Sportsmobile--Ford E250, penthouse, well equipped

[billy bee]

** SOLD **

Added some additional pix to smugmug page: http://billybee.smugmug.com/Cars/SMB...67484053_qwLjs Shows the dent on the driver's side, the dashboard, and the seats when they are both swiveled.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming...

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Hard to describe this machine. It is the coolest rig I have ever owned. Sportmobile makes camper vans that are remarkably popular...and for a good reason. They are functional, fun, capable Class B campers.

Mine is a 1994 Ford E250 with less that 95,000 miles. 90K service was done last year. Van is white and the interior is blue.

Sportsmobile Conversion has the penthouse top/bunk, furnace, hot water heater, Gaucho sofa/bed, porta-potty, wardrobe, 2-burner stove, 3-way refrig, solar panel. 20-gallon fresh water, 10-gallon grey water, sink (hot and cold), pantry, curtains/blinds...the list goes on. I have camped at El Mirage in the summer and in the Sierra in winter...and stayed comfortably cool/warm. Floorplan most closely resembles the RB31. Six feet, ten inches of headroom!

Mods include Camburg Baja suspension (pre-runner style), BFG Comp TA All-Terrain KO's, Piaas, hitch, stereo with aux inputs for XM or iPod.

I hate to sell but will consider partial trades for tent trailer, Airstream Bambi, slide-in pop-up for T100, or other, compact camper/trailer. Would consider m/c trades, too. Prefer BMW airheads, a Moto Guzzi Quota...something with character. Cash price is $14,900. Can arrange delivery on west coast.

E-mail/PM for additional info. Will post additional pix soon. Meanwhile enjoy some of the shots of our adventure camping.

Thanks for looking,
bb

 

[1leglance]

So is yours a 2wd with a lift when you say "pre-runner style".
Looks interesting and SMB West could always do a 4x4 conversion for someone if they wanted.

Any interior pics?

Good luck with the sale.

 

[billy bee]

Yes. 2wd w/ LSD and gobs of clearance...

Interior photos coming.

bb

 

[stevenmd]

How many does it seat? Sleep? I'm not familiar with that model, what engine does it have in it?

Thanks!

 

[billy bee]

How many does it seat? Sleep? I'm not familiar with that model, what engine does it have in it?

It has a center aisle: Seats 4 - 5 (although I have crammed 6 adults in it before; Sleeps 4 (2 on the gaucho; 2 in the penthouse). You could conceivably have a young child on the floor aft of the gaucho.

351 engine

The layout differs slightly from the RB31 layout pictured in the upper-right corner here:

On my van the 2-burner stove is closest to the side door and the sink is next to that, then the fridge, pantry and a low cabinet with a small table top. Furnace is under the sink. Porta-potty us un the low cabinet in back.

On the driver's side: gaucho, wardrobe, gear locker (with the hot water heater underneath), and a small storage area where the solar panel lives when not in use.

A post-mounted table can go in the aisle, too.

bb

 

[billy bee]

Some interior shots here: http://billybee.smugmug.com/Cars/SMB-FS/9823745_T73uT#667484053_qwLjs

The shadow is cast by the wide-angle lens. I'll take some better pix this weekend using a proper flash...

bb

 

[Adventurerider]

Billy Bee

Would you be interested in a KTM 950 Adventure and some cash? If your interested pm me and will swap numbers & photo's
Cheers,
Jamie

 

[billy bee]

I have been getting lots of deep, philosophical questions on the van. Decided I better share some more info on the forum:

Is it in perfect condition?
No. It is a 15-year-old van...it has some issues. There is a shallow dent/scrape in the driver’s side. There was some paint work done to the RF fender. The paint on a small section the side door just below the window looks calcified/scaley. The paint cleans up pretty well but should be clay’d, compounded, and waxed. Otherwise, the paint appears a little chalky.

The interior shots tell the story. The carpet is clean, but a little matted. There is some wear to the driver’s and passenger’s seats. I could go on. But it is a well-maintained machine and most everything works perfectly.

Mechanically, it is in excellent shape. Neither I nor the one previous owner ever skimped on service, maintenance, or repairs. It runs like a champ. There are some small niggles:
• The fuel hose between the filler neck and the tank (rubber) is cracked. I pulled it taught and re-clamped it, but it needs a new piece of rubber hose sectioned in
• There is a suspension rattle that alludes me. Sounds like a chain rattling.
• The van is probably due for an oil change and front-end alignment
• The windscreen is cracked—which I will fix
• One of the driving lights needs a new bulb
• The dome light does not work properly

There’s probably more; but I will be driving it to Monterey next weekend without any concerns. And I would take it to Pataqonia tomorrow if I could. Moreover, I would put my wife in it and let her go anywhere...as long as she brings me back a sammich...

Is it 4x4?
No. It is two-wheel drive with limited slip differential. It would be worth $10k more were it 4x4. As you can see by my pictures, that has never kept me from taking the road less traveled.

It is lifted. The work was done by Camburg (http://www.camburg.com/) in Huntington Beach. I have driven some back-country roads where a 2wd pick would have gotten stuck. This thing is so heavy that it maintains grip in all but the most awkward or slippery situations where even a 4x4 would start to struggle. The weight is a detriment, too. Moving that mass up a hill or holding it during descents is tricky. When gravity overcomes grip you are at the mercy of physical law... In general, I think a van is a terrible platform for off-roading. This is a good compromise. I can get where I want to go on the NFS and fire roads, but don’t do anything stupid.

What engine does it have and what kind of gas mileage do you get?
It has a 351 and weighs 3+ tons. Gas mileage reflects that: 12 – 15 mpg if you drive smart; 10 – 13 if you don’t.

Why are you selling?
I am selling mostly for financial reasons. Our income this year will be off by 50%... We cannot justify keeping a 6th (yes, 6th) vehicle registered and insured when we only use it 10 times a year.

Thanks for looking,
bb