Och

iTrader: (3)

I don't know who is the biggest truck manufacturer by volume, but Mercedes has the biggest truck factory in the world. And Ford F series aren't real trucks, they are redneck toys - Mercedes makes real trucks. https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/vehicles/trucks/

mmarshall

OK, I see.....you were refering to the plant-size, not actual truck numbers.

I won't get into F-series demographics...I see all different kinds of people driving them, primarily male but also some female. Many local companies and contractors, in this area, depend on them day and night.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Och congrats, why all the vans?

Och

iTrader: (3)

Hey, I was just kidding with the redneck remark of course. You might recall years ago I had a Ford E350 diesel van that was my only vehicle that survived hurricane Sandy, in fact probably the only vehicle that survived in my whole area. For weeks to come during the aftermath of the storm it was my source of heat, electricity and transportation - and unlike regular gas shortages, diesel fuel for it was actually relatively easy to get.

That being said, Ford doesn't make large trucks, while MB makes all sorts of large trucks including 18 wheelers.

Och

iTrader: (3)

They are work vehicles of course, I almost never drive them myself anymore.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

the latest car and driver has an article on H-point seating position and these vans have the highest commanding seat position, even more so above a full size pick up (stock of course)! congrats on the purchase.

is it a turbo 4-cyl? i would imagine so for the low end torque needed to haul.

Och

iTrader: (3)

Yes, a 2.0 turbo 4 cyl, and with 9 speed transmission and whatever gear ratios they are using, it doesn't struggle at all.

pbm317

Love the Sprinters and Metris-es. Especially love what all the various owner groups have done to make them supremely functional.

I had a great opportunity to see their facility down in Charleston a few years ago.

Wish they would bring the Metrics 4Matic over here.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

A friend had a factory converted large sprinter camper van (winnebego i think), which had issues (mostly not winnebego's fault except a flakey awning, but the diesel engine urea system decided to dump the entire contents into the exhaust system ruining it).

They sold the big sprinter and bought a smaller regular one and he did the conversion himself. He's really talented and it came out great, they go all over north america in it.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Understood, what kind of work?

Och

iTrader: (3)

Well, I had the 2014 sprinter for 5 years - I bought it new in 2015, and nothing ever went wrong with it except urea system pump that ended up costing me $1200. This time I decided to with gas - it is $6k cheaper before taxes, less complicated, and in NY regular gas has been consistently cheaper than diesel. The old van has relatively low 47k miles, but they are hard miles in NYC traffics, so I decided to get the new one and sell the old. These trucks hold their value exceptionally well - I already had a wholesale company offer me 17.5k for it sight unseen.

Och

iTrader: (3)

Specialty construction.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

nice. I hope you and your biz haven't been impacted too terribly by COVID.

sdls

put some stuff in the back and you’ll feel the struggle and mpg loss is real vs the diesel

Stroock639

most people definitely don't know, or know that a diesel e-class is a common taxi in other parts of the world... and that definitely plays a major role in how mercedes has successfully created this mystique and allure about the brand as a whole, people hear mercedes and still get excited

also i was gonna guess sprinter but you said not the biggest 2 seater they make, were you actually including an 18-wheeler truck cab in that size range lol

i totally love mercedes trucks... until recently the g-wagen was about the only proper 4x4 one could get, and i'm completely a sucker for the AMG 6x6 and unimog