Do any of you guys camp in a "B"?

[marc515]

From what I've been reading about "B"'s, most folks them use them for travel.

While I would like to get a "B" for us to travel the US, we aslo like to go to campgrounds throughout the summer; usually we spend a week in the campground.

The main drawback I've seen with a "B" is a lack of screens to include the main door screen, which means you must keep the door closed or end up with bugs inside the camper. Now I see some of the larger and more expensive Sprinter platforms have screen doors, but what about the less expensive models built on the Chevy model.

So what do you guys do for screens, and screen doors?

Thank you

[1775]

Many Class B owners have used the Magic Mesh screen (from the TV commercials and sold all over) to create a functional screen door on the side door. My Roadtrek was ordered with the optional screen package that included a screen that zips and welcros in around the entire rear cargo doors opening so that the doors can be left open in a campground.

One thing to understand about a B is that space inside is tight. All of the conveniences are in there but sitting all day inside - and then at night too? This is why many Bs have awnings and there are screen packages to give you a screened in porch area under the open awning. Many people camp for more than a week at a campground in their B - use the facilities at the campground, enjoy the outdoors, and the rest. A B is not just for travel, but a great advantage of a B is that any day of your trip you can disconnect and drive off to any nearby attraction and be able to park in one or two (back to front) regular parking spaces and then come back to to your campsite at the end of the day - no need for a car towed behind or a car towing a trailer.

[Heapie]

Answer to screens. A neighbor of mine who has a Roadtrek like mine made a screen out of netting. They clip it to the awning using very large paper clips purchased at Staples. To cover the part under the RV, they sewed magnets to netting which held the netting to the RV. Very easy and cheap.

My RV (used) came with netting to cover the open rear doors using Velcro. All the windows except the front doors have screens.

Heapie

[Fastpaddler]

All of the above good and much like us. We used Walmart screening material and looped it over a compression rod fitted just above the door frame of the sliding door. No mosquitoes yet. We like to tour and camp from 1 to 4 weeks at a time. We use a light gazebo for some locations if outside a lot. When we go snooping around in town or somewhere else, I just drop the water,sewer pipe unplug the hydro cable(most expensive) and leave the rest. I have NEVER lost anything(100$ or so worth) and I find people watch out for your things when you are coming and going. We were trapped with our previous 2 C Class rigs. Not anymore and the mpg is great on the i-5 engine, anyway.

[mepboat]

When thinking about screens, don't forget a cover and screen for the fantastic fan. Made by fantastic fans, the cover will keep the rain out and their optional screen for the cover will keep the bugs out. We find with our PW that the screens that cover our window openings along with the fantastic fan create enough air flow to satisfy us. We also suggest that after a camp with the windows open often, vacuum the exterior of the screens to remove bugs and debris before shutting them down. I will try to add a pic of the fantastic fan vent cover if I can figure out how to do this. "B" safe, "B" happy Go RVing in a "B" RV.

[senf]

marc515 - Class B is by definition a "campervan". How can you not camp in the van? We do, and have done for periods of time, but you really need to be "with it" if dry camping and have activity otherwise. One year we travelled to the Maritimes including Newfoundland and camped for a month at least, but not all in the same place.

[senf]

hobbssb - the screen was a Roadtrek option. We also had the side door screen, but it was a pain to exit and enter, so I have removed the doorway velcro (nearly) which bubbles from heat in the continuous strips. Now we are going to install the magnetic curtain type screen for the side door. Just waiting for some warmer weather.

[JUSTJOHN]

If you are looking for a class B with a truly integrated screen door that will not let any critters in and is functional take a look at the units from Advanced RV. I had the opportunity to go to their factory and then drive one of their units and fell in love with it. I know several Roadtrek owners have actually gone to the factory to have Advanced RV install their screen door configuration into their units.

[hobbssb]

senf - Where did you get your rear screen?

[senf]

We have a rear screen which is a two/four zipper. It zips from the bottom to the top and from the top to the bottom on either side of the screen when it is closed. When inside the van, we can unzip from the top to open and close the back windows. Unzipping from the bottom from inside the van can be done, but one needs to lie in the bed and reach to do it.

We could travel with the screen wholly or partially unzipped, but choose not to do so, because that way the back doors can be opened at any time without worrying about insects. That reminds me of the time in our previous unscreened Roadtrek, we parked for lunch under a tree for shade and we were bombarded with ladybugs. It took us two months at least before we saw the last of them, by that time we had travelled across the continent.

[Handbasket]

My former '01/'02 Roadtrek Chevy 190, bought lightly used, had the optional screen package. There were metal framed window screens in the side door pop-out windows, and two big sheets of fabric screens for the side and back doors with slits for entry. There was Velcro tape all around the door openings.

There was no screen for the pop-out rear door windows (OEM GM), tho'. RT had installed a screw that locked the knuckle latch so they couldn't be opened. I removed the screw, restoring the pop-out function. Then I bought screens for them from Screenz or Bug Barrier.

Fully rigged, that van had better ventilation then my current Tiger 'C-Minus.'

Jim, "Mo' coffee!"

[Supercharged]

marc515 wrote:
From what I've been reading about "B"'s, most folks them use them for travel.

While I would like to get a "B" for us to travel the US, we aslo like to go to campgrounds throughout the summer; usually we spend a week in the campground.

The main drawback I've seen with a "B" is a lack of screens to include the main door screen, which means you must keep the door closed or end up with bugs inside the camper. Now I see some of the larger and more expensive Sprinter platforms have screen doors, but what about the less expensive models built on the Chevy model.

So what do you guys do for screens, and screen doors?

Thank you

Our B+ is HR Augusta E-450 29.3 ft. three slides, to many screens, to many shades out side. But sure works nice for everything. We spend most of last summer traveling and camp.

[Sebtown]

Fastpaddler, Just wanted pass a quick note and acknowledge your remarks. I too am from Winnipeg and always tell my friends that the mosquitoes in "the Peg" are as big as humming birds! I live in coastal California now and have an 06/07 airstream interstate. I have homemade magnet and screen doors but I would probably be bitten 100 times just putting them on in Winnipeg. Thankfully we rarely need screens on the west coast.

[hobbssb]

Davydd wrote:

As for the rear doors most all the converters have optional solutions. I again liked the Great West because it was a two zipper roll down solution that stayed in place instead of having to be taken down and stored.

We're considering getting a 2-zipper rear screen. Can you leave the rear screen down when driving? Can you open and close the rear door curtains from the inside of the van when a rear screen is installed?
Thanks.

[RSchleder]

We just returned home after 3 months of camping in the South. We've downsized from a 40' Allegro Bus so this was our first winter of being a snow bird in our Sprinter based ERA. I will admit, it takes some mental adjustments, however, we'd do it again in a heartbeat!