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Sportsmobile is one of the well known and established Class B RV manufacturers in the U.S. For anyone seriously shopping for a Class B camper van, it’s worth checking out a Sportsmobile camper van at an RV Show or by taking a factory tour.
The company got its start manufacturing camper vans in 1961 under the original name Sportswagons. It has come a long way since the ’60s going from basic VW camper conversions to full blown custom conversion vans on just about every chassis imaginable.
Table of Contents
- Sportsmobile Locations
- Sportsmobile West News & Factory Tour
- Sportsmobile Custom Campers
- Sportsmobile Classic 4×4
- Used Sportsmobiles For Sale
- Rent a Sportsmobile
Sportsmobile Locations
As of September 2020, there are two Sportsmobile locations list on the contact page of the company’s website:
- Sportsmobile Texas in Austin (manufacturing & sales)
- Sportsmobile North in Hunginton, Indiana (manufacturing & sales)
The locations in Fresno, California and Reno, Nevada are no longer listed. Keep reading for news about Sportsmobile West.
Sportsmobile West
Alan and Liz Feld founded Sportsmobile West in 1989 to build custom camper vans. In a press release distributed on September 2, 2020 Sportsmobile West is no longer renewing their IP license.
SPORTSMOBILE WEST, INC.’s LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH SPORTSMOBILE IP, INC., HAS ENDED
Sportsmobile West, Inc., remains open for business and will continue to manufacture vans to fulfill all existing backorders and customer contracts.
[FRESNO, CA September 2, 2020] — Sportsmobile West, Inc., has manufactured and sold recreational vans under a licensing agreement with Sportsmobile IP, Inc., for the past 30 years. Our license agreement has ended. As such, we will not be permitted to take any new orders to build vans for customers until July 1, 2021.
Sportsmobile West, Inc., remains open for business from our same business location at 3631 S. Bagley Avenue, Fresno, California 93725 and committed to all customers. We will fulfill all existing customer contracts and honor all warranties. Our talented production and crafts people will continue to build high-quality recreational vans for all existing customers that placed an order and made a deposit by June 30, 2020. Our service staff also stand ready to assist all customers with any repair and warranty work needed.
Alan and Liz Feld thank everyone for the past 30 years of fun, friendships and adventure with our company. Our outstanding team will be available to assist through this transition.
If you would like more information about this Press Release, please call Alan Feld at 559- 233-8267 or email him at alan@smbwest.com.
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Sportsmobile West Factory Tour
In 2016, we got a chance to visit the Sportsmobile West factory in Fresno, California and take a tour with Jonathan Feld. Watch the video below for a in-depth look at how Sportsmobile custom vans are made. Plus you’ll get to see an original 1965 Sportsmobile VW pop-top campers on display.
Sportsmobile Custom Camper Vans
Van chassis Sportsmobile campers are built on:
- Chevy Express
- Ford E-Series Cutaway
- Ford Transit (optional aftermarket 4×4 conversion)
- Mercedes Metris
- Mercedes Sprinter
- Ram ProMaster
Fully Custom Camper Conversions
To get an idea of the custom vans Sportsmobile has built, scroll through Sportsmobile Facebook page. We’ve met a lot of Sportsmobile owners throughout our travels and they are all unique.
Build on a New or Pre-owned Van
Sportsmobile can source a new van for you or you can bring your own new or pre-owned van for the build out.
Upfit Your Camper Van
Maybe you don’t need a full build out by Sportsmobile. You can bring your camper in for a solar upgrade (check out our post on portable solar vs rooftop solar panels) or have a penthouse pop top installed.
Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
To get a fully custom Sportsmobile means you’ll need to get on the production schedule and wait in line. The wait time will range depending on the specifics of your build.
How Much Does a Sportsmobile Cost?
The pricing page will give you an idea of what it would cost to build out your own Sportsmobile. You’ll also find price examples that include the van and conversion before taxes and fees.
Sportsmobile 4×4 Vans
Thorughout the years, we’ve toured quite a few Sportsmobile 4×4 vans. Check out the videos below to see what a Sportsmobile van build looks like.
