Sprinter 4x4??
 

Anyone got any ideas how much its cost to convert a Mercedes sprinter from 4x2 to 4x4? I know there are a few companies in Germany that do it but my emails go unanswered and my german isn't good enough to cover diff locks and prop shafts?!!

Any help would be great, planning for the next trip you see.

Simon
Trek to Oz

Far more than it would cost to buy a new 4x4 Sprinter.

On www.mobile.de you often see factory 4x4 Sprinters and the earlier T1s converted by Iglhaut.

Very occasionally you see 4x4 Westfalia James Cooks built on the Sprinter chassis.

There was an Iglhaut converted sprinter at the RGS meeting last weekend but never found the owner to talk to him about it

As for pricing expect a big bill

But I guess you get what you want rather than relying on bein able to pick a factory one with the correct wheelbase and spec

What about this one - cheaper than a conversion

Mercedes Sprinter 313 LWB 4x4 4WD Crew Bus Panel Van | eBay UK

(no connection but just noticed it is in leicestershire)

Hello maple


Maybe message This Guy for info on his.

Thanks for the info. I wanted a new shape sprinter but just saw this one on ebay for £24000 +VAT might have to go old skool. Has anyone ever driven one? are they any good?

Simon
Trek to Oz

Old V New
 

Stick to the pre 2007 model, may not drive quiet as nice as the new ones, but they are more reliable, if you really want something newer the Iveco Daily in my opinion is a more reliable van than the new shape sprinter.

Good Luck with your search.

Iveco vans are not available in 4x4 , they sell a 4x4 version but its a SCAM (really thaty is the correct name not an insult) with a Daily cab on it , great truck but not cheap

24k for the merc - hope you don't need to use a carnet where you are going

Yep think the old ones might be the way to go as they are about a 3rd of the price. Still would like to know if anyone has driven one? I realise they will not be amazing off road but plan on doing Canada and Alaska in a few years and having been in a roof top tent for a year, the warmth and comfort of a van are calling me, if they are up to it!

Fancy doing something like the one attached but with bigger wheels!

Any info about owning, driving and maintaining one would be most welcome.

Thanks

Simon
Trek to Oz

I just did a quick search on mobile.de and there were about 70 Sprinters 4x4 and the larger Varios starting at about Eu7000 upto......... There were earlier T1s with part built campers etc. Tippers, Duel Cabs, Vans, etc.

I was told by a Merc guy in the UK that the 4x4 and the diff locked early versions were not sold there - the only reliable source being from Germany, Austria and France.

There is a German website busfreaks.de which has some good info in German and Google translator works OK. You're more likely to get a good response there about the pros and cons of owning a 4x4 Sprinter conversion.

Sprinter
 

They drive surprisingly well on road, far less “rolly polly” than some 4X4’s and relatively refined. High mileage ones start to sound very rough engine wise for some reason though.

Off road I’ve seen them go where a 130LR Defender has failed , probably down to driver and diff locks.

Agree with the comments about pre 2007. Common rail diesel Merc’s seem to have a very poor reputation.

I too have been pondering one of these and there are always a few around, either on ebay or specialist van dealers.

Oh and bigger wheels / tyres can mess up the gearing so unless you want to spend big bucks on changing diff ratios be careful. Adds stress to suspension and drive train also.

Russ

roof conversion
 

Cheers Russ good to hear from someone who's had a good in one.

I've seen a few on ebay around the 10 grand mark so will probable go with one of them (dam the VAT). There is a company in the states called sportsmoblie that do great folding roof conversion for sprinters but can't find anyone in the UK that can do one. They all seem to be VW based and unable to help me, has anyone got any ideas?

simon
www.trektooz.com

Its not a good idea to cut holes out of the roof of Sprinters - they have cross supports every (1200mm?) so often which stop the side walls collapsing in on themsleves - plus rollover/accident integrity. Cutting a hole would make them a muddy/snow road 4x4 as the body flex in serious offroad/badly rutted/corrugated would likely end up causing a heap of problems - body panel damage, floor pan damage, interior fitout falling apart.

If you want to go down the Sprinter 4x4 route then you may do better with a cab chassis and then a 3 point habitation box fitted on the rear, with a complete pop top roof. You can also keep the vehicle height down and use a 20' shipping container when required for international transport.

Reimo the big campervan parts and accessory supplier has universal pop top rooves, plus fibreglass high tops to fit most makes/models.

Not sure about in the UK but looks like Innovation Campers in Germany do a pop top for the sprinter. Not seen one first hand, but seen plenty of Landcruiser troopies with their conversions and the work looks good.

