Thoughts on Roadtrek vs. Pleasure Way vs. Airstream Sprinter models?

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by RoadtrekJunk

Stay away from all Roadtreks .
Over priced Junk!

Your comment is not very telling, actually it says nothing. Why did you post it and picked the Roadtrekjunk name? Seems as you must have some grudges against the Roadtrek company, a competitor perhaps. Such a cryptic post is a junk piece of info.

[bwolfsohn]

Originally Posted by RoadtrekJunk

Stay away from all Roadtreks .
Over priced Junk!

Well, You've pressed a bunch of keys, but you've added nothing constructive to the conversation..

[ClassB4Me]

Originally Posted by Down Sized

2019 sprinter chassis alone is $7500 more than the 2018. Due to many upgrades.

Priced out a next generation short wheelbase cargo RWD Sprinter with Diesel and the best I could do was $52K. The $33K starting price is deceiving because the 4 cylinder gas is not available yet and the Diesel V6 adds approx $5K+ to the price. The options packages add up fast.

I might be better served buying a low mileage Roadtrek Agile than going the customization route.

[ClassB4Me]

Originally Posted by RossWilliams

2019 Agiles are being offered off the lot in Minnesota for $99,000 at the moment. If you don't buy the fear-mongering about Roadtrek's future, that is a really good deal.

Can you provide a reference to where you saw these sort of prices?

[RossWilliams]

"where you saw these sort of prices?"

Its the dealer where we bought our used Etrek:
Lake Region RV, Ramsey MN
https://www.lakeregionrvs.com/

As for the Roadtrek warranty, not surprisingly they are continuing to honor it. There is no reason for dealers to refuse to do the work. As I understand it, the Roadtrek 6 year warranty applies to everything in the coach not still covered by another manufacturers warranty. So the older your coach, the greater the value of the warranty since a lot of components will be beyond the manufacturers warranty.

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by ponti33602

Will do.......ours is a 2017 so 2 years old now..........many of the things that I believe will be an issue now I would think might not be covered by RT anyway.......things like the microwave etc...................my only real concern would be issues with the Lithiums....unlike others, we haven't had issues but the only thing we would struggle for a solution if something goes wrong.

After the warranty provided by the appliance vendor expires, repairs or replacement of appliances is picked up with the factory umbrella warranty.

[ks@yvr]

+1 for PW. I bought a preowned Plateau TS and was looking for an Agile but now I have the Plateau, we really like the larger bathroom. The warranty worry on pre-owned is not too much of a concern in my opinion. MB warranty is transferable and coach warranty is simple. All systems should be working. Only big ticket item would be lithium batteries if coach has, that I might double check but generally they are pretty bulletproof these days.

[Ray B]

I think Brian, that the question is not which brand but New vs. Used. We bought a new 2015 PW which had two dozen issues immediately despite being in our opinion better quality than Roadtrek. We sold it and bought a 5 year old used version which had almost no problems at half the price.

[brianm142@hotmail.com]

Originally Posted by Chris Hayden

I've looked at all these models in person accept the short Airstream. I have toured several Interstates and one Tommy Bahama model. If I had to pick one of the ones you listed I would probably take the PW. For the quality versus the price of the models you listed, I think the Ascent is the best value.

Having said that I ended up buying a Travato 59K. I'm also tall at 6'2" but with experimentation I was able to find a very comfortable driving position and I actually love to drive the Promaster. My first trip I covered 860 miles in two days, no problem. It's a different seating position than I was used to in my Ford Escape but ultimately it proved to be more comfortable on long hauls.

The other reason I chose the Promaster, was because of the gas versus Diesel engine. I know most folks don't have issues with the MB but I didn't want to have to deal with that and trying to find service on the road as opposed to finding a Ram dealer.

Good luck in your quest. The hunt to discover the best B for you is very exciting. I'm sure what ever model you decide on will serve you well.

