New Owner/Member of a SMB

[jeepinjeffery]

Hey all,
My name is Jeffree. I live in Utah and just purchased a '90 Dodge Ram B250 van. Here is a link of the actual classified posting but idk how long it'll work. https://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/1117798?ad_cid=6

It has a pent house top with the words Sportsmobile on the rear left of it.

I am an adventurist and love being outdoors. This will be my base camp for when I go motorcycle riding, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, hell even Three Wheeler riding. (Yes I still have one, no they aren't illegal) This will be a redneck/low budget build for me to start with. I have never owned an RV before and have lots of questions ranging from plumbing/water to electrical and charging systems. I will read all I can but forgive me if I ask a question that has previously been answered.

After doing some research, after I purchased the van, I was saddened to learn that Dodges have a Unibody, not a body on frame so turning it into a 4x4 would be rather expensive. I am looking for a LSD (posi, sure grip, tru trac) to put in the rear.

Funny story from today. The top pops okay but one side seemed to lean to one side and wouldn't stay up. After several frustrating hours of trying to figure out why it wouldn't stay up it hit me, what's on top? There was a good inch and a half of solid ice and 3 inches of snow on top! After I got that taken off it pops and stays up just fine.

I would love to meet up with some fellow UT members and have them show me their rigs and set ups and help me figure out some of the stuff with mine.

Thanks and I'll be posting pics soon.

[larrie]

Congratulations on your purchase. Welcome to the wonderful world of SMBing.

[stanw909]

Welcome. When you get a chance,post more pics and do an inventory. The guys in the homebuild section have lots of great ideas.They will have you changing name to Vaninjeffrey in no time.

[macmcintire]

Hi jeepinjeffery and welcome to the SMB world and this wonderful Forum. I don't know where you live in Utah, but I am in Evanston, Wyoming, just a short hop from the Wasatch Front. You certainly are welcome to come and look at my SMB if you would like. Currently it has 2 1/2 feet of snow on the penthouse top but I'm hoping to get it cleared off and go camping in the next couple of weeks. I have plenty of pictures in my gallery if you would like to look there for some ideas.

[MrHenrietta]

Congrats! I live up in Park City and have looked at that van on KSL. I just purchased a SMB and am still learning myself how to use it.

[muelltime]

Congrats as well! I'm also in Park City and have the '89 pictured in the earlier "Older Gen." thread.....

[lonepeak]

Welcome...I'm in SLC and currently have a build in progress. You can come by and check out what I'm doing.

[jeepinjeffery]

I posted a few pictures in the my gallery. I'll live in Happy Valley, Provo, and will have to come up to Park City and check out some of your rigs. I have a friend moving to Evanston so I'll come up with him and check out your ride too. Right now I have major questions on my electrical system and want to address them before I move on with anything. Any of you locals good with electrical stuff?

[mikracer]

Congrats on the SMB! Electrical questions always seem to come up when people buy a "new to them" SMB, I know I had my fair share. People on this forum have a ton of knowledge and collectively should be able to answer most of your questions.

[bphin]

Congrats and welcome to the madness! Smokin' deal you got!