A dry wind blows down off the Summit
At the base of today’s feature is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, specifically a 3500 XD. The Sprinter has become something of the gold standard for RV conversions and upfitters, owing to its more luxurious trim compared to other models, as well as high reliability, extensive customization options, and top-notch customer care and service. The Sprinter has been in production for over thirty years, and still sits at the top.
The Chinook RV company has been around a bit longer, since 1938, according to their website. Between 2006 and 2020, the factory closed, and the name was rebought and relaunched in 2021. Three years later, this 2024 Chinook Summit SS finished production, part of a new generation of Chinook that has righted course and is sailing full steam ahead.
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What’s white with gray stripes and looks good all over?
The all-fiberglass body of this Summit SS has been painted white with gray and blue stripes, as well as ‘Chinook’ lettering on the sides. A stylish parallelogram-shaped window aligns with these stripes at an aesthetically pleasing angle. Off on the passenger side, a remote-controlled awning can be extended, while up top, a solar panel array capable of up to 600 watts is hooked up to a 3000-watt inverter. There is also a Cummins 3.2 kW diesel generator and AGM residential-grade batteries.
Also up top sits a cabin air conditioning unit, as well as a WiFi booster for better connectivity even in remote places. Alluring LED lighting brightens up the vehicle when parked, while side steps make ingress and egress safe and easy. Suspension is augmented by a reinforced dual rear axle, and full utility hook-ups are included. Carrying all that are 16″ aluminum Alcoa wheels shod in 215/85 Continental VanContact A/S tires.
A command center fit for a king
Up front, charcoal-black-trimmed heated captain’s chairs for the driver and passenger sit like a throne. The door panels, dash, and center console are all charcoal black as well, with darker black Chinook-branded mats covering black carpeting. In the center of the dash sits a Mercedes-Benz proprietary 10.25″ MBUX touch-screen infotainment system with built-in navigation. It also displays a rear-view camera when in reverse, and links up to Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay.
Crosswind and lane-keeping assistance features are also included, as is a special Distronic Cruise Control that automatically detects slowed and stopped cars ahead and adjusts accordingly. A three-spoke black leather-wrapped steering wheel comes with shifter paddles and plenty of tactile buttons to reduce driver distraction and keep hands on the wheel. Behind that sits a 0-130 mph speedometer, a tachometer that redlines at 5,000 rpm, and a configurable multifunction display for additional vehicle information.
Modular home away from home
Behind the two front seats lies a power-fold tan leather couch and matching convertible dining booth with fold-down table, both with a view of a front-mounted 32″ Samsung flat-screen television hooked up to a JBL speaker system. These pieces of furniture can also be rearranged to make a sleeping area, complete with pillows. Overhead lighting and roller shades control privacy and ambient light, while the aforementioned roof-mounted air conditioner keeps the rear cabin comfortable.
Behind the living area lies a galley kitchenette complete with white oak cabinets, a pull-out pantry, a microwave oven, a refrigerator, a glass stove top, a sink, and a stainless steel backsplash. There is also a small bathroom with a skylight, a detachable showerhead, a vanity sink and mirror, and, of course, a toilet. Both the bathroom and the kitchenette are sustained by a 30-gallon water tank and a Truma Combi Plus water heater.
The Sprinter’s powertrain gets you there
Under the hood is a fairly standard 3.0L (183 ci) turbodiesel V6 that puts out 188 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque under ideal conditions. As with most upfitted models using Sprinter as a base, this engine is plenty powerful enough to get you anywhere you want to go, and appears untouched from the factory.
All of that power is pushed to the dual rear axle courtesy of a seven-speed automatic transmission, with both independent front suspension and Mercedes-Benz’s proprietary electronic stability control (ESC) in place for better handling. All four corners feature disc brakes integrated with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). There are also self-leveling jacks included for when you arrive at camp. The odometer indicates only 1,400 miles have been put on the engine and chassis so far.
Final thoughts: The Summit has reached its peak
There’s really not much left to say about this comprehensive Summit recreational vehicle. Its features are well thought-out and complement rather than get in each other’s way. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a fantastic base model from which you almost cannot go wrong, providing plenty of power under the hood and base luxury materials that only enhance the overall upfitting.
Chinook is an established brand, and even with its recent hiatus and restructuring, it clearly retains the design and assembly talent needed to pull off an effectively perfect weekender. If you’re as sold as we are, why not check out the auction before it ends and place a bid?
