Fitz

Oh, one of the main reasons I am reaching out to you is that I haven't been able to find the weight of your rig in your thread. Very curious.

Cheers, John

Hi there, my wife and I are in the enviable position of agonizing over what type of camping rig we want to order/purchase... Sportsmobile vs. ?, Sprinter 4x4, Promaster, F350 4x4 with camper, wheelbase, GVRW, high top, pop-top, etc.. oh my!

Anyway, I see you are in the Bay Area and are a geologist... me too (and an engineer). I work in San Leandro and wife and I live in Coloma (El Dorado County). We have read a ton on this forum, and have reached the point of indecision that we must start to look at vehicles and options in order to make an informed decision...

A trip to SpoMo Fresno is in order, as well as Woodland to visit Fourwheel Campers. If you are ever in Eldorado Co. and looking for a place to "camp", we have hosted many friends and their Sportsmobiles and Revels. Would love to see your rig in person.

Thanks for your exhaustive thread!

Cheers,

John Rogie

did not realize that message will be visible to the world ... will send you a private msg. sorry

Hi again Fitz,
file this under preventive maintenance:

I recently applied the poptop tape - where the poptop rubs against the body - good thing too because I saw where there was just a little bit of bare metal exposed at one corner. With all the off road use you do you might consider this:

Check out sportsmobile store and search for poptop protective tape

much easier job than the lower molding clip job. Just make sure to rub/clean the area where the tape goes with alcohol - (not the jack type;-))
best, David

Fitz - I live in the East Bay. I would like to have something for use this Spring. I had to let a nearly perfectly configured 144 4x4 Sprinter Crew Van get away because the total cost of purchasing, insuring, maintaining, basic buildout, and running this vehicle were not clear to me in addition to the limitations that exist here in the US regarding a locking differential upgrade. I have had the holidays to focus on this and have a much better idea of where things stand, but I am still torn between just getting a Ford F250/350 and a camper or going with a ready to go self contained solution in the Sprinter with a basic bed and drawers to hold me over.