trying to decide on which van to purchase

[luisperez5518]

wife and I have ben popup campers for the last 6 years, time has come where the setup/break don time and hard work is no longer welcomed and we are considering a class B motorhome. Since we had a nice big comfortable popup camper I do not wish to give up some of the amenities of it and I prefer a van where there is a nice area to sit at a table to have coffee and play games, my wife argues that these models all come with a bed that has to be broken down in order to accommodate the seating area, I think I can put up with setting up and breaking down a bed but she is adamant that she prefers models with a fixed bed.
I'd like to hear opinions of class B motorhome owners and their take on the different models and how much of a hassle is to setup or break down the bed or not.... thank you all

 

[booster]

wife and I have ben popup campers for the last 6 years, time has come where the setup/break don time and hard work is no longer welcomed and we are considering a class B motorhome. Since we had a nice big comfortable popup camper I do not wish to give up some of the amenities of it and I prefer a van where there is a nice area to sit at a table to have coffee and play games, my wife argues that these models all come with a bed that has to be broken down in order to accommodate the seating area, I think I can put up with setting up and breaking down a bed but she is adamant that she prefers models with a fixed bed.
I'd like to hear opinions of class B motorhome owners and their take on the different models and how much of a hassle is to setup or break down the bed or not.... thank you all

Many of the B's have a table that is for the front seats so you can do the kind of stuff you wife desires. Some also have a small two place seat that has a table for it and can be used with the driver seat to be across from each other.
Lots of floorplans out there to see that kind of stuff, on the manufacturers websites.

 

[dmb496]

We own a 2020 Coachmen Galleria, model 24A. The beds in the rear are always in place and ready for use, no set up or teardown is necessary. However, that setup is exclusive to the 24A's floor plan. Other floor plans in the Galleria lineup offer different bed arrangements. The link below provides two dimensional renderings of the four Coachmen class B models, and each model's varying floor plans.

RVs | Class B Motorhomes - Coachmen RV

Find the Coachmen Class B Motorhome that is right for you.

coachmenrv.com

 

[GeorgeRad]

We have our own design and make camper van based on 2013 Sprinter and for:

• Day time we could have rear sofa for seating with a table plus front seats rotated 180 degrees with a table or rear sofa converted to bed and front seats
• Night time rear bed and front rotated seats.

All vans with design based on European concept like Fiat Promasters, Sprinters MB or Dodge and EU style Ford Transits can have driver and passenger seats on rotating platforms. It is not the case for old Chevy, old Fords or old Chryslers.

DIY Sprinter 2500 144" WB Conversion - big project and Voilà

215 new items · Album by George Radominski

goo.gl

 

[jjrbus]

Took a long trip after we bought our Roadtrek, put the bed up and down for a week or so and then left it as a bed!

 

[RJM123]

We just bought a Class B that has a sofa converts to a king bed. Could have made a bunch of $ if I’d recorded the first time we tried to make it. Americas Funniest Videos here we come. After a couple times you learn the easiest way and not so bad now. Nice to have the space inside.

 

[Snowy]

What you may want is what is called a "front lounge" floor plan. The Travato G models and the Panoramic have this layout. The advantage of this floor plan compared to something like the Galleria 24A is that you can look out the windshield and side windows when you are sitting at the dinette.

Floor Plan

3D Virtual Tour New: you can now use your smartphone, tablet or computer to take a 3D virtual tour of the Panoramic RV. Explore every corner from the comfort of your own home. Enjoy the 360-degree …

panoramicrv.com

Winnebago Travato | Class B RV | Camper Van

Embark on unforgettable journeys with the Winnebago Travato, a state-of-the-art camper van combining luxury, efficiency, and versatility for the modern traveler.

www.winnebago.com

 

[Jim M-ClassB]

We downsized from years of Class A Motorhomes to:

2011 Roadtrek P 210.
It’s on a Chevrolet 3500 Express Van Chassis.

This model gives the slightly wider body at the back where inches count.

Contrary to what an earlier post said the FRONT SEATS DO SWIVEL around and there is a table that slides out from the cabinets for those 2 seats. We eat our dinners there and spend our evenings there.

In the rear there is a 2nd table if you want it along with a folding sofa bed. We chose to leave it in the bed position (King Size).

The van has most everything our Class A’s had. Just smaller. Shower, wet bathroom, fridge, stove and microwave. It has a built in Generator and we chose to use a portable Solar Set Up for when we need it which is rare.

