Danger O'Shea - Mercedes-Benz 2500 4x4 Low-Roof Sprinter Van (DIESEL)

What a great experience we had in Farrah’s van. She was very responsive to the unlimited number of questions we had about the rental, the van amenities, and traveling in the Rockies. The pick up and drop-off went seamlessly with her ability to met our needs for timing and she was very patient when teaching us about the van. The Mercedes worked perfectly and her user manual focused on quick tips & tricks necessary for any customized van conversion. Specifics: The van managed to get over 18 mpg on several tank-fills, which for this size vehicle seemed good. We drove it over four major mountain passes and even at 14,000’ it ran fine. (Trail Ridge Road, Snowy Range Byway, Beartooth Highway, Independence pass, Pikes Peak, and various continental divides in our Western National Parks). There were places where diesel fuel was cheaper that gasoline, and in one NP diesel was the only fuel available. Farrah provided more camping amenities than we needed, we carried some of our own, leaving a stash of hers at the Denver Base. Managing the fresh and grey water was a breeze, having running sink water was great, and the absence of a toilet was never an issue during the 4,400 miles we traveled. Most of our stops were at campsites and this class vehicle and ‘tent only’ sites made the bookings easy to obtain and inexpensive. If you need lots of hook ups and first-world umbilicords running to your van, this one is not for you. If you want easy in-out, nimble, stealthy travel this van is great. We often ran devices throughout the night and the solar panels with onboard battery supply never was exhausted. Recommendations: we are two 70+ year old travelers so we picked up a portable step to help us get in and out of the van. Well placed hand-holds, once you get used to them, will work fine for most people. The swivel captain seats and folding table worked great after we figured them out. The rear view camera only points straight down so seeing behind you has a limited view, however you can activate the camera at any time without the need of putting the car in reverse gear. There is tons or storage space under the high-mounted bed and bringing tie-downs to secure any load is a good idea. Problem is, there were very few latch points to connect them. Running the ‘ship’ from the cockpit was pleasurable. Plenty of ‘bins’ to store drinking bottles, maps, grab-n-go items, however the audio/navigation system is a bit old of aryan-design, so the vinatge Atari-esk control navigation techniques took a little practice to learn. Once mastered it was functional and the on-wheel button adjustments were useful. Our trip : was more touring than camping, so we were on the road almost daily. We never had a problem moving around small towns and parking in lots that were not specifically design for ‘RVs’. U-turns on 4-lane surface roads were possible, but you had to pay attention. Three-point turns, of which there were many, were efficiently managed. Cleaning the wide-view dash-to-ceiling front window took some skill. Plan on visiting Truck Stops occasionally to help out. But honestly the big picture window and wide tinted side windows made travel, sightseeing, and privacy delightful. In addition to the bed space, we found that the floor of the van was long enough for a 6’ + individual to sleep on. Bring a pad. Tire pressure is important for handling control and mileage ratings on any vehicle. Know that the tire rating for this Sprinter is 40+PSI on the front and 70+ PSI on the back. Not all service centers provide 70+ pressure to their customers. Enjoy this van and have safe travels, from the Pedagogue and the Sainte-Terre. Farrah will be happy to give you my email address of you have any questions about NPS bookings & regulations, places of interest to consider, hiking & backcountry options, and tips gleaned from over 55+ years of traveling.

Farrah was great to communicate with and the Van helped provide a great road trip vacation around some of the National Parks. The van drives very well and the camper section was comfortable and efficient.

Beautiful RV! Comes with a hot shower in the back, all the kitchen supplies you’ll need. Ample storage. Super luxurious feeling, and a perfect first RV experience for a city person like me. Farrah provided lots of local tips and walked us through the van. Super easy to drive. If I’m ever back in Denver for camping, I’ll rent this one again. Highly recommend!