PROMASTER or SPRINTER? Which is best? Which is right for you? 

Being a fleet manager that had all three the last choice would be the Mercedes. They cost a fortune to fix and at a 100,000 miles the dash lights come on all the time for more service that are usually $1500.00 or more. The pro master has one big fault and that is front wheel drive, it sucks in the snow because being a utility vehicle all the weight is in the back. The engine is the Pentastar v6 in everything dodge makes from jeep, Ram, Challenger, charger, etc. Its a 2-300,000 mile engine and give decent mileage and minimal maintenance. The Ford Transit is my choice. Rear wheel drive, good powertrain if you stay away from turbos. Also minimal maintenance and is also reliable. Thats my 2 cents from experience.

Promaster: 9-speed trans (smooth), good gas mileage, enough power, small turn radius, Front Wheel Drive (drives the same full of empty), more room inside, dealers all across the USA, shocks to not hang low, more ground clearance, more options (less 4WD and diesel), lower repair cost. low upfront cost. I put KO2 A/T tires on, so snow, mud and off-road has been fine. Do not have to worry about turbo failure, fan parts in my engine. Promaster was an easy choice.

I’ve had both. I started with Promaster. Bought a Sprinter and put a ton f money into a build. The ability to utilize 4WD/AWD was nice. But I missed the wide space and flat walls of the Promaster. I’m back in a Promaster, and never looking back. Oh, and I don’t miss the $1200 service fees for working ona Mercedes.

Pro Master is more of an East Coast van (Low bridges on the parkways) also no BLM land. Sprinter has way higher maintenance cost and harder to find repair shops.

So helpful. I'm looking into van life. 70 year old woman that wants to travel to visit family across the country.

From England, I respect your understanding of functionality, you understand you need to live vanlife to understand it, I'm forever perfecting my camper 👍

Great video, just in the design phase of my 170 sprinter. But this video really shows the actual size of the van. Thanks!

Great information Ben. AWD is definitely needed in the Southeast with the dirt/mud after a rain.

Promaster really needs to offer an AWD option…regardless, I would still rather have a Ford Transit over both of these.

You want best of both worlds, cheaper to service and parts are available worldwide: FORD Transit 350HD Twin turbo, AWD. Great interior height, Wider, 300+ HP. Strange that most people don't build more from the Transit platform.

Wow very cool

Neither, I got a Ford Transit AWD with a more horsepower and more torque than both the Sprinter and Promaster.

All-wheel drive is a must on a van if you plan to go in snow, sand or mud. I wouldn't take a Promaster off the pavement. In our market (California), no one wants 2WD vans. They don't sell because they are way too easy to get stuck. Cool interiors- nice work!

I would prefer the Ford all wheel drive.

Great comparison. When, or if, I actually go with a Class B, I am pretty sure it will be Promaster.

One question I always had about these builds is the water situation. Is it hookup only or is there a tank? I don't see where the tank would be or how much it would even hold.

They Both Look good. and fancy. too fancy. beds too low for my bike. I want to put my mtb in with wheels on..

Transit

Of course you can’t go on the mod because is only front wheel drive 😂

Sprinter and Mercedes both have some of the poorest reliability issues both power and driveline.

I'm surprised people don't desire a private vented enclosed head.

Its the sprinter. The other is a death trap. That mini me window. You cant even fit your arm out of. And it looks stupid.

Promaster is better . Gasoline motor. Diesels suck and pricey

One is garbage and one is the absolutely the worst garbage ever!🤔

Gutless throw away vans . . .

If you are 6,4" or taller, the Ford Transit is the best van. The Promaster is very wimpy in the mountains

There's a new super high roof Promaster and redesign that makes it more appealing to me.I do wish for a AWD model later.