facts! If you want a short van I'd go with the transit but if you want a long van go with a promaster.
Thanks for this guys this is exactly what I needed to see!! Love the channel!
Thank you! I ran across this older video but it is still viable and the information is fantastic.
Trent, I feel my best fit for now is a Chevy Express. I Work in the city and I have to live stealth. With that being said, I have to be able to blend in easily in my area. I park near 24 hour places like, McDonalds, gyms, Amazon, corporate places that have a lot of parking. When I was throwing my money away on rent, I only came home to sleep. So for now, this will work till I retire.
Sounds like its working out really well for you!
Wow, Trent! What a great comparison job you did for us! Thanks, Bro. Very helpful 'cause I'm looking for my next home on wheels. After doing lots of homework, I'm leaning towards the Ram Promaster. Love the Sprinter but mucho $$$ and swag ain't my thing. Blending in is! Love your vids, you and Allie do a super job. Keep em coming :D
Incredibly helpful video, thanks so much for making it!
Awesome video man. Been considering the Sprinter but this gives me a couple of different things to thing about.
Very well done..
Hey Trent & Allie (well Trent)!!! You are always providing helpful information. We appreciate you for taking the time to explain all of these comparisons. The ProMaster still wins (for me). Be SAFE out there and Thank you for sharing. 😎😁
Thanks John!! Always like your comments my man! Take care
You are quite welcome Trent. You take care as well.
Great video with lots of useful information and helpful tips to consider. Thanks for sharing!
Wow! Thank you for spending the time to explain this.. I went and bought a 2000 fiat DUCATO 1.9 Tdl converted Motorhome because the risk of converting was too high.. but now, after a few months, I’m realising that perhaps the effort of converting would have provided an easier means of repair.. especially when the parts are no longer available
Yeah I can understand that! You may have made a good decision, depends on how it pays off.
Great video! I’d love to see a comparison of the Promasters 1500 vs 2500 vs 3500 when used for a van conversion. Thanks.
That would be interesting!! I'll have to try and get some people together to make this happen!
Trent on one take lol good job very informative and I value your opinion!!
Thank you!! So glad to know theres people out there that do!
Cool. Unique video that is a critical know how. Thanks. No one else has done a video like this.
Great video! Just what I was looking for and useful. Thank you!
Glad it was of some help Sandy!
Thank you, Trent, for doing all that research! 🤗🌈
You just saved me a ton of time. Thank you so much. You confirmed the way I've been leaning towards a Promaster. The only thing you could of done to make it better would be having Allie sitting beside you.
I agree!! But she was stuck in another country!! Glad the video helped you though :)
@@TrentandAllie She has personality plus on you videos. Anyway my story is my dad worked to age 83 and passed on one hour after getting off work. I was heading down that path until I saw yours and other videos. Now I plan on selling most everything. Getting a van a enjoy my last 30 years or so. You two are helping that dream to become a reality. So keep up the good work. By the way I'll be 65 in a few months.
@@gotgold4590 More power to you!! So happy to hear that we have this effect on people! I just believe in living life to the fullest and want everyone else to do the same!!
Dude, you are so awesome, your videos have been unbelievably helpful and this one in particular helped us make some important decisions. Thank you so much!!
Thank you so much for this video. I plan to buy one in the next 2 years to convert and this solidified that plan.
We purchased a Ford Transit 250 148" (I think)wheelbase with 3.5L Ecoboost mid-height in April. I am well along with adding a camper interior. It is functional now with hot water, electrical, bed/sofa and AC. I was thinking about posting photos on G+ but recently read that G+ is going away. Couldn't be happier with our choice made on the looks of the van, dealerships and we don't like the smell of diesel.
You did a nice review that should be helpful to some.
Thank you! I bet your transit is awesome!!
@@TrentandAllie We have watched a lot of UA-cam videos by people who have kindly shown what they have done. That is a big help when starting from scratch as we did. Our requirements are different in that we have a home and will not be living full time in the van and plan to use campground shore power or if need be, we purchased a HF 2000 watt Predator generator that could boondock if allowed. We now have a 30' class A motorhome that we plan to sell as it is much larger than we need. So we will not have to put in the expensive power systems that people that are living off grid need. However, our van is probably more stealthy than almost any as the only exterior features are a Maxxair fan on the roof and a shore power socket under the rear bumper that looks like a trailer hitch socket.
The Ecoboost Transits are pretty lively beasts. Way too much engine for a work van but I'm sure that's fun, even though the MPG is pretty nasty.
