We recently sent a questionnaire to Sprinter owners to see how they now like their vans after owning them for awhile. All of the responses were very favorable. Here's a couple of examples.
Questionnaire and responses . . .
—The VanNuys
Questionnaire and responses . . .
Thank you again for being who you all are. —Richard Melenby
P.S. You don't need to change my name for privacy.
Note - see Mr. Melenby's post card below that we received later.
We also receive lots of letters and e-mails from happy Sportsmobile owners. And an occasional one from an owner with a problem. According to the feedback we later receive, our response is quick and to the owner's satisfaction.
"I thought the Sprinter would be more delicate than the Ram Quad Cab we used to travel in, but I was wrong. The Sprinter has turned out to be just as sturdy, if not more."
I'm no good with penmanship as you see on the survey, so I will write a letter. We have spent many nights in the Sprinter and traveled under many conditions. Hot weather, cold, on and off road, truck stops, camp spots, parking lots and places where there are no spots. We have pushed the envelope. Remember, we were already camping quite a bit in a pickup truck with a tiny six-foot Palomino pop-up, so this Sprinter did not get an easy break-in. It had to hit the bricks running as they say, seeing all our old stomping grounds that we used to see in a very stout Ram truck.
The Sprinter: I thought the Sprinter would be more delicate than the Ram Quad Cab we used to travel in, but I was wrong. The Sprinter has turned out to be just as sturdy, if not more. It accelerates fast, has high mileage, and bounds over rough terrain without roll and floats over sand. The Sprinter AC makes the entire van cold even in 100 degree weather. I know — we ran through the central valley in the summer to Sacramento and it was 111 degrees in Bakersfield. One word of advice — keep the diesel at 2200 rpm (66mph in 5th gear) in extreme conditions like climbing grades in ultra hot weather, and DOWNSHIFT climbing steep grades. We run with the big truckers on grades. This is also the secret to very high mileage. The temp can run up if you push too hard up the hills in extremely hot weather. The engine does not overheat, but keeping the temp in the lower ranges will make the motor last longer according to the German guys at our Mercedes Dodge dealer who now cares for the van. (Did you know the motor holds TEN quarts of oil?!) No wonder they change the oil so seldom.
"We have had no problems with parking and maneuvering in large downtown traffic. We take the van into downtown San Diego all the time. I can squeeze by taxicabs to make sharp right turns on busy one-way streets with no problem."
The Mercedes guy says the narrow van is like a locomotive with a cow catcher, and is very strong in the front quarter. The narrow profile of the van actually helps it off-road because it tracks more like a motorcycle. I can ride up on obstacles on one side without dragging the rear over rocks because the narrow axle width keeps the other tires out of trouble and also keeps stuff from getting up between the wheels. I just need to watch my sideways lean, but even the Ram truck could feel tipsy with the camper on the back. Also, the Ram truck would go about 260 miles max on 25 gallons of gas. The Sprinter goes 300 miles on less than half of a tank of diesel (13 gallons).
We have had no problems with parking and maneuvering in large downtown traffic. We take the van into downtown San Diego all the time. I can squeeze by taxicabs to make sharp right turns on busy one-way streets with no problem.
Overall the Sprinter gets an A++ grade.
The Sportsmobile: The Sportsmobile cabinets are superior because the construction is stiff and lightweight. The Sportsmobile method of plumbing vents in the side instead of the roof is much better. The knobs on the shades should be smaller so they fit in the window wells. The LPG setup is superior to any other van conversion. The electric is superior to any other van or many regular Class C motorhomes. My rich nephew drives a Trek, and he was asking how he could get the same refrigerator and set up as us! (Trek is a $200,000 rig.) We can run on the one battery for many days without traveling because of the gas fridge/freezer and the large LPG tank. It's one of the best features on the rig. We have hot water and ice cubes without limit anywhere without any hookups. I think it's the custom design and engineering you get with a Sportsmobile that you don't get with other motorhomes — makes the Sportsmobile the best value by far, and unique to the industry. (It's why I bought one.) I am a satisfied customer.
Overall the motorhome gets an A+ grade.
Don & Betty Miner
"As in New Mexico, the Arizona desert was green and in full flora. Can't remember seeing this area so beautiful. Reached Willcox and we headed south on Hwy 186 and 181 into the Chiricahua National Monument and Park. Visited the Faraway Ranch and then out to Massai Point (6,780 feet) for a view to die for. Never saw so many balancing rocks in my life."
We topped off the Sprinter's tank, said goodbye to El Paso and headed West to home. We hit Highway 10 and were soon in New Mexico. New Mexico this time of year was various shades of green and some flora. Today's destination was the Chiricahua National Monument, located approximately 50 miles south of Willcox, AZ. As in New Mexico, the Arizona desert was green and in full flora. Can't remember seeing this area so beautiful. Reached Willcox and we headed south on Hwy 186 and 181 into the Chiricahua National Monument and Park. Visited the Faraway Ranch and then out to Massai Point (6,780 feet) for a view to die for. Never saw so many balancing rocks in my life. This is truly a gem and should be on everyone's tour list.
After taking in the terrain and a nice lunch (thanks Heidi), we headed back down Bonita Canyon Drive, exited the park and were on our way to the copper mining town of Bisbee, AZ. The roads were flanked by vast growing areas of alfalfa and corn. Never expected to see so much agriculture in this area of Arizona. The only town of significance is the border town of Douglas. Douglas's claim to fame is that it is the last area in which a foreign army invaded the USA. It is my understanding the Mexican army was driven back into Mexico. Looking today one may not conclude that they were all driven back across the border.
