sportsmobile
you may enjoy the sportsmobile archives for writeups, lifestyle photos, and rallies .
sportsmobile rvs: browse sportsmobile rvs for sale on rvtrader. com. view our entire inventory of new or used rvs and even a few new non - current models .
the most interesting fact about the sportsmobile community is even though the company is called sportsmobile, it seems to be all ford econoline 4×4 camper conversions are loosely considered sportsmobiles regardless if sportsmobile did the conversion or not. this is head - scratching to say the least and if you want to travel even further down the sportsmobile wormhole, check out their forum .
do you own a sportsmobile or ever spent the night in one? tell us in the comments below what you think about the sportsmobile 4×4 and if you’d recommend one to a friend .
i can remember going to north dakota in a vw sportsmobile when i was 9 years old .
in addition to displaying their current products, sportsmobile’s showroom features one of their early 1965 vw bus conversions .
if the assembly line area looks busy, it is. sportsmobile west produces about 300 units a year .
this combined with over five decades of experience designing and manufacturing van campers makes the sportsmobile 4wd a truly unique product .
don’t you just love our new sportsmobile, jill? whatever you say, jack. ” – jack & jill hill
sportsmobile dweller, smokejumper, outdoorsman, author and entrepreneur... meet jason ramos - | tap into adventure !
the sportsmobile 4×4 is not your standard conversion van. these beasts are decked out with an awesome 4×4 system designed to take anything you can throw at them. check out some of the rough terrain these sportsmobile 4×4 have been put through .
sportsmobile continually strives to improve its products. therefore, all specifications and prices are subject to change without notice or obligation .
all the coolness that is a sportsmobile 4×4 does come with a hefty price tag though. a brand new sportsmobile 4×4 can run you anywhere from $ 70, 000 - $ 80, 000 + depending on the options and customization’s that you choose .
it is possible to find used sportsmobiles as well. one tip is to search ebay and craigslist for deals. also use the sportsmobile 4×4 forum link above, they have some member classifieds on their forum that sometimes have great deals on sportsmobile 4×4’s .
the most interesting tidbit about the sportsmobile community is even though the company is called sportsmobile, it seems to be all ford econoline 4x4 camper conversions are loosely considered sportsmobiles regardless if sportsmobile did the conversion or not. this is head - scratching to say the least as that philosophy is akin to everyone calling all custom jeeps, starwoods. this guy even prides himself on building a sportsmobile without the camper top which is technically sportsmobile' s signature addition. thankfully, unlike the lifted truck scene there doesn’t seem to be any bickering about these little inconsistencies. even in the comment sections and forums, no one even mentions it so we’ll just keep quiet about it, too. if you want to travel even further down the sportsmobile wormhole, check out their forum .
this was the beginning of a company that’s history now spans over 5 decades and has built countless sportsmobile variations. now sportsmobile has three factories, austin, tx, huntington, in and fresno, ca. that pumps out about 25 - 30 sportsmobiles monthly combined .
generally speaking, a camper top is what makes a sportsmobile a sportsmobile. a top allows you to stand up, cook, and maneuver around inside the van, so arguably this might be the most important option of all. smb offers 4 models that fit standard cargo vans :
click on the sportsmobile locations below to see our pre - owned vehicles. (or click on the new stock button above for others. )
fresno, calif. —with a history that dates back to the original vw camper more than 50 years ago, sportsmobile continues to build oe - quality van and truck conversions, and its three locations offer a variety of ford, mercedes - benz, nissan, and gm conversions, sportsmobile president jonathan feld said .
2002 sportsmobile campervan, amazing 2002 sportsmobile rv! !! class b / il 2002 ford sportsmobile. this is a unit that has been very well kept up and it definitely shows. this sportsmobile includes, sink, fridge, porta potti, fresh water tank, city water hookup, power windows, cruise control, and am / fm / cd radio. these units are hard to come by, specially one as contained as this one and in this condition. don' t miss your chance to own this rv. nationwide delivery! !! ! to your home or office call (866) 370 - 8222 for more information
according to the company, 98 percent of sportsmobile owners use their van as an everyday vehicle. (gas mileage ranges from 12 to 20 miles per gallon .) want more info? there are more than 103, 000 sportsmobile forums. but you’ll only get an invite to their 4x4 rallies if you own one .
“we spent an entire year looking intensively before we chose sportsmobile, and it has been a very rewarding purchase. our friends all love it. we would buy another for sure. ”
my former fascination with conversion vans coupled with my current appreciation for 4x4 vehicles drew me to the world of sportsmobiles. what exactly is a sportsmobile and why in the world would a van be called that? well, sportsmobile is considered one of the oldest van conversion companies in history and over the years their brand has become synonymous with ford econoline vans with camper tops and 4x4 conversions .
