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 05-04-2007, 06:46 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
PeasBugs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Soquel, CA
Posts: 154
Suggestions on options you can't live without

I am in the process of purchasing a Sportsmobile. The van body will be in the shop near the first of June. I was wondering if there were any particular options owners really liked and why? In that same line are there options that were a waste of money?

__________________
2007 Sportsmobile EB-50 4X4 6.0 Diesel with extras
PeasBugs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2007, 08:55 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
danamrak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 193
Have only had ours a few months and only been on one 8 day trip. So far I cant think of anything we would do differnt. We have the Ford extended body with the penthouse top. We have the EB17 without the water and propane. On the drivers side is the frig/microwave, pantry, closet and my side of the dinette/bed. On the passenger side is just my husbands side of the dinette/bed. He is 6' 4" so his side is quite a bit longer than mine. We have both side doors unobstructed which is what we like. We have lots of storage under the two dinette/beds. Also have the swivel seats.
I have to say that the beds are very comfortable. We are former tent campers and for us this works just great. Plan on going on a 3 week trip next week. Cant wait.
__________________
Dick and Anne

DABEE a 2006 Ford EB250 with penthouse top.
Life Is Good.
danamrak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2007, 09:42 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
jage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,643
danamrak: we'll be expecting trip photos!

Peas: One thing I've learned is SMB will not add the Starcool after the van is built, and the other is that they will not add a stove (at least to one van I was looking at- although I'm finding it hard to not imagine taking a plunge router to the counter-top and doing it myself!)

Other than that for me 4x4 is absolutely essential, but beyond that I can't comment because I haven't got an SMB yet! wah!
__________________
it was good to be back
jage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2007, 10:41 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
PeasBugs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Soquel, CA
Posts: 154
jage: I plan on a 350 EB Diesel 4x4 with the 50 floorplan. I am very interested in the idea of not having propane. Just running everything off of the diesel fuel. I do need water, and heat is a must. I figured I could just use the portable coleman stove I already have. It would be nice to have AC but I was told that the "12V AC" could only be used with the motor running on the vehicle. I have had one of those Fantastic Fans in a camper I used to have and I think I used it more than the AC. It worked well.
__________________
2007 Sportsmobile EB-50 4X4 6.0 Diesel with extras
PeasBugs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2007, 10:46 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
jage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,643
Yeah I've heard the propane tank is underneath and some people don't like that with 4x4. You can get a diesel cooktop but it's $$$. I think badgertrek.com has one...

But we're way off topic! :roll:
__________________
it was good to be back
jage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2007, 10:55 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
PeasBugs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Soquel, CA
Posts: 154
jage: I think the propane tank is pretty well protected. For me it is just having one less thing to deal with (propane that is). I do like the idea of being able to take the stove outside and cook when I want to. You can't if the stove is built in like the fixed propane stoves. The diesel stove is interesting but expensive(for a stove).
__________________
2007 Sportsmobile EB-50 4X4 6.0 Diesel with extras
PeasBugs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2007, 11:47 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
jage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,643
True, I too prefer to cook outside the van when camped, but I'm both vegetarian and allergic to wheat...

think about that for a moment...

pretty much means even when I'm on the Interstates there is no where for me to eat (hashbrowns and eggs get old after breakfast, lunch, dinner and breakfast again) so for my personal need, being able to throw something on the stove in a minute without having to setup and stow is essential. But regardless of whether I have a cooktop I'll have a portable for in camp cooking.

One upside to the diesel cooktop could be eliminating the propane, but a portable does that as well. Plus with propane you're cooking as soon as the stove is lit.
__________________
it was good to be back
jage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2007, 07:01 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Scalf77's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 2,490
With a PH Top I find the electric lift essential, if you want to carry much on top. I have also found the air-conditioning to be a big plus, and I would say mostly when I am driving, the output of vehicle AC struggles to cool with out the Starcool turned on. I have a Propane cook top installed. I have cooked on it twice, once to try and one time as an extra burner. (Cook out side with portable). I was thinking I could delete and just use the portable inside if needed. Other then that I use the Propane for a heater, which I would consider a must, but you have other options then propane. Also the under the floor storage gets a big plus.
__________________
-greg
__________________________________________________ ______________
"Goldilocks" 2020 Ford Transit High Roof Extended 3.5 EcoBoost AWD Homebuilt
Scalf77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2007, 09:22 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
PeasBugs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Soquel, CA
Posts: 154
I am going to get the large under floor storage. I toured to shop the other day and was suprised that many of the vans that were in the works didn't have the under floor storage. On a seperate note I just wanted to say that I like this format much better than the format on the Yahoo sportsmobile owners board. The Yahoo site has a big base of knowledge but is difficult to follow.
__________________
2007 Sportsmobile EB-50 4X4 6.0 Diesel with extras
PeasBugs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2007, 01:06 PM   #10
Member
 
Colorado Ken's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Freeport, ME
Posts: 49
Underfloor Storage

Keep in mind that the underfloor storage may limit other items. For instance, in my RB SMB, I am not able to have the gray water tank because I have the underfloor storage and 46 Gallon fuel tank ( I think those are the only two limiters). I decided this is OK since I only plan to have minimal use of the sink (filling dog bowls, etc.). If I need it for anything more I can attach the collapsable water jug for recovery.
__________________
Ken Keister
Freeport, ME
Red 6.0 E350 Ford PH 4x4 Semi-Custom Floorplan

Buy My Sportsmobile: BigRed4X4Van.com

See my Personal Picture Gallery or my Stupid Blog
Colorado Ken 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

» 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 09:37 AM.


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