Back from Hershey show

[Smiley]

In reality I was a bit disappointed at the bed lengths and shower heights of some of the B class units my wife and I looked at.
We focused on the following brands:
Aktiv by Hymer (they really need to make sure their show models are up to par)

Road Trek

Pleasure Way

Winnebago (was hoping for more out of the Paseo)

And then there was LTV and I thought my wife would love the new twin Bed Wonder but she loves the Murphy Bed version.Before you say it I know were talking B+ or C here. Anyway we are now grappling with do we go B+ or try and love a true B van. Question to you B van owners where on earth do you put everything, we plan to take along a +50 lb dog, dog bed dog food and dog toys PLUS a tandem bike with helmets floor pump and bike tools along with vehicle tools. Seems like not enough space in a B version to get this done.
Any tips on packing would be much appreciated.

[Lkwilson]

We were in the same place. I thought I wanted a Travato K, but once we got in one, my 6'3" husband could hardly fit in the promaster seats. We looked at all the models you talked about and then got into a LTV Unity MB. Sold!!! We pick it up on Monday at Wagon Trail in Las Vegas. They are wonderful to work with. I still read this forum because I have learned a lot (especially electrical and battery issues) But we are in a Class C even though lots of people refer to them as a B+ The great news is that they're not that much wider and are 25 feet in length so you can get into most of the state and national parks. There is a very active LTV FaceBook group if your interested. And as you saw the MB has tons of storage. One other thing, a lot of the Class B folks (IMHO) have done a lot of tent camping over the years and so a big bathroom is considered a waste of space. We come from the other side; pretty nice hotel rooms to RVing so the MB bathroom was a huge selling point for us.

[rockymtnb]

Originally Posted by Smiley

... Anyway we are now grappling with do we go B+ or try and love a true B van. Question to you B van owners where on earth do you put everything, we plan to take along a +50 lb dog, dog bed dog food and dog toys PLUS a tandem bike with helmets floor pump and bike tools along with vehicle tools. Seems like not enough space in a B version to get this done.

Forum member CyclingCamper has purchased a Safari Condo XL Flex class B van, apparently largely because it can store 4 bikes under the adjustable height bed or an 8ft tandem bike internally through the aisle slot. That might be worth a look if you're an avid cyclist.

In addition to those advantages the XL Flex is probably the most versatile commercial Class B design I've ever seen, and it's available on either the Sprinter or Promaster chassis.

[booster]

I think if we were still doing the tandem bike routine, we would get the class b we liked the best and then get a small light trailer for the bike when we wanted to take it. One of the big issues that seem to be for a lot of bikers is the security of the bike(s) when traveling or the van is parked. Inside is nice, but if you have tandem inside, you won't be, so it would have to sit out. Depending on the value of the bike, that might be a non starter for folks. On some b's you probably could clear enough space to haul the bike inside, and have it inside with you too, if you remove the wheels, use quick release pedals, and spin the bars. I hauled our tandem in the back of an Escort wagon similarly, and didn't even have to remove the rear wheel.

There are some folding tandems out there also, which may or may not be up to the ride quality you are used to. I have a Montague folding, full size mountain bike that is set up for minor MTB trails, paths, and roads. I am a road rider in the past, so not serious MTB, but around campgrounds and out in the country, gravel and unpaved paths seem to be the rule. The Montague is just fine for me, and I was used to very high end, old school, road bikes.

[Twinbridges]

We travel with a dog that size. It is interesting, after about 25,ooo miles what you find out, at least we have.

At first we were scrimped for space with stuff everywhere. Now we have extra room. You find you "need" less and less. Simple is good. Used to have a 40 foot pusher, but that was awhile again.

And with a true B you can go downtown Charleston or anywhere and park on the street to visit that special restaurant. Friends with a B+ have to find a parking space and take a Uber or pull a toad. It is all about your preferences.

We also take the Sprinter to some boondock places where a B+ would not fit.

But of course, there are many choices and many preferences. Good luck.

[Smiley]

we never thought of putting any of our bikes inside, rather lock them on a hitch mounted rack. I found the beds too short for my 5-11 3/4 frame and the showers where my head it the ceiling. So we have not given up hope on a B and Safari Condo is next for us to check out.

Now I heard from the RT folks to expect more innovation coming soon. I hope that means so euro Hymer layouts. Anyway the decision is one year out.

I was truly hoping that the Travato K was what my wife would like but she liked the G better between both models.

[wincrasher]

You have to limit what you carry in a B and find smaller, or collapsible and multipurpose versions on many things. I carry a very abbreviated tool kit. You also don't carry all the food and supplies you probably are used to carrying - stopping every 2 or 3 days for food items is not unheard of. The tradeoff is virtually unlimited access to great places and parking options.

There is nothing wrong with using a bike rack mounted on the hitch or the rear of the van. I love the Fiamma bike rack on my Travato - I put it in the lower position to make loading and unloading the bike easier. Just get a good cable lock and you'd be fine.

[Lkwilson]

You might try renting a few first. We did that and found it quite helpful. We really liked the Coachman Galleria, based on the Sprinter and had a bed in the back that slept front to back (not crosswise) so Jon was able to sleep comfortably. Still a B but a bit more roomy than the Travato. Outdoorsy and rvShare are two sites.

