Would the SMB Classic be a class "B" or "C"?

mlts22 · 05-20-2015, 07:54 AM

Would this be considered a class "B", or "C" van? It is a Ford Econoline cutaway... but Sportsmobile has made a fiberglass body for it so it looks/functions exactly as a van. It is called the Sportsmobile Classic.

Links:

http://www.gizmag.com/sportsmobile-buil ... van/37413/
http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/viewto ... 15&t=11815

mumkin · 05-20-2015, 03:33 PM

Based on RVIA standards, it would be a C. It starts on a cutaway... so it is a C.

Their making it look just like the old van body doesn't make it a B...

Davydd · 05-20-2015, 04:35 PM

It is not so cut and dry anymore. Jackie Delk, the B12 Rally host, contacted RVIA about Class Bs because Pleasure-way called their Plateau XL a B and some owners were turned away from the B12 Rally. RVIA told her a B is a B if the converter calls them that. RVIA represents the industry not the customers as I understand. They still went with converted VAN as the definition this year.

It appears Sportsmobile is trying to prolong a design that was popular for them and with the absence of a true Van they appear to be emulating it in size. Usually it is width and height that changes the design game traditionally between B and C to give Cs a space and design flexibility advantage. Sportsmobile seems to have held those to Van proportions. Kind of like buying simulated classic cars.

mlts22 · 05-20-2015, 05:09 PM

I can understand why Sportsmobile is doing this. They have a ton of money sunk into the Ford Econoline drivetrain for upfitting it. So, when the vans were cancelled, they needed to do something with the know-how. Going with a fiberglass mold and cutaways only makes sense for them.

I hope they are doing some work with the Transit, since that is going to eventually be the future of vans and cutaways in the US, but until the heavier duty models come out that can handle a class "C" or "A" cutaway, the Econolines will still be around.

stanw909 · 05-20-2015, 06:59 PM

On the Sportsmobile forums guys were lamenting that as long as they were making the shell from scratch, SMB could have made it a little wider. They go to SMB rallies where no one is turned away.

AK49er · 05-20-2015, 10:43 PM

How much difference would this be than the RT 210, Pleasure Way or Coach House? Were those cutaways?

Davydd · 05-21-2015, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK49er

How much difference would this be than the RT 210, Pleasure Way or Coach House? Were those cutaways?

Good question. The difference is starting out as a van and removing the back and replacing with a fiberglass shell. Usually the doors are reused.

booster · 05-21-2015, 01:32 PM

The Excel and 210 both started out as full vans, not cutways, don't know about the Coach House. The Roadtrek 200 was built on a cutaway. Do they let them in?

gerrym51 · 05-21-2015, 01:58 PM

it looks to me as if they are trying to emulate the van exactly-i'd call it a B.

AK49er · 05-21-2015, 02:54 PM

It's interesting what a cutaway really is in the class B world.

booster · 05-21-2015, 03:04 PM

I think it gets back to some things that have been discussed before about how confusing the classes are, and letting the manufacturers determine what to call them is just not a good idea IMO. They will do whatever they can to sell stuff and not worry about if it is consistent or accurate. If RIVA is not willing to set, and enforce, the class type requirements, they might just a well get rid of them completely and let it shake out. If someone wants to have a traditional Class B social, they will have to set their own requirements. "steel body except roof?" "no cutaway chassis?" whatever.

avanti · 05-21-2015, 03:17 PM

By my way of thinking, the most important attributes of a Class B are that the shell was engineered by real engineers, manufactured in a real factory, made of metal, and crash-tested.

I think we need a new category: "pseudo-B".

Caped Crusader · 05-21-2015, 08:25 PM

Go Rving, RIVA's consumer site, still describes a Class B as "Commonly called van campers, Type B Motorhomes are built using automotive manufactured van or panel-truck shells. Van campers drive more like the family car, but offer the comforts and conveniences of home on the road."
I have heard nothing about RIVA. changing this.
So, if it started out as a Van (has a Van chassis) it is a Class B. Doesn't matter what mods were done. At least that's the way I understand it.
I would like to see where RIVA states something different.

gerrym51 · 05-21-2015, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avanti

By my way of thinking, the most important attributes of a Class B are that the shell was engineered by real engineers, manufactured in a real factory, made of metal, and crash-tested.

I think we need a new category: "pseudo-B".

How about 'wanta-b'

Davydd · 05-21-2015, 08:45 PM

RVIA calls them Type B now and only says they are commonly called van campers and drive drive like a family van. They don't have any language that says they start out as a Van.

http://www.rvia.org/?esid=TypeBMHs

gerrym51 · 05-21-2015, 09:39 PM

Normally i would say all rv;s that use a chassis cab are c's.

However on this one i will make an exception. it's obviously made to be an exact duplicate of the original. i don't think sportsmobile would go thru the expense of this if the van was actually still avialable

stanw909 · 05-22-2015, 12:59 AM

I don't think SMB cares what it's called other than an SMB. The new vans (Transit, Mercedes, Promaster) will never have the offroad capabilities of the Econoline in terms of wheel travel and overall toughness so they must use the cutaway chassis for as long as Ford will produce them. The heavy duty 4X4 guys will be sad when that day comes.

Caped Crusader · 05-23-2015, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davydd

RVIA calls them Type B now and only says they are commonly called van campers and drive drive like a family van. They don't have any language that says they start out as a Van.

http://www.rvia.org/?esid=TypeBMHs

I think they say it in this line.
"Type B Motorhomes are built using automotive manufactured van or panel-truck shells." That's pretty clear to me. It's right on their consumer site. http://gorving.com

Davydd · 05-23-2015, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caped Crusader

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davydd

RVIA calls them Type B now and only says they are commonly called van campers and drive drive like a family van. They don't have any language that says they start out as a Van.

http://www.rvia.org/?esid=TypeBMHs

I think they say it in this line.
"Type B Motorhomes are built using automotive manufactured van or panel-truck shells." That's pretty clear to me. It's right on their consumer site. http://gorving.com

Yes, but that may be out of date because it is no longer on the official RVIA website. So, it is only clear to you. There are many small C owners who feel they legitimately have a B because Pleasure-way tells them that and RVIA no longer disputes that. It's getting murky. Just say van camper. They can't claim that. Oop! Go RVing says Type Cs are built on automotive Van frames. So much for that.

Note they all say Type now instead of Class.

booster · 05-23-2015, 02:20 PM

At least with the probably death of the fiberglass roof US style vans, the manufacturers who are producing "true" class B models will be able to differentiate them by "all steel" or "full steel van bodied" or some other description.

I think the manufacturers are just trying to ride the benefits of a class B onto their newbe customers. Folks hear about class B's being maneuverable, getting good fuel economy, etc and think it is a good idea. They don't have the experience to see that the 26 foot "class b" they are seeing at the dealer isn't what all the benefits were talking about, especially if the dealer doesn't sell normal B's.

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