Our New RALIVAN

WTF is up with this canoe???

Sorry for ignoring everone. I had "Watch" turned off.

MG_Bryan wrote: How much can it tow?

Plenty, to paraphrase Rolls-Royce. Not sure actually but it has pulled the Legacy without any problems.

Ian F wrote: Cool. I've seen a few M-B conversions. I didn't know they covered the cut-out for the M-B badge with a chrome strip.

Yes. kind of weird isn't it. It's just glued on though and pops right off. The glue, however, is a little more tenacious.

ValuePack wrote: Hot damn, I love those! Looks miles better with the Merc grill and Braids. It's almost too nice to tow with!

But not too nice nice to rallycross with though?

driver109x wrote: Bigger mud flaps and more lights pls.... awesome van!

You read my mind.

mndsm wrote: I like it a lot. Where does one even GET braids in the US? their website wasn't terribly helpful.

http://braidusa.com/dealers.htm

TRoglodyte wrote: A GRM sticker would increase the horsepower and torque by 20%, lower the drag coefficient by 10% and redline the awesome meter.

Another mind reader. Awesome.

Maroon92 wrote:

mndsm wrote: I like it a lot. Where does one even GET braids in the US? their website wasn't terribly helpful.

Probably from this little place called Team Illuminata Motorsports. There are those that call me....TIM?

That's brilliant.

Anyone know David Allan? He's from Scotland and drives an 04 WRX we sponsor in Rally America and Nasa Rally Sport events. We wanted him to wear a Tim the Enchanter horn hat like that during services but he refused. Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZJZK6rzjns

Woody wrote: I love the van. I've wanted one of those since they came out. I made the mistake of going to Dodge's website and "building my own". I made the mistake of spec'ing one with a long wheelbase and high roof and the price scared me away for a few years. Low roof and short wheelbase is what I crave now. What's a good used one go for these days?

I did that too. Then I waited a few years and this one showed up. About $10k for the bread-bin version like this one.

SnowMongoose wrote: I want to be more like you when I grow up. (lets see, 28 now, should be grown up in another ten years)

Thanks but I'm not grown up. I'm just old.

Vigo wrote: I love me some Sprinter! Make sure to post driving impressions along with empty and towing mpg...

Really? I don't pay me enough for that kind of effort. It seems to do better than my Cherokee though.

Maroon92 wrote:

SnowMongoose wrote: I want to be more like you when I grow up. (lets see, 28 now, should be grown up in another ten years)

Everyone should endeavor to be more like Pauly. That guy is just plain living the life.

Ha Ha. Thanks Brad. Livin' the dream!

Don't tell my wife. She thinks I work for for a living.

Twin_Cam wrote: Nice. Just watch out- the Sprinter that my place of employment owns likes to grab onto it's glow plugs and never let go- resulting in the need for a new cylinder head. But that could be because it's the most abused vehicle in all of human history, and that's it's only problem. The damn thing refuses to die. And yes, it's starting to rust, too.

Yes, they can do that, and leak black lava from round the injectors too. Ours has new glow plugs and injector seals :)

They do seem to rust and in odd places like in the middle of a panel. Not like normal Michigan rust. It's like the paint gets bored.

A bit more Mercedes bling arrived over the weekend:

Changed my Avatar

I remember going to the Detroit auto show with my dad and we both decided that playing around in the sprinter was the coolest thing. really really want one.

VonSmallhausen wrote: I remember going to the Detroit auto show with my dad and we both decided that playing around in the sprinter was the coolest thing. really really want one.

There is something about them I must say. They have an almost cult-like following.

I really like it too. Although in a completely different league I also have a thing for the Ford Transit van/wagon. Geeeez i must be getting old.

VonSmallhausen wrote: I remember going to the Detroit auto show with my dad and we both decided that playing around in the sprinter was the coolest thing. really really want one.

Same here. Every year I go to the NY show and annoy my g/f when I climb all over the Sprinters on display.

New, they are not cheap... a LWB, hi-roof with a few options was around $40K when I priced them a few years ago.

I don't really get the appeal. Maybe it's because every time I look at it I think it will tip over.

Feedyurhed wrote: I really like it too. Although in a completely different league I also have a thing for the Ford Transit van/wagon. Geeeez i must be getting old.

Good job. Never grow up, just get old. It makes you boring.

Got the rest of the Mercedes grill parts last week and slapped them on.

Had to paint the grill surround flat black but the chrome star came already chromed! I think it looks rather nice :)

Next day I rented a trailer from U-Drag and loaded up the race car for a RallyCross 2.5 hours away.

The RALIVAN did very well and had no problem pulling the car and trailer at 65-70 mph. At 70mph the temperature was slightly elevated from 65mph but not too high at all.

It struggled a bit more on the way back however. Not sure why but we towed a different car back and there was a rather large headwind. With the cruise on it would drop from 70mph to 65mph on some of the drags. Once we got half way home (and the wind died down a bit) it was business as usual.

Generally I was very satisfied with the way it towed and it was great to have the van at the race instead of unloading everything from the race car after driving it there on rally tires! I think it's time to buy a trailer.

For those who are interested in these things for the 300 mile round trip it got 17.5 mpg. Not bad I think.

what were the results of the rallycross? Inquiring minds want to know.

For those who are interested in these things for the 300 mile round trip it got 17.5 mpg. Not bad I think.

Yeah,i got 17 towing a light car on a dolley with a mid-size car, so considering how much more weight you are moving for 17 mpg, i think it's pretty good. http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk124/Vigo327/DSC05433.jpg