scarpi
Phoenix
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Joined: 08/07/2007
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My wife and I have decided to buy a class B. We are thinking of either a Roadtrek or Pleasure Way. We will probably buy used due to the cost of new and like the rear twin bed model that both have. We'll probably go for a Roadtrek 190 or 210 or the Pleasure Way Ford model. We do like the bathroom on the Pleasure Way though. I would like opinions of pros and cons of each manufacturer from you owners and experienced campers. I would like to keep the cost at a max of $60k. We recently rented from Cruise America a Four Winds 19G small motorhome. It was great except we didn't like having to make the dinette into a bed each night and I didn't care about sleeping upstairs above the cab. But other than that it was a great experience for us and our two cocker spaniels! The RV was an 09 with about 14k miles on it and renting from Cruise America was a great experience. We're from Phoenix and we went to Northern Arizona's high country for a week to enjoy the fall aspens and cool mountains.
Don S.
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I am still wayne_tw
everywhere
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Joined: 06/18/2009
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Either product will serve you well. Since you are shopping used, you would be better served to concentrate on vehicle condition, floorplan, then brand.
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My Roadtrek
Tucson, AZ.
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Joined: 03/20/2002
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This has been asked, and answered a lot here, so you may not get a lot of replies.
I did a quick search of the archives, and there are probably more to be found.
http://www.trailerlife.com/cforum/index.........B21%7D%7Cpd%7B366%7D%7Cma%7B%7D/sr/1.cfm
http://www.trailerlife.com/cforum/index.........d/tid/23044200/srt/pd/pging/1/page/2.cfm
Visit My Roadtrek
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scarpi
Phoenix
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Nice website Rodger and a nice Roadtrek. My wife and I have camped for years mostly when we were younger. First tent camping and then a van, then we had a HILO trailer but she didn't like towing. I was especially bad at backing up. So we thought we would go class B especially after renting the 20 foot Four Winds recently from Cruise America. I would buy new except I don't think I could get a dealer to take about $25k off of msrp of about $85k. But I will check it out. I think here in Phoenix Holiday Motorhome sells Roadtrek and Kemptons RV sells Pleasure-way. And then there is always McMahons S. Cal. It seems they sell just about everything and have alot of locations. I do believe that both the Roadtrek and Pleasure-way are both quality RVs so we can't go wrong with either one. Thanks for the info!
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mockturtle
Northwest
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Joined: 05/31/2005
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I have some friends who bought their RT at Van City in St. Louis, MO. A long way to go, but they got a good enough deal to make the trip worthwhile. They also sell Pleasure Way. No, I'm not advertising for them. 
Stahmann's RV in New Braunfels, TX, also sells Roadtreks, but not Pleasure Ways. We have done business with them and really like their sales and service departments.
2000 Born Free 24RB Class C
2002 Honda CR-V toad
Roadmaster Sterling A/T towbar
VIP braking system
Eddyline Merlin kayak
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smallcamper
North Carolina
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Joined: 08/16/2001
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scarpi wrote:I do believe that both the Roadtrek and Pleasure-way are both quality RVs so we can't go wrong with either one.
You're absolutely correct!
You mentioned the Roadtrek 190/210, and the PleasureWay Excel (Ford)
Spend some time in each unit and decide which features you like best. As you said, the bathroom in the Excel is very nice. But some like the large temporary bathroom/dressing area of the Roadtrek 190 better.
Take a look at the differences in the air conditioners. Some don't like the house-type air conditioner in the Roadtrek. Some prefer the RV type that's in the PleasureWay.
Be sure to drive both at highway speeds. Some reports here of tweaking the Excel Ford chassis; seems like everyone likes the Chevy Express chassis that the Roadtrek is built on.
Personal preferences will determine which one you prefer.
Tom
1999 Roadtrek Dodge 190 Versatile
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poshgrandma
Botetourt County VA
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Don, it's nice to hear from others who are going through the big decision-making process. I have spent an amazing number of hours reading this forum, other forums, manufacturer and dealer websites...you name it...while saving every penny to put toward the purchase.
To let you know where my hubby and I are: early on, we were sure it would be a Roadtrek. We have always leaned toward the sprinter models but had not ruled out gas. We went to the Hershey show in September, where we looked at all of the RTs, then went over to see the Pleasure-ways and were far more impressed. Better bathroom and galley designs. We loved the Plateau, but the Excel was more in our price range. Then, my navigator (I am the primary driver) sat in the passenger seat. The cramped leg room on the Ford made it a definite no-go.
Next week, we are planning a trip to a major dealer in NC, who carries all the models on our short list. I may get booted off the B forum because we started realizing that the slimmed-down C, called a B+, might be the ticket! Still have that PW Plateau in the running, but the short Phoenix Cruiser (sprinter chassis), which we just discovered, is sounding mighty good, and the price on a new one is competitive with that of an early model used RT or PW.
Bottomline: if we didn't have the problem with the cab on the PW Excel, we probably would have written the check. Sit in them (including doing a butt-check in the bathroom), drive them, and I'm sure you'll make the best decision for you.
Jackie
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poshgrandma
Botetourt County VA
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Oops! I meant "recent" model RT or PW, as in 2007 through 2009. All said, it's exciting to be able to choose from a number of really sharp RVs in this size range. I do observe that once one makes a choice, the passion sets in. People here love what they own, and that gives me hope that we will, too.
Jackie
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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Joined: 07/07/2003
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poshgrandma wrote: The cramped leg room on the Ford made it a definite no-go.
I agree completely on this issue, especially on a long trip in our 2004 Excel, my two feet object to being in such close proximity. It's kind of like sitting in a movie theater or an airline seat with inadequate footroom. The only explanation I've ever read is that the E350 chassis most often is built to be a driver only commercial vehicle. That doesn't account for the fact that other manufacturers avoid the problem.
As for the Excel bathroom, it's my favorite part of the whole rig. I have kidded that I could probably do the whole trip back there, if the potty just had a seat belt. 
Judy & Bud (Judy usually the one talking here)
2004 Pleasure-Way Excel TD
co-pilots, Rosie & Poquita
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fatty-falcone
ft lauderdale
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i have a roadtrek and are happy with it
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