Taking bets that he took the van out to the desert and torched it....:ylsmoke:
Collected the insurance money bought a new van, then had U-Joint do a 4WD conversion...then shipped it to GTRV for the camper conversion...:elkgrin:
Check your sportsmobile wiring!
- Thread starter 4X4TOUR
- Start date
Taking bets that he took the van out to the desert and torched it....:ylsmoke:
Collected the insurance money bought a new van, then had U-Joint do a 4WD conversion...then shipped it to GTRV for the camper conversion...:elkgrin:
4X4TOUR
New member
Still working on the interior.
Didn't mean to leave you guys hanging... Ive been working on the interior, but the 100 degree days convinced me to finish in the fall and to use it as-is. The solar system is in, along with a slide-out freezer, microwave, truck vault, 6" lift etc...
Also Brian,
I don't see it that way. Instead of "drama" as you call it, I call it "awareness". I understand your loyalty, but people are having their top bolts snapping (see sportsmobile forum posts) and falling down on them, and on Sportsmobile's own site says they have never had a top fail because of a broken part... How can they say that? Ive just shown a bent bolt, faulty plastic guide, and other damage, to basically a brand new top...
Didn't mean to leave you guys hanging... Ive been working on the interior, but the 100 degree days convinced me to finish in the fall and to use it as-is. The solar system is in, along with a slide-out freezer, microwave, truck vault, 6" lift etc...
Also Brian,
I don't see it that way. Instead of "drama" as you call it, I call it "awareness". I understand your loyalty, but people are having their top bolts snapping (see sportsmobile forum posts) and falling down on them, and on Sportsmobile's own site says they have never had a top fail because of a broken part... How can they say that? Ive just shown a bent bolt, faulty plastic guide, and other damage, to basically a brand new top...
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4X4TOUR
New member
More problems discovered!!!!!
Well guys, today while installing a TruckVault as the base of my bed, I discovered that the upper, plastic guide (passenger side) in the metal track, was off its "mount". I had to use a screwdriver to get it back on the metal frame, but it kept coming back off when I put the top up and down. What a POS this design is.
Heck, Ive only had this top up and down maybe 20 times in a year. After all, I'm still in building mode.
I also discovered that the support poles base bolts were scraping along the base frame sides, causing binding and bending (see scrapes and 1 bent bolt in pic).
The plastic track SHOULD have been glued to the metal base, not just relying on a plastic press fit. As a fix, I drilled a hole on the base, next the plastic guide that keeps coming off. I then glued the guide on to the base, and then used a zip tie in the new hole, and around the end of the plastic guide and lubed copper with anti-seize
I also used 4 pieces of clear tubing, which I cut to about 5/8 lengths, then V-notched each end. These were then pressed into each end of the plastic guides to hold the ends in place.
I then trimmed off a 1/4" of the base bolts so they wouldn't scrape and bind anymore.
No wonder the cross-bolts are snapping. The plastic guide design is seriously lacking....
Well guys, today while installing a TruckVault as the base of my bed, I discovered that the upper, plastic guide (passenger side) in the metal track, was off its "mount". I had to use a screwdriver to get it back on the metal frame, but it kept coming back off when I put the top up and down. What a POS this design is.
Heck, Ive only had this top up and down maybe 20 times in a year. After all, I'm still in building mode.
I also discovered that the support poles base bolts were scraping along the base frame sides, causing binding and bending (see scrapes and 1 bent bolt in pic).
The plastic track SHOULD have been glued to the metal base, not just relying on a plastic press fit. As a fix, I drilled a hole on the base, next the plastic guide that keeps coming off. I then glued the guide on to the base, and then used a zip tie in the new hole, and around the end of the plastic guide and lubed copper with anti-seize
I also used 4 pieces of clear tubing, which I cut to about 5/8 lengths, then V-notched each end. These were then pressed into each end of the plastic guides to hold the ends in place.
I then trimmed off a 1/4" of the base bolts so they wouldn't scrape and bind anymore.
No wonder the cross-bolts are snapping. The plastic guide design is seriously lacking....
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TRegasaurus
Adventurer
Well it's too bad, I mean for the price of a Sportsmobile you would think you get quality workmanship.
4xdog
Explorer
Sportsmobile in post 44 stated they would take action when brought in. A lot of us following this thread think that it is now incumbent on you, 4X4TOUR, to contact them or this thread just becomes a rant. We understand your disappointment and frustration. Please, for all of us, give the manufacturer a chance to address your concerns. We don't need to know the details, but it would be useful to know if you feel better treated after you make contact.
Don
Don
4X4TOUR
New member
4x,
I understand what you're saying, but 2 days drive, hotel, time to take off from work etc... is not feasible at this time. And for what? I have the latest and greatest design, and don't see what they can change? I"ll have them mail me a new vinyl covered section, if anything... The rollers were too close together, which is why one side kept scraping the vinyl (section couldn't center itself). I solved this moving the roller a 1/4 inch out on the support bar. I cut the base bolts down to avoid further scraping, and I fixed the loose plastic roller guides.
THIS THREAD is to raise AWARENESS to these tops AND light wiring. Most SMB owners never take off the upholstery in this area, so why not give my fellow SMB'ers a heads up to potential problems? Why the hostility?
This isn't a "rant". It's a thread based on factual events, information that could possibly help someone from potential danger. It's my duty to disclose this safety information, IMO...
I understand what you're saying, but 2 days drive, hotel, time to take off from work etc... is not feasible at this time. And for what? I have the latest and greatest design, and don't see what they can change? I"ll have them mail me a new vinyl covered section, if anything... The rollers were too close together, which is why one side kept scraping the vinyl (section couldn't center itself). I solved this moving the roller a 1/4 inch out on the support bar. I cut the base bolts down to avoid further scraping, and I fixed the loose plastic roller guides.