2014 sportsmobile sportsmobile sportsmobile, you get s' more (s) with every purchase at rvs northwest! we believe advertised prices should reflect the actual cost. * included: shipping to dealer, up to two batteries (if factory equipped), propane, customer walk thru, rv starter kit ($ 150. 00 value), pdi (pre - delivery inspection new & late model), safety inspection on pre - owned regardless of year. proudly, our customers traveled from 23 different us states in 2017. contact us today to find out why our customers like us !
the sportsmobile team devotes an incredible amount of time and thought to designing campers that are comfortable, functional, and personal. i can tell you that nothing is mass - produced. while they do outsource products such as fiberglass tops, suspension and drivetrain components, and windows, all are made a made in the u. s. —most within a few hours drive from their shop. sportsmobile’s alan feld said, “i like to keep things close to home and keep californian’s working. ” they must be doing a good job at it, as there is currently an eight - month backlog on orders. if you are looking to travel with your house behind the driver’s seat, and change your latitude for the good, a sportsmobile will check both boxes. sportsmobile. com, 559 - 223 - 8267
the sportsmobile 4wd vehicle is for the most discerning of off - road enthusiasts. only the best heavy - duty components are used to provide the maximum off - road performance while maintaining exceptional on - road comfort .
it’s highly likely. over the years we’ve found that practically everyone is very pleased with their design after it’s built. in fact, many people order their next sportsmobile just like their first or with minor changes .
vans are back in style. and our country’s prior obsession with conversion vans added to with our current appreciation for 4×4 rigs made a place in the market possible for sportsmobiles. what exactly is a sportsmobile and why in the heck would a van be called that? sportsmobile is considered one of the oldest van conversion companies in history and over the years their brand has become synonymous with ford econoline vans with camper tops and 4×4 conversions .
the sportsmobile 4×4 can definitely do things that your average camper or rv cannot do. these will get you into campgrounds and the back - country areas that your average recreational vehicle - er cannot get to .
one of the really cool things about the sportsmobile 4×4 is that these rolled off the production floor line as stock ford, chevy or dodge conversion vans. sportsmobile then takes these vans and adds the 4 wheel drive system and the pop up top (optional) and can customize your van to any one of there 70 standard floor plans, the most popular of which is the original rb - 50 based on the 1970 vw microbus design .
the sportsmobile system does not affect the original factory warranty on the unaltered portions of your van. for future ease of service, each four - wheel - drive system is provided with a detailed list of all component parts and a maintenance schedule. sportsmobile west 4×4 conversions limited warranty 36 months / 36, 000 miles covers parts and labor on new van installs. used vans will come with a 12 month / 12, 000 mile limited warranty .
some of sportsmobile’s most popular products have been around for more than 50 years. “both the penthouse top and our most popular floor plan originated with the conversions we built for volkswagen usa back in the 1960s, ” feld said .
the sportsmobile franchise really got a shot in the arm when mercedes decided to bring their 4×4 sprinter to north america, and things got even better when ram introduced the promaster stateside. although sportsmobile had previously offered custom units built on nissan’s big van, i haven’t seen many on the road. it truly is one of the ugliest things i’ve ever seen. with ford now in the game with their transit, the sportsmobile buyer has lots to choose from. i am actually amazed that a finely appointed mercedes 4×4 sprinter, with a long list of available options, can be had for just a shade over $ 100, 000. maybe it speaks to my euro - car tendencies, but i love the look of the promaster .
notice: limited conversion production slots are now available due to mercedes - benz 4x4 sprinter production delays. if you own a van and would like to have it converted or a penthouse top installed please contact sportsmobile for more info. [ contact us ]
the badgers have basically changed or re - designed most of their sportsmobile. i have downloaded the entire site relevant to repairs and keep it with my van. they have full timed in their van through some fairly rough stuff. its possible sportsmobile did review and change some of the vans designs in part due to what the badgers found. think of them as extreme testing individuals. i have yet to have the problems they encountered with their top but as i have said, everything can be improved .
i’ve always loved the idea of having a house behind the drivers seat. i’m not talking about a diesel - pusher motormonster (home) that can’t turn around in a football stadium, but the type that is not only practical, but also functional. and, it must have four - wheel drive. after borrowing sportsmobile’s new sprinter mojave 4wd for a 10 - day trek through wyoming, i reluctantly returned the vehicle and had a chance to walk through the company’s fresno, california, facility (sportsmobile west) .
to sportsmobile west 4×4 conversion was developed for ford’s original econoline van. it was widely accepted as the ultimate 4×4 for fords. this same 4×4 conversion with improvements is now standard for sportsmobiles classic 4×4 using ford’s cutaway chassis that will still be available for some years .
fresno, california–based sportsmobile has been converting vw microbuses to rvs since 1961 and also does a big business in 4x4 rock - crawling vans. it named the lopes 55 for brian lopes, the pro motocross rider and mountain - bike champion who designed it. there are dozens of potential sportsmobile configurations (check out urltoken), but the lopes 55 efficiently packs in everything needed for sema survival, including a sink, refrigerator, bed space for four, and a small pull - out portable toilet, which, though handy, went untested .
