Class b rv suggestions

X2 A smaller Class C will give additional room for that third passenger, and more tank (FW, gray, black) capacity. If you go for a Class B, hard to beat a Pleasure Way, Great West, Leisure Travel, or Roadtrek. I lean towards Pleasure Way, their workmanship is top notch, but get one with a floor plan that works for you. Do lots of looking at the different makes/madels before making your final decision......we bought used and were very happy with the PW Excel. Sold it last summer and moved up to a small Class C (23 ft) for a little more room, better shower, better bed, etc. The biggest drawback has been the fuel mileage, 10-11 mpg vs. the 14-15 mpg we got with the PW.

By the way, another thing to keep in mind when adding a third person is the limited tank capacity for both fresh and waste water in any van. It just means you have to take on water and dump your black and gray water holding tanks more often.

Not a huge deal for short trips like weekenders, but something to keep in mind if you are traveling for two weeks or longer with three people. A small Class C probably will have a bit bigger tanks and somewhat more storage space.

Welcome to the forum. Two years will give you some good research time.

B vans are truly great for ease of driving and parking almost anywhere, with excellent fuel economy as you already know. We've had one for more than three years and a lot of miles, and couldn't be happier.

I think vans are great for one or two people.

Floor plans vary a lot. If you want to bring one friend at a time, look for two seats only up front, which will give you more living space in the back versus a three or four-seater. You can find twin bed options if you don't want to share a bed. Ours came (used) with twins, which can be converted to a larger bed by inserting two table panels.

If you think you will seriously travel often with two friends, you might want something bigger like a small class C. In a van, you'll have to be sure you have the extra seat belt, possibly on the rear seating area - not all vans have them. Sleeping for three adults is iffy in a van, comfort-wise and space-wise for everybody's stuff. Some people bring tents for sleeping area for extra passengers beyond the first two.

Different strokes for different folks, of course, when it comes to layout. I like for the bathroom to be on driver's side and galley on passenger side next to the sliding door. That way you are facing your outdoor "living room" when working in the kitchen. This layout often also gives a window and counter where you place groceries, put plates of food, etc. as you come and go from your "living room" on the sliding door side.

I am also a fan of having the refrigerator and microwave at mid/eye level rather than below the counter, to avoid stooping down when you are searching the frig. I also prefer a fully enclosed bathroom/shower rather than aisle shower floor plans.

I like lighter color woodwork; and an open layout where you can walk into your van and see straight through to the back (versus a lot of hanging cupboards that can create a sort of cave to the back.)

If you can, have a screen for the sliding door - some makers now include this built in, or you can attach one with Velcro. Some vans also have back door screen setups.

All of the above is subjective, just one happy B person's input.

I owned a 1999 Rialta (a class C by the way) with the VW VR6 and it was a joy to drive. Would be ok for a single. We had the FD model with twin beds. The Engine was top notch and got close to 20 mpg. I hated the bathroom/shower combo. It made no sense to have to run a pump while showering to drain it. The drain would clog and create a mess. I had trouble finding tires for it. There were three VW dealers in town and none would work on it. I had to find a local service center to service the engine/tranny/etc.

Good luck in your search.