@@lorcro2000 I am being very careful with the build weight and will probably get close to double the 10 MPG that our class A gets.
Biodiesel smells better!!
You are so right about Mercedes. They have unique, one-of-a-kind tools to do routine maintenance work. An owner cannot buy parts outside of Mercedes. I have seen this so many times at my car dealership... someone buys a used Mercedes for a great price, then they are hit with a $2,000 maintenance bill; and no one else can help because they don't have access to specialized "tools" to get the work done.
You Got Balls! Watch Your Back!
Super important info youre adding here, TY
Good info. I like your guys vlogs on spending day in the van and hiking or hanging out. I like your guys van out of all the vans I’ve seen.
Thanks Lori! We'll be back to the regular Vlogs soon!!
You sir killed it. Your all that and a bag of chips. Really appreciate all you both do for the community. I do think there will be more and more people living in vans or tiny homes in the future your ahead of the pack. Take of each other we love you both.
Thank you so much! So glad you appreciate our hard work!! 😊
hahaha- I'm 5Ft and can stand totally upright in a finished regular height Sprinter!
I agree with the comfort of the high top aspect completely!
It is a MUST!! haha
Loved the Promaster 1500...love my new Promaster 2500. Excellent content. Another terrific video, Trent. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Good Ruth! Awesome news!!
Thank you Trent as you answered all the questions I had.
😎🤘🏼 nice!!
Thank you for this video!! I was pretty sure what I wanted, but having the big three compared totally made up my mind. Just an extra tidbit for you, oil changes for the Sprinter are upwards of $350.00. A bit rich for my blood. I’m going to go with the Ram Promaster 159 extended web. My only other question is what is the difference between the 2500 and the 3500? No worries if you don’t reply, I’ll just have to do some more research. I am a big Trent and Allie and Frank fan, I love your videos. Cheers!
The 3500 can carry a little more weight 😊
This video deserved a big fat like.
A usual Trent; thanks again for sharing your wisdom; appreciate all your help.
Great video and thanks for all the details. It's also worth mentioning that the super high top Sprinter has no roof rack option and a roof loading weight of 0kg. I.e, you can't put anything on the roof. So, although you get the height, if you were planning on installing roof solar panels, the super high top roof isn't really an option. I don't know if this is the case with any other brands and makes of super high top roof vans, but it's definitely something to bear in mind!
6'4". Only one choice! Love my Transit. Don't forget you need to add ceiling and floor :)
Transit's are the option for tall people for sure!! Also the eco boost is sick!!
Yes gotta add for floor and ceiling!
We love our Transit too though it is a Coachmen not custom build. We are not tall and we don't have the Ecoboost but it handles amazingly well with plenty of pep and very comfortable.
That ecoboost has the best torque of any van! Awesome for off-road terrains, and I don't mind the elevated body. You never know what you could be scraping at the bottom if your ride is too low.
This video was awesome! Def needed this when I bought my van. I went with the Promaster 159 ext. And it was the best decision ever. Why promaster? Like you said it was the cheapest! We bought the van brand new, out the door for 30,000 with rebates. Has back up sound sensors, as well as a back up camera (not the best quality but gets the job done). And got an amazing warranty. Supposedly has the sharpest turning radius of all vans. And I'm so glad its lower to the ground making it easier to hop in. The funny part is that it was the last van I checked out. And truly turned out to be the best option for me. Especially for the length. It wansn't too long or too short, but literally perfectly in the middle. The sprinter was so expensive it was a joke. The sprinter got a redesign for 2019, it has been 10 years since it has been changed, and still the dealership wouldn't give me any deal, not even on a brand new 2017 Sprinter which they had tons of just sitting in the parking lot. Who wants to buy a new van already 2 years old for the same price as the newly redesigned version? And yes they are making a gas version. There is already like a 1-2 year waiting list for one. The sales guy at the mercedes dealership called me for 3 months trying to get me to come back. They try so hard to be cool and exclusive, and it is just not worth it for what you have to pay. Especially considering that you might end up hitting something, or someone hitting you, scratching paint or getting a dent. As for the transit, like you said it's the tallest option. But that's not always a good thing. I got caught with horrible high winds driving through arizona to California, that they recommended truckers to pull over bc they can easily tip over. I was scared driving my promaster - can't imagine having 10 extra inches on the top. I would have had to pull over. All in all, I'm so happy with my promaster. It's easy to drive. and even more enjoyable to drive than my Hyundai Elantra. Even though I dont have back windows, still very easy to drive. I know that the front and back bumpers are made of plastic pieces that can easily be changed need be, without having to change the whole bumper.
