Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-11-2018, 01:55 PM   #21
Member
 
ranchero's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Salida, CO
Posts: 76
Garage
I have one observation. I hated "living" in a pop top SMB, especially in a cold climate. It also makes stealth camping very uncomfortable if you're tall and have to sit inside with the top down.

So my new van is a high roof Transit. Love that for living, but I miss the pop top for views and light when camping.

If I was only going camping on weekends I think I would prefer the pop-top.

__________________
1990 Syncro Westy
XPCamper/NIMBL on 2007 Ram3500.
A few Cruisers
2006 E350 RB-31 MG Metalworks/UJOR 4x4 swap (on to another)
ranchero is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-16-2018, 01:12 PM   #22
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Western Colorado
Posts: 1,228
I echo what Ranchero said.
I had a pop top and purposely chose to do a hard top on my latest build. It's insulated, quiet and simple. No springs, actuators, pivot points or wiring to deal with. I can get up out of my seat and stand up.
__________________
Desert Solitaire
2003 7.3L EB 4x4
Timberline 4x4 conversion
saline is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-16-2018, 03:13 PM   #23
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 397
I have a poptop and I would do a hardtop if I did it again. They are super loud off-road.
Nrobert10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-16-2018, 03:29 PM   #24
Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 85
We had a VW Eurovan Camper for 17 years for just the 2 of us. The move to SMB was driven by more room, including headroom. I'm 5'8" and my wife is 5'7".

We chose a regular roof Sprinter with the Penthouse. At our height, we can easily walk around with the top down and not worry about hitting our heads, but if I was another inch taller it would be a different story. We did not get the optional bed, but got the Penthouse for headroom, light, and ventilation. A high roof would have added more wind resistance (and side wind considerations) in addition to having no real ventilation without adding vents and fans.

We've been very pleased with our SMB Penthouse. The only thing I would change is to have SMB install a manual switch for the rear lights instead of the switch which engages when the top comes down (something I intend to rectify).
Klompen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-16-2018, 05:33 PM   #25
ctb
Senior Member
 
ctb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Illinois
Posts: 817
Garage
Send a message via AIM to ctb
Penthouse FOR SURE! I know we all have our opinions, BUT, it's one of the MAIN reasons for letting Sportsmobile do your conversion....it sets you apart from all the others (converters)and gives you the
sleep upstairs" option....my wife's FAVORITE part of the van...opening the windows and sleeping in to a nice gentle breeze (additional sleeping too), allows you to stand up (I own a E350) TAKE PICS from your window, better views, and (again) you could have just about any other converter do it if you don't do a penthouse...GET IT MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never driven one w/o so I couldn't speak on decibels, but we are more than fine (volume wise that is)....I just don't see why you wouldn't (go electric for SURE)....and you are ALREADY spending 9/10 of a BUNCH of $ on the rest, go the full tilt and blame it on RE-SALE!!! LOL! Good luck!

Ps We have a furnace, but if it temp drops below 40 degrees we still use alligator clips to hang blankets around the top(5 min process and we have the extra blankets) and drop the back half of the penthouse bed to create a smaller area to heat...never had a problem of being cold...hope this helps and helps future members using the "search" button for this very question!!
Attached Thumbnails
IMG_4798.jpg   IMG_4751.jpg   IMG_2355.jpg   IMG_1242.jpg   IMG_8146.jpg  

IMG_0074.jpg  
__________________
'13 MDX 'BigBlackmobeebs'
'01 Lexus 430 LS 'Luxobeebs
'20 Tacoma TRD OR 'Tacobeebs'
ctb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-16-2018, 07:46 PM   #26
Senior Member
 
ShuttlePilot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 632
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nrobert10 View Post
I have a poptop and I would do a hardtop if I did it again. They are super loud off-road.
Mine was insanely loud for years even on a bumpy interstate because the penthouse springs were slapping the insides of the metal frame. I zip tied short strips of carpet to the chain ends (the sliding, traveling end) of the springs. Springs and top are completely quiet even on a washboard road. I don't remember where I saw something similar, most likely here. Not sure if your springs are what's loud but there is a solution to that. Now it's all my cabinets and junkthat's in them that drives me crazy on a bad road.

