Carado Banff

[rockymtnb]

Hymer has published specs for the Banff model in their Carado series, a two-person design based on the 20ft Promaster 2500 chassis:

Carado-Banff_Spec-Sheet_May-2017_V1.pdf

A few highlighted specs:
Rear bath / convertible dinette design
76" long dinette seating converts to 74x76 double or 27x76 single beds
Galley aft of drivers seat
Macerating toilet with 23.1 gal black/gray holding tank
17.6 gal fresh water tank, fold-down sink
2000 watt inverter, microwave, and single AGM battery standard
Optional 200 lithium battery and underhood generator
200 watt solar optional
TV optional
Manual awning
OCCC - 1198lbs

[Saldar]

Odd that the twin beds are narrower (27" v 30") than in the travato 59K. In the K, the bed platforms overhang the compartments underneath. The travato isle seems wide enough, and there is lots of room to hang shoes.

[wincrasher]

wow. I find the Travato beds to be marginal on width. Can't imagine going any narrower.

[Davydd]

A canvas army cot is typically 26".

[Keyne]

Maybe shorter so they are more comfortable as seats?

[BBQ]

.

You think those beds are narrow?
Try the Coachmen Crossfit

[mumkin]

And, of course, this is the Sunlight van 100 sold only by Camping World in the US.

[wincrasher]

If you are interested in something "K like", then check out this unit. A bit longer than a K, but the same floor plan basically. Much higher quality (well from the pics anyways) than the Sunlight.

2017 | Adventurer Okanagan Tribute - Class B Motorhomes

[mrshowtime3]

May as well get a 59K with those prices. Probably be cheaper.

[jharu]

Originally Posted by rockymtnb

Hymer has published specs for the Banff model in their Carado series, a two-person design based on the 20ft Promaster 2500 chassis:

Attachment 4423

A few highlighted specs:
Rear bath / convertible dinette design
76" long dinette seating converts to 74x76 double or 27x76 single beds
Galley aft of drivers seat
Macerating toilet with 23.1 gal black/gray holding tank
17.6 gal fresh water tank, fold-down sink
2000 watt inverter, microwave, and single AGM battery standard
Optional 200 lithium battery and underhood generator
200 watt solar optional
TV optional
Manual awning
OCCC - 1198lbs

Thanks for posting these specs.
I saw the Axion, and it is indeed too small.

On paper, from the floorplan and the specs, Banff looks perfect to me.
But given the terrible quality of the Sunlight - I have lost a little faith in Hymer. Maybe they have learned from their lessons. Maybe not.
Has anybody checked it out?
Particularly the bath, toilet, and insulation?

But the Winnebago Travato is a *big* question mark for me.
It has a very glossy finish, and the kitchen is obviously marketed towards women. But when it comes to "engineering" and manufacturing quality - I am scared. The 1-year warranty was a start. Saw a few Travato 59Ks at See Grins in Gilroy, CA. Screendoor and the bathroom door were off the track, the rubber insulation around the windows was beginning to peel...
And the big turn-off for me was the separate generator. Heavy, loud and requiring separate maintenance, it is a non-starter.

So, if the budget was not an option, what would be a better option?
- Roadtrek Zion
- Carado Banff

Since I am no expert, I will await some advice from those who have owned a class B

[mumkin]

Originally Posted by jharu

So, if the budget was not an option, what would be a better option?
- Roadtrek Zion
- Carado Banff

Since I am no expert, I will await some advice from those who have owned a class B

That is an easy one... with money no object, I'd take the Zion with the twin beds in the rear (not the electric sofa). Better quality cabinetry (and even a color choice) and build... more options as to solar.

BTW... the Zion is longer than the Banff. My short list for the next rig - because length matters - is between the Zion SRT and the Hymer Activ.

Again... if money is no object, have you looked at the Activ 2.0? It adds the length to the bed, so that you can sleep front to back, and still have the bed that folds up in a way leaving you aisle space when you need it... if you don't mind unmaking the bed.

