This 24-foot motorhome scores high marks with its quality construction and detailing, plus creative utilization of space.
By Gary Bunzer
May 2014
Leisure Travel Vans, a brand of Triple E Recreational Vehicles, has pushed the creative envelope by producing a stylish array of Type B+/Type C motorhomes while incorporating the comforts and amenities motorhome enthusiasts have come to expect.
Recently I had the opportunity to inspect the LTV Unity U24TB. I was impressed with not only its form and function but also the innovation and creativity in many other areas of construction. Incorporating a fabricated, welded boxed aluminum framework, the Unity is wrapped around an extremely strong substructure that is also lightweight — two of the most enviable goals in any motorhome application. The vacuum-bonded, steel-framed floor is coupled with contoured, fiberglass and gel-coated side walls that are topped by a domed, fiberglass-reinforced Flex Roof section. This guarantees a solid bonded unit from bottom to top.
Special Features
Low-voltage lighting is utilized in a few unusual ways on this motorhome, all to the benefit of the owner. LED light strips highlight each side of the gentle step up into the bedroom section of the motorhome. This element creates a nice ambience during evening darkness as well as forewarning the occupants about the step itself.
In addition, a spot LED illuminates the area just outside the driver and copilot doors as each door is opened. It’s never fun to park and hop out into a mud puddle, so the simple application of these tiny, unobtrusive lamps under the overhang on each side of the cab section is a nice feature.
And speaking of ambience, the strip lighting installed into the awning bar adds a nice glow to any evening spent under the extended awning. Sure to draw attention from those in neighboring campsites, this feature comes standard across the Leisure Travel Vans lineup.
Another small feature I noticed on the exterior was a nifty melding of the stock chassis cab to the fiberglass coach body. The indentations in each align with one another. These subtle type of features often go unnoticed yet indicate a delicate consideration by the architects during the design stage. Serious Type B+/Type C motorhome connoisseurs will surely appreciate these touches.
Other hidden attributes worth mentioning, in addition to the aluminum framework, are the high ratings of the ensconced insulation. Canadians know about cold weather, so the inclusion of R-5-rated insulation in the floor and sidewalls, plus an R-9-rated roof means the coach stays cooler in the summer and warmer during the cold winter months. When comparing two seemingly similar motorhomes, the one with the higher insulation rating stands a better chance during harsh weather. The floor thickness measures 1 1/2 inches, while the roof is 5 inches thick.
Inside, the most striking features to me are the stylish curved solid-wood doors on each cabinet; even the lavatory pocket door incorporates a gentle curve. Each door has a specific part number etched into it so there’s no mistaking the size, color, and fit of any replacement door that may be required in the future. In addition, each cabinet door features robust hinges, a positive locking mechanism, and individual support struts for stability — attributes not always found in smaller motorhomes.
Another value-added feature is the use of HepvO waterless sanitary valves in the galley and lavatory waste drains, instead of common P-traps. The inclusion of the HepvO valve negates the code-required addition of an antisiphon trap vent device as well as additional plumbing components that can rob the owner of precious storage space. Not only does the HepvO valve help eradicate sewer odors inside the RV, but it also eliminates all the maintenance requirements of P-traps. I’ve discussed the attributes of the HepvO valve in detail in a short video (http://goo.gl/sC40iF). Kudos to Leisure Travel Vans designers for including them as stock equipment in the Unity.
Corian-brand countertops add a rich texture to any galley, and the Unity features them as standard equipment. The sink cover, with Corian on one side and a food-grade cutting board on the reverse, makes purposeful the benefits of each. Looks and utility; nice!
Drawers and cabinet space abound in and around the galley, including a sliding pantry that provides adequate storage for foodstuffs. Even the trash can (or ice bucket, if you’re so inclined) is neatly recessed into the corner of the galley countertop, thereby saving valuable storage space for cargo below the single, yet very deep, galley sink. A glass-covered, Euro-influenced, two-burner cooktop also graces the galley countertop, as does a flip-up workspace extension.
The fresh-water system features a water purifier as standard equipment. Hot water is produced by a conventional two-way RV water heater (propane and electric). Or as an option, the RVer can choose a tankless, propane-only instantaneous water heater in order to lessen the overall weight of the motorhome. Our subject motorhome was equipped with the conventional RV water heater.
The main 29-inch LED television slides out from the cabinet just above the slider pantry. It’s positioned to provide perfect viewing from the convertible dinette or from the pilot and copilot seats, which fully swivel to face rearward into the living section of the coach. A second, 24-inch television is installed on an adjustable mount in the bedroom; this enables the user to position it to achieve the perfect viewing angle from either twin bed. In addition, the Unity comes pre-wired from the factory for a future satellite antenna installation. Cable TV hookups are located on the exterior of the RV.
Moving down the hall toward the rear bedroom, we next come to the bathroom, whose facilities are simple yet functional. The toilet and lavatory sink are positioned on the driver’s side of the coach, while the shower is located on the curb side. Rather than an inexpensive plastic toilet common to some Type B motorhomes, LTV designers have chosen to install a Thetford Tecma china macerator toilet, which features a water-saver capability amid its many attributes.
Entering the bedroom space in the rear, the first things you notice are, obviously, the twin beds. Yet don’t be fooled thinking this is the only possible sleeping configuration. A hinged, folding platform can be expanded from atop the nightstand that is mounted between the beds; using additional cushions, the area can be made into an oversized king bed. One downside, however, might be finding sheets to fit a wider-than-normal king bed.
One of Leisure Travel Vans’ hallmarks is ingeniously making the most of all usable space. Beaucoup overhead storage cabinets are provided in the bedroom — across the rear and above the beds on both sides of the coach, along with two wardrobe closets and floor-level cabinets. Literally every single square inch of available space is utilized. There is even a hidden storage space mounted in the step into the bedroom area.
Electrical controls for starting and stopping the generator, activating the inverter, and extending and retracting the optional stabilizer jacks are mounted inconspicuously in a cabinet above the entry door along with the SeeLevel II monitor panel. For those of you frustrated by inaccurate monitor panel readings, fear no more. The SeeLevel II monitoring probes do not protrude through the walls of the holding tanks; rather, they are attached to the outsides of the tanks, resulting in accurate, maintenance-free monitoring of all tank levels. Rather than measuring in thirds, the SeeLevel gauges provide a digital readout of the actual percentage of full tank level. Additional space inside the control cabinet can be used to stow smartphone chargers, television remotes, or any other small gadget.
Like the control cabinet, the auxiliary house batteries (two commercial-grade 6-volt batteries) are discreetly located within the entry step, while the distribution panelboard (AC breakers and DC fuses) is mounted under one of the dinette seats. A 16,000-Btu forced-air Suburban NT-16SQ furnace resides below the dinette seat on the opposite side. Comfortable enough for two people, the convertible dinette easily transforms into yet another sleeping location with the addition of an extra cushion stowed overhead.
All interior seating areas, by the way, are stuffed full with one-inch memory foam and feature French stitching on all upholstered components. This is quite a nice feature for a Type B+ motorhome.
Additional electrical switches for extending and retracting the standard-equipped electric patio awning, its aforementioned LED lighting strip, the ceiling and porch lamps, the entry step, and the auxiliary battery disconnect are conveniently located just inside the entry door at floor level, within easy reach just before entering the RV. All lighting inside the coach is provided by LEDs, and the ceiling lamps include a nice dimmer function.
Other interior features include a Dometic three-way absorption refrigerator, a convection-microwave oven, MCD day-night shades, skylights in the living section and in the shower, easy-care vinyl flooring, a 15,000-Btu ducted air conditioner with a heat pump, a thermostatically controlled exhaust fan, a 55-amp converter/charger, and a 600-watt inverter (including bedroom receptacles connected to the inverter for medical equipment while dry camping). The Unity’s solid-wood cabinetry is available in two versions: Cherry or Sierra Maple. My review unit featured the latter.
Exterior Features
On the exterior of the LTV Unity U24TB, the rearmost compartment contains pass-through storage from side to side. The total capacity of exterior storage space is 62 cubic feet. As an option, the RVer can choose between a 3.6-kw propane-fired Onan generator and a 3.2-kw Onan diesel-burning generator.
The propane container is mounted under the coach, between the frame rails, isolated in the middle of the RV as an added safety measure. A remote propane fill and a 20 percent fixed-level gauge are mounted in the rearmost wet bay on the driver’s side, along with the solid-waste holding tank backflush fitting and both termination valve handles.
Just forward of the propane and waste plumbing compartment is a wet bay that contains an exterior shower and hose assembly, the city water entry, the fresh-water-tank fill valve, the water heater bypass valves, and a cable TV connection.
Other exterior features include a detachable 30-amp shore power cord, an electric entry step, and aluminum baggage doors equipped with full-width hinges and secure locking mechanisms. Fiberglass running boards adorn each side of the cab, and each floor plan in the Unity line comes outfitted with an electrically controlled patio awning. A frame-mounted hitch rated at 5,000 pounds comes standard, as do the dual rear wheels/tires, including their attractive wheel simulators. Full-body paint and graphics top off the finer points of the exterior.
Exterior options the RVer might choose are a rear-mounted roof ladder, side turn cameras, a solar panel, and the aforementioned electric stabilizer jacks.
Mated to a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 chassis, pulled along by a 188-horsepower, 3-liter V-6 BlueTEC turbo-diesel engine and producing 325 pound-feet torque — probably the most popular Type B chassis — the compact 24-foot-7-inch-long Unity makes for an easy handling, easy maneuvering motorhome that truly has few limitations.
Other standard equipment in the cockpit includes dash heat and air-conditioning, cruise control, power windows and door locks, Ultraleather full-swivel chairs, a telescoping and tilting steering wheel, heated mirrors, an in-dash AM/FM/CD/DVD player with navigation and Bluetooth capability, and a center-mounted rear camera.
The fit and finish throughout, inside and out, was exceptional on my review coach, further proof that Leisure Travel Vans officials truly care about their customer base. That probably explains why so many customers buy multiple vehicles from the company over the course of their motorhoming years. For RVers wanting to simplify or downsize from a larger motorhome, I’d have to advise them to take a serious look at the Unity line from Leisure Travel Vans. Remember, RVing is more than a hobby; it’s a lifestyle!
At A Glance
Manufacturer
Triple E Recreational Vehicles, 301 Roblin Blvd., Winkler, MB R6W 4C4; (877) 992-9906 or (204) 325-4361; www.leisurevans.com
Model
LTV Unity
Floor Plan
U24TB
Available Floor Plans
4
Chassis/Engine
Sprinter Mercedes-Benz 3-liter, V-6 BlueTEC turbo-diesel, 188 horsepower, 325-foot pounds torque
Exterior Length
24 feet 7 inches
Exterior Width
7 feet 10 inches
Exterior Height
10 feet 6 inches with A/C
Interior Height
6 feet 5 inches
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
11,030 pounds
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR)
15,250 pounds
Fresh Water Capacity
36 gallons
Holding Tank Capacities
gray water — 37 gallons;
black water — 29 gallons
FUEL CAPACITY
26.4 gallons
Propane Capacity
13.2 gallons
Heating System
16,000-Btu ducted furnace
Air-Conditioning System
15,000-Btu low-profile air conditioner with heat pump
Warranty
coach — 24 months/24,000 miles;
structure — 36 months
Manufacturer’s Base Suggested Retail Price
$117,000 (USD)