With all of your posts on the Sportsmobile Forum...I am surprised that you forgot to mention Sportsmobile in this list of Class B conversion companies???
Leisure Travel Van 4x4 Conversion
- Thread starter louie71
- Start date
With all of your posts on the Sportsmobile Forum...I am surprised that you forgot to mention Sportsmobile in this list of Class B conversion companies???
XtremeOffRoad4x4
Observer
4x4 rv
I wouldn't do it on a Leisure Travel,it's all fiberglass after the cab and you don't want that you WILL be getting stress cracks very quickly. Off course depending on what you're using it for. You should do it on a 90-96 Chevy RT 210, or a 90-2003 Dodge RT.
I wouldn't do it on a Leisure Travel,it's all fiberglass after the cab and you don't want that you WILL be getting stress cracks very quickly. Off course depending on what you're using it for. You should do it on a 90-96 Chevy RT 210, or a 90-2003 Dodge RT.
Photog
Explorer
I would definitely stick with a class B that still has the metal body, not the widened fiberglass body. There is usually a flimsy metal cage, inside the fiberglass structure. This would not last long on washboard roads, or hitting a few hidden dips or wash-outs.
The 4 seats and separate bed can be had in a Roadtrek 190 Versatile. We have one of these, and plan to add 4X4 to it. We currently have a 4" lift, to get its belly off the ground. Even with 4X4 and the typical 6" lift, the side tanks and storage will be much lower than a Sportsmobile.
I don't know how much of a frame, the old Dodge vans had. I thought they were uni-body type. The Ford and Chevy vans are built on a frame, and easy to add 4X4 parts.
Quigley just add the IFS parts from a 2500 Silverado, and a transfer case, to the Chevy vans.
Sportsmobile would not add 4X4 to our Chevy Roadtrek; so we will be taking it to Advanced 4X4, in Salt Lake City. We may get the rear axle upgraded at the same time. Either a full floating or duelly axle.
Here is a Chinook Concourse 4X4, with a diesel engine. These are actually a Class C RV.
http://www.chinookrvs.com/rvinventory_item.asp?id=698998
The Chinook Baja came in 4X4, and had cabover sleeping.
photo by: Hawk Creek Outdoors . com
photo by: Steve (Sudsratt on Surf Talk Forum)
The 4 seats and separate bed can be had in a Roadtrek 190 Versatile. We have one of these, and plan to add 4X4 to it. We currently have a 4" lift, to get its belly off the ground. Even with 4X4 and the typical 6" lift, the side tanks and storage will be much lower than a Sportsmobile.
I don't know how much of a frame, the old Dodge vans had. I thought they were uni-body type. The Ford and Chevy vans are built on a frame, and easy to add 4X4 parts.
Quigley just add the IFS parts from a 2500 Silverado, and a transfer case, to the Chevy vans.
Sportsmobile would not add 4X4 to our Chevy Roadtrek; so we will be taking it to Advanced 4X4, in Salt Lake City. We may get the rear axle upgraded at the same time. Either a full floating or duelly axle.
Here is a Chinook Concourse 4X4, with a diesel engine. These are actually a Class C RV.
http://www.chinookrvs.com/rvinventory_item.asp?id=698998
The Chinook Baja came in 4X4, and had cabover sleeping.
photo by: Hawk Creek Outdoors . com
photo by: Steve (Sudsratt on Surf Talk Forum)
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louie71
Observer
The Chinooks look sweet and just checking out things online I found a baja that isn't ridiculously out of our price range. However, it doesn't look like it has cabover sleeping or a sleeping set up that can accomodate four people. The other thing I get hung up on is I have a five and a seven year old and really feel they need to be in a forward facng seat with shoulder belts when were traveling.
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Herbie
Rendezvous Conspirator
Yeah, it is amazing to me the number of "full size" class-b layouts that seem to be built for a "couple" only. There are so many layouts with a single gaucho couch/bed, no overhead sleeping, that seem nice but completely fall apart when faced with a couple of children (or carseats!) added to the mix.
