Roadtrek 190

There is nothing wrong with the Ford Econoline units. The newer units that were built with the V-10 and 5 speed get better mpg than the V-8 with the 4 speed. However, the units that were built on a Ford Chassis in recent years by Pleasure-way are the Excel models (excluding the Traverse) which are much heavier than the Lexor models but then again there is a lot more isle, storage, and sleeping room in the wide body Excel.

Nick

In the Popular 190's(and our 210) the beds can be configured to twins. We really enjoy this layout for its convenience - and the dog can sleep between the beds!

I went down your road some months ago.

here are some of the things we considered:

Tall- so Versatile model was out- and NO climb overs!

2 + dog- no need for alot of seating ( some people want belted seating for 5 or 6)

Chev- I am familiar with GM so easier for me to service...also driver instrumentation layout familiar for both of us.

head: didn;t want to give up alot of space for a larger head- seems wasted after having tried a unit with a wet bath

didn;t want a widebody like the 200/210 models

.............

resources:

roadtrekchapter.org

google for user/owner blogs on adventures, mods etc.

youtube- many dealers post ads which are very good at showing the layout and features

roadtrek website offers brochures...see which features are std, which are options.

..............

what we did:

no dodges- I don;t like them, and wanted newer. No fords the v10 MPG is a concern

looked at some B's including a VW based Rialta and a Chinook.

Measured my driveway space and figured out which would work for parking

Looked at roadtreks---2 things; the drop floor models I kept tripping in. the cabinets hanging over the sleeping area I found claustro

and in the end bought a 2006 Pleasure-Way Lexor TD.
flat floor, chev 3500 based, 2 benches that become a queen( ish), only 2 seats up front, both swivel.

for the most part we just leave the bed made up...no reason not to with just 2 of us.

the coach conversion quality of these 2 seems similar for me- great quality cabinetry. you WILL need a Robertson #1 and #2 screwdriver to tighten things up

the chev 6.0l is a really good match for the weight of these things- we are seeing about 15/16 MPG I find that 65 MPH is most comfy for handling and economy. ( I have a 4.8 in my pick up and it is always hunting gears on hills- annoying)
the transmission works well to hold speed down in descents if you put it in 3rd or 2nd

IF you plan on towing, check capacity- mine has 5000# tow and 500# tongue weight. other models may vary.
also check GVWR, some are close to max with full water, fuel and a couple of people


we found ours on craigslist...listed at $36k

mike

Thanks everyone. You all have given me a lot of very good information and answered my questions. Now I am ready to get serious about finding a 190 Popular.
Thanks again.
Hpymils

The answer to your question you asked on windows is that with the popular you do loose a window on the drivers side. Both the popular and versatile have a window back at the bed, and then a kitchen window around the sink area, but on the popular there is no window behind where the driver sits, but there is on the versatile. This is because since in the popular your bed is front to back & longer, they push the kitchen further forward and as a result you loose a window. On the versatile you sleep side to side with your head facing the passenger side of the van, and the bed is shorter. I am just under 5'8" and find the versatile bed just fine. I think a 6' person might not like it unless you don't mind sleeping at a slight angle. The versatiles were designed to seat 4 persons up front, and the populars were designed to seat 3 people up front, meaning they have one less rear seat. As far as we have been concerned, the only dis-advantage to the versatile is that the person sleeping on the outside has to crawl over the one on the inside if you need to get up during the night. But I sleep on the outside and I rarely need to get up, and it really is not difficult so far. All of the Chevy 190s were built on the 3500 chassis. If you want a Dodge 190 it will have to be pre 2004 because 2003 was the last year for them. The 6.0 engines started in 2004 I believe, but I know for sure in 2005 the 6.0 was standard. Sometime after 2008, not sure exactly when, they started using some 4.8 engines, but the 6.0 was still available. We have the 6.0, and personally I would not want anything else. It has been great. I hope this helps you out. Feel free to send me a PM if you would like more information.

Steve & Chris
2006 190 Versatile
Ashland, Ohio but currently snow birding

You have already heard that the Popular has three seats up front and the Versatile has four. In the Popular on the driver's side there is a wardrobe cabinet behind the drivers seat instead of the fourth seat in the Versatile. The bed is longer in the Popular and you have the option to sleep side to side or back to front - not in the Versatile in which the bed is side to side.

The inside is the same regardless of the windows - the solid looking windows are black paint between the windows.

While all 190s are on the Chevy 3500 chassis SINCE RT stopped using the Dodge in early 2000s - not all 190s have the 6.0L engine which was an option until recently. So you could get the smaller Chevy engine in a 190. Check the VIN which will tell you both the specs and the chassis year. Roadtrek builds, for example, a 2009 on a 2008 chassis and also on a 2009 chassis - depending on the time of the year the Roadtrek is built inside the van when which chassis is available from Chevy.

See my site linked below to learn all about the Roadtrek 190 Popular.

You can find all of the specs for the older models on the website. Mine is a '95 190 Versatile on a Dodge chassis. I will be selling my Moutain aire as soon as our snow goes away. (maybe August)

Hpymils
Not sure about the new models but the difference in the older models was the sleeping arrangement.The Versatile slept cross way (shorter bed, check it out if you are tall), across the back but allowed them more room for seating four passengers. The Popular slept length way (longer bed) loosing some of the up front room. They were able to seat a third seat but was the seat was interchangeable with an extra closet being as how the length wise bed cost some closet room. The last Dodge van was produced in 2003 when Dodge introduced the Sprinter but some of the RTs may be still sold as 2004 models.If you go to the Road trek factory web site you can probably find the floor plan for most models including older models.
Bob

Hpymils wrote:
We are going to buy a used Roadtrek 190. Done a lot of searching but still have some questions.
1. What is the difference between a 190 Versatal and a Popular?
2. Noticed that some 190s have one or two windows down the sides and others are solid windows like a passenger van. Is the interior different depending on the window configuration?
3. As far as I can tell all 190s are built on the Chev 3500 chassis and have the 6.0 engine. Is that correct?

1. The standard Popular seats 3; the Versatile seats 4 but gives up bed space in return.
2. The windows are the same, the illusion of solid windows is created with the paint scheme.
3. Some of the earlier 190s were built on a Dodge chassis as well as the Chevy. I don't know when the Dodge was removed from the produce line.

The versatile has additional passenger seating. I think both are built on the 3500 van chassis. Their Ranger RT (http://www.roadtrek.com/models/ranger-rt/) is built on the smaller chassis and comes w/ the smaller engine. Make sure you see the 190 in person before you purchase. I was surprised that my head rubbed against the ceiling. The Pleasure Way Lexor would be a comparable model to research (2014 and earlier models).