Bubble wand, yes! I keep bubbles in my car and when stuck in traffic that's not moving, will open the sunroof and blow bubbles. A good stress buster. Nice Roadtrek!
Hi Robyn p. Thank you for the comment. I wish I had a sunroof ! I like blowing bubbles even if no one is around. Sometimes I notice, like in a crowded parking lot, people are so focused, they aren't aware of what is going on around them. Then there are those who smile, say something. I like to see people smile.
Dan T, Thank you for the comment. Yeah, ceramic mug. It's like the ceramic in those elaborate, angled sharpeners you slide the knife blade through. I have one of those. I like the mug better because, like a stone, you can fine-tune the angle rather than take what the sharpener gives you. Those never seem to get the knife as sharp. Maybe it's just my imagination or wishful thinking.
Thinking alot about buying a RoadTreck, it would be my first attempt and I found your video's most helpful. I found you very down to earth. All good tips from you are beneficial and your easy going attitude/personality. Like it very much. I shall continue to watch and learn. You are in California, I'm in Oregon. Thank you.
We enjoyed the video. We have a 1990 Roadtrek Versatile Dodge Ram B250 with a 360 w/ Electronic Fuel Injection, gets about 13-14 MPG average. Low mileage _about 74,000. It is a bit small for the two of us but we haven't had it long and are learning how to adjust to the tight quarters. Your tour was Very Helpful, thanks!
Rich....thank you so much for the “grand tour”...I own the same model and absolutely LOVE IT....you are an inspiration for all your info....thank you...🙋🏻♀️
Hi Darlene Ruby, You're welcome! Aren't these Roaddtreks wonderful? I have owned and appreciated a lot of vehicles including Porsches, Mercedes Benz, Triumph, MG, I had a VW Westfalia forty or more years ago. Who would think this lumbering commercial van full of creature comforts could illicit my affection? Goes to show, I am a creature and I appreciate comforts!
Hi Miss Mary...thank you for subscribing! I really appreciate that. I have some videos I need to upload and will be doing so over the course of the next few days. In the meantime, I hope you find some value from the existing content and thanks again for subscribing.
Hi Dale, I just took a look in this area to see if there are any for sale. One at a dealer in Sacramento, a 2001 with 40K miles for $37995.00. Very nice but no solar panels, like mine has, no additional batteries, like mine has, absorption refrigerator vs. a 12 volt compressor (mine), and in Arizona, an absorption refrigerator only lowers the temp in the box a maximum of 40 degrees making it pretty useless in any temps over about 80 degrees, (been there done that, lost all my food to spolage), propane heater vs. diesel heat (mine), old a/c vs newer low draw, llike mine, doesn't mention a generator, mine has a tiny one that runs anything onboard. Looks nice though. Here's a link to it, it was posted a month ago, sacramento.craigslist.org/rvd/d/rocklin-2001-roadtrek-popular-190-class/7302430714.html The SF Bay Area is a huge market for Rv's and especially class B's and right now is "prime time", to list, for anyone, if they want to sell theirs. So for there to be one listed is telling. I think critical mass was reached a little over a year ago and whoever has one knows what they have...something in extremely high demand with next to zero availability...supply ended 18 years ago. Good luck in looking. I would suggest using a search engine called Search Tempest. If you plug in Roadtrek, it will search all CL listings across the nation and return the results to you so you can search a little more efficiently. This season, as I do every season, I take stock of things and consider whether or not I'm ready to sell this Roadtrek. I even went so far as to borrow a car and drive it to remember what it is like...I haven't driven a regular car for about five years now. I got a coffee and sat in the car ticking off in my mind all the things it doesn't have that the Roadtrek has. When I see something like the one listed I referred to here, I could spend over $20K on mechanical items just to approach the asking price of one that's available. If I renewed everything, I don't think I could spend $20K. And I would still be lacking several thousand dollars of updated items I have introduced to thie Roadtrek I have. I know the example I sited is at the extreme but that's now, today, it won't be for long. All one needs to point to are VW Westphalia's and Winnebago Rialta's as case studies of what happens to prices when people want something that is no longer being made.
