The second advantage is the 144″ wheelbase is more nimble. A 144″ can also handle steep switchbacks more easily. If you find yourself in a pickle and need to turn around, you’ll have an easier time in the 144″ vs the 170″ Sprinter. The first benefit of the 144″ Sprinter for off-road driving is the turning radius. The 170″ while not quite as nimble is still a beast, and the 170″ extended Sprinter would be the clear loser in terms of off-road capability.
However, either Sprinter Van wheelbase with the 4×4 option is going to be a surprisingly capable vehicle, with the 144″ having an obvious advantage. Neither Sprinter wheelbase is going to be as off-road friendly as a Jeep or lifted pickup truck. If you are like me and you try to avoid big cities, then the 170″ wheelbase shouldn’t be an issue. If you live in busy city and frequently park in busy areas, the 144″ will be easier to drive. If you plan on stealth camping, a 170″ ext will likely draw more attention as it is more obvious it’s a camper.īottom Line: This comes down to how much time you plan to be in cities vs rural areas. If you choose to go with a 170″ extended wheelbase Sprinter, keep in mind that this adds an additional 1.5 feet to the van, making it more difficult to park in normal parking spaces and navigate in busy areas. Parallel parking is also a bit more challenging. The turning radius isn’t quite as good in the 170” vs 144” Sprinter, so you have to be a little more careful with U-Turns.
My 170″ Sprinter requires a bit more effort to park, but the extra space is worth the trade offįor city driving, both wheelbases handle nearly the same. I will say that a rear camera is absolutely necessary for the 170”, especially if you don’t have rear windows, but I wouldn’t have wanted to go without a rearview camera in my 144” either.
In really tight parking lots, you might have to park a little further out and walk an additional minute or two, but overall, parking the 170” Sprinter hasn’t caused me any more stress than parking my 144”. Sure it’s longer….but if you pull all the way up to the curb until your front tires hit, the 170” can also “fit” in a normal parking spot. So how does the 170” compare to the 144″ in terms of parking? I’d say that the argument that the 170” Sprinter is a hassle to park is a bit overblown. I loved driving it and felt like I could cruise down the road no differently than in my Subaru.
#SPRINT LAYOUT RAILS DRIVER#
When I got my 144” Sprinter, I sold my Subaru and my Sprinter became my daily driver for a year and a half. I’d agree that the 144” was a breeze to park, even in crowded parking lots and city streets. One of the claims to fame for the 144” Sprinter Van is that it can fit in a normal parking spot – both length and width-wise. Get help deciding between the 144″ vs 170″ Sprinter Van for your van conversion with these insights.ġ44 vs 170 Sprinter Van Comparisons Parking & City Driving Read on to learn about the pros and cons of the 144″, the 170″, and the 170″ ext Sprinter wheelbase so you can decide which one is best choice for your van conversion. There of course have been a few sacrifices and challenges that come with having a longer Sprinter Van, but the extra space has been a worthy trade off. With that in mind, I sold my 144″ Sprinter and upgraded to the 170″, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. I also craved a few more square feet to better accommodate my partner, our dogs, outdoor gear, and full-time van living lifestyle. My first Sprinter Van was a 144″ wheelbase, and I loved its maneuverability and how easy it was to park. Luckily I’ve owned both the 144″ and the 170″ wheelbase, so everything I write here is based on my real world experience. To help you decide, in this blog post I compare these factors in the 144″ vs 170″ vs 170″ ext Sprinter Van. Which one you choose will affect how much storage and living space you have, the off-road capability, maneuverability in cities, parking, gas efficiency and more. The Sprinter Van comes in three different wheelbases – a 144″ (the short wheelbase), a 170″ (the long wheelbase), and the 170-ext (the extra long wheelbase). If you’re planning to buy a Sprinter Van to convert into a camper van, one of the first and most important decisions you have to make is which wheelbase you want.