Worth paying more for newer Chevy VS older Dodge Class B?

[motive8]

WARNING: long but detailed post:

I've finally figured out that the best choice in a motorhome for me is a Class B van (and I'm talking a regular van body Class B, not a widebody B+). This will be my first motorhome and over the last year I've read so much about all types of motorhomes, I've got information overload.

Now comes the really hard part... do I spend more for a newer Chevy based model? Or save a bit and get an older 1990s or early 2000s Dodge? Or a Ford, depending on the RV manufacturer? I'm leaving out Sprinters because the used ones are at the top of my budget or over, and I hear the older they get, the more maintenance they need, and it gets expensive and not every mechanic knows how to work on a Sprinter. And I'm not mechanically inclined. For similar I'm leaving out the VW Eurovan based Rialta (which is more like a small Class C anyways). And the older pop top Vanagon Westfalias are bit too old, small, overpriced and I believe, unreliable. Any VW seems to be expensive to maintain. No offense to anyone who owns one. I think they're really cool, otherwise. If I were more mechanically inclined, I might have considered one.

This spring, I will have the money to pay cash for my new (used) motorhome. Although I might be able to stretch the budget to $40,000 that is the upper limit and won't leave much for repairs, maintenance, fuel, insurance, etc. But if there's a solid benefit in doing so, I will. I'd rather spend $15,000 to $25,000. I had my heart set on a Roadtrek 170 or 190 but am open to other makes such as PleasureWay, Great West, etc.

Floor plans aside, let's talk about the actual vans - Dodge, Ford and Chevy. I've driven quite a few extended full size 15 passenger Dodge, Ford and Chevy vans in a part time job I had on and off from 1995 to 2005. Most of the vans were either brand new back then or only a few years old. Those are probably the model years in my price range today for a Class B motorhome. I'm not sure how those vans held up over time. I never had to worry about fuel costs, maintenance or repair costs. Many of those vans were rentals, so they were always in pristine condition when I got to drive them, though I recall the Dodge was the more antiquated and less refined of the three. But I did find out this:

- The older extended Dodge and Ford vans have a shorter wheelbase with the "extended" part being a longer body grafted on behind the rear wheels. Loaded with passengers, I found the vans tended to sway a bit at highway speeds and didn't have the best road manners, with the Dodge being the worst. I'm thinking a motorhome van would behave in a similar way, especially if the back end is loaded with heavier stuff making the front end lift up a bit more, thus making it lighter and more susceptible to swaying in cross winds.

- The extended body 1996 and up Chevy vans have a longer wheelbase, so you may need to take tight turns a bit wider so the back wheels don't run over curbs, rocks, etc, but it makes for a much smoother and better handling van at highway speeds. And when loaded up, the weight seemed to be better distributed and the front end did not sit up too high. My employer owned one van so there was always a 15 passenger van available. Originally it was a 1997 diesel but it was such a lemon than in 2000 they traded it on an identiacal new one, which was only slightly better. I hear the 2003 and especially 2004 and newer Chevy vans are better, so it might be best to exclude 1996-2002 Chevy vans. And the 1995 and older style is a bit older than I'd like to go.

- I've read online that many people claim the Ford vans last longer and are better than Chevy full size vans, but these are mostly contractors who will probably be a lot harder on their vans than us using them as a motorhome. I hear Fords don't break down as often as Chevys (contrary to what I used to hear in the 80s), but when a Ford breaks, it's usually something big.

- With most modern passenger cars, the quality keeps improving and they are infinitely more reliable than they were even 15 or 20 years ago. The full size vans seem to lag a bit, but how much so?