[Phoebe3]

Originally Posted by jharu

But the Winnebago Travato is a *big* question mark for me.
It has a very glossy finish, and the kitchen is obviously marketed towards women. But when it comes to "engineering" and manufacturing quality - I am scared. The 1-year warranty was a start. Saw a few Travato 59Ks at See Grins in Gilroy, CA. Screendoor and the bathroom door were off the track, the rubber insulation around the windows was beginning to peel...
And the big turn-off for me was the separate generator. Heavy, loud and requiring separate maintenance, it is a non-starter.

So, if the budget was not an option, what would be a better option?
- Roadtrek Zion
- Carado Banff

We thought the same thing about WGO quality which is part of the reason we went with Coachmen (despite the very narrow beds). However, I understand Winnebago provides excellent documentation and, trust me, you will be glad to have it. No rig is trouble-free and knowing where things are and how to take care of them is pretty important. Coachmen is pretty new to Class B and their lack of documentation is aggravating.

I would have preferred the underhood generator, but we hardly ever use our Onan so it probably doesn't matter much.

We considered the Zion, but DH hated the driving discomfort of the Promaster so I can't advise you there. I like the twin bed floorplan - have heard the couch-to-bed is uncomfortable for sleeping.

[jharu]

Originally Posted by mumkin

That is an easy one... with money no object, I'd take the Zion with the twin beds in the rear (not the electric sofa). Better quality cabinetry (and even a color choice) and build... more options as to solar.

BTW... the Zion is longer than the Banff. My short list for the next rig - because length matters - is between the Zion SRT and the Hymer Activ.

Again... if money is no object, have you looked at the Activ 2.0? It adds the length to the bed, so that you can sleep front to back, and still have the bed that folds up in a way leaving you aisle space when you need it... if you don't mind unmaking the bed.

Thank you so much, @mumkin!
The Zion with the twin beds is the same floor plan as my current Casita, and of course it allows you to walk through the van. So, that is important. The rear power sofa is a bad design, albeit many Class Bs have that.

And, yes, as you have mentioned, the Zion is a lot longer, and will not fit on the driveway.
And storing it somewhere is another painful and expensive exercise.

[booster]

We had a power sofa when we first got our Chevy 190 Roadtrek, but disliked the poor storage under it because of all the mechanism and poor design. We removed it and put in a permanent bed with a cutout in the center of the foot that extends into the foot of the bed about 30" and is the width of the aisle. Pretty much the same as the way many of us used the bed with the power sofa, leaving out the aisle cover board and cushions. Nice for getting in and out of the bed as your feet have twin beds and the head is queen width.

We didn't consider for even an instant to leave the aisle open to the rear doors, as it would take away a bunch of storage and and we would never be entering in the rear of the van anyway.

What is the big benefit of being able to walk "though" the van that we hear all the time.

[jharu]

Hi @booster -

Well, I guess I should have stated it as "If you cannot use the rear doors to load long items".
I have a Casita right now with 2 twin beds that can convert to a king bed, but since it is a travel trailer, there is no opening in the rear, and it is quite hard to get long items in and out through the side door.
I must say, I actually like the rear bath design. My Casita has a front bath (as you enter through the side door, turn right immediately) and has a window through which you can pull in a hose - in case you have to clean the bathroom or hydroflush the toilet.
A Class B cannot have a front bath like my Casita - I understand - so a rear bath that can be accessed from the rear would be great.
You would not need an outside shower, you could hose things down more easily, load long items through the rear doors (instead of the side door), etc.

[jharu]

When I looked at the Travato 59K, I thought it was a great floorplan. But have you seen the number of nozzles and shower heads they have in the rear bath?
Borderline funny in its over-design.
One hose is plenty - as long as it has an adjustable shower head.

So the question is, who - other than Travato 59K and Carado Banff - makes a rear bath design?

[jon]

I didn't know the Carado Banff had a rear bath door but apparently it has multiple doors for the rear bath area.

[jharu]

Originally Posted by jon

I didn't know the Carado Banff had a rear bath door but apparently it has multiple doors for the rear bath area.

That's a very odd design!

[jon]

Originally Posted by jharu

That's a very odd design!

It's better than a shower curtain.

[mumkin]

I would have to disagree with that one. A shower curtain is much more sensible than that unwieldy collection of folding doors. I would not want them getting wet... on what would be the inside of the cabinetry.