For our family, the classic "Westfalia" or RB/EB-50 layout with a forward facing bench/bed and a pop-up bed was pretty much the only way to go.
louie71
Observer
Yea...that's why I really seem to be stuck on a sportsmobile as we really like the top bunk sleeping option and the seating options you can get with a sportsmobile. Plus I won't get hassled by my HOA for parking it in my driveway. We just have yet to find anything with our setup that we can afford. I really thought we were going to get our hands on one a week ago, but at the last second the owner decided he wanted to keep it 
Leisure Travel Van conversion
Hello Everyone, new to posting but been trolling for a long time. I have been looking for a camper van, on a budget and have a chance at a Leisure travel van 2002 Freedom2A at a good price and went looking on this forum for thoughts. I found this thread and hope resurrecting it isn't inappropriate. Its very similar to what I am considering doing. We will be traveling from home in Alaska to Chile this year, leaving in June. Been thinking 2007 Chevy Duramax diesel 3500 with a new Hallmark pop up camper, went to the factory and designed it and everything, spent 3 days there, but that's about $70k investment when all added up and its hard for me to make a decision at those cost levels, though I wish I could! Now I'm on to thinking about a van so we have hard walls around us for noise, maybe security though not worried about it. I have spent a lot of time in Central America and South America, and did Florida to Cabo to Prudhoe Bay in a Ford Explorer 9 months with a tent, but bringing the wife and dog this time.
So About this Fiberglass body concern noted in this thread - aren't boats made of fiberglass and take a pounding? Wouldn't fiberglass be easy to repair with basic marine fiberglass resin? What am I missing about this concern? The Leisure Van's Dodge 318 5.2L V8 seems to be very reliable, I would want to at least lift it or lock the rear and preferably 4x4, but seeing the thoughts in this thread might reconsider 4x4 and live without it. We plan on lots of back roads, to remote beach and mountain sites, but nothing hardcore or major off road stuff. Looked at Roadtreks - would have yo do the same mods and they seem to be very expensive even when used. Looked at 2010 last weekend with 44k miles, generator doesn't work, low capacity inverter, veneer peeling, curtain track rivets pulled out, electric seat didn't work - all pretty minor but @ $59k - can't see it.
This decision is so hard to make! The tent method was a lot easier but need a little more comfort now!
Thanks for any advice/thoughts.
Jay
Hello Everyone, new to posting but been trolling for a long time. I have been looking for a camper van, on a budget and have a chance at a Leisure travel van 2002 Freedom2A at a good price and went looking on this forum for thoughts. I found this thread and hope resurrecting it isn't inappropriate. Its very similar to what I am considering doing. We will be traveling from home in Alaska to Chile this year, leaving in June. Been thinking 2007 Chevy Duramax diesel 3500 with a new Hallmark pop up camper, went to the factory and designed it and everything, spent 3 days there, but that's about $70k investment when all added up and its hard for me to make a decision at those cost levels, though I wish I could! Now I'm on to thinking about a van so we have hard walls around us for noise, maybe security though not worried about it. I have spent a lot of time in Central America and South America, and did Florida to Cabo to Prudhoe Bay in a Ford Explorer 9 months with a tent, but bringing the wife and dog this time.
So About this Fiberglass body concern noted in this thread - aren't boats made of fiberglass and take a pounding? Wouldn't fiberglass be easy to repair with basic marine fiberglass resin? What am I missing about this concern? The Leisure Van's Dodge 318 5.2L V8 seems to be very reliable, I would want to at least lift it or lock the rear and preferably 4x4, but seeing the thoughts in this thread might reconsider 4x4 and live without it. We plan on lots of back roads, to remote beach and mountain sites, but nothing hardcore or major off road stuff. Looked at Roadtreks - would have yo do the same mods and they seem to be very expensive even when used. Looked at 2010 last weekend with 44k miles, generator doesn't work, low capacity inverter, veneer peeling, curtain track rivets pulled out, electric seat didn't work - all pretty minor but @ $59k - can't see it.