I owned a 1967 MGB some time back, it had both the hardtop and ragtop, I loved that car. My first R.T. Was a 96D190V and I really loved that unit, but it was a pig on gas....I thought I could improve on it and “upgraded” to a 2007 Pleasureway Sprinter Diesel, we’re remote living here in Canada, and it was a Dodge Body with a Mercedes Motor, no one wanted to work on it so I was afraid of breaking down alone in the Bush....towns around here are really spread out, so it got to the point that I couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. I’ve really come full circle....you know the saying “over my dead body” that’s the only way I’ll part with this one, by the way her name is Treksee....stay safe...I really enjoy watching videos on Roadtreks....keep up the good work....🙋🏻♀️
The Sprinter is really an institutional / commercial vehicle. Police, ambulance, shipping companies, institutions with a large fleet of vehicles who can invest the money on the infrastructure to support them. When these vehicles began gaining popularity in the consumer market, their shortcomings translated into expensive repairs, lack of support, and training. Fuel consumption was the big selling feature. And one that one feature, the vehicle arguably put up better numbers than its gasoline counterparts. And for institutions logging millions of miles, this was enough to lure them in. For the average rv consumer, this was like the holy grail. Unfortunately, most, if not all, rv'ers never log enough miles for the fuel savings to offset all of the other higher operating costs (relative). Not to mention the higher cost per gallon for diesel, and the premium price paid for the diesel powered vehicle in the first place. A person could rebuild every component on this Roadtrek and update the "camper" equipment with new technology and drive it 20 or 30K a year and still be way ahead of the entry fee and operating costs of a diesel sprinter. Institutions know this. They have almost entirely shifted their fleet from the sprinter to Ford offerings and the Dodge Promaster. This is from a person who loves Mercedes, I have owned and restored 9 of them. The Dodge platform my Roadtrek is based on is actually a Daimler Chrysler, a division of Daimler Benz, the umbrella corporation that builds Mercedes. My rationale is I am offsetting the mpg of the diesel by buying less expensive gasoline vs. more expensive diesel, buying it at Costco where I generally get the lowest price and using a credit card that pays me cash back on the fuel purchases I make, not to mention everything from oil changes, tires, brakes, and internal mechanical repairs are already 40% less than what a sprinter would be. If a person wants one, hey, go for it but just know there are many other vehicles that are similarly equipped or even have superior features to that era of sprinter that can be operated for way less. That three-pointed star comes at a heavy premium.
Thank you for the comment. Yeah, the first video was whacked out ! The only thing I can think is that I had mistakenly clicked something like stabilize and the editing program was freaking out. The hope is that a video tour helps people see what is included and then how someone puts the feature to use. I've watched tons of tours and I get a little something out of each one. Everybody has a different way of dealing with the same challenge. It is interesting to see all the different solutions.
You are very organized for a guy, Some are, but a lot are not! I like that, it is so much easier to be clean. I keep daydreaming of how my van will be homey and I try to listen to every tip that I have learned on UA-cam, how did people ever live without it?
Thank you for the compliment. I use the van as a lab to determine the amount of stuff I permit myself. Which kind of takes me to your next part about daydreaming about how your van will be homey. I would ask how is where you are homey? It probably has to do with objects you surround yourself with and the feelings they evoke in you. While objects in the van may be different due to the space limitations, the ones you choose still have the potential of evoking the same feelings of homeyness. I repeatedly ask two questions, what can I live with? what can't I live without.
Rich nice tour. It's fun to see the difference between your lay out and my 1995 dodge xplorer. Good idea about adding another battery. I like your van and the way you have it set up well thought out. I do have 2.8 onan generator. I only have one house battery. I bought the 100 watt solar panel suitcase. Should fit my need. Take care and have a fun weekend.
