Video

If you need measurements let me know.

You're welcome.

I just use my phone. And google maps. My Prius has nav.

Hi. You are probably a high functioning individual that doesn't need a video.

​@RoadtrekRich actually no i really didnt... i was just aggravated with a bafang bbshd install... thought i was going to need to change my bike chain length... which i didnt... but i did have to change over to a 19mm offset front sprocket... which should be here at the end of the week... i usually have everything done in a shop... but ofcourse because of all of the little issues with compatibility you run into on an ebike kit installation... no shop will do it... so im learning a whole of things about working on bikes that i didnt know... and every video i warch... it usually takes 15 minutes of listening to mindless babble... half the time that has nothing to do with the subject matter of the video... to get to an answer and its really annoying

Thanks for the comment ! Give it a try.

👍 Hi Ron. Thanks for stopping by !

Hi Sandy, It very simple. You can even have a place like Home Depot cut a hobby panel of material to size. Then just glue it together ! Thanks for the comment !

@@RoadtrekRich Thanks! I have so many materials laying around here, I'll slap something together. Home repairs have had me a bit enslaved lately. It'll be my next 'fun' project. I deserve it!

Thanks for the comment! The cover comes in very handy.

Hi. All the parts I updated in the "house portion" of the Roadtrek worked just as they had throughout its life. I replaced them with the updates because those performed more efficiently than the originals. Unfortunate that your experience has been what it has been.

I don't know where you are but here in California, the 4X4's are everywhere. Even in such a small town, we have at least two conversion companies building them. I don't know if they start with a 4X4 chassis...I haven't done research on that. I have a different use case so... But I can post a list of them for sale here in the area next time I'm looking around on the classifieds.

Hi Bill. I've refurbished, rebuilt, restored, maintained, repaired and operated vehicles since I was 14. For me, the "how would I" or "where would I" was answered a long time ago...I just do it. That's not the average person. The admission price is a factor. A much newer unit is going to have an admission price near or in most cases over 100K dollars. With interest rates the way they are, I'm not sure, but I can check, the down payment, taxes and fees would pretty much cover the price of one of these older ones. Ongoing, a person would have a monthly payment. Between 8 and 10 years, with interest, they would have purchased the vehicle twice, have one, and it would have gone through it's depreciation cycle during their ownership. Vehicles do have parts. Hard parts and soft parts. What do I mean? Soft parts are things that are designed to be replaced. It's rare to encounter a soft part that isn't available or can't be fabricated. Hard parts have long life spans. On these vehicles, 100-200K or more. They are commercial chassis...beefy. As far as a class B "house portion", the "rv" part, in the one I drive, I've updated every component that existed in the original to modern, contemporary features. Solar, compressor fridge, webasto style furnace, batteries, lighting, low start up air conditioner, generator, "composting" toilet, etc. It is possible to have the same style of comfort without the cost. But I understand when a person has the perception that buying something "newer" is going to somehow "buy" them security and peace of mind. If a person is relying on others to provide them with the needs their vehicle has, then their costs are going to be monumentally higher. Are there costs to owning an older vehicle? Of course. My experience is that they are for different things and lower. For me, with my life experience, the reward versus the risk is greater than the differential in price between the current average asking prices of 24K for an older one versus 100K for a newer one. Time is my friend. The average asking price for the vehicles I listed is more than I paid for my Roadtrek. Will they sell? In the car biz, there's an old saying, "there's a (you know what) for every seat...just wait". Like I say in some of my videos, I don't give advice, I just tell people what has worked for me. We all have different ideas and thoughts about things and I appreciate you discussing the concerns you have. Thanks Bill.

What about Barth's, Bill? Homes and dressing rooms of movie stars out on those "on location", "cowboy movie" movie sets? They even made small diesel pushers and pullers...I came very close to buying one, once upon a time.

