The truth about buying a $100,000 VAN
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That is the good thing about my having served for 2 years in an Army infantry battalion....everything after sleeping on the ground on a 1 inch bed roll and not taking a shower for up to one month and eating cold MRE s etc....this van is like living in a 5000 k a night 5 star hotel in Italy....
Spent 6 months traveling full time in a top of the line 2018 18 foot travel trailer. Now we own a 25 year old 1998 18 foot Class B van. I’d take the van any day of the week.
Why? The ability to park it and drive it anywhere is truly a game changer.
On travel days with our travel trailer we were so limited to where we could stop. With the van if you see a tiny pull off for a trail head, no problem - towing travel trailer- or even a Class C or a Class A? - forget about it.
With the van you can drive into any little town or narrow city streets without issues. Want to stop for lunch or a drink or maybe hat ice cream stand? - no problem, you can park it anywhere. If you’re in a bigger rig, it’s often not possible.
With our travel trailer we were constantly playing Boomerang - park the travel trailer at a campground, drive 45 minutes to a trail head, then you spot a better campsite!! - but you can’t stay there because you need to go back to your travel trailer. With the van you can just keep moving forward, no need to constantly go back.
Also, so many times we would accidentally leave the sunscreen, bug spray, lunch, camera, etc in our travel trailer when we took the truck to a trail head or into town, etc. With the van, you always have everything. Spy a cool spot on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean and want to have dinner there? - no problem, you have everything with you.
A travel trailer, class C and especially a class A offers more space, but at the huge cost of massively limiting where you can park it.
If you like to stay in one place for a long time then a travel trailer or a Class C/Class A (especially with a toad) has it’s advantages, but if you want to travel it’s tough to beat a van.
And, FYI - you don’t need to spend 100K on a class B van. The newer models are beautiful, no doubt, but there are plenty of older and well cared for class B vans out there. Yes, you will likely have to put some money and sweat equity into them, but we’ve already put thousands of miles and had so many adventures in the two years that we’ve owned our 25 year old van. We love it. Just my 2 cents.
You could pull a travel trailer with your van though, then get the best of both
Everyone has different needs and wants when it comes to an RV. My wife got sucked into the B craze on social media. Long time camper/rv family. Retired 3 years ago and US travel was at the top of our bucket list. We did a ton of research on B and B plus options. I convinced the wife to narrow it down to 2 or 3 and we would rent each unit for 1 to 2 week trips. We're both glad we took this approach. We rented a 21 Travato for a 2 week New England fall trip and a 20 Leisure Wonder for a Southern Winter trip. We liked the Wonder so much more than Travato. We realized the first week in the Travato that the B option wasn't for us for many reasons. We still rented the Wonder to confirm our findings.
1) Overall comfort was a deal breaker, both driving and spending time inside. Sleeping was OK but we spent a rainy day or 2 in both units and it was miserable.
2) Organization and lack of storage for all but the basics. Wonder was better but still too little for week or more.
3) Wet bath in the Travato was a huge negative
4) Cost and quality. In my opinion the available chassis choices in North America for the Bs are seriously lacking. They are all junk in my opinion, and will cost a fortune to maintain once out of warranty or to continue keeping under a high miles warranty. The components in both leave a lot to be desired. See a lot of maintenance. I spent a few hours at a Winnebago dealers service department in NH. Spoke with several disgruntled Travato owners who were not happy with their units or Winnebago.
To sum it up. For us the Bs are ok for a couple for day trips and at best a long weekend when extra gear isn't necessary. We found both units uncomfortable when spending more than 5 total hours driving, even with breaks. Cost, quality, and overall comfort were the biggest deal breakers for us.
@John John, Thank you so much for your insight.
Dang, thank you so much for your thorough response. I'm glad I can't afford a Class B Van. I like the idea of renting and seeing how they are. I keep talking about traveling and not working so much. How would I not work so much if I keep having big bills like a huge van payment. I should just learn to camp out of my Subaru Ascent and stay in pet friendly hotels like My Place or Airbnbs. Thank you again.
What you need is a pop up tent to leave your outdoor stuff in, to hold your campsite when you drive off for errands. It doesn’t have to be an actual usable tent; it just has to sit there to show that the space is occupied.
I did that at Yosemite. Someone stole the tent, and took my campsite.
If course, they denied taking my stuff.
That's California.
