I've driven a Sprinter for work - but I hadn't mentally converted your 170" inches into metres or feet, and I see by doing the conversion that you are talking about an under-5 metre long, under 15 foot long Sprinter. OK, I've only once driven one that short, and it was much easier to park.  I've never seen a Sprinter RV conversion that short, but I suppose somebody must be building one.  That would make a decent replacement for a Vanagon - and might even fit through my seven foot garage door, if the pop top were low enough.

Nice to have this discussion.

James

Ottawa, ON

From: neilrayc@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2016 21:17:30 -0700
Subject: Re: do you have $160.00 to spend?
To: jk_eaton@hotmail.com

Perhaps.  Never been to Canada.  What I said reflects my experience in u.S. states from FL to WA.  I had a 170" and didn't have trouble finding spaces most of the time.  Malls or streets.  And I stated "it won't fit in most garagesunless you got a low top with a pop up . . ."  I think those will fit but am not certain.
I'm uncertain what you mean by "motorhome" but I think I know what you're imaging.  A custom conversion can be narrow and relatively short in height and length.  My 170" wasn't drastically longer or taller than a Syncro AW with extra 5g tanks mounted on it's rear end (see attached).  And, I would consider my Sprinter a camper van since that was the secondary, very close, purpose in my design.  And it was very much a sub for a Vanagon for me, at that juncture.  So, I would disagree.  I wonder, have you owned or driven a Sprinter very much?

Neil
Clan Crawford
" . . . we access our greatest intelligence through engaging our life with the spirit of wonderment, not through seeking absolute conclusions."  -- Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel

On Sun, Jun 26, 2016 at 7:31 PM, James <jk_eaton@hotmail.com> wrote:

A Sprinter custom conversion "will easily fit in a parking space"???

Neil, parking spaces in malls where you live must be far bigger than those in Ottawa - here, Sprinters are a very bad fit in most mall parking spaces, and even worse on city street parking.  

Our Westy fits comfortably in our 'oversize' seven foot garage door as well  - Sprinters need 8? 9? feet, which just don't exist here, outside of custom-built homes.

A Sprinter conversion is a very nice motorhome - just not a camper van, and not a Vanagon substitute.

James
Ottawa, ON

> Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2016 09:42:22 -0700
> From: vidublu@GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Re: do you have $160.00 to spend?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> Yes and no.  A 144" Sprinter custom conversion is nimble (will easily fit
> in a parking space and get around town without difficulty once you're
> accustomed to maneuvering the large size), could be designed for hauling
> large items (mine did and many I've seen do), are daily drivers.  I
> wouldn't say it would make the "greatest" daily driver but not a bad one at
> all which is why they're so popular.  But it won't fit in most garages
> unless you got a low top with a pop up, which are available.  Sorta like
> the Westy.  The key is to not get a bulbous one, like most are coming out
> of Indiana.  There are a few which keep the OEM chassis and those are the
> ones easy to daily drive.  One may even get them with side and/or rear
> slide outs which allows the owner to have the typical RV space AND easy
> maneuverability.
> 
> On Sat, Jun 25, 2016 at 4:57 PM, Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > Not really comparable to a Vanagon since it wouldn't make the greatest
> > daily driver... or fit in your garage... or carry a load from the hardware
> > store... or even fit in a parking space at the hardware store...  :-)
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Jeff
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> > Of Karl Ploessl
> > Sent: Friday, June 24, 2016 8:43 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: NVC: do you have $160.00 to spend?
> >
> > another option to a Vanagon if you have the cash :-)
> >
> > https://www.airstream.com/touring-coaches/
> >
> > Karl.
> >
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Neil2
> '82 Diesel Westfalia (Ducky)
> '86 Vanagon (SaVannah)
> '08 170" 2500 Mega Roof Sprinter (Moby)
> '90 Westfalia Subagon
> Fulltiming since August 2008
> Nunquam Pendite Divendium