Need some common sense.

With boats it's called 2 foot-itis.The need/desire to go buy something bigger or newer. Your husband has the bug and despite all of the input here and common sense, he will push for a B. It's cooler. Newer, etc. Unless of course it is you that has the bug. Nonetheless, a B for a 6 month trip? That is long time to live in a closet, no matter how cool.

Having a proper bed, a full shower, a decent galley and eating area...or not.


Gary Haupt

Dakzuki wrote:
Criteria when we purchased was no bigger than 25 feet for the noted reason by the OP of getting into smaller National Park/Forest Service sites. We don't do RV parks (unless we have to). There is one site overlooking a bay we stayed in that I had to jog to get into but get into it I did and we set up camp with a beautiful view.

That is our reasoning. I have this once-in-a-lifetime trip planned, via Utah and then down to New Mexico and around and around NM and then on to Texas and the RGV and from there, who knows. I don't want to be hooking and unhooking a tow, I don't want to be worried I can't find a place to park the Class C we have and I certainly don't want 8 MPG. The Free Spirit SS gets 22 MPG and while that isn't exciting its certainly better than 8

Criteria when we purchased was no bigger than 25 feet for the noted reason by the OP of getting into smaller National Park/Forest Service sites. We don't do RV parks (unless we have to). There is one site overlooking a bay we stayed in that I had to jog to get into but get into it I did and we set up camp with a beautiful view.

Well, we were traveling cross country and stopped in Elkhart at the Phoenix Cruiser place and fell in love with their 2100. Also went to the Thor place and the gate guard said they didn't make B's which I understand is wrong, but not going to argue. We also like the Free Spirit SS and Coach House makes a beaut. LOL so now all we have to do is decide or flip a coin, see who can give us the best price and sell or trade in the C.
The only thing I don't like is the B is as or more expensive than a C. What is with that.

I should remember that for a test for motorhome maneuverability. If it can deal with Jerome (and go up to the tourist areas), it definitely can handle almost anything except hairy urban areas.

For extended traveling, we really liked our Trail Lite B+. A Phoenix Cruiser would be similar, although pricey. You'd like that a lot better than a Class B, I think. How much do you care about the actual driving experience? A Class B would be the easiest to drive, although the Sprinter B+/C models are quite good also. Our Trail Lite Chevy was pretty easy to drive too. Very nimble.

Our Sunseeker 2300 Class C Chevy gets an honest 10 MPG at 65+ MPG. The Chevys get a little more MPG than the Fords, and have more leg room too. It has a lot more room and storage than our small B+ did. It handles "okay". Meaning satisfactory, not unsatisfactory, but not like a van or car. My wife drives it with no fuss, and she's not courageous. We can go anywhere within reason, including into towns. We drove it to, and parked it in, Jerome AZ with no issues; some people will appreciate that. Let's just say you would not want to take a big MH there. :)

Roy&Lynne wrote:
Oh I like that Sprinter B+, except for those side beds. Will check them out.

We've owned one of them (an E350-V10 version) for 7 years now, ours without the optional slide out. You can see ours HERE

Your concern over the rear corner double bed has been well noted by many. My wife and I are in our upper 50s and surely don't consider it ideal. But it works much better for us than the alternatives.

Oh I like that Sprinter B+, except for those side beds. Will check them out. We actually have a tow but it's such a hassle and we just want to have something that will go anywhere.

My 2c's. Keep your current rig and get a light tow car to pull. DW and I leave for 6 months at a time with a Saturn being towed by our (then) Class A. Best combo around. The large MH is used to go from point a to b at 8 MPG. The small Saturn is used as a daily driver and to explore the new area at 24+ MPG.

The routine is to pull into a campsite, setup, jump into the tow car, set the GPS up as "home" and then take off in the car. When the day is over I hit the "home" on the GPS and it brings us back. Works great.

Good you will see for yourself the space you will give up.

I understand fuel economy to be roughly this for a B+.....and I do mean "Roughly"

E450-V10 9-10 mpg
E350-V10 1 mpg better than E450
E350-V8 2 mpg better than E450
Chevy 2 mpg better than E450
Sprinter diesel 5 mpg better than E450
Pro-Master gas (just came out) 4 mpg better than E450
Ford Transit diesel (not yet available) anticipated to be like the Sprinter

There are just a gob-full of influential factors so these are terribly rough numbers assuming the same "small" motor home is on each chassis. E450s get weighted down the worst so that 9-10 figure would naturally be lower for most true-life conditions.

A Sprinter diesel "B" van conversion will yield your best fuel economy, with a Pro-Master gas on it's heals.

Many people who can't take the poor fuel economy any longer, find themselves in a Sprinter B+ similar to THIS. This particular one happens to be offered on a Sprinter diesel, an E350-V10, an E350-V8, and even the E450-V10 for those who want the max CCC & towing ability. Oh yes, it is even offered as an E350 & E450 4x4.