Here are some pix of my 06' Sprinter 118" wheel base, 5 cylinder Mercedes
turbo diesel, outfitted my way, for my electrical service business. The
truck was totaled in a minor head on collision two weeks ago, and
unfortunately the smallest Sprinters made currently are 144 wheel base,
which for me is unnecessarily large.

http://picasaweb.google.com/10911899...eat=directlink

"RBM" wrote in message
...
Here are some pix of my 06' Sprinter 118" wheel base, 5 cylinder Mercedes
turbo diesel, outfitted my way, for my electrical service business. The
truck was totaled in a minor head on collision two weeks ago, and
unfortunately the smallest Sprinters made currently are 144 wheel base,
which for me is unnecessarily large.

http://picasaweb.google.com/10911899...eat=directlink


Have you or anyone else considered the Ford Transit Connect?

"The Henchman" wrote in message
...


"RBM" wrote in message
...
Here are some pix of my 06' Sprinter 118" wheel base, 5 cylinder Mercedes
turbo diesel, outfitted my way, for my electrical service business. The
truck was totaled in a minor head on collision two weeks ago, and
unfortunately the smallest Sprinters made currently are 144 wheel base,
which for me is unnecessarily large.

http://picasaweb.google.com/10911899...eat=directlink


Have you or anyone else considered the Ford Transit Connect?

Despite the fact that those only have gas engines, and I'm sold on diesels,
I'd love to be able to fit my stuff in one, but they're just too small.
Hopefully in the future they or someone else will make a slightly bigger
version

On Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:15:44 -0400, "RBM" wrote:

Here are some pix of my 06' Sprinter 118" wheel base, 5 cylinder Mercedes
turbo diesel, outfitted my way, for my electrical service business. The
truck was totaled in a minor head on collision two weeks ago, and
unfortunately the smallest Sprinters made currently are 144 wheel base,
which for me is unnecessarily large.

http://picasaweb.google.com/10911899...eat=directlink


The toolbox looks like it has many more miles on it than the truck.
The toolbox has some valid battle scars. The toolbox is the only sign
that you were doing any "real" work.

"Metspitzer" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:15:44 -0400, "RBM" wrote:

Here are some pix of my 06' Sprinter 118" wheel base, 5 cylinder Mercedes
turbo diesel, outfitted my way, for my electrical service business. The
truck was totaled in a minor head on collision two weeks ago, and
unfortunately the smallest Sprinters made currently are 144 wheel base,
which for me is unnecessarily large.

http://picasaweb.google.com/10911899...eat=directlink


The toolbox looks like it has many more miles on it than the truck.
The toolbox has some valid battle scars. The toolbox is the only sign
that you were doing any "real" work.

That red Milwaukee box is the only tool box still alive. I have a circular
saw, Dewalt zawzall, Milwaukee sawzall, Dewalt pistol grip drill, Dewalt
driver drill, Bosch hammer drill, 4" angle grinder, skill sabre saw, and
Rotozip, all sitting in bins without toolboxes

"RBM" wrote in message
...
Here are some pix of my 06' Sprinter 118" wheel base, 5 cylinder Mercedes
turbo diesel, outfitted my way, for my electrical service business. The
truck was totaled in a minor head on collision two weeks ago, and
unfortunately the smallest Sprinters made currently are 144 wheel base,
which for me is unnecessarily large.

http://picasaweb.google.com/10911899...eat=directlink


My condolences Roy. I know it is a royal PITA to get a new truck equipped
so that it functions according to your needs. I am happy with my Ford, but
had looked into the Sprinter. Word on the street is that their
transmissions don't last.

"John Grabowski" wrote in message
...

"RBM" wrote in message
...
Here are some pix of my 06' Sprinter 118" wheel base, 5 cylinder Mercedes
turbo diesel, outfitted my way, for my electrical service business. The
truck was totaled in a minor head on collision two weeks ago, and
unfortunately the smallest Sprinters made currently are 144 wheel base,
which for me is unnecessarily large.

http://picasaweb.google.com/10911899...eat=directlink


My condolences Roy. I know it is a royal PITA to get a new truck equipped
so that it functions according to your needs. I am happy with my Ford,
but had looked into the Sprinter. Word on the street is that their
transmissions don't last.

For years I used E-250 vans, regardless if I bought it used or new, I could
expect 10 years out of them. None of them ever died outright, but after the
first 30K miles, the alignment would go out, and I'd wind up once a year
realigning them and replacing tires. The last new one I got was a 98', and
it just felt like junk, so I sold it in 06' for the Sprinter. The really
great thing about the Sprinter is the interior height, even with the
standard roof model, I can stand up inside, albeit hunched a bit, (I'm 6'3")
With regular vans, you're always on your knees. With the weight I carry, I
never got better than 11MPG with any Ford or Chevy. The Sprinter, with the
same weight, consistently got 21MPG, plus it had a heavier payload than the
E-250. I have a plumber friend that bought 4 Sprinters in 05' and 06', and
already they're all beat to death by his crew, but I babied mine. I was
planning on keeping it forever. For whatever reason, Mercedes decided not to
make the shorty Sprinters anymore, in fact they made the two remaining
models bigger, so for now I'm driving the second best truck I ever had... I
hope

RBM wrote:
"John Grabowski" wrote in message
...
"RBM" wrote in message
...
Here are some pix of my 06' Sprinter 118" wheel base, 5 cylinder Mercedes
turbo diesel, outfitted my way, for my electrical service business. The
truck was totaled in a minor head on collision two weeks ago, and
unfortunately the smallest Sprinters made currently are 144 wheel base,
which for me is unnecessarily large.

http://picasaweb.google.com/10911899...eat=directlink

My condolences Roy. I know it is a royal PITA to get a new truck equipped
so that it functions according to your needs. I am happy with my Ford,
but had looked into the Sprinter. Word on the street is that their
transmissions don't last.