Yeah Go team promaster!! Glad its been serving you well.
I bought the PM for the width and general feel of the interior space. Mine is a 159" high top; got it for $25,900 with 6 months and about 10k on it. Transferable warranty. It's been perfect.
Rear windows are highly overrated.
Yay, I bought a used 2015 Ram Promaster hightop 136" wheelbase. I love the way it drives, it's just right for me (and I'm short, but I don't like low roofs!). Still doing a no-build build and excited about travelling (not on rough roads tho!). It's kind of odd in that it has a built in air conditioner/heater in the back that hangs from the ceiling, which I think I will leave in it vs removing it. We'll see. Anyway, happy to have it, and thanks a lot Trent for your video (which, intentionally or not, confirmed I made a good choice!).
Thanks for all the info on vans it was very informative, something to think about, I hope to build out my own van. Thanks again for the videos, plz, keep them coming? Eric Sulen, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
You’re so welcome Eric!!
Congratulations to you both. Quite an accomplishment. You must be so very proud of yourselves. Rightfully so!!!
thank you for this very good video , helpful!
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching
Thank You! Super Job Covering. The Big Questions of The Big Three' Way Efficiently ' In Great 'Coffee Bar' Language' For Quick an Awesome Knowledge Slam ' 🍵✌☺Peace
Glad you appreciated it Charles!! Thanks man
Great video!! I've been seriously wanting a promaster for the the reasons you mentioned here. For me it seems like the only van I could make work comfortably.
It's an awesome option if you ask me!!
Thanks Trent. I enjoyed this. Very fun to watch.
Happily Brad!! Thanks for watching man!
I watched a video of all the new safety features on the 2019 Sprinter and they look amazing!
Do any of the other vans have safety features?? I would prefer gas over diesel though and Sprinters are expensive.
DISTRONIC PLUS is the adaptive cruise system from Mercedes-Benz which uses automatic speed regulation and proximity control to automatically keep you safely traveling behind the vehicle in front of you.
Active Lane Keeping Assist works to keep drivers safely in their lane when they unintentionally drift. The system makes small corrections to steering and braking.
Active Brake Assist works to monitor your vehicle’s surroundings in an attempt to stop a collision before it happens. In the event of an impending collision, the system can apply the vehicle’s brakes autonomously.
ATTENTION ASSIST works by learning your driving habits. When the system senses you may be fatigued it will first make minor safety adjustments and will then alert you to stop driving if necessary.
Crosswind Assist works to keep your vehicle stable during strong winds. The innovative system uses sensors to anticipate wind gusts and uses targeted braking to counteract the weight of the wind. This system is perfect for large vans like the Sprinter.
These are all really nice features to have for sure! I don't know of any other van brands that are including these types of features in them. These are also a lot of computer systems that can fail and cause problems that require Dealership servicing though!
You just can't have your cake an eat it too haha. When everything is working properly Sprinters have the nicest set up for sure but you pay for it as well.
Another option perhaps is you could install all those safety systems in your head and become a better driver. 🤔
I think you offered a relatively fair comparison, although I think your readers should know that all diesel emissions systems from every manufacturer were problematic around 2009-2012. The Mercedes diesel emissions systems took on a lot of changes in the 2014 model year that has made them significantly more reliable. I would care not to own a pre-2014, to be completely honest. Also, people shouldn't be afraid to deal with Mercedes--I got a combination of $3,000 in rebates plus negotiated $4,200 off MSRP, which put the price well below what I negotiated on a Transit and only 1.2K more than the Promaster. I will be doing all of my own maintenance as they are pretty easy to service. The MB dealers do charge more for service, although I find parts to cost close to the same as my Toyota.
That's awesome man! If you can do the work yourself that could make a big difference!! I would change that timing chain every 40k miles so you don't end up with the $15,000 paper weight though!! That's just me being paranoid though!
@@TrentandAllie None of these vans are Toyotas, let's face it. Diesel vans have a complicated emissions system. The Transits have direct injection, which means they'll have valve deposits early-on. Our friend's Transit is having transmission problems. Promaster has rocker arm problems (google "treaded pentastar tick") as well as transmission issues. I decided that if I'm going to have a problem, I'd rather have to replace an external emissions sensor rather than a cylinder head or transmission. That's just me though. What we need is the Toyota of yester-year to make us a bombproof van! Hope to see you guys on the road sometime. -Ken
I really wish Toyota would get into the van business!! Little Toyota turbo diesel van or even better a hybrid van!! They'd make a killing!
