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RE: collective wisdom on price
I just bought a NEW 2009 Winnebago ERA Class B with Mercedes Diesel for only $25,300. It has 6'3" headroom and everything.
Wow what a deal, those Era class B units run about $100,000 up here in Canada,$25,000 will buy you a 15 year old well travelled Class B in my neighborhood
Jambo101, if I read Don-in-AZ posting correctly, he stated that he bought a new 2009 Winnebago ERA for only $25,300 MORE than the asking price for the 2002 Roadtrek 200 Popular. What would be $68,300, or $43,000 + $25,300.
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loving retirement
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11/22/09 11:21am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: The new Dodge van?
Did some more research on the Fiat Ducato and discovered the following facts. The wheel base of the Medium-Long Ducato motorhome chassis is 3,800mm or about 148 inches, shorter than either the Chevy Express or the Sprinter. The Fiat Ducato is the same van as the Citroen Jumper and the Peugeot Boxer. The van is made in Italy, Brazil, Russia and Mexico. Since the Ducato was first introduced in 1981 2 million have been made and it is now on the third generation. The larger engine, the 160 Multijet Power is a 3.0L 4 cylinder turbo diesel with 115.5kw of power at 3,500 rpm and 400Nm of torque at 1,700rpm. Over my head, would take a knowledgeable mechanic to determine which engine, the Chevy 6.0L, the Sprinter V6 or the Ducato 4-Cyl 3.0L would handle the mountains in the Western US best with the same load.
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loving retirement
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11/21/09 11:23pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: The new Dodge van?
A lot of RVers on these forums swear by the big rigs, and that is fine by me, but I like the smaller style RV, and I know we will gain plenty from bringing over smaller vehicles. I am especially anxious to see the Ducato RV chassis made into a low-profile C, and I think the Bers here will look forward to the Ducato van.
Ducato Chassis
I looked the Ducato site over also, and that motor home chassis looks like it could have some great possibilities, but I also see a number of potential problems. As was stated, RT has no plans to introduce a new chassis/platform at this time. Remember, they have only built one Class C, the RT 200 and after a couple of years replaced it with the 210 (a Class B). I do not believe that the 4-cylinder 160 Multijet Power engine (157 bhp, 400Nm - 400Nm what's that?) will handle the mountains of Western US very well. 32 indicator lights on the dash and 45,000 km before an oil change, now that sounds interesting.
What is the GVWR of the Ducato? European vans usually have a lower carrying capacity. Is the GVWR of the Sprinter used by RT still 8,550 lbs?
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loving retirement
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11/21/09 07:00pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Heat for a class B with no electric ?
In my little B minus... with no propane... if I have nowhere to run my handy/dandy extension cord, I use my battery bank to provide the power to use the 12v mattress pad that I found on a trucker's website. It worked like a charm last year the first time I used it when it was really cold. (I have two batteries and about 155 amp hours)
http://www.12volt-travel.com/12-volt-60-x-30-twin-size-bunk-warmer-pad-p-6680.html
Mumkin, do you know how many amps your 30 inch wide 12v mattress pad uses an hour? Checked their web site, no help I guess since they sell mostly to truckers which may run their engine all night or have a much larger battery bank than I do.
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loving retirement
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11/15/09 07:19pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: You Be The Judge
Without duals in the rear, I believe it is a true B. What do you think the CCC and GVWR are?
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loving retirement
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09/21/09 05:38pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Leisure's Freedom II - wow!
I drove up to Hershey for the day on Friday, and enjoyed the opportunity to prowl around the Pleasure Way and Leisure Travel models. At the Timonium shows they only have Roadtrek.
Boy, those Leisure Travel rigs are super-nice! Of course, they should be for the price. :W
One thing that surprised me was that ALL the true Bs have pretty much identical floorplans.
So I was very impressed by Leisure's Freedom II. Clicky: Freedom II Libero (gas) The Libero is the Chevy gas model, the Serenity is the MB diesel.