Arriving at Bisbee we immediately headed for the Queen Mine RV Park. We wanted to be close to town and the Queen Mine Tours office. That's exactly where the RV park is located — besides it is the only park in town. Great price at $21.00 for the night and half that with our Passport America Card. That's full hook-up (30 amp) including cable TV. Setting up camp went quickly and on with the AC.
Time to defrost that New York steak for tonight's meal. Tomorrow we tour the mine and later the historic area of this wonderful old West mining town. We will spend an extra night here before heading out to Superstition Mountain near Mesa, AZ.
"Time to defrost that New York steak for tonight's meal. Tomorrow we tour the mine and later the historic area of this wonderful old West mining town. We will spend an extra night here before heading out to Superstition Mountain near Mesa, AZ."
High on the south side of town at the Queen RV Park, in between the now closed open pit mine and the shaft Queen Mine, we settled in for a two night/day Bisbee stay. The site is convenient in that it is only 100 yards to the Queen Mine tour and just across the street from downtown.
Bisbee is a quaint little town with very active saloon businesses in and near the Brewery Gulch. People come out from all over the town to partake in the evening saloon hopping ritual. Of course this is probably better than the historical favored activity of the brothels that operated for such a long time on this famous street.
We toured the Queen Mine and took the Van Tour of the ins and outs of old town and surrounding settlements. Both tours are extremely worth while and at a reasonable price. The downtown Trolley Bus is probably not worth taking and recommend the Queen Mine Van tour instead.
A visit to Bisbee would not be complete without visiting Dot's Diner and adjacent Shady Dell RV Park. Dot's Diner is just that, but with excellent diner type food. We had barbeque chicken sandwiches, one with fries and the other with onion rings. Their barbeque sauce is fantastic and the onion rings are to die for. If visiting you need to be reminded that they are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. The adjacent Shady Dell contains rentable trailers from the thirties and forties. All with a swamp cooler mounted on top.
Leaving Bisbee we headed north along Highway 90, descending to the lower levels of Arizona's upper desert. We already missed the cooler temperatures of Bisbee, now far behind. A little north of Huachuca City lies the Kartchner Caverns State Park. Paying our day use and cavern tour fees, we climbed aboard the cars that would take us to the cavern entrance. The escorted tour lasts about 1 1/2 hours and is well worth the time. We had previously been on numerous visits to Carlsbad Caverns, but Kartchner is different. It is quite a bit smaller and not nearly as deep underground as Carlsbad. Kartchner is only by small group guided tours and totally pristine. Their "no touch, what you take in is what you take out" policy really works.
—Walter, Heidi and JRT
"We had a large motorhome and towed a car, but couldn't go to places we wanted to go. These might be considered backwoods or boondocking areas. We found an alternative in a Sportsmobile van conversion that was built to our specifications."
We had a large motorhome and towed a car, but couldn't go to places we wanted to go. These might be considered backwoods or boondocking areas. We found an alternative in a Sportsmobile van conversion that was built to our specifications. It contains all the amenities we were used to in our larger motorhome, such as a seven cubic-foot refrigerator/freezer, toilet and enclosed shower, TV, furnace, AC and an inverter to run the microwave and solar panels to keep the two house batteries charged.
Our rig is on a Sprinter chassis, with a Mercedes Benz diesel engine, and we get over 22 miles to the gallon. It is our only vehicle, and parking is no problem. We spend fewer nights in campgrounds with hookups, and now we know we don't need all the stuff we used to carry in the storage areas. It is such an easy way to travel with no tow.
—Ray and Leatrice Thurston
"The quality, fit and finish are professional grade. Best of all the people you deal with at Sportsmobile are exceptional."
We just returned from a campout and I thought it was time to give you a report on our experience and thoughts about our Sprinter.
My last mileage check showed we got 21.9 MPG. This was city and freeway driving on level terrain and at sea level. (Not bad.)
The Sprinter drives well and handled OK except it is subject to wind deflection from truck traffic as with all vans.
The Sportsmobile Sprinter has a few challenges for users, such as bumping your head inside the van. A little padding at the sliding door entrance and from the interior to the driving compartment will help.
Our Sprinter is everything we expected. The quality, fit and finish are professional grade. Best of all the people you deal with at Sportsmobile are exceptional.
—George and Jeanne Herling
Note: as George suggested we now include the "head bumper" trim pads.
"The good news is the van worked flawlessly, and please pass on our thanks to the boys for all their hard work."
We made it home Sunday night after leaving Austin. We had a great time driving home. I felt like we were getting shot at after being evacuated our first night and then enduring two hailstorms Friday afternoon in West Texas. The first one, we were in town when it hit and we were able to get to an abandoned service station with an overhang to avoid the baseball-size hail. The second won, we were out in the open when golf-ball-sized hail hit. We were able to dart down a farmer's lane and park on the fringes of an out building with two other cars. We missed three-fourths of the hail but did sustain some hail damage to the front and passenger side. It could have been much worse. The good news is the van worked flawlessly, and please pass on our thanks to the boys for all their hard work.
Thanks again for your company's professionalism and great customer service attitude.
—Tom and Mary Ansoa
