Buying a salvaged SMB

[F&F Vintage]

Good morning everyone!

My names Daniel and I’m new here. I’ve had a Volkswagen bus sportmobile in the past, (gone, and now just a standard VW bus) but now I’ve got my eye on a totaled sportsmobile.

I recently picked up an 09’ e350 EB WITH JUST 24,000 miles. About 2 weeks ago I came into contact with a gentleman who owns an 03’ 4x4 sports mobile that’s been totaled. I’ve been toying with the idea of purchasing his vehicle, using any viable parts on my van and selling what wasnt.

I’ll include a list of things listed on his vehicle here.

SALVAGE SPORTSMOBILE CONFIGURATION SPECS.
QUIGLEY 4X4 SPORTSMOBILE CLASS B SPORTSMOBILE SUPER DUTY 6.8 L V-10
REGULAR BODY, PENTHOUSE POP TOP 103,000 MILES, SLEEPS 4
SUPER DUTY 6.8 L V-10
Exterior/Drive Train Specs:
1. Quigley 4x4 front axle
2. Limited slip rear axle
3. ARB air locker front axle
4. Premium Warn Locking Hubs
5. ARB compressor
6. Agile RIP kit
7. Tuned Fox shocks
8. Fox steering stabilizer
9. Deaver custom rear springs.
10. 33” BFG All-Terrain KO2 tires (5000 miles spare is new)
11. Alcoa wheels.
12. Yakima Wide-Body Roof Racks
13. Fiamma F45 awning
14. Custom Aluminess front bumper with winch provisions and recovery lugs
15. Warn 12,000# winch
16. 6” LED driving lights
17. 4” LED fog lights
18. 4” Rear illumination lights
19. Upgraded LED headlights/tail lights
20. Custom Aluminess rear bumper with Deluxe Baja Box and swing-a-way spare tire carrier.
21. Renology 200-amp hour 4D battery (new)
22. Aluminess passenger side roof access ladder
23. Carr custom side steps (3)
24. Hy-Lift 48” jack
25. Weather Tech bug deflector
26. Transmission overhaul @ 94,000 miles
27. 47 Gallon Transfer Flow Auxiliary fuel tank
28. Custom aluminum grill
29. Weather Tech side window deflectors


Interior Specs:
1. Power door locks
2. Sportsmobile Penthouse Pop-top with bed
3. High end Pioneer CD/USB/Stereo system with 250-watt amplifier and 6 speakers with subwoofer
4. Blue Sky 2000E solar controller
5. Trip-Lite 2000-Watt inverter/charger
6. Galley sink
7. 10-gal fresh water tank
8. Marine water pump
9. Sanyo 700-watt microwave oven
10. Upgraded Norcold AC/DC refrigerator
11. LED interior lighting
12. CO detector
13. Swiveling passenger seat
14. Front and side window insulated window covers
15. Under floor storage box
Upgrade Specs:
1. 250 Amp Alternator (New)
2. 250 Amp Battery Isolator (New)
3. Side door galley box
4. Wet Okoli seat covers
5. Door Talon hold open
6. RAM floor computer mount
7. Weather Tech floor mats


Long story short, he got a very decent settlement option from his insurance company and the salvaged value is now higher than we expected. We’re up to a 15,500 purchase price, which has me on the fence. I don’t know if it’s still with the efforts. I know the two aluminess bumpers w/box and winch are around 6k alone. The pop top, another 3ish, etc.

Is the 4x4 from his early v10 transferable to my later, smaller 8 cylinder? Am I crazy?

[simplesez]

I'd pay $15.5k for that. I'd even consider fixing it with a junkyard shell welded together.

Death by tree is a bummer.

1.5v might mean that new battery is toast btw. If I'm reading that gauge correctly

[marret]

Don’t know what parts you would want to use. If you haven’t considered, you might think about the body differences, your van is an EB and the totaled van is a RB.

[F&F Vintage]

Originally Posted by simplesez

I'd pay $15.5k for that. I'd even consider fixing it with a junkyard shell welded together.

Death by tree is a bummer.

1.5v might mean that new battery is toast btw. If I'm reading that gauge correctly

I thought about that as well.

It’s an 8 hour drive for me and sitting in a Insurance company salvage yard, otherwise I’d go take a look in person!

I have to have an answer by Monday, time is ticking.

[F&F Vintage]

Originally Posted by marret

Don’t know what parts you would want to use. If you haven’t considered, you might think about the body differences, your van is an EB and the totaled van is a RB.

My original parts-to-pull plan was the pop top, rear bumper set up, solar, perhaps the kitchen galley if easily removable, awning, ladder, upgraded sound system, the plethora of included accessories to go with it, remove any front bumper accessories (winch, lights, etc.) and order a proper year bumper to use these accessories on.

I’d be left to sell a quigley 4x4 shell with semi-low mileage v10 set up. New-ish tires on rims, aluminess front bumper, door box, random parts, etc.

I’m just don’t know if it will be worth the efforts!

[marret]

There is a difference in RB and EB pop tops. Might read this thread: https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/fo...ouse-8845.html

[F&F Vintage]

Originally Posted by marret

There is a difference in RB and EB pop tops. Might read this thread: https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/fo...ouse-8845.html

I did a search through through the forums, but didn't find much info other than the thread you'd mentioned and even that thread is pretty vague.

I don't mind a shorter penthouse, it will be used for our two young children.

Our current van is my work horse for our shoppe (shameless plug, check it out at www.FandFVintage.com) but is also our family camper so the penthouse will come in handy!

[1der]

At first glance that looks fixable to me?
103k on V10 is nothing.
What is stopping the repair even w salvage title?
Fixed that is at least $45k w salvage title.
Body swap or fix. Frame is not going to be damaged based on the pics.

Missing pieces like bumper and awning, etc? If not included, those are large $$ chunks.

Swapping RB to EB - lots of system pieces usable, the top but would be short at the back, same w the cabinets.

[Lilnuts2]

The electronic system between the 03 and the 09 changed dramatically.

Things like power windows and locks would be fairly hard to adapt without major wire harness swapping.
A new CCV pop top is almost 16k.

[1der]

Originally Posted by Lilnuts2

A new CCV pop top is almost 16k.

Yep, a bit more when all is said and done on an EB.

I think keeping the shop workhorse as the workhorse and having the fixed SMB is the way to go.