Not only does it put two bench seats in the front area for a "dinette" with a removable table between them, it has a choice of a sofa-bed OR regular full-size bed on the rear side, plus a FULL bathroom on the other rear side. I mean a real bathroom with a shower, instead of the usual wet bath. It's a bit cramped, but that's to be expected in a B.
And the galley is VERY stylish, with a decent-size fridge.
Of course, the Freedom II has a widened body to accommodate all this, so you'd lose a bit of the stealth aspect that's part of the appeal of a B. From the outside, it looks more like a B+.
Leenite, what is the going discounted price for a Libero Freedom II?
I agree, it does have a great floor plan. BUT comparing the Libero to B's is not fair. The Libero is a true class C RV. It is not built on a Chevy 3500 Express Van Chassis as are all of the Chevy Roadtrek models (170's, 190's and 210's), but on a cutaway cab chassis with duals and no body behind the driver.
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loving retirement
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09/20/09 05:01pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: flexible solar panel
What is the cost of a single UniSolar PVL-68 panel?
Pianotuna, what is the difference between your US-64 UniSolar panels and the PVL-68?
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loving retirement
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09/20/09 03:04pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Roadtrek Aux Battery Life
Hi NVTraveler,
The life span is related to how often the batteries have been deeply discharged, whether they have been serviced and how carefully they have been charged.
There are many places to buy deep discharge batteries, such as Walmart or Sam's club.
I have over four years on my pair of Everstart MAXX 29 batteries from Walmart and they are doing great - hold a full charge, no boil over and using little or no water.
I believe if you do not discharge below 50% of a full charge, use of a "smart" 3 stage charger, then flooded lead/acid batteries will easily last five to seven years.
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loving retirement
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09/07/09 11:59pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Mercedes to sell Sprinter, not Dodge in 2010
Read the link, but I have a question, what do you make of the following statement?
"In January, the Sprinter will be launched with a 3.0 Liter, V6 common-rail diesel that currently is used in the Mercedes M and GL-SUVs and sold in all 50 states."
Are not the current 2009 Sprinters using a 3.0L V6 which replaced that great little high MPG I5. So is this 3.0L V6 that same engine or a completely new V6?
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loving retirement
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09/02/09 06:49pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Chevy engine power curves
I could not find any plots for the old 5.7L in my 2002 Chevy. Anyone found a way to locate the power curve info at the web site? I would really like to see how that old 5.7L which many of us have matches up to 6.0L and the new 4.8L.
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loving retirement
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08/29/09 02:31pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Roadtrek roll up storage/tv
Isn't that stuff a wood layer that's first glued to a heavy cloth backing, then cut into the strips that make it flexible? ISTR mine in my '02 C190P having kind of broad vee notches between the wood strips. But that's a vague memory.
Jim, "If you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen."
Handbasket, I thought it was done in reverse: First cut the wood into small narrow strips and then glue the strips to the cloth backing. Whatever the process it is costly and likely the reason that Roadtrek make the choice to replace the roll up door with a swinging glass door which now blocks the aisle whenever open. The glass door makes it difficult to leave the cabinet open for access when camped which was no problem with the tambour door. Great example of style winning over function.
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loving retirement
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08/25/09 09:05pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Roadtrek roll up storage/tv
HI,
Does anyone know of a source of wood used in the roll up storage area on a 2000 RT? It looks like the wood in a roll up desk, but much thinner.
Dave
I know that RT quit making the roll up TV cabinet door (and replaced it with glass), but don't they still use that same thin flex wood (for the curve that sticks out) down low on the toilet door on the RT 170's and 190's. If I am correct and they are still using it in the lower toilet doors, then RT should be a source. But I remember asking about that wood a number of years ago and was told that it cost then over $100 for a 4 by 8 foot sheet.
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loving retirement
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08/25/09 04:36pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Solar
I've been pouring over the spec's for all the class B manufactures. Seems every vendor offers solar as an option or solar prep, satellite or satellite prep except Roadtrek. Seems a little odd, you'd think for a B everyone would want at least Solar for obvious reasons. Anyone know why they don't off it, perhaps they have a good reason unique to their offering.