For years I used E-250 vans, regardless if I bought it used or new, I could
expect 10 years out of them. None of them ever died outright, but after the
first 30K miles, the alignment would go out, and I'd wind up once a year
realigning them and replacing tires. The last new one I got was a 98', and
it just felt like junk, so I sold it in 06' for the Sprinter. The really
great thing about the Sprinter is the interior height, even with the
standard roof model, I can stand up inside, albeit hunched a bit, (I'm 6'3")
With regular vans, you're always on your knees. With the weight I carry, I
never got better than 11MPG with any Ford or Chevy. The Sprinter, with the
same weight, consistently got 21MPG, plus it had a heavier payload than the
E-250. I have a plumber friend that bought 4 Sprinters in 05' and 06', and
already they're all beat to death by his crew, but I babied mine. I was
planning on keeping it forever. For whatever reason, Mercedes decided not to
make the shorty Sprinters anymore, in fact they made the two remaining
models bigger, so for now I'm driving the second best truck I ever had... I
hope


Ya tried the Freightliner dealers as well? IIRC, they were the prime
outlet until the merger, and Dodge needed a replacement for their
1972?-basic-design full size vans. I've seen a few shiny ones around
town without the Dodge grille slapped on the front, so I think they were
still selling both models.

--
aem sends...

"aemeijers" wrote in message
...
RBM wrote:
"John Grabowski" wrote in message
...
"RBM" wrote in message
...
Here are some pix of my 06' Sprinter 118" wheel base, 5 cylinder
Mercedes turbo diesel, outfitted my way, for my electrical service
business. The truck was totaled in a minor head on collision two weeks
ago, and unfortunately the smallest Sprinters made currently are 144
wheel base, which for me is unnecessarily large.

http://picasaweb.google.com/10911899...eat=directlink

My condolences Roy. I know it is a royal PITA to get a new truck
equipped so that it functions according to your needs. I am happy with
my Ford, but had looked into the Sprinter. Word on the street is that
their transmissions don't last.

For years I used E-250 vans, regardless if I bought it used or new, I
could expect 10 years out of them. None of them ever died outright, but
after the first 30K miles, the alignment would go out, and I'd wind up
once a year realigning them and replacing tires. The last new one I got
was a 98', and it just felt like junk, so I sold it in 06' for the
Sprinter. The really great thing about the Sprinter is the interior
height, even with the standard roof model, I can stand up inside, albeit
hunched a bit, (I'm 6'3") With regular vans, you're always on your knees.
With the weight I carry, I never got better than 11MPG with any Ford or
Chevy. The Sprinter, with the same weight, consistently got 21MPG, plus
it had a heavier payload than the E-250. I have a plumber friend that
bought 4 Sprinters in 05' and 06', and already they're all beat to death
by his crew, but I babied mine. I was planning on keeping it forever. For
whatever reason, Mercedes decided not to make the shorty Sprinters
anymore, in fact they made the two remaining models bigger, so for now
I'm driving the second best truck I ever had... I hope


Ya tried the Freightliner dealers as well? IIRC, they were the prime
outlet until the merger, and Dodge needed a replacement for their
1972?-basic-design full size vans. I've seen a few shiny ones around town
without the Dodge grille slapped on the front, so I think they were still
selling both models.

--
aem sends...

2006 was the last year of the 118" wheelbase. In 2007 Sprinters were
redesigned and assembled in the U.S., but only in two wheelbases, 144 and
170". When Chrysler crashed, their marriage to Daimler ended and 2009 was
the last year any of them carried the Dodge badging. As of 2010 you could
get them with either Mercedes or Freightliner badging, but a Sprinter is a
Sprinter regardless of who's name is on it. The 2010 144" I replaced my
shorty with is a Freightliner, only because their dealership was closer than
the nearest MB dealership, that carries Sprinter.

"RBM" wrote in message
...
Here are some pix of my 06' Sprinter 118" wheel base, 5 cylinder Mercedes
turbo diesel, outfitted my way, for my electrical service business. The
truck was totaled in a minor head on collision two weeks ago, and
unfortunately the smallest Sprinters made currently are 144 wheel base,
which for me is unnecessarily large.


http://picasaweb.google.com/10911899...eat=directlink



And your fuel economy was?

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.

On 6/13/2010 4:15 PM, RBM wrote:
Here are some pix of my 06' Sprinter 118" wheel base, 5 cylinder Mercedes
turbo diesel, outfitted my way, for my electrical service business. The
truck was totaled in a minor head on collision two weeks ago, and
unfortunately the smallest Sprinters made currently are 144 wheel base,
which for me is unnecessarily large.

http://picasaweb.google.com/10911899...eat=directlink



I came across a wonderful used one at a truck dealer a year ago and
it was outfitted with all sorts of shelves and bins. I wish I'd had
the money to buy it. I would love to own a Sprinter.

TDD

"Roger Shoaf" wrote in message
...

"RBM" wrote in message
...
Here are some pix of my 06' Sprinter 118" wheel base, 5 cylinder Mercedes
turbo diesel, outfitted my way, for my electrical service business. The
truck was totaled in a minor head on collision two weeks ago, and
unfortunately the smallest Sprinters made currently are 144 wheel base,
which for me is unnecessarily large.


http://picasaweb.google.com/10911899...eat=directlink



And your fuel economy was?

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube,
then
they come up with this striped stuff.

21 MPG non highway miles, consistently. FYI this is a 5 cylinder Mercedes
turbo diesel