Hi Richard, thank you for commenting. From the little pic (avatar), that Xplorer was high on my shopping list. I could never find one near enough to buy. I think before I get another battery, I am going to try and find a red hot deal on a solar suitcase like you have. My current house battery is brand new and I have yet to discharge it very low with my daily routine. The van runs pretty much everyday so the house battery gets a charge from that. My reasoning for solar and extra battery is to have some power to keep a small compressor fridge running on very hot days. In that kind of heat, parking in the shade would be a priority so having a portable solar panel to place in the sun would be the way to gather the sunlight. I am thinking it would also be more efficient to keep the storage battery close to the solar panel so I thought a second battery would be useful. I still have to think about it and mentally walk through the scenarios to figure out how to address them. Currently the propane powered fridge is consuming propane I have to buy. With a solar powered compressor fridge, propane usage would go way down. The savings can be applied to the cost of the additional fridge and solar panel. Over time there is the potential of recovering the cost of these components from the savings on propane. So far I can't shoot any holes in this but I'm taking some time to think through it a little more.
Roadtrek Rich That's sound reasoning! You could also replace the gas stove burners with electric very cheaply which would help justify the solar and refrigerator and another battery perhaps?
Roadtrek Rich Couldn't you get enough solar to possibly replace the generator for the A/C? Part of that equation would depend on how energy efficient the A/C unit is I guess.
Thanks for the great tour of your RoadTrek. You answered a lot of questions for me. I have no experience as a mechanic and would appreciate hearing you talk more about the mechanical upkeep. My husband was a mechanic for a while but he thinks my Roadtrek might as well be a space ship!
Hi Bonnie. Thank you for the question and comment. It's pouring rain, which, I had said, is a good day to look at a Roadtrek but it's not so good for doing videos. I am putting together a video of what I call "the process". That is where I take a vehicle, assess the parts that need maintenance or repair and bring things up to "normal working condition". Then maintain the "working order". When things need something, I do it or take it somebody and pay them for the tools, equipment and expertise that is needed. In brief, a Roadtrek is just a collection of different systems that perform different functions. Some of these systems work together. Some work independent of each other. Some function to move the vehicle around. Some provide convenience and comfort. Do you see how we are taking this machine and simplifying what appears complex on the surface? This is how we humans function and where we get dysfunctional. We function by observing, imagining, drawing up plans, building, assembling, integrating all the various components into a working whole. That in a nutshell is the creative process and we are creatives...all of us. However, when we are plunked down in front of a "creation", the collection of systems is overwhelming. This can be an object or a situation. We become dysfunctional. We freeze up. We experience fear, uncertainty, doubt. Why? Because our minds need time to process what our senses are taking in. The freeze up is our coping mechanism that buys us the time to process things. Since this involves effort on our part and we humans prefer play over work, we'll excuse ourselves from the "work" by saying stuff like "it's making my brain explode", "I'm not mechanically inclined", etc., etc. We're funny aren't we? We want to "know" but we don't want to do the work to learn. I've learned a secret. If a human wants to be functional vs.dysfunctional they need to go with their natural attraction to play vs. their aversion to work. Simply put, for a human to work, they need to play. What does that mean? To learn physics do I need to go bowling? Well, maybe. What I need to do is discover a way to convert the process of learning about physics into a playful activity. For example, thermodynamics is a big pill to swallow...I think my brain is getting ready to explode. But boiling some water on the stove is a "thermodynamic process" in fact many thermodynamic processes are in play. So maybe I'll start by just boiling some water, that's kind of fun. Come to think of it, I'd like a cup of coffee. This is how we humans can deconstruct complex systems and make them manageable. Most of us humans don't jam a whole sandwich in our mouths, we consume it a bite at a time. And we enjoy the process. It's TASTY ! So here we are. In the case of the Roadtrek, we're all freaked out. There's so much to take in. Sure. But taken one thing at a time, each system is something we can understand. Once we become familiar with a system, it's no longer overwhelming. We can play with it and see how It responds to natural laws. We can see how it works, how it interacts and relates to and with the other systems. We may even design, that is, conceive and create, novel, complimentary uses for the systems. All this conscious "taking in" happens fast but processing it takes longer. By breaking each system down, seeing how it works, what it's role is in the overall scheme of things, we can take care of the systems so they will provide the services they are intended to perform. And this ongoing care is not brain exploding "work", it is fun. We get more out of it than we put in. ROI, return on investment. That, in a nutshell, is why we are attracted to what we perceive as play and averse to what we perceive as work. We want a return on the investment. What are we investing? Time. We're funny saying things like "I don't have time." Huh? Yes, you have time, 24 hours each day. A wallet full. You can and do spend it. You can't save it. It's in the who, how, where, why and what we invest our time that we realize a dividend or gain. I hope you'll subscribe so you can get notified when a new video drops. I hope the vids will help bring that "space ship" back "down to earth" and give you the understanding and knowledge to take care of it one part at a time.
