I don't want to be too negative, as I know some people here owns Sportsmobile and they love it. Everyone is different and has different preferences/opinions.
I do think it’s a great combo. I love vans and the Ford is a great platform - easy to fix, parts everywhere and very reliable.
However I was frankly disappointed with the camper portion. Please note that mine had the RB30 layout – this black one has the RB50, a copy of the Westfalia design.
As you know I took everything apart in mine, cleaned it, fixed it and reassembled it.
The cabinets are really heavy and are made of this pressed material (I forgot the name) – not real wood. It looks nice when it’s new but does not aged well at all and is not waterproof.
Everything is build with basic stuff that you can find at Home Depot – which is good because it’s easy to fix. But like my friend said it looks like someone put it together in his basement.
The main issue is that it’s all held together with a ton of Phillips screws and then some glue. The walls are covered with very thin plywood. The grey water tank was supported with a bunch of 2x4…
The overall quality of assembly was really poor.
The RB30 design with the large gaucho is not the best design, as you waste tons of space.
When the sofa is turned into a bed you can’t walk or stand anywhere. The legs to hold the mattress are really flimsy. The sofa itself is huge and takes up tons of space.
The RB50 is a better design I believe.
I do understand that mine was older and Sportsmobile have improved some aspects since then, but for the price they are charging I was expecting something better.
Maybe I am too picky, but I feel like my 1986 Westfalia Syncro as held much better over time. It has a much more of a “factory” feel and seems sturdier. It also seem like despite the smaller size, it was actually roomier inside.
Perhaps I just had too high expectations…but let’s just say I don’t have the same level of interest as I had before. I am glad I bought one and experienced it, but it’s not for me.
If I were to get another Ford van, I would take a closer look to the GTRV one. I have heard good things about it.
http://www.gtrv.com/
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/gtrvwesty/
For a 2WD platform, I think the Sprinter would also be a excellent choice.
