Sprinter Replica Travel Trailer

[Alex AVI]

Sprinter Replica Travel Trailer - well, it's a close-enough replica, but not an identical replica

My long time friend & cycling buddy & auto mechanic & also a senior mechanic at a local RV dealership that carries Chinooks told me about this Trail Wagon trailer. Interesting take on designing the trailer to be a Sprinter rear-end replica with 2 Front End (FE) options - AFE (Automotive) and TFE (Trailer). Two lengths available, 18 ft. & 21 ft. Entry fee is pretty steep, starting at $76,000 for the short version to $88,000 for long one.

I really have no idea how this would work with a Sprinter RV since AI can only pull 5,000 lbs. trailer. These trailers are 4,698 lbs.(dry weight), 492 lbs.(hitch weight) & 6,750 lbs. GVWR for the long version. As close as most AI are to GVWR, I am not sure who would be able to tow this within safety weight limits unless they are a single/double passenger RV and/or using the new 4500 chassis.

[Boxster1971]

Interesting solution if you need a toy hauler and extra sleeping space.

The 3500 non-extended Sprinters have a towing rating of 7,500 lbs with a GCWR of 15250 lbs, so they could handle this trailer if they were built light enough.

The new 4500 Sprinters have same tow rating and GCWR so they don't offer much advantage for towing. The 4500 has an increased GVWR of 12,125 lbs, so it can carry more than the 3500XD at 11,030 lbs.

The problem for some RV Upfitters is that the Permissible Curb Weight for the 4500 Sprinter is only 9375 lbs., less than the 3500XD at 10470 lbs. See attached chart from 2019 Sprinter owners manual.

During a seminar in 2016 I learned that the RV manufacturers were lobbying Mercedes to increase the GVWR of the Sprinter for years. Permissible curb weight is the limit an RV manufacturer can use to handle all the items they add to the basic van. I think the Class-C builders thought they would have an advantage going to the new 4500 cab chassis, but this curb weight limit might have put a damper on some of those plans to use the extra 1095 lbs GVWR. I have no info on why Mercedes/Daimler reduced the curb weight limit on the 4500s.

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

The problem for some RV Upfitters is that the Permissible Curb Weight for the 4500 Sprinter is only 9375 lbs., less than the 3500XD at 10470 lbs. See attached chart from 2019 Sprinter owners manual.

, but this curb weight limit might have put a damper on some of those plans to use the extra 1095 lbs GVWR. I have no info on why Mercedes/Daimler reduced the curb weight limit on the 4500s.

MIKE - Thanks for data chart. I assumed all ratings for 4500 would be higher. That is indeed a head-scratcher why the 4500 has lower curb weight limit. If I saw that chart without your side-bar explanation, I would have thought maybe they just had printed the curb weights in wrong box. Almost seems like the 3500EXT should have the 9375 lb. curb weight (my unit placard shows 9633 lbs.) and the 4500 should have the 10470 lb.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

MIKE - Thanks for data chart. I assumed all ratings for 4500 would be higher. That is indeed a head-scratcher why the 4500 has lower curb weight limit. If I saw that chart without your side-bar explanation, I would have thought maybe they just had printed the curb weights in wrong box. Almost seems like the 3500EXT should have the 9375 lb. curb weight (my unit placard shows 9633 lbs.) and the 4500 should have the 10470 lb.

Similar, but slightly less (9300 lbs) in the Body Equipment Guide - attached.