Get Diesel Sprinter or GM gas camper? Please advise
I want to buy a class B camper and like your opinion about choosing a Mercedes Sprinter or a GM conversion van. My plan is to travel all over the US and maybe up to Alaska.
My concern is reliability, quality and available service in case of a breakdown.
I like the Sprinter campers better but worry about the quality of the engine and the lack of service stations. There are horrible stories about breakdowns, being towed long distance, waiting for parts and finding a good diesel mechanic. I believe the 3-liter Mercedes engine is small to push an 11,000-pound camper through mountains and long distance. This engine is turbo charged, after cooled and has to work pretty hard. I do understand diesel engines with high torque at low rpm vs. gas engines. It is always easy to find breakdown stories on the Internet, but I like to read about Sprinters with high mileages, few breakdowns and easy service. There are really not many Sprinter Dealers and service stations in the US.
The advantage of a GM camper like the Roadtrek is that there is a service station in almost every small town. The GM V8 engine has been reliable and it comes with a heavy-duty transmission. The gas camper takes more fuel than the Mercedes Diesel engine and I am sure that the Mercedes Sprinter Camper keeps a better resale value.
Any advice and help is very much appreciated.
Thanks, Gerhard
I want to buy a class B camper and like your opinion about choosing a Mercedes Sprinter or a GM conversion van. My plan is to travel all over the US and maybe up to Alaska.
My concern is reliability, quality and available service in case of a breakdown.
I like the Sprinter campers better but worry about the quality of the engine and the lack of service stations. There are horrible stories about breakdowns, being towed long distance, waiting for parts and finding a good diesel mechanic. I believe the 3-liter Mercedes engine is small to push an 11,000-pound camper through mountains and long distance. This engine is turbo charged, after cooled and has to work pretty hard. I do understand diesel engines with high torque at low rpm vs. gas engines. It is always easy to find breakdown stories on the Internet, but I like to read about Sprinters with high mileages, few breakdowns and easy service. There are really not many Sprinter Dealers and service stations in the US.
The advantage of a GM camper like the Roadtrek is that there is a service station in almost every small town. The GM V8 engine has been reliable and it comes with a heavy-duty transmission. The gas camper takes more fuel than the Mercedes Diesel engine and I am sure that the Mercedes Sprinter Camper keeps a better resale value.
Any advice and help is very much appreciated.
Thanks, Gerhard
Last edited: