An Interview With Alan Feld of Sportsmobile

[Scott Brady]

For those who have met Alan and Liz, you know how great these people are. I spent a few minutes with Alan at the Washington Overland Rally and we talked about the last 50 years of Sportsmobile and a little about the things to come.

[video=vimeo;28330092]http://vimeo.com/28330092[/video]

 

[dwh]

Nice product endorsement. Not much of an interview though...Alan had what? 3 lines in the whole vid?

 

[18seeds]

Nice product endorsement. Not much of an interview though...Alan had what? 3 lines in the whole vid?

:iagree:

 

[Overland Hadley]

Nice product endorsement. Not much of an interview though...Alan had what? 3 lines in the whole vid?

x3


(Like the photos at the top of ExPo, it is mostly a plug for a product.)

 

[kjp1969]

I agree it was a little light. I think Alan is on the forum. Here's what I want to know about Sportsmobile's future:
1. Now that Ford has discontinued diesel vans, what is Sportsmobile's solution for a diesel 4x4 platform?
2. Any chance of getting a Sprinter 4x4 platform?
3. Chevy has a diesel van, and Quigley makes an IFS 4x4 version, but they all seem like stock height AWD ones. What does Sportsmobile think of this chassis? Will they stand up to *serious* 4WD service?
4. Any possibility of a semi-custom repowering program- retrofitting a heavy duty Ford-type chassis with a diesel engine?

 

[Scott Brady]

I agree it was a little light. I think Alan is on the forum. Here's what I want to know about Sportsmobile's future:
1. Now that Ford has discontinued diesel vans, what is Sportsmobile's solution for a diesel 4x4 platform?
2. Any chance of getting a Sprinter 4x4 platform?
3. Chevy has a diesel van, and Quigley makes an IFS 4x4 version, but they all seem like stock height AWD ones. What does Sportsmobile think of this chassis? Will they stand up to *serious* 4WD service?
4. Any possibility of a semi-custom repowering program- retrofitting a heavy duty Ford-type chassis with a diesel engine?

I will try to ask Alan those questions when I see him next and report back.

 

[Roonie]

I agree it was a little light. I think Alan is on the forum. Here's what I want to know about Sportsmobile's future:
1. Now that Ford has discontinued diesel vans, what is Sportsmobile's solution for a diesel 4x4 platform?
2. Any chance of getting a Sprinter 4x4 platform?
3. Chevy has a diesel van, and Quigley makes an IFS 4x4 version, but they all seem like stock height AWD ones. What does Sportsmobile think of this chassis? Will they stand up to *serious* 4WD service?
4. Any possibility of a semi-custom repowering program- retrofitting a heavy duty Ford-type chassis with a diesel engine?

I can answer some of those. Also in the interview above that is my white van pictured twice with the motorcycle on the back.

3. The Chevy frame is not nearly as heavy duty as the Ford and considering all the weight they add to these beasts the Chevy is not used for that reason. If your not planning on doing serious off roading then Quigley now makes a 4x4 Chevy with IFS. Also the Chevy 1500 AWD has 1/2 the payload of a similar Ford E150. Sportsmobile uses only E350 for the payload capacity. Total weight of most E350 conversions come in at around 10,000 lbs with the PH top and full interior done. Chevy has always gotten milder 4x4 conversions since they have less frame than the Ford so it takes a lot more upgrading to make it a usable chassis and equal to Ford's. Having said all this Sportsmobile will put a PH penthouse in a Chevy but not sure on how much of the build out they will do due to weight concerns and payload capacity since the Chevy is seriously lacking here?

4. The current 6.0 diesel in the van is a tight fit so they had to detune it some so not so much heat is let off and so it will work in such a small compartment (hence some of the problems). Very few diesels can actually fit in the E350 engine compartment. An old cummins can but they are LOUD! And the old 7.3 can as well.
http://www.fordcummins.com/eSeries-cummins-conversion.html

 

[kjp1969]

I will try to ask Alan those questions when I see him next and report back.

Also, is the new Nissan box-van available with 4wd? Looks to be Titan based, but the Nissan USA website doesn't say. One of those could look pretty cool with a raising roof and biggish tires.

 

[nwoods]

I agree it was a little light. I think Alan is on the forum. Here's what I want to know about Sportsmobile's future:

Scott, I think Kevin has a good point/idea here. You've posted a few interviews like this in the past, but if you have the chance, perhaps soliciting questions and topics of interest here on the forum for your next interview subjects. Its just an idea.

