Thinking about buying a B

[newBera]

Hello. I am thinking about buying a class B. I am leaning toward the Roadtrek 190P but the wife is leaning toward the 210P. Does one drive better than the other? We briefly had a 33' class A and it was stressful in so many ways. Having to pull a toad drove the nail in the coffin. Is it realistic to expect the Roadtrek to just be a good touring vehicle? Does it ride about like a good sized SUV? Quieter? How bad are wind cross-currents? We probably won't do a lot of camping but I'd like that option. I have been recently diagnosed with celiac disease and would like to be able to conveniently carry along food (gluten-free). We also have pets that have to accompany us. I'm thinking the pet(s) could possibly stay in the Roadtrek should we stay in a motel. When visiting some relatives we could sleep in the Roadtrek. What do you think? Am I being realistic? Thanks.

[jjrai]

We started out wanting a 19' RT Agile. But, we wanted a larger bath, so we also looked at the Pleasure Way Ascent. Pleasure Way and Leisure Travel both have larger baths than the RT - at least up to 2012 and the models we saw. In the end, we bought a Leisure Travel Free Spirit 21b. It is 22' long including the rear-mounted spare. We went for the 22' because we found a great buy on one with body damage, which we fixed. I would say go for the 21' or 22'+ for the space. You can't tell the difference driving the 19' versus the 22' in my opinion. Parking is fine, too.

[GailS]

You mentioned Travasak in you experimenting with bedding. We bought one eight years ago and love it. You are correct with them not being around any longer but RVSuperbag is the same concept. You may want to check out their website.

Glad you like your ERA and wish you many happy miles ahead.

[stan909]

GottaB ? Or if unavailable , classBgottaB?

[newBera]

Oh, and I need to talk to someone about changing my name. I am no longer a "classBwannaB". I've got one. Now, what do I want my new name to be?.....

[newBera]

I always intended to make a follow-up post but busy, busy, busy. My last post said there was an Era in Albuquerque. Not so. There were no Eras in New Mexico so we went to Mesa, AZ. We drove their Era, I approved of that, but it was so filthy, and it had a vibration, so we didn't buy it. Meanwhile, a fine fellow that had made posts on this thread connected me to a dealership in Forest City, IA. We stuck was seemed to be a fair to good deal and we gave them a deposit. We then returned to NM for a week of doctor visits and then departed for FC, IA. After we left NM it rained on us all the way there. After purchasing the Era we asked them to keep it overnight because of the freezing temperatures. The next day we started a 12 day dodge of rain and freezing temps. We used an ipad and weatherbug to keep us out of trouble but eventually gave up and just drove to northern Alabama to see our son. It rained all the way. The Era does not leak. Many RV parks were closed due to flooding along our route. I should mention that we could not drive immediately back to NM because we had left our towable Suzuki in Forest City. In between storm fronts we dashed back to Forest City, had a couple of concerns addressed, hooked up the Suzuki and started south as it started snowing. Now we had been driving in quite a bit of wind from time to time and the Era had done very well. But, towing the Suzuki we encountered steady crosswinds of 30mph with gusts over 50mph (in Kansas, wouldn't you know). I would have parked the class A I had several years ago but we kept going. We eventually pulled into a almost full RV park that evening and the manager said RVs had been checking in all day to get out of the wind. So the Era pulled the Suzuki just fine, except for a few violent jerks when we encountered bumps. We don't intend to pull the Suzuki. We just had to pull it this time to get it home. ... Why did we get the Era? Both DW and I agreed the 190 or 210 we had intended to get were just a little too small for us. The Era 70a is a little longer than I wanted but it has a "comfortable" living area and a really nice storage area under the twin beds. Now, if we can just keep from overloading it!! My only complaint: the overhead AC/heatpump is noisy. My favorite: it drives very well. DW needs more padding on the beds and we are experimenting with bedding (too bad Travasaks is no more...) As soon as DW passes a kidney stone we will explore Southwest New Mexico. After that, we'll head out to see our sons in Alabama and Florida.

[senf]

The reason for leveling, besides personal comfort, is that an absorption style fridge needs to be level to work properly. Compressor type fridges are not level dependent. Not many Class B units come with compressor type fridges, usually an after market modification.

To level, I carry 6 blocks made out of 8 x 2. I have only used 4 of the six while camping. The blocks are in sets of three, with one end tapered so that there is a continuous smooth ramp up to the top block. Each block is pinned to the one below by dropping a 1/4 inch bolt through lined up holes. So for a set of three there are just two bolts. About 90% of leveling entails one or two blocks under the front wheel or wheels. We use a bulls eye level.

The bulls eye level is first used inside the fridge (leveling the van to do this). When the fridge is level, then find a spot on the counter or ledge where you can easily read the level and mark the spot. Thereafter, place the level on the marked spot and go from there. After much practice, I can judge where and how many blocks to use. Sometimes, I put one block crosswise, another block as the ramp and run up only part way. The 4 blocks I use travel with the bolts through the holes, so they stay put - most of the time.

[stan909]

Yes.The Roadtrek probably has a city water hookup like just about every RV ,but you simply use the tank water and pump. I have never hooked up to city water in 23 years of RVing. I always use the tank water. Just fill before moving on. You also don't need sewer hooked up until dumping.

[zptdewda]

Oh, so there is not a water hook up for the Roadtrek as there is in a travel trailer.
if all do is unplug the Roadtrek and drive away, then it is much easier than having to deal with a hitch!
I was misinformed. Thank you.

