I can’t believe I am even saying this, but after pulling the trigger in Feb 2008 and making all of the decisions, we recently took delivery of our new 2008 Ford EB350 PSD SPORTSMOBILE (SMB). Even though we are still in the "honeymoon" phase, we are so pleased with all of the choices we made and with the way SPORTSMOBILE West brought it all together.
The selection process and the design criteria were based on how we intend to use the rig. I wanted my wife involved in the decision making process at every step of the way. (I didn’t do this with my recent foray into adventure motorcycling.
http://blackeye.smugmug.com/gallery/317 ... 7217_2AHKz
Although it has been a great and exciting two years, it was in the end not the best way to go about it.)
After having used a variety of Class A Motor Homes and after having owned several off-road vehicles (Jeeps, D-90, Range Rovers, Hummers, FJ Cruiser, etc.), we wanted a self-contained adventure vehicle that we could use to explore this great country. We looked at various concepts but mutually decided on the SPORTSMOBILE 4x4 Ford van. (My wife even asked, after looking at some of the new rigs at SMB West, “Can we get bigger wheels and tires?”)
The tires are COOPER Discoverer STT in LT325 / 65 / R18 (E rated) mounted on AMERICAN RACING Punisher rims.
We wanted the fixed top for the convenience of being able to stand whenever and as soon as we stopped. It is a trade-off from height and COG but through judicious and creative packing, we have kept the weight down low. The decision to build the rack was both utilitarian (more on the rack later) and cosmetic. Cosmetically, we wanted to change the look of the fixed “voyager” top.
Since it is my intention to travel with my wife to wherever we decide we want to go, I wanted the ability to keep her as comfortable as possible. That was the basis for many of the selections listed in our “build list”.
Our maiden voyage (Yosemite, Cottonwood Canyon to Bodie, up US395, then west to Lassen, up to Redding, out to Hwy1 and back to SMB to pick up our truck) was primarily to try out the various systems and get a feel for things. We are so stoked! It is the perfect rig for us at this point in our lives.
We ran on some roads out near Bodie, CA…nothing too radical. We also ran on some pretty good stuff going up Hi Mountain Road from the Arroyo Grande / Lake Lopez side. We ran that at night and I was really impressed with the visibility, the suspension, the 4x and the power. (Not to mention the comforts of home when you get to the camp.)
We've been out rolling around CA and NV in the rig almost since we got it. We’ve driven a variety of on-road and off-road conditions and we are stoked with all of it.
Here are a couple of shots:
In addition to manufacturing both the front and rear bumpers, the brush guards, the ladder, the swing-out tire mount and the swing out “galley” box, Dave Hoskins at ALUMINESS
http://www.aluminess.com/
pulled off an incredible feat by creating the rack for the fixed top. The top has curves in multiple directions and Dave and his team worked tirelessly to make it work. We wanted to mount the four forward facing HELLA Compact 4000 Series off-road lights, the three sets of HELLA work lights, the antenna farm, the two KYOCERA solar panels and the LED marker / brake / signal lights from LED Trailer Lights.
Regarding the “utilitarian aspect of the rack, it was the ideal way to mount the off road lights, the solar panels and the antenna farm.
The antenna farm consists of 1) the DIAMOND ANTENNA NR770HB Dualband VHF/UHF Mobile Antenna Ham antenna with the DIAMOND ANTENNA K9000LRM Motorized Mobile Antenna Mount
https://www.expeditionexchange.com/diamondantenna/
This antenna is for the YAESU 144/430 MHz Dual Band FM Transceiver (Ham Radio) 2) is a WILSON ELECTRONICS RV / Trucker Spring-Mount Cellular Antenna for the WILSON ELECTRONICS Wireless Amplifier Cradle Kit, 3) is the new GARMIN GA 29 Low Profile marine Antenna for the GARMIN GPS 376c 4) is the K40 CB antenna and 5) is the KVH TRACVISION satellite antenna.
