Almost every time I’ve been anywhere near Fresno, CA over the past year and a half of owning my Sportsmobile I’ve stopped in at Sportsmobile West for repairs of some kind. There are lots of custom parts on the Exploring Elements Sportsmobile, and with over 277,000 miles on the odometer, there is always something that decides its time to stop working. Luckily at this point I’ve nearly rebuilt the driveline and many of the main components of the RV setup, so it is well sorted and knock on wood, good to go for MANY more miles. The 7.3L diesel engine purrs like a diesel should and has only needed oil, filters and a new starter.
Sportsmobile is a well respected company that has been around for a long time. They are known for taking vans and turning them into the ultimate adventure vehicles. They started with the old VW buses and have modified full size Ford, Dodge and Chevy vans over the years. Recently they have added the Sprinter, Nissan NV and Fuso chasssis. They are really well known for having the best pop-top systems out there, great interior layouts and for having a very well engineered 4×4 system for the Ford E-Series.
The Exploring Elements van is a 2002 Ford E350 EB Sportsmobile with pop-top and Quigly 4×4 system (Click HERE for ALL the details). I live out of the van full time, all across America. It truly is the ultimate North American adventure mobile, and most action sports athlete’s wet dream. My van is always fully rigged with at least 3 kayaks, full kiteboard kit, basic climbing gear, running gear, cycling gear and sometimes ski/snowboard gear. The van has taken me across the Mojave Road, across the mountains in Washington, through the backroads of VT, all across this countries highway system and recently through the CO winter. For a 10,000 lb van it is a truly capable off road machine. Just be very aware of its limitations, so as not to step over that fine line, as things get bad very quickly when you do!
The Nissan NV platform is an interesting new option for your next adventure vehicle. Sportsmobile have decided to keep it pretty simple and offer it with only 2 floor plan options and very little in the way of custom work. In order to keep the rigs at around $60K they have no propane, no toilet, a small water tank, a low end inverter, no swivel seats and no 4×4 option. What you do get is a pretty well sorted family camping van that is also pretty good at everyday family chores. It is rumored that Nissan will be offering a 4×4 version soon, but for now you need to go to Quigly for your Nissan NV 4×4 needs. Sportsmobile also does not take orders for the NV directly, instead they can be ordered directly through your local Nissan NV dealer.
I’m excited to see what Sportsmobile comes out with next. I know they are working on an all new Fuso based expediton rig that will be contanierable. I also know that with the demise of the E Series Van, but continuation of the E Series cutaway, Sportsmobile is working on an adventure rig based on that platform. Both of these new rigs are rumored to be debuting at the 2013 Overland Expo next week, and you can be sure that Exploring Elements will be there to cover it.
