Please don’t tell me you have a degree in anything that requires knowledge of physics. First find out if you can from Mercedes where the center of gravity is located relative to the ground in the factory configuration. second modify that based on the weight and location of the center of gravity of every modification that you make. if you remove anything that was previously located above the center of gravity you have lowered the center of gravity. if you add anything that is above the previous center of gravity you have raised the center of gravity. this will require multiplication addition and subtraction and using a measuring tape and I’m not sure you’re qualified, or do you just shoot from the hip to be able to “contribute” to the conversation. If you can’t find out from Mercedes where the center of gravity is on the existing factoring version have an engineer or someone with knowledge of weights and physics guesstimate how high it is off the ground because the only important thing is that you account for things based on their distance from the center of gravity and their weight so even if your estimate of where the sin of gravity exists currently is it is still valuable to go through the exercise and if nothing else it will keep you reminded of what the goal is. What surprises me is that the heaviest things that people put in their vans are often put higher up than they need to be. One good example is fresh water storage. So far I have only added capacity for 18 gallons though I will probably add more later but I am traveling alone. For $75 I found a stainless steel tank that was part of a water filtration system removed from a multi-million dollar home. It fit perfectly in the space underneath and beside the sliding door on the passenger side and doesn’t hang down basically at all below everything else on my 4 x 4 sprinter tall top. That actually lowered the center of gravity. Obviously taking the spare tire from underneath the van and putting it half way up the back door just because you think it looks cool and you want to justify paying $2000 for a useless ladder from Owl Vans that you think looks cool but it doesn’t because it looks stupid raises the center of gravity a significant amount. Don’t listen to retired watch photographers that have the notion that it’s best to put heavy items directly over the rear axle. You will end up reaching the capacity of the rear axles without ever coming close to reaching the capacity of the front axle if you do that, and obviously anything over the wheel wells is going to have to be higher up than it might be if placed somewhere else.

The center of gravity of the van had a little to do with this since 90% of vehicles would have rolled over unless the moral of your story is don’t buy a van. I had a factory 2012 Toyota FJ cruiser driving on the freeway in Berkeley California going 50 miles an hour in the slow lane when some idiot going 75 in the slow lane did an accidental pit maneuver on my rear bumper knocking me off the freeway onto a slight embankment Causing my vehicle to roll over twice. I even had the factory tires on it and no additional lift. The only thing that lifted the center of gravity came on it when I bought it. I admit it was a very heavy duty full length aftermarket welded luggage rack made out of steel but if that had not been on the roof I probably wouldn’t be alive today because it acted as an amazing roll cage and made my roof not cave in on the driver side. If I had had a passenger it may or may not have saved their life to because their side was caved in more.

@@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeathSorry but you're trolling on the wrong guy. As a qualified Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor I have learned and taught enough about weight and balance to understand how even little changes can greatly affect the stability and dynamic characteristics of a moving vehicle. So really only stating the obvious here and not judging or criticizing anyone. 👍🏽

Hello pcmartiny. Just wanted to compliment you on, what I immediately took from your initial comment re CG - that this guy knows more than he's letting on. I've been quietly venturing in my van for years, upgrading the WHOLE suspension while weighing the difference of virtually every replaced part, and am VERY CG aware and try to keep heavy low, and light high. With military aviation jumbo experience at over 800k pounds of weight, I know CG as well. I don't normally reply much on these posts but when someone throws their heavily self-valued opinion around, one tends to learn more about them as a person, and less from their display of knowledge. Criticism becomes a distractor from the intended message. I digress. I totally agree with your, "...only stating the obvious and not judging or criticizing anyone." Everyone out there, have fun. Be safe.

I think gold violin’s CG is a little off from those huge run on sentences in his head. Definitely top heavy.

Driver error if you look at the tracks you see it just went off the shoulder, most any van woyld tip over.

Sorry for them, but the physics of the design do not seem to be feasible. I can’t imagine what the engineering team at a major RV manufacturer would be thinking about seeing the lift and springs. What if they were hit by a big wind crossing and over pass?