Regarding pop top or not. I would be happy either way as there are advantages I would be happy with on either. But, I would only do tin top OEM or ELECTRIC penthouse. I feel my manual penthouse is kind of the least desirable configuration. I have all the disadvantages of the the PH, not overloading with weight being the biggest, and, because it's manual, I don't put it up as much as I could because of lifting it. Mine is pretty well balanced but still a chore to lift compared to pushing a button. This will hopefully be my forever van so I'm fine the way it is but the question was what I would do different if I had the choice.

- Eric
__________________
2005 SMB RB 4x4 6.0 PSD
A rocket on the pad is safe,
but it's not what rockets are built for.
ShuttlePilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-16-2018, 08:28 PM   #27
Senior Member
 
MountainBikeRoamer's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: OrangeCounty, CA
Posts: 1,275
Garage
Sigh....
.....This is **forever** going to be a question that truly has no definitive answer. And that will have equal amounts of both "I made the right choice!" confidence and also "the grass does look kinda greener...." sentiments in both camps.

The "grass is greener" sentiments are worth pondering for sure. Which set of regrets would bother you the most? To wit:

People with penthouse roofs (which includes myself) will always have a bit of secret "fixed-roof envy":

- "Man, I wish I had the sheer volume of awesome cupboards and storage like those fixed-roof guys all seem to have..."
- "Jeez, I wish our penthouse van was better at keeping outside noises out...."
- "It must be nice to be able to camp/boondock so stealthily....without drawing attention like we do whenever we pop the penthouse top up...."
- "Dude! Your fixed roof van stays SO nice and warm when it's cold out!!!"
- "Dang! Your fixed roof doesn't make noises every time the van hits a big bump?? Wow...yeah, we just kinda get used to hearing the penthouse roof frequently shift around....yep, it "talks to us" a lot when the van is off-road for sure...."

And of course I imagine that the fixed-roof guys have their own secret "penthouse roof envy" thoughts.....

- "Man, every time I tell someone I have a Sportsmobile, they ALWAYS look bummed when I tell them it's not a pop-top...."
- "Holy crap....that penthouse roof van stays SUPER comfortable even on a hot day in direct sun!!! Amazing how opening all those zipper windows makes it perfect temperature inside....man, I wish we could get that amount of flow-through breezes on our fixed-roof...."
- "Yeah, we're not going to be able to drive up that trail and follow you under those tree branches...."
- "Jeez, for just a little bit more sunlight inside this cave of a van...."
- "Okay, yeah, for sure....sleeping up top in that penthouse just looks freakin' rad...."

Clearly the only solution is to own more than one Sportsmobile.
__________________
Mike T
___________________
'95 Ford E250 RB30 PH
MountainBikeRoamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-16-2018, 08:53 PM   #28
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
This is almost like a Ford vs. Chevy question, or dare I say, a gas vs. diesel question.

There isn't single answer to this question, it all depends on your preferences, your intended uses, and frankly where you're going to use it.

Personally I loved the penthouse in my SMB, and I'd go that route again, especially if I traveled in heavily wooded areas due to improved clearance through the trees. If I frequented very rainy or very cold regions a hardtop might make more sense.


Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
BroncoHauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2018, 12:00 AM   #29
RCR
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 13
https://www.coloradocampervan.com/po...aItem-j3uklvk6
Colorado Camper Can puts a penthouse on a medium roof van, unlike SMB, and when it's in the up position, it offers more headroom than SMB's. They will also put a fan in the pop up, unlike SMB. Best of both worlds.
My new van goes into SMB production this Nov. 148LR T350 EcoBoost 3.73LS w/ Quigley 4x4. Late lesson learned.
I'll love it, regardless!
RCR is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Sportsmobile Registry

Behemoth

Besags

AWOL

Twoxentrix
Add your Sportsmobile
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:24 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.