Hey Ken. Can you speak to the timing belt statement made by Trent? I'm still on the fence (big time) about even going the van conversion route, mainly because of the cautionary tales of woe that I've heard/read from other van owners (from all of the main manufactures), and also, largely due to the fact that I am a lifetime Toyota loyalist, and I just can't wrap my head around the fact that I may have major mechanical issues on a relatively new van (I plan on buying new).
I've been doing my due diligence, and doing a crazy amount of research before I make the leap on purchasing a van, and so far (much to my wife's dismay), I'm leaning towards not doing a van conversion. I just can't quite imagine owning a vehicle that may leave me stranded, and penniless, because of maintenance, and mechanical issues. Once upon a time, like yourself, I could have done some of the work myself. But now (on a good day), I can maybe manage to change a flat tire. By the time Toyota jumps into the American market with a cargo van, I'll probably be watching your van conversion videos from a rest home.
@@gr8commission Ha, good read, gave me a laugh. I'll let Trent elaborate but what I think he is referring to is the timing chain that broke on Eamon & Bec's van (some other popular youtubers), which is a 200,000+ mile and 10 or 11 year old van with unknown service history. I can't speak to that, but I am seeing new MB vans from FedEx and overnighters running around my area that wouldn't be purchased by penny-pinching companies if they were *that* bad. Amazon just ordered 20,000 MB Sprinters.
I'm also a Toyota guy, so let's get this out of the way....all of these vans have their issues. I initially wanted a Promaster but was shyed away by the valvetrain problems of the Pentastar engine (google 'dreadead pentastar tick') as well as the transmission issues. After talking to people in my area that had them, including my USPS postmaster that drives them, these two powertrain issues are a matter of when, not if. Finally, a good friend has a business and a fleet of Transit Connects had to rent a Promaster because his vans were all in use and he needed one for a job, had the flexplate blow out of the transmission on his first day of having it. I set my sights on something else.
Transits I think are generally good, but with some new van teathing issues. Guibo joints, wet air filters and some transmission issues. I think Ford is dealing with most of those under warranty. Their engines are all direct injection, and as such will develop valve deposits over time. I would have more confidence in the powertrain of the Transit than the Promaster.
The red herring on Sprinters and any diesel van is the complication of the emissions system. There are a variety of pressure and NOX sensors that talk to each other and if everything isn't playing nicely, you can get the CEL. It's a bigger problem on the V6 diesels than the 4 cylinder, and I am really happy to have gotten a 4 cylinder version. Otherwise, the powertrains are good. A Mercedes mechanic friend says MB gas cars are only so-so, but their diesels are what Mercedes are known for and they are robust. If I'm going to replace crap, I'd rather deal with external exhaust sensors than cylinder heads and transmissions. I have a lot of confidence in this van, based on the glowing reviews by other owners. Quite frankly I wouldn't be as excited about a pre-2014 (due to the older and more problematic emissions hardware). Just my .02. You can read more on ourkaravan [dot] com.
I personally wouldn't let this hold you back too much. The van has fundamentally changed my life, getting me out more and allowing me to spend far more quality time with my daughter. After losing my 31-year old wife to cancer, life's too short, get out there.
Great Video and a Excellent comparison of which to buy. You saved me a bunch of time and probably some financial and DIY build mistakes. I was leaning to the Diesel Promaster until your convincing and pragmatic case for the gas version. Thanks again for a much needed video!
Trent- you went all out this time. Great job. So many compromises but at the end of the day you got to pick one...I think there are good build examples of all three models but very few great examples of people actually living and flourishing in their environment as a couple, (very few). Maybe a subject for future videos??? Thank you for all the info-great effort!
Definitely a good idea for a future video!! Thanks for that!
I tried to make the video informative without being too slow or boring. Hopefully it wasn't too painful to watch haha
This was great information!! I'm 6'4 so Xlarge Transit for me!
Yeah you don't have another choice if you want to be comfortable haha
Great explanation! Good job Trent! (good camera work Allie!) :-)
Thanks Greg!!
Thank you so much, great info made easy to understand! I live in Sweden and my rebuild is a Renault Master.
“Pretty much tired” loved that 😜 nice one on this, really helped, thank you 😊