Towing with a Sprinter?

[zuren]

I'm looking for some first-hand feedback/experience about towing with a Sprinter van. I sold my Express van a couple years ago since it no longer met family needs. I'm hoping to get into a different van at some point. I like the idea of a crew Sprinter so I have a 2nd row for kids, but one thing I notice when driving around is I almost never see a Sprinter towing anything.

Currently I have an aluminum 14' fishing boat that when fully loaded on the trailer is probably 1500 lbs. or less. My hope someday is to have an 18' aluminum boat with walk-thru windshield that will liikely get up toward 3000 lbs. I live in the Midwest so it is mostly flat towing, but just wondering if my hopes are too much for a Sprinter? I know they are listed at 5000 towing capacity, but most towers will tell you that the "comfortable capacity" is much less than the "max capacity".

Thanks!

 

[SDDiver5]

I have a 1 time experience I can throw out here for you. Helped a buddy move who had a 2500 sprinter that was mostly loaded with stuff. He also rented a small Uhaul, whatever the single axle covered trailer is, and that was also loaded up. We were pretty heavy with both loaded and let me tell you it was kinda sketchy. I don't think Sprinters are really made to tow. A 1500 pound boat is probably not that big of an issue but I'd Imagine a 3500 Sprinter could tow 5k pounds?

I don't know how helpful that little story is but thought I'd throw it out there.

 

[Johnboyy]

On any sort of reasonably flat ground a sprinter with a good trailer behind should tow 3k lbs just fine