I agree with Chris that the first decision is Gas or Diesel. Fortunately before we bought our 2013 PW Ford Excel (gas), we had this brought to our attention by another RVr. Since we do not live close to a major service center or town, had we bought a diesel we would have had to travel 2 hours for service whereas with the gas engine, any good mechanic can work on it and parts (when needed) are easy to access which can be even more important when traveling. The next decision is which dealer to buy from. In my experience one of the reasons buyers experience problems (usually minor) with a new motor home (regardless of the manufacturer) is the quality of most dealers PDI. In fact the more you red any of the RV forums, the more you realize the role that poor dealer PDIs play, to the point where some MFRS offer factory pickup to purchasers. Despite our best efforts choosing a dealer I would not buy another RV from our dealer, but I would have no hesitation in recommending PW because of our experience directly with them. Whenever we had a problem in the first few months (just very minor ones), we were able to call PW directly and get an immediate response. In one case with something the dealer was supposed to have fixed when we took it back and left it for 3 days at their service department (and really just jerked us around on), PW asked me to have the third party repair shop (that we had subsequently taken our RV to). After the garage had emailed them a picture of our problem airbag, they called the garage and provided them with a PW Credit Card account # authorizing the repair and paid for it directly. On those very few occasions when we have needed to ask PW for advice or information they have always been no more than a very helpful phone call away. Their servic in addition to the quality of their products is why I have no hesitation in recommending them when asked.

[Ray B]

I was hesitant to wade into the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Diesel vs. Class B Gas issue. I'll simply say as a PW MB Sprinter owner, the narrowing availibility of Diesel #2 or B5 has been frustrating on long trips. I was sure that the 2019 would be improved to use B20 but no, I was shocked to see the new chassis at the Tampa show has the same limitations of not being able to use B20 except for "emergency". With so many stations moving away from Diesel #2 and the general unavailability of B5 due to environmental legislation, I would no longer buy a MB Sprinter Diesel until MB fixes this issue.

[Kdbjones]

Or the Lexor.

[brianh]

Thanks for the comments Ray. Re: used vs. new, I was already thinking that a lightly-used RV might be the best possible buy, as the original owner would have been likely to encounter any issues with the original build or components and have them fixed under warranty, saving me that hassle, not to mention saving some money on the initial purchase price.

As for the diesel vs. gas, it sounds like finding fuel may be more of a hassle than I thought, which is a bummer given we'll be filling the tank at least 20 times over the course of our 10,000 mile trip around the country this Summer. Unfortunately I don't have a good gas option, given how uncomfortable I found the Ram. I know the Sprinter is available in the US with a gas engine, but nobody builds on it, probably because it looks pretty weak. I really wish that somebody built on the shorter Ford Transit chassis, as that seems like it would be the best of all worlds. The Transit driver's seat/position is quite comfortable, and it's got a nice gas engine. Unfortunately the Crossfit and Paseo are the only models I could find built on it, and they're both nearly 3 feet longer than the Agile/Ascent.

[shelleybeauvais]

My husband and I also checked out the Roadtrek, Sprinter, and Pleasureway Excel class B's We ended up buying the Pleasureway, my husband is 6'2" and can stand up which he couldn't do without hitting his head on the rear of the Sprinter. The Pleasureway was also a foot wider than the Roadtrek. We are extremely happy with our purchase. Everything is well made and works perfectly. We bought it new in 2011. We are able to use regular gas or flex fuel too.

[brianm142@hotmail.com]

This is news concening not only for Roadtrek Employees, Roadtrek Owners and the Class B Industry as uncertainty concerning HymerNA,Roadtrek,Thor see the most recent news:

https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/mobile/...-say-1.4273977

[bobkfla]

Originally Posted by michaeln416

I saw that PW-XLMB at the Toronto show last weekend and knew that my wife would absolutely fall in love with it. That dry bath in the rear was gorgeous, along with everything else in there. But since the primary usage scenario is as a mobile office for me, the Plateau-FL makes way more sense for us. That said, I didn't take any chances and after I had a quick look at the XLMB I stopped my wife from climbing on board and told her that we should move along to the next exhibit.

