Any Opinions on the Leisure Travel Van "Wonder?"

[bagman]

The "Wonder" has (2) cool floor plans and is powered by a FORD 5 Cycl Turbo-Diesel mated to a (6) speed auto trans and gets about 2 MPG better fuel economy vs the Mercedes Benz "Sprinter" and one would think that parts for the "Wonder" and FORD dealerships would be more available. Actually, I think the "Wonder" makes sense for a couple that wants a B+ that is easy to drive and has a lower profile than most B+ RVs. What say you? Bagman.

[Photomike]

Most class B's have a horrible ground clearance. I am looking for one and just about all are dragging their butts. From what I have seen the Transit/Promaster/Sprinters have the best clearance over the smaller GMC van as they tend to build down with the smaller vans (tanks, propane, generator exhaust).

If you are looking for more clearance you will be looking at a Great West, Safari Condo, Sportsmobile. But I think they charge $25,000 for each inch of clearance :B :B

[pnichols]

But does the Transit and E350 use the same diameter tires?

Also, unlike the Wonder, some van chassis based ClassB/B+/C motorhomes have their retracted door steps tucked up to the same height as the bottom edge of of coach sidewall. That makes me curious about other under-coach items of the Wonder: How low down does the propane tank, generator, and GW/BW tank plumbing hang in relation to the coach sidewall edges?

However the Wonder may be constructed, it may not be much different than many other RV's nowadays. Many of them appear low-slung, but that can be easily fixed by their owners through retrofitting them with larger size tires than what they come with.

[JaxDad]

If you look at a side profile shot of that van or most any other Ford Transit based unit then look at the same profile shot of a conventional class C on a Ford 350 chassis you will see that the lower body line is in line with the centre of the wheels in both models.

The low ground clearance idea is just an optical illusion.

[pnichols]

Just looking at the photos, it's ground clearance seems too low. The entry door step mechanism also seems to hang down even lower than the walls of the coach. This would make it suitable for only paved and level road surfaces - plus be a problem exiting/entering streets where you have to drive over rises/dips for water control.

Also ... what extra weight carrying capacity does the chassis have over how much the coach itself loads the chassis? Possible reasons for chassis overkill being desirable include things such as - over what's required as minimums - more robust braking, better engine and transmission cooling, less rear spring sagging with age, and overall greater chassis strength carrying the coach and it's contents mile after mile.

I guess it boils down to does one want good, or better, or best in all aspects of what constitutes a great RV.

[ernie1]

I thought everything you thought about the Wonder but most of that is not necessarily so. My friend bought a Winnebago Fuse which is also a Ford Transit like the Wonder. They had it for 6 months and couldn't get rid of it fast enough! Problems amounted to low clearance at the rear which caused dragging to a point where the rear bumper eventually peeled backward; the engine had a continual check engine light which the Ford dealer couldn't resolve for a long time; oil leaks; wind noise through poorly fitted doors; the Winnebago part of the coach was a disaster. Also the wait time at the Ford truck repair shops was weeks long especially because the Transit part of the rv was so new that parts were hard to get.