My new old van -- 2005 Sportsmobile with UJoint 4x4

[geoffff]

After 20 years of misadventures with my now-retired 2004 Sportsmobile, it's time for me to introduce a new (old) van:

• 2005 Sportsmobile
• EB50 layout
• Originally a 2WD van, with only 55K miles on the odometer
• UJoint 4x4 6" conversion, done in 2022

A huge thank you to KTMRIDER, who kindly shared with me the Craigslist ad for this van!

Except for the fiberglass top, which looks weathered, this van is in almost pristine shape.

This new van is at least 3 feet longer than my old van (+2 feet for RB --> EB change, and then there are the extra large bumpers).

It's 3" taller than my old van (+2" from the Sportsmobile 4" lift --> UJoint 6" lift, and another +1" from larger tires).

The UJoint conversion drives great on highway and off. It handles rough dirt roads with potholes way better than my old Sportsmobile 4x4! No more slowing to a crawl for each pothole I can't drive around.

EB50 is close enough to my old RB50 that I sometimes forget which van I am in, except in the morning when my instinct is to jump out of the penthouse bed down onto the rotated passenger seat, and it's not there! My favorite padded landing is now out of reach -- a foot farther forward from the bed! Time to relearn my muscle memory.















Well, it *was* in pristine shape... Not anymore. I don't seem capable of camping without introducing scratches in the clearcoat.

 

[geoffff]

Here is Chris at UJoint talking about the van:

 

[bigriver-SMB]

Looks great man... congratulations!

 

[86Scotty]

Sweet upgrade! Great color too.

:b5:

 

[KTMRIDER-SMB]

Such an awesome rig. So glad it worked out for you and I hope it brings you years of joy!

 

[vandiesel]

Yeah that one is sweet. Adventures continue.

 

[Beaky]

that is just a perfect SMB

 

[Beaky]

this thing had to cost some bucks

 

[geoffff]

You're not wrong.

 

[yonah-SMB]

Agreed, this thing is perfect.

I'm fairly certain I saw it on the highway in Asheville, NC many years ago. The guys at UJoint must have been road testing it following the 4x4 install.

 

[gac1222]

Amazing looking rig. Also a fellow EB v10 ujoint owner

 

[KTMRIDER-SMB]

this thing had to cost some bucks

While true, finding a V10 SMB loaded with low miles and 2005 and up with the better transmission is already tough. Then add a nice UJOINT kit that adds a pretty penny. To have the van loaded and already ready to go and not really have to do anything is worth a ton to many as well.

Anyone that has built a van, had a van built, or had to redo things on a van can relate! The lost time you could be enjoying the van is worth some to many but to others the joy of building a van is also enjoyed.

 

[geoffff]

Yes, I can use it round here as is, but I do have a to-do list before my next major adventure. Lots of little customizations I want to do, but the big tasks include:

• add solar
• swap out cut-down stock gas tank (30 gallons) for a Hanco custom tank (40 gallons)

 

[RVflyfish]

Checks interwebs with little success…

Do you have a link for the Hanco tanks?

 

[geoffff]

I heard about Hanco from Chris at UJoint.

https://www.hancollc.com/ford-eseries

A 40 gallon aluminum fuel tank for a 2005 E350 with gas V10 is "$2800.00 plus tax and shipping" or $500 for onsite install (in Colorado).

 

[geoffff]

 

[KTMRIDER-SMB]

Yes, I can use it round here as is, but I do have a to-do list before my next major adventure. Lots of little customizations I want to do, but the big tasks include:

• add solar
• swap out cut-down stock gas tank (30 gallons) for a Hanco custom tank (40 gallons)

The fun is never done!

 

[86Scotty]

Wow, quite a tank.

 

[arctictraveller]

Very nice van.

 

[Timerider-SMB]

Don't think of them as "scratches in the clearcoat" . . . instead, think of them as: "Chaparral Pin-Striping"!!!

Timerider

:h6: