BajaNomad - Anybody used a Sprinter in Baja?

I had an 2006 for several years in baja.
I never had a good feeling about the reliability. It broke down a couple times.
Blown turbo hose, fuel pressure sensor and mystery problems with various computer systems. I bought it with 30k miles...sold at 60k. Luckily cabo san lucas has a dealer who can work on them.
I loved it when it was running. It did ok for being a 2WD truck.
My council...get a ford transit.

What knuckle head buys a 2WD?

mtgoat666 - 7-3-2022 at 09:45 AM

What knuckle head buys a 2WD?

Why buy 4wd if you don’t need/want 4wd?

mtgoat666 - 7-3-2022 at 09:47 AM

Sportsmobiles look more capable to me.

Sprinter will be fine for mild offroad conditions.

Most people do only mild off road….

bajatrailrider - 7-3-2022 at 10:55 AM

I can only report from 4 amigos drive them in states. Also delivery drivers in Baja all unreliable have broke down. Next problem when It breaks down . Rear end diff, drive shaft,trans small parts to repair . Not sold when ones drive shaft bearing went bad. Only replacement drive shaft 2,500.00. Reports from them not good even light towing weak.

surfhat - 7-3-2022 at 11:01 AM

12 years and going to Baja every year has only reenforced the faith in my 06 2wd sprinter van.

Not a single breakdown the whole time. Proper qualified maintenance is the cure to any doubts about going to Baja. That and carrying spare parts.

The sprinter forum is invaluable to help us Sprinter van owners avoid every issue. Just as heal thyself can apply, so does educate yourself on what to do with these best vans on the road.

JZ, even you would be impressed with how well these 2wd vans handle off road washboard conditions.

Driving on the beach is for the awd models, but my 2wd has never failed me even when slugging through some deep mud after a downpour. It kept creeping forward and did not require me to get out and dig. There is a traction control button that can be turned off that 'almost' makes it respond like a rear differential locker. Almost haha

I had a Ford 4wd van in the 90's and managed to get it stuck on the beach north of Todos Santos one time. That was my fault for turning too sharply and burying the Ford to the chassis.

That was totally driver error. Since I carried four 5' long pieces of Marsden Matting I drove on out of that buried to the chassis pit. That was the only time I ever got stuck and learned the lesson well.

These days we have plastic recovery ramps that are a great improvement over the rusty sharp metal pieces of the military sand tracks I carried in the past.

Sportsmobile uses a variety of van platforms, Sprinters, Ford Transits, et al. They are essentially window dressing and don't advance the factory built in capabilities. Sportsmobile does a great job cosmetically enhancing what the factories put out.

The drive trains are what the dealers get from the factory. There are some options to install a rear locker after the fact that would be great to have but at a considerable cost of five grand. If I was a newby, this upgrade would be more attractive for my 16 year old Sprinter. I will have to do without driving on the beach and am fine with that fact.

ULSD diesel fuel is becoming more available in Baja Sur. ULSD diesel has been in Baja Norte for years. The reason I bought my 06 when I did was because it could run on any kind of diesel. ULSD or LSD. Many with newer vans that require ULSD, 07 up models, have done fine in Baja Sur. I always fill up before I get to Baja Sur just in case at Jesus Maria just north of Guerrero Negro and the state line between Baja Norte and Baja Sur. With more and more Baja Sur stations selling ULSD even the newer Sprinters should have no problems filling with ULSD.

To each his own. Peace and love and respect and some fish tacos thrown in for good measure.

Above all, please show respect, respect, respect. Por favor. We Nomads deserve at least this much. Happy 4th everyone.

David K - 7-3-2022 at 11:01 AM

What knuckle head buys a 2WD?

Why buy 4wd if you don’t need/want 4wd?

Trying to see Baja in a 2WD is like going to Disneyland without enjoying any of the rides!

surfhat - 7-3-2022 at 11:07 AM

Never mind. Please ignore my previous post. I am obviously off base and just an old man with memories. Somehow over the past fifty years I got by without 4wd for most of that time. Do carry on.

mtgoat666 - 7-3-2022 at 11:09 AM

What knuckle head buys a 2WD?

Why buy 4wd if you don’t need/want 4wd?

Trying to see Baja in a 2WD is like going to Disneyland without enjoying any of the rides!

