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 11-02-2012, 03:49 PM   #1
Member
 
Kayaker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Roaming
Posts: 62
UJoint V4 Awsome at SEMA

Check out the expedition van taken to the next level, live from SEMA:
http://www.exploringelements.com/sema-n ... ur-dreams/

__________________
'02 Sportsmobile E350: Quigly 4x4, Pop-Top, 7.3L Diesel
www.ExploringElements.com
Kayaker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2012, 08:19 PM   #2
Member
 
MTDewX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 68
Re: UJoint V4 Awsome at SEMA

SaWeet!

that is all I got to say about that.
MTDewX8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2012, 08:43 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
jage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,643
Re: UJoint V4 Awsome at SEMA

NO.

You lose everything that is valuable about a van, gain everything bad about a bubble B without the benefits, get an impossible engine bay without any advantage over a F series, all on a platform that's scheduled to be out of production.

This is so wrong in so many ways, and it only needs a built in ATV to be more garish and useless.



Edit: sorry Chris
__________________
it was good to be back
jage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2012, 08:32 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
twogone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Taylor, Mississippi
Posts: 1,648
Re: UJoint V4 Awsome at SEMA

Yep, mixed thoughts on this rig:
Really attractive "look" on first sight, and big ol' congrats to Chris on the execution, all-pro.
Is it the beer goggles, or am I really seeing 8 shox up front. Ride quality? Height issues?
Agree with Jage, some loss of utility compared to regular ol' vans.
Gotta love a brother for trying something new, and completing the thought.

OK, Chris, we need to hear from you, your reviews on the overall utility of this new thang, 'cause none of us have any way to gauge without your voice.
__________________
'95 SMB E350 Quigley 7.3
https://www.taylorarts.com
... If you have to ask, you'll never understand...
"... torpedo'd, because we don't generally cotton to bullshit around here." -jage
"... do they ooch apart in the night?" -Dia
twogone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2012, 08:35 AM   #5
REF
Senior Member
 
REF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Boulder, CO.
Posts: 2,552
Send a message via MSN to REF
UJoint V4 Awsome at SEMA

Wow, that's a bit harsh there Jeremiah. I think it's pretty unique. 17 MPG!, I'd be more than psyched to get anywhere near that with my 7.3, As far as a soon to be discontinued chassis, I think the whole point is that this can be retrofitted onto older van bodies. I really like that front bumper and those rear lights are slick, I've been wanting to find something on a smaller scale to fit into my reunel rear bumper where I currently have some upgraded LED back up lights. Nice work!
__________________
'03 Ford E350 7.3L Diesel
(de)SMB'd Custom RB-50
Quigley 4X4 w/Deavers & Agile Offroad's R.I.P. package
CCV High Profile Pop Top
REF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2012, 09:29 AM   #6
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
Re: UJoint V4 Awsome at SEMA

I think Jage was secretly hoping that Chris would be performing this modification on one of the new Nissan vans!

Sure, you loose the connectivity of the cab with the house, but what other viable vehicle platforms options are there? Well, maybe Jage's point is that there are plenty of F-series pickups available and there's no word that they are going out of production.


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 11-03-2012, 06:45 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
jage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,643
Re: UJoint V4 Awsome at SEMA

Quote:
Originally Posted by BroncoHauler
Well, maybe Jage's point is that there are plenty of F-series pickups availableb
Which gets you a LOT such as a workable engine bay, uptuned engine, a factory 4x4 system... the room under the engine for a live axle...

I'm not questioning the quality of the build, but seriously it looks like you can't even jump in the back without doing the full popup. It looks very Dakar volunteer or "go tour Siberia in the spring" capable. In fact it looks just like an old european built unimog camper I saw tooling around Yellowstone in 1997.

Still, I don't see the utility beyond "hey look how much MORE of everything my rig is" because either a van would be better, a pickup would be better, or a mog would be better depending on the actual application.

That's like, just my opinion man.
__________________
it was good to be back
jage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2012, 06:55 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
twogone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Taylor, Mississippi
Posts: 1,648
Re: UJoint V4 Awsome at SEMA

and, it is, after all, 135 big bux (if I read that right) Need to hear from ya' Chris... tell how it jus' plain rocks!
__________________
'95 SMB E350 Quigley 7.3
https://www.taylorarts.com
... If you have to ask, you'll never understand...
"... torpedo'd, because we don't generally cotton to bullshit around here." -jage
"... do they ooch apart in the night?" -Dia
twogone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2012, 08:49 PM   #9
Site Team
 
macmcintire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 1,537
Re: UJoint V4 Awsome at SEMA

I found the ladder very scary to climb into and out of the rig, particularly out. It was very unstable, the stairs were to small and there was no handrail on the steps or on the side of the rig by the door.
__________________
Mac McIntire
2003 Ford E250, 5.4L V8,
macmcintire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2012, 11:36 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,715
UJoint V4 Awsome at SEMA

It doesn't look as cool as the smb econolines. Bucks stop there for me.
Ocsmb 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

Wanderjahr

wanderers

Betsy

Dave&Di
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 08:33 AM.


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