I was in Germany recently and saw a 4x4 sprinter camper with a high roof, lifted and on big mud tyres. Didn't get chance to have a close look so don't know who built it, but seemed like a professional conversion so there's someone out there doing just what you're looking for!

Thanks for the answers folks. Take the point about cutting a hole in the roof. Will have to think about it. By the way, love mobile.de, spent hours on it last night so thanks Roger.

Also found this Landy conversion done by a french company. will have to weigh up the costs against a sprinter!

Simon
Trek to Oz

One point to consider is that if you take anything with besoke parts fitted somewhere critical, like the engine or drivetrain, you risk being stranded and unable to get parts should something break.

Maybe a bit boring, but taking something with all the major bits as they came from the factory might save you some days of your life!

Mobile.de = truck p*rn :-)

Haha you have some serious problems.

I've bought a vehicle via mobile.de a few years ago. Certainly helpful to see whats available in Germany, especially some of the expedition type vehicles that appear from time to time. I just use google translate to help with the descriptions/specs. You see plenty of ads for dealers who have multi lingual sales people and assist with export, etc.

Is this the sort of thing you're looking for?

Hochwertige kompakte Reisemobile von HRZ Reisemobile GmbH aus Öhringen... - Offroad Allrad

Not a pop-up roof, but apart from that it seems to fit the bill. (I too have heard that tinkering with the roof of a Sprinter panel van is a bad idea.)

They seem to do 2 person sleepers in a MWB, or 4 person with a high roof.

I can see the benifit of a panel van over a crew cab with box on the back (e.g. Land Rover 130 with Azalai), as you can use the driving seats as part of the living area, so maximising space.

London Emission Zone!
 

Thanks D&C, thats pretty much what I want, Its awesome, got a little tingle looking at the pictures, is something wrong with me?

Anyway just found out that as my land rover is older than 2002 can't now keep it in london as it doesn't meet the new emission laws so I'll have to sell it. Think this might catch a few Landy owners out!

Low Emission Zone | Transport for London

So back on the Merc 4x4, think I'll got to the overland show in Germany next year to see a few. Better learn a bit of German too as it seems no one in the Uk does anything like this!

Thanks again for all the help

Simon
Trek to Oz

Are you sure? If you fit a filter, you might be able to get it through the LEC test, and so be able keep it inside the LEZ for £32 a year.

What are my options? | Low Emission Zone | Transport for London

True but the filter cost's around £2500! and you have to pay to get it tested every year. Plus with all the fuel pump and turbo tuning on my Landy doubt I will pass the emissions anyhow.

Plus its a good excuse to get something new and shinny!

Simon, its always nice to speak a little German, but at the allrad show last year, I was amazed how many Germans spoke English...

Btw the All Rad show is this weekend...
Good luck with your search...

cheers
Matt

Cheers Matt

Still in Aussie this year, although did toy with the thought of blowing £1500 on a return flight for a weekend in the German Countryside! No next year it's all about the Allrad!

Does anyone know if you can sell cars there? Might be a good way of getting rid of my Landy.

Plenty of cars there for sale, in-fact every other car .....

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A...0/DSCN0674.JPG

Hi Simon I was at the allrad show and had a good look over the sprinter conversions on the Iglhaut stand they range from 17-19000 euros based on the most recent sprinter chassis.

Its an excellent show I will be back next year, and lots of vehicles for sale in the camping area.

regards

Gren

Thanks Gren

Thats a lot of cash, suddenly the one on ebay for 20 odd grand doesn't seen so bad!

Maybe I'll take the 130 next year and try to part exchange it!

Simon
www.trektooz.com

when I was looking around for a new van for work the universal opinion amongst those in the know was that mercs suffer terribly from the pox. it's from the inside out so very difficult to stop if you get a bad un, they do seem quite variable. the older ones, before the bean counters took over, seem better.

A lot of tradesmen are running into problems with the LEZ. they won't be allowed in with their current vans, but in the current climate few can afford new vans or get finance. Many will have to close their businesses, it's a nonsense, and how scrapping perfectly good vans is an environmentally sound thing to do is beyond me, it's nuts!!!

Theres a couple of Iglhauts on mobile.de at present - in the campervan section, based on Merc 309 and 410.

anyone had any dealings with these? are they the same as the sprinter?

Volkswagen LT 35 2,8 TDI 4x4 RTW als Rettungswagen in Krefeld

There are a couple of Westfalia converted Sprinters on mobile.de at present with diff locks (abb - sperres) - I think one already kitted out is about EUR20,000.