Earthroamer/GXV vs. Sportsmobile?

[Carl]

Curious to hear from anyone who has had a SMB and made the switch, or even considering it?

Why do it?
What type of use?

any thoughts are appreciated!

carl

[trailsurfer]

Curious to hear from anyone who has had a SMB and made the switch, or even considering it?

Why do it?
What type of use?

any thoughts are appreciated!

carl

I made the switch from a 2009 4x4 Diesel EB SMB about 6 months ago. The SMB is just fantastic! Great vehicle that will go anywhere. I can't say enough good things about SMB's. In fact, I was going to keep both, but had a friend that really wanted my SMB after I acquired the EarthRoamer this fall.

What pushed me to get the ER was the fact that I followed my buddy around Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah over the past 2 years and he could go everywhere I could go. But, he had inside toilet and shower facilities, carrying 100 gallons of water. The ER is just more comfortable to camp and travel in.

And ultimately, the vehicles are just so similar in terms of capability.

[trailsurfer]

Curious to hear from anyone who has had a SMB and made the switch, or even considering it?

Why do it?
What type of use?

any thoughts are appreciated!

carl

And I USE the ER as I USED the SMB. They will go anywhere you are willing to take them as long as height and width allow.

[Trail Monkey]

Carl, you also asked for those considering the change. I have a smb rb50. I absolutely love the truck. The ride is great, it's comfortable to drive and comfortable to live out of. It has taken me through extreme terrain, beyond what many would do in much smaller heavy built trucks.
..
With that being said. In my opinion the only drawback is the lack of full bathroom/shower facility. I think the length of planned trips plays a major roll in the importance of this. For up to a week it's really not that big a deal. Outside shower in open air or in portal enclosure using onboard hot water system, very doable.

But add cold weather or make the trip a few months and that becomes a bit of a drag.

I'm starting to look at larger options. I like the smb enough that I may keep it also. Have to cross that bridge when I find the next step.

You can't go wrong with an smb if your trips are relatively short. Dollar for dollar it's the best buy.

[EMrider]

But, he had inside toilet and shower facilities, carrying 100 gallons of water. The ER is just more comfortable to camp and travel in.

Being happily married, and really wanting my wife to spend time with me on the road later in life, the key fact above will get me into an ER or GXV at some point.

And to be fair, I would really like interior bathroom facilities and more comfort too.......on longer trips.

But the SMB is great and it will never be sold. It will always be the perfect vehicle for 2-4 day exploration, MTB, fishing or hunting trips with the kids/guys.

R

[Blackeye]

I must agree with what has been said in the previous posts about the SMB. We loved ours! In response to the original post, I offer the following:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...ad.php?t=55723

Keep asking the questions. You have the support of some great folks here.

[1leglance]

I understand what the guys above are saying and I think if my wife traveled more with me then I would be on their side of the fence...
but funny enough for me as an amputee and the disabled folks I talk out, well a RV bathroom is too small and too much trouble for us so the folding hosptial style toliet and shower wand setup is perfect of week long plus trips...
I love my Sportmobile and can not say enough great things about Alan, Liz, Jonnie and the rest of the crew in Freson, matter of fact you should only buy from Freson out of the 3 SMB locations.
I have an EB w/ the tall voyager hardtop and wheel the rig hard, along with disabled guys who are new to overlanding using handcontrols wheeling hard, the rig is amaizng and sooooo comfortable I would go around the world without a thought.

But I can understand going up to an ER or GXV, and having run with an ER in Baja (along with others in this thread on the same trip) I was super impressed with the rigs.

[dzzz]

Does this comparison change considering the lack of a diesel 4x4 Sportmobile? Personally I believe the utility of a diesel in this size vehicle is overrated. But for many people it seems important.

[1leglance]

true to get a ford diesel van you are looking at used, but that isn't a bad thing
i like diesel if you will really wheel the rig, idle for extended times or have a heavy rig
but gas works in reality

[dzzz]

For world travel in the ER price range I would consider shipping a (U.S. version) Fuso FG cab/chassis to ATW in OZ. Pick up the finished camper from ATW and start touring.
The one reason this might not work is the one year importation limit. Perhaps ATW could build the cabin before recieving the vehicle.
Several years later the truck is back in the U.S. as a U.S. registered vehicle.
I would trust ATW as well as a couple of the German companies to do a "long distance" build.