Spotted on a Saturday in September, parked a short distance apart. Two black, third gen Mercedes-Benz Sprinter panel vans. Both powered by a 190 DIN-hp turbodiesel and with an RWD drivetrain. Other full matches are the wheelbase (3.67 m), overall length (5.93 m), and the raised roof. And in both cases, a tridem axle trailer was coupled to the van. So far the similarities.
The 2022 Sprinter 319 CDI is the light-duty version of the duo. The number 319 in its model designation refers to the factory gross weight rating of 3.5 tonnes (7,700 lbs) and the 190 DIN-hp engine. The power unit is a 1,950 cc inline-four.
Tridem axle trailers towed by a van, light truck, or SUV have become quite common over the past decade. Exemplary is this 2022 Henra PL35 flatbed trailer with dropsides. The folding support legs behind the tridem indicate that the trailer is suited for transporting wheeled equipment, like a small loader.
And the vehicles in the background of the picture are, from left to right: a DAF XF tractor with a semi-low loader, transporting a yard truck, and then three VeeDubs (Golf Plus, Transporter, T-Cross).
The more beefy, 2021 Sprinter van comes in the form of a 519 CDI with dual rear wheels and a 5.5 tonnes (12,125 lbs) factory gross weight rating. The horse stable is a 3.0 liter V6.
The 2021 Hulco Terrax-3 trailer is a dedicated transporter for machinery with wheels or tracks. Both the Henra and the Hulco are legally allowed to carry approx. 2,600 kg (5,700 lbs) of cargo. Yet in daily practice, that number must be taken with a grain of salt.
Author’s note: though the vans are anonymous and windowless -one of them is actually looking rather sinister- there’s really no need to call the SVU.
No V6 available in the US, just the standard and high-output diesel fours.
But it’s a V4, if you go by the graphic on the MBUSA website.
Are Sprinters in Europe known as overpriced dog shit like they are here in the USA?? They have a HORRIBLE rep and it isnt just the diesel engines/emissions equipment, which both suck. Had a lot of them blow the diesel v6 up before 50k miles. Something about water condensating in the intercooler and getting sucked into the engines hydrolocking them.
Doors that dont shut right, all kinds of electrical issues, seat belts that wear thru the steel cable attaching the buckle when you wrap the seatbelt behind the seat. Which is standard operating procedure for fleet drivers.
We were so damn happy when we started replacing the diesel sprinters with gas transits. Those Ford Transits gave us ZERO issues, at any one time in our fleet of 20 sprinters 4 or 5 would be broke down. Mercedes never had parts in stock and always left us waiting(3 months for a tailight!!) These were brand new 2020 vans as well.
Three friends of ours have bought vans recently, after asking us (Transit owners for 4 years now) for advice, or at least opinions. Two bought Transits and seem, like us, happy with them. The third couple bought a Sprinter against my gentle suggestions. They still haven’t got delivery yet, but we’ll see how it goes. For private passenger/camper use the Sprinter seems far more popular here and I see a lot of them in remote locations. And I know several happy Sprinter owners. But Amazon uses only Transits in our area. By the way, I have seen the 319 badging on some older T1N Sprinters in the US but never 519, and now it’s just 2500, 3500, and 4500.