“sportsmobile offers far more choices than any other rv company that we contacted. it does take some time to review them. however, we felt it was worth it since we were able to build our sprinter to meet our travel requirements perfectly. ” – charles and arleen borman
“for us smaller is really better, especially after having owned three class a and c motorhomes. we have storage for everything we need and can go anywhere we want without restrictions and in comfort. and unlike our other motorhomes, our sportsmobile is economical, and fun to drive. ”
is the latest iteration in line of heavy duty 4×4 adventure vans from sportsmobile. currently in the prototype phase, the classic takes a ford cutaway body and molds it with a steel reinforced fiberglass shell. the integrated penthouse top drops flush into the shell for a streamline look. production of the classic is targeted for late 2018 .
the sportsmobile 4x4 conversion is built exclusively at the fresno factory and begins with a ford e350 equipped with a 6. 8 - l triton v - 10. “our design team works with each customer to develop a package that suits their needs, and helps eliminate ideas that are impractical or prone to failure, ” feld said .
to service the needs of clients worldwide, sportsmobile has three manufacturing locations: huntington, ind. ; austin, texas; and fresno, calif. the 70, 000 - square - foot fresno location is owned by feld’s father, alan feld, while the huntington and austin locations are owned and operated by company founder charles borskey .
because every sportsmobile is crafted for a specific client, not a wrench is turned until the engineering department has completeed a set of plans and has supplied a detailed work order. then the fun begins. the mechanic crew first strips the vehicle down, installs the an upgraded suspension and atlas ii transfer case (if requested), and prepares it for the electricians. while the chassis and body are being hardwired, the cabinet and upholstery departments are working their magic on the interior upgrades. components come together at the assembly line, where a team of sportsmobile’s 49 highly - trained craftsmen transform a pile of parts into a place you can call home away from home .
“we own a 1970 vw sportsmobile. can’t tell you how much fun we have had driving it all over north america. surprisingly the top still works well; however, the canvas sides are getting a little tired. can it be replaced? love your conversions. will get a new one pretty soon. ” – bill & bobbie donelson
after years of waiting, north america has finally gotten the 4x4 version of the mercedes sprinter van, which is quickly gaining popularity amongst camper van converters. we took a look at the rugged sportsmobile sprinter 4x4 expedition van a few months ago, and now winnebago has rolled out a more highway - friendly 4wd sprinter camper called the era 4x4 .
this past year we were blissfully spared from sema’s many soylent green reenactments, thanks to the sportsmobile eb - 31s lopes 55, a dodge sprinter –based rv with a deep, 188 - cubic - foot storage barn in back for bicycles, motorcycles, or in our case, a pair of 2008 vespa gtv 244cc scooters with which to cut through traffic .
for decades, one of the most popular live - aboard solutions was the sportsmobile. when they started building their habitats on the 4×4 ford van chassis, the popularity of the sportsmobile exploded. so too did the asking price. a well appointed ford van with all the off - road bells, whistles, and creature comforts will easily push beyond the $ 150, 000 mark. even a ten year old version with a good bit of miles will still tickle $ 100, 000. this is not to say older vans with less extensive options can’t be had for $ 75, 000, or even $ 50, 000. on the upshot, they do seem to be available on a rather consistent basis .
so you might have seen a sportsmobile 4×4 rolling down the road, or then again maybe you haven’t. you may have not seen them at all on pavement because these beasts were not born for the pavement life, they were born for the off road. if you like off - roading, camping and being an overall bad ass for owning one, then read on !
“after having used a variety of class a motor homes and after having owned several off - road vehicles (jeeps, d - 90, range rovers, hummers, fj cruiser, etc .), we wanted a self - contained adventure vehicle that we could use to explore this great country. we looked at various concepts but mutually decided on the sportsmobile 4×4 ford van. ”
“after having used a variety of class a motor homes and after having owned several off - road vehicles (jeeps, d - 90, range rovers, hummers, fj cruiser, etc .), we wanted a self - contained adventure vehicle that we could use to explore this great country. we looked at various concepts but mutually decided on the sportsmobile 4x4 ford van .
the gold standard of campers, sportsmobile (starting at $ 65, 000) has been turning vans—from ford, chevy, mercedes, you name it—into luxury travel homes for 52 years. trick yours out with generators, awnings, roof racks, sound systems, kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms—the sky’s the limit, as long as all your add - ons fit inside the van .
granted, a vw would never be considered a full size van, but we never considered anything larger. domestic offerings were either work, window or
leisure
vans, but we were wrong in thinking this. sportsmobile has converted fords, dodges and chevys for 50 years. some are still in use. they look like a house built in the' 70s with the original kitchen .
