2011 Interstate Towing capacity

[gmillerok1]

Thanks. I'll get it off the windshield VIN plate this evening and send it to you. I think the VIN on the title is different as Airstream uses a different one and I don't have the original VIN handy.

Gerald

Originally Posted by wayneskid

I see on the 2011 Data Sheet that MB has increased to spec but lewster has it right! If the tranny is the unchanged, I'd be very wary of pushing this limit. If you want to confirm that the tranny is the same as the earlier MY Sprinters, get someone to run the data card for your VIN and see what the transmission part number is. My 2008 FL 3500 has an A 642 010 52 45 transmission. If you send me your VIN by PM I'll run it on EPC and send you back a data card. These are pretty handy to have as they show the build data for your Sprinter in detail.

[pattonsr]

Lew,

If you are going to add a second tranny cooler, will you be using the Sprinter Store to install it as you mentioned in an earlier post?

Also I noticed that the Sprinter Store no longer has a transmission temperature gauge for sale. Any ideas about a temp gauge?

Barry

[lewster]

Originally Posted by pattonsr

Lew,

If you are going to add a second tranny cooler, will you be using the Sprinter Store to install it as you mentioned in an earlier post?

Also I noticed that the Sprinter Store no longer has a transmission temperature gauge for sale. Any ideas about a temp gauge?

Barry

Barry,

You read my mind!

I am having the Sprinter Store do the install as soon as I get back to OR. I have heard that a lot of Sprinter owners are using the Scan Gauge II for trans temp, engine temp and other info. I am going to this also, as my new '11 only has idiot lights and no longer has an engine temp gauge like my '04 had.

[pattonsr]

Lew,

I seem to recall that Sprinter owners still haven't got the trans temp to work on the Scan Gauge II. Please post any information you find out.

Barry

[SmokelessJoe]

Lew, Pattonsr, Others:

I use the Scan Gauge ll but as far as I can tell it doesn't provide transmission temperature. Apparently the Sprinter doesn't make that factor available.

I bought the transmission cooler from The Sprinter Store last October and had it installed by a competent mechanic in Ontario. When I asked Oregon why they'd discontinued the temperature gauge they said not to worry, I didn't need it, the cooler would lower the fluid temperature by "about 20 degrees".

Sound fishy?

I am going to keep looking, trying to find a gauge that will measure exhaust gases too.

I'm glad that I preemptively installed both the cooler and the retrofit turbo resonator. My rig is very heavy, 14,500 pounds, and struggled in the Appalachians but nothing went wrong on my recent 165 day long trip - staying over at 37 American cities - including Tuscaloosa, hit so hard by a tornado last night.




Sergei

[wayneskid]

The ScanGauge II can read transmission temp via the XGauge commands. I haven't found the time to try this but see ScanGaugeII - Add-A-Gauge for an explanation. There is a link on this page that will get you a pdf file listing the commands.
Wayne

[pattonsr]

Wayne,

I haven't seen anyone successfully read the transmission temp via the ScanGauge II for a Sprinter. Have at it and let us know what happens.

Barry

[SmokelessJoe]

Wayneskid, thanks.

The Sprinter doesn't show on the pdf and I've heard or read somewhere, forget which now, that the Sprinter doesn't report transmission temp.

I am going to contact ScanGauge directly to see what I can find out and will report back.

Thanks again.

Sergei

[wayneskid]

Originally Posted by SmokelessJoe

Wayneskid, thanks.

The Sprinter doesn't show on the pdf and I've heard or read somewhere, forget which now, that the Sprinter doesn't report transmission temp.

I am going to contact ScanGauge directly to see what I can find out and will report back.

Thanks again.

Sergei

You may be correct. There are threads on this on the Sprinter Forum that may be worth chasing. Do let us know what ScanGauge has to say.
Wayne

[pattonsr]

Any update news on whether the ScanGauge will report transmission temp for the Sprinter?

[SmokelessJoe]

Before I head out for Newfoundland this summer. I want to make sure I’ve added a transmission temperature gauge to the Sprinter.

I called ScanGauge in Arizona the other day. The lady on the phone said that they were still having problems getting Mercedes to disclose information that would allow adding the transmission temperature to the Xgauge feature.

But during the conversation there was some background distraction and interruption. Then the lady asked for my email address, saying their technical engineer was checking further and would get back to me.

So, maybe there is some reason to hope. How cool that would be: simply having the temperature read out on your already purchased ScanGauge.

Then, I spoke to JOHN, the guy that owns the SPRINTER SHOP out in Oregon.

He says that there is absolutely no way to tap the commonly available 1/8” or 1/4” sensors, that are supplied with the various gauges available, into the Mercedes transmission.

What you have to do is splice some type of a T into the flex line running from the transmission to the radiator. You insert the standard sensor there.

In essence, this is what he was doing when he was selling a gauge for the transmission temperature.

He says he gave up on it because nobody wanted to pay for what looked to people to be something very simple and over priced.

I’m thinking now to ask John if he might be kind enough to make up a “T” for me.

I will happily pay him whatever he says the job is worth.

I can separately buy a gauge with either an NPT 1/4” or 1/8” male sensor head. Lots of specialist places for that, like Geno’s Garage in Cummings, Georgia for instance.

I’m 75 years old, don’t have mechanical aptitude and can’t crawl around under the truck to do the job myself.

Most of all, I know that any mechanic I hire to do the job will be much more easily convinced if I can just hand him a part and explain what to do with it, as opposed to trying to convince him to make up a piece and do surgery.

Human nature is like that, especially when people are operating in unfamiliar territory.

I’ve bought a German made chip module from the Sprinter Store and will have my mechanic install it. Hopefully, he can do a temperature gauge install at the same time.

I also found this kit on the Internet, also available through Amazon

B & M B&M Universal Transmission Temperature Gauge - JCWhitney

It looks like what John was talking about but it might be low level stuff. I might want to buy a better quality, more accurate gauge.

Anybody else know anything new??


Sergei

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by gmilleroik1

According to the MBUSA Sprinter site, the 3500 chassis, which Airstream uses, is tow rated for 7500lbs.

Whether it is a good idea or not based on the tranny, is another thing.

The chassis and the receiver are rated for 7500 pounds. However, if you take the curb weight of the Airstream Interstate, with full fuel, empty freshwater, graywater, and blackwater tanks, empty propane tank, empty overhead lockers, and one 200-pound person in the driver's seat, the actual towing capacity, calculated on GCWR minus curb weight, is closer to 6400 pounds, plus or minus. It depends on which floor plan you've got, too, as to your actual curb weight.

If you were using a stock Sprinter 3500, with no motorhome conversion adding weight, you'd get the full 7500 pounds of towing capacity.

[BL1996]

i figured 5000 lb. for the extended Interstate. I was able to haul the trailer and two 900 lb. Harley’s

Total guesstimated weight to be 4600 gross. The unit only had 3000 miles at the start. I got 13.6 mpg running at 70-75.

The Interstate was perfect for this application.

[SmokelessJoe]

Referencing back to #31 above, John, the owner of the Sprinter Store in Oregon, agreed to make up a T fitting for me so that we can install a transmission temperature gauge.

He also sent along a PDF instruction sheet:

Trani Temp Gaug…stall Instr.pdf

I also ordered a matched set of ISSPRO EV2 gauges - transmission temperature and exhaust gases - from Geno’s Garage in Cummins, Georgia.

Fellow Argosy owner Big Ed Moeller, from Walhalla, South Carolina, recommended this and them to me.



I don’t know if Big Ed is a Forum member or not but he’s been a terrific help to me.


Sergei