Off-road vehicles never flip over???

@@imc4357 ​ living the van life is great, but JT is right. I love the sprinter and I was going to buy one to live in. Figured I could make easy trail guide videos with the sprinter (my channel makes off-road trail guides with all kinds of vehicles)… but as I dug into it, I realized I’d destroy it. The Sprinter’s factory lift and 4WD is good, but it’s way too top heavy and too long. Even the SWB is too long and many of the van life conversions hang too low and aren’t protected. Now there’s different kinds of off-roading so if you just want to hit a loose dirt road, a sprinter will do the job. But if you want to go up switchbacks on moderate to even easy Colorado trails, you are at high risk of flopping. Don’t even think about Black Bear or the Devil’s Punchbowl/Schofield Pass. However, with this said, I’m all for people getting out there with whatever they have. I just wouldn’t take a sprinter or van conversion (except maybe an E450 sportsmobile) on a lot of my favorite trails.

It's a house.

@@christianarias4850 Not if you know your limits

Why does it have to be towed?

Yes, the shoulders can be extremely deceiving and with a heavy rig it just doesn't take much to for things to go south quickly.

We are very lucky. Thank you!! Still waiting for an update from insurance, but whatever comes next will definitely be badass!

Who gave you the notion that you can’t ensure the modifications to your vehicle?

Thanks Nick, just have to keep moving forward!

Thank you so much, Terry! Definitely get those modifications on your policy while you’re thinking about it!

Thanks!! Appreciate you guys!

@@adrenalinevans I sincerely sympathize. It's too narrow. The body should be wider, at least about 2.3 m. For myself, I'm looking for a base for a four-wheel drive motorhome and the Sprinter is one of three options. Don't like the clutch. I'm a proponent of true all-wheel drive. But I realized that if you choose Sprinter, it is better to take the chassis (cabin and platform with wheels), and do the cabin with flat flat walls and wider to sleep across was comfortable and there was more space. Another option was Chevrolet Express / GMS Savanna because the frame and axles, but it is less comfortable on the asphalt and on the highway, although the car is much easier, but I do not like neither the interior, nor the panel, nor the headlights, nothing but the chassis and body. The other option is my very favorite RAM. Ideally 2500/3500, but it is a truck in many countries and needs a truck license category (not a problem for me - still want to learn), but difficult to pass customs along with the trucks. 1500 as an option. I need 2 rows of seats for 5 people, preferably 6 people, mostly riding 4-5. Passage to the cabin from the living compartment and back is important. The RAM as well as the Sprinter has cruise control and it is adaptive, which I really want, I like the interior and exterior (especially the RAM), and the ride comfort for 1000+ km. The Sprinter is more comfortable due to the load-bearing body. It should also have independent suspension like V-class. There is still a thought to make the body up to 2 meters high so it can be placed on parking lots and on parking lots the slider goes up and there is a full-size full-size house, though of course it will add weight and make design complicated in electronics. But I know for sure that it is necessary to take the base and the body should be wider, preferably both the base and the wheels should be wider. Good luck to you! I hope all will be well!

@@4kiselevmaximENG or a dually rear axle. Helps stability while parked or while driving

I am sure its speed. People want to drive like they have a sports car

the height of these vans makes me cringe when see these machines go on offroad trails too

Nonsense. What gave you that notion?

Did you notice the whole right side is bashed in? Slider is not going to open, insuranceis going to total it,

Statefarm, and thank you for the kind words.

@@adrenalinevans so what did State Farm say? Did you have RV coverage? What did they pay for? What did they not pay for I have State Farm

No they don’t want to say either for insurance purposes or out of embarrassment

Thanks guys, really appreciate all the support from your team!

Insure

Really appreciate that, thanks for the kind words.

That’s unfortunate pun

I like your style it is an off-road van after all

That is nonsense and I don’t know who gave you that notion and fact that you used the word “normally” means that you’re shooting from the hip. you are a wealth of disinformation. you have to get the right kind of insurance and itemize everything by dollar amount

I’m sure the dents would have buffed out 🤣