SMB West Factory Visits - Page 5

philrod · 07-05-2007, 06:13 PM

I just got word from Greg that my silver E250 RB won't arrive from Ford until Aug 30th, if then. At his suggestion, I've switched to a silver E350 V10, which he describes as "the last gas RB in the shop". Not much difference in price, but perhaps an increase in resale value when the time comes. I can tow my 1998 Jeep wrangler, so I'll have a 4WD, if needed. (My 70 yr old bod doesn't like that off road stuff much anymore.) The SMB will have the PH top, solar panel, propane furnace & stovetop, refrigerator, 16 gal FW tank & sink, awning & perhaps an inverter. rather basic RB50 model but works for me. It's going to be a slow summer, especially with the temps. 106 in Fallon, Nv. today.

Philrod

twolost · 07-05-2007, 11:14 PM

Today marks 150 days since our first check arrived at Sportsmobile and there are 50 days remaining before our projected delivery date. This sounds like a long time to me... but it sure has flown by so far.

Maybe we should have a dedicated 'delivery day' thread - so the rest of us pending transactions get a glimpse of what it is like to wait no longer?

Best luck with your project...

Jeffrey · 07-06-2007, 09:53 AM

200 hundred days? Yowza, that's a helluva wait.

My projected date was to be the week of July 16. Doesn't look like that now. With the enormous number of different tasks and parts required, they can't be that accurate until very close to the finish. Even now, they refuse to commit to a delivery date for me. I'm trying to plan a short trip at that time, and really jonesing for the thing badly!

Jeffrey · 07-06-2007, 11:17 AM

Moments after sending the previous post, I got an email saying that my van still 3 to 5 weeks out.

NOT HAPPY.

philrod · 07-13-2007, 05:58 PM

the invoice from SMB west for my E350 RB V10 arrived this afternoon and i have an appt. with Greg next Wednesday afternoon!!!!! If anyone wants to give me their build #, I'll try and take some fotos. However, I may not have much time as I'm driving down from Fallon via Yosemite and am not sure how that will work out. I've camped in the valley years ago, but never drove all the way through. TWO adventures in One day!! Hope i can handle it... probably won't sleep much the night before.

Anyone know if it will be gridlock in the mid to late morning driving through to Hwy 41? Lot's of bears?

phil

twolost · 07-14-2007, 02:44 PM

Congratulations!

For those who live a day+ away from Sportsmobile, time actually spent at Sportsmobile is pure gold. My wife and I learned more walking around on the Sportsmobile factory floor, looking at other peoples projects, checking out the implementation of their ideas, seeing a number of un-listed Sportsmobile options, talking with everyone we could, etc… than any amount of research we were able to conduct ‘virtually’. Standing on the factory floor, pointing at an existing project, and telling the Sportsmobile staff that… “that right there is exactly what we are looking for” - goes a very long way in improving the communication divide that can exist in ‘translation’. The highest probability that your project will actually meet your individual specifications will happen on Wednesday. No amount of phone calls, faxes, and follow-up email can replace the unambiguous communication that exists in a person-to-person meeting where you can both see and touch real, tangible, examples of exactly what you want. Make sure everything gets written down. This goes double for anything that is custom.

Greg seems to be a very good listener and he was very helpful in our case. He also did not let any grass grown under his feet when there was information we needed from him. We have been very impressed so far.

My own advice would be to do whatever you can to maximize time and clarity while at Sportsmobile with your project (especially, during this initial build meeting). If you get a chance to snap a few pics, everyone with pending projects would surely love the updates… (I know that goes double for my wife). At the same time I think that many of us also understand just how important it is to utilize that precious time on the factory floor for yourself to ensure you are going to get ‘exactly’ what you are signing up for.

Best of luck with your project - and we hope to see pictures of it as it develops.

Here is the last image I received of our project… (155 days into the build).

philrod · 07-15-2007, 12:52 PM

Twolost, thanks for the thoughtful, informative post. I'm fairly confident that my visit will go well and I'll be pleased with the final results. I'm also looking forward to meeting & working with Greg. He's been very helpful via email. The traffic in the Yosemite valley may be another story. I'm leaving early, allowing 7 hours for the trip. At least the scenery will be great and there won't be any traffic lights.

philrod

E350 V10 RB50

Buji · 07-16-2007, 09:40 AM

I'm going Friday. TO PICK UP MY VAN! Yipee!

Jeffrey · 07-16-2007, 09:50 AM

Hey man, there's no cutting in line!

**BroncoHauler** · 07-16-2007, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buji

I'm going Friday. TO PICK UP MY VAN! Yipee!

Great news! Are we going to see pictures of the proud dad with his new baby? It has been a 9 month gestation hasn't it?

My mods have dragged on a little longer than expected (somehow I'm not surprised given the recent dialogue here), but I hope to be up at SMB West on the 27th of this month to pick mine up. That fridge will make picking up our wine shipments in Santa Barbara county so much easier...

Herb