Those of you with older Roadtreks...

[coolmom42]

I'm hoping to buy a used B in the next couple of years and am looking around to see what's available. There are lots of decent-looking Roadtreks out there, but I have concerns about the aisle shower & toilet position.

If you have a Roadtrek with the aisle shower---do you use it? How awkward is it to set up? How much trouble do you have getting water in places it's not supposed to be?

As best I can tell the aisle door has to be open to use the toilet, which blocks the view from the front but also blocks anyone from getting through. Is this a big pain?

My whole point in getting a B is to have a shower and toilet--I won't be one of the owners who never uses the facilities!

[senf]

If your vehicle has tinted windows and you have light blocked from the front cab by the toilet door, no-one can see what you are doing during daylight hours. When you turn on lights inside - that's a different story!

[Davydd]

1775 wrote:

When using the toilet the door is open and there is a privacy section that opens to block the view from the front. In older than 2010 Roadtreks there also had been a privacy door/curtain to block the back. That is not in my 2011 and if you stop on the road for a quick one, you need to close the curtains on the windows in the back or you are in full view. We made our own curtain to hang by magnets from the shower track to give privacy from the back windows. As to getting past the door - not only can't you get past the door but if someone is sitting in the front and watching TV (which is past the door) if one uses the toilet the person can no longer see the TV. Is this a deal breaker? - no. Getting past to walk to the back? Where would one go? If the bed is made up the bed starts at the end of the toilet cabinet. I still would not get the permanent bath. It is small inside and it is like closing yourself into a box going inside and shutting the door. Many that I have heard from just leave those doors (there are two) open when inside anyway.

Deal breaker? Well you said it was a show stopper. 😉

This reads that you are basically turning your whole B into a toilet room including the kitchen galley. Shower, one can deal with because I suspect most step out the door of a closed bathroom to dry off anyway, but to sit on a toilet open to the B makes it an unconfined toilet room. I suppose one can argue that most small RVs with bathroom doors often gapped for ventilation are really technically no better but I think this might be going too far in my mind.

Yes, I know Roadtreks are vastly popular in the B world and so this is thus acceptable to many B vanners. You might look at it another way. The B vans are currently about 6% of the total motorhome market and less than 1% of the total RV market. With the Roadtrek being the best seller with this practice maybe they pose themselves as the number one turn off for Bs by the buying public. Maybe they kill way more sales than they get and take the whole B market down with it.

[coolmom42]

Thanks to everyone for the comments. The aisle bath feature made me hesitate on the Roadtreks, but after this input, I'll add them to my "watch" list.

[1775]

We have a Roadtrek 190 with the aisle bath - it is fine. When we were buying we looked at teh "permanent" bath which in 2011 was a new option. It took away much too much space - eliminated the third seat and some storage.

There is a plate in the floor that lifts out when using the shower and there is a floor drain in there. The water moves from the shower to the drain. Get a rubber squeegee and push all the water away and dry with a micro-fiber towel and all the water is gone.

The Roadtrek or any Class B is great for one or a couple. More than two and you better be a very close family as there is zero privacy inside a B.

When using the toilet the door is open and there is a privacy section that opens to block the view from the front. In older than 2010 Roadtreks there also had been a privacy door/curtain to block the back. That is not in my 2011 and if you stop on the road for a quick one, you need to close the curtains on the windows in the back or you are in full view. We made our own curtain to hang by magnets from the shower track to give privacy from the back windows. As to getting past the door - not only can't you get past the door but if someone is sitting in the front and watching TV (which is past the door) if one uses the toilet the person can no longer see the TV. Is this a deal breaker? - no. Getting past to walk to the back? Where would one go? If the bed is made up the bed starts at the end of the toilet cabinet. I still would not get the permanent bath. It is small inside and it is like closing yourself into a box going inside and shutting the door. Many that I have heard from just leave those doors (there are two) open when inside anyway.

