Well, I joined the site back in August and have mostly lurked in the Classified section. But then I saw this beauty on the Sportsmobile Website and pounced!
E250, 5.4l gasser, RB50, stove, micro, furnace, fridge, Starcool, rear exterior shower, and awning. Everything I wanted. Being from the desert the dark green has me worried about heat, but I'll be spending most of my time in the Colorado mountains so it won't be bad!
I'm more of a middle-weight in terms of my SMB needs. I've driven both V10's and diesels (the venerable 7.3) and found that their power is probably nice for EB's with lots of extra stuff to tow or up top, I just don't need that. The 5.4 on the E250 is a great combo of power/weight. And mileage? Got 16.8mpg to 14.7mpg from CA on 65mph two-lane to 75mph on I-70 through Utah driving back to Colorado. Went up Vail Pass at 50mph but was icy so I stayed slower, but up the Eisenhower Tunnel grade went 65mph the whole way -- 5.4l aren't underpowered!
Saw two other SMBs on the way home -- a '07+ 4x4 black pulling out of the Convict Lake turnoff on Sunday and another staying at Tecopa Hot Springs on Monday. See 'em in the coolest places!
Highlight was pulling into the Watchman Campground in Zion National Park at 8pm, popping the top and my daughter and I watching a movie before going to bed, furnace purring below. Woke up to Zion, yeah!
I hope to add Agile Offroad's TTB 4x4 system to this rig within a couple of years. Maybe some solar panels for extended stays. But I'll keep her modest, and it'll do...
It's great to be part of this!
later,
jan