Are you a Galleria minded owner or buyer?

[Dogman]

So what are your thoughts about the Coachmen Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van, VS30, floor plans, innovated new ideas, canine feeding tray, and dressing room in all four new floor plans? as to your likes and dislikes.

[Davydd]

If you are traveling only with a spouse and no children I think the obvious choice is 24A with the fixed bed and ample room to turn around the driver's seat without a tall cabinet causing you to only turn around part way and have a feeling of claustrophobia. I suspect you can get way more storage under the fixed bed than the convertible sofa models.

I base my feelings having had a sofa/bed with ottomans and infills, a tri-fold sofa without infills and fixed beds with the notch to get in and successively more under bed storage. I have also successively had no driver's seat turn around, to a partial turn around facing a tall cabinet and a full turn around with a tall cabinet pulled back.

It is nicer to have all the tall cabinets and bathroom behind the driver so never in his line of sight. With the extra seats up front you can entertain guest but that would be rare. In a campsite unless it is raining you entertain outside. The extra space they take up takes away more practical space for other things.

The convertible sofa into a bed is nice when a sofa but you have to make a decision of bed or staying up. Riding on those sofa's is an adventure. We took grandkids twice on thousand mile trips and they have never asked again.

If you travel three or more or use your van other than camping such as for tailgating or every day then 24A would not be a choice.

[Dogman]

YES, and YES to only two of us and that is our model selection with full Li3. I have been enjoying most of your posts over this past year. It was sad learning of the visits to the hospital and happy all worked out well for both of you.

You covered most of the points of that floor plan Galleria. If I had known our order would have taken this long with all the interruptions I would have ordered 2021. Who was to know AMAZON would jump in ordering 20K units. The Up-Fitter Coachmen have all been wonderful to deal with and work with. Then came the BUG hurting so many people. I created a Socal Group for Coachmen Galleria owners and want to be owners in this forum.

As to your point on the driver's Captain Chair doing a full 180-turn it will as I have seen a few videos on that very point. But on the 24FL I don't see how. I also like the shower behind the driver so I can turn and look out the right sliding door window if I should have too. Now you did know the New Galleria 24A comes with a dressing room and work-study/office? lol

No, it will just be us and I do not make friends easily having lost a wife to a friend and working partner. So much for trust and Honor in the friend's department. Most men I have come across in my life have only takers. But I do have a daughter and lots of grandchildren who all happily for us live far away. So just two humans and one DOG.

Over my 73-years, I have made me a none friendly person and I have been told it does not show in my writing as a seem much younger and dumber. haha, Thanks for your post as I hope to hear something on my order soon.

[Texasnielsen]

Interesting design and based on my observations should work well as you’ve described your needs.

Looking forward to reading a full report upon possession! 😉

[Ray B]

I personally am not in love with the chassis. If you're not real handy it will be expensive to maintain and repair. Additionally, is the fuel situation. Technically, if you read the manual, it should not run on B20 or B30 in any other than emergency conditions. That's fine around town where Diesel #2 or B5 is plentiful but not on the rural interstates where B20 or B30 have replaced Diesel #2. Have talked to sales reps and tech reps at shows and they say that is no problem despite the manual's warnings. Call and talk to either Mercedes-Benz N.A. or the regional manager they may recommend to you. Different story. Void your warranty, etc. Just my two cents as this is what I am living with every day.

Ray Brown
2012 Pleasure Way Plateau TD
(2011 MB Sprinter)
Ormond-by-the-Sea, Florida

[Davydd]

I've never seen B30 at a car or truck filling station. Most, including Minnesota, label their diesel pumps B5 to maybe B20 and I doubt there has anything above B10 from information I've read. Mercedes Benz allows up to B20. They don't like it but it doesn't void any warranties. It definitely reduces miles per gallon averages.

This is one of the least of my worries and does not prevent me to have a fourth Class B built on the Mercedes Benz platform.