@@scottslotterbeck3796 That sucks. I suppose there’s only so much you can do. I think the tent should at least protect one from non-assholes who just genuinely think it’s an available site.
Leave an old chair. Never leave anything valuable to save a spot. It will be gone before you get back.
You’re the same kind of person that puts a towel on a chair at resorts and never end up sitting in that spot!
I hate people that do that. I'm one of those people.😂
Here’s my take as a 5 year full timer: 1) A class C is so much better due to 1) extra room 2) enclosed shower 3) separate toilet area 4) huge water tank 5) lots of storage 6) separate living room, basically everything. I started with a van and 1 year later transitioned to a Class C slide. The drive is nearly the same, it uses more gas and takes 2 parking spaces but the things listed vastly outweigh the others. Also, the on demand hot water is a must. Nothing beats a hot shower after hiking, biking or fishing,,,nothing. Then sitting on a full size couch and watching You Tube. Lol
Love all this. All Great points! And yes hot water demand is a must.
One man's trash is another man's treasure. I've had all of them A, B, C, TT.. Sticking with our B.. Nothing beats go anywhere, park in one parking space. Yes, I know, pick your poison, I like park anywhere in ONE space.
Shower looks pretty tight, how are u able to shower?
@ Jason: _"I started with a van and one year later transitioned to a Class B slide."_
Did you mean Class C?
@@Milesco yes, you are correct I meant Class C.I corrected it lol.
I went a different route. Rather than spend $100K on a Class B RV, I bought a full size, high roof, Transit 350 ecoboost . 15 passenger XLT, paid about $35,000 back in 2020 with 2000 miles on it. Spent another $2000 bucks on a mini fridge, battery pack, portable toilet and Queen bed and camping supplies to keep in the van to go camping and road trip.. BUT.... have another $63,000 bucks to use on 5 star hotels when we road trip or rent other big RVs if we really need one for a couple of weeks. 5 years from now, there will be so many used Class Bs for super cheap.
That’s what I’m counting on too. Husband will retire next year at 55, so we want to travel once that last kid finishes his senior year in HS. With the kids in college or working we can go visit them and explore. If he wants to go back to work part time at 60, then he can but I want to do things until I’m not able to.
I agree and like your plan better. I have a friend who spent $150,000 for a Mercedes Splinter. He is 80 years old and will probably need a driver soon.
When you buy just the chassis it will need to be insulated have Windows put in power source and none of the campgrounds in Florida or New York will allow you to get electric hook-up if you don't have a name brand that made the rig
@Marlene N Good for you Marlene. Go and enjoy your retirement. Retiring early on your terms is a major plus.
@@insightandintuition276 Can't be true when YT vanlifers camp in those areas with minivans and other vehicles.
Thank you for sharing the real experience.
Thanks for sharing . I really appreciate you guys transparency.
Always! Thank you!
Thanks for the new video! I’m looking forward to seeing what other content you post! Always good to learn as much as you can!
Awesome, thank you!
I’d suggest removing the space wasting 2 seats & replacing that area with a permanent 32” high 3’x3’ cabinet. Preferably one with a solid tiltback mica or butcherblock countertop & a slide out top access Dometic fridge/freezer & more water storage behind the fridge … If ur taking a dump, privacy should Never be an issue bcuz the other person should/will be hiding outside from overwhelming smell? … Is your Van 2 wheel drive or all wheel? … You can hang netting from the interior doors & ceiling sides for added storage. … Bottled drinking water is paramount in helping you ration your 27 gallons for flushing & cleaning purposes. Vaya Con Dios 🙏☮️
Great video yall!! Thank you!
Awesome! Thank you!
FTing 8yrs in my 21' TT and love it. Plenty of interior room and storage. Not too big and can get in many different sites. Unhook and then go off-roading in the truck!
its all how u look at it, but im a trucker and live on the road , all i have is a standard truck bed but i put a mattress pad on it and it is pretty comfortable and i can sleep good all night unless i get woke up { which happens alot} i have a 4day cooler which means with enough ice u can keep stuff cold almost 4 days , i finally got a 700 watt microwave a few months ago and thats kinda nice but i drove years without 1 but u really dont need much unless u want to go off into the middle of nowwhere for days at a time, you just park in the right spots and everything is in there, like a truckstop
I have a small driving camper and I plan my trips to only stay a night or two at one place usually. If I am in a campground, spots are assigned , and in addition I usually mention to the front desk that we will be unhooking to go sightsee and return. Plan your grocery stops before you hook up. On some occasions I checked out of a campground, went sightseeing, and then checked into a different campground in the same area.
