One Question

[LostInTransit]

Does the 2015 Ford Transit Connect qualify as a Sportmobile?.. if not would there be room for us little guys off in the corner somewhere?.. microCargo Expedition vehicles?

 

[shenrie]

the term sportsmobile is a brand. if they dont offer anything for the transit, then i would have to say no.

that said, this forum is called a smb forum, but it caters to everything campervan (and other cool camping rigs) related and welcomes those of us without the brand name with open arms. in my eyes, you are welcome here with whatever you plan to get away from the general public in as long as it sees some actual camping

 

[LostInTransit]

hah so I would assume, sleeping in the back of our van would qualify as camping?.. and we tend to do this at camp grounds.. except for a couple of times while in the neighbors back yard in West Virginia near the new river. The idea is that we do have camping gear in the cargo area of the van.. and it's ways there if and when the desire hit's us. So I'm having a feeling that this could be the wrong forum for what we're looking at doing.. Not vandwellers either.. Just oddballs I guess..

 

[mgmetalworks]

There are a few oddballs here... you'll fit right in.

 

[Ford_6L_E350]

The tagline for the forum reads:

The premier site for Van and SMB enthusiasts.

That came from Jage - the demigod who started this forum!

And, since at least 2 (probably 4) of the admins don't even own Sportsmobiles, anybody who has an interest in vans or Sportsmobiles is welcome.

Welcome aboard!

Mike

 

[86Scotty]

the term sportsmobile is a brand. if they dont offer anything for the transit, then i would have to say no.

that said, this forum is called a smb forum, but it caters to everything campervan (and other cool camping rigs) related and welcomes those of us without the brand name with open arms. in my eyes, you are welcome here with whatever you plan to get away from the general public in as long as it sees some actual camping

^^^Word^^^

Camping is a very general term. And Sportsmobile owners don't necessarily camp in theirs. Many are work vehicles and offices. Many are special needs transportation. Many are just fancy tow rigs. If you've slept in your van in campgrounds then you're camping. In fact, apparently in our culture if you park anything in a Walmart parking lot and sleep in it then you are camping too.

Oh, and I really dig the subtle toaster avatar.

Welcome! :b4:

 

[LostInTransit]

Oh, and I really dig the subtle toaster avatar.

Aww Now you've done it.. I have reach deep in to those hidden zones and extricate that toaster story..

The story goes.. just 2 days after buying the 2015 Ford Transit Connect, (we put 14K down and we're now left with a mere 4K worth of finance charges) it was one Sunday morning and my wife asked that I make some toast for breakfast.. I reached into the closest, grabbed the ole toaster and placed it on the counter top.. we both stopped and looked at the toaster.. Yep you guessed it.. The van looks like our ole white T-FAL toaster or vice versa.. Since then the name stuck and have the decal on the rear window to prove it.

 

[LostInTransit]

Allrighty then.. I've created a group yesterday "Micro Expedition Vehicles" and will start posting there, for the time being and at least until the forum decides to create a topic area for the smaller vans. Surprising or I'm just not seeing it, am I the only group in that section?. Just wondered why no one has used the group posting option yet.

 

[86Scotty]

Well, that's probably because of the name 'Sportsmobile Forum'. As stated above, we aren't generally a picky bunch but about 95% of folks here are Sportsmobile owners, with the rest just being fans or home builders. Most of them are building out full sized vans like Sportsmobiles, and more and more are getting into the newer Sprinter/Promaster/Nissan/etc. offerings. There is a lot of activity with smaller vans in the '2 and 4 wheel drive camper van' section on the Expedition Portal. I recommend you check it out if you haven't, but as stated above you are welcome here. You may be the first but micro-campers out of the newer, smaller vans like yours are definitely getting more popular so you won't be alone for long.

:b5:

 

[LostInTransit]

@86Scotty.. Actually that is the reason I'm here, the EXPO mentioning.. I've attempt to post there several times only to have my post removed or be warned that what I'm posting is or has vendor type overtones. I'm not a vendor and maybe I'm not coming across as I should when posting topics. Oh well, I will see how this goes and hang here for a bit just to see if the microvan following increases. I think at other TC communities, allot of members simply do not know what direction to take the TC.. At first I wanted a overlander.. but couldn't find the right wheels or those willing to help me locate them.. then I approached the stance community.. these guys lower their vans/vehicles.. I've since come full circle (back to the overlander concept) But I've already made one mistake.. purchasing the wrong size tires and it's too late to change that. I'm hoping the storage idea will get the overland build back on track.

 

[boywonder]

post a few pics of your van......

There is a guy around town here who has a red transit connect pretty decked out for hauling MTB's...I've ran into him a few times...cool rig. He jams a YZ250 in there once in a while...tight fit.

 

[LostInTransit]

@boywonder I've asked to have my account, post removed, Unless the forum creates a separate area for the growing microvan community. I was under the assumption that sportmobile was a general term and not devoted to any specific vehicle.. Otherwise I've been offered a chance to host our own community, So I doubt I'll return unless things here or there change.

 

[BajaSportsmobile]

Go to the "Homemade SMB - Ground Up Builds" section of the forum and create a thread about your "Toaster" and start posting.

If your content is interesting, people will read it... you are making way too big a deal of all this.

Lets see you stuff!

 

[86Scotty]

^^^^^Yep^^^^^

 

[Pntyrmvr]

It's a free world and LostInTransit is welcome to do as he pleases. Perhaps a little history lesson is in order.

When the Sprinter section first appeared here it was rarely used. The old timers here were stuck in their Ford E350's with one or two clowns even talking about old Dodges. Lo and behold the modern, efficient, quiet, roomy, et al Sprinter shows up with a Sportsmobile badge on it.

ONE member pounded out every single thought and communication he had about the building and use of his Sprinter SMB. Today that multi page tome is the reference piece for would be Sprinter SMB buyers. That section is always busy with lots of input from the latest generation of SMB owners.

I bet that if you put that kind of dedication into your new section of the van world you will find a similar reception.

(I would name the Sprinter owner, but can't be sure Tapatalk will let me look him up without losing this post.)


"Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money."

 

[Pntyrmvr]

Chumley and his 14 page piece started in 2012 is here: My SMB Sprinter Van conversion building experience
http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7938


"Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money."

 

[LostInTransit]

Agreed everyone and thank you for the support. But currently the only thing that we've actually done to the van is purchase new wheels/tires and I'd be very happy to share this with you. But we made mistake doing that.. I should have bought the next size up. Instead we purchased the same size tire. Now I guess we'll have to wait 55k miles till we can correct this.
I'll create a little history of how we bought the van and what we had hoped to create. Dare I say an mirco overlander?.. It's going to be a challenge with limited parts and Ford breathing down our neck.

 

[boywonder]

@boywonder I've asked to have my account, post removed, Unless the forum creates a separate area for the growing microvan community. Otherwise I've been offered a chance to host our own community, So I doubt I'll return unless things here or there change.

Let me make sure I've got this straight......

You've got 20 posts so far, and have given this forum an ultimatum.....you are leaving unless the forum provides a dedicated section for microvans....

You haven't posted any build pics, and so far have added new wheels/tires to your van.....

If I've missed anything please let me know.......

We have a homemade/ground up build section for people building their own camping rigs.....

EDIT: I see that you've started a build thread...great....keep going...there are lots of helpful people here if you have questions.

 

[LostInTransit]

I'm On It boywonder.