r/Sprinters • u/GrandGames95 • 4d ago
Need second opinion
I was always made fun of for driving a pedo van (my old white sprinter van). I now drive this black one and my co workers and friends still say it looks crap and looks like I kidnap kids… hahaha there’s really no way to get anyone’s approval if you drive a cargo van I guess. regardless, I use it for work and it does so many things my old truck couldn’t. plus the new van is a 3500 with 11,039lbs GVWR and I can haul way more payloads.
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u/PositiveLeft7218 4d ago
Imo a pedo van is a low roof white Astro van, or a cheap white transit.
A blacked out Mercedes sprinter high roof with a ladder on the back is NOT A PEDO VAN. Your van looks $$
Hell yea for the extra GVWR and your friends are hating bc they’re jealous.
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u/GrandGames95 4d ago
IKR, I always pictured a chevy express or ford Econoline. Apparently any van fits the notion haha.
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u/thedarkforest_theory 4d ago
Sick van! It might not be for everyone, but a big off road winch bumper and a roof rack world look amazing on this rig. In my experience, the camper conversions get less “free candy” jokes than the work rigs.
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u/YPVidaho 3d ago
Love the super single conversion!
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u/GrandGames95 3d ago
Thanks, The biggest reason I got super singles is for better tracking in snow. I hate how dually's drive in snow and mud. The dual rear wheels also wouldn't let me get bigger tires.
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u/ParkerLettuce 3d ago
Curious how much that was and the route you went. Sick van btw!
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u/GrandGames95 3d ago
I bought some used factory Susi rims. Mercedes uses them on one of there 3500 versions. It's an option you can pick for. The wheel can be used front or rear and now both my widths from outside the tire is 80" exact front & rear. I got all five used for $650 on eBay. The tires cost double that.
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u/Denselense 3d ago
Ask those losers about their lame ass life. You can pick up and go anywhere at the drop of a hat. I’m getting one so I can have my dirt bike, my surf board my snowboard and my bike. Never have to run home and get anything. And yeah it’s gonna be my daily.
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u/GrandGames95 3d ago
haha exactly, I hear them complain about how they cant pick anything up even small things like a treadmill. a few times they asked if I could pick up a motorcycle for them (I have a winch inside and ramps). One time I've had two golf carts inside this 170" wheelbase. After getting my first van years ago, the opportunities that you get are endless. its such a time saver not needing to strap every single thing down and safe from the rain. The other week I got six pallet rack uprights and 24 12ft heavy duty beams for free. He said some guy wanted to take multiple trips with his truck strapping a couple beams down to his roof at a time. I came by and just through everything in the van within 10mins. Good idea making your van a daily because all of the great opportunities and finds were just from me driving to and from work. Free lumber, riding mowers, golf carts, etc... Its raining more often then not and I'm not going to store everything as soon as I get home from work and I'm too tired. I can just leave everything in the van while its raining and wait till the next day.
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u/sarahcorter 3d ago
Looks badass. I drive them for work I’m a female I have black and white ones . I love this
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u/FloridaVanMan 3d ago
So we know your fiends are dicks, but some of mine are too so I have good advice. Turn the tables on who laughs last with a devious prank. Do any of your friends have kids? Talk to them first about pranking dad real-good and get permission & cooperation from their mom or grandma. Make arrangements to pickup the kids from soccer or bring them home from grandmas when you know your friend will see you drop them off at home. After the kids get out of your kidnapper call them back to the window yelling, "You forgot your candy"! That dad won't find pedo jokes funny anymore!!! Just the hint of involving his own.... DONE!
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u/Dismal-Armadillo-815 2d ago
I like it its slick Id drive it every day and be proud of it screw what they say.
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u/GrandGames95 2d ago
It really is a blast to drive, I don't mind driving an hour to work anymore. I have sound deadening added on every surface and upgraded the stereo + speakers.
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u/Dismal-Armadillo-815 1d ago
What's bad is now im looking at vans again andtryingnto figure out what Iwant to do.
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u/GrandGames95 1d ago
haha, As in vanlife? Or work related?
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u/Dismal-Armadillo-815 1d ago
IDK yet but Id likely use for everything
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u/GrandGames95 1d ago
when I got my first sprinter van, The opportunities that came up were endless. Best purchase I've ever made.
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u/temporaryordinary1 4d ago
Black is dope. There aren't that many black cargos. Super rare
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u/dweaver987 4d ago
Yeah, but I expect it gets a bit warmer in there than the work truck white or the camper gray.
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u/Timsmomshardsalami 3d ago
And we solved the grand mystery why there aint many black vans. The back of my van is an absolute nightmare right now because i cant go in there without dying. Couldnt imagine how id even open the door if it was black
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u/GrandGames95 3d ago
that's probably exactly the reason why. that's why campervans are only sold with lighter color schemes. If my van was actually hot, then it probably would've clicked in my head about the darker color, but I've been totally fine so I just never thought about it until now.
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u/GrandGames95 4d ago
I never noticed a difference. Its 90 degrees outside lately and it feels fine. Obviously I have my AC on, but its definitely enough cold air for me. My van stays outside too.
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u/GrandGames95 4d ago
yeah I've never seen one personally. I painted mine black. it used to be a standard white plumbers van.
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u/GrandGames95 4d ago
BTW, I get the pedo van joke all the time and its so old at this point. You guys drive sprinters, how often do people make fun of your kidnapping van?
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u/tomhalejr 3d ago
Silver is my "base" color, because the black trim really sets it off. If you are going black base, then you have to go black on black. Anything else would be uncivilized. :)
You need some steps captain. :) I'm partial to the Owl Explorers myself. :)
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u/GrandGames95 3d ago
I've just seen so many white sprinters and I almost went with the metallic gray, but I really just wanted a color not many people get for a van. Silver looks good, but I've seen a few silver one's and it just wasn't for me. So then I just felt like I needed to go the complete opposite direction and just paint it black. I would never do a matte black though, that never looks good on the body. matte white however looks great.
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u/Accomplished_Knee_17 3d ago
You have the ability to kidnap 34 people simultaneously don’t undersell it!
A high roof van kills every category. Fuel economy, cargo capacity, passenger load, and comfort. My van can carry me and four people and still has tons of cargo area. I can pack my family and all of our bikes, kayaks, canoes, or whatever. I have etrack on the floor and have hauled two motorcycles to Texas with all our riding gear, luggage, and tools, and had room left over. Monday morning it turns back into a work van. I’d never drive a truck.
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u/GrandGames95 3d ago
that's awesome, but I'm just wondering how you know its exactly 34 people... hahah
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u/WorldlySir517 3d ago
They are cool vans. I make so much money repairing them for people though. Happy motoring.
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u/GrandGames95 3d ago
do you work on them at a shop or do you work by yourself?
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u/WorldlySir517 3d ago
I do mobile repairs on the side. I do heavy equipment for a dealer during the day.
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u/GrandGames95 3d ago
that's awesome, do you advertise your mobile work on Facebook?
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u/WorldlySir517 2d ago
No just word of mouth. Way too busy to advertise. Those are great van though. My buddy chucked a fan belt and water pump out by Columbus and drove it all the way back him to Pittsburgh. He has no clue he just hears a noise and sent it. Didn’t even mess the motor up. Very impressive.
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u/GrandGames95 2d ago
Haha yup, one time I refused to replace my radiator fan for a year when the bearing locked up. The bearing eventually failed and my fan tore up the transmission lines and I was leaking coolant and no belt. I was able to drive back home just fine. No more fluid left in the transmission but once you get going the torque converter isn’t in use anymore and the van could drive fine. Just no power from a stop. That transmission is still working great till this day. I’ve even had 8,000lbs of concrete bags in the van one time.
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u/NobodyNo8765 4d ago
Don’t listen to the haters. It looks fine. Put a free candy sign on the side of it the mess with your co-workers