The only pro I can see is that it is small and can go almost anywhere, but it goes back to, for me, just because you can, does not mean you should. As you pointed out you are paying A CRAP TON of MONEY for less everything! $100k will buy you quite a few nice vacations staying at 5 star resorts and even private flights… but I suppose very few people are actually paying for this in cash and merely “affording the monthly payment” and going into a crap ton of debt.
I’m about 35k all in on my rig. I don’t travel as much, I just like minimal life. I built my own tiny home trailer I live in full time and my tow rig is a hummer. The tiny home comes off the trailer quite easy so you can use it like a flat bed when needed. The hummer is outfitted in the back to carry all my tools for work. I use it like a mobile cabin for when I’m working off the lake. I’m just finishing up all the smaller details this year like mounting an enduro bike, the solar system and a custom roof box for the hummer.
I like the stove Top Oven thingee ,Music was just right also . You`ll are a lot of Fun to Watch though being informing.
Fun & informative as usual! I like to urban camp and go to festivals, museums, and concerts at downtown venues so a class B built on a standard service van (plumbers and electricians) chassis is a luxury hotel room that can go anywhere.
Including most city parking garages. Go all the way to the open top level where nobody else is and you have a campsite in the sky for the max daily garage rate. It's a wonderful way to take in cities and something no other class of camper can do.
Thanks for sharing!! Great idea!
I agree that driving in the city class b is the way to go.
I am learning so much from watching your videos. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing source of information. This one is quite helpful.
You are so welcome! We are glad they are helping!
Love Larry the lemon 🍋 Hey so that label peeled off can be doctored! Get some furniture stain pens, find a stain for your base to match them use the pens to make faux wood lines! 👍
Totally new to any kind of thought of "Van" touring/camping/vacationing. No interest in some specialized mega machine that doubles as a seasonal home, so your video was right in my wheelhouse.
Thanks so much. You guys are a delight.
And cinnamon rolls are the bomb.
Love our class B, a PW OnTour 2.2. Always good to help folks with the Pro and Con of the features. Battery upgrade was probably spendy, but gives so much versatility! On our way to Puerto Penasco!
Jealous!!!! We are going there in a couple of weeks! Enjoy 🏝️
Love your videos!!! About to make the jump into a class B. The versatility is the key for me.... go just about anywhere. Keep them coming! Learning a lot!!!
Thank you!!! Let us know when you get it!🚐
Excellent Video! This answered a lot of questions for me! Thanks!
Thanks Amy!!!!
Best pro/con review on-line! Thank you so much!!!
Thanks Rose!
You guys get better and better. Keep'em coming!
Thank you!!!
Agree, there are definitely hitting their stride
Thanks for this video. Totally helped my wife and I think through the pluses and minuses more thoughtfully. I agree that the pluses still outweigh. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful! ❤️
Great Videos! Just getting ready to pick up the Thor Scope 18A! Thank you for all the great information
Thanks! Congratulations!
I love my 2001 Coachmen class C 220 RK. I have owned since new and been on many trips with Grandkids and as a couple. It is 24 ft and don't tow a car but it can be parked fairly easy to eat out or run for groceries. I always park at rest stops with the car section not with the big rigs. It has the 5.4 V8 and gets between 10 and 13 MPG. For me a small class C is a good compromise for comfort and size especially since I am 71 yrs old. It has been stored in my detached garage since new and still looks new. Recently an elderly gentleman with a huge fith wheel offered to trade but of course i declined. I enjoy the nimbleness and simplicity of my RV and plan to keep it until I can't do it anymore. I enjoyed your video and am glad you enjoy your rig!
Love this. Very honest and real.
Awww thanks Elizabeth! 😊
This was a very helpful and enjoyable video. Thanks 🙏🏼
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome summary. Thank you.
You are welcome!
Every RV has advantages, and disadvantages. It all depends on how you are going to use it.
Besides storage, I saw something I will never forget. I don't own an RV but will never get a class A. A guy driving one of those pulled into the local Quiktrip and put the pump in. I pulled up behind him about a minute later. I put the pump in my wimpy 13.5-gallon tank 😂. While I was pumping, I also washed and wiped the windows, threw out any trash in my trunk, went inside the store and bought some cinnamon rolls and a cup of coffee, got held up by a line at the register, threw everything in the passenger side, put the nozzle back, got my receipt, wrote down my mileage, total cost and how many gallons, hit the clutch, cranked up and left.