all this post - apocalyptic / post - sema survival ability isn’t cheap: $ 72, 665, including $ 5655 worth of optional audio - visual equipment. skip the sound gear, and you’re most of the way to the $ 6899 vespa, an 11. 7 - hp twist - ’n’ - go sweetheart which, when deployed through the sportsmobile’s rear doors, can’t be stopped by either snarled traffic or crazed conventioneers .
spending a couple of hours with owner alan feld was an eye opener. after we stepped through their showroom, which includes one of sportsmobile’s early volkswagen bus conversions, i entered one of the most impressive, multi - tiered manufacturing operations i’ve witnessed. the 66, 000 - foot plant includes a full - scale cabinet shop, professional upholstery department, electrical and mechanics divisions, and a fabrication bay with a half - dozen lifts .
four - wheel - drive conversions include premium components starting with an advance adapter atlas ii transfer case, dynatrac pro - rock 60 front and dana 60 rear axle, as well as spicer 1350 one - ton rated driveline components, and heavy - duty brake rotors, he said. “the partial military wrap rear springs were designed specifically for a sportsmobile, ” feld added. “and customers are given the choice of open, limited slip, or locking differentials depending on use. ”
he said the company survived by continuing to build oe - quality conversions, which undergo factory certification and rigorous testing, such as from mercedes - benz. “much to mercedes - benz’s surprise, when they put our penthouse top through crush testing, they found it was 10 - percent stronger than the sprinter roof itself, ” he said, adding that sportsmobile is a second - stage manufacturer certified by ford, mercedes - benz, and nissan, with a warranty that matches the factory .
the front office is, well, not just an office. looking around revealed dozens of large photographs of adventurous locations and dozens of tastefully mounted magazine articles that transported me to another place; a remote beach, high mountain pass, or desert two - track. a sportsmobile (or at least driving one for 10 days) is a more than just a vehicle; it is a frame of mind. in the lyrical ramblings of jimmy buffet, it induced a change in latitude .
we came across a sportsmobile van soon after we got married and we both knew then that this setup was something we wanted. that was years ago now! the design of our van has been a multi - year project that went a number of changes. but what never changed was that we wanted a platform that had enough storage space for our gear was off - the - grid ready and most importantly offered the 4×4 capability that could take us off the pavement and into the wild .
2012 sportsmobile nv2500, very rare! 2012 sporstmobile nv2500 camper van: this is a one of a kind pop top motorhome manufactured by sportsmobile. this unit comes equipped with a pop up roof, bunk bed for two, full sized lower bed for two, as well as seating for four on the road. it also comes equipped with a sink, microwave, refridgerator, day and night shades, outside shower, portable burner, portable toilet, rhino rack on roof with a ladder for easy access to the top. on top you will find a brand new, 100 watt solar panel with controls inside. brand new tires. all interior led lighting, easy to clean and durable composite flooring. also, includes full cut carpeted mat. navigation and back up camera, back up sensors. solid cherry wood cabinets. portable table. in pristine condition condtion, one owner unit! nationwide delivery! !! ! to your home or office call (866) 370 - 8222for more information
jason drives and lives in a 1995 e 250 sportsmobile. he has lived in a van since around 1997. reasons? the siren’s call of nature and the ability to wander. jason grew up camping in an rv with his dad and fishing on his boat. some of his fondest memories come from these adventures. he remembers looking out the windows of the top bunk, loving it. “people say that what you do when you’re young gets imprinted on you, well i guess that’s what happened! ”
he used his van as a home away from home until he began to realize that paying rent was a waste of money. jason was either out fighting fires in washington, living part of the year out of his van in baja ca or visiting friends and family in southern california. he began to feel like he was pouring money into an empty cave. it was then that he decided to take after his van dwelling buddy “old kahuna”. in 1999, jason ditched renting apartments and started living out of his van full time. in 2006 he purchased an e250 sportsmobile .
although the company will build almost any brand full - size van, ford and sprinter dominate the market. sprinter is the first of the unibody - based delivery vans available with multiple wheelbases and roof heights. the 2014 ford transit will be much the same and will eliminate the van sportsmobile has used for more than 20 years. “our new 4wd conversion will be based on the 2014 e350 cutaway chassis with our own rear section, ” feld said. “although we hate to see the old platform go away, the new truck will give us more freedom and more room to work with. we hope to debut the new version at the rvia show in pomona this october. ”
all the bells and whistles on this custom built sportsmobile sprinter 3500, including a braun uvl lift for wheelchair accessibility. 6 - new tires, weather sensor fans, port - a - potty, and inverter. toe hook, plus electric ramp on back for gas generator (included). sleeps 2 comfortably, rear external shower, cb, solar panels for off - the - grid camping, manual awning, exterior ladder, surround sound, dvd, custom screens for both doors, 20 gal fresh water, 2 - 10 gal grey tanks. loads of storage, super clean, and ready for summer! last year sprinter was manufactured w / o additional smog requirements = best gas mileage of 18 - 22 mpg. $ 48k or best .
