Dodge Promaster

LDB · Feb 25, 2014

Yes, those are all spec sheet numbers and prices, not real world. Real world load capacity will be hundreds of pounds less as you say. That was to show the advantage of starting with a 3500 van with wide load floor vs a 2500 van or a 3500 with too narrow load floor.

On pricing maybe I should have compared base prices, ProMaster 3500 tall ext $41,145 Sprinter 2500 tall ext $43,505 and Sprinter 3500 tall ext $44825. The PM has 530 cubic feet max capacity and the Sprinter has 547 cubic feet. The Sprinter has 3.2% more space. The PM has 3.1% less space. The PM has less angled walls and door openings. It probably makes little to no difference in cargo handling but it may give the PM an advantage as far as outfitting.

The Transit van in tallest/longest configuration has 487 cubic feet, 8.1% less than PM and 10.9% less than Sprinter. Unfortunately there is still little information available to make further comparisons on their years behind schedule vehicle.

ntimevan · Feb 25, 2014

Simple smart test for anyone before buying a van ....tell salesman you want an actual scale ticket showing empty weight of van.....they Will pay for it ...take salesman along....Now you have driver weight & salesman ( fuel ) weight ....this should give you an idea of available payload when subtracted from GVW.....

sent from my mobile apple cart

Moot · Feb 25, 2014

My basic rule of thumb for expediting is add at least 800 pounds to the curb weight for the bare necessities and creature comforts.

200 lbs. driver
200 lbs. fuel
100 lbs. aux. batteries
100 lbs. E-track, straps, beam pockets, load bar, flooring
100 lbs. bed, insulation, walls, bulkhead
100 lbs. just because

Big Al · Feb 25, 2014

I always hesitate on the Sprinter because of a lack of dealers nationwide for warranty work. 50 freightliner & 50 Mercedes. Is this still the case? I know it's a great van and I guess the warranty period is short.

Big Al · Feb 25, 2014

Like someone said " Italian Van built by Chrysler in Mexico, what could go wrong?" I do like the fact that any Dodge dealer can perform maintenance and the price is good and seems to have many nice features

KickStarter6 · Feb 25, 2014

Big Al said:
I always hesitate on the Sprinter because of a lack of dealers nationwide for warranty work. 50 freightliner & 50 Mercedes. Is this still the case? I know it's a great van and I guess the warranty period is short.

I dunno if that's the case but I live about 30 minutes away from a sprinter dealer in Lexington. Seems like they have us a higher number tho

Treadmill · Feb 25, 2014

Big Al said:
I always hesitate on the Sprinter because of a lack of dealers nationwide for warranty work. 50 freightliner & 50 Mercedes. Is this still the case? I know it's a great van and I guess the warranty period is short.

What do you call short? 36 months or 100,000 miles I think is a typical warranty isn't it? That's what mine was.

ysracer · Feb 25, 2014

Opel2010 said:
I do not quite detest it, I just don't like it as much as I like the NV. For one thing, the comfort. NV it's like you drive a Caddy, while Promaster remembered me the old Vandura. Then the transmission, it down shifts very often, the engine seems to be not that powerful as it's written on papers. The brakes are squeaking any time I touch them, the engine overheating at only 7000 miles…..
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note III

Overheating ???

Turtle · Feb 25, 2014

Big Al said:
I always hesitate on the Sprinter because of a lack of dealers nationwide for warranty work. 50 freightliner & 50 Mercedes. Is this still the case? I know it's a great van and I guess the warranty period is short.

50 and 50? Wow. The perceptions and misconceptions about Sprinter never cease to amaze. Not so much for warranty work, but if you have an older year Sprinter, back when they were Freightliner and Dodge, there were 382 Dodge Sprinter dealers alone, plus the Freighliner dealers. Here's a PDF list of all the Dodge dealers who were Sprinter dealers, and who still perform Sprinter service. (Dodge Sprinter Dealers by State)

In August 2012 there were 197 Sprinter dealers (Freightliner and Mercedes). As of Feb 1, 2014 there are 249 dealers.

xmudman · Feb 25, 2014

KickStarter6 said:
Underpowered is my extended E250 with the 4.6 V8 hauling 3100lbs thru Virginia. It wasn't worth the aggravation to go that slow

Slow is your friend at the pumps

I have a 2009 version of your truck; last summer I took 2400' from PA clear across to Oregon. Van was able to do 75 when I wanted it to; the only time it was really slow was in Idaho, after I'd fueled in Utah. That was with 85 octane regular (that's what they use out there due to the altitude); thinking back, I'd probably use midgrade instead

Most of the way, I was able to get 16-17 MPG, which isn't bad at close to max GVW (8900)

Big Al · Feb 25, 2014

you are right but it seems to pass quickly

Treadmill said:
What do you call short? 36 months or 100,000 miles I think is a typical warranty isn't it? That's what mine was.

Treadmill · Feb 26, 2014

Big Al said:
you are right but it seems to pass quickly

I know what you mean my 100,000 was done in 10 months.

Rising_Cow · Feb 26, 2014

If I remember right it is 3 years 36000 miles engine and 5 year 100000 drive tran and 10 year rust thru for body. And I was in one very roomy 56" between w/w and 76" high inside and 76" wide inside and the 159" wheel base is 146" back of seat to door, and ext. 160" and diesel not ready yet been held back. Was going to get one, to long a wait for me and hold ups, and the heated mirrors r having issues who knows what else, I was looking easy over 8 week wait and a 30 day order time, best to buy what they have on lot or wait, plus I think they r very suited for expediting, the pro needs to prove it worth before it's the master.

westmicher · Feb 26, 2014

OK... Some more real information on my 159" extended Promaster. It is really rated to carry 4,308 lbs and there is no estimated mpg on the sticker... it's over the GVW limit requiring such government ratings. It is rated 9,350 GVW total. In the place of the rating, a big N/A is printed.

Real mpg numbers will be posted soon but I reasonably expect 18 MPG gasoline overall.