And yes, the ceiling fan (Fantastic Fan) is in the middle of the shower on the ceiling and will exhaust out. It will however also suck the shower curtain around you. Not really a problem, just put the fan on after the shower to get rid of the humidity.

[PSW]

We had a 190P Roadtrek for seven years and went all over the country in it and the aisle shower was never a problem for us. Once you get the hang of it, it is quick and convenient. We also had a 210P with the wet bath. Each has their advantages and disadvantages, but I think I prefer the aisle because of the room and it seems to me (after using both wet bath and aisle showers for a total of about fifteen years) it is just simpler and easier to clean up. I believe the fantastic fan in most 190s is located in the ceiling in the center of what becomes the aisle shower when the curtain is extended. Great way to vent the steam and refreshing, too, in hot weather. Don't have to turn it on, just open it up.

I have had Chevy, Ford and Dodge RVs. No problems with any of them, but I lean toward the Chevy 6.0 engine. I am not really a "Chevy Guy" but our 210 was NEVER back to the Chevy place for anything. Not a single thing. Got it serviced by DIY or taking it to a local independent mechanic.

Paul

[coolmom42]

mumkin wrote:
Since you will usually be by yourself, I think the aisle shower would be fine. The reality is that if there are you and a couple kids, there is likely not enough hot water or tank capacity to do showers for three. :C You would definitely be using the campground showers in that case.

I definitely agree with you about getting the Chevy versus Ford and Dodge... both of which often have handling issues in the older used models. No problem finding service and they nearly always handle well.

Good to know someone else shares this sentiment!

[mumkin]

Since you will usually be by yourself, I think the aisle shower would be fine. The reality is that if there are you and a couple kids, there is likely not enough hot water or tank capacity to do showers for three. :C You would definitely be using the campground showers in that case.

I definitely agree with you about getting the Chevy versus Ford and Dodge... both of which often have handling issues in the older used models. No problem finding service and they nearly always handle well.

[coolmom42]

My first preference is a Chevrolet chassis, Ford is 2nd choice. I do not want a Mercedes or VW due to scarcity of mechanics in my rural area and high part prices. Also not a big fan of Dodges due to multiple bad experiences with their trucks.

Budget is set at around $30K, less is better.

[mlts22]

The Winnebago Travato 59K has a rear shower as well.

[coolmom42]

dks wrote:
Aisle shower in my RT works well for us. We use it whenever we are not at a campground. We like it better than the full bathroom option since you have more room to actually shower. I assume there will be only 2 of you traveling, so needing to go to the back of the van if someone is using the bathroom/shower should not be an issue.

Good to know. Mostly it will be just me travelling, but I could add a couple of grandkids in the future.

[coolmom42]

BudJ wrote:
I'm 5'11" and find the bed of a 190 too narrow. I increased the size from 27" to 33", simple and easy to do. With Ellen I set it up as a king size bed.

Bud

This is a good option, too.

Mostly it would be just me, but I might add a couple of grandkids in the mix in a few years.

[gerrym51]

i have the new roadtrek zion. the wife uses the fixed bed side-it's 25 inches=can be pulled out and made wider but she likes it the way it is.

i use the couch folded out. at maximum extension it gives us a six inch gap so in effect twin beds-but a narrow 6 inch gap. she likes to be able to stand up when getting out of bed.

i in effect have a 40 inch bed- although the wife has foam topper on hers i like my side as is. i sometimes put a small foam piece used to combine twin beds into one in the gap=can't tell the difference much but i use it anyways

[dks]

Aisle shower in my RT works well for us. We use it whenever we are not at a campground. We like it better than the full bathroom option since you have more room to actually shower. I assume there will be only 2 of you traveling, so needing to go to the back of the van if someone is using the bathroom/shower should not be an issue.

[gerrym51]

BudJ wrote:
Forgot to mention that since isle showers work well, you can buy a new 2015 Roadtrek with an isle shower.

http://www.roadtrek.com/models/190-popular/

Bud

linky