@@RoadtrekRich Well, you got me there: I've only worked on cars since I was 16 (1966). But they're more complicated nowadays (PC chips). However, the mechanics are pretty much the same -- chassis, brakes, etc. And the electrical/plumbing an RV has -- have done that in homes during my life as well. I'm a "Renaissance Man" of the Handyman world (if you will) so I'm not concerned about that. Nor the tools (I still have for various trades as I used to build houses for Habitat for Humanity). I'm just saying I had personal experience with an older vehicle I had to give up on (after keeping it 32 years) because I couldn't get parts for it. Even tune-up parts. So it was over (my BEST car ever, too). As for the high prices of RVs -- what vehicles are NOT high-priced nowadays (as the pickup truck makers)? Even the Crap-Makers (Coachmen, Forest River to name 2) overprice their crap RVs. But that's just how it is, ESPECIALLY for Class Bs that have ALWAYS been overpriced -- even the old Roadtreks were outrsageous cost-wise. But any RV I get NOW would have to be my Daily Driver to make sense paying big $$ on it each month -- so it'd have to have an engine! Better yet, I LIVE in it. But as an expensive "option" when I already have a Daily Driver? Something to be used only occasionally and stored MOST of the time -- like most people do with their RVs? Don't think so, it has to be my one-and-only vehicle and/or I need to live in it. I could even afford a pretty serious $400-500K Class A in that case (but they're too big, and have other issues I don't want). No, right now I have a Jeep (Gladiator) and it can tow a small TT easily and still have carrying-capacity left over (I insist on that). But were I to sell the Jeep, I'd likely buy a "non-full-amenity" Canadian Class B such as the well-made (and pretty decent warranty) -- two things American RV makers fail to accomplish -- and that'd be a Pleasure-Way Tofino. Again, it'd be my Daily Driver (and do some other things for me) and wouldn't cost much more than my Jeep did. Wouldn't need to LIVE in it though as I'd have an apt or house to live in. But to LIVE in, I'd need a "full-amenity" Class B at the very least. Not likely though as I'm not a "nomad" type, so wouldn't like living on the road. But something like a Tofino (reminiscent of the old VW camper-vans, which weren't "full-amenity" either) is a reasonable possibility. UNLESS I Move to The Villages (Florida) and can get by with just a golf-car, for ALL my needs there. Not possible anywhere else in America but done there in The Villages by thousands of residents daily. But then there's moving back to CO as an option, too -- so I'll need my Jeep. Decisions, decisions... -- BR

@@RoadtrekRich Yes, Barth for sure...didn't name them ALL Rich. How about Beaver motor-homes? Yes, "those were the days." -- Mary Hopkins TODAY though you have to get a Prevost Marthon to be in the same quality ballpark those old ones were. Sorry, but I haven't been able to find $1M+ change in my couch cushions thus far. Don't think I ever will. -- BR

@@billredding2000 Time marches on. We'll see what the future holds when we get there.

I use it sparingly. I rarely use it for anything but the microwave. And I rarely use the microwave. How long I can run it depends on what the load is. I also have lithium power banks that charge through solar panels that I use to bake bread, recharge batteries for tools and the batteries for e-bikes. Each power bank has its own small pure sine wave inverter.

Hi. Thanks for commenting. I like bottles too. Mine doesn't fit under the coffee maker so what I do is fill it with hot water the night before, empty that out in morning before making the coffee and fill it again with hot water so it will warm up the inside of the bottle before I pour in the fresh brewed coffee. It helps to keep the coffee warmer longer than pouring into a "cold" bottle.

We seem to cut from the same bolt of cloth with regard to this RV thing. Start with good "bones". Take care of the equipment. I do whatever I can myself. When I need something I'm not equipped to do, I have someone, who is, do it. I've thought about selling this one more than once but I wasn't sure what I would get to replace it. At this juncture, what would I do? (I'm a designer). Over a winter, I would empty the living room in my home base, tarp it off from the rest of the house, layout the 70 to 90 sq ft. of the living (in a small van) space and begin my personal design. That way I would have a laboratory to adjust everything exactly how I want it and "live with it" as I made changes or revisions. Everything that went into it would have a custom fit "home". Forms suggest functions and visa versa so I would be able to observe the "design" manifest itself. I have a couple "base vehicle" candidates but I'm hoping something more innovative, maybe a hybrid van? comes along. If I saw the vehicle, I would know "it's time". Haven't quite seem it yet. One thing that intrigues me is substituting the bed for something else. WHAT? Yes. A bed takes up an enormous amount of the available space. I'm thinking more along the lines of a hammock. In Hawaii, I fell asleep in one instantly and slept like a baby. I'm lucky, I can fall asleep anywhere. The vehicle is already, essentially, the framework to suspend it from...it's a "roll cage"... I have lots of "ideas". And a mind that is non stop when it comes to picturing them.