We would be pushing it if we attempted to mount all of this equipment directly to the “Voyager” fixed top. Dave of ALUMINESS took my design and ran with it. It really changes the look and accommodates the aforementioned items perfectly. If that were not enough, ALUMINESS designed the mounting system for the two THULE Sidearm bike rack mounts.
They’ve worked great on and off road.
The following represents our “build list”:
FORD E350 Van with 6.0 Power-Stroke diesel
Voyager fixed top
SPORTSMOBILE EB-50 floor plan
40x25 awning window
Carpet Overlay
DAY/NITE shades at lower windows and at van side and rear doors
ULTRALEATHER Captain Seats, sofa and mattress
16.5 gallon fresh water tank
3cf NORCOLD 12v refrigerator
Portable Stove
LONPLATE (diamond plate) rubber flooring
Solid Surface counter top and sink
Front and rear 12v air conditioning system
Windshield / Cab Screen
Tinted windows
ESPAR Airtronic heater
Porta Potti
Interior and exterior shower
Flat Plate water heating system
Privacy curtain
XL Storage-EB with locking XL storage lid
Safety mirror with outside air temp and compass
Heated captain seats
HELLA map lights (x2)
AGM 4D auxiliary battery
2 KYOCERA Solar panels with the BLUE SKY Controller
TRIP-LITE inverter 2000
Microwave
COBRA CB with K40 CB Antenna
HELLA work lamps (2 ea at both side and rear)
HELLA Twin Supertone horns
KENWOOD DNX8120 stereo with XM, DVD, GARMIN NAV, iPod, Bluetooth
KVH TracVision satellite TV antenna and receiver
POLOROID 19 inch HDTV with separate DVD
Back up sensor system
DYNAMAT sound deadening
FIAMMA awning
Window curtains at upper windows
Upper bed (3 removable panels)
Attic Fan with thermostat and rain sensor
Upper side cabinets
ALUMINESS Trojan front bumper
ALUMINESS Trojan rear bumper with large Galley box
Nerf Boards
HELLA Rallye 4000 Euro-beam driving lights (x2) at front bumper
HELLA 4000 Compact driving lights (x4) at rack
HELLA 500 fog lights (x2) in front bumper
HELLA 550 backup lights (x2) in rear bumper
WARN 12,000lb winch in front bumper
BUSHWACKER flares
EXTREME AIR compressor with remote switch
AMSOIL oil by-pass oil filter system
HELLA remote tire pressure monitoring system
Black FORD grille
ALUMINESS ladder (passenger side / rear)
ALUMINESS "Custom" roof rack
DYNATRAC full-floating axle
18” AMERICAN RACING Punisher Wheels
COOPER Discoverer STT LT325 / 65 / R18 (E rated)
PANELTRONICS (#9960013) 8 switch horizontal auxillary switch panel
DIAMOND K9000LRM Motorized Mobile Antenna Mount
DIAMOND Antenna NR770HB Dualband VHF/UHF Mobile Antenna
YAESU FT-8800R Dual-Band FM Transceiver Radio w/ detachable face kit
WILSON Signalboost Cellular Amplifier Kit
GARMIN GPSMAP 376c global positioning system
GARMIN GA 29 remote GPS antenna
The crew at SPORTSMOBILE West and Randy with Integrated Audio Solutions (SMB’s audio / video source) did a great job in coordinating the wiring. They ran all of the wiring for the solar, communication and lighting through wiring looms and then through the roof. It was definitely not their first rodeo.
The rear area of the rack (behind the solar panels) is a storage deck. There is so much storage in and under the rig that I will likely only use this area occasionally. We could stand up there for scouting and photography.
Here are a couple of interior shots. I took them last night and the lighting isn't all that great.
...from the sofa area.
...the cockpit.
...upper bed area / storage.
...the kitchen counter.
...from the passenger side.
Thanks again to the entire Team at Sportsmobile West, Integrated Audio Solutions, Aluminess and everyone else who took part.
Thanks go out also to everyone on this forum as your posts have been a great help!