Extremely Reliable ALCAN Highway RV
Our Promaster 3500 Pleasureway RV has had no failures after driving 24,500 from Northern California throughout Canada and throughout Alaska on the toughest roads anywhere. Ice, snow, heavy winds, driving rain storms on gravel dirt roads has not been a problem for this front wheel drive RV. We looked at a Mercedes chassis but since it is 5.5 inches narrower you loose way too much space. The rear wheel drive made the Mercedes too top heavy when we tested it in strong winds. On the ALCAN highway gas is much easier to find than diesel so our friends had to carry diesel extra fuel to get by. Driving at 55mpg we averaged close to a 400 mile cruising range. What a great vehicle!
Best Van Ever
I have driven Vans all my life; Fords, Chevys, Dodges. The Promaster is the Best Van Ever! It's HUGE (mine is a complete RV), gets great gas mileage (I have a lead foot, live in the mountains, and drive a lot of dirt roads and get 16.9 MPG avg), Is the "peppiest" Van I've ever driven, handles like a (tall) mini-van, it's more fun to drive than our subaru, wife is always trying to drive it. Has a super tight steering radius and is a breeze to park and back up, Great visibility with the upright drivers seat and HUMONGOUS windshield, fantastic large electric folding mirrors, and great back up camera. The doors are also huge, and access is easy to the cab and cargo. The floor is lower than most vans due to the front wheel drive, I love it's width and lower stance. Love it so much, I'm planning on buying a smaller low roof version as a daily driver. No real negatives to speak of; It would be nice if they added tilt wheel, and found a better nav system. I had one tail light seal fail (condensated), and RAM replaced it under warranty.
Better than expected
My previous van was a Sprinter. This van is just as comfortable and handles slightly better, mileage is 16 in this vs, 19 is the sprinter. Does not drive like a truck, very nice to drive and surprisingly quiet, not much if any body roll on turns. Seats are comfortable, but you sit more upright than the sprinter which I quickly got used to. I have the gas engine which has a lot of power and shifts very well, no gear hunting from some other reviews that I read. I have the 159" EXT model and as of right now I would buy again. I would not buy another Sprinter.
