cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Doing a change up to a Class B

bka0721
Explorer
Explorer
I am looking at some different options for different uses and a Class B is what I have settled on.

One of the upfitters I have been recommended to, is Colorado Camper Vans (Clicky) out in Loveland, CO. I did a quick search here and nothing came up.

  1. Anyone here have a Colorado Camper Vans?

  2. Anyone with any comments on Colorado Camper Vans?

  3. What are your thoughts on not going with a 3 way Fridge and just going with a DC/AC Fridge only?


I figured if I went that way I might as well go with an Engle Chest. Appreciate any help here. I typically boondock while avoiding campgrounds.

Thanks!!

b
08 F550-4X4-CC-6.4L Dsl-206"WB GVWR17,950#
09 Lance 1191
1,560wSolar~10-6vGC2-1,160AmpH~Tri-Star-Two(2)60/MPPT~Xantrex 2000W
300wSolar~2-6vAGM-300AmpH~Tri-Star45/MPPT~Xantrex 1500W
16 BMW R1200GSW Adventure
16 KTM 500 EXC
06 Honda CRF450X
09 Haulmark Trlr
7 REPLIES 7

loggenrock
Explorer
Explorer
Brian, we put over 100k on our "B". You don't have anywhere near the real estate on the roof as on your TC/trailer - tough to get a lot of watts up there... We had a 3-way fridge in our Roadtrek - were very pleased with it. Just watched how level we were - a bit of an inconvenience but not bad. Folks we met had a compressor fridge in theirs - with limited space for a large battery bank they could only get a day or 2 boondocking - so keep that in mind. Not sure how CO Campervans handles this in their rigs. ST
Two and a hound in a 2015 Coachmen Prism "B+"...pushed by '09 Suby Forester
First 50 done, working on the second pass! Nunavut - we'll see...!
2005-2015 Roadtrek 190P
1993-2005 Northstar Soft-Side TC
1989-1993 Backpacks & Tents!
1967-1977 Family TT's

bka0721
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks, Tiger4X4RV!! You are always a big help and much appreciated. Hope you have had a great winter, this year.

b
08 F550-4X4-CC-6.4L Dsl-206"WB GVWR17,950#
09 Lance 1191
1,560wSolar~10-6vGC2-1,160AmpH~Tri-Star-Two(2)60/MPPT~Xantrex 2000W
300wSolar~2-6vAGM-300AmpH~Tri-Star45/MPPT~Xantrex 1500W
16 BMW R1200GSW Adventure
16 KTM 500 EXC
06 Honda CRF450X
09 Haulmark Trlr

Tiger4x4RV
Nomad
Nomad
I looked at the Colorado Campervans website you linked. Nice. Sort of like Sportsmobile but maybe a bit simpler interiors which I think is maybe good. You might ask on Expedition Portal if anybody has one. I have not seen any here in California; this is definitely Sportsmobile country.

The Sportsmobile website has tons of plans and an online design tool. They have a branch in Texas and sometimes have used SMB's for sale. Also, there are tons of vanlife build videos on YouTube.

The trouble with the custom build brands is that the design is pretty much all you see until the day you pick up the finished item. You could build yourself a cardboard mockup, but it's still not like going to a dealer and testing to see if your aging bones can get in and out of what seems like a great design on paper. I spent several hours last weekend doing just that on some Class B's which had been on the short list for my next RV (in a couple of years, but early starts are needed in this business) and in the process eliminated most of them.

BTW, some of my short-list B's might interest you: Roadtrek Zion, Travato 59G or 59K, maybe Hymer, maybe some of the new models on the Ford Transit chassis. They mostly have solar or generators and large battery banks, often have small electric refrigerators.

As to the AC/DC refrigerator, I'd vote yes. You have enough experience with solar to know how to size a system for that. Read posts on RV.net and also on Mello Mike's Truck Camper Adventure for some analyses of pros and cons of the compressor frig. Also, Expedition Portal, which did an evaluation article on them last fall. I have added a tiny portable Dometic compressor frig to my equipment for those times when the 3-way refuses to cool in hot weather. I am very happy with it. It cools quickly, stays cold, and uses very little power.

Good luck with your search!
2006 Tiger CX 4x4, 8.1 L gas V-8, Allison 6-speed

bka0721
Explorer
Explorer
Lwiddis wrote:
"Well, just last week someone spotted me out in the canyons of Utah and posted a picture of my camp on Facebook. But true to the people that know me, they didn't out my location. "

CIA? FBI? NSA? Republic of Colorado? Scoping out Utah for the republic? I wont even tell anyone I read your post!


Guess you haven't read some of the articles I have written. I prefer to be not seen, thus the reason for discussing a Class B which I have given high praise in the past. So maybe I need to change it up a bit.

Oh yeah, I'm a NPSCSPNPSDOI. Thanks for asking!

Anyone know about Colorado Camper Vans?

b
08 F550-4X4-CC-6.4L Dsl-206"WB GVWR17,950#
09 Lance 1191
1,560wSolar~10-6vGC2-1,160AmpH~Tri-Star-Two(2)60/MPPT~Xantrex 2000W
300wSolar~2-6vAGM-300AmpH~Tri-Star45/MPPT~Xantrex 1500W
16 BMW R1200GSW Adventure
16 KTM 500 EXC
06 Honda CRF450X
09 Haulmark Trlr

Lwiddis
Explorer
Explorer
"Well, just last week someone spotted me out in the canyons of Utah and posted a picture of my camp on Facebook. But true to the people that know me, they didn't out my location. "

CIA? FBI? NSA? Republic of Colorado? Scoping out Utah for the republic? I wont even tell anyone I read your post!
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

bka0721
Explorer
Explorer
dave17352 wrote:
Just out of curiosity are you getting this in addition to your TC set up or replacing your TC setup? I am just being nosey but I have read many many posts of yours over the years. So I just gotta know:)


Well, just last week someone spotted me out in the canyons of Utah and posted a picture of my camp on Facebook. But true to the people that know me, they didn't out my location. Well, I guess I am "outed here" too. No, no plans to leave my life on the road, in my TC. Still the goal is to make that decision in 2025. Just looking at some more intense "scouting" trips into parts of the country I really enjoy. As I get older, things don't work like they use to. So, just doing research for now.

dave17352, thanks for your support and reading my posts and articles. That won't stop too soon, for now.

b
08 F550-4X4-CC-6.4L Dsl-206"WB GVWR17,950#
09 Lance 1191
1,560wSolar~10-6vGC2-1,160AmpH~Tri-Star-Two(2)60/MPPT~Xantrex 2000W
300wSolar~2-6vAGM-300AmpH~Tri-Star45/MPPT~Xantrex 1500W
16 BMW R1200GSW Adventure
16 KTM 500 EXC
06 Honda CRF450X
09 Haulmark Trlr

dave17352
Explorer
Explorer
Just out of curiosity are you getting this in addition to your TC set up or replacing your TC setup? I am just being nosey but I have read many many posts of yours over the years. So I just gotta know:)
NOW 2017 Leprechaun 260ds
2005 Forrest River Cardinal 29rkle FW
1998 Lance 980 11'3" TC
2017 CHEVY 3500 SRW 6.0
B@W turnover ball @ companion Hitch
Honda eu3000 generator mounted on cargo rack
Crestliner 1850 Fish Ski boat mostly fishing now!