Sprinter vs. Box Van

motokiwi 2/23/2024 10:05am
2/23/2024 10:05am

Most of us non-USA moto folk would give our left nut for a nice grumman box van. Do it because you can.

 

Be the coolest mf on the planet

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jeffro667
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jeffro667 2/23/2024 4:24pm
2/23/2024 4:24pm
Johnnydirt wrote:
I have no complaints from my 4cyl gas sprinter.  Didn’t want any of the headaches with a diesel.  

IMG 0257 0I have no complaints from my 4cyl gas sprinter.  Didn’t want any of the headaches with a diesel.  

What kind of gas mileage with this? Regular unleaded gas?

Davinci67
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Davinci67 2/23/2024 4:28pm
2/23/2024 4:28pm Edited Date/Time 2/23/2024 4:30pm
motokiwi wrote:
Most of us non-USA moto folk would give our left nut for a nice grumman box van. Do it because you can.   Be the coolest mf...

Most of us non-USA moto folk would give our left nut for a nice grumman box van. Do it because you can.

 

Be the coolest mf on the planet

So today I left work early, drove 4 hours to the Canadian border and snagged this beauty queen! 53k original miles. She’s a beaut Clark! 
IMG 5562

IMG 5558 1.jpeg?VersionId=8MQyWn MO7GnLHoxZs.yk3MAaY

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Davinci67
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Davinci67 2/23/2024 4:29pm
2/23/2024 4:29pm
motokiwi wrote:
Most of us non-USA moto folk would give our left nut for a nice grumman box van. Do it because you can.   Be the coolest mf...

Most of us non-USA moto folk would give our left nut for a nice grumman box van. Do it because you can.

 

Be the coolest mf on the planet

So thank you for the extra encouragement lol 👍

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SLAPAHO
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SLAPAHO 2/23/2024 4:36pm
2/23/2024 4:36pm

Wow, you're going to have a ton of room in that thing!  Congrats! Good times ahead... 

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Davinci67
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Davinci67 2/23/2024 4:56pm
2/23/2024 4:56pm
SLAPAHO wrote:

Wow, you're going to have a ton of room in that thing!  Congrats! Good times ahead... 

Thanks man! Yeah I’m pumped right now! I’m sure after 4 hours in the saddle I’ll be looking for a sprinter lol. Hopefully not though. Most of my racing is within 1.5 hours so I should be able to handle that. 

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Johnnydirt
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Johnnydirt 2/23/2024 6:41pm
2/23/2024 6:41pm
Johnnydirt wrote:
I have no complaints from my 4cyl gas sprinter.  Didn’t want any of the headaches with a diesel.  

IMG 0257 0I have no complaints from my 4cyl gas sprinter.  Didn’t want any of the headaches with a diesel.  

jeffro667 wrote:

What kind of gas mileage with this? Regular unleaded gas?

Regular gas, gets around 20-22mpg on the highway.   

3
dirtbikemike 2/23/2024 9:30pm
2/23/2024 9:30pm

This was my bike transport/daily driver in 1977.  We were in Florida for the AMA W inter Series, January 1977.  That's Bob Collie on the left from Memphis and a rider from Michigan.  Don't remember his name.164348 181240225235542 4809873 n.jpg?VersionId=QAEsW Kf8DTApmBKrMaR3cJq

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mxnick
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mxnick 2/23/2024 9:57pm
2/23/2024 9:57pm
Ob917 wrote:

My neighbor has a team green box truck, he has to keep it in a storage lot because the city won’t allow it at home. Shitty 

Share some pics!

mxnick
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mxnick 2/23/2024 10:02pm
2/23/2024 10:02pm
Davinci67 wrote:
I follow your channel, nice job. I think you’re right on the lightweight bodies. I’m actually going to look at one tomorrow with the unicell. When...

I follow your channel, nice job. I think you’re right on the lightweight bodies. I’m actually going to look at one tomorrow with the unicell. When I do the math and how I’m going to use it I just can’t get over the savings a box van offers. Who knows I may drive it for a month and still collect the transit. 

You can probably buy the Unicell and keep it a month and sell it for the same or better price....its likely already depreciated almost fully...