[mumkin]

The choice between a B or one of LTV small C's comes down to two things. Does it need to be under the 24-25 feet of the LTVs. Consider where you want to park and for how long. If you want it to fit in a city parking space, you would need a B. (although in small towns, I never had any problem driving or finding a parking space in my Libero)

If you want high build quality and a manufacturer that backs their rigs... and is quick to get things done - not that mine had many issues... definitely go with LTV. My experience with them the 4 years I owned my Libero was outstanding. Roadtrek/Hymer may offer a 6 year warranty, but getting everything fixed and finding a dealer that will do it quickly is... well... read their Facebook pages. BUT... you usually have to order an LTV and last I heard, it is about a 10 month wait. I'm with your wife, if I needed the space, I love the MB Wonder. If you haven't already, watch the new video of the 2018 twin bed and check out the new options. I assume that they would also be available on a new MB.

I have a small dog and I find it inconvenient finding space for the dog bed and her other paraphernalia in my B. (Granted... it is a tiny 170) I couldn't imagine where I would put the stuff if she was more than twice as big. This was not an issue in my Libero. Both she and I had the space to live and relax... and sleep at night.

Now that I have stopped cheerleading for LTV, Pleasureway also makes a nice rig and their quality control is good.

[mechmike10]

We have a Sportsmobile Sprinter. It is in the extended length van, which is the key. We can have two twin beds with a narrow aisle (which is our preference) or a king size bed with no aisle. We designed the van ourselves with input from Sportsmobile in Indiana. We have a space about 16 inches behind the beds across the width of the van where we stow larger items. We have a large frig, single "burner" induction cooktop, single bowl sink, and quite a bit of cabinet space. We have a wet bath with a toilet, sink, and shower. We also have pretty long beds. If we had to do it again, we would drop the bathroom sink. As Wincrasher said, you have to cut back on what you carry, but we manage. We don't have pets, and I would not want to share the van with a large dog. But we have seen people who do. We were also at Hershey and looked at some Class Bs and Cs (out of curiosity, we won't be buying another). Most of the Class Bs don't have long enough beds, IMHO, and generally are poorly thought out (for example, what is the point of 3 or 4 captains chairs in a van meant for camping that only sleeps 2). The Class B+/Cs are larger, but be careful of the weight carrying capacity. Some are living close to the edge when it comes to the difference between their unloaded weight and their GVWR. Especially if you are considering towing a car.

[gerrym51]

Did they have any zions with the side couch?

[mechmike10]

I don't recall. We were looking mostly at the Sprinters, and most of those had the couch that runs across the back and converts to a bed.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by Smiley

... Question to you B van owners where on earth do you put everything, we plan to take along a +50 lb dog, dog bed dog food and dog toys PLUS a tandem bike with helmets floor pump and bike tools along with vehicle tools. Seems like not enough space in a B version to get this done.
Any tips on packing would be much appreciated.

I just got back from 6,000 miles and a month not only on the road, but 100% off-grid in the process, with a 50-pound dog and all dog accessories, a folding bike (for which I modified the closet), an inflatable kayak (for which I created roof and under-chassis storage), a whole collection of bushcraft items (we were living mostly in the wilderness), enough food to feed four adults for two weeks (I took ice-block-embedded home-cooked meals to throw family get-togethers), plus a forestry management kit that included PPE, Stihl chain saw and its accessories, Wavian fuel can, and extra oils. My husband joined me for two weeks of the trip, and all of our regular gear was in our rig as well (hiking etc), and our rig is a straight B van (Sprinter), no body profile mods. Everything had an assigned storage place and we had zero clutter during this trip.

My point being, if you really want to fit everything you need in a 22-foot Sprinter conversion, a way can be found. It might take you hundreds of hours of DIY to develop that way, but it can be done. I have published exhaustive logistical details on The Interstate Blog if you are interested in seeing my methods as you evaluate whether that approach would be right for you.

[gerrym51]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

I just got back from 6,000 miles and a month not only on the road, but 100% off-grid in the process, with a 50-pound dog and all dog accessories, a folding bike (for which I modified the closet), an inflatable kayak (for which I created roof and under-chassis storage), a whole collection of bushcraft items (we were living mostly in the wilderness), enough food to feed four adults for two weeks (I took ice-block-embedded home-cooked meals to throw family get-togethers), plus a forestry management kit that included PPE, Stihl chain saw and its accessories, Wavian fuel can, and extra oils. My husband joined me for two weeks of the trip, and all of our regular gear was in our rig as well (hiking etc), and our rig is a straight B van (Sprinter), no body profile mods. Everything had an assigned storage place and we had zero clutter during this trip.

My point being, if you really want to fit everything you need in a 22-foot Sprinter conversion, a way can be found. It might take you hundreds of hours of DIY to develop that way, but it can be done. I have published exhaustive logistical details on The Interstate Blog if you are interested in seeing my methods as you evaluate whether that approach would be right for you.

My wife would shoot me within 10 miles of leaving home

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by gerrym51

My wife would shoot me within 10 miles of leaving home

??

There may be humor in there, but it's lost on me. In our case, I am the wife. Those things were my ideas (my engineer husband concentrated on building a lithium system as I was handling most of the other projects and logistics). My husband didn't shoot me.

[booster]

I think one thing that always needs to be considered when you start to pack all your worldly belongings into a class b is the weight of all that stuff.

Some models have more capacity than others, with some not having a lot window for extra weight. The 210 Chevy Roadtreks and 3/4 ton single rear wheel Sprinters come to mind for models that we most often hear about being overweight.

[InterBlog]

CAT Scales - we've done it, costs about ten bucks, verified that we are not over GVWR.