2023 Outside Van Syncline: Newest Class B Offering By Outside Van
The new Outside Van Syncline packs everything that an adventurous RV owner would need into a compact package… without skimping on any necessities.
Outside Van — an RV manufacturer headquartered in Portland, Oregon — recently debuted their first offering, the Approach, to unanimous praise from RV enthusiasts and industry experts alike. So, it’s not at all surprising that all eyes are now on the upcoming Outside Van Syncline to see if the company will be able to deliver once again.
At first glance, both the Outside Van Syncline and Approach look very similar — which is understandable since both of these Class B RVs are built on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter base — however, some key differences set them apart.
“We’ve never been a company to stay the same, to do only what we’re comfortable with. Our beginnings were in tackling each custom build with its unique quirks and one-of-a-kind features.”
—Susan Clemo, CEO of Outside Van
The Differences Between The Outside Van Syncline and The Outside Van Approach
In terms of the wheelbase of the RVs, the Outside Van Approach is built on the 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 170 AWD chassis, while the newer Outside Van Syncline is built on the 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 144 AWD chassis. The key difference between these two chassis is their dimensions.
“Our experience in the deep end of adventure van conversions has prepared us for the more traditional route of model production while maintaining our commitment to high-end quality.”
—Susan Clemo, CEO of Outside Van
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 144 AWD chassis has a bumper-to-bumper length of 19 feet 6 inches and a buildable space length of 11 feet. On the other hand, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 170 AWD chassis is noticeably larger, with a bumper-to-bumper length of 22 feet 10 inches and a buildable space length of 14 feet 4 inches.
In terms of their interior height, both the 144 chassis and the 170 chassis have an interior height of 6 feet 7 inches. However, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 144 AWD chassis also has a low roof option that is a foot shorter.
In terms of its interior features, the Outside Van Approach has the ability to both seat and sleep up to four passengers. It also includes a full galley kitchen, a modular dinette, and an interior shower.
According to Tim Wimmer, engineering director at Outside Van, the interior of the Outside Van Syncline was designed from the ground up — no elements were recycled from the Approach — which helped his team better accommodate the smaller size of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 144 AWD chassis.
We knew we were giving ourselves a challenge when deciding to create two distinct models, each on a different chassis size. We could recycle design elements between our 144 and 170, but that wouldn’t be us. Each model, Approach and Syncline, have unique features and are built with different customers in mind.
—Tim Wimmer, Engineering Director at Outside Van
As a result, the Outside Van Syncline packs everything an adventurous RV owner would need into a compact package without skimping on any necessities. The big compromise that Wimmer and his team had to make for the Outside Van Syncline’s size was only allowing it to have the capacity for seating and sleeping for two.
“The most common chassis size we build on is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 170. We wanted to get the most approachable van out to our community first. As production of our first 144, Syncline ramps up; we’ve already learned a lot which will make for smoother sailing with this build.”
—Tim Wimmer, Engineering Director at Outside Van
The Outside Van Syncline does not have a set MSRP as of yet, but one would expect that it would eventually debut at a lower price point than the Approach — which currently stands at $276,000.
According to the official statement from Outside Van, the Syncline will debut in the fall of 2023