I'm wondering if any mid 1990s to mid/late 2000s Class B motorhome - Dodge, Ford or Chevy - will require approximately the same amount of repairs and maintenance - regardless of year or make, and possibly mileage. If so, there's not much point in spending $40,000 for a 2006 Chevy Roadrek when I could spend $20,000 (give or take) for a 1998ish Dodge Roadtrek - other than I would be driving something that looks a bit newer and has a more modern interior. I've never yet bought a used vehicle that didn't need at least something fixed soon after buying it. Let's say I expect to spend $5000 on repairs immediately upon purchase and another $5000 over the next 12 months - and hopefully not that much every year once I get it and maintain it in good condition. I'm not even sure if low mileage plays into this, as vehicles that sit unused can require repairs too, from sitting around, things can go bad. High mileage on a Class B might not be as bad as with a regular car, since the RV would likely have more highway driving, which is better that city driving. Looking on Autotrader (RV Trader), eBay, etc, I see such a variation.

Anyone with experience buying a used Class B Dodge, Chevy or Ford? Other than the obvious, having a newer looking van with a more modern interior, is there any benefit in paying more to get something newer? Obviously buying brand new would give me the peace of mind that it will be reliable and last a while for it needs anything, but a brand new Class B is NOT in my budget. I'd like to spend less, rather than more. But not so little that I'll end up with a well used, carburated 1970s or 1980s van. Thank you in advance for your feedback and opinions! Hopefully this information will help others too 🙂

[booster]

Jim Shoe wrote:
Note that his is a special case. I had an '04 Dodge Roadtrek. While under warranty, there was a recall on the driveshaft universal joint. I took it back to the RV dealer. They wouldn't fix it under warranty because it was a recall on the Dodge running gear.
So I took it to a Dodge dealer. They would do the warranty work, but I would have to pay them to remove and re-install the fresh water tank mounted below the drive shaft because it was an aftermarket add on. So I paid. Then I took a beating trading it in on my current '04 Fleetwood 'C'. It had low miles, but the Fleetwood dealer already had 4 Roadtreks on their used lot that nobody wanted. I got a pretty lousy trade in. Can't say that I blame them. I drive by their back lot from time to time, and my Roadtrek or one that looks exactly like it is still sitting there.
And my Fleetwood 'C' on a Ford frame has been all over the country including Alaska, and still runs like new. Bought a new battery a couple of years ago and need to add new tires and a tune up this year.

I can't imagine that a dealer couldn't sell used Roadtreks, Chevy or Dodge, whatever model. On all the B forums there is a constant parade of folks looking for used because new ones are so expensive. He either likes having them on the lot to upsell folks, or he is asking way more than already crazy used prices Bs are commanding.

[Jim_Shoe]

Note that his is a special case. I had an '04 Dodge Roadtrek. While under warranty, there was a recall on the driveshaft universal joint. I took it back to the RV dealer. They wouldn't fix it under warranty because it was a recall on the Dodge running gear.
So I took it to a Dodge dealer. They would do the warranty work, but I would have to pay them to remove and re-install the fresh water tank mounted below the drive shaft because it was an aftermarket add on. So I paid. Then I took a beating trading it in on my current '04 Fleetwood 'C'. It had low miles, but the Fleetwood dealer already had 4 Roadtreks on their used lot that nobody wanted. I got a pretty lousy trade in. Can't say that I blame them. I drive by their back lot from time to time, and my Roadtrek or one that looks exactly like it is still sitting there.
And my Fleetwood 'C' on a Ford frame has been all over the country including Alaska, and still runs like new. Bought a new battery a couple of years ago and need to add new tires and a tune up this year.

[motive8]

Ok, you've convinced me to take a look at a 200 and 210. I'd certainly like to have a bit more interior space, and the 200 is in a more affordable range. I don't want to rule them out without taking a look at them in person.

One potential drawback is that due to the slightly larger size, I might be forced to park it at a storage facility and keep my regular minivan at home - depending on the HOA's rules at the condo or townhouse I end up buying. One one hand, it would be kind of nice to have something smaller to drive around town and just keep my Class B motorhome for weekend getaways or extended vacations down south in the winter. Either way I'd have a back up vehicle in case one breaks down locally. But that also means having two vehicles for one guy. It would be nice to have just one vehicle, but alas, life is full of compromises. The more I hear about the various condo parking rules and HOA's, I have a feeling I might have to park my motorhome at a storage facility. I'll have to factor in that cost when I'm shopping around.

