End of an Era - I Totaled 7.3 SMB

[MrHenrietta]

Hello fellow Sportsmobile enthusiasts. Not sure what I hope to gain from the post but wanted to share the story, nonetheless. I’ve been a Sportsmobile owner for well over decade. My first van was a 1999 7.3 RB50 Quigley SMB that I bought for $20k in rough shape. This was a dream come true for a poor kid in his 20’s. I put a lot of blood sweat and tears into that van to get put back together and ready for adventure. We loved it but needed something bigger for our growing family. During Covid I sold that van for $38K to purchase my true dream van, a low milage 2003 7.3 hightop SMB from CA with every option imaginable. I put a UJOINT 4x4 kit on it and used it as intended. Our family loved this van and couldn’t imagine owning anything else. As Sprinters took over, we were grateful we had a van we could take the most desolate places and never let us down. I began to realize that our van was probably close to one of a kind. A real holy grail of 4x4 camper vans. In July I was unfortunately involved in an accident (my fault). Thank God everyone was OK. After months of back and forth with insurance it’s sadly been totaled and myself and my family is gutted. The damage the van body and 4x4 components are actually fine, but the frame damage is beyond repair so at this point the only option is a full frame replacement. I’m still working out details on buy back amount, but they have told me it’s probably going to be around $27K. At that price I’m just not sure it’s worth dealing with. I don’t know where to begin to find a frame and someone with the skills to tear down the interior and everything necessary to make that kind of repair. Again, I don’t know what to gain from making this post but wanted to share my story. Perhaps it’s time for us to throw in the towel and join the Sprinter world. If anyone has any similar stories or thoughts on Frame replacement, I’m all ears. If I do end up giving it up to insurance the van will be available at auction at some point. It’s probably the most equip 7.3 SMB you’ll find. I haven’t seen one for sale like this in years. Anyhow here’s some photos of my original van and the totaled one. Cheers.

 

[marret]

Well, sorry to hear, glad you all were/are ok and while I am sure it would be possible to swap, I have no recommendation for a shop. Member Pimpon pulled his body off suring his restoration.

Wish you the best.

 

[Twoxentrix]

Very unfortunate. I'm sure the Insurance news was/is a tough pill to swallow!
I'd give Chris at u-Joint a call and see if this may be a project he would entertain...I know his Team is capable since I've seen a body-off restoration taking place in his shop, and a beauty it was!

 

[marret]

Good idea Felix, and maybe UJOINT West in Denver.

 

[Big_ern_101]

Most any decent 4x4 shop or diesel shop can do a frame swap on an Econoline, its something like 6 bolts and 1 or 2 harnesses and the cooling package. In other words, not much. Even with the 4x4 there isnt a ton of diferences, cut the brackets off the old chassis, weld to the new chassis, repair or replace any damaged components, and you are back to the races.

Or if the chassis is only mangled on one of the 4 locations - which it looks like it is, you can stub it and be back with even less horsing around with it.

Have you taken it to a good old school frame guy for an opinion? Those guys are wizards.

Sprinters suck, transits suck, keep the Econoline.

 

[RVflyfish]

Caveat on a frame swap is to look for one from a diesel or you’ll have to change fuel lines. Not impossible, but starting with a diesel donor would be a lot easier.

 

[blair-SMB]

Sorry about your accident. Glad no one was hurt. Does $27K sound kinda high for a salvage buyback? I wonder if that price can be negotiated. I hope that you are able to find a positive resolution.

 

[VanMiller]

Bummer. I know some happy Sprinter owners, and some not so happy. The problem being access to a shop when in more rural parts of the country, and the time it was taking to get them fixed.

In 2015 or so I was going to buy a Sprinter (back when Dodge was selling them), and my buddy that was a service manager at the local Dodge Sprinter shop talked me out of it. He said they have a lot of problems and he could not recommend them.

Maybe they are made better now?

