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Phoenix Cruiser on a Dodge chassis?

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GoPhoenix

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Phoenix Cruiser on a Dodge chassis?
« on: October 07, 2018, 02:34:04 pm »
There’s a 2011 Model 2400 for sale at Camping World, Indianapolis built on a Dodge chassis.  Didn’t know there was ever anything other than Ford or Sprinter chassis used by Phoenix.  Also, appears to be a custom paint scheme.
I remember very few of the things that I’ve spent money to buy, but I remember all of the places that I’ve spent money to see.

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jatrax

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Re: Phoenix Cruiser on a Dodge chassis?
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2018, 04:31:20 pm »
I might be wrong but I believe that is actually a sprinter chassis.  When it was first introduced it was sold as a Freightliner then under the Dodge name plate starting in 2003 and then later as Mercedes.  I saw one of those here in Oregon when we were looking for our coach.  It says Dodge on it, but internally everything is identical to a MB Sprinter.

Supposedly they were made in Germany, dissembled, imported to the US and then reassembled to avoid a tariff on imported light trucks.


MB Sprinter

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Phoenix Cruiser on a Dodge chassis?
« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2018, 04:59:40 pm »
I might be wrong but I believe that is actually a sprinter chassis.  When it was first introduced it was sold as a Freightliner then under the Dodge name plate starting in 2003 and then later as Mercedes.  I saw one of those here in Oregon when we were looking for our coach.  It says Dodge on it, but internally everything is identical to a MB Sprinter.

Supposedly they were made in Germany, dissembled, imported to the US and then reassembled to avoid a tariff on imported light trucks.


MB Sprinter
I think jatrax has it right.  It appears to be an old Dodge Sprinter.  You never know what that rig went through.  It might have experienced a front end collision and the Dodge front clip might have been the only second-hand available.

GoPhoenix,
It is good to see you back on the forum.  Didn't you sell your PC some time ago?  What new?
« Last Edit: October 07, 2018, 05:06:06 pm by Ron Dittmer »
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GoPhoenix

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Re: Phoenix Cruiser on a Dodge chassis?
« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2018, 05:25:16 pm »
I wondered about it being a diesel, but the description on the RTV website says gas.  But then it also says no slide (not true), and Chassis as N/A and engine as N/A.  And the rear view shows no Phoenix Cruiser logo (in fact, no logo at all).
I remember very few of the things that I’ve spent money to buy, but I remember all of the places that I’ve spent money to see.

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Phoenix Cruiser on a Dodge chassis?
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2018, 05:47:05 pm »
I wondered about it being a diesel, but the description on the RTV website says gas.  But then it also says no slide (not true), and Chassis as N/A and engine as N/A.  And the rear view shows no Phoenix Cruiser logo (in fact, no logo at all).
That is a very strange sale of a PC.  It surely does not fit the PC offerings of any time.

You never know how it came to be.  Maybe Kermit bought it at auction as he did with a bunch of 2008 Mercedes Sprinter chassis.  Maybe someone else owned the chassis and had Kermit build a PC on top of it.  Back in 2010 (when the 2011 PC model year began) Phoenix was still recovering from the recession so maybe he took on the project to keep his staff busy during a slow period.  Being an odd chassis, Kermit might have decided to leave off the Phoenix name.
« Last Edit: October 07, 2018, 05:58:47 pm by Ron Dittmer »
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Two Hams in a Can

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Re: Phoenix Cruiser on a Dodge chassis?
« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2018, 12:19:18 pm »
In 1998, Daimler-Benz and Chrysler Corporation announced the world's largest cross-border deal ever,  and the resulting change in company name to DaimlerChrysler AG.  Since Daimler owns Mercedes Benz, the Sprinter was marketed under Dodge as well as Mercedes.  When the RV industry took the historic economic downturn, several RV manufacturers who were either downsizing or going out of business sold their Sprinter chassis at low prices and some RV manufacturers took advantage of this and built Sprinter models for less than new bought chassis.  I don't know if PC built our 2012 2400 on a RV factory pre-owned chassis (2011 Mercedes Sprinter chassis), but we bought it from the second owner for about what a pre-owned Ford chassis 2400 was going for.   :)(:
« Last Edit: October 10, 2018, 11:59:08 am by Two Hams in a Can »
Jeff and Suzanne traveling with the Cocker Spaniel sisters, Scout & Sydney in Fawkes the Phoenix 
"What happens in vagueness stays in vagueness"

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Phoenix Cruiser on a Dodge chassis?
« Reply #6 on: October 08, 2018, 01:49:28 pm »
Adding more historical detail......

In 2010, I recall Phoenix offered brand new 2010 PCs (and likely some 2011s) of model 2100, 2350, and 2400 at heavily discounted prices.  He made it work by picking up many 2008 Sprinter diesel chassis and some E350 chassis at RV bankruptcy auctions.  Unlike the typical E350, the E350s bought at auction had the V8 engine and smaller fuel tank.  It was a win for Phoenix and a win for the new purchaser.  Phoenix maintained enough sales to survive through the recession, and the people buying those units received serious discounts.  People who got a diesel Sprinter, got it for the same price of an E350.....pay for the E350 but get the Sprinter diesel upgrade for free.  I forget the deal on the V8-E350s.

I would assume that gasoline Dodge Sprinter was also bought at a bankruptcy auction like the others.  I wonder what kind of deal the original purchaser received.
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ragoodsp

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Re: Phoenix Cruiser on a Dodge chassis?
« Reply #7 on: October 08, 2018, 03:12:40 pm »
You are all correct!   For a few years Dodge has rights to the Sprinter chassis when Mercedes was married to Chrysler.  I had a Dodge Sprinter with a Monaco Covina mounted on it.  Good rig but tippy and could not tow my Jeep.   
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GoPhoenix

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Re: Phoenix Cruiser on a Dodge chassis?
« Reply #8 on: October 08, 2018, 03:52:54 pm »
Ron, you’re right, we did sell our PC.  But I still seem to be infected with the PC bug and can’t get rid of it.  Don’t know what to take for it.   :-D
I remember very few of the things that I’ve spent money to buy, but I remember all of the places that I’ve spent money to see.

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Phoenix Cruiser on a Dodge chassis?
« Reply #9 on: October 08, 2018, 04:03:04 pm »
I had a Dodge Sprinter with a Monaco Covina mounted on it.  Good rig but tippy and could not tow my Jeep.
Fortunately for our PC family with Sprinters, Phoenix introduced their Sprinter option a few model years later after those issues were resolved.

A similar condition existed with regards to "tippy" with the earlier E350.  Ford did not install a rear stabilizer bar on the E350 prior to 2008, and the front bar was wimpy for the application.  They had the nerve to install the same front stabilizer bar used in the E150 van.  With our 2007 E350 chassis, I invested in suspension upgrades to eliminate the "tippy" and the "wander".  It has been a real sweet ride since, especially now after I installed HD Bilstein shocks this year.  Our trip out west this year was exceptional.
« Last Edit: October 08, 2018, 04:14:05 pm by Ron Dittmer »
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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Phoenix Cruiser on a Dodge chassis?
« Reply #10 on: October 08, 2018, 04:32:47 pm »
Ron, you’re right, we did sell our PC.  But I still seem to be infected with the PC bug and can’t get rid of it.  Don’t know what to take for it.   :-D
Well it's good to see you back on the forum here.  There are plenty of people here who don't own a PC, but you can offer much with your "previous" experience.  So don't be shy, don't be quiet.  You are still "family" to me.
« Last Edit: October 08, 2018, 04:35:26 pm by Ron Dittmer »
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