this article comes from an interview that i did with author, adventurer, smokejumper, entrepreneur and sportsmobile dweller, jason ramos. when i stopped to take a couple of photos of his rig at overland expo, i had no idea what a bundle of experience i was walking into. not only does he have a stellar rig that he’s lived out of since 2006, he has spent almost 30 yrs. as a a firefighter and is currently a smokejumper in his 17th season. smokejumpers parachute into remote areas to combat wildfires. he recently wrote an historical / autobiographical book about his journey from volunteer firefighter to seasoned smokejumper, and he is also the founder and owner of prg, product research gear, a company that works with other companies to help evaluate their products either in development and testing cycles or in the upgrade cycle .
sportsmobile
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plan ford rb 2wd... . garageable 83
high, penthouse with bed, frig, micro, sink, 10 gal freshwater system and gray tank, city hookups, porta potti, 110v 30 amp system 1500w inverter, 12v system 200 amp agm deep cycle battery, zamp remote solar ,
basement
storage, swingout door galley, bushwackers, led interior lighting, cargoside led utility lights, portable stove, swivel / heated captains chairs, wetokole seat covers, front / side / rear door screens, day / nite shadesford e - 350 xlt v - 10 6. 8 litre, 32, 000 miles, oem tow / controller, hd alternator, front and rear factory a / c, alarm, backup camera, jensen in - dash am / fm / cd / dvd / sat / nav, bluetooth, grill guard / piaa lights, v - tec wheels, garaged, excellent condition
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urltoken
as a condition of membership in the rv industry association, every rv produced by a member manufacturer must display the association’s seal. this seal communicates the manufacturers’ certification that it complies with the rv standards adopted by the association. member companies may purchase seals online .
joining the rv industry association is the best thing that the park model manufacturers ever did. the support that we get from the association has been phenomenal. every time we have had issues, they have been there to help move us forward .
rvx will feature the first ever rvbusiness supplier awards recognizing innovation and ...
the 2018 california rv show, the west coast’s largest consumer rv show, has completely sold out of its available manufacturer ...
on july 17, the members of the made in america outdoor recreation advisory committee with meet with department of the interior secretary ryan zinke for the first time to discuss a range of outdoor recreation issues ...
shipments steadily increased to more than 500, 000 units in 2017 compared to 430, 700 units in 2016 .
the technicians in training program added 520 newly registered techs in 2017 and trained 3, 019 techs industry - wide .
perhaps you’ve seen our web coverage of the shot - peened, chrome - plated, speckle - flaked car candy on parade at the annual specialty equipment market association (sema) aftermarket parts extravaganza in las vegas, which draws thousands to its show halls. what you haven’t seen—unless you’ve been—is the scratching, clawing, biting, spitting fight for seats in taxis and buses when the glitzy show closes at 5 p. m. , just as las vegas streets reach full constipation .
recall that the sprinter is a rebadged mercedes - benz utility van, an excellent platform for threading through dense traffic, thanks to its commanding driving position and strong 3. 0 - liter, turbo - diesel v - 6 (a 3. 5 - liter gasoline v - 6 is also available). fuel economy is euro - efficient as well. though the lopes 55 we sampled weighs in at 7200 pounds, including about 1500 pounds of rv conversion, it returned 22 mpg on our 600 - mile freeway slog to and from vegas. the van is rated to tow 5000 pounds .
the flower delivery guys are a happier bunch: dodge has an all - new super - sized sprinter van .
2 wheels, 4 cylinders, $ 72, 500: even sports - car snobs cant ignore this 197 - hp, four - cylinder ducati .
shock and awe - an $ 850, 000 motor coach you can fish from. (mirrors on the bedroom ceiling are extra. )
in the world of rvs, the van - based avenue is considered light traveling .
ships alloy! newell makes the fanciest damn aluminum - clad bus you ever saw .
based on the euro - market accord, the tsx fills the niche between acura’s smaller civic - based ilx and larger u. s .
a new tl is on its way, but the current model offers good value and decent performance, especially with optional all - wheel drive .
track width: (front / rear) 70. 5” / 70. 5”
transfer case: atlas ii (3. 0 or 3. 8: 1 gear ratio )
three lengths are available. choose a low or high roof. diesel or gas engine. pick the van options you need or want .
list your travel needs. then study the various plans and pictures on our site. need help? contact us and an experienced designer will be at your service .
a standard plan. or, dyo (design your own). it costs about the same either way. only want a partial conversion or top? we’ll be glad to help .
you can cut and paste your plan or design it online – that’s the most popular .
we have a long list. again, you have lots of choices so you can have it your way !