Classic 4×4 Prototype on Ford E-Series Cutaway Chassis
Sportsmobile 4×4 Sprinter with Penthouse Pop top
Sportsmobile 4×4 Sprinter High Roof
Wheelchair-Accessible Sportsmobile
For those who need a camper van that is wheelchair-accessible, you can work with Sportsmobile to create a custom van for your needs. Check out their website for examples of wheelchair-accessible conversions.
Sportsmobile Classic 4×4
One of the coolest options Sportsmobile offers is the Classic 4×4. This heavy duty 4×4 adventure van is built on a Ford cutaway chassis with a steel reinforced fiberglass shell.
Features of the Sportsmobile Classic 4×4:
- Built on the Ford E-Series Cutaway chassis
- GVWR 10,050 lbs
- Dynatrac Pro-Rock 60 Front Axle
- Advance Adapters Atlas II Gear Driven Transfer Case
- 2.0 Performance Series Shocks
- Ford F-550 Brake Rotors
Watch the Video Series About the Classic 4×4
The team at Sportsmobile West let us take out their Classic 4×4 for a week to get a taste of van life in a Sportsmobile pop top and to share our experience.
Video 1: Learn About Sportsmobile’s Custom Four Wheel Drive System. Alan Feld explains the 4×4 system in more detail.
Video 2: See What It’s Like to Live Out of a Sportsmobile Pop Top. We take the Classic 4×4 for a few days of Dispersed Camping near Mono Lake.
Video 3: Camping at Yosemite National Park in a Sportsmobile Classic 4×4. We learn the bear rules when it comes to a pop top camper van.
Used Sportsmobile for Sale
Sportsmobile 4×4 vans are well known in the camper van community and are very sought after in the used market. You can find pre-owned Sportsmobiles for sale on their website or by searching popular RV listing sites.
A benefit of buying a pre-owned Sportsmobile is getting your camper van sooner. Depending on your build, it can take over 12 months to make your dream van a reality.
Since Sportsmobile camper vans are 100% custom, no two are the same. Every conversion is a little different based on the customer’s needs, which means finding a used Sportsmobile for sale could also take some time.
Sportsmobile Rental
Try It Before You Buy It – We’ve met many Class B owners who rented their top choices before making a decision. Find Class B Camper Vans for Rent.
Additional Resources
Join the Sportsmobile Owners Facebook Group
Class B RV Manufacturers – complete list of Class B manufacturers
Cost of Full Time Van Life Living – Monthly breakdowns Class B Van Life
Frequently Asked Questions About Van Life – answers to popular questions about van life
Hello Joe and Kait, I have a question about the Sportsmobile you guys were driving three years ago. My wife and I just bought an older Sportsmobile and you were talking about the rack that the rigid lightbar was attached to. I would like to get that rack for our Maxie (Sportsmobile). Do you know the name of the rack and where it can be purchased? Thanks, we met you guys at Overland East in 2021. I stood on the top of a Storyteller van with Kait.
Hey Dale – good to hear from you! I don’t know the name of the rack but I’d suggest calling Field Van who used to be Sportsmobile West and are still making the Classic. They’ll also be able to tell you which rack will work best on your Sportsmobile, especially if they’re the ones who originally made it.
I want a rv van conversion that has a pop up so I can store it in the garage of my home. Our HOA does not permit campers on the driveway or street so I have to have a unit that fits in half of my garage. You did a video on a Ford van conversion and you said they start at $75k. Who did the conversion and do they have a website! Send it to me please.
Thank you for your help.
Hi Larry. Sounds like you are referring to this Ford pop-top camper.
Hi Kait n Joe. I have been a fan since u both first was in a class A to currently staying in my favorite sportsmobile! My family is upstate NY n I m saving 4 a used sportsmobile. To bad the beast has too many miles on it. It would have been a great sportsmobile conversion. Have u both thought of purchasing a used sportsmobile? Take care, Rox
Thanks for being such a long time fan Roxanne! We do keep an eye out for used SMBs and have even checked out a few in person.