[Ray B]

Originally Posted by Davydd

I've never seen B30 at a car or truck filling station. Most, including Minnesota, label their diesel pumps B5 to maybe B20 and I doubt there has anything above B10 from information I've read. Mercedes Benz allows up to B20. They don't like it but it doesn't void any warranties. It definitely reduces miles per gallon averages.

This is one of the least of my worries and does not prevent me to have a fourth Class B built on the Mercedes Benz platform.

Hi David,

It's just my opinion, and that was what was asked, but this is what it is based on:

As for B30, there are fuel stations all over the U.S. with B20 or greater up to B100. I only learned this myself when I pulled into a truck stop pump in Texas and had a trucker warn me about using B30 in my Sprinter RV - there where no signs but the traditional stickers on the pump. Here is the government map of where you might find these stations.
https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/biodie...earest?fuel=BD

As for higher than B5 (from the 2019 manual): "B20 fuels with bio-diesel content. NOTE Damage due to incorrect fuel. Continuous use of fuels with bio-diesel content over 5% (B20 fuels) can lead to fuel filter clogging. Deposits may also form on the fuel injector. This may reduce the engine output. Unburned fuel can get into the oil pan. This causes the engine oil level to rise. This can cause engine mechanical damage." Can you run B20 in it? Sure. I've had a lot of problems with mine before I understood this (who reads manuals cover-to-cover?). As for the warranty, when I was considering a 2019, I called MB in New Jersey, (800) 367-6372, and was referred to a "product specialist" who said it could void your warranty with "continuous" use as it pertained to the engine. Also note, that on all new shipped Sprinters is a sticker in the fuel filler area that says, "Use only Low Sulphur Diesel #2 or B5 in this vehicle." If you go to a dealer, you will notice most if not all of those stickers have been removed.

In Minnesota, supposedly it is to be illegal to sell under B20 according to this law: https://mn.gov/commerce/industries/fuel/biodiesel/

The reason Minnesota has this B20 law is because of environmental concerns. Now, I'm no tree hugger but the chances are pretty good we will see more of similar type of laws in other states. What I don't get is why Mercedes-Benz, and they are not the only diesel RV chassis with this problem, does not make their engines compatible with B20 and higher, as this is clearly where the sentiment is going. I don't want to end up one day having a white-elephant that is even more expensive to care for because I can only get B20 or higher fuels. All considered, if I had another choice, I would not have purchased a Sprinter-based RV.

Ray Brown
2012 Pleasure-Way Plateau TD
Ormond-by-the-Sea, Florida

[GigaGeek]

Good points on the Galleria 24A. I might add that according to Coachmen’s website, you can order a full captains chair or a two-person jump seat/pull out couch in place of the desk behind the drivers seat. The later would allow two more passengers if seatbelts are provided; One additional passenger can be accommodated with the former.

The cavernous storage area under the rear bed is very appealing.

Originally Posted by Davydd

If you are traveling only with a spouse and no children I think the obvious choice is 24A with the fixed bed and ample room to turn around the driver's seat without a tall cabinet causing you to only turn around part way and have a feeling of claustrophobia. I suspect you can get way more storage under the fixed bed than the convertible sofa models.

I base my feelings having had a sofa/bed with ottomans and infills, a tri-fold sofa without infills and fixed beds with the notch to get in and successively more under bed storage. I have also successively had no driver's seat turn around, to a partial turn around facing a tall cabinet and a full turn around with a tall cabinet pulled back.

It is nicer to have all the tall cabinets and bathroom behind the driver so never in his line of sight. With the extra seats up front you can entertain guest but that would be rare. In a campsite unless it is raining you entertain outside. The extra space they take up takes away more practical space for other things.

The convertible sofa into a bed is nice when a sofa but you have to make a decision of bed or staying up. Riding on those sofa's is an adventure. We took grandkids twice on thousand mile trips and they have never asked again.

If you travel three or more or use your van other than camping such as for tailgating or every day then 24A would not be a choice.

[paddy]

When I was searching I rejected due to no propane stove.
I dry camp most of the time and electric burner cook top would not work for us.

