AJarand
Bloomington, Illinois, USA
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Joined: 01/27/2005
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We travel from Illinois the East coast twice a year. In December 2004 we got caught in a huge snowstorm in our Dodge mini-van.
We sat on I-74 for about 8 hours without moving.
The wife said "Never again without a bathroom on board"
We soon got a Great West.
And found we kind of liked the camping thing as well as the 'travel with a bathroom thing'.
We now have a 21' Phoenix Cruiser... technically a class C, but still fits in our garage.
Alan, Marjie and Emily(15)
2006 Phoenix Cruiser 21' w/Slide
E350 Ford V10
Previous RV:
2005 Great West Classic Supreme (Class B)
On 2004 Ford E350, 5.4 V8 Chassis
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kking
Lowell, MA
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Joined: 02/18/2008
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My only real B was a 1984 Ford Falcon, which I bought so that I could comfortably spend the night before a fishing tournament at the boat ramp. ( I run the tournaments,so was always worried about being late in the morning prior to the camper). I loved it! Actually only spent one night in it with DW, she was very uncomfortable in small bed, so we never camped in it. I got rid of it when it needed some major repair. It never got better than 11 mpg, and most of the time because of the boat it was more like 7 or 8.
Now I've got the continuing project of a DIY B. It's my daily commuter as well as my tow vehicle. The Ford was roomier and more complete, but this one has the advantage of being a bit smaller and much better on fuel. Going to try taking the wife camping in it soon.
The map shows the states my wife and I have driven (or camped) in together.
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Heathertee2002
Connecticut
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Joined: 07/18/2003
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My current Sportsmobile (2003 Ford E-150) is the first and only I have ever owned. Almost as soon as I retired I ordered it. My primary reason was and still is, when visiting my children, I no longer have to sleep on a sleep sofa (which should be called an insomnia sofa, at least until they figure out a way to get rid of that %$&*# steel bar). Also, when travelling, it's so nice to have your own toilet and kitchen handy rather than having to hunt for a restroom or restaurant! In these ways and others, it's been the best investment I've ever made.
Mine is very basic; no holding or freshwater tanks, though I do have a little sink for city water hookups and that is handy sometimes (I usually use the little sink for storing fresh vegetables that don't need refrigeration, like onions, garlic and potatoes). The Porta-Potti is very easy to use and to keep clean, and SMB made me a nice vinyl cover for it so I don't have to stash it in a cabinet. Also I have no built-in furnace, but rely on a Black Cat catalytic heater (used three times since fall of 2003). The ceiling fan and the awning are sufficient to keep me cool enough 99% of the time. (For the other 1%, I take an afternoon ride.  )
For cooking, which is important to me, I have a campstove and a little table (or I use the campground picnic table) that I use under the awning. I don't want to cook indoors, and this works well in all weather. The refrigerator and one drawer are accessible from the side doors to minimize getting in and out of the van for supplies.
Every now and then I think about eventually full-timing and I guess would need a larger unit for that, but when I look at all the maintenance and little chores involved (not to mention the co$t!!), I am so grateful for my uncomplicated little campervan!
* This post was
edited 08/15/08 04:53pm by Heathertee2002 *
Heather
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ValofNY
upstate NY
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Joined: 11/26/2003
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"...would love to know which B's everyone has owned (year make model), why you switched if you had more than 1 B, and maybe your top likes and dislikes."
I started with a '96 Roadtrek 190 P.
After a few years, I traded up to an '04 Roadtrek 210 P.
I like the '04 Chevy chassis better than the '96 Dodge chassis. Chevy has more cockpit space, & better handling on the road. Dodge is like a loaf of bread on wheels.
I have mixed feelings about the 190 vs the 210. There are advantages/disadvantages to both:
I like the 190 small footprint, fits in standard parking spaces, front seats tilt forward as well as back.
I like the 210 macerator pump, wider aisle, wider single bed, bigger fridge.
Val
Val & Pete
ROVNRND
in a 2005 Roadtrek 210P
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GizmosMom
Central Texas
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Joined: 02/18/2002
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First B was a 1986 Merry Miler (made in Dallas) Dodge Class B. Had a dinette that converted into a double bed. Also had a small cab over with a pull out bed. One holding tank combined both gray and black. We owned for two years and our son was growing. Thought we needed a larger RV so we traded it in on a 1989 Holiday Rambler Class C. (In hindsight we wished we would have kept the Class B and added a large tent).
Sold the Class C in 1995 and returned to tent camping for 7 years. Seven long years!
In 2000 we purchased a larger bass boat and I decided to start fishing with my husband. So we searched for a pre-owned Class B that would hold our tall bodies. Needed a van that we could keep parked in our driveway and not violate city code. Found our Xplorer at PPL motorhomes in Houston. It had 18,000 miles on it and the stove had never been used. Have been very happy and satisfied for the the most part with our find.