I may still consider a detached house, but with my budget, it would have to be in a small town (which is OK, just not my first choice) and I was really hoping to not have any more outdoor yard work. Plus, I think it's easier to lock up a condo and go away for a few months than a house. Where I live now I have enough driveway space to park a motorhome and my minivan and the city bylaw allows it. I could probably fit a Class C in my driveway, maybe even a Class A but that would be tight. And I'm close to lots of good shopping and amenities. It will be hard to give up some of these things, but I'll be gaining the freedom to get away in my motorhome, which I've been longing for, for quite a while now. And I'm getting tired of the upkeep and outdoor maintenance with a house. I had a condo before, so I've experienced it all, a condo, detached house and townhouse and I've lived in an urban, suburban, and rural area in the last 20 years, so I've experienced each of those as an independent adult. Each has their pros and cons. Again, life is full of compromises.

Decisions, decisions! 😉

[ryegatevt]

motive8
We were pleasantly surprised by the handling of 210 when we first drove it, and have continued to comment on it. This year the original Bridgestones were replaced by Michelins which seem a bit more sensitive to side winds and "bow waves" of the trucks we pass, but certainly not uncomfortably so.

Based on many forum comments I too would be very cautious of the condo issue, but since we live out in the country it's not an issue.

[BillJ999]

motive8 wrote:

You're right, I didn't mention the Roadtrek 200. SInce it's also a widebody, I was lumping it in with the 210. Most of what I said about the 210 applies to the 200 as well.

One of the reasons I mentioned the 200 has to do with the title of your post. You ask "Worth paying more for newer Chevy VS older Dodge Class B? ". Well, I think you can have the best of both worlds. You can have a relatively modern Chevy chassis (99-00, not like the early 90s model) without paying for a newer Chevy 210 (2005 or so) by bying a Roadtrek 200.

Good luck.

Bill

[motive8]

BillJ999 wrote:
motive8,

Unless I missed it somewhere in the discussion, you are forgetting one very interesting model. The Roadtrek 200, which was built on the Chevy cutaway chassis between 1998 and 2003, if I remember correctly. They will have the 350 5.7L Vortec engine and the 4L80E transmission. This is an excellent powertrain.

Step inside a 200 and take a look at the storage space and you'll be sold. We were anyway ... and ended up buying a 2000 Roadtrek 200 Popular (on a 1999 chassis). And it's just a few inches longer than a 190.

Bill

You're right, I didn't mention the Roadtrek 200. SInce it's also a widebody, I was lumping it in with the 210. Most of what I said about the 210 applies to the 200 as well. And like you said, it will have the 350 5.7 Vortec and 4L80E transmission. Not as modern as what's in the newer ones, but a good powertrain. I've got a 2005 Chevy Astro right now, with a 4.3 Vortec V6 which is basically a 350 V8 with two less cylinders. And I'm not sure if I have a 4L60E or 4L80E transmission. Aside from U-joints last year, and a healthy appetite for gas, I've had no problems with that powertrain in 2005 my Chevy Astro (incidentally, 2005 was the last year they made Astros and Safaris, mine was an ex-police van, but not a marked pursuit vehicle).

I'm also keeping my eyes open for a Pleasure Way, but it seems most of the newer ones are Ford based widebody. After hearing about the Triton spark plug issue, I'm a bit leery about a Ford, since most will have a Triton engine. And the widebody models really look like a motorhome, whereas the Pleasure Ways and RoadTreks with a regular van body look more discrete, as I mentioned, they almost look like a wheelchair accessible van, not a motorhome, which I like. I've also looked at Sportsmobile, but many do not have shower, and some have a pop top instead of a permanent raised fiberglass top. Thought about Great West but I don't like their floor plans and a few others, but I keep coming back to Roadtrek as my first choice, and Pleasure Way as a close second choice.

stan909 wrote:
WARNING if you might buy a condo,be sure parking an RV is permitted and if it is then get in writing for perpetuity. There are horror stories out there. This also goes for H.O.A 's.