 

[MrHenrietta]

Just heard back from insurance. They lowered the buyback to $16K. I'm going to get a second opinion on pulling the frame. I still think a full frame replacement is likely not worth the time, headache and money but if the frame can be pulled and the van repaired safe and a reliably I would be a happy camper.

 

[TheLetterJ]

Maybe it's just me, but from what I can see, your frame looks very salvageable. I think the taco'd aluminum bumper makes it look worse than it is.

 

[JWA-SMB]

Maybe it's just me, but from what I can see, your frame looks very salvageable. I think the taco'd aluminum bumper makes it look worse than it is.

I would concur with that, so much so at the $16K buy-back cost it would most likely be a decent price, question is how much would you net-out back in your pocket? Its very, very possible the now-damaged frame could be straightened, repaired and/or strengthened enough to still be serviceable.

As a former body shop owner I don't see too much sheet metal damage suggesting anything is so far gone repair is completely out of the question. I might think differently seeing it in-person, crawling around under neath getting a betting idea how much most extensive the damage really is now.

Consulting a big-truck frame repair shop would be a good move before throwing in the towel here.

Please let us know how this proceeds and the final outcome. Best of luck! :d5:

 

[carringb]

That should be relatively easy work for a truck shop with a frame rack. Even doing a partial or full frame replacement shouldn't be too bad. My aft frame was cut out and replaced 250,000 miles ago, and doing that with extensive body work and full repaint was still less than buying an equivalent replacement van.

 

[deserteagle56]

That should be relatively easy work for a truck shop with a frame rack.

^ This!

Some 40 years ago I was involved in a wreck in the van I had at the time. Frame was twisted/bent out of shape and I was told the van would have to be totaled. But a friend referred me to one of these shops; they looked at it and said "piece of cake". Drove that van for another 20 years.

 

[MrHenrietta]

Hey Guys - Just wanted to update this thread with some good news. What a saga! Turns out the shop that was working with my insurance company didn't even put the van on a frame rack and just told insurance is was inoperable which led to the insurance company totaling the van. I inspected the van and this didn't seem right to me. I got a couple second opinions and sure enough the damage to the frame was pretty minimal. I ended up negotiating the buy back price down and finally have the van back in the driveway. Ended up doing the front clip upgrade as well. Super happy with result. Looks and drives like new! Now I just need to find suitable insurance which I think is going to be a challenge. If anyone has any recommendations I would greatly appreciate it. Currently just insured as a cargo van through Allstate.

 

[1der]

Wonderful!!

 

[larrie-SMB]

That’s great. Our van is insured as a cargo van too. It is paid for and I feel like we have definitely gotten our moneys worth out of it. Due to our age and health we are taking fewer and fewer trips in it. If it got in an accident we would not replace it.

 

[Twoxentrix]

If you use the search feature on the Forum and type in “Insurance, Progressive” you should see a couple relevant threads on insuring your Van. From past conversations on the topic outcomes are sometimes subject to specific States, but Progressive and Safeco seem to be the 2 most are having luck with (we’ve had Progressive for 10yrs now with no issue).

Seems you came out of the ordeal in decent shape, good for you!

 

[JoeH-SMB]

Yay that's great news!

 

[vandiesel]

Hey Guys - Just wanted to update this thread with some good news. What a saga! Turns out the shop that was working with my insurance company didn't even put the van on a frame rack and just told insurance is was inoperable which led to the insurance company totaling the van. I inspected the van and this didn't seem right to me. I got a couple second opinions and sure enough the damage to the frame was pretty minimal. I ended up negotiating the buy back price down and finally have the van back in the driveway. Ended up doing the front clip upgrade as well. Super happy with result. Looks and drives like new! Now I just need to find suitable insurance which I think is going to be a challenge. If anyone has any recommendations I would greatly appreciate it. Currently just insured as a cargo van through Allstate.

That is how you do it! Great perseverance!