zack0109
Newport dunes
Full Member
Joined: 02/21/2012
View Profile
 Offline
|
The manufacturers are developing new roadtreks every time.You just need that fit for your family best.To camping is to enjoy the life.So choose one roadtrek big enough.
Into the wild.Pop Up CanopyPop Up Canopy
|
antiquedrose
Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 01/17/2008
View Profile
|
Oh, to have had a RT when the kids were young. First class travel with stretch out room. Toilet and microwave. Refridgerator. Incredible convenience and very comfortable. Easy to drive and park. Relatively inexpensive to fuel.
Suitable for camping for one adult for an extensive time, two adults for a short period, shorter yet for a young family of four. The potential for a good experience when camping depends on a lot of things you can creatively solve but with a starting point of, say a Versatile, you're off to a good start.
I'm excited to think of this young family starting out and having the shared experience of getting out there. Best wishes to you & yours, OP.
|
smoline
Purcellville, VA
New Member
Joined: 08/08/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
troutman1971 wrote:I would like to purchase a Roadtrek and use it to camp with my wife and two small children. I would also like to use it as a 2nd vehicle inplace of our minivan. Any advice on things I should consider?
We've done this for years in first a 190 Versatile and then a 210 Versatile. Depending on age and requirements for child seats, they either sit in child support seats in the two "passenger" seats or, as they grow older, in the rear couch seats while they endlessly watch TV and play video games (shoulder strap seats belts in all seating locations). The 210V provided an enclosed bathroom, which proved quite valuable as the family matured and all wanted their few minutes of privacy throughout the day. It also provided, by far, more storage room than the 190 or any platform on a Sprinter chassis.
The Roadtrek was absolutely invaluable for long trips to parks, museums, campgrounds, relatives homes, and other rides in excess of 2 hours during which children always (a) want to use the bathroom, (b) want a snack or drink or both, and (c) need some form of entertainment to avoid the "are we there yet?" syndrome.
I very strongly suggest renting a 190 and possibly a 210 to try before buying. With a family of four, I recommend the 210V (which is only slightly more challenging as a "second car" than the 190 is.
|
Dominic
Québec, Canada
Full Member
Joined: 08/20/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Here is my 2 cents has you say in English:
In 2003 I bought a brand new 2003 Roadtrek Versatile on a Chevy chassis. At that time we were only two but we were waiting for our first child. It was a third car, but we used it mainly as primary car (43 000 km or 26 000 miles in one year). That's very convenient, even for short trips, to drive a B with young kid(s). We realized it when we traded it for a large class A motorhome. We did it because we wanted more space inside... BAD DECISION ! We gained the space and we really enjoyed the A during camping trips (2 or 3 times per year), but we lost the versatility of the B. Funny thing, we put about the same mileage on the A (50 000 km or 30k miles) in 7 years than we did in only one year with our B. Last Fall I traded my A for a Sprinter van conversion. I did a lot of work myself in this conversion and I can say today that I really love it. We are now 5 with 3 kids (3, 5 and 8) and we use it a lot as a weekend car. We sleep 5 in it when needed (two older kids on the floor and we sleep with the younger on the bed). When we camp in it it's only for one night, otherwise we rent a cabin or a cottage. We use this camper van for traveling and for us that's the perfect setup.
However, if you ask, would you buy again a Roadtrek or another "manufactured" class B to travel with kids ? Not with 3 kids. These B's are designed for 2 adults.
If you want you can take a look at what Midwest automotive design offer as weekend camper. About same price as a new Roadtrek but much more convenient for family traveling IMHO.
Hope this help,
Dominic
Quebec, Canada
|
crasster
Dallas
Senior Member
Joined: 07/06/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I think it would be plenty big enough. As for me I don't spend my life worrying about everything. Yes, seat belts are important, but I went my entire childhood not wearing one...
I don't want to go into arguments, but if you in a class b get sandwhiched by a semi carrying 40 tons, you are mashed potatoes anyway. In every day vehicles perhaps it would be a bit more important, but for long highway ventures that you take out on a blue moon, I would not be all picky about it.
After all, what guarantee do you have right now not to have a heart attack, a meteor hit you on the head through your roof, or a nuke go off in your city? I just don't like living in paranoia circles.
Yes, that even involves children. When I was a child, our trampoline had no net. We busted our heads. Our parks had lead paint. Our slides were chrome and 15 ft tall and were FAST. The swingsets were 20ft high and you could jump from way up there...
Anwyay, just my .03
4 whopping cylinders on Toyota RV's. Talk about great getting good MPG. Also I have a very light foot on the pedal. I followed some MPG advice on Livingpress.com and I now get 22 MPG! Not bad for a home on wheels.
|
|
|
mlts22
Austin, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 11/15/2010
View Profile
|
Just from what I have seen, a typical class B will handle two people at most in any shade of comfort.
This is sort of a reiteration of above about advice. I'd consider one of two alternatives, because the kids will grow up, want their own bunks, have their own things to do:
1: Go with a travel trailer or fifth wheel, and replace the minivan with a 2500/3500 class quad-cab pickup. This will allow you to have your small children, who will in a blink of an eye turn into big children, and still be able to ferry them and their gear. Then, get a decent travel trailer with some slide-outs. This is likely cheaper than a new class B, gives a lot more room, and you can use the pickup as a runabout. You can buy a bunkhouse TT that gives you and the DW a separate bedroom, while the kids can play/sleep in the living room. With a pickup truck, you can toss a generator in the bed and use that if you want to boondock. Another bonus is that the tank size will be large enough to handle a family of four's toilet flushes, showers, hand washing, kitchen preparation, face washing, teeth brushing, and many more. A class B's tank just isn't up to snuff for this.
2: Go with a larger class C. You can buy new, or you can hit Cruise America and buy a well inspected used model (downside is no slide-outs) that is large enough for the family. The class C gives the advantage of being able for passengers to use the bathroom while on the highway, although without a toad, it may get unwieldy if you want to go see something, and be forced to unhook.
Personally, I'd see about getting a 2500 or 3500 pickup, and a good travel trailer. This setup will handle your family's growth, and will be more affordable compared to an extremely cramped class B.
|
|