THIS THREAD is to raise AWARENESS to these tops AND light wiring. Most SMB owners never take off the upholstery in this area, so why not give my fellow SMB'ers a heads up to potential problems? Why the hostility?
This isn't a "rant". It's a thread based on factual events, information that could possibly help someone from potential danger. It's my duty to disclose this safety information, IMO...
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4xdog
Explorer
No hostility intended at all! Sorry if the much more gentle tone intended doesn't come through the keyboard, 4X4TOUR. I'm on your side on this one. That craftsmanship is astoundingly poor, as I said way earlier. I think the awareness *has* been raised -- it has with me, fershure.
I wouldn't suggest for a minute that you go all the way to them at your time and expense to start the discussion -- in fact, it seems more like they owe the trip to you to make good. But it all starts with a phone call. That's all I'm gently suggesting. Given a chance to do the right by you when asked, as SMB offered, what do they come through with?
I wouldn't suggest for a minute that you go all the way to them at your time and expense to start the discussion -- in fact, it seems more like they owe the trip to you to make good. But it all starts with a phone call. That's all I'm gently suggesting. Given a chance to do the right by you when asked, as SMB offered, what do they come through with?
DEFENDERBEAM
strategic command
If the customer does not want smb to touch the van again due to obvious lack of integrity, I see no problem with sending out these pictures and story to the general public.
Funny how the administrators stick up for this crap workmanship by calling the thread "drama". Are they worried about smb's next sponsorship?
Why protect a company who is hiring non-qualified employees? And possibly has a poor design in the first place.
I still can't get over the tek screws and crackhead cutting of the roof sheet metal. Actually a crackhead might do a better job.
Honestly, the fact that this made it through any level of QC at smb makes me feel that smb DESERVES every bit of negative publicity. Plus the assumption that this cannot be the only one built like that.
I cannot think of one good escuse for that workmanship.
Funny how the administrators stick up for this crap workmanship by calling the thread "drama". Are they worried about smb's next sponsorship?
Why protect a company who is hiring non-qualified employees? And possibly has a poor design in the first place.
I still can't get over the tek screws and crackhead cutting of the roof sheet metal. Actually a crackhead might do a better job.
Honestly, the fact that this made it through any level of QC at smb makes me feel that smb DESERVES every bit of negative publicity. Plus the assumption that this cannot be the only one built like that.
I cannot think of one good escuse for that workmanship.
DEFENDERBEAM
strategic command
The beauty of the internet and its forums is exposing information like this, not concealing it to protect somebody's financial interest.
Why let any business continue to cut corners and charge top dollar for sub-par workmanship, even if they do sponsor this forum?
Why let any business continue to cut corners and charge top dollar for sub-par workmanship, even if they do sponsor this forum?
billwilson
Adventurer
Dont get me started 
. . . by posters who conceal their own identity, but attack the financial interest of others. Not awesome.
So OP, did you ever contact SMB as invited by its owner Jonathan Feld? I'm not standing up for what looks pretty awful, but you have the choice of letting him make right or just complaining out of spite. You choose the latter, I assume?
Wiring history
I have >175K on my Sportsmobile (1995) and lots of offroad miles.....The only wiring issue I experienced is that the harness from alternator to isolator shorted to chassis at about 160K. The splice was not well covered, a number of strands were broken due to overcrimping originally and the AWG of the wire from alternator to isolator was downsized from the ford harness. I fixed all that, altho it was pretty funny since troubleshooting by me and a shop didn't initially identify the cause of the wire fuse opening. But the second time it happened (offroad bouncing near steamboat springs) a month later I found it after crawling around underneath in a napa parking lot
But that failure was after a lot of years of bumps.....
All my experiences with them related to minor fixes and parts have been excellent. So if you have problems, call them and often they can walk you thru the solution.
I have been very satisfied with the results. They do answer the phone! I could pick at some of the workmanship, but these vehicles don't cost $200K+, they try to get them out the door relatively reasonably and support them downstream very well.
That said, their workmanship can vary and maybe it has over time......but I am happy and when this one wears out, I'll probably get another
Dont get me started
I have >175K on my Sportsmobile (1995) and lots of offroad miles.....The only wiring issue I experienced is that the harness from alternator to isolator shorted to chassis at about 160K. The splice was not well covered, a number of strands were broken due to overcrimping originally and the AWG of the wire from alternator to isolator was downsized from the ford harness. I fixed all that, altho it was pretty funny since troubleshooting by me and a shop didn't initially identify the cause of the wire fuse opening. But the second time it happened (offroad bouncing near steamboat springs) a month later I found it after crawling around underneath in a napa parking lot
But that failure was after a lot of years of bumps.....
All my experiences with them related to minor fixes and parts have been excellent. So if you have problems, call them and often they can walk you thru the solution.
I have been very satisfied with the results. They do answer the phone! I could pick at some of the workmanship, but these vehicles don't cost $200K+, they try to get them out the door relatively reasonably and support them downstream very well.
That said, their workmanship can vary and maybe it has over time......but I am happy and when this one wears out, I'll probably get another
4X4TOUR
New member
That, coming from "kjp1969"
You know what happens when you assume... Like the old adage, "fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me..." Complaining out of spite? Are you serious? Why don't you go to sportsmobileforum.com and read about the recent posts about slider damage and broken top support bolts? Did you actually look at my pictures???
Which employee are you? Just assuming...