The guy at the RV was STILL pumping gas. Meter read almost NINETY gallons and was still ticking!!!
You are not supposed to leave the car while pumping gas. @@largol33t1
It cost about $30,000 for a shower and toilet. And most are not comfortable.
Best ive seen is a toilet recessed in a shower with its own seperate door. You use the shower area when in use. So plenty of room, and it stays dry when showering. Fantastic design.
I almost panic bought a $118,000 RV/ slide out.
So glad i kept my $20,000 Toyota hiace. I custom built it with a solid wall extension out the back for a bed. So a seperate kitchen, lounge, bedroom. Loads of storage. 21 drawers. 7 cuboards. All cedar, cypress pine and maple construction. So looks brand new after a sanding.
Park anywhere. Low maintenance. Reliable. Basic electronics for self repares. Fuel = about 30klm 4 litres at 265,000 klm on motor. Been living full time in it for 16 years now.
Size doesnt matter. Its how you use it 😂
Hope you guys stay safe and well........and slim 😃
I've owned a 31' class A, 40' class A, and a 35' class A. They got 6, 5, and 10mpg respectively. Gas, diesel, and diesel. That last dropped to 6mpg when towing a small Honda Civic flat. Major pains? All were a pain to service, all were a pain to maneuver just about anywhere other than on interstates. Fueling-up was always at truck stops. Most important: all were extremely expensive to maintain their drive trains. I LIVED in the 31' for 3 years single, and 3 years in the 35' with family of 5, the latter in Ontario, Canada during a winter.
Because of their size and pain factors - they didn't get used much once parked.
My brother has a 40' 5th wheel. With his wife, they cavorted around a total of about six months. He hasn't driven it anywhere in a decade, and has had to repair its plumbing twice as it sat and rodents ate the Pex water pipes.
#1 son has been living in a 5'x10' cargo trailer camper we made - for THREE years. Towed by a Frontier pickup, he's saving for a Class B that we intend to convert, too.
Unlike Class As and most trailers - Class Bs will be USED frequently and not sit. "Lot Rot" is the main problem with larger RVs as sitting is horrible for drivetrains ( particularly automatic transmissions ).
The layout of your particular van and its bathroom wouldn't work for him. #1 son is 6'6" and, though living alone currently, he intends to "entertain" at some point, and that pitiful bathroom space ain't gonna cut it. We have ideas to mitigate that.
Keep up the good work, only suggestion I'd give is to indicate WHERE you are when you're showing the scenery!
If you are tall, like me, the Thor 2LB, (two Long Beds), have long beds. Also a convection/microwave oven. The bathroom is also larger. It does not have two unwanted seats.
Oh nice! Thanks!
Great info. Thanks. We just started looking for a Class B and this video was very helpful!
Good luck!
Class B is best for weekeders and no more than a week Boon Docking.... Otherwise its easier to drive and great MPG, Camping is spent OUTDOORS not indoors...Outdoor campers have no issue with minimums inside...
Consider. For More convenient toilet time Many learned this from Covid when paper disappeared , get a new 2 gallon pump up garden sprayer. then with a spring copper bender, (Shape,) the 2 ft metal pipe that has the nozzle to your liking, A hand towel to dry. Only water maybe 2 drops of lotion. It work’s. #1 Saves in Room and #2 cost of paper or #3 wipes . Takes one time to adjust nozzle to Your Liking’s.
This was so helpful & gave me alot to think about, thank you! 🙏👍
You're so welcome!
Thank you for all your videos, very helpful. I have not had mine long enough to have any problems yet. Some of the issues you had, Thor as fixed on my new 2024 model. Summers are long and hot where I am also, so I got a white van, it stays cooler on those hot days. My van is the rear bath model with two beds (20L- 59k -2LB), I am tall and like the open floor plan. The new Ram as the 9-speed trans, and nice gas mileage for such a heavy load. Ram has a nice turning radius for a 21' van. I added a Wolfbox G900 Rear View Mirror Camera, a must. Also put on KO2 Tires and 1 ½ inch Owl Lift.
.
