Overloading Sprinter Class B+

[FLHowie]

Sprinters maximum weight is 11030 pounds. When going on a long journey how do you make sure you are not overloading the vehicle?

[Elwood58]

1. Grey and Black tanks empty
2. Just enough fresh water for trip use
3. Track what you are adding.
4. Visit a weight station when you think you are ready for travel
5. Don’t forget passenger weight
6. Remember that they may have stores where you are headed.

[JONWisconsin]

Go to a scale before loading so you have an idea on how much you can load for your trip.

[Phil G.]

Originally Posted by FLHowie

Sprinters maximum weight is 11030 pounds. When going on a long journey how do you make sure you are not overloading the vehicle?

Is that for the Sprinter 2500 single rear tires chassis, or the Sprinter 3500 dual rear tires chassis?

(11030 lbs. seems low for the 3500 chassis.)

[jcussen]

11030 lbs is for the dual rear wheel model, I know on my coach, removed about 200lb of tables, cushions, window shades etc, I really didn't need when travelling.

[KanzKran]

Originally Posted by Phil G.

Is that for the Sprinter 2500 single rear tires chassis, or the Sprinter 3500 dual rear tires chassis?

(11030 lbs. seems low for the 3500 chassis.)

11,030 lb GVWR, and 15,250 lb GCWR for the 3500 dually.

4410 lb front GAWR, and 7720 lb rear GAWR.

[Phil G.]

Originally Posted by KanzKran

11,030 lb GVWR, and 15,250 lb GCWR for the 3500 dually.

4410 lb front GAWR, and 7720 lb rear GAWR.

That's sounds more like it! That 15,250 lb GCWR spec for the Sprinter 3500 chassis is even a good margin above the E450 Ford chassis used on many Class C motorhomes.

For what it's worth - I'd never buy a new Sprinter based Class B+/C motorhome on anything but the 3500 chassis. In addition to the extra weight carrying capability of the 3500, it's duallies in the rear of course also provide for more stable handling on curves and in high cross winds ... plus another tire on each side in the rear provides for more safety in case one rear tire should ever fail while in motion.

[R Cabesa]

Originally Posted by Phil G.

That's sounds more like it! That 15,250 lb GCWR spec for the Sprinter 3500 chassis is even a good margin above the E450 Ford chassis used on many Class C motorhomes.

Ummmm . . . NO. The GCWR for E350 is 17,500 and E450 is 19,500


The Sprinter can't even come close

[n-e-d]

Hmmmm.... GVWR for my 2015 E450 Sunseeker is 14500lbs with an OCCC of 3400+ lbs and a GCVWR of 22000 lbs

[Phil G.]

Well ... since there may be a little bit of confusion going on here ... I went outside into the backyard and checked the sticker inside the closet of the 2005 E450 chassis under our Class C :

The GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) of the 2005 E450 chassis under our Class C is 14,050 lbs.. I believe that the GAWR of newer years E450 chassis is 14,500 lbs..

The GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) of the 2005 E450 chassis under our Class C is 20,000 lbs..

So, once we get our four-letter specs correctly defined/understood ... do the Ford E350 and Ford E450 chassis used under so many Class C rigs beat the Sprinter offerings on chassis weight carrying (GAWR) and overall chassis-plus-towed-vehicle weight pulling (GCWR) specs?

[R Cabesa]

Yes, the E350 beats the Sprinter in every WR capacity. The E450 of course by 2000# more. Also most times once a Sprinter becomes an RV, it's tow rating gets reduced to 350/3500#

[Ron Dittmer]

Since the DRW Sprinter was first introduced for motor home applications, the weight ratings have increased a couple of times. In 2019 or 2020 it increased to what it is today. But the price tag jumped way up because along with a more capable chassis, came loads of additional safety and comfort features that were once exclusive to Mercedes sedans and SUVs. The price hike was in the ball park of $9000 which is why some RV outfitters dropped the Sprinter chassis. Phoenix USA discontinued the Sprinter option on models typically fitted on an E350, realizing the extra $9000 would destroy an already questionable price increase of $14,000. How many people would pay an extra ~$23,000 MSRP for a Sprinter version of an otherwise identical motor home? Today Phoenix offers a unique Transit model line-up.

The newly introduced 2021 E350 spins "capability" circles around a current day Sprinter in every category. The elevated price for a Sprinter further questions the reasoning to build a new motor home on a Sprinter chassis. But as long as people seek the Mercedes symbol on the front grille, RV outfitters will keep building them.