At my last teardrop trailer gathering, a monster vehicle pulled into the campground. I immediately dismissed it as another massive vehicle built for trips to the mall, but I was surprised to see that it was actually a tiny house…on really big wheels. The young couple who owned it lived most of the year in the vehicle in Baja, Mexico.
The Sportsmobile is actually a Ford, Chevy/GM or Mercedes-Benz van that is converted into a traveling home. The one I toured was the 4×4 version which is rugged on the outside, but very comfortable, clean and organized on the inside. It’s the perfect touring vehicle for people who want a little more adventure.
Laura and Geoff took their Sportsmobile on their honeymoon and travel around the country in it.
The Sportsmobile has several dozen floorplans to choose from. The 4×4 comes with several seating areas and a full kitchen area with a refrigerator, sink, microwave, stove and a pantry. Most of the Sportsmobiles only have a portable toilet and and outdoor shower, but can carry up to 17-20 gallons of water. A few of the floorplans contain a wet bath with toilet. Because of the pop-up roof and overhead bed, plus the couch below, there is room for about four to five people to sleep.
Other amenities include door-hung cooking areas complete with BBQ, awnings, air conditioning and heating, solar panels, bike and kayak racks, graywater tanks, and stereos and TV/DVD players. Additionally, because of their versatility, these vans can be customized to be working vehicles as well. Some Sportsmobiles have become mobile medical clinics, vet clinics, photography and artist studios, and touring/exploring vehicles.
Prices for a new Sportsmobile start at about $70,000 for a Ford E-350 V-10 gas engine van, Sportsmobile interior conversion and 4×4. Depending on additional options the price will run $80,000-plus.
Photos courtesy of Sportsmobile and octopup
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]
If you have the money for a factory built model, my hat’s off to you. I’d like to see what others have done themselves with a van platform.
I’m looking forward to finding a little spare time to convert my big isuzu NPR into a rolling home.
I’m with you Arlos, and would love to see photos/hear the story of the Isuzu conversion.
I’m old enough to remember the VW versions, and yup, they are a great idea. Airstream has this type of product at a similar price point. But you’d think at least one commercial converter could do this for a lot less.
Lastly, I’d love to see some vehicles (Class C motor homes) based on Japanese mechanicals, or for that matter the economical Ford Transit van which seems perfect for such a conversion.
Wranglerbarn on Youtube has a video on his adventure van and its specs. Very good if you want to spend a WHOLE lot less converting a used one.
Great article, the pop up idea has been around for a while and has a strong following. For that kind of money you could buy a used full size truck and get a used pop up camper that can slide into the bed. Then you can have a truck or/and a camper. Heres a link for a group that uses these campers. http://www.wanderthewest.com
MPG is always my hangup with these. But if you don’t have rent/mortgage it’s more tolerable.
Now that’s cool!
Do they sell a diy kit just for the popup tent only?
Google “sprinter source”
A forum based on Mercedes / dodge conversions with a lot of home built campers
Interesting, though I have to say I find this sort of vehicle to be incredibly uneconomical, particularly when you can buy a decent sized home for the price. I would think a nice 4×4 truck and a wall tent would be better. But as they say, different strokes. 🙂
the first photo has great hues- yellow sand a truck against blue water and dark clouds.
For that kind of money I can buy a really nice pickup truck and Truck Camper with a lot more accessories.
Tiny home yes. Solution to piles of debt, no. As the poster above said, “different strokes”. A lot of the price tag here is the 4×4 chassis under that van. A 4×4 pickup and cabover camper, as others have said is way more economical. They even have them for small trucks like the tacoma and ranger now. If money were no issue, this thing would be a load of fun for awhile. I have a VW Westphalia and enjoy it immensely, but my Honda and a tent in the truck has given me some wonderful trips at a fraction of the cost. Cheers to gypsy camping and a diverse array of options on the Tiny House Blog!
For anyone interested in slip-in campers for small trucks, let me again recommend taking a look at the ultra-lite weight ones from Quicksilver.
I have no connection whatsoever with the company, but I have seen their pop-up campers and they look like they may good value for the money.
Here’s a link:
http://www.livinlite.com/truck-campers.php
—-and yes, cheers to diversity!
You can also get a very nice Hard Side Camper for pickup trucks as small as a Ford Fanger. http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/camplite-announces-new-hard-side-camper/
We have a 2003 Ford F150 extended cab short bed pickup truck with the FX4 and towing package. I installed 3000# super springs to the truck and Monroe Heavy Duty Load Leveler Shocks. My wife and I have a 1988 8′ Six Pac hard sided truck camper and the truck handles it very well. ( I leave the tailgate down to put the camper on the truck ). We live at the base of the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming and spend a lot of time exploring the mountain and camping up there. Just about anywhere my pickup truck can go my truck camper can go as well.