Good point, thanks! I hadn't thought of that. I noticed a few listings made a point to say they had RV parking, but I thought they were making a big deal out of having parking for the larger Class A motorhomes on site. I've been careful to check that my 30 pound medium sized dog is allowed, and that rentals are allowed (I want to keep that option open in case I decide to rent it out in the future or when I go away for 4 to 6 months with my Roadtrek).

Yeah, some of those HOA's can get quite picky about things. Chances are pretty good that I'll be there with my Roadtrek, so they can come out and take a look at it. I'll just say it's the same width and length as a regular Chevy Express van (as long as I don't get a 200 or 210 widebody). The only difference is that roof is a bit higher, and of course, it's a fully self-contained apartment inside! As long as I don't live in it in the parking lot, or allow guests to camp out in it, there hopefully won't be any problems. But just to be sure, I'd better ask the HOA first and get it in writing as you suggested (before I buy the condo). I'd hate to buy a condo or townhouse and find out later that I can't park my van based Class B motorhome there - especially if I sell my current minivan and just keep the Roadtrek as my one and only vehicle. Worst case, I could keep my minivan and park it at home, and park the Roadtrek (or Pleasureway, or whatever I get) at a nearby storage facility. I'd have to do that if I get a place with a height restricted underground parking garage, which I'm trying to avoid. Ironically, I think more cars get broken into those secure underground garages than in open parking lots anyways! I'm getting an alarm and remote starter installed on whatever I buy, just like I have in my minivan.

[motive8]

Heapie wrote:
Barrie,

I just went through the process you are going through. I studied asking prices in all the class b used rv's on the internet, and after a while got a good feel for what they were worth depending upon manufacture, model and size, age, mileage, condition, and geographical location.(You don't want to purchase it without seeing it.) Also during my search, the question of price, age, model, and mileage came up in a discussion on Yahoo Roadtrek Blog before it went over to Facebook.

The general used prices were between $5,000.00 and $10,000.00 for anything older than 1999 and 100,000 miles. Other than that prices went up according to mileage and age.

Roadtrek seems to be the best of the class b's, though you might find a good Pleasureway or an older Coach House that was a real class b van.

The Roadtrek 190's are about the best for most of us. I felt that the 170 was a little small for me. As for the Popular vs the Versatile,
I was hoping to buy a Popular and went to a Roadtrek Rally with the express purpose of trading our Versatile for a Popular. When we got there, we talked with people with Versatile's and realized that it didn't make to much of a difference because the rear seat is usually made up into a full sized bed. We have ours that way. Also the Versatile is a real second car with two back seats.

Why we purchased a Versatile was we found one in New Hampshire at a very good price, and felt that if we did not grab it, it would be gone in a day or two. We knew it was a good price because we had been doing our research, and we could also inspect it because it was so close.

It is a 2002 Roadtrek 190v built on a Chev 3500 Van.

We are very happy with our choice.

Good luck.

Heapie.

Thanks for the helpful advice. I'm also starting to get a feel for what's out there and at what price. But, I'm not sure if the prices change seasonally. I can see the prices going up in areas that get snow and a true winter, as any snowbirds would have already purchased a motorhome and gone south by now. I see prices in California seem a tiny bit higher. After looking on RV Trader (Auto Trader), it looks like there are several RV dealers in the Chicagao, IL/Milwaukee, WI area with a good selection of used Roadtreks in my price range. Those RV dealers are only about an hour apart and I'm only about a 10 hour drive away so I could fly there or take a bus, rent a car for a day or two and check out all of the Roadtreks in my price range. I'll be paying cash for one in the low $20,000 to low or mid $30,000 range - ideally closer to the lower end of that price range.

WIth so many to choose from, I'm sure I'll find one I like. They all look rust free even though they're in the rust belt. Perhaps many of those motorhomes spent their summers down south. I'd definitely check for that - I don't want to buy a rusty one. Being a cash buyer might give me a bit more leverage. I've already checked on temp tags for one of them - I think it was for Illinois. I'm sure Wisconsin has a similar deal. If not, Florida is my next choice. A bit further away, but if there's a good selection in a relative small geographic area, I'd go there and rent a car for a day or two and go check out as many as I can.

