Why Build?
Ultimately the reason we decided to build vs purchase a stock SMB was that we had rented several newer SMBs and were unimpressed with the quality of the interior fit / finish / ergonomics. The interior of both rented SMBs felt like a dark cave, due to lack of rear windows. We camp in pretty remote places & its nice to sit up in bed and enjoy the amazing (and changing) view. Both rental SMBs had numerous interior electrical problems and many spots where the cabinet particle board construction was readily apparent.
I did love the simplicity of the SMB manual top and SMB North was the only place that still installed the manual tops.
Worse yet, one of the E350 gas V-10 rented SMBs left us stranded at the top of Monarch Pass, CO for 6 hrs while we attempted to get the vehicle running again.
I also came very close to pulling the trigger on a new Sprinter purchase (thinking I was going to save on build time). Ultimately I was dissuaded from that after running across a local Coloradan that was literally giving away his work Sprinter due to mechanical reasons. My next door neighbors have a 2019 4WD Sprinter that has been towed from their driveway no less than 4 times, so their purchase validated my fears.
So that's the why on why we chose the 7.3L Diesel vs and other engine & why we elected to have the interior professionally completed by RV Interiors here in Denver (installing cabinets from Gossling Woodworking).
Additional photos of the build process ---- >
Ultimately the reason we decided to build vs purchase a stock SMB was that we had rented several newer SMBs and were unimpressed with the quality of the interior fit / finish / ergonomics. The interior of both rented SMBs felt like a dark cave, due to lack of rear windows. We camp in pretty remote places & its nice to sit up in bed and enjoy the amazing (and changing) view. Both rental SMBs had numerous interior electrical problems and many spots where the cabinet particle board construction was readily apparent.
I did love the simplicity of the SMB manual top and SMB North was the only place that still installed the manual tops.
Worse yet, one of the E350 gas V-10 rented SMBs left us stranded at the top of Monarch Pass, CO for 6 hrs while we attempted to get the vehicle running again.
I also came very close to pulling the trigger on a new Sprinter purchase (thinking I was going to save on build time). Ultimately I was dissuaded from that after running across a local Coloradan that was literally giving away his work Sprinter due to mechanical reasons. My next door neighbors have a 2019 4WD Sprinter that has been towed from their driveway no less than 4 times, so their purchase validated my fears.
So that's the why on why we chose the 7.3L Diesel vs and other engine & why we elected to have the interior professionally completed by RV Interiors here in Denver (installing cabinets from Gossling Woodworking).
Additional photos of the build process ---- >
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