10
REVIEW
Quick Spin: Hot-shot Sprinter
When something brakes down on the remote mining sites in the west, you need a quick and reliable truck to get the replacement parts. Here's one answer...The rough and ready world of 'hot-shot' work involves big distances to sometimes remote sites. When a major component – which can be too big for the regional air services to carry, or too dangerous – on a piece of plant fails and there’s no replacement in inventory, it’s all stops out to get a new bit on site and installed as soon as possible.
The market for hot-shot type vehicles is not a big one, and it's usually tough on the hardware. The trucks rarely run at full weight, but do big distances with little or no notice, and reliability is critical.
The latest one I’ve driven is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter long-wheelbase dual cab with the range’s biggest engine – the 140kW 440Nm 3.0-litre V6 diesel – seven-speed auto transmission, a steel-floor tray body with sides and a two-and-a-quarter-tonne payload. The test unit was a perfect fit for hot-shot work and already had the mine-site beacon, CB radio, sunlight-bright LED spotlights and a chunky bull-bar perfectly moulded to the Sprinter’s curvy lines. Dual rear wheels provide the stability needed for such a demanding role.
The Sprinter is a strong performer for Mercedes-Benz as a van, but the cab/chassis variants suffer from the Australian preoccupation with cab-over Japanese light trucks, which admittedly offer a larger payload area, but not the comfort.
The Sprinter sits the driver behind the front wheel, with a lower entry, lower seating position, plenty of legroom and an engine between you and the livestock you might hit. The interior is close to passenger-car comfort and feel, although the obvious commercial spaciousness lends itself to drumming on rough road sections.
A dash-mounted gear selector lever only has the necessaries, with a quick slip to the left allowing manual selection of the ratios. Gearbox operation is super smooth, although when this unit does start hot-shot work top gear is where it’ll spend most of its time.
There are lots of storage nooks and crannies around the dash and cab, and enough spots for cups, mugs and drink cartons to keep a two-up driving team happy without having to share. Overhead storage is large and available to both driver and front seat passenger. There are only two front seats in this vehicle, as the walk-through capability was obviously important. The rear bench seat optimistically has four seatbelts, but for this role will likely double as a nap spot and weatherproof space for gear and a stretch.
On the road, the Sprinter has long legs that will reward long-distances. The ride is lounge-like, and is helped by an excellent audio system and the usual connectivity options as standard. Mercedes-Benz safety features work in the background to keep you stable, in the right lane, away from rear-enders, and upright. Trailer assist will deal with weaving and fishtailing if you’re not up to it.
My drive never saw the kind of desolate road stretches that are this vehicle’s destiny, but a cruise on a long section of freeway revealed an engine that lopes along at the 110km/h state-wide maximum. The transmission is completely locked up at that speed so there’s no slippage on hills. When the box recognises a steep climb, it will change down well before the engine drops deep into the green zone.
I tried to use as many features and gizmos as I could during my run, and nothing was so much trouble it distracted from driving. The Merc designers have obviously done big miles in Sprinters to get the cab ergonomics right for long hours behind the wheel. I did miss seat armrests though.
As with all unladen commercial vehicles, the front end is a lot more civilised than the rear. The rear duals are choppy without the weight of a full van body’s worth of steel, but the front suspension soaked up bad surfaces with aplomb. The steering wheel is adjustable for both angle and reach, and with the set-back driver’s seat, the Sprinter was vastly more comfortable than a cab-over.
The GVM on this unit was set at the 4490kgs car-license level, meaning anyone in the company can drive it.
The truck will carry nearly 2.5-tonnes on the tray, enough for an electric motor or two, some compressors – plenty for this role. I’ve seen 15-tonners heading north-west with a critical parcel weighing less than 100 kilos.
This Sprinter is worth a close look and a drive.
Specifications:
Price: From $67,060 (MRLP ex govt and dealer charges)
Engine: 3.0-litre turbo intercooled V6
Power: 140kW
Torque: 440Nm
Emissions: Euro V
Stdtransmission: 7G0Tronic seven-speed
Tare: 2328kgs without body
GVM: 4490/5000kgs
Towing: 2000kgs
Wheelbase: 4325mm
Brakes: Disc, ABS ESC
Web: www.mercedes-benz.com.au/vans
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Written byDavid Meredith
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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