Picked up our Class B in December 2022. Ford Transit HR extended. Bathroom is bigger 39" and am so happy as smaller would work yet it's just right. Enjoy your travels!
Oh what a great van! I’d like to test drive a Ford van. Enjoy your travels too!-Bob
Really enjoyed this. I continue my Class B search. Glad you found a great way to travel !
Thank you!!!
nice video U 2 :) My wife & I lived full time for over 2.5yrs in our custom build 2017 Ram 2500 RB. I designed a kitchen w/over 8' of gleaming SS counters, full bed, bath, 2 front swivels, basement and the works. AND five years later it is now our daily driver as we moved into a custom tiny-house-on-foundation in the SW desert. Class B's are awesoe! Oh, and total (new 2017) van + professional-shop build? ... $58K :)
Happy to find y’all and follow along! Jane in SC❤️🙏🏻
Welcome Jane!!!!❤️
We designed our own interior and custom Coach in Florida build it. We designed it for boondocking with a big battery bank, no propane and a porta potty for versatility. Spending our second winter in southern Mexico and summers touring the US. Biggest advantage is driving our 21foot Promaster (not 22feet) anywhere we want.
How awesome!
Make that hundred grand work!
Best setup is a pickup truck towing a 5th wheel. You could buy both used for $100k. I did it. Setup the 5th wheel drive your pick to get supplies. Water capacity should last a week in a 5th wheel. And you can use the restroom very comfortably- I suggest a bidet too. Camping without recliners is against my religion.-lol
Really informative. Thanks.
You're welcome!
Thanks guys! 😁
You're welcome!
In our 5th wheel, our motto is “we can seat 6, feed 4, sleep 2”, no other questions have been asked! 😊
This is great!😂
Y’all are good communicators. Good job
Thank you!
Did you look at the Winnebago Travato? The k model has a huge bathroom and the G model is more than big enough to sit on the toilet and close the door comfortably. The G has a Murphy bed that you can leave made and put up so that you have an amazing amount of space and flow through the van. Plus all the easy access storage underneath. The Winnebago is also come with a convection oven/microwave. You have the option of lithium ion batteries or an extremely quiet generator that runs off the gas tank. The cassette toilet is an advantage if you're a full-timer and going stealth camping. If you're staying at campgrounds or don't mind looking for an actual dump having a black tank is far more convenient.
When big things are built and designed small, they are always expensive. This would appeal to me for traveling, but not long term living/traveling. My wife and I would definitely get a hotel room or Air B and B from time to time. Most of the fishing places we go have restrooms and showers. Good video...well explained.
I don't understand why they didn't borrow an idea from Canadian brand Roadtrek. That brand had a foldout leaf on the door. It would bend slightly so the door could be latched inside but it stuck out 2 inches. Some RV owners thought this was a gimmick until they owned one and understood the brilliant ingenuity of the idea. When shut, the door won't hit your knees! I don't know if Roadtrek still makes RVs with that feature but they blew me away with the first ever rear slide out so the bed could fit on a 170" chassis, shaving 20" off the overall length of the vehicle.
It all depends on what your needs are, and what you can afford. My budget let us buy a '09 chevy 3500 shuttle bus for $6500. 4 years later, adding a bit at a time, we have 800w solar panels, 3 battle born 100ah, 2500w Aims inverter/charger, and finally (on the third try) an 12k btu Pioneer ac/heat mini split that will cool the bus at 95 degrees outside in full sun (running on solar). All together, including 3 engine repairs, have invested less than 17K $. Traveled 27K miles. Average 12 mpg on diesel. Fully loaded with fuel and water and stuff we weigh 6 tons. I did all the work myself except for final connections on the mini split. On our last trip to FL , talked to a guy in a 2022 Mercedes 4wd van, with ALL the bells and whistles, who hired others to do all the work. I couldn't help myself, asked what he had invested (even though I felt rude asking). He thought a minute, then said somewhere between 225k and 250k $. So, what do you need, what can you afford.
Awesome video, I love that baking pan those cinnamon rolls look so yummy!😋😋😋
Thanks, Karen!
Leisure Travel Vans.... Unity Corner Bed... Awesome room and layout.
Well thought out video nice job!
Thanks! 😃😃
Lovely for 2 people who can make it work. I'm eyeing a class C for 3 people and 2 dogs in the near future. Can't Wait to hit the roads. Thanks for Sharing.
Best of luck! Sounds like a class C would be great for you all!