Congratulations on your purchase. You are going to love that rig.

"told her that we should move along to the next exhibit."
Lol, Just like police say: Move along, nothing to see here.

[Belzar]

No issues finding diesel in the US, especially off highways (trucks use diesel) and in rural areas where lots of pick-ups and farm equipment use diesel. In inner city areas you might have to drive a few blocks but also available at any highway exit. Availability of diesel is really not a factor. The Sprinter is the sweetest driving/touring cab of any Class B - smooth, comfortable, powerful, big picture window, lots of MB safety and convenience features.

Biggest factor is how you intend to use the van. If like to boondock, power systems are key. If have gear-intensive hobbies, storage will be key. If have more than 2 travelers, seating options are important. etc...

Roadtrek is an extremely valuable brand and, despite the current uncertainties with the newly introduced Erwin Hymer brands, will be around for a long while, though ownership is tbd. I would use that as a negotiating tool for price and an overlapping extended warranty.

[avanti]

Although I have become generally negative on diesel ownership, sourcing fuel is not the problem. The problems are the insanely unreliable emissions systems and the inadequate MB dealer network.

[brianm142@hotmail.com]

Originally Posted by Belzar

No issues finding diesel in the US, especially off highways (trucks use diesel) and in rural areas where lots of pick-ups and farm equipment use diesel. In inner city areas you might have to drive a few blocks but also available at any highway exit. Availability of diesel is really not a factor. The Sprinter is the sweetest driving/touring cab of any Class B - smooth, comfortable, powerful, big picture window, lots of MB safety and convenience features.

Biggest factor is how you intend to use the van. If like to boondock, power systems are key. If have gear-intensive hobbies, storage will be key. If have more than 2 travelers, seating options are important. etc...

Roadtrek is an extremely valuable brand and, despite the current uncertainties with the newly introduced Erwin Hymer brands, will be around for a long while, though ownership is tbd. I would use that as a negotiating tool for price and an overlapping extended warranty.

I don't think finding diesel fuel that truckers use is the issue. It is finding diesel fuel that meets the standard for MB engines in Sprinters that may not be as freely available. As far as farm vehicles are concerned I m not familiar with U. S. regulations but in Canada farm vehicles use coloured diesel as they are not subject to road taxes etc., and would be fined if used in a road vehicle, so a no-o for sprinter vehicles. Most farmers I know have two fuel sources on their farm, coloured diesel for their farm vehicles and gasoline for their pickups and other equipment (lawn tractors etc.), In my experience the biggest purchasers of diesel powered pickups is not farmers, (except those who haul their own livestock to market in a livestock trailer although more and more this is being done by livestock specialists. Otherwise I believe long haul truckers, commercial delivery vehicles, various types of contractors, construction workers, heavy equipment haulers and equipment rentals, those owners and dealers hauling big boats & trailers, RV dealers delivering and customers who haul large travel trailers and fifth wheels make up the largest segment of diesel truck users today.

Using the situation at RT/Erwin Hymer as a negotiating tool is highly unlikely to accomplish much unless R/T/Eriwn/Hymer were to publicly acknowledge the current situation which so far has not been the case. I doubt an R/T dealer has the authority to do anything in regard to factory warranty matters, although they may have some flexibility on trade allowances, available options and/or selling price. My 2 cents.

[RossWilliams]

There are some very good deals out there on Roadtreks right now as a result of the uncertainty. You can get an SS Agile on the Sprinter chassis for under $100,000 some places. Like the rest of us, dealers have different tolerances of uncertainty. Some are trying to move the inventory they ordered at fire sale prices.

Roadtrek is unlikely to go out of business, but who will end up owning and running it is very much an open question. As is the dealer network.

As for diesel, there are a lot of sprinters in Minnesota and B20 is required in the non-winter months. Mercedes has even put out a brochure on how to handle it and explaining issues to look for. Same thing in Illinois I guess.

[avanti]

Except in Minnesota, I have never once failed to find proper B5. You just have to look beyond the big truck stops.