It works for us and we snowbird 3 months at a time in it - we are still married! LOL

 

[Captain Longbeard]

My wife and I rented a number of different Class B layouts, and wholeheartedly recommend renting before buying. We found that we tend to be more mobile travelers as opposed to sitting around campgrounds, and it was almost immediate that we realized we wanted a fixed bed. Not only did we not like the idea of having to convert it twice a day, but the cushions where just not comfortable, no matter what we tried to enhance them with.

We never found the perfect layout that we wanted, so we ended up going with a Coachmen Galleria 24A as the best platform to work off of, and are currently in the process of removing the desk cabinet behind the driver seat and building out a custom dinette. We had this layout in a rental that we drove around Iceland, and LOVED it. No set up/breakdown required, just spin the driver seat around and done. The Galleria is in the 24' long Sprinter which is the longest Class B there is, so it can be formidable, but the interior amenities and storage are unbeatable.

 

[topwop]

As Jim M-ClassB said - We have a 2006 Roadtrek 210p but ours has either a 2 twin setup or a king in back. We use it as 2 twins so this way if we want to set up a table in back, more room then the front table set up, we can, but the front seats do swivel so you could leave the king bed set up if you wanted to. The twin set up is also good for those late night trips to the bathroom not crawling over your better half .

 

[MarCorpsMustang]

wife and I have ben popup campers for the last 6 years, time has come where the setup/break don time and hard work is no longer welcomed and we are considering a class B motorhome. Since we had a nice big comfortable popup camper I do not wish to give up some of the amenities of it and I prefer a van where there is a nice area to sit at a table to have coffee and play games, my wife argues that these models all come with a bed that has to be broken down in order to accommodate the seating area, I think I can put up with setting up and breaking down a bed but she is adamant that she prefers models with a fixed bed.
I'd like to hear opinions of class B motorhome owners and their take on the different models and how much of a hassle is to setup or break down the bed or not.... thank you all

Two points to consider based on 30 years of RV experience in Class Cs and Class Bs:
1. Avoid a corner bed. Although it looks cozy and convenient, it is anything but. One partner must climb over the other to get into or out of the bed. As importantly, it is a major PAIN IN THE ARSE to change sheets due to the bed adjoining two (or three) walls.
2. Avoid Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis. They look great and run great when they're running. But, eventually, it will need maintenance and repairs, which are ONLY available at an authorized MB dealership. Perhaps you live in an area where the MB dealership is convenient, friendly, and competent (I do not), but if you ever have an issue while out traveling, you may have a serious problem finding one anywhere nearby (voice of experience speaking here).
Other contributors may say that my second point is nonsense. That may be the case for where THEY live, but it definitely applies where I live.

 

[Jim M-ClassB]

My wife and I rented a number of different Class B layouts, and wholeheartedly recommend renting before buying. We found that we tend to be more mobile travelers as opposed to sitting around campgrounds, and it was almost immediate that we realized we wanted a fixed bed. Not only did we not like the idea of having to convert it twice a day, but the cushions where just not comfortable, no matter what we tried to enhance them with.

We never found the perfect layout that we wanted, so we ended up going with a Coachmen Galleria 24A as the best platform to work off of, and are currently in the process of removing the desk cabinet behind the driver seat and building out a custom dinette. We had this layout in a rental that we drove around Iceland, and LOVED it. No set up/breakdown required, just spin the driver seat around and done. The Galleria is in the 24' long Sprinter which is the longest Class B there is, so it can be formidable, but the interior amenities and storage are unbeatable.

If one is buying a newer model I agree that renting one first if a really good idea! We went the older route and found a mint one with low miles, low hours on the generator and all the receipts that proved proper maintenance at proper times. Saved a bundle of money and very little depreciation.

 

[Doneworking]

MA makes two good points based on my experiences. First of all, we have owned three small Class Cs over the years and the last one was a really fine, well built 23 foot model. It also had a corner bed and all I can say is Amen to MA's comments about a corner bed. It was great to sleep in until nature called and then you just started the night all over again for both of us.

Mercedes has lovers, jilted lovers and those of us that really thought about where we traveled and where MB service was available and passed on the purchase.

Our 2007 Roadtrek 210P is perfect for us. It has twin beds and a table easily is put up in a minute between the beds which then become twin couches. Every disadvantage of the corner bed is overcome by the twin beds. Our old RT has a Chevy 6L engine and every small town has someone that can work on that Chevy van chassis.