Finding the right rig so important,after a two year search I found the perfect Class C RV,28FT,well maintained,sold to me by a good friend of a friend who knew the complete history of the vehicle.I lived in it for three months last year playing drums all over the east coast,what a blast !!! Been upgrading and maintaining it all month getting ready for this summer,love working on it and making it my own .RV life is good.
Sounds amazing! Agreed!
THRILLED for you❣️
There’s plenty of storage space under the bed. You can fit four storage boxes under there no problem. I have the Sequence 20A with pop top and four of us can camp in it for a week and we have all the storage we need using those storage tubs.
you guys are great, be safe out there
Thank you!!!
Another great video. Your cinnamon rolls came out better than the ones I did in a real oven for our grandkids recently. I guess the Bob timer is more accurate than the Dan timer. You guys have really been a lot of places and it's great to see that you are still happy with the Tellaro. Happy Trails.
Thanks Dan! The Bob timer is a thing 😅
Nice review, been looking at vans for ever but always had Class C and A type of rig.
BTW, I drive a 39 foot Class A , 2006, Diesel. My water tank is pretty much always full and every storage full. I get 10.5 mpg on average
Beautiful People & a Very Beautiful informative & honest review. Thank You 🙏 both so much. We just bought a Winnebago Solis (National Park Foundation) Edition with a sky 🌌 bunk & we Absolutely love it 🥰. We learned a lot from watching your videos from your beginnings & are very thankful. God Bless you both. Please Stay Safe & Stay Free. Coffee ☕️ Cheers from California
Thank you so much ❤️ enjoy your Winnebago! Sounds like the perfect Van for you guys!
Thank you for your videos, this is the second one I've come across and they're so informative! What park are you guys at along the river? Was that somewhere along the Colorado?
I think the problem is that y’all need to spend MORE than $100K to really get all the PROs y’all would like and could use in a Class B RV, i.e. pop-top, more seat belts, motorized bed, more bed options, larger bathroom, motorized sewage clean out, better storage, larger refrigerator, induction stove, etc for which your Thor appears to be deficient in your bare-bones model. Suggest you research other RV manufacturers, ie Roadtrek, that costs more, but provide more. As experience teaches, you get what you pay for. Plus, like car companies, some RV manufactures are better at making vehicles than others. This is a hard truth you may need to deal with.
They're SUPER cute! Great video with true information. Thanks
Thank you 😊
As a european, i wince at the idea of 5 mpg!! I run a european version of the same van you have (Ducato), and it gets 30mpg (diesel). They generally make more sense over here, especially in the Uk with its tiny roads and small parking spaces, and where 'van life' is less of an easy thing due to space and wild camping restrictions. You just have to pack and live 'mindfully' in them as there is less interior space. They do however warm up more quickly and use less heating fuel in winter as an added bonus! (Not to mention cheaper insurance, tax, servicing, toll roads etc)
Us Americans are dumb and will never use diesels in small cars. Only our huge trucks. I would love a small diesel car with a manual!
I did spend 112000 for my new 2022 Winnebago Solis PX. I love it. Bath looks slightly wider and the cassette toilet swivels sideways so more legroom. Lots of storage in cabinets and under bed. I leave Murphy bed down most of time but like option of putting it up i Solis as I wanted simple systems no lithium or computer run. Love my gas tank run generator for air when off grid I know it’s a lot more money but Travato G has bigger bath. Mine fits my wandering life. I leave chairs by campsite but I haven’t boondock Ed yet.
We have a 2500 ProMaster DIY, yes we have a compost toilet, an outdoor shower, a sink with running water, and swivel seat. We have a 260W solar, 200AH battery. We have considered upgrading our batteries .
We did a 3-month cross country tour.. only 8 one-night campsites, and the rest was stealthing. in the 3 months, we never had to recharge from the alternator, strictly solar and the batteries were fine. we do not use a microwave, everything on the BBQ, including baking biscuits and bread.
82 days, 24,000km 8 campsites, never plugged-in or alternator charge. This year a 60-day tour of Alaska, Yukon and Northern BC.
Oh wow! This is amazing! Sounds like the best time ever! Thanks for sharing your experience!
I thought your video was very well done. I had not seen your little oven substitute before. It appears to work well for you and is a great space saver.Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much!
