choosing a B class RV

is there a list of best to worst?

is a 2018 okanagan tribute any good

gone off choosing a jayco as it is made by thor.

was offered a 2025 Winnebago Solis Pocket 36A that was on the lot for ages

thanks all

looks like this forum is not very active

I don't think it is possible to have a list based on the premise of best to worst as it covers too many things that are personal choices of how a van is designed and equipped. I am not surprised by a lack of lists.

Ratings of quality type issues is doable, IMO, but be aware person bias because owners always seem to rate there own van higher.

If you are looking for a list of opinions for a B for yourself, you could post a list of how you would travel, stay time vs driving, reacquired, features that would be nice, things that would be deal makers, etc.

You will likely to get lots of responses to that method as it a pretty common request on this forum.

thanks
we just need something reliable that wont die in the next 10 years!
they all make models to suit our simple needs.
finding which brands sell steps for the front cab is harder!
up to 7 years old.
a bathroom with a fixed sink is preferable to the newer foldup sink. twin beds for a 6 footer and 6 foot headroom. that is it!

anon125 said:

thanks
we just need something reliable that wont die in the next 10 years!
they all make models to suit our simple needs.
finding which brands sell steps for the front cab is harder!
up to 7 years old.
a bathroom with a fixed sink is preferable to the newer foldup sink. twin beds for a 6 footer and 6 foot headroom. that is it!

Click to expand...

A fold up sink? Never heard of such a thing.

anon125 said:

thanks
we just need something reliable that wont die in the next 10 years!
they all make models to suit our simple needs.
finding which brands sell steps for the front cab is harder!
up to 7 years old.
a bathroom with a fixed sink is preferable to the newer foldup sink. twin beds for a 6 footer and 6 foot headroom. that is it!

Click to expand...

That helps a lot.

When you say front cab step do you mean passenger van door or the common coach entry door, now usually sliding, to the rear slightly?

Would you commonly be staying in campgrounds with shore power. If so the opens up more options and lower purchase pricing.

How about microwave, cooktop, air conditioning?

Desertrix said:

A fold up sink? Never heard of such a thing.

Click to expand...

Most of the rear bath floorplans have a fold up sink (Travato 59K for example)

day trips for a few hours, occasionally staying overnight.
prefer propane stove to electric.
they all come with air con
steps at the cab doors. they all have something at the sliding doors
coachman seems to come with them as do zions
for use in BC Canada
travato is too expensive, but would like one as we think winnebago is better made.
thanks

anon125 said:

day trips for a few hours, occasionally staying overnight.
prefer propane stove to electric.
they all come with air con
steps at the cab doors. they all have something at the sliding doors
coachman seems to come with them as do zions
for use in BC Canada
travato is too expensive, but would like one as we think winnebago is better made.
thanks

Click to expand...

Thanks but beware that not all come with steps at sliding door and some don't have AC.

I think that is enough info for those that follow all the models around will be able make good suggestions, I hope thy jump in now.

I would say don't get too hung up on the cab step as they can be added in the aftermarket.

just saw a roadtrek with a pop top. i am guessing the sides and front are canvas, is the top metal? fibreglass?
Does this type of top on any b class leak?
thanks everyone

Deleted

how is a solar panel held to the b class roof? several bolts thru the metal roof?

Check out the fb group "Hymer owners and wannabes". The Hymer Aktiv had considerable build challenges, but now most or all have been worked out. And some were well built from the beginning. There have been several Aktivs for sale there, and it is in my mind one of the best, and reasonably priced. There are several models to consider.

Another problem with your request is that some of us have very little experience with any but their own rigs. I could go on about our Coachmen Nova but I don't really know enough about any others to offer a real comparison. As stated above you'll be best served by thinking about your wish list and doing a lot of research online and at dealerships.

anon125 said:

just saw a roadtrek with a pop top. i am guessing the sides and front are canvas, is the top metal? fibreglass?
Does this type of top on any b class leak?
thanks everyone

Click to expand...

Top is fiberglass sides are canvas. Designed not to leak but half your roof has been cut away so, yeah eventually.

anon125 said:

how is a solar panel held to the b class roof? several bolts thru the metal roof?

Click to expand...

Depends on manufacturer. Some are attached to roof rack some glued to roof. I’ve never seen one bolted through roof.

anon125 said:

is there a list of best to worst?

is a 2018 okanagan tribute any good

gone off choosing a jayco as it is made by thor.

was offered a 2025 Winnebago Solis Pocket 36A that was on the lot for ages

thanks all

Click to expand...

FWIW: Here is a copy of my results posted last year from two years of research on newer readily available class b’s. As you. Probably can tell we chose a Coachmen.

Two years in the Making!

We viewed, drove, studied, questioned, rented Class B vans for two years before deciding to buy a Cochmen Nova. My short comparison, with focus on Gas powered / Lithium-based coaches, is as follows (overall build best- worst):

Gretch are excellent in all areas, but you have to spend $$$ and they are diesel.

Midwest Automotive Designs / American Coach are also very close to the Gretch quality for less $. Most are also Mercedes, but some are Fords (a tiny bit of Rams). However their dealer network is slim and our attempt at correspondence with the company was not answered.

Pleasure way. Great overall quality. Lithium currently lags other's capacity - Dealer network is slim in US.

--- Coachmen (see below)

Winnebago Travato is of similar design to Coachmen, and has the best Lithium battery system, but are overpriced -- pay for brand not quality.

Roadtreks have a great history, and the best floorpans, and an amazing amount of storage but their Lithium battery system is outdated and cumbersome.

Every sample we looked at from Thor industries (Ethos, Thor, Jayco) had quality problems; sometime parts literally falling off when viewing them in the showroom. (We did not look at Airstream as they were all diesel.)

Now as to Coachmen. No one, really, no one has better quality cabinetry, there is no real comparison short of custom made. As to over all build quality, Gretch,MAD/AC had them beat but IMHO not worth the extra $. For lithium; Coachmen has the 2nd or 1st best designed systems. If pleasure way had the Lithium design of Coachmen or Travato I might have gone that way. One great feature of Coachment Lithium Models is that batteries, fresh and black are all inside. Leaving only gray (with heating pads) out in the elements. While is is near impossible for a van to be "well" insulated. I don’t believe anyone has better insulation (sound and temp) than Coachmen (although MAD/AC would not respond to us about it.)

The real differentiator is the Dealer support is amazing. Nick Recchio (the head of CM class B's) Answers questions on YouTube, comes to Rallies, gives out his email address, and his staff is just as available. As an example; I saw Nick climb a ladder and zip tie a customer's awning, because there was a recall for a deployment defect. - Not a Coachmen recall, an awning company recall. That is service! As the previous post mentions there are some wonderful Facebook Nova groups (if your into that) who will attest to my ravings about customer service and also provide valuable assistance to issues you may have.

I hope this helps, but my best advice is to check them out yourself, even if it means travel, and spend a good deal of time looking underneath and behind the all the "shiny" bits.