@@RoadtrekRich Your designer/engineer mind and creations are always intriguing! I could do just fine in a regular old, converted 'van', I don't need the oak cabinets & high-end upholstery, but one of the reasons I went with the RT was as a decent (I hope!) investment. It will continue to hold it's market value much better than some of the alternatives. Plus, I'd rather be out USING and enjoying it than trying to sell it and/or shopping the market for something else i know I'd end up putting massive man-hours into (which I've already done on the RT!). Then, I consider that I pay Sales Tax again every time I buy something else :( . I'll keep my Bilstein shocks, brand new brake lines & calipers, new Falken tires, steering stabilizer, etc, etc ... I even 'invested' in a few expensive OEM parts for back-up (water pump, fuel pump, alternator & a few other bits). I'm not starting all over, lol!

@@SandySez Yes. It's holding it's value and even increasing. These are vintage now. They may even qualify for special plating here in CA. I'm going to check. Lower insurance rates for those. Limited use. I calculate all the parts and I call or visit an RV shop to get an estimate on installation of them then add that to the "value" I establish for the vehicle. WIth what mine now has, in CA, I would need an offer over 25K to let it go. I see them here frequently for that and more. Mine is now coming into a "low mileage" category because I live right in the heart of everything fun, I don't travel very far.

@@RoadtrekRich ​ @RoadtrekRich I'll have to check on vintage registration here in Fla. I had a couple of VW's tagged Vintage but it was yrs ago. I had the RT titled as an RV & insured as a 'pleasure vehicle'. When I bought it, it was titled as a Dodge van. I'm close to the price range you mentioned too. But I have no generator or awning (don't want either, lol), @ 89K miles. My son lives just a little North of you (in Ukiah), I've thought about driving it out West when I get ready to sell it .... better market value, I think.

@@SandySez At least for now. California is losing people by the hundreds of thousands. It's the first time since the gold rush the population is decreasing. I love it. When people say "we're moving to Idaho, Texas, etc." I say that's fantastic! When are you leaving? Do you need help packing?

Hi. I live in California. The battery "inside". I'm assuming you are referring to the battery that powers things inside the vehicle not the battery that starts the engine. The battery not charging could be checked by whoever installed the new battery. They can access that battery and with the engine running, use a volt meter to check the voltage going into the battery. It should be a volt or two above 12 to 12.5. If they aren't seeing that, the next step is to check the starting battery to see if it is getting voltage. Same numbers. If it is and the other is not, there is a fault in the connection somewhere between the "inside" battery and the charging system. There may be something that isolates that battery from the starting battery so in the event the "inside" battery runs low, it won't drain the battery that starts the vehicle such that it won't start. You may need to consult the owners manual to see if something like that exists and how it is controlled. Batteries Plus could check the "inside" battery right in the vehicle and determine if it is getting voltage. Then you can investigate further if it is not.

Thank you for getting back to me on my question regarding my battery. I will try the few things that you suggested and see what happens .

Katy is very knowledgeable on a variety of subjects. She has taught me a lot.

Your welcome. Subscribe and ring the bell...I have a new video you might find helpful...coming out tomorrow...Tuesday.

I'm pretty sure the answer is yes.

All the information you give is welcome, appreciated, and important for people to think about when they are purchasing a used vehicle. Owners of vehicles they are selling have used the vehicle up and sell it or they fix and maintain it as they go along. It's hard to tell by just looking at a vehicle which category it falls in. So for most people it is good to have someone look at the vehicle to help with that. And YES receipts for parts repairs and maintenance are very important to its value. People looking for one of these class B vans these days get excited when they find one because they are becoming rare. And that emotion and excitement can cause them to fail to be objective. Are they about to buy one that is a bargain price that will cost them lots of money to fix? Or are they buying one that has been kept in good shape? Buyers of these vehicles need all the help they can get to make a good buying decision. So feel free to comment. What you have to say is valuable !