 

[cwsqbm]

3. Chevy has a diesel van, and Quigley makes an IFS 4x4 version, but they all seem like stock height AWD ones. What does Sportsmobile think of this chassis? Will they stand up to *serious* 4WD service?

Quigley now offers an optional factory-installed lift on new Chevy 4wd conversions.

The Quigley conversions are not AWD like the Chevy factory 1500, but have a conventional two-speed part time transfer case. Whether its suitable for extreme use is based on your personal definition of extreme. Its based on the Chevy truck IFS, so its shares roughly the same abilities and limitations.

As for the Nissan, its not avaliable in 4wd from Nissan, but Quigley is looking into it, but at a very early stage right now. I wouldn't hold my breath on this.

 

[kjp1969]

As for the Nissan, its not avaliable in 4wd from Nissan, but Quigley is looking into it, but at a very early stage right now. I wouldn't hold my breath on this.

Seriously, why do they do that? Assuming its based on the Titan stuff, and 4wd is already developed, why not offer it? If they're aiming at the commercial customers, surely some of them want to go places in the snow or down muddy, rutted roads.

No One makes a factory 4wd van for the U.S. Market?!?!?

Rant off.

 

[4xdog]

The Sportsmobile interview is pure boosterism, and kinda light at that. Didn't learn anything from the interview. If Sportsmobile paid for the ad, that's OK, but it would be appreciated to know it was advertising instead of editorial content. OJ is gonna have to crank it up a little to get some credibility around vehicle testing and reporting if this and the Tacoma T|X Pro road test are an indication.

Offered in the way of constructive criticism, it's important to be objective and factual in assessing a vehicle for others. That doesn't mean it can't be entertaining. Sort of like food reviews -- it's really not that useful to know if the reviewer liked something. That's an element of personal taste that isn't worth spending too much time on. It's more important to know that it was prepared in accordance with expectations for the dish (or vehicle) being served, that it was technically correct, appropriately finished and accessorized, competently executed. Raising the discussion above what the author personally likes or doesn't like isn't always easy, but it makes for a much more informative review.

Don

 

[Overland Hadley]

The Sportsmobile interview is pure boosterism, and kinda light at that. Didn't learn anything from the interview. I Sportsmobile paid for the ad, that's OK, but it would be appreciated to know it was advertising instead of editorial content. OJ is gonna have to crank it up a little to get some credibility around vehicle testing and reporting if this and the Tacoma T|X Pro road test are an indication.

Offered in the way of constructive criticism, it's important to be objective and factual in assessing a vehicle for others. That doesn't mean it can't be entertaining. Sort of like food reviews -- it's really not that useful to know if the reviewer liked something. That's an element of personal taste that isn't worth spending too much time on. It's more important to know that it was prepared in accordance with expectations for the dish (or vehicle) being served, that it was technically correct, appropriately finished and accessorized, competently executed. Raising the discussion above what the author personally likes or doesn't like isn't always easy, but it makes for a much more informative review.

Don

A big x2 on all your points. Well said.

 

[zimm]

cmon man, you guys are rough. scott let him have 36 seconds to sum up 50 years of history and development!!! ... i dont think the guy was prepared for an interview, actually.




(my only gripe is scott uses the adjective pinnacle to categorize everything. hes like... the pinnacle of pinnacle users.)

 

[cwsqbm]

Seriously, why do they do that? Assuming its based on the Titan stuff, and 4wd is already developed, why not offer it? If they're aiming at the commercial customers, surely some of them want to go places in the snow or down muddy, rutted roads.

No One makes a factory 4wd van for the U.S. Market?!?!?

Rant off.

Don't blame the manufacturers, blame the government. For Ford/GM/Nissan/Mercedes to offer factory 4wd, they'd have to not only develop the parts but also crash test all the new vehicles, etc. Those extra expenses (according to their accountants) exceed the extra profits they could make.

A third party group like Quigley, since they're not the manufacturer, isn't as regulated to death. Also, a third party group can charge more than the manufacturer since they are willing to build a lot less per year to turn a profit. Look at what any third party group charges for a 4wd van - over $10k, compared to less than $4k for a new AWD Chevy van over its 2wd counterpart.