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| SMB or Quigley: quality+function vs. cost difference? http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1119 |
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| Author: | dave_in_delaware [ Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:59 am ] |
| Post subject: | SMB or Quigley: quality+function vs. cost difference? |
I'm considering a Ford E350 EB V-8 (gas) van for my SMB conversion. The idea of having a 4x4 intrigues me. I'm not "sold" on it yet as being necessary here on the East Coast, but it's still a possibility. I'm not anticipating hitting MOAB or baja or rock climbing w/ it, but it could come in handy for beach trips, more off-the-beaten-path park/campground sites, crappy snowy winters, and the horrible bumpy/pothole roads around here. This will also be my daily driver.... I took a look at SMB's cost sheet, and since I'm inexperienced w/ the components of a 4x4, I have no idea what is better: Quigley: Ford front drive axle w/ 4-wheel ABS Coil Spring front suspension Manual lock-out hubs Magna Gear (Ford) #271 2 speed transfer case 4x4 indicator lights 5 ea Ford 17†|
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| Author: | jage [ Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SMB or Quigley: quality+function vs. cost difference? |
Quote: Ford front drive axle w/ 4-wheel ABS Used under F-250s and 350s. Known for ball joints failing in the late 90s and early 00s. Which means abnormal tire wear, klunking and about $700 in repair (if my 99 F250 with 40K and failed ball joints is any indication). Quote: Coil Spring front suspension In Jeeps my personal opinion is the coil front, leaf rear is the best ride. Coil vs. Spring is like gas vs. Diesel discussions, but essentially coils are a better ride and springs make for much less complicated suspension. Quote: Manual lock-out hubs SMB has the same thing, but Quigley's are probably the stock Ford. Either or both can be upgraded with better ones, but it's doubtful you will ever need better than the Ford. Quote: Magna Gear (Ford) #271 Do what now??? Quote: 2 speed transfer case Give you the option of 2wd, 4wd "Hi" which is the same speed as 2wd and 4wd "Lo" which is about 1/3 of the speed. Quote: 4x4 indicator lights
In SMB if the light is on the front axle is engaged. It doesn't tell you anything else. The Quigly might actually have lights that say "2wd, 4h, 4lo" or something along those lines. But it might just be an on off light. [quote]5 ea Ford 17†|
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| Author: | oclv [ Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
The 46 gal fuel tank, installed, runs over $1,400, so that would be quite a bit of the difference. Also, in your earlier posts you were looking at starting with a used van. Sportsmobile has definate guidelines on retro fitting 4x4 to used vans: year, mileage, etc. I bought my van used through them, and even though it was only a 2004 with 32,000 miles they didn't want to do it. oclv |
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| Author: | jage [ Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Panion got a real nice setup built at a 4x4 shop in Tucson, it has coil fronts but compares more to the SMB in clearance. That's always an option if you can find a good builder. |
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| Author: | dave_in_delaware [ Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Thank you, jage, for that detailed reply, and to you oclv - good point about converting to 4x4 on older years. Through my email conversations (more like Q&A sessions) with Quigley, they require a new, untitled vehicle to do the 4x4 conversion on. So I guess anything older or used is out of the question. |
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| Author: | bitburger [ Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Thanks Jage |
While it wasn't my question or thread, this was helpful to me as well. -Mark |
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| Author: | oclv [ Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
We went with Salem Kroger for our 4x4 conversion since Sportsmobile was out of the question. I am planning on picking it up this Friday. I will report back early next week. They have been doing them for about 20 years and have done hundreds. They also do ambulances, fire trucks, government vehicles. They were finishing up another Sportsmobile last week. oclv |
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| Author: | dave_in_delaware [ Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:33 am ] |
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oclv wrote: We went with Salem Kroger for our 4x4 conversion since Sportsmobile was out of the question. I am planning on picking it up this Friday. I will report back early next week. They have been doing them for about 20 years and have done hundreds....They were finishing up another Sportsmobile last week. oclv
May I ask why SMB was out of the question? Was it a timing issue or a quality issue? I had emailed SK and they sent me some nice info and pictures. And their lift sounds like it can be higher than Quigley and SMB, too, if I'd want it. |
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| Author: | Buji [ Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
I like my S&K ride. No negatives in 11k miles, has had semi-real offroad usage (enough to scrape the bottom of the rear anti-sway bar) and rides nice. I really enjoyed working with Craig, he was willing to put together whatever kind of upfit I wanted. |
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| Author: | dave_in_delaware [ Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:04 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Buji wrote: I like my S&K ride. No negatives in 11k miles, has had semi-real offroad usage (enough to scrape the bottom of the rear anti-sway bar) and rides nice.
I really enjoyed working with Craig, he was willing to put together whatever kind of upfit I wanted. Yeah, Craig is the one who emailed me. He provided lots of info in the first email. He said they recently finished a SMB w/ 37" tires and a 7" lift... Wow! How do you think your SK conversion (Ford parts) compares to what Guigley or SMB would have done? (i.e. better, not as good, same).... And in relation to what you paid for it? (Craig quoted me $14k for a conversion). I'm considering a SK conversion over the Quigley now, despite significant geographic differences.... |
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| Author: | deminimis [ Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:23 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Quadvan in Portland does conversions too (uses stock Super Duty parts for the most part). I think it was around $12k for the conversion (I may be off a bit). Two big upsides to doing it in Portland 1) No sale tax here in Oregon; 2) lots of good micro breweries to sample the local faire in while waiting for the conversion. |
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| Author: | oclv [ Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Our S&K will run closer to $18,000. Over their basic set up, we are adding the 46 gal fuel tank. This is because they have to cut down the stock 35 gal tank to about 29 gallons. I added bush whacker fender flares. Regearing the rear end back to the stock 4.10 so the transmission and speedometer work as stock. 17" wheels with 7,000 pound brakes and Toyo 285/75 17 AT tires. 4" lift instead of 3 1/2". Rear ladder. Re work the limited slip because of the new gearing. Might be more, but that's all I can remember right now. Sportsmobile has guidelines on mileage for conversion on used vans. I also got the idea that they have converted to the new 2008 Ford chasis improvements and were not really interested in doing anything older than 2008. oclv |
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| Author: | Buji [ Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
dave_in_delaware wrote: Yeah, Craig is the one who emailed me. He provided lots of info in the first email. He said they recently finished a SMB w/ 37" tires and a 7" lift... Wow!
How do you think your SK conversion (Ford parts) compares to what Guigley or SMB would have done? (i.e. better, not as good, same).... And in relation to what you paid for it? (Craig quoted me $14k for a conversion). I'm considering a SK conversion over the Quigley now, despite significant geographic differences.... That might be my van he's talking about, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's had more since mine was done last august. I'll be honest with you, thought I've jeeped pretty hardcore and spent a lot of weekends on trails for the past 15 years, I never was a hardcore 4x4 tech. I was always able to get wherever I wanted with my slightly modified jeep and careful driving methods. So... having said that, I can only go so far on the 'quality' aspect of the comparison. I did look at quigley when I was considering how to upfit my van, but I also live about an hour and a half from S&K, so that was a major factor in my decision. I think there's a lengthy post by me about my whole S&K experience, and my rationalizations. http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=272 What I can say: Haven't had any problems. Rides nice. crawled up a rock face about 45 degrees 50+ feet no problem. clears the fallen trees I need to get over on the trails I go on in the wintertime (main reason I wanted the extra lift/wheelsize) All in all I've taken the van on the same sort of stuff I used to take my jeep on, and while I've had plenty of 'pucker moments' I haven't broken any shock mounts (jeep) or anything like that. |
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