I'm hoping to get a 2003 or 2004 Chevy based Roadtrek 190 or 170 with between 50,000 miles and 110,000 miles for the high $20k to low $30k range. Or possibly late 90s to 2002 Chevy based RT 190/170 in the low $20k range, depending on condition and mileage.

I'm not sure where you saw 1990s Roadtreks with over 100,000 miles for $5,000 to $10,000. Most of the mid to late 1990s models I saw were Dodge based and around $10,000 to $15,000 or sometimes even a bit more. But I've kind of ruled out the older Dodge based and would prefer something closer to 50,000 miles. Then again, high mileage may not be as big of an issue as with regular cars since motorhomes, I would think, see mostly highway driving, or at least the majority of driving is highway which is better than city miles.

[Handbasket]

Don't know if you said how tall or wide you are. I'm a tad shy of 6', and I found the bad in my RT D190 Versatile too short, either sleeping N-S or E-W. When I got my C190 Popular, I found the bed length fine, but the width of either side set up as a single to be too narrow for real comfort.

I'd planned to add some width (4"?) to the driver's side bed shelf, which is 2" longer than the other side. I was going to get a 3" or 4" foam mattress to fit. That's a practical modification for the solo traveler. But I ended up getting the Tiger (small C) before I got it done.

Jim, "I couldn't fix your brakes, so I made your horn louder."

[stan909]

WARNING if you might buy a condo,be sure parking an RV is permitted and if it is then get in writing for perpetuity. There are horror stories out there. This also goes for H.O.A 's.

[BillJ999]

motive8,

Unless I missed it somewhere in the discussion, you are forgetting one very interesting model. The Roadtrek 200, which was built on the Chevy cutaway chassis between 1998 and 2003, if I remember correctly. They will have the 350 5.7L Vortec engine and the 4L80E transmission. This is an excellent powertrain.

Step inside a 200 and take a look at the storage space and you'll be sold. We were anyway ... and ended up buying a 2000 Roadtrek 200 Popular (on a 1999 chassis). And it's just a few inches longer than a 190.

Bill

[Heapie]

Barrie,

I just went through the process you are going through. I studied asking prices in all the class b used rv's on the internet, and after a while got a good feel for what they were worth depending upon manufacture, model and size, age, mileage, condition, and geographical location.(You don't want to purchase it without seeing it.) Also during my search, the question of price, age, model, and mileage came up in a discussion on Yahoo Roadtrek Blog before it went over to Facebook.

The general used prices were between $5,000.00 and $10,000.00 for anything older than 1999 and 100,000 miles. Other than that prices went up according to mileage and age.

Roadtrek seems to be the best of the class b's, though you might find a good Pleasureway or an older Coach House that was a real class b van.

The Roadtrek 190's are about the best for most of us. I felt that the 170 was a little small for me. As for the Popular vs the Versatile,
I was hoping to buy a Popular and went to a Roadtrek Rally with the express purpose of trading our Versatile for a Popular. When we got there, we talked with people with Versatile's and realized that it didn't make to much of a difference because the rear seat is usually made up into a full sized bed. We have ours that way. Also the Versatile is a real second car with two back seats.

Why we purchased a Versatile was we found one in New Hampshire at a very good price, and felt that if we did not grab it, it would be gone in a day or two. We knew it was a good price because we had been doing our research, and we could also inspect it because it was so close.

It is a 2002 Roadtrek 190v built on a Chev 3500 Van.

We are very happy with our choice.

Good luck.

Heapie.

[motive8]

Jamesq wrote:
I had 1995 RT dodge it had one large rear door. It drove very well. I would say as good as my 2004 chevy RT.I did put spacers on the rear wheels. good luck with what you get.