You may want to check your specs for the lithium batteries. 800ah is a $20K+ upgrade, no way your van is only $100K if its really equipped with it. It should be at least $120K and above depending on when you purchased. Also comes with the Mastervolt control panel and can run AC for 8-10 hours straight. Yours is the Balmar panel so double check, you may only have 200ah version. I know because I've been in FB groups with owners thinking they got the 800 ah (2 x 400ah) version for a big discount when in fact they have 200ah (2 x 100ah) and no remote start. Thor and dealers make this very vague (spec sheet shows dual lithium battery but no battery size). A few ways to know is looking at the control panel (Mastervolt vs Balmar), 800ah has auto start feature (engine starts automatically when battery goes below 30%) and 2 yellow disconnect switches under the van (under sliding door area). 200ah lithium is still pretty good compared to the AGM batteries, just hope you didn't pay premium for lithium thinking you got 800ah but really it's only 200ah. I hope this doesn't turn out to be a con for you in the video.
Check this video out from Thor czcams.com/video/oKXLV-CkFrA/video.htmlm01s and you can compare the difference from your unit.
Battleborn batteries are some of the more expensive lithium battery’s and they’re $1000 for 100ah so $8000 for 800ah I bought cells and have 200ah for $750
@@Justmekpc…exactly. 800 Ah would cost less than $4k using cells like you did or even buying 4-200Ah batteries. There are many high quality batteries out there nowadays!
Hey nice post. You did it in a nice informative way. You gave them the points to look for and gentle reminded them the manufacturers can be deceiving
I went one step further having a Transit AWD Grit Overland GOA/T built that cost $200k and it's heaven for me! After 25 yrs of overlanding throughout the Southwest in a fully customized VW Vanagon, suffering in winter and summer I can now road trip year round. If you know exactly what you need and want it's totally worth the big bucks.
We have a Ford F250 crew cab. Just bought a palomino hs 8801. We're preparing for retirement spring of 2024. We wanted to be able to detach, tow a boat and have some storage. The footprint is the truck so parking works well. So many choices. Gas engine on the truck, 10.9 miles per gallon. Happy camping.
Awesome!!!
You both do a great job So fun to watch.
Thank you so much Barb. ❤️
Get a 7x16 enclosed cargo trailer. 8,000 dollars. Bathrooms and showers are stupid in vans. Get a bucket for 5 bucks. No charge.
I rented a 32 ft class c and it got 10 miles to the gallon with 3 adults and 3 children and it was fantastic
We just upgraded from a 17" tear drop (Mini Max) to the Sequence 20l and love it so far! Yes It's crazy expensive but we had to find one that would fit into our garage since our HOA would not let us keep it in our driveway. The towing life just wasn't for us even with a 17" foot trailer. For us the biggest pro is we don't have to tow. We installed a 10 foot door and the Sequence just barley fits into our garage lengthwise but the height is fine. We are Small Camper big Fun on CZcams if you ever want to connect. Cheers.
Followed your channel! Love that you can park in your garage! That would be a dream.
@@Vancaskeys thanks for the follow! Can't wait to see more of your adventures. Due to "life" it may be a bit before we can get out and camp on a regular basis but we will post when we can.
I have been idolizing this lifestyle for SO LONG. My goal is to own one end of this year/ early next. The one thing I find people touch on but don't quite talk about is water.... can you talk about getting water like are you going to gas stations and asking to bum water or even waste are you disposing of it in different ways if you're not on official campsite living? I appreciate this video, I somehow thought you were going to say you didn't like the class B but I'm so happy you do! Thanks!! :)
Great video. Thank you.
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for the post definitely a helpful perspective. I wonder if reliability has been a pro for you as well? Scariest thing about spending that sort of cash on a recreational vehicle is having it in the shop more than on the road like so many c and a’s seem to be now a days. Also nice GMM reference there at the end!
I def agree about a fixed bed. I don’t think I would ever want to have a van or RV without a fixed van - unless it was a Murphy that I didn’t have to rearrange th8ngd to pull down.
Thanks for your honest report of your class b van. I like the short 18M van, but very concerned about the quality and reliability of the RAM vehicle, but I guess there are so many of them out there...they have to be somewhat reliable. I subscribed to your channel and looking forward to watching all your other videos. Thank you again!
