Eurovan
A Eurovan is a van that was designed for a European or world market rather than for the U.S. market.
Examples include:
- Mercedes Sprinter / Dodge Sprinter / Freightliner Sprinter.
- Ford Transit
- Ram ProMaster (Fiat Ducato)
- Nissan NV, kinda
Eurovans can often be ordered with an OEM high roof for standing room. Small turbodiesel engines are sometimes available for a premium.
The Eurovans' appearance can be polarizing, some in the U.S. market regarding them as weird or ugly looking. High roof models can appear top-heavy.
Battery placement
The Sprinter, Transit, and ProMaster have the starter battery under the seat or floorboard rather than under the hood. This can make dual-battery (alternator charging) wiring short and simple.
Eow people chose their eurovan
These are not lists of pros/cons. They are stated reasons (correct or otherwise) people gave for purchasing one platform over the others.
- Transit
- American made
- nationwide serviceability
- best selling eurovan in the US
- looks (over ProMaster and NV)
- gas engine option (over Sprinter)
- ride
- Factory AWD available
- cost and durability (over Sprinter)
- MPG (over NV and gas Transits)
- cargo area (over NV)
- square cargo walls (over Sprinter)
- Hatred of FIAT (over ProMaster)
- Ecoboost engine is a torque monster
- ProMaster
- availability of conversion accessories
- interior height (over Transit mid-roof)
- looks (over Transit)
- interior width
- interior wall squareness
- longer wheelbase (over Transit)
- off-the shelf gas Pentastar and transmission.
- low step-in height
- turning radius
- shorter rear overhang (over Transit)
- forward visibility
- front wheel drive
- automated manual on diesel version
- Sprinter
- factory AWD available
- fit and finish
- Offers the largest possible interior space (with a 170" wheelbase and extended body)
- T1N models can be purchased cheap
- Pre-2010 models were extremely reliable
- Pre-2008 diesels were known as half-million-mile engines
- options for diesel powered heaters
- NV
- lowest purchase price
- available V8
- seats and cockpit
- interior width (over Transit)
- built on truck platform
- heavier duty
- reliability
- towing ability
- normal hood length easier for DIY repairs and maintenance
high roof inspection
Bring a ladder or use a vantage point to inspect the top of any high roof vehicle before purchase. It may help you find undisclosed damage.
further reading
We're the Russos has an excellent article on eurovan pro/con.
Resources
Search forums and groups | Search van life discussion groups for "eurovan" | |
Search related sites | Search van life sites for "eurovan" | |
Search NomadLife.wiki | Search other pages on this wiki for "eurovan" |
Some content on this page was originally sourced from doku.php?id=rv:eurovan on RVWiki.