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Advice on downsizing to Class B/camper van?


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Just throwing this out there. If anyone here has downsized to a Class B or a camper van, can you share your experience? I'm seriously thinking of doing it because I think it'd be less stressful to drive, no slide to worry about ... just jump into the thing with some food and clothes and go. Easier to park, easier to sightsee in cities, but still comfortable enough that I can hang out in it. 

Am I fooling myself? 😉 

What got me thinking was a recent group camping event at a campground near a state park. One day a few of them drove to the state park to go kayaking, and I hitched a ride in one of the pickups (most everyone was camping in towables). I was thinking, if I were here by myself, I probably wouldn't have wanted to strike camp and drive there in my Class C and hope for parking. If I had a *van* though or a Class B I more likely would. (Is this true for you?)

For many reasons, I can't tow or get a toad, mainly logistical (where I live). Thus I'm thinking of a Class B. Used, inspected, maybe a 2015-2020. 

AM

2018 Forest River Sunseeker 2290SC
25 feet, Chevy Express 4500
"Angie" (short for Angel)

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The hardest part for me with the "Class B" is water, both clean and waste. The capacities make it so you would have to fill (and dump) very often and while I don't "Boondock" I can survive for weeks and a bit more than a Month using my clean and waste tanks at a stop. I do need to have the 50 amp plug though at least for now. I cannot do without my HVAC system. 

This summer was the first time I have stayed at a Corp of Engineers park and really enjoyed them. They all had power, some had water, but very few had sewer dumps at the site's I parked at. I couldn't beat the cost using my America the Beautiful card. 

C605KRG.jpeg

 

 

Rod 

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We had 3 A class. 35, 40 and 40ft. Next was a 20ft B class. (RAM Promaster in the USA). 

Two of us. With careful use we could last 10 days on water. Navy showers. Grey we could go about 5-6 days. (Here in Australia most places allow grey water on the ground. I drip it out).

Black! Well we had a cassete system. 3 days with 2 of us. A spare cassete would be an advantage.

Bur here's the thing. Because it took us just a few minutes to pack we could move as often as we liked. Ice cream in town? No worries in 5 minutes we were on the road.

It's a matter of lifestyle. The bigger the RV the longer you can sit in one place. But it can be a pain to move. Small can mean shorter stays but moving more often means seeing more.

As a solo I think it's a no brainer. A B class and hit the road. 

One other positive from our point of view. A B class can fit in a hotel car park. Book a room. Squander the water in a shower. Do your laundry. 

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Many tears ago, I considered several types of small motor homes. I settled on a Class B++ or what some people referred to as a Small Class C.  If was 23 feet long, fully equipped; black, Grey and fresh water tank. Gas Generator and propane appliance/electric appliances. Two things I would changed had I kept it longer. Change the sofa/queen bed to twin sofas/twin beds and install some kind under belly screen to allow some tolerance to below freezing temperatures.

I carried a bicycle on the front and had storage on the rear. That small RV and campgrounds met my needs. This RV was built on a Ford E350 Econoline body. It was an PleasureWay that I bought used from a University professor. His wife and he would travel to sports games and take extended trip and his words was. "Everything was great if they stayed at a Hampton every third night". One of my most prized cooking aid was a small electric fry pan. If the scenery was great I'd pull off the road some place to cook a hot lunch while enjoying the view.

Clay

 

 

Edited by ms60ocb
typo

Clay & Marcie Too old to play in the snow

Diesel pusher and previously 2 FW and small Class C

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My advice is to be very careful and realize that what matters is not our opinions, but your comfort. We considered a van conversion when we downsized from our class A but ultimately moved to a small travel trailer and truck instead. The reasons were numerous, but the primary one was my wife's physical limitations. Be very sure that you can comfortably do the things in the small B that you enjoy now in your C. Also, it is very different to compare any motorized RV that isn't towing to the truck & trailer combination. The ability to just leave the trailer and go with the truck is part of our reason for the choice we made. Budget is another factor with RV Trader showing class B vans from a low of $50k to more than $150k. Be sure to check what you can get for the RV you have now by selling or trading it in. There are people who enjoy pretty much every type of RV on the market and every type has those who hate them so make sure which one you are. My parents loved their van conversion, but we didn't. 

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

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Thanks for the advice everyone. A lot to think about.

Funny you bring up the Pleasure Way, Clay ... I am seriously looking at the Pleasure Way line up, mainly because of the "lounge" set up in the back with a laguna table. It would give me more room than my 25' Class C right now, where the only place to lounge is the u-shaped dinette. 

I dunno. I also worry about the minimal ground clearance for those pleasure ways ... Angie my Class C has surmounted some rough roads and bumps like a champ, but the Pleasure Ways are so close to the ground I wonder  if they could make it out of my driveway that has a sizeable dip between the curb and the street. Hrm. 

AM

2018 Forest River Sunseeker 2290SC
25 feet, Chevy Express 4500
"Angie" (short for Angel)

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I would look at these: https://sportsmobile.com/vans-for-sale/

Sportsmobile installs custom interiors so they often have larger tanks than most Class Bs do.

I loved my Sportsmobile and often wish I had not sold it.

Linda Sand

Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/

Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van

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Remember you should always decide what you want to do BEFORE you decide what RV. 

We looked at B Class RVs in the USA. All I can say is that the prices don't match what you can buy overseas. Someone in the USA is grossly inflating their prices.

 

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Yes, probably depends on the person. 

We had a VW Bus, but hardly left where we were camping, except when visiting family in another state. Now we have a class C and we don't usually leave a place once we arrive and we haven't TOAD'd, yet. Not ruling out that we will tow a vehicle someday.  

Steve and Jill

1999 Lazy Daze 26.5 MB

Florida Resident

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