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mxnick
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mxnick 2/23/2024 10:06pm
2/23/2024 10:06pm
mxnick wrote:
I run the @motocrossboxvans insta account, and I see a lot of the stuff that pops up for sale and all over the country. If you...

I run the @motocrossboxvans insta account, and I see a lot of the stuff that pops up for sale and all over the country. If you are shopping for box van, make sure you get one that has a really light body. Stay away from the heavier chassis, like Utilimaster style. Those chassis are built from sheet metal and plywood.  Grumman (aluminum)  and Aero Cell (fiberglass) are about the lightest, from what I can tell. But there are alot of options over the years  

The main issue with Box vans is fuel milage- you will be lucky to get 10 mpg on a good day. That’s a good day. Maybe slightly more with a well tuned diesel, but you won’t be setting any speed records. So if you driving big distances, they kinda suck, esp if you are running a gas (non diesel) engine in the thing. Sprinters are way better for cross country and north south runs, and if you are doing 1000+ mile runs on the regular.  

And most of the BV’s out there built for moto are pretty old by now. You can occasionally find a newer one, but they are usually home built and maybe more a labor of love for the seller. A lot of the stuff I see is cool, but tired.  

Having said all that, a nice box van offers way more space, as the bodies are both wider and higher. And if you get an overhang above the cab, then there is even more room to utilize. Plus they stand out in a field of white sprinters and make somewhat of a cool statement.  

 

7eleven wrote:

Yeah boy! It’s been a while. I quit the socials 18 months ago. We spoke often. Hope all is well. 

Austin! Whats up man...you living in Texas these days? You missing Fall River?

Ob917
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Ob917 6/26/2024 8:57pm
6/26/2024 8:57pm

My 4x4 extended transit  packed with four Mtbs, two moto bikes, me my lady and of course the dog. Canada bound, just ride Northstar and then had two sick days in Park city, currently in bed somewhere near the Montana boarder listening to an insane thunderstorm. 

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A_Wise1
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A_Wise1 6/27/2024 1:52am
6/27/2024 1:52am

OB, who did your current build? I'd love to see more pics of the whole thing. The van looks good inside!

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Ob917
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Ob917 6/27/2024 6:24am
6/27/2024 6:24am Edited Date/Time 6/27/2024 8:38am
A_Wise1 wrote:

OB, who did your current build? I'd love to see more pics of the whole thing. The van looks good inside!

Thank you 🍻, I did the build. 
It’s pretty basic. Refrigerator in the bench behind the drivers seat for all the cold food and drinks. Kruig coffee maker, big inverter, two battery’s.  Extra heat and AC in the corner next to the fridge, two storage compartments in the rest of the bench seat. Easy portable shower in the back. Lucky for me my lady does not need much to be happy on the road  

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Ob917
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Ob917 6/27/2024 8:16am
6/27/2024 8:16am Edited Date/Time 6/27/2024 8:20am

Cruising along at 75mph in Montana. You got to love having a good van for this shit 

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Spat24 6/27/2024 10:19am
6/27/2024 10:19am
Ob917 wrote:
Cruising along at 75mph in Montana. You got to love having a good van for this shit 

Cruising along at 75mph in Montana. You got to love having a good van for this shit 

How does it handle in the wind. I have heard high roofs get a little sketchy. 
 

looking to get a van but not sure on a mid roof or high roof yet. 

Ob917
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Ob917 6/27/2024 12:30pm
6/27/2024 12:30pm
Ob917 wrote:
Cruising along at 75mph in Montana. You got to love having a good van for this shit 

Cruising along at 75mph in Montana. You got to love having a good van for this shit 

Spat24 wrote:
How does it handle in the wind. I have heard high roofs get a little sketchy.    looking to get a van but not sure on...

How does it handle in the wind. I have heard high roofs get a little sketchy. 
 

looking to get a van but not sure on a mid roof or high roof yet. 

Obviously if it’s super bad it’s a workout. But today my girlfriend drove three hours in a windy part of Montana with no problem. We had a sprinter before, it was way worse in that because of the electronic nanny’s. I go high roof all day. 

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