[bobojay5]

zptdewda wrote:
Hi everyone,

I have been looking at the Versatile 170, because it can be parked anywhere and drives like a regular van. The Roadtrek website says it is easy to maneuver and that is important to me. My dog and I travel alone, so I would like as few complications as possible.

On the other hand, I have read that people buy travel trailers so that they can have a car because they find it easier to unhitch than to unplug the Roadtrek and unhook the water. I guess they would have to re-level the van after each drive, so I wonder if that is an especially difficult task. Just from what I have read, it seems that there are no clear answers on the best hitch and constant maintenance, after the initial set up which requires serious measuring and balancing if you have a weight distribution hitch. Then, for the rest of your life you will be going to truck weighing stations and weighing each axle of the tow vehicle and trailer together, then separately, figuring out the tongue weight, etc. Whew!

So I wonder if I am missing some information about disconnecting and reconnecting a Roadtrek, at a campsite, that would make it more difficult than I thought?

Thank you.

The only thing you really need to hook up at the campsite is the electric. And that's strictly a flip the breaker, plug and unplug thing.
Fill your water tank as needed, dump as needed. that's it.
Leveling is no big deal once you do it a few times, especially with a single rear wheeled vehicle. Say 2009 and older Sprinters and all the Ford & Chevy B's.

[zptdewda]

Hi everyone,

I have been looking at the Versatile 170, because it can be parked anywhere and drives like a regular van. The Roadtrek website says it is easy to maneuver and that is important to me. My dog and I travel alone, so I would like as few complications as possible.

On the other hand, I have read that people buy travel trailers so that they can have a car because they find it easier to unhitch than to unplug the Roadtrek and unhook the water. I guess they would have to re-level the van after each drive, so I wonder if that is an especially difficult task. Just from what I have read, it seems that there are no clear answers on the best hitch and constant maintenance, after the initial set up which requires serious measuring and balancing if you have a weight distribution hitch. Then, for the rest of your life you will be going to truck weighing stations and weighing each axle of the tow vehicle and trailer together, then separately, figuring out the tongue weight, etc. Whew!

So I wonder if I am missing some information about disconnecting and reconnecting a Roadtrek, at a campsite, that would make it more difficult than I thought?

Thank you.

[bobojay5]

The Excel is being discontinued because Ford is soon not going to be making the Econoline van any longer. Next few months in fact.
The Econoline chassis/cab will continue to be made for the next 12-18 months though

[newBera]

I really appreciate all the posts, all the information. Yesterday we drove into Albuquerque to visit a small Pleasureway dealer. They didn't have any new Lexors or Excels. Apparently the Excel is being discontinued and replaced by a new model (I forget the name but it is on the Pleasureway web site). They had some old units that were, honestly, too small. I am thinking a new 190P may be too small for our needs. I am anxious to see a 210P. They did have a nice Plateau. Nice. The larger fridge is very desirable since with my Celiac Disease we intend to carry along food. I know we can stop frequently and conveniently (class B) but it still seems nice to have the larger fridge.
After we got home we learned Albuquerque also has another class B dealer!!! They appear to have ERAs and Leisure Travel units! So, I guess it is back to Albuquerque tomorrow (Monday).
Thanks again for all your help! I really appreciate all the responses and information.
Roy

[Davydd]

190 under 9 feet tall means you can stop at a Sonic restaurant or use the McDonalds drive up window. Both have 9 feet as their standard clearance height of their canopies. 🙂 I am keenly aware of that at 9'-8" high.

[1775]

classbwannab wrote:
Hello. I am thinking about buying a class B. I am leaning toward the Roadtrek 190P but the wife is leaning toward the 210P. Does one drive better than the other? We briefly had a 33' class A and it was stressful in so many ways. Having to pull a toad drove the nail in the coffin. Is it realistic to expect the Roadtrek to just be a good touring vehicle? Does it ride about like a good sized SUV? Quieter? How bad are wind cross-currents? We probably won't do a lot of camping but I'd like that option. I have been recently diagnosed with celiac disease and would like to be able to conveniently carry along food (gluten-free). We also have pets that have to accompany us. I'm thinking the pet(s) could possibly stay in the Roadtrek should we stay in a motel. When visiting some relatives we could sleep in the Roadtrek. What do you think? Am I being realistic? Thanks.

My Roadtrek 190P drives exactly like the two Chevy vans that I have. It is larger and heavier than an SUV and there is limited visibility through the back windows because there are cabinets, etc. between you in the driver's seat and the rear of the van. As you have driven a Class A this will be no different in that regard, and much easier. On interstates you want to give yourself enough time to change lanes in traffic and be aware of guys who do not understand about driving in blindspots. Because of the length of the van, you do feel uneven road surfaces much more than in a car and if there are items on shelves and in cabinets that are not tightly secured, the noise from these shifting around does get a bit unnerving until you realize that the noise is nothing. On a good road it is a very smooth ride. The best way to see this for yourself is to test drive the models that you are interested in.

As to height - this is an issue for any Class B. In a 190 you are just under 9 feet tall. This means no indoor parking garages and no low clearance overpasses. As to wind, in a high wind you will feel the van pushed but this is compensated for by reducing your speed and knowing that it is happening. I have been on interstates in 60 mph winds with heavy rain and while it was a bit white knuckle on the steering wheel the Roadtrek handled well.

If you are not interested in camping but want the Roadtrek just for drives or trips where you stay in motels, you might look at the new Roadtrek N6 Active - Nissan - it is a large SUV with a kitchen and bed - no toilet. With this you are driving an SUV with all the room and comfort that gives, have the ability to bring food along, and have a bed if you want to spend the night in it.

We love traveling in our 190P and I chronicle that on my site, linked at my signature below.