[sparkyfourhire]

Originally Posted by paddy

When I was searching I rejected due to no propane stove.
I dry camp most of the time and electric burner cook top would not work for us.

I know this is an old post, but just wanted to say (in case someone finds this later like me), that there is a propane cock top option. Also, you could consider the lithium battery package (and now available with a second battery option) to make running the electric burner a non-issue.

[paddy]

Originally Posted by sparkyfourhire

I know this is an old post, but just wanted to say (in case someone finds this later like me), that there is a propane cock top option. Also, you could consider the lithium battery package (and now available with a second battery option) to make running the electric burner a non-issue.

The local dealers at the time only had an electric cooktop.
I still prefer propane to extend dry camping without needing to run the generator.

Dry camped in the upper peninsula of michigan for four days without needing to run the generator. We were in shade so solar would have not worked.

Seems the Galleria would be a good fit for people that always camp with electric available.

[sparkyfourhire]

Originally Posted by paddy

Seems the Galleria would be a good fit for people that always camp with electric available.

I am sorry to harp on this, but that is just not true. We rented a Galleria for two weeks last summer and maybe hooked to electric three or four times at most, simply because it was there. We spent a number of days in a row without hooking up and were never short on battery power, and that was with an electric cook top and standard battery package. It had a generator that we tested for volume, but we actually never used it. Sure,if you completely block the 300 watts of solar, don't drive anywhere, and spend all your days cooking and using all kinds of power, then yeah, you are going to strain a basic battery system. But that seems like an extreme situation that most off-the-lot RVs would struggle with, so maybe seek out the propane cook top and/or the upgraded electrical package. To just declare that a unit it must ALWAYS be connected to electric simply because you assume it can't handle your unique situation is inappropriate and saying so is a disservice to others trying to research their next rig.

[paddy]

Originally Posted by sparkyfourhire

I am sorry to harp on this, but that is just not true. We rented a Galleria for two weeks last summer and maybe hooked to electric three or four times at most, simply because it was there. We spent a number of days in a row without hooking up and were never short on battery power, and that was with an electric cook top and standard battery package. It had a generator that we tested for volume, but we actually never used it. Sure,if you completely block the 300 watts of solar, don't drive anywhere, and spend all your days cooking and using all kinds of power, then yeah, you are going to strain a basic battery system. But that seems like an extreme situation that most off-the-lot RVs would struggle with, so maybe seek out the propane cook top and/or the upgraded electrical package. To just declare that a unit it must ALWAYS be connected to electric simply because you assume it can't handle your unique situation is inappropriate and saying so is a disservice to others trying to research their next rig.

I described my situation/use and I doubt the Galleria would handle that.
I also camp for 10 days without moving in the fall.
Tell me a Galleria will handle cooking three meals a day and power the furnace blower along with lights and TV use. I rather doubt that.
I did no one a disservice by describing the difference between styles of camping and what may or may not work.
Drive every day and a Galleria may work ok.
Camp without moving for an extended time and I doubt a Galleria would handle that without running a generator.

[sparkyfourhire]

I don't understand why I am getting so much flack for simply stating that the Galleria has a propane cook top as an option.

Juts so people know.

That's it.

Period.

End of my contribution.

Sorry for trying to be helpful. I guess i earned my lesson.

[booster]

Originally Posted by paddy

I described my situation/use and I doubt the Galleria would handle that.
I also camp for 10 days without moving in the fall.
Tell me a Galleria will handle cooking three meals a day and power the furnace blower along with lights and TV use. I rather doubt that.
I did no one a disservice by describing the difference between styles of camping and what may or may not work.
Drive every day and a Galleria may work ok.
Camp without moving for an extended time and I doubt a Galleria would handle that without running a generator.

