Towing capacity, comfort, cooling

[johndeni]

I have just recently seen the Sprinters around the Central Florida Area. I am very interested in one. We need the space for our 4 dogs (our children) and we want to be able to tow a travel trailer. I am getting mixed info from the sites about towing capacity. One said up to 9,000 gvw. That would be ample, but some say 3,000. All claim to be same motor the 2.7 litre.

Any feedback on GVW for towing and specs?

How's the comfort of the seats?

Does it ride like a car or truck?

Is the extra insulation in the back and the additional a/c necessary for passengers?

Thanks for any input.

[HKPierce]

All Sprinters come with the same 2.7 engine. No choice.

Towing capacity - figures vary because of the model. It is total weight of the vechicle and trailer they count. As each model weighs different, the towed weight varies.

I have the deluxe seats - I love them. Long hauls are great.

Rides like a van. This is not a car. The cargos are stiffer than the passengers, probably because of the different spring setup (1 leaf for cargo, 3 for passenger).

Insulation: Sound: even the passengers sound like a drum. It needs sound deadening insulation or you will not be able to talk from driver to passenger side, and forget the back. You have to install this yourself by pulling off the panels and filling sound channels in both the body and H-frame.

Heat: DC's insulation package is a joke - non-form-fitted open-cell squares of foam. lots of information on what others have done and links to more information at http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/sprintervan/.

AC: A single unit is barely OK for the northern part of the US, and, of course, Canada. From Maryland/Virginia south, think dual units if you want comfort. Or get a retrofit from the authorized DC second unit supplier at http://www.scsfrigette.com/html/products/index.htm (web site useless, must call them at 1-800-433-1740).