Sprinter curtainside luton v panel fuel economy

Does anybody have any advice on the fuel economy of Sprinter luton curtainsiders?

I'm thinking of adding one to the fleet and would definitely be swayed if the mpg is similar to that of a standard panel Sprinter 311/313?

Have a friend in West Yorks swear by it...

Absolutely no chance, those running curtainside Sprinters that I know say 17-23mpg with a driver who doesn't much care about the cost of fuel or 20-25mpg with owner drivers who are paying for the fuel themselves.

Spec the 315 with the correct rear axle ratio for the best results would be my recommendation

Thanks Dash, we tend to get between 25-30 mpg from our Sprinter 311 vans, so I was hoping that with the curtainside carrying a little less weight there might not be much difference. If it really is more like 17-23mpg then it starts to look a little expensive as the idea was to run it as a standard Sprinter much of the time whilst not on dedicated luton work.

I'd be interested to hear other people's real-world experience using them...

WS Distribution Ltd said:

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Thanks Dash, we tend to get between 25-30 mpg from our Sprinter 311 vans, so I was hoping that with the curtainside carrying a little less weight there might not be much difference. If it really is more like 17-23mpg then it starts to look a little expensive as the idea was to run it as a standard Sprinter much of the time whilst not on dedicated luton work.

I'd be interested to hear other people's real-world experience using them...

Good to see someone being honest about MPG !

Would still have the 3500kg gross weight even though carrying lower payload . It's more about the aerodynamics.

021 SAMEDAY said:

Good to see someone being honest about MPG !

Would still have the 3500kg gross weight even though carrying lower payload . It's more about the aerodynamics.

Thing is, I'd say we only carry maximum weight perhaps 30% of the time. Say, for example, an average load is 700kg, we'd be carrying around 3t GVW so a curtainside would be a little less?

I suppose the difference isn't really going to be enough to offset the aerodynamics.

I think you would find that a luton would have a higher unladen weight which you would be carrying around even when empty.

Steady you will get 23mpg windy 19mpg,

Drive it really steady you might just see 24mpg

Im office bound all the time but I used 1 of ours last weekend to go from Watford to southend and collect some wardrobes and it averaged 28 mpg on motorway at 65 mph

28 mpg on motorway at 65 mph

I take it thats on the computer?

I've used a Sprinter luton box a couple of times and the fuel economy has been surprisingly good, definitely up there in the mid 20s.

I was only considering a curtainside because I was thinking they are lighter and might be a bit better on fuel than a box, but I suppose the loss of aerodynamics on a curtainside has more of an effect than I thought.

What kind of mpg does anyone else get in a Sprinter luton box?

Yeah according to computer 28 mpg

Deadline Despatch said:

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Yeah according to computer 28 mpg

In real life thats about 24/25mpg

I can get you a transit 140ps fwd curtainside tilt alloy sides and floor and they will guarantee 1400kgs payload £24k

2.1m x 4.2m

Company i sub for has some sprinters on home delivery had a nosey at the fuel sheet on doing 21 the other doing 11 yes 11

Legrys Express Ltd said:

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Company i sub for has some sprinters on home delivery had a nosey at the fuel sheet on doing 21 the other doing 11 yes 11

11 mpg?! On a Sprinter Box Luton?

WS Distribution Ltd said:

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Legrys Express Ltd said:

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Company i sub for has some sprinters on home delivery had a nosey at the fuel sheet on doing 21 the other doing 11 yes 11

11 mpg?! On a Sprinter Box Luton?

That's why one should charge over £2 a loaded mile

Yes the data is taken from a telematics package

If the van has been properly serviced then that sound as though a driver fills his own can at the same time as he fills the van.

Without raising suspicion I would find a reason to swap drivers to different vehicles for a month and see what happens.

I hope I am wrong..

021 SAMEDAY said:

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If the van has been properly serviced then that sound as though a driver fills his own can at the same time as he fills the van.

Without raising suspicion I would find a reason to swap drivers to different vehicles for a month and see what happens.

I hope I am wrong..

Like your crafty way of thinking... But you are probably correct in your assumption.

SMH said:

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Deadline Despatch said:

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Yeah according to computer 28 mpg

In real life thats about 24/25mpg

Since new dpf fitted on mine and setting cruise control @62 mph my computer is telling me 32 mph and I'm getting about 460 miles out of a tank of fuel, its a 2010 313 luton sprinter. My 311 sprinter used to give me about 400 miles on the same full tank of fuel ( driving @ 75 mph) So in real life that must be 28/29 mpg.

460 miles on a 20 gallon tank is 23mpg

And if its a 22 gallon tank 20.91mpg

Thats if you run to to empty and get 460

20 gallon = 90ltr tank

SMH said:

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I can get you a transit 140ps fwd curtainside tilt alloy sides and floor and they will guarantee 1400kgs payload £24k

2.1m x 4.2m

Is that for the Eastern European look lol!

BCN EXPRESS ESSEX said:

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SMH said:

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I can get you a transit 140ps fwd curtainside tilt alloy sides and floor and they will guarantee 1400kgs payload £24k

2.1m x 4.2m

Is that for the Eastern European look lol!

Same as them but no sleeper on top

SMH said:

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460 miles on a 20 gallon tank is 23mpg

Yes I'm sure it is but my 313 sprinter luton has a 70 litre tank approx £100 a fill and that equates to approx 15.5 gallons by my reckoning. I didn't know you could get a 90 litre tank on a 313 sprinter. Well 69 litres is the most I have got in even though I'm led to believe its 75 litres capacity. Anyway Simon it certainly won't take 20 gallon.

SMH said:

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And if its a 22 gallon tank 20.91mpg

Thats if you run to to empty and get 460

20 gallon = 90ltr tank

Wrong again!

W.s. Dist scott shame on you.. Look how long you been using mine.. Should have just called me 2 find out all you need 2 know about the luton curtainsider.. You booked ours enough... We get 21mpg.. You get more with the alloy aluminium bodies also carrying more weight.. Tail lift slows you down but it's a must so not worth pounding da accelerator..£2 a mile one guy wrote.. True but wishful thinking.. Costs roughly 2.5 times normal luton but try chargin 2.5 times more... Hope this helps..

you can get 100ltr tanks for the sprinters

SMH said:

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you can get 100ltr tanks for the sprinters

Maybe you can but my figures are based on a 70 litre tank that is fitted to mine.

My Transit normally manages 750 miles before the fuel light comes on its fitted with the 103 litre tank