What is missing now is how long you stayed maximum without driving or plugging in, what cooking appliances did you use and how much during those times, if it was sunny during those longest times, which batteries were in the Galleria you rented, did it have a second alternator, etc. The standard battery is called out as 330ah AGM which is going to start to have problems on inverter once it gets down to maybe 60% SOC and remember AGM takes 6+ hours to go from 85% to 100% SOC at absorption voltage.


The devil is in the details on all of this stuff almost as much as how poor of information any "always" or "never" usually is. Anybody looking at vans should make a list of what kind of power they intend to use as part of the decision plan as it gets pretty expensive after the purchase if you find out you don't have enough battery or charging capacity to handle your needs.


330 watts of solar should be able to give a bit over 100ah per day in good and high sun which may cover some folks use, it would ours most of the time easily. But when you size your capacity you really should set it to be able to cover however many days and nights maximum you think you would stay maximum and not consider solar unless you going to be willing to go for a fairly long drive if it is cloudy all the time.

[booster]

Originally Posted by sparkyfourhire

I don't understand why I am getting so much flack for simply stating that the Galleria has a propane cook top as an option.

Juts so people know.

That's it.

Period.

End of my contribution.

Sorry for trying to be helpful. I guess i earned my lesson.

The quote I had on mine was wrong as it should have been from Paddy, fixed now, not you. Mine had nothing to do with propane cooktops only the one size fits all statements being made by anyone when it applies to opinions and use patterns.

[sparkyfourhire]

My wife and I have been researching the Galleria 24A, as we have no kids, no ride-along friends, and are too lazy for a sofa/bed. We rented another one recently, this one with the lithium package, and here are some anecdotal observations.

The battery will run lights, fridge, fan, and heater blower for days (really!), but the power hogs are the AC, induction cooktop, microwave, and Truma Combi heat/hot water unit if you accidentally (opps!) use it in electric mode (with propane on board, no reason to unless hooked to shore power to save gas). We found the biggest issue with the electrical system was actually the 3000W inverter, which could not power the 1600W cooktop and the 1500W microwave simultaneously, so cooking meals sometimes needed strategy. We also had a coffee maker and a toaster, and we could not run both with the cooktop when making breakfast. On top of all that, the AC is a 120V unit (as of recent model years since switching from 12v in older units), and that runs around 1500W as well, so can barely run cooktop or microwave with it.

Obviously, battery drain is based on usage, and I did not track it as well as I could have - sorry, but I was on vacation after all. The first day out, we parking to grocery shop, and left the AC blasting while inside. Maybe the battery wasn't fully charged (had just picked rental up), but it seemed to be sucking the battery down while trying to battle the Texas sun. I can't say for certain how quickly it drained, so take that for what it is worth.

We did drive a bit on the trip, so got a full charge every day. We dry camped several nights in a row, and only used 5-10% of battery overnight powering frigde/freezer, water pump, lights, and fan running all night. Mornings, we made coffee, cooked eggs on cooktop, and toast in the toaster, and brought the battery down another 10-20%. When we cooked dinner, the post-breakfast charge level the next morning would be around 40-60% depending on cooking needs. We didn't run AC much, since we generally did ok finding shade or mitigating sun-intrusion along with strategic air flow.

One takeaway (of many!!) from the trip is that we would do better with the propane cooktop to reduce our power usage, as well as to go with the double battery setup giving 1260ah for "extended" dry camping. I would also seriously consider swapping out the 3000W inverter for a 4000W to allow for stress-free electrical usage without having to think about load management during heavy-power draw moments. I wish Coachmen would just put the bigger inverter as part of the second battery upgrade. Maybe a future option?

[rtdavew]

What model year were you renting?

[sparkyfourhire]

Originally Posted by rtdavew

What model year were you renting?

We have rented a 2021 with the generator and 330ah(?) AGM battery, and the most recent was another 2021 with the 630ah lithium and no generator. Generator offers "unlimited" power, but I HATE the noise they make, especially when boon-docking in some remote and peaceful area with others around having to listen to it. Also, the generator on the one we rented had been damaged by hitting something at some point, which is easy to do being mounted underneath the rear of the coach.