New 4x4 Sprinter design being released into the wild

[mhiscox]

I don't have any details, and won't until Saturday, but it looks like the 4x4 conversion that Upscale Automotive was developing has worked out well enough that there are operating vehicles to show. If you're anywhere close and want a Sprinter overlander, you may want to check it out.

Here's John Bendit's latest blurb; emphasis is mine:

Greetings Everyone,

The 6th Annual NW SprinterFest is getting real close and Saturday the 16th will be here before you know it! So far, we have over 30 Sprinters registered with attendees totaling more than twice that! So to recap, the event will be held at our shop from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm or until we’re finished. Something new this year…you can now register for the event on line by going to http://softecusa.com/sprinterwest.html We will have a pot luck table for those that would like to share their favorite dish and we will have the Weber grill going for any cooking that you would like to do. There will be lots of customer built conversions to check out and McCoy Freightliner will have a 2011 Sprinter for everyone to look over. We plan to introduce some new Sprinter Store products and we will have our 4wd Sprinters on display! In the past, we have all enjoyed checking out a variety of unique Sprinters so come on by and join in the fun!!

Thank you and happy motoring,

John

Sprinter Store
sprinterstore.com
A division of Upscale Automotive, Inc.
19460 SW 89th Ave.
Tualatin, OR 97062
503-692-0846

 

[Frosty_1]

Mike,

I'm assuming you'll be at SprinterFest? These 4x4s should be cool!

I should be there, though without a Sprinter. I couldn't find exactly what I wanted locally so I ended up ordering a 2011 144" Highroof, should have it in July.

Take care,

Alex

 

[mhiscox]

Mike, I'm assuming you'll be at SprinterFest? These 4x4s should be cool!

I expect to be there most all the time. It'll be good to see how John's projects turned out.

Congratulations on the purchase.

 

[dare2go]

Here's another Sprinter 4x4 - the extreme version for/from Iceland:
http://www.4x4offroads.com/mercedes-benz-sprinter-44-inch.html :victory:

 

[Frankspinz]

Here's another Sprinter 4x4 - the extreme version for/from Iceland:
http://www.4x4offroads.com/mercedes-benz-sprinter-44-inch.html :victory:

I love that Sprinter ... I wonder if Pall would build me one ?

 

[HMR]

I don't have any details, and won't until Saturday, but it looks like the 4x4 conversion that Upscale Automotive was developing has worked out well enough that there are operating vehicles to show.

I saw a 4x4 Sprinter last week while driving on the 5 somewhere near Eugene. I'm guessing it had to be one of the Upscale conversions? I'd never seen a 4x4 version before in person. I would LOVE to have one. :drool:

 

[DKB2GO]

I don't have any details, and won't until Saturday, but it looks like the 4x4 conversion that Upscale Automotive was developing has worked out well enough that there are operating vehicles to show. If you're anywhere close and want a Sprinter overlander, you may want to check it out.

Mike, what did you learn? Any pics?

David

 

[mhiscox]

Mike, what did you learn? Any pics?

David

John had it up on a lift so we could look at everything, but he wasn't permitting any pictures yet.

The current situation is that the prototype is ready to go, but that there are a few things that they expect to change in the production version. There are also a lot of questions about whether to continue to fab up things in house (like the subframe) or contract with an outside group. And because of these uncertainties, no final cost has been calculated yet.

In other words, the conversion is a mechanical success, but that there's still a lot of the "business" aspects to be figured out. John will be keeping me apprised--and I'm signed up to chaperon on its first trail run--so I'll be able to have pictures as soon as the details are ready for release.

For any of you that might like a 4x4 sprinter, you might give John Bendit a call or e-mail to let him know of your interest. Not surprisingly, some of the decisions about how to build these, what they should cost, and so on will depend on whether he's likely to do one, ten, or a hundred, so he'd certainly want to hear from you if you're a prospect.

And while I couldn't take pictures Saturday, if I could have, my favorite one would have been the transfer case lever coming up through the floor of the Sprinter. That was a very cool sight. :sombrero:

 

[DKB2GO]

If I didn't know better, I'd say this was a clever ploy to incentivize me to move on getting a Sprinter AND visiting Oregon. Keep the details coming, Mike. This will certainly add an unexpected dimension to my build.

 

[EMrider]

I'm curious about details too. Thanks for the info thus far.

Can you say whether or not this 4x4 setup is an aftermarket replica of the MBZ OEM option available overseas? If I'm not mistaken, another firm tired to make that available a year or so ago.
R

 

[mhiscox]

Can you say whether or not this 4x4 setup is an aftermarket replica of the MBZ OEM option available overseas? If I'm not mistaken, another firm tired to make that available a year or so ago.

No, this is a new system that had to be developed to replace the "made from MBz parts" option that John and his crew successfully installed on Tom Tasso's truck and hoped to keep installing.

The short version of what is probably a long story is that Sportsmobile and Upscale Automotive each got one 4x4 Sprinter made using what was basically the Oberaigner Sprinter conversion widely used in Europe and constructed mostly out of OEM components. While I don't know all the gory details, the key point is that Daimler-Benz apparently made it clear to everyone involved that they weren't going to allow their 4x4 parts to be going to unauthorized places (i.e., the US and Canada) and that killed off this highly workable approach to the conversion.

Faced with kissing off Sprinter conversions entirely or trying to find a workable non-OEM way to do it (much as Salem-Kroger attempted earlier), John decided to build this non-Mercedes-based prototype.