This decision is so hard to make! The tent method was a lot easier but need a little more comfort now!
Thanks for any advice/thoughts.
Jay
hurstjd
Adventurer
Hello Waves,
We were in the same boat as you a year ago. We were looking at a Pleasure-way and was going to convert it to 4x4 like this one: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/116204-E350-Pleasure-Way-Van-4wd. Then we went to the Overland Expo in Arizona last April and decided to do something like a SportsMobile (but much cheaper). We ended up buying a 1997 Airstream B190. We took it to Advanced 4x4 in Salt Lake City and had it converted to 4x4 and added the Aluminess bumper. Check out my build thread here (includes costs): http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/128375-Advanced-4x4-Build-1997-Airstream-B190
We were in the same boat as you a year ago. We were looking at a Pleasure-way and was going to convert it to 4x4 like this one: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/116204-E350-Pleasure-Way-Van-4wd. Then we went to the Overland Expo in Arizona last April and decided to do something like a SportsMobile (but much cheaper). We ended up buying a 1997 Airstream B190. We took it to Advanced 4x4 in Salt Lake City and had it converted to 4x4 and added the Aluminess bumper. Check out my build thread here (includes costs): http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/128375-Advanced-4x4-Build-1997-Airstream-B190
Wow! awesome build! So many good ideas and info in that build thread. Thanks - I'm serious about doing something similar. I may have some questions for you when I get started.
Still happy with everything?
GNTY
Adventurer
I had a lot of the same issues when looking for a great family rig. Forward facing, short and nimble, 4x4, ample "comfortable" sleeping arrangements for minimum 4, a bathroom/shower for the wife, and extremely good build quality etc. I went with this 20' 4 season bigfoot class C, added a ujoint kit and have never looked back, absolutly love it and checks everything off the list for us, except shoulder belts at the dinet, kids are still in car seats. Sometimes the search is best part.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/123707-Oakland-Bigfoot-20-Class-C-4x4/page6
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/123707-Oakland-Bigfoot-20-Class-C-4x4/page6
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Bummer - pics don't show up " no longer available"
hurstjd
Adventurer
Sounds good. I would be happy to help as much as I can.
Right now, the van has pretty much been just a project. We do plan on taking it to Colorado in June for a week. So, far I've been pretty happy with the purchase. These vans do have some sway to them since they are top-heavy. Putting in the new suspension helped a bunch but I still had some sway going around corners, etc. I'm getting ready to install the Roadmaster Active Suspension (http://www.activesuspension.com/). I'm hoping that will help with the sway issues. Other than that I like that this van gives us everything we need in a small package. Should make us nimble enough to do lots of exploring.
Right now, the van has pretty much been just a project. We do plan on taking it to Colorado in June for a week. So, far I've been pretty happy with the purchase. These vans do have some sway to them since they are top-heavy. Putting in the new suspension helped a bunch but I still had some sway going around corners, etc. I'm getting ready to install the Roadmaster Active Suspension (http://www.activesuspension.com/). I'm hoping that will help with the sway issues. Other than that I like that this van gives us everything we need in a small package. Should make us nimble enough to do lots of exploring.
GNTY
Adventurer
Oops...fixed now
Hi hurstjd,
I watched the video on that active suspension website, looks like it might do the job and seems easy to install. By the way, I'm interested in your mpg post conversion, do you know what your mpg is for your van after the 4x4 conversion?
Thx,
Waves
Look for a Tiger
If you want the 4 forward facing seats with sleeping for four and a walk thru connection from the cab to the camper, a Tiger by Provan built on an extended cab is a great option, if you can find a used one.
Here is a link to a standard cab which still seats 4 (2 sideways in the back)
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/rvs/4822639232.html
-Sam
If you want the 4 forward facing seats with sleeping for four and a walk thru connection from the cab to the camper, a Tiger by Provan built on an extended cab is a great option, if you can find a used one.
Here is a link to a standard cab which still seats 4 (2 sideways in the back)
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/rvs/4822639232.html
-Sam
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