Hop swiss....

ChkouMoon · 04-02-2009, 07:50 PM

hi from switzerland,
I am Oliver and I drive a 93Chevrolet Astro EXT AWD 4.3lt V6, I added a bed and... (((bass))) 2 15inchs speeker! cause I cant'travel without music!!!

I love drivin thru the Swiss-french-italian Alps

I wish I had a "SportsMobile" but they are too heavy for Switzerland

if you exceed the 3500kg(7700lbs) there are too many restrictions for driving.

I'm looking to buy a 1999 to 2005 Astro AWD.but this time I will make a more elaborate installation...

I lived in Mammoth Lakes (CA) 10 months
this is the place that opened my eyes to the possibilities of van 4X4...

j.whitbread · 04-02-2009, 10:28 PM

What about the Sprinter or VW?

saabman · 04-03-2009, 12:37 AM

Hi,

Nice pics of the mountains

An SMB can't be heavier than some of the large RV's driving around here.
And wouldn't a "light" SMB conversion on a RB with minimum equipment be under the 3500 kg mark? There is a thread somewhere about how much SMB's weigh...

Great to see the pics, there is a guy in my village who has a nice looking Astro in a very metallic blue color

saabman · 04-03-2009, 12:53 AM

Oh Chookmoon,

If you are interested a garage near me are selling a very nice 2000 (or 2001) Chevy Express Explorer conversion van. It has a high top and rear bed velour interior fully loaded with TV, DVD etc... Ready to roll for Switzerland with X homologation and Expertise. However it is only 2WD... It is located at the "EXNOVO" garage in l'Asse near Nyon (Google Map Link)

I almost bought it before I found my passenger van, but I needed the extra seating... I can fit 12 people in my Van

What I like about the US vans (Chevy/Ford) is that they are less "tinny" than the Sprinter and other European vans. The Sprinter however (not sure about the US engines) has awesome Merc diesel engines.

I can grab some photos if you want of this Van?

AndrewST · 04-03-2009, 02:20 AM

Hi Oliver,

An other swiss

The weight of a SMB is ,depending on the model, at the limit or over the 3.5T.

If you go for the E250, gas engine it fits under the limit easily.
With a E350, could be harder but not impossible I think or hope...

The european 4x4 vans have approx the same "offroad" ability and size as the Astro AWD.

Regards,
Andrew

MikewTV · 04-03-2009, 06:52 AM

I am impressed that we are getting a Swiss SMB group going here. Maybe it's time for you guys to open the 4th SMB franchise? Sportsmobile Schweiz!

saabman · 04-03-2009, 07:03 AM

Yup SMB's reputation stretches far afield

Especially for the EB version
OK I'm

NRL · 04-03-2009, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.whitbread

What about the Sprinter or VW?

Have you seen the "new" sprinters running around in Europe?

I was in in Switzerland and Northern Italy a few years ago and saw a bunch of Eurovans and Sprinters (the old one). I even saw a Toyota Sienna Hybrid Van that I have yet to see in the states even now..

The question is: how about the new sprinter? Spot one yet?

ChkouMoon · 04-04-2009, 06:17 PM

heuuu.. good question!
it is a personal view but I find most fun to drive a vehicle uncommon because Sprinter in Switzerland they are everywhere! each company, moving, and ... and ... post, police, finally, as in the U.S.

with the ford éconoline.y 's everywhere!!
I like the sound of the v8's v6,

I love the smell from the [A/C] in U.S. cars

(this may seem ridiculous but air conditioners have a particulary smell! but not like europeen its differente)
I like the 4X4 with the idea of going anywhere.
the European or Asian vehicle is not in my search criteria.

saabman · 04-06-2009, 01:54 AM

@NRL
Well I haven't seen many Sprinters in Camper form but loads of utility vans are sprinters. The most common vans over here are of course the VW vans with either factory pop-tops or westfalia, and the Mercedes Vito sort. They are all much more compact I guess so people can use them to commute as well...

Allot of the RV conversions like Adria are based on French, German & Italian vans like the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot, Ford Transit...

@Chookmoon
I agree with you the US vans do have that "Je ne sais quoi" that makes them special. I too like the V8, but most of all interior volume of the Full Sized vans is huge and they offer better equipment and comfort like AC, Cruise Control, silent operation for the gas engines (never tried the Diesel models)...
And amazingly fuel economy isn't that bad, allot of the eurovans state amazing mpg figures but when you get them loaded and on the real road things get quite different...

On my next trip by the way I am going to log carefully the fuel consumption according to the types of roads we shall be driving...