Did you find that in cross winds at highway speeds or when a large semi truck passed you, both the 1995 Dodge Roadtrek and 2004 Chevy Roadtrek had similar road manners? Having driven both the older Dodge and newer (current body style) Chevy 15 passenger extended vans, usually with at least 10 to 15 passengers, that the Chevy handled a lot better than the Dodge. It just seemed more stable. Maybe a Dodge with spacers and a stabilizer kit would help, but I'm kind of leaning towards the newer style 2003+ Chevy chassis now, even though it will cost a bit more.

Another benefit is that as the years go on, the 2003 or newer Chevy (and even the 1996-2002 style) Chevys won't look as dated as the 1994-97 and 1998-2003 Dodge vans (who's design actually goes back to 1971). The Chevy Express which was all new in 1996 (and the current Ford - not the Transit, the Econoline/E-Series was all new in 1992) may seem dated to some, but seems quite young when compared to the Dodge design. Not everyone notices this, but some automotive enthusiasts might. I certainly do.

[motive8]

ryegatevt wrote:
If you find a suitable 210 in your search, don't rule it out! Our 210 has been on the road since 2005, and not once have we said we wish it were smaller! Once in a while you might have to compromise on a small parking space, but parking a bit further away or even paying for two has always worked for us, and the extra space inside has always been great!

I'd love the extra interior space of a 210. I wasn't sure if the extra length (which makes it resemble the body proportions and shape of the older Dodge extended van/Roadtrek 190) would affect its road handling in cross winds or when a large semi truck passes. And, this may seem silly, but I don't like the way the wide body looks with the extra overhang at the back and how the rear wheels look inset a bit more due to the slightly wider body. And a 210 looks a bit more like a motorhome, whereas a 170 or 190 look a bit more discrete - almost like a wheelchair accessible van with a raised roof. Even better if I take off the "Roadtrek" decals. That would work well when you're trying to discretely park somewhere for the night while passing through a city and don't want to draw attention to yourself that you're camping.

Plus, I might sell my minivan and just keep the Roadtrek as my one and only vehicle since I work from home and do not need a commuter car. The smaller, the better in this case, especially if I end up with an outdoor parking spot at condo or townhouse complex when I buy my new place where a 210 may not fit. Right now I have a house with a long driveway, but I want to get a condo so I don't have exterior maintenance anymore, and it will be easier to get away for a few months - just lock the door on the condo and go! But the drawback is I will no longer have a driveway - just a parking spot.

But, I'll see. If I come across a really nice 210 at a great price, I'll certainly take a closer look at it. As you hinted towards, occasionally parking could be an issue as it won't fit into some smaller parking spaces where a 170 or 190 would fit. Part of the reason I'm getting a Class B is that I'm not sure where I want to live next. Once I sell my house I want to drive out west with my motorhome and spend a few months checking out a bunch of cities on my short list, and may need to discretely camp out in built up areas. A van based Class B should good for that as it is small and can fit into a lot of parking spaces in a parking lot or on a street for times when I won't be near a campground.

And like I mentioned, when I buy my new place, it will be a condo, or maybe a townhouse where I will have an outdoor parking space. A 210 may not fit there. I'd have to put it in a storage facility and keep my minivan to park at home so I have a vehicle to use. I work from home, so I don't need to go out every day, but I need something. If I end up getting a condo in a more urban area, it will likely have an underground parking garage and due to the height of the raised roof on most Class B motorhomes, I don't think any of them would fit. Maybe a Sportsmobile with a pop top, but I would much prefer a permanent raised roof. Otherwise I'd have to keep my minivan so I could park it at home, and then park my motorhome at a storage facility.

[ryegatevt]

If you find a suitable 210 in your search, don't rule it out! Our 210 has been on the road since 2005, and not once have we said we wish it were smaller! Once in a while you might have to compromise on a small parking space, but parking a bit further away or even paying for two has always worked for us, and the extra space inside has always been great!

[Jamesq]

I had 1995 RT dodge it had one large rear door. It drove very well. I would say as good as my 2004 chevy RT.I did put spacers on the rear wheels. good luck with what you get.