The truth is, you will never be fully satisfied with a mass-produced class b van. The major OEMs will always cut corners and compromise features/quality to maximize their profit margins, they are known for this, with very few exceptions. I've looked at them all and not a single options was satisfactory to me, at any price point. So I'm planning to purchase a custom built class b that I will design and probably have built by Humble Road in New Jersey. Of course, a custom designed van built by a master upfitter will be very costly, but as a one-time purchase that I will have to live with for 20+ years, it's worth it to me. Even at a higher price point, if you are totally satisfied with the custom build and you don't lose a ton of money selling it down the road, isn't it worth the extra up front cost? I think so.
Humble Road is a great van builder. Nothing but quality. Great choice
This is a great video. I’m definitely considering a B van. So many things I like about them like the versatility. I just sold a 22 Entegra Odyssey 26M class C and thought I would love the Murphy bed…..nope, it was way too much of a pain putting it up and taking it down. And the gas mileage was always right at 9 miles to the gallon 😢. Lots of room but to cumbersome. Thanks for super cool oven pro tip.
Thanks! Class B Vs Class C...both have great Pros and Cons. We haven't owned a class C yet but do love our class B.
You had me at making up those mpg numbers on class a and c. Love the truth about your class b. I had a sprinter, now a class c. Would recommend a class c any day
Great vid guys! Nice job, very informative! 🤘 Also… is that the Apache Trail?? 😮
Thanks! Yes :)
I want to buy one used and remove the bathroom shower and probably the micro stove sink area also. I will use my gym, a public restroom or squat. I will do most cooking outdoors like tailgating. I want more space inside to relax or storage. I am not running all those electricals and propane and potentially burn my place down. Fixed bed yes but up higher to take advantage of all that wasted space.
If I were to buy one of these class b RV's I think the way to go is that Leisure Murphy Bed Lounge. I just happened upon a video of that one and ended up down a rabbit hole of watching RV videos. That Murphy Bed Lounge has tons of room and all kind of cool features. Just my thoughts if I were to buy a class B RV.
That would help so much with space!
Entertaining. Great video !
Thank you!
I am doing a pro custom build. My price will be double whatbyou all show but...I jabe an awesome design, my bathroom/shower are separate, I have a HappyJack so my bed is always ready and a button lifts it to expose a lounge area and table, Ibhave much better use of space and I have looked into the pre-builds you do not get much choice for your dollar. I jabe an incinerating toilet and my floor has heat system and my shower is a recirculating shower which goes through a 14 point filtration system so I use very little water and it remains hot without using new water. So much more to explain but the point is my kitchen has an oven and all the goodies betterbtonpaybfor a custom if you plan to use it either full time or much of the time. You can rent it out but I wouldn't with mine as I have so many things in it that I want to enjoy all of it myself lol!! I have an electric bike and I have a large fridge freezer egal size plus a drink fridge in the garrage.. custom build is expensive but you get exactly what you want. Well worth it the size of the fridge and freezer let's me go off grid for almost 2 weeks!! Enough power and space for food. Try a custom!!
Great vid Tks!
Glad you liked it!
great job on the video!
Thank you!
Awesome vid. After watching, I think a small class C/B+ with a promaster or transit chassis would be great. Full time bed, larger bathroom, bigger tanks and some outside storage without too much of an increase in footprint or fuel usage.
Thanks! Agree that’s the perfect setup!
I did the B+ for a year plus loved it just stay under 28 feet 24 is better.
@@gregmeyer2897What B+ was that? I'm looking for good B+
If I have 100k, I'm thinking of getting a Tacoma and a small tear drop trailer. It's more flexible and easier to sell each one.
True! Our friends have a tear drop and they love it!
With Covid's affect on inflation and cost of flights, Australia has seen a huge demand for RV's, towed caravans and camping trailers so the cost has gone up exponentially. I chose a 1yr old poptop caravan as I can tow it with our family SUV and park it secure and out of the weather at home. Has all the comforts we need, can be a problem parking in built up and tourist areas, but we can unhitch it at camp sites and go adventuring.
Idea here: you could get an electric bike and attach a small trailer to pull behind for your groceries, problem solved. Well, maybe not the best solution if you have to store both a bike & a trailer somewhere on/in your van. 😳 ps - maybe consider purchasing a trailer to pull behind your van to carry along stuff like bikes and other (extra camping essentials)? Just a thought. 🙂
diesel fuel contains roughly 10% to 15% more energy than gasoline. So, diesel vehicles can often go about 20% to 35% farther on a gallon of fuel than their gasoline counterparts.