Thanks for the comment. It's gonig to be the subject of a new video on this topic. It's been a couple years since I talked about this. And it's good timing as people are beginning to think about the spring and summer activities and the idea of looking for and maybe buying an RV to have fun with. Yes, during that period many other problems were created that we are now experiencing. The vehicle this Roadtrek is based on, the Dodge 3500 van, was built in Canada, all of them were. Canada takes great pride in the build quality of the vehicles they build. So overall, this era of Roadtrek starts with a very good foundation. The Roadtrek company at that time was operated by the creator of the vehicle not some big corporation. The workers that built it were highly skilled and dedicated to building a quality RV. Of course there have been technological improvements, like solar panels, lithium batteries, inverters, better refrigerators, etc. And over time, I have updated this Roadtrek to more modern items than it came with. I kept the original parts which all still work. In case whoever owns this one next wants an "original" Roadtrek of the era. It had one owner for about 22 years and I am the second owner and have had it for 8 years. A person could buy a new one for around 100 to 200K or they could search for one of these vintage ones for a much lower entry price that has the same "bells" and "whistles" the new ones have or spend a little to add those things. When they go to the gas pump and fill the tank, they will find the vintage one gets almost the same mileage the new one gets so operating costs are about the same. Thanks again for your comment.

Glad you enjoyed it

It's a folding bike. I can store it a variety of places and move it if I need to use the space it's in. Normally, I fold over the handlebars, lower the seat and roll it in from the back door alongside the bed and fold the pedals flat. I only use the "single" part of the bed.

Thank you for following. I am always happy to answer questions, especially about perspective vehicles people are looking at. There are lots of things to look at very carefully and thoroughly. The search can be long and patience is your best friend. People get discouraged by so few of these being available and their enthusiasm when they find one can cause them to make impulsive, emotional decisions about buying something that could become a headache. I take an objective position when evaluating any prospective vehicle. I'm pretty sure I've done a "how to search for and buy" a Roadtrek video. What happens when a person is looking for a vehicle to purchase is they tend to overlook or just don't know what the telltale signs are of a vehicle that probably isn't worth considering. I've already spent hundreds of hours scrutinizing scores of vehicles. The one I settled on I've had now for over seven years, I think. And like any vehicle I own and operate, it's a better vehicle now than when I bought it, from a practical, utilitarian standpoint. If I can help you, I'm happy to do so.

They still are sought after. I get notes left on mine all the time. People who haven’t researched don’t have any idea what these are worth. I never have regretted this one lat spring/ summer it became home to someone who desperately needed a place to reorder their life. I felt good about being able to help. This year me and RT are going to have some fun.

Yes, pretty much my experience to a tee. Like you, I don't regret what I did. It has been a wonderful thing to own and share. Last summer, it became someones domicile for several months while they reorganized their life. Before that, it was my home away from the home I wasn't too sure would still be there after wildfires devoured our area. While people are buying bug out bags, flashlights, power banks, all sorts of prepper gear, I look out at the Roadtrek and and think, I'm "prepared"...it's a good feeling. I'm thankful to have found it.

You’re so right my friend. I’m a lucky owner of a 1995 Roadtrek 190 versitile. I love it and people knock on my door all the time asking me if I would sell it. It makes me feel safe knowing I have my ultimate bug out vehicle ready to go any time.

@@regularguyreviews3048 Last summer my 1995 Popular became a "bug in" vehicle for a homeless friend. He needed a base of operation to restart his life "back into" society. Years earlier, I became "homeless" during the wildifires here, not knowing if I would have a home base to return to when I packed the Roadtrek to flee to safety. Unless a person has "walked a mile" in those "homeless shoes", it's hard for them to understand how valuable possessing such a vehicle is to its owner, who has.

I know. That why I was looking on you tube. walmart didn't have one and $10 was cheapest on Amazon. Just ridiculous.

My Roadtrek came with those non standard hinges already installed. It was probably something the original owner had to deal with at some point. The hinges on mine look kind of clumsy compared to the oem piano style hinge. As you can see, either style does the job so I guess it boils down to aesthetics.

​@@RoadtrekRichthanks for the reply, I'll probably see what options are available when I get to the point of refitting it all back on the rig, I thought about stainless piano hinge but not sure if I'd get water seeping through into the storage area. The stock plastic hinge is great at keeping the water out. I've just last night pulled the engine and trans out, first time pulling it all out of a van and it's real tight, I wouldn't be too exited about doing it again anytime soon.