Roadtrek 1

I don't know how you were able to do that for $50?

A couple of people we've met were very high on the mobile eye devices that record everything while you're driving. I can't really see the point of this, but, I'd sure like to hear what you folks think. Please share any information you have on this or if you did it and why?

Dave, OK, it's a fair comment.... my remarks were in relation to using a heavy duty truck to pull a 40 foot 5th wheel.... I've seen many dually diesel pickups easily do that. Also, the remarks about me being naive and ignorant of the length of RVs in National Parks did not go unnoticed......I don't appreciate people making comments like that or misleading people thinking that a 40 foot 5th wheel with a big Mack or Peterbuilt can just pull in easily to any park....they can't....

Darryl, I understand, but, there's fewer spots and the space is an issue. I'm sorry for my "ignorance" but, ..".facts are facts"... You can have any opinion you want, but, no one can have their own facts. It's interesting to state that you can go almost anywhere with a 40 foot 5th wheel. You can certainly find a limited number of parks...53% of them provided there's space. Yes, in your case... that requires a lot of planning. When I travel, whether it's an RV park or even hotels...yes, we've been known to stay in hotels... even though we have the Sprinter.... I never make reservations... We just figure it out as we are driving, call ahead and stay wherever we want or just drive in... there's normally always space for a 23 foot Sprinter van.... Our 23 foot RV can fit into 93 % of the parks.......you see what I mean? See these articles below and excerpt. RVs up to 19′ in length fit in 98% of all national park service campgrounds. RVs up to 25′ in length fit in 93% of all national park campgrounds RVs up to 29′ in length fit in 84% of all national park campgrounds RVs up to 32′ in length fit in 81% of all national park campgrounds RVs up to 35′ in length fit in 73% of all national park campgrounds RVs up to 37′ in length fit in 60% of all national park campgrounds RVs up to 40′ in length fit in 53% of all national park campgrounds (Remember that many of the parks will only have a few sites this size, however. Book long in advance if reservations are available–otherwise you run the risk of not having a spot) RVs up to 41′ in length fit in 7% of all national park campgrounds (Remember that many of the parks will only have a few sites this size, however. Book long in advance if reservations are available–otherwise you run the risk of not having a spot) https://camperreport.com/best-rv-length-for-national-parks/ And state parks as well, see below. https://www.parks.ca.gov/RVlength By the way, I'm glad it's working for you. Personally, I'm enjoying my 18 MPG and mobility and ease of getting in and out of areas. We've put 18,000 miles on our RV since we acquired it. What are you getting 7 or 8 MPG? If you are lucky? Over time... fuel is one of the most expensive things you put in your rig...it adds up very quickly. I wouldn't want to have a 40 footer behind me ... again, your choice. Then again, I'm not full time. No question that your truck and trailer are very nice ... it's your permanent home... I understand. Finally, we are so mobile, we spend plenty of time not behind the steering wheel... our set up is so fast with an awning, couple of chairs, no hook up except electricity when it's available....we can be ready to roll in about 15 minutes. I like that.

This link below may help answer questions; https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/documents.php No question that those big rig diesel trucks are great, but, using it for pulling an RV does seem overkill to me.... where the heck do you drive and park this thing. There's a lot of places you can't go with a vehicle of this size; national parks and other places.

Kirk, just curious, I've seen some trailers with two wheels one in front of the other on each side vs. dual wheels on one axle.... I don't know which is more secure? Could you please tell me about that? Which can handle more weight?

Kirk, I would agree and found this for you; https://www.transwest.com/kansas-city/7-features-you-should-look-for-when-shopping-for-a-towing-vehicle When I originally posted this article on wheelbase, I was primarily speaking of RVs of any size. The article gives people a calculation to determine their ratio. RVs with a relatively short wheelbase for their overall length are difficult and fatiguing to drive requiring a lot of steering corrections.... In general, I think it's more risky to tow a vehicle such as a trailer than just driving a single vehicle...

See this article for more details, it explains why this is important.... https://axleaddict.com/rvs/Why-RV-Wheel-Base-Ratio-Is-Important You don't want to have your RV drive "like a house"....and be challenging every time you're behind the wheel....as in this video below.... Space is important, but..... https://www.motor1.com/reviews/140845/thor-outlaw-rv-why-buy/ Apparently, a longer wheelbase is an advantage.

What are you using on your Class B? The rear doors access is a challenge. My Sprinter van has a 170 inch wheelbase and I had only one option. It took quite a while to locate the solution that worked for me. Did you have any experience like this?

Thanks... I'm going to give that a try.

Thank you Linda, the shower curtain is the most difficult and fragile part of the shower...I imagine.. We've normally used campground facilities ... when it's not too cold. I think of the shower as an "option" mainly in an emergency. We have a shower he with an on off switch.... I'm not sure it's ever been used even by the original owners? The "wet bath" was not my most favorite feature of my rig, but, it's not horrible.

OK... not a financial question... surprise! How many of you actually use your shower ? And do you find it a challenge to keep the mildew and moisture under control especially on the shower curtain?

I heard that there's an issue on weekends with Passport America? Something like it's not generally available or you have to pay more... people were critical of this. They said it was easier on weekdays. We have the "All Stays" app on our cellphone..... that's how we find places while on the road.

It's around $500 for a zone pass.....I thought I saw it on sale for $499? Guess it really depends on how many nights you use it and where?

Hi, how many of you have tried using 1000 Trails? I haven't tried them and have read mixed reviews, saying that some of the locations are not kept up or too rustic? Or, would you say is KOA is a better park other than private RV parks?

To the best of my knowledge the manufacturer of the Sprinters built on the Class B+ platform like your coach start with a cab chassis from Mercedes Benz that is cutaway and the coach builder constructs the entire box behind the driver and passenger compartment of the truck. This is slightly different than just modifying the interior space of a cargo van from the factory. The coach builder manufacturer uses fiberglass materials to make the rear of the vehicle that is generally wider than the original vehicle. It certainly has more space and overhang than a standard Mercedes Benz Sprinter van. Class B pluses especially those without the cab over bunk bed are more aerodynamic than those with the bed in the front. Nice looking rig. I seriously considered purchasing a Winnebago Navion with the Mercedes Benz Sprinter..... Yes, I agree purchasing used is a very good idea. How many miles were on your 2012 when you acquired it. Good luck with your rig.

Class Bs, and especially used models, are hard to find....we saw many at first that were either too old / beat up or too many miles......... We thought about renting one, but, the costs were so prohibitive....on a weekly basis... So, we just took the plunge, kept looking and purchased one. I test drove a couple of B+ models...but the smaller B felt like such a great fit. B+ models are really registered as Class C's.... they certainly have more space, but, the overhang of the body and the constant maintenance of the roof seams turned me off. I'd rather have a vehicle that was made at the factory and just converted on the inside. The cutaway frames of the Class B+/ Class C's didn't quite work for me. What's your story?