New 4x4 Advanced RVs

[Davydd]

Here is a video of the first to arrive Advanced RV Sprinter 4x4s being put through field testing. I'm familiar with the location and the Willy's Jeep used to pull the 4x4 out of the mud. The woods is a Maple forest high on a ridge and was very muddy when we were on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0KcKssZnhQ

[Boxster1971]

Great video. I'm sure Mercedes won't be using that one for their Sprinter advertising. I love that old jeep doing the recovery.


- - Mike
2013 Airstream Interstate from 2012 Sprinter 3500 tall & long

[booster]

Dualies with road tires + mud = not much movement

I wish the video would have shown how many tires were spinning. If they have the traction control tied into the active suspension control, they should be able to have all 4 corners working. If not, all you get is one front and one rear, which isn't a lot better than a locker in the rear only.

[stanw909]

Setup to fail before it got started with those tires.

[Davydd]

I think Mike N was making a point about the 4x4 in that it is not a true off-road vehicle and has limits. He knew full well what the conditions of those trails were. As for tires they are the all weather tires that come with Sprinters and most likely the tire you might want to drive a potential ratio of 1,000 miles highway to 1 mile off road. You would have to have pretty specialized needs to use any other. The all-weather tires work fine in the snow. That's mostly what Minnesotans use. AWD works better in the snow and on grades than two wheel drive. That fact I experience daily in in my driveway in the winter just leaving home. Bottom line I think it will be a better winter road vehicle. The other big plus is the 3-1/2" to 4" hike for ground clearance. I think I have an 8-1/2" clearance at my lowest point.

I think if I were buying today I would opt for a 4x4. I'll learn more in about a week at Advanced Fest to see if I think I am right about that. They pointed out the VB Air Suspension will fit. That would be a heck of a combination.

[booster]

At 4" higher and at the full weight of a class B, they may be getting back into the range of needing the crosswind assist.

[avanti]

Originally Posted by booster

At 4" higher and at the full weight of a class B, they may be getting back into the range of needing the crosswind assist.

Unfortunately, you can't get crosswind assist on the 3500.

Also, I assume that this 4" higher clearance also means 4" higher step up into the van. This is unfortunate.

[Davydd]

I don't think 4" higher is going to affect stability all that much. Sprinter Class Bs are fairly stable with most of the weight items under the floor. As I mentioned I think the 3500 dually is quite a bit more stable than the 2500 and wonder in a Class B configuration if it would still be more stable than a 2500 that has cross wind assist.

As for the height clearance, I see that as a positive. Steps can be designed to work with that. I'll be curious as to what Advanced RV comes up with. With our nerf bar design that was intended for the 4x4 I feel they have more work to do yet to get it right for a 4x4. I've only been in one 4x4 Sprinter Class B and that was a German CS Reisemobile DUO on the Alaska Highway. I don't recall it being all that difficult.