Pulled the trigger today!!!

[Bullsnake]

After a year of mulling it over, planning, more mulling, a few trips West, we FINALLY pulled the trigger today and ordered our 2012 Sportsmobile Ford EB! The more I spoke with the guys out on the West coast the more excited I became, and now, with the deposit check sent, it is hard to believe that it is actually a reality!

There are five in my family, and we have used everything from an H1 Hummer wagon to a Defender 110 for travel vehicles for off road adventures over the last several years, but I have always thought that the Sportsmobile would be the ultimate "base camp that you can mildly wheel" platform. The wife, kids, and I are all excited, and I will be sure to post up as things progress.

Anybody out there that can shoot me some pictures of what your rig looks like please post up! Considering the size of my family and our travel needs, we are more than likely going to do a variation of either floor plan 27 or 31, and will kit it up for wandering far away from our Midwest home to camp, mountain bike, kayak, dual sport, or anything else that involves getting out and enjoying the great outdoors!:wings::wings::wings:

 

[Overland Hadley]

and will kit it up for wandering far away from our Midwest home to camp, mountain bike, kayak, dual sport, or anything else that involves getting out and enjoying the great outdoors!:wings::wings::wings:

Sounds like a great plan! Congrats!

 

[EMrider]

Congrats, you will have many great family adventures in the SMB.

We are also a family of 5 and have used our SMB often over the past 5-6 years.

We have the standard EB51 layout with an extra captain's chair. That setup works well.

IMHO, sleeping 5 in the van is doable, but not recommended. Too cramped. We typically put the kids in a tent and everyone is happy.

Good luck with the build.
R

 

[loren85022]

Congrats! Nothing better than tracking along with an SBM build. I concur that sleeping 5 in the van seems cramped for any duration. A tent will be a great place to unload luggage and the kids.

 

[Bullsnake]

Thanks everyone!

I have purchased Dendy's old adventure trailer (Conqueror) a few weeks ago and I had the same thought - it'd be nice to have some spread out room! The family all loves annual trips to Moab, and Colorado both summer and winter, as well as a trip to the ocean somewhere every other year or so. I guess my plan is to have this be more of a super capable "conversion van" than long term camping rig. We all love biking, hiking, surfing, and Kayaking, so this should hopefully be the ultimate base camp for our activities. The ability to sleep in it and camp through a long weekend has HUGE appeal, as we have never had an overland vehicle to date that has been capable of that.

It's funny, but since placing the order my thoughts on vacations has started to shift from once or twice a year "events" to doing random searches on Google maps to see how far I can get away from home for a long weekend!

 

[Overland Hadley]

It's funny, but since placing the order my thoughts on vacations has started to shift from once or twice a year "events" to doing random searches on Google maps to see how far I can get away from home for a long weekend!

I have been finding the same thing is happening while I work on my camper build.

Having everything ready to go, plus having a place that is out of the rain/bugs and is heated makes a quick weekend out a lot more feasible.

 

[Chris]

Get your self registered with the Sportsmobileforum and check out the gallery of photos there. If theres anything specific you need a photo of let me know and if I dont already have one I''l take one and send it..


CONGRATS!


:ylsmoke:

 

[Bullsnake]

Thanks everyone for the kind words and encouragement! I know that there are some mixed reviews on Sportsmobiles build quality by some, but after looking at several and comparing it to other turn key "class B" options, it definitely will fill the bill for my family! If I had the time I would build my own from scratch, but work, family, and other family obligations at this point in my life make this my only option at this point. The truck should be ready sometime late January / early February, and the family and I are already counting down the days until we can get in it for the first time!

I do have another question - I received a letter today confirming my deposit, and it stated that the truck either needs to be delivered to us here in Iowa, or we need to meet them somewhere outside of the state of California to avoid paying the in state taxes of close to 8%! Seeing as how I am going to have to pay close to 6% once I get it back to Iowa I am definitely going to pick it up out of state, but I was just wondering what some others have done on their pickups. As a cattleman February is a VERY busy month for me, and with the kids in school I don't have the luxury of going out a week or two before to go through the truck, and then get on a plane and go out again with the family a few days later to pick the truck up. I am planning on pulling the kids out of class about mid-week, loading everyone on a plane and fly out to drive the new rig home. We are toying with having Sportsmobile drop the truck in Vegas or Texas and just flying into there to run home, the problem is that it would really, REALLY be nice to have someone go over the truck with us before we head out!

Any suggestions?

Chris, I am already registered over at the Sportsmobile Forum as Cowboywanderer - strangely enough Bullsnake was already taken! I have been picking through that site as well and there is a lot of good information there as well!

Thanks again everyone!

OT- as this forum doesn't really have a great thread yet, post up pictures of your Sportsmobile! New, old, whatever you have inside and out to keep the fires burning and help me count down the days until we get the call that it's done!

 

[Overland Hadley]

Any suggestions?

I sent you a PM, if you are interested in going out and going over the rig, and then having it delivered to Iowa.

 

[ExpoMike]

I recall when Trailmonkey picked up their Sportmobile. They spent a couple days using it within driving distance to the factory. They were able to go back and have a couple things tweaked on before heading back home. Just another thought to think about.

Congrats!

 

[ujoint]

Congrats & we need build pics along the way!!

 

[UnfrozenCaveman]

Oh for goodness sakes

I just heard about this over the weekend, we'll have to give it a welcome home party when it gets here :drool:

Cheers,

KAA

 

[Bullsnake]

Thanks U-Joint and Monkeyboy! Ujoint-when the kids are out of the house and I finally get my shop/time back (not in a rush as I love having the kids around and time goes by too fast as it is!) I am DEFINITELY going to do a build with you more along the lines of a custom launch platform for my dual sport bikes and water sports! You have done some EPIC builds in the past, and I am always looking forward to seeing your next conversion!

Monkeyboy - I'll try and catch up with you this week-I still want to get together at least once before the snow flies and get out with the trucks again!

 

[ujoint]

Thanks U-Joint and Monkeyboy! Ujoint-when the kids are out of the house and I finally get my shop/time back (not in a rush as I love having the kids around and time goes by too fast as it is!) I am DEFINITELY going to do a build with you more along the lines of a custom launch platform for my dual sport bikes and water sports! You have done some EPIC builds in the past, and I am always looking forward to seeing your next conversion!

Sounds good! You know where to find me!