Roadtrek Rich, I am a new subber after viewing 2 of your videos. I especially appreciate how you break down and analyze the decision making process. I am attempting to do that to figure out what type of rv I want or, better choice of words, I can afford and manage bc I would really love a 25+ ft one but I don’t want to drive or tow something that big. Btw, I am a 68 yo single woman who discovered last winter when I came across a YT channel that people live in vehicles and rv’s full time as a choice. At the time, I was vacationing in FL and extended my vacay to stay in a friend’s tiny toy hauler for 2 weeks. I found a wonderful FL 55+ community that allows RV’s to stay for a year for $3000 and live in it for 6 months. I ended up staying for 3 months and learned I don’t need a whole lot of possessions and can live quite small. It is possible to stay there year around for a monthly rent if I wanted to. If I were to do that, I would then get something a little bigger. If I only stayed 6 months, I would need my daily driver to travel in for the other 6 months so I would have a van. That’s been my current thinking.
Then, other days I think I want a truck camper that I can take on and off when needed. Since I need a year to get rid of my possessions and house, I’ll be watching more YT and analyzing! Most of all I’ll be applying your most important strategy of asking what can I live with and what can I live without! Mo from NJ and...
Thank you for subscribing ! I had a 22 ft. Lazy Daze class c. For me it was too big because I couldn't use it on a daily basis in the same way I can use the Roadtrek 19 ft. I can tell you that before I got any vehicle, I imagined a lot. When I did, the idea of having only 19 ft seemed like too little space. So I got bigger for my first vehicle. The space was nice but I had other vehicles that were much more convenient for daily use so it just sat most of the time. When I found a Roadtrek van, I decided I could sell my other vehicle and use the Roadtrek all the time. For me it has worked out fine. It's a little thirstier with fuel but I have the essentials of my stick and brick house everywhere I go which makes life VERY convenient. In the smaller platform, I can't carry as much stuff. But as I equip the Roadtrek, I find myself being very thoughtful about what I actually use. I regularly take stock of stuff that starts accumulating. I assess whether it is something I use. If not, then I remove it. This keeps the van's contents leaner. Food, especially dry and canned goods can collect. I evaluated my eating habits and removed the food that I "thought" I would use but didn't. Don't get me wrong...we all need things and in the van there's plenty of space for those things. It's all the things we "think" we need or "will" use that take up space and make the van heavier and feel cramped. If I stay on top of it, there is plenty of room for me and my stuff and the van has a very comfortable sized feel to it. Remember, the people who designed and built this Roadtrek drove and lived in it from coast to coast in Canada. Their purpose was to build a platform that could accommodate the most in the least space. I still am amazed at little things that have been built in. I can almost hear them thinking as they thought through how they were going to incorporate features and still leave plenty of flexibility for people to add their own personal and creative features. I try to continue their process and use the same care and consideration when bringing something on board their creation that the creators used when designing this marvel of ingenuity.
Great tour and video Rich! It's nice to see how one organizes their items they use on a daily basis. And what they utilize them for. I've found a Road Trek that the MSRP was over $150,000 new. It's a 2015, 27,000 miles & immaculate condition. What I like about that particular one is that it has the larger 2 door refrigerator (7.0 cubic feet), 5,000 watt solar system, and of course the motor generator rated at 2500+. Upgraded lithium batteries and no propane. Rated 20+ mpg with the Mercedes Benz Diesel engine. To put that into perspective, say on your 600 mile trip, it would take 30 gallons of fuel while yours would take 40. That would save me $22 to $24 on fuel. So say 600 miles a week, in a month I could save $100 in fuel (I'm trying to rationalize my decision here; lol). But those Dodge 318 motors are extremely reliable! Anyway, they wanted $110,000. Now $99,000. I've told them $79,000 & my manual bare bones 2011 KIA Sorento. Oh; it's a rare 24 foot long so there is like 4 feet behind the electric couch. On one side, I would stack a super small stackable washer/dryer as there is a hose/shower head for taking a shower outside and the previous owners added an additional water tank, besides the solar upgrades. After owning 5 homes, I currently don't have a "home base" and most items are in storage while I live in a garage. So "living in a van down by the river" would be a huge upgrade for me! Smile!!! I love the fact it's propane free. Think it's worth it?