Marilyn w/ Joe, 2000 Xplorer Class B van, usually pulling a Ranger bass boat.
Smudge, (in photo) a Shih Tzu/Yorkie Mix and Gizmo is waiting at the Rainbow Bridge
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parsecpilot
Colorado Springs, CO, USA
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Joined: 12/15/2003
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We always wanted a class B motorhome. Our 1st "B" was a '75 Chevy Coachman that I intended to refurbish - but took a demanding job and it "sat" for about 7 years - never did get to it or use it. Our 2nd was a 2003 Pleasureway Lexor - we went to Denver dealer "just to look" (as we sometimes did/do) - made an offer that I did not think they would accept in December (model year closeout) - - well - they did! Three years later we were "just looking" in Denver again and when the wife stepped into our current 07 RT 210P she said "Boy - I could take this one home" - - and so we did! Jean and Jan in Colorado
PARSECPILOT
2006/2007 Roadtrek Popular 210
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roadrunner16
Tucson
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Joined: 06/29/2006
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Our #1 one was a 1995 R/T 190P bought off ebay Chev in 1999.
#2 was a 2000 R/T 190 R/T 190P bought in Tucson in 2000 it was a Dodge. After the third transmision replacement we bought the bullet and bought a 2007 R/T 210V. We drive it for 2000 miles and traided it for a 2007 R/T 210P. (Wife didnt like the V, and if the wife aint happy then nobody is happy.) We got all of them because we like R/T best of all. We loked at almost all of he others for two years and made our choice.
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CSG
ID
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Joined: 03/02/2001
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I've thought that I'd eventually replace the Traverse with a PW Sprinter at some point but now, I'm not so sure. I might go the customized Sportsmobile route instead. The fewer systems the easier on me, especially as I get older. Mostly, I want to be able to sit, sleep, eat, and stay warm or cold depending on the weather. While I carry a Honda gen that runs the a/c in the Traverse, how cool would it be to have heat and a/c the way you can get them from Sportsmobile along with a couple of solar panels to recharge the batteries?
The PW's have loads of luxury but at a price (convenience and financial).
Ask me again in another year! 
2001 GMC EC 2500HD, 4x4, 6.0 V8
2007 Nash 27-5B
2002 Pleasure-Way Traverse
1990 Lance Squire 4000
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antiquedrose
Texas
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Joined: 01/17/2008
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About a year ago, we bought our 2002 RT/200V upon seeing it for sale by a private individual. We've used it for a variety of reasons that make life easier and sometimes just because it's a great ride. I hope to always have one.
We're going to the Air Force Academy over Labor Day to see our Firstie Daughter during Parent's Weekend. We'll park and sleep in her sponsor's driveway and DD will sleep inside her home away from home. And during Saturday's game between the AF and Utah, I can go rest comfortably if I need too. How good is that?!
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PSW
Oklahoma City
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Joined: 10/21/2002
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Our first B was a 1984 Horizon, the little sister to the Falcon. We had purchased a used (very used) 24 foot Class C, taken a trip to Colorado, and broke down on top of the Mesa Verde. We spent three nights in Cortez and the only guy in town that would work on the Class C was "Ed" the owner of the local salvage yard. He got it going and we broke down again within a hundred miles. Finally, we made it back to Oklahoma City and I sold it that week and bought a new Horizon on a Dodge platform. Loved that Horizon and got a lot of great miles and trips from her.
We had it for several years, sold it and did not replace it for a couple of years, then bought a new 96 Roadtrek 190 Popular. It was the best built rv we have ever owned, before or since. It now belongs to a couple in Kansas that have really enjoyed it.
In 2003, when we sold the 190P, we bought a Gulfstream BT Cruiser, 23 footer, and thought we would really like it, and we did. It was great for boondocking for a week at a time, but not so great for touring and gawking. SO, we sold it two years ago and bought a 2007 Roadtrek 210 P which we now have.
We can garage a Roadtrek (height less than 9 feet) at home and it is ready to go on a minutes notice. My DW loves it. We spent two weeks in it boondocking and hiking in NM and CO last month and the 5 foot fridge was filled when we left home and the only thing we bought while we were gone was bread and milk. We love this RT, but in some ways not as much as that 96 Dodge! Maybe, just maybe, memory makes fondness greater. And we were twelve years younger when we bought the 96!!
B's work best for us. We have had two Cs, the first one a disaster and the second one a real pleasure. We just like the convenience of a B and I enjoy driving them a lot more. Plenty of room for two and Sally the Great, fifty pounds of mutt.
PSW
2007 Roadtrek 210 Popular
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