Thanks.
Roadtrek is working on offering solar, but their option will be totally different. NO PANELS on the roof. According to a news release dated Nov 7, 2008 Roadtrek is teaming up with Thule and Dickson Textiles to develop a unique box awning with solar integrated into the awning fabic. Several patents are pending.
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loving retirement
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08/25/09 04:22pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Leveling a B
We camped in Yosemite valley in June in our Pleasure Way Excel. I don't know who made you put the food in bear boxes but we didn't have to. Most B's are much more solid and "bear proof" than trailers or bigger rigs.
I guess you have never seen what a Yosemite bear can do to a metal door (they can tear it open as easy as a soda pop can). Yosemite bears will simply tear a door off its hinges in a minute or two if they know food is inside. The results of what is left after a bear has been inside a car, truck or RV looking for the food an owner has left behind is not pretty. Please, for the health of Yosemite bears (so Park Rangers do not have to kill them) do not leave food inside a vehicle
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loving retirement
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08/22/09 09:53pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: weight distribution
How heavy can the "stuff" be in a Class B? There is not much storage to start with so I would not worry about it at all.
Now hold on "robsouth"
I have come across a number of Roadtrek 210 owners that once they had their unit weighted discovered that they were over 10,000 pounds (the newer RT 210's have a 9,600 pound GVWR, the same GVWR as the RT 190's - but they weigh 600 pounds more). As far as the RT Sprinter RS is concerned, it does not appear hard for the owner to exceed that 8,550 pound GVWR rating at all.
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loving retirement
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08/19/09 04:29pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Class B Refrigerator Survey
Leaving it running all the time is the quickest way to wear it out.
Wayne
This may be true when operating on propane, which can result in carbon build, rust and other problems. However, it is my opinion that if you are operating on 120VAC (or 12VDC for that matter) your fridge will likely last as long as the 120VAC (or 12VDC) heating element keeps heating and does not burn out.
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loving retirement
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08/19/09 04:13pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Powering an AC with batteries?
Does your cab have an air conditioner? If so, how much cooling will you need in the back on the road.
Also, check out the sportsmobile site and they talk about running an a/c off the engine for a few hours while drawing down the battery pack.
Finally, If it is only dry climates where you need a lot of a/c consider running a "swamp cooler" evaporative a/c. It can drop the temperature of dry air dramatically, but will not do any dehumidification. Lots of buildings out west use them. I wonder if anyone has ever used one on an R/V?
Run into an early (maybe 1984 or 85) Roadtrek with a swamp cooler on the top where the Fantastic Fan is placed today. This was before RT started installing A/C's, so I do not know if the swamp cooler was a RT installation or after market. The owner didn't know either, he had just bought the RT and had not even figured out how to get the water up to the cooler yet.
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loving retirement
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08/16/09 03:47pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Message from an unknown Roadtrek employee
Is yours in fact defective?
Bud
Yep, like I said, the circles are around two quite large defects (divots) in the cover.
Sounds like RT received a bad run from a subcontractor and changed
suppliers. These circles and divots are on the backside of the A/C cover, no? If the defect came through to the finished side of the plastic cover could you not see the defects when you bought the RT?
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loving retirement
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08/15/09 06:04pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Stabilizer jacks
I have seen one Roadtrek at a rally with suto hydraulic stabilizer jacks. It was my opinion that they did hang rather low. Is it possible to use Firestone air shocks in the rear to stabilize?
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loving retirement
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08/09/09 03:42pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Painting the B
Lizzie, I would first check with local companies that make signs unless you have unlimited funds. Check in the yellow pages under "signs," you are looking only for those sign companies that do computerized "vinyl graphics." With a set of good photos these sign companies should be able to do a good job and make your Roadtrek graphics for a fraction of the cost.
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loving retirement
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07/09/09 06:29pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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