there are price sheets for the vans, conversions, and options. prices are broken down so you can check off what you want .
years with a minimum of maintenance. we build them to meet those expectations. always have !
is the mercedes - benz sprinter 4×4. the 4×4 option offers the expedition and adventure traveler a great platform. the sprinter 4×4 opens up a new realm of possibilities for the weekend warrior looking to get a little further off the beaten path. the sprinter is available with a 4×4 high / low configuration in both the 144” and 170” wheelbase models. the 4×4 option offers a 35 / 65 front - to - rear power ratio while the low - range adds a 40% gear reduction, with a corresponding increase of torque to the wheels. the sprinter 4×4 comes equipped with the highest performance power - train option currently offered in the u. s. sprinter: the 3. 0 - liter bluetec v - 6, which produces 188 hp and 325 lb - ft of torque, mated to a five - speed automatic transmission. the van is raised 4. 3 inches in the front and 3. 1 inches in the back giving it 20% greater slope climbing ability .
contact us for current availability and exact timing. vans shown with optional accessories .
aside from waking up in beautiful locations and having the outdoors easily accessible, we saw a lot more perks—it was also an opportunity to spend more time with friends and loved ones we don’t get to see often. we are photographers and shoot in locations that would otherwise be hard to get to and find hidden gems that haven’t yet been crowded with tourists or instagrammers. these are actually my favorite places to live and shoot in: the off - the - grid land owned by the bureau of land management that may be unnamed and unmapped but is just as gorgeous (if not more) than more popular areas .
the biggest plus for us, though, has been living a simpler, less cluttered life. it’s a very freeing feeling to know that everything i need or want fits inside our tiny home on wheels .
price sheets above are combined in one pdf file click here to view or print all 4 pages .
on your selections your total cost may be much more, or less, than the example .
private sale only - no dealers2003 ford e - 250 econoline extended body, 4. 6 l triton v - 8, trailer wt. capacity 5800lb. , 4. 10 ratio axletinted windows all aroundblack aluminum running boardsatwood l. p. gas water heater 6 galnorcold dual voltage refrigerator 120v & 12 / 24 voltatwood lp gas drop in cooktoppenthouse topseats / bedsfresh water tank & pump 20 gal / sink & faucetporta pottipropane tank and systemspropane furnace with thermostat 16000 btuheavy duty auxilliary batteryrv battery agmstarcool a / c 12v & 110valuminum screensmicrowaveswivel passenger seattable top & post base25' - 30amp rv ext. cord & adapters
edgar - custom mercedes sprinter 4x4 170 custom conversion by eav, drive 4 & sleep 4 .
just looking to see how my grandfather' s invention was doing. am very glad to see people still use it and it is still active in daily lives. happy to see so many folks enjoy the idea. i can remember it starting out as a volkswagon bus only. thanks! !
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to truly appreciate these collosal creations, it’s a must you take a peek inside. the video below provides a detailed walk - around from the good folks at overland bound :
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in 1961, charles borskey was living in el paso, tx and he had an idea. he wondered how cool it would be to take a vw microbus and transform it into a full blown camping machine. so, being the kind of man that mr. borskey was inclined to be, he did it. it didn’t take long for vw to pick up on his talent and contract him out to install camper kits for the vw microbuses in the us .
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“there is nothing out of our scope — rv, mobile office, mobile lab, sales vehicle, mobile showroom, or command vehicle — we also fit equipment to support special - needs clients, ” he said. “we built 20 trucks for qatar’s elite paramilitary rescue team designed for disaster relief that saw use in haiti, and a custom 4wd van that runs on vegetable oil for jimmy buffett for camping, surfing, and paddle boarding. ”
“my father began with a showroom in san diego in 1989 and by the following year borskey authorized us to open this facility to fulfill the backlog of west coast orders. today our fresno team of almost 50 employees builds between 100 and 120 units a year, plus partials, ” feld said .
just as strength and durability are important to customers and oes, so are fit and finish. “all of the components are hand - cut fitted and installed for the specific vehicle, ” feld said. “besides purpose, there are a lot of variances in the vehicles themselves. each brand offers different roof height, length, and wheelbase combinations, making each vehicle a unique build. ”
the durability of sportmobiles is well documented. the company is well known for its ford 4wd vans and conversions designed and manufactured to withstand the rigors of overland travel. “we use marine - quality hardware and every cabinet is hand - cut and bolted through the floor — not just on the 4x4s, but on every conversion we build, ” he said. “two - or four - wheel - drive, our vehicles travel the world. every vehicle is designed and built to withstand the extreme environments our customers operate in. ”
the front suspension includes high spindles for extra tie rod clearance and a quick disconnect front sway bar for when the going gets extra tough. custom shocks are fitted to all four corners to aid in ride quality .
feld said they prefer to use american - made components. dynatrac in huntington beach supplies its axle housings, third member, hubs and brake rotors. advanced adaptors in paso robles supplies transfer cases, transferflow in chico builds its fuel tanks, aluminess out of san diego builds bumpers and sing outs, and betts spring in fresno makes custom leaf springs .
