By fulltiming, I don't necessarily mean you've sold your house and all your worldly possessions are in your rig but rather traveling fulltime for an open period.
I want to take some time off and have the two rigs in my signature already but I love the idea of doing a long solo trip in a Sprinter B conversion (LT or PW in particular). Mostly traveling the west and mostly dry camping as often as possible. I did six months in my camper once many years ago and it worked out OK but I like the all in one arrangement of a motorhome. A's and C's are too big and expensive to operate (well, I guess a new B isn't cheap either) but their biggest drawback are how limited you are in where you can go. I have fairly simple needs but need a bed that will accommodate my 6' frame comfortably.
I've also looked into having a Sportsmobile made to my specs but I'd like a little luxury and they don't seem to do that (based on cabinets, etc.).
I have a friend who has been full-timing in her Sportsmobile. Have you ever seen one in person? I visited their factory and you can make your unit as fancy as you want. The key thing is that YOU are making the choice... as to flooring, fabrics, bathroom size and location, storage, size of refrigerator. These vans are VERY nice when completed. They are definitely not cheap or tacky looking if that is your worry. The workmanship is as good as a PW, LTV, RT or GWV. It is just that it is a more of a simple industrial style, not trying to look like your kitchen.
What makes it fancy for you? Flat screen TV & DVD player? satellite system? solar? double-door fridge? All of this can be put on a Sportsmobile and pretty much anything else you can put on B. The difference is at the end it will probably be cheaper as there is no dealer involved.
And also they make the bed as long as you want it!! I sound like a salesman for Sportsmobile, but if I were seriously looking at full-timing, I would go there first because I don't think the regular converters offer the options that I would want for that lifestyle.
Consider your timeline if you want a Sportsmobile or custom work of any type. Yes, SMB makes a fine product and they are definitely dry camping specialists. However, I decided after a factory visit to SMB Fresno last spring to buy my Tiger instead. One factor was the timeline. I don't know about now, but then it was order in March and receive in December.
The key word in your question is "solo." I can see fulltiming in a B as working very well for one person. Sounds downright peaceful, as a matter of fact.
Judy & Bud (Judy usually the one talking here)
2004 Pleasure-Way Excel TD
co-pilots, Rosie & Poquita
If you are going to dry camp a lot the LTV Sprinter with the two batteries in the basement might be the better choice. I don't think the Pleasure-Way has an alternative for a second battery.
Thanks for the responses so far. mumkin, I was thinking of cabinetry when I said luxury. I'm guessing you can get leather (UltraLeather) from SM if you want it. The thing I like about those guys is that you can design it to your needs. After RVing for 17 years and camping for 40+, I know what would work best for me.
The Tiger 4x4 is a pretty nice looking rig. I do have a truck and camper already, however.
This may not be technically full-timing, but my wife and I are a full time folk music duo, and these days we're on tour for about six weeks at a time. Right now, we're into our fourth week of touring, in Plainfield, IL. We got our custom-outfitted SMB Sprinter last year and we're loving it. The good fuel mileage takes some of the sting out of current gas prices, that's for sure.
Our SMB has its rear floor raised 15", which provides acres of storage for our gear. That, plus our mini office with scanner/printer, mobile phone and laptop with EVDO card, and we can book shows and do promotion on the road. It's pretty neat. We find it comfortable, though we don't require much.
The only thing keeping us from staying on the road longer is homesickness for our place in Vermont. We've been so happy with our setup, though, that we're probably going to start extending our tours in time and distance.
balloonfarm wrote: This may not be technically full-timing, but my wife and I are a full time folk music duo, and these days we're on tour for about six weeks at a time. Right now, we're into our fourth week of touring, in Plainfield, IL. We got our custom-outfitted SMB Sprinter last year and we're loving it. The good fuel mileage takes some of the sting out of current gas prices, that's for sure.
Our SMB has its rear floor raised 15", which provides acres of storage for our gear. That, plus our mini office with scanner/printer, mobile phone and laptop with EVDO card, and we can book shows and do promotion on the road. It's pretty neat. We find it comfortable, though we don't require much.
The only thing keeping us from staying on the road longer is homesickness for our place in Vermont. We've been so happy with our setup, though, that we're probably going to start extending our tours in time and distance.
I would love to see pictures of your layout, in particular your office suite. In a few years, we will be seasonally living in an RV, running my business from it, via laptop, cell phone, etc. Would love it if this could be accomplished on a B.
CSG wrote: Thanks for the responses so far. mumkin, I was thinking of cabinetry when I said luxury. I'm guessing you can get leather (UltraLeather) from SM if you want it. The thing I like about those guys is that you can design it to your needs. After RVing for 17 years and camping for 40+, I know what would work best for me.
The Tiger 4x4 is a pretty nice looking rig. I do have a truck and camper already, however.
While underway, are you able to crawl back into the living quarters with your truck camper. Indiana Jones could....I can't.
I'd never heard of the Tiger until the previous post. Seems like the perfect B. It has more power than any B yet has the flexibility of a Conversion Van. I love that it can haul a 9500 lb. boat!
I surprised the Tigers doesn't have a slideout. Perhaps in the future.
Greg Schoenberg wrote: I would love to see pictures of your layout, in particular your office suite.
You can see our layout and browse through other pics of the Blue Meanie here.
It's really not so hard to run your business from your B; all you need is a scanner/printer, cell phone, laptop w/ EVDO and a postage scale--we're doing it now!
Offline
Online