Hi Greg, thank you for the comment. This is the kind of stuff I love sinking my teeth into. Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. What is "rare" to one person is a deal breaker to another. I have owned a 22' MH so I know that for me, 24' would be too long. I park on the street. The longest vehicle that I can legally do that with is about 19 to 20 feet. That mileage rating is pretty optimistic. The size and GVW of a 24' diesel powered sprinter, maybe a 3500 with dual rear wheels? I would expect more like 18 in anything other than pool table flat conditions with no wind. This would factor in larger water tanks and the weight of the water, washer/dryer, larger refrigerator and contents, etc. Even if the fuel mileage disparity existed, the cost per mile must include more than fuel. Higher costs for parts, labor, insurance, maintenance, tires, etc. would also have to be factored in for an average over say 50K miles. I know from having restored 9 Benz diesels that the costs for parts are substantially higher than for a domestic. I would anticipate the same being true of the diesel sprinters and I have a little experience with them through the shop owner who helped me with my restorations. He's a 30 years of experience, factory trained, authorized Mercedes/Sprinter repair facility. In two or so years, the sprinter has dropped from something near 150k to something near 75k. That's half. Will it lose more? Of course. Until it it has bottomed out on its depreciation cycle. The amount saved at the fuel pump is gobbled up by the depreciation monster. When all of the operating costs are factored in, I'm reasonably sure that a domestic will have lower numbers than a sprinter based chassis. I guess that brings us back to the question...Is it worth it? The good news is it is a Roadtrek. The company has been building a quality product for about forty years. Roadtrek and other manufacturers chose Dodge chassis because Dodge vans stayed the same for 30 years and RV makers didn't have to retool, saving them time and R&D costs. When Dodge stopped making vans, Roadtrek stuck with Dodge and the sprinter chassis. However Roadtrek has also offered a Chevrolet chassis variant. Some of these were badged as 210. In later years, the Chevy chassis and power plant has gained a solid reputation for long, trouble free service, low relative operating expense, ,etc. Before I plunked down 80 large on a sprinter, I would see what kind of deal I might be able to make on a Chevy. That is unless you happen to be someone over six feet or so. That would be the one reason I might value the sprinter...if it still offers the headroom of earlier models. When I started planning this many years ago, I was hell bent on getting a sprinter van and building it out myself. I had such a complete parts list, people bought the list just so they didn't have to do all the research. I just could not find a van I was willing to go through this process with. And once I objectively crunched the numbers, I changed my direction entirely. I began looking for a Roadtrek. What changed was my priorities. I shifted the emphasis of my efforts and concentrated on answering two questions... What can I live with? What can't I live without? As soon as I focused on answering those questions to my satisfaction, the field of potential candidate vehicles expanded widely. As I weeded one after another out for one reason or another, the Dodge Roadtrek just kept hanging around. I could spend a lot more money on this van both on mechanical things and accessories and never approach what I would have had to spend to get a sprinter completely outfitted. My only advice would be to be willing to let go of all of the things you think you want and need. Start a fresh page, be willing to consider something completely different from every conceivable position. And finally look not at the vehicle, the bells, the whistles. Look at you. How do you want to do this thing? Each vehicle will have advantages and disadvantages over another. The question is which vehicle or group of them contains the ingredients you need in order to do what you want to do as economically, comfortably, and unrestricted as possible? No matter what you choose, it comes with limitations. Your job is to mitigate the affects of those limitations so they don't interfere with what you are trying to accomplish. As a designