Open Mike: Advice From Type B Motorhome Owners

 

There’s no doubt that the small-motorhome lifestyle is catching on. Here are some questions to ask when considering it.

 

By Mike Wendland, F426141
April 2016

 

As Jennifer and I travel North America, we meet many people who ask us about our life in a Type B motorhome. Ours happens to be a Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL, but no matter the manufacturer or chassis, those thinking about downsizing from a larger motorhome or buying their first have some homework to do in finding the perfect fit for them.

 

Buying an RV is perhaps the second biggest purchase most of us will make, next to our house. In some cases, the RV becomes their house, as more and more people embrace the full-timing style of a life on wheels.

 

And these days, Type B RVs seem to be growing in popularity. Many who bought larger Type A or C motorhomes now are downsizing, or “rightsizing,” as some call it, and turning to the more maneuverable camper-van-style motorhome.

 

For one thing, thousands of new retirees enter the marketplace every day. And today’s retirees generally are healthier and more active than those who came before. 

 

So, in considering a Type B RV, what questions should be asked? To find out, we crowdsourced the topic, asking current Type B owners, members of our very active Roadtreking Facebook group. They are the true experts, whose collective wisdom is more reliable and real world than any of the pie-in-the-sky promises you may receive from an RV salesperson.

 

I’ve slightly edited some of the more than 50 comments we received, to weed out duplicate content or to add clarity. I’ve also removed specific references to a particular make or model, so the information is as unbiased as possible.

 

Karsten: One of my biggest disappointments was RV dealer service after the sale. Buyers need to do their research on the dealer and ask for references and/or recommendations.

 

Linda: Mercedes or Chevy model? Advantages and disadvantages.

 

Karin: I see a big distinction also in the personalities of RVers. I find it important to just go into many different units, look around and imagine yourself spending your time in there and with whom, too. Only after this the more technical questions can be answered, because the selection has been narrowed down then.

 

Nancy: Dealer service quality and proximity are so important. One other question to ask yourself before purchase if you are not full-timing is where are you going to park it? How big can it be to fit there? What about weathering in the snow and sunlight? Do you have homeowner association restrictions?

 

Darlene: First thing I look for is size of bed and then storage. These are especially important if you plan to spend several weeks or months living in a B. Do you plan to eat your meals in the B, eat out, or a combination of the two? We do the combination, so the size of the fridge is not as important to us.

 

Lisa: Gas versus diesel. When we were looking, my husband was glad to see diesel, ceilings tall enough for him, the twin-bed layout with the electric sofa in the back, and the bathroom. Those were his hot buttons. We walked through several. You have to decide on your list of wants and must-haves and be ready to compromise on some of it. Partly because down the road you’ll figure out some mods to fix it up, and you’ll be glad you made your decision.

 

Deborah: We were coming out of an Airstream trailer and rightsizing into a B. The primary issues for us were purchasing something so I could share the driving, as I pretty much refused to drive when towing the trailer; a comfortable and spacious bed; and a usable galley with decent refrigerator space. My husband wanted the Mercedes diesel for mileage and safety features, so those were the only models we considered. We are also not yet retired, but within a few years we plan to spend quite a bit of time roaming, and we wanted a nimble footprint for that.

 

Stephanie: Match the floor plan and size of RV to your needs and, of course, consider the reputation of the manufacturer.

 

Eric: Fuel economy, layout, ease of use, riding positions (strap into all seats and ride), fit/finish, drive and park and back.

 

John: Talk to present Type B owners and ask what they like about their vehicle. Then the most important question is, what DON’T they like about it? If you don’t know a Type B owner, go to the nearest RV park or campground and look around. Most would be very happy to talk about their RV experiences. Determine how the motorhome is going to be used to decide which model to consider. 

 

William: How are you going to use the RV? Stay in one place for periods of time, or on the road and it’s a place to sleep and eat? Do you really need a lot of storage?

 

Laura: How easy to operate? (For example, the awning, bed, swivel chairs, oven, dumping, hooking and unhooking at sites.) How easy to drive and handle? (Consider the length for parking; towing capability; maneuverability; driving in mountains, rain, snow.) How complicated and costly is maintenance? Diesel versus gas. Headroom? Storage? Is it comfortable for sleeping, driving, bathing, sitting, eating? Is it roomy for two (width and length)? Kids? Pets? How do you clean it inside and out? Cost? New versus used? Resale value? Fuel economy? Longevity? Is the van good for full-time, part-time, weekends? Can you boondock (consider the availability of solar panels, generators, satellite TV, boosters, etc.)? Is the dealer timely (in and out quickly for maintenance), professional, fair, near me? Is there a maintenance program?

 

Leesa: One of the most important factors, in addition to everything already mentioned, is comfort/ease in driving. We are “goers” who rarely spend more than one night in the same place, thus we are on the road a lot. We both love driving our motorhome, and feel safe in all kinds of conditions and weather. We can drive and park it anywhere, and some of our ventures have put us into places that a much longer/taller/wider rig could not have gone. Do your research and then go drive your top choices on busy streets and on the highway. Lie in the bed, and if you’ll be regularly traveling with another person, both of you lie down together. Some bed sizes are not as comfortable or convenient for two as they appear. Sit inside the rest room. Explore all the functions and storage areas. Make the right match for your lifestyle, and you will have years of enjoyment! Husband Jeff adds, the only question to ask is, “Which rig makes my wife happy?”

 

Burton: For us, it was the “what are you gonna do with it?” question that was number one. We travel to national parks. We tour. We don’t spend days/weeks in one spot. “Small House, BIG Backyard!” sums it up for us perfectly.

 

Bob: In short, you need to figure out FIRST how you want to live your mobile life. Our thought process was as follows: Type As are out — too big, too expensive, and too limiting. Cs were out, because they were poor on gas, ugly (in my opinion), and many hung out way too far in the back. We didn’t want a trailer, because then you had a base camp to set up and return to, and in most cases you need an expensive pickup to lug it, and I’d never own a pickup anyway. That left a turtle! Everything on board, pick up and go wherever/whenever, reasonable mileage, easy (or no) setup/teardown, minimalist. That seemed to fit OUR intended lifestyle perfectly. We decide today where to go tomorrow. We spend a LOT of time in the parks. If we like where we are, we may stay several days or weeks; if not, we move on.

 

Michele: Ask yourself: Do I want to merely travel across this great country or do I want to experience it? I have noticed that the travelers in smaller RVs seem to spend more time outdoors. What appealed to us when we chose the Class B was its versatility:

 

 

So, there you go, from the experts.

 

Here’s a final tip from me:

 

Visit a large RV show that has many different RVs on display. Go in and out of each one. Find out what differentiates each model from the others.

 

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Veteran journalist Mike Wendland, F426141, FMCA’s official on-the-road reporter, travels the country with his wife, Jennifer, aboard the couple’s Roadtrek Type B motorhome.