 

[Jim M-ClassB]

I agree on the comments about a Corner Bed.

We owned a trailer once that had one.
If you like pulling your own teeth or doing your own surgeries without anesthesia then a Corner Bed might be right for you. They are so impractical I can’t begin to describe how bad they are.

Part of RVing is learning from others and from their mistakes. We have made our fair share over the years! A corner bed was at the top of that list and remains there to this day!

As far as Mercedes Benz chassis go:
We did that in 2017. It was a Leisure Travel Van (LTV), Unity model.

I will say the quality of the LTV can not be beat! One of the best out there by far.

With respect to the MB Chassis, I always had a knot in my gut because we like to go as far from big cities and into the boonies as we can get.

Finding Parts and a MB Mechanic can be a challenge.

As an example we were camped in southern Arizona next to the Mexican border one time. The 02 Sensors and chassis sensors both went out on the same day. I couldn’t find any shops that worked on the MB that were nearby.

Finally we made an appointment with a MB Dealer up in Phoenix. 3+ Hours later we arrived and camped over night with all the other Sprinter Camper Vans in the parking lot. The only happy part was at least we didn’t need a tow truck!

I must say they got us in the next morning as planned and had us back on the road in a few hours. Their service was excellent.
But it wasn’t handy!

I’m sure there may be more independent shops that will work on a MB nowadays (8 years later) or at least I hope so.

After 2 winters SnowBirding in the MB we went back to a Class A motorhome as that’s what we had before. That was our second mistake! You’re probably seeing a trend here?

We’ve been doing this a long time and for as long as 6-7 months at a time. We love to travel!

We found over the years that we like Boondocking a lot too! Our favourite is out on BLM Lands, National Forests, National and State Parks etc.

We don’t enjoy Condo Camping in resorts. Some do and that’s fine too.

For us, if it’s away from big cities and noisy parties we are happier. If the camping is free then it’s even better. We don’t mind paying for camp spots (as listed above) but we generally don’t need all the resort amenities such as swimming pools, craft rooms and golf courses.

Don’t hold it against us but we are also Canadian. The fact that the exchange rates are killing us more and more each year doesn’t help either. Now in early 2025 our dollar is sadly even worse and it’s costing us almost 50% on every dollar.

Many Canucks have stopped SnowBirding and I fear our end may be near too. But we will hold on as long as we can. I liked it better when our money was more even hahaha.
But alas I Digress!

Because of the way we like to travel and camp (we like moving on every 4-5 days) the Roadtrek P210 on a Chevy chassis works perfect for us. It offers us an easy way to travel and an affordable way to camp. We can pack up and move in minutes and we can get into smaller spots that we couldn’t do with our Class A.

Add to that the older we get, the easier and simpler we like!

The only worry is that the Roadtrek’s ride a little low for going off paved roads. So we’ve done over a year’s research and found a place where we are going to get a 5” Lift Kit installed next month. Some out there will comment or argue that doing a Lift will ruin the ride and increase wear on parts. I will only say that design and technology has come a long way since those days.

The places we have found off road over the years have been so beautiful that I struggle to find words to describe it. Just such a fun/great experience. Now we will be able to go even deeper off road!

Now, not every one is the same.
Our needs and desires may differ. But this is how we roll. We’ve been retired for years now and this is our 15th year of SnowBirding.

The only RV’s we have never owned are Class C’s and 5th Wheels. All RV’s have their good and bad Points. It’s all about what YOU like and what YOU want to do.

Renting a similar RV before buying is a really good idea if you plan on buying something fairly new.

Learning from others is key and most folks are more than happy to help, share and offer advice.

Put it all together, sift out the bad or inaccurate information and you should be well on your way to a fantastic way to travel, live and love life!

Here’s to your next adventure!

 

[Captain Longbeard]

I will have to disagree with the comments about renting only applying to purchasing newer units. We rented our first Class B in the UK and the second in Iceland, both models were NOTHING like what is available in the US, but both taught us so much about floor-plan layouts that completely changed our minds from what were originally thinking going into it. Basic concepts such as fixed vs. convertible bed, small vs large fridge, induction vs propane cooking, etc. can be very helpful to figuring out a floor plan that will make you happy.

 

[Jim M-ClassB]

Sorry you took my comment that way. (wrong?).

I merely meant that if buying a newer unit that renting first is even more important.

If one is new to RVing or about to change to a different type of RV then any experience one can get before buying is a good idea for sure.

Research is King!

What one person likes can be something awful to another.