Several of the Advanced RV's have propane systems and generators. Even with the propane systems several manufacturers have ditched the Suburban propane hot water heater and that noisy Suburban propane forced air heater in favor of diesel systems. Even if you have the propane, I see that as an improvement. As far as the 3-way absorption fridge goes, that too is losing favor to the 2-way compressor type even with propane installed. I won't miss the 3-way. I gave up on its DC in my current B and I had a failed 3-way on my first B. With 7 cf refrigerator/freezers I have to wonder how efficient a 3-way could be. The older 3.8-4 cf boxes were pretty pizz poor, IMO. I will be getting a two door refrigerator and freezer much bigger than I have now. Our current freezer inside the fridge box is big enough to make some ice cubes and carry a couple of ice cream sandwich bars.
If you add multiple batteries, high capacity inverter and solar it starts to make less sense to use propane for those things. I like the idea all electrical outlets will work all the time.
We are going to get a portable induction electric cooktop and drop the idea of the two propane burner. We carry a Coleman two burner to use outside along with an electric crockpot we currently sometimes use while driving during the day through the 750 watt inverter installed for the TV.
If you can find a diesel generator that will fit under a Sprinter then go for it. Good luck finding one. I just look at my history of generator use and realize it is an expensive headache. Now 14 hours in 360+ camping nights and 63,000 miles driving. That includes boondocking easily 5 straight days in Glacier National Park for you weekend warriors and a 10,500 mile trip to Alaska and back for rugged types. I think I said this before. I have brains. You'll never find me camping in Arizona, Texas and Florida in the summer. For my experience I have no fear of the high idle, second alternator diesel generator idea even coupled with engine auto start for as much usage as I might anticipate.
With a compressor fridge you also eliminate those two ugly "Hey I am an RV!" vents on the side. With a diesel glycol heat exchanger you eliminate that 12" square box with vents off the side of your B. You eliminate the exhaust vent off the side. Advanced RV is basically eliminating all exterior visages of RVness. They managed to hide the water fill inside the lift up utility door. About the only indicator exposed on the sides is the electrical hookup and they are putting that too under the back bumper for one customer.
Almost all the manufacturers have sleeked up Sprinters with the continuous side windows to give them the look of a passenger van.
I built my house with electric radiant floor heat throughout. I love it. Why Advanced RV decided to do it I don't know. But if they are doing it as almost a throw in idea then I am all for it. The floor is insulated to a degree with the
Hushmat system which is also on the walls and ceiling throughout along with the
denim insulation in absolutely every nook and cranny. I don't know of any other converter doing that to that extent. Insulating under the van floor is not easy and I know for experience the spray systems don't do much good. Advanced RV is utilizing the waste heat from the diesel powered glycol heat exchanger. Having experience several times camping down to 20F with my past two Bs I consider this all just gravy.
Interiors are your choice with Advanced RV down to every item as I mentioned. The others, it's their choice for you to choose from, maybe three usually.
Exterior TV? I'm not going to poo poo it now that I have seen two examples recently but I don't want speakers on the outside of my van or want to sit outside and watch through a screen door keeping the mosquitoes out of the van and on the TV viewer. Not an important criteria. About the only time we ever watch TV is when we are forced inside the B because of weather or bugs.
I have a microwave/convection oven now. I might have agreed with the microwave bit because you really had to be connected to shore power or generator to use it. Consequently, we seldom used it. Then after two years we discovered the wonders of the convection oven part and we use that a lot to expand our menu choices. With our system we will be able to run it, at least the microwave part, at any time. I'm not sure baking for 45 minutes will cut it. Coffee is a no-brainer. We are going to have a coffee maker come hell or high water says my caffeinated wife. Our biggest bugaboo is we could not use it unless connected to shore power or ran the generator and we wanted coffee first thing in the morning during quiet hours. The electrical system we will install will do that.
You have your choice of wheels, aluminum alloy, hubcaps, full covers or even custom painted steel wheels. I'm still thinking about this.
I know Winnebago gives you a choice of exterior colors of white, silver or black. Most converters offer only that. Advanced RV says go ahead and choose from M-B's 24 exterior colors. I resisted Calcite Yellow and Flame Red but I understand one Advanced RV customer is getting Flame Red.
As far as quality goes, I've had two Bs, a Pleasure-way and a Great West Van. Both were about as good as you could get from the major converters at the time I bought them, a cut above Roadtrek and vastly better than Winnebago. The Advanced RV is above all of them without any doubt in my mind in every respect or measurement.
Complexity? If you want solar, big inverters, multiple batteries, etc. you are going to get complexity I guess. I don't want to add propane and propane generators to that mix. There is no way around complexity. Read Booster's threads on his efforts. It is not simple. What I do know is Advanced RV is not looking to cut its cost but to get it right. I don't know about Roadtrek. They could never get their facts straight on their E-Trek and continue to pass it off as trade secret mumbo jumbo. Winnebago couldn't even get the simple systems right by not putting in intelligent 4 stage charging in their ERAs. With those kind of mistakes you have to wonder what else was cut to the bone.
Price? No doubt I might break the B record the way I am going. I have no illusions about that. I think I am pushing the envelope enough with my requests that followers might benefit. Also, the bottom line is no other converter can or is prepared or willing to provide what I want, not even Sportsmobile.
The Fit RV has a new video on YouTube
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