Silly comment. I don’t need 4wd to go camping in SPM, go whale watching at any of the lagoons, go to wineries in valle guadalupe, or most of the beaches.

Most desirable tourist areas in baja and bcs are accessible by roads drivable by 2wd.

David K - 7-3-2022 at 11:53 AM

What knuckle head buys a 2WD?

Why buy 4wd if you don’t need/want 4wd?

Trying to see Baja in a 2WD is like going to Disneyland without enjoying any of the rides!

I guess goats are like sheep? Just follow the crowds to the typical tourist sites.

JDCanuck - 7-3-2022 at 11:55 AM

Sprinters were really popular up here for decades where we have nice smooth roads. Lately not so much as people are dumping them and choosing to fly to destinations or rent from a tour company instead. Its been super hard to find a place to camp out with them lately as the campsites are overbooked, primarily by rental tour companies who reserve in advance.
What is growing is the van or minivan conversion use as you can park with them most anyplace, including rest stops for breaks.
After your travel period you pull out the sink, stove grey water storage and bed and put it back in service as a family use vehicle.
In JZ's case, he could have his kids drive a 4 by 4 with bikes in the back, use the minivan as a service and meals vehicle and get both uses at the same time. Overall combined fuel use would not be much different than using one Sprinter assuming the minivan was used as a home base.

[Edited on 7-3-2022 by JDCanuck]

JDCanuck - 7-3-2022 at 12:28 PM

Jz and Surfhat: Just bought a well used 4by4 Canyon crew cab(my first) and driving it down to our place end of this month for very rough use in and out of La Paz in future years. Any suggestions on something I should carry in the odd chance i get it buried in the deep sand? My only experience was with a Grand Cherokee i rented and had to put into 4wd once when i got bogged down. Traction mats of some kind come to mind.

mtgoat666 - 7-3-2022 at 12:34 PM

What knuckle head buys a 2WD?

Why buy 4wd if you don’t need/want 4wd?

Trying to see Baja in a 2WD is like going to Disneyland without enjoying any of the rides!

I guess goats are like sheep? Just follow the crowds to the typical tourist sites.

Sheep? I have seen you off-roaders. Y’all be like a bunch teenage girls, travel in large groups (bring your own traffic jams to remote roads), and cannot go to bathroom alone.

JZ - 7-3-2022 at 12:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Jz and Surfhat: Just bought a well used 4by4 Canyon crew cab(my first) and driving it down to our place end of this month for very rough use in and out of La Paz in future years. Any suggestions on something I should carry in the odd chance i get it buried in the deep sand? My only experience was with a Grand Cherokee i rented and had to put into 4wd once when i got bogged down. Traction mats of some kind come to mind.

I have an offroad floor jack, snatch strap, and maxtrax. Air down. Watch where you go.

David K - 7-3-2022 at 01:27 PM

What knuckle head buys a 2WD?

Why buy 4wd if you don’t need/want 4wd?

Trying to see Baja in a 2WD is like going to Disneyland without enjoying any of the rides!

I guess goats are like sheep? Just follow the crowds to the typical tourist sites.

Sheep? I have seen you off-roaders. Y’all be like a bunch teenage girls, travel in large groups (bring your own traffic jams to remote roads), and cannot go to bathroom alone.

Yes, you like to generalize and put people into 'groups'.
It is possible, to do both, travel with others to "share the stoke" and to camp solo, and not in campgrounds.
I do far more of the second method than the first. Sharing is caring, however.
Just make sure to pack out whatever you brought in and if possible leave the place looking better than you found it!
:light:

Lee - 7-3-2022 at 01:47 PM

I've had AWD SUV's for a long time. Trucks have always been 4WD. Can't justify spending $10k more for 4WD except when I need it. The possibility of needing it is enough reason for me to go 4WD. I'd never buy a 2WD vehicle. Or FWD.

Priced a custom van awhile ago came to about $150k. Solar, 2kw inverter, etc. About the price of my last Class A -- a Newmar Canyon Star.

Since a Sprinter is like an RV, I'd really look at how I'd be using it -- how long I'd be camping somewhere -- before passing up a real RV.

pacificobob - 7-3-2022 at 02:02 PM

4x4 sprinters as well as transits have not impressed me with their capability.
Pickups aren't far behind.
The glaringly obvious exception is a Tacoma aired down and piloted by
All knowing baja offroad experts.

mtgoat666 - 7-3-2022 at 02:56 PM