“every vehicle is custom - built to order and requires eight to 10 weeks to build, ” feld said. “our most popular model is the rb 50 conversion. two - wheel or four - wheel drive on road or off, every vehicle has the same heavy - duty construction. ”
parts & people is published monthly by automotive counseling and publishing company, inc. , a colorado corporation, p. o. box 18731 denver, co 80203, 303 - 765 - 4664. president - lance buchner. founded by lance buchner and dave lucia .
jason and i spoke on the phone a while back and pretty early on into the conversation i realized that this guy with the cool rig (that i thought was going to be the sole topic of this article), has a hell of a lot more going on than that. so, i had to suss out how to structure an article around this diverse individual. i’m going to start off by saying that i came off the phone with a solid sense of having spoken to someone who has earnestly followed his passions in life with a lot of integrity and as a result, has accomplished some pretty crazy, amazing feats. but first, and probably least importantly (don’t throw rotten tomatoes) i will start with his…
aluminess galley, recovery gear / tools and solaire bbq ride on the aluminess custom made rear bumper .
jason is an avid windsurfer, motorcycle rider, beach loving, desert rat who has had a few adventure rigs along the way. he started out with a chevy love, sleeping out of the back of the truck when on trips. next, he got a tundra king cab, with a kitchen set - up in the back. then when he got into wind surfing, a buddy, helitack crewmember, firefighter and brother wind surfer, “old kahuna”, suggested he get a van. years later, while flying on the way back from a fire, he and old kahuna spotted jason’s “dream van” in a used auto lot 500 - 600 feet below. they circled back, checked it out, then when they landed, drove over and jason bought his first van, a 1974 ford econoline e300 campervan with a gas stove and fridge .
jason ripped everything out, put in new cabinets, pergot flooring to deal with sand and mud, a bose sound system and a platform bed .
golights - remote lights on top, atac flir - nightvision front and rear thermal cameras .
when asked about the pros and cons of living life in a van, jason said he couldn’t think of many cons. “the biggest downside is when i am traveling and i need to find a legal place to park overnight. in some areas, like malibu, it’s impossible. to live in a van you have to be very flexible. with some flexibility, what could be cons are normal life. things like having no stand - up shower and having to make use of every inch of room become normal. i live very comfortably, i’ve created great storage solutions under the bed and in other areas with netting. i have painted some of my cabinets with black board paint so that i can conduct meetings in my van and write notes on the cabinets until i can transfer them to my computer. i’ve got cush gel mats, great insulation and weather gear. it’s the little extras, like great artwork, a great mattress and bedding…i love it to death; it’s home for me .
jason is a smokejumper, part of an elite team of firefighters that parachute into forest fires, usually in the backcountry, to work on controlling them. he started his firefighting career in 1989 as a riverside county volunteer firefighter at the age of 17. when i met him, i was taking a photo of his rig. we started to talk and he told me that he was there to promote a book he had written called smokejumper, a memoir about his journey toward becoming part of this unique and elite tribe of fire fighters. i got the book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. in it he documents the history of the smokejumper program, which started in winthrop in 1939 with help from the eagle parachute company and the forest service. later in 1940, major general william c. lee, better know as the godfather of airborne, took this idea to fort benning georgia and formed an airborne unit that was implemented on the night of june 5 th 1944. this is a personal and historical memoir and i’m not giving any more of it away. it’s a solid read, fascinating and enjoyable. i will unabashedly tell you to go buy a copy on urltoken .
as jason and i were discussing his book at overland expo, i started looking around for the vendor selling the cinnamon rolls i kept smelling. breakfast… i think he noticed, because he pointed out a strange cylinder on the ground beside us that had little tufts of fragrant smoke swirling out of the ends. it was a solar baking device, called a gosun, and he had a load of cinnamon rolls cooking .
jason started his company, product research gear llc, out of his love of and the necessity for excellent (read trustworthy and durable) gear. his company relies on a cadre of outdoor professionals to evaluate and design gear for a variety of companies. the creation of prg came out of his long history of gear use. when he was 18 years old, he started as an equipment manager for the volunteer fire department. he was a gearhead who liked fixing things and making sure they were clean, up to par and ready to go. when the fire department needed new or different equipment, he’d research then call companies to get what was needed. dupont was his first “cold call”. he spoke to them about fire textiles. soon, he began to work with companies helping them solve issues with equipment. every product that he either used or sourced was put to a rigorous test in the field and when something didn’t work, jason gave companies feedback on the issues and possible solutions. as time went on, he started becoming known as the “get it” guy. “i’ve just always been into finding really good, solid gear. the people who worked with me, friends and family all joked that i should start a store. they’d ask for something and i would find the best product i could for them. ”
out of all of this…what jason left me with was the impression that he is a multifaceted individual who follows his passions and walks through life with integrity. it takes a brave person to do that, smokejumping aside, of course .
maxtrax / pull pal evaluation, this day was in the triple digits with multiple pulls with the aid of a pull pal and maxtrax recovery tools .
ramos, you are the man! congrat’s on the book and all that you have accomplished. we are honored to know you and love all that you do .
growing up during the pinnacle of the conversion van era, i’ve cultivated a certain appreciation for vans in general. my family owned a 1993 chevy astro ext conversion van that featured a motorized, folding third - row seat, 13 - inch tv / vcr combo and a sick aluminum ladder on the back. my parents were always thrilled to find out we used the ladder to claim on top of the van to access the roof of our house. i even took my initial driver’s test when i was 16 years old in that monstrosity. good times .
to truly appreciate these collosal creations, it' s a must you take a peek inside. the video below provides a detailed walk - around from the good folks at overland bound :
vehicle dimensions / characteristics length: rb 211. 9” eb 231. 9” width: 79. 3” track width: (front / rear) 70. 5” / 70. 5” height with penthouse: 94. 0” wheel base: 140. 3” ground clearance (van center): 16. 5” approach / departure angle: 44º / 32º towing capacity: 10, 000 lbs. turning circle: 49’ 2” curb to curb wheel travel: (front) 22” nom. (sway bar disconnected )
equipment specifications engine: 6. 8l v - 10 transmission: 4r100 / torqshift 5 - speed transfer case: atlas ii (3. 0 or 3. 8: 1 gear ratio) axle gear ratio: 4. 10: 1 (towing package) tires / rims: bfgat lt285 / 70r17 (33” nom .) suspension: partial military wrap leaf shackle system front sway bar: standard 1. 38” dia. with quick disconnect system
tools to help you design, research and find the right car for you .
platform choices range from their new classic ford econoline and sprinter mojave, to ram promaster and chevy vans. just a few of the available options include dynatrac dana 60 axles, atlas ii transfer cases, aluminess bumpers, extended - range fuel cells, and bfgoodrich tires. for luxury accommodation with a 360 - degree view, the penthouse is a must .
over the years, sportsmobiles have been cherished by ordinary folks and high - profile celebrities alike. they are the preferred platform for many professional photographers, hunters, mobile veterinarians, athletes, and search and rescue teams. my road trip buddy (in a musical sense) jimmy buffet owns several (sea foam green i think; one runs on vegetable oil) and incorporated them into one of his concert tour shirt designs .
the mechanics facility has half a dozen lifts and bays where drivetrain modifications are made .
leaf springs, dyantrac axles, and atlas ii transfer cases are all built locally in california .
fresh from the mechanic’s bay, this interior has been lined with arctic cold weather insulation (optional). a second layer of denim green r - 13 insulation will be applied for extreme cold conditions .
electricians meld hundreds of feet of spaghetti into custom wiring looms for each van .
the entire top floor of one end of the building is dedicated to the upholstery shop .
with the drivetrain, electrical, cabinets, and upholstery is complete they are brought to the assembly line for installation .
chris spent his formative years riding dirt bikes with his dad in the deserts of southern california and baja, mexico, which led to a lifelong quest for adventure. he is handy behind a viewfinder and at the keyboard, and brings four decades of international travel experience to overland journal as editor - in - chief. his career, which includes work for national geographic adventure, four wheeler, hot rod, and autoweek, has taken him through 50 - plus countries and to every continent. he has also served as correspondent to magazines in a dozen countries and in as many languages. in 2013 he was part of the expeditions7 team that crossed antarctica and he has recently been inducted into the off - road motorsports hall of fame as a pioneering journalist. when not behind the camera chris can be found on the office (his sailboat), or undertaking meticulous “research” for upcoming articles in locales such as tequila, mexico.
sportsmobile is a company that provides custom after market conversions for full size vans . most vans are fully converted to type b rv motor-homes . the sportsmobile company was founded in 1961 by charles borskey and now has three locations : huntington , indiana , austin , texas and fresno , california . they are considered one of the oldest van conversion companies in the u.s.
sportsmobile is a company that provides custom after market conversions for full size vans. most vans are fully converted to type b rv motor-homes. the sportsmobile company was founded in 1961 by charles borskey and now has three locations: huntington, indiana, austin, texas and fresno, california. they are considered one of the oldest van conversion companies in the u.s.
sportsmobile is a company that provides custom after market conversions for full size vans. most vans are fully converted to type b rv motor-homes. the sportsmobile company was founded in 1961 by charles borskey and now has three locations: huntington, indiana, austin, texas and fresno, california. they are considered one of the oldest van conversion companies in the u.s.