Leisure Travel Vans

Yep, they no longer make Class B's.

I guess everyone wants a Unity.

we have a freedom serenity II and love it.

Their annual rally in Winkler, MB is taking place this week. I'm sure the subject will come up. We should know more very soon.

The problem was that they can't keep up with the orders of their small Class C units. When the waiting list got to between 10-12 months, that is when they suspended production of the Class Bs on the Sprinter. They had already stopped making them on the Chevy a couple years before.

So many Class A owners decided to downsize and these are the preferred units of many. Thus far the labor shortages of that part of North America (low population and the oil boom) means that expanding or doubling their production line hasn't been possible.

I doubt that they even know if or when it will start up again.

Granted Sprinter-based B's are great little campers but seriously, $100k for a camper van! Let's see - $30/night for a camping spot vs. $100/night for a motel....$100k/$70 difference = 1428 camping nights to break even. Not to mention the extra fuel cost to run a camper vs. an SUV. Kinda works out Ok if you're a full-timer, but full-timing in a camper van? OK, start slamming!

I have a Class B van(and Class A) to avoid motels, so it does not come into the argument at all. Leisure Travel Van knows what they want to do businesses wise. I like the fact that they don't do like many in the industry do and hire a bunch of unskilled workers when times are booming then laying them off, Constantly having to retrain people which makes quality go down and they do make a quality product.

DougE wrote:
Granted Sprinter-based B's are great little campers but seriously, $100k for a camper van! Let's see - $30/night for a camping spot vs. $100/night for a motel....$100k/$70 difference = 1428 camping nights to break even. Not to mention the extra fuel cost to run a camper vs. an SUV. Kinda works out Ok if you're a full-timer, but full-timing in a camper van? OK, start slamming!

Well, since I started this discussion I'm guessing this advice was mainly being directed back to me. Yes, I could have continued tent camping out of the back of my S-10 as I did for many years while I was working and saving for my retirement. That's certainly cheaper than any kind of RV. But now that I'm retired I feel I can and should spend the money I saved as I choose and for me that means RV camping in a Class B. I choose to think of it as a fiberglass tent on wheels that doesn't need to be set up (in the rain) or taken down (in the rain). The costs to some may seem outrageous, but the benefits to me are priceless. But thanks for your opinion.

You can also buy used if you want to save $$$. I picked up a real clean 2002 23' Coach House for 25% what a new one would cost. I'll probably invest $4-5K into doing some upgrades, but I feel I'm still money ahead even if I get some unexpected repairs. With my upgrades I will get Bluetooth, NAV, Sat radio, 2 backup cameras, 40" TV with Blu Ray player w/300W inverter, 200W solar and a 4 stage charger.

I figured 30 days of hotels and meals will run you about $4500/mo. Use the RV 3-4 months out of the year it makes good sense. And we haven't even talked about the travel comfort of traveling especially with a dog and the conveniences of having your home on wheels with you.

DougE wrote:
... Kinda works out Ok if you're a full-timer, but full-timing in a camper van? OK, start slamming!

It's not an option for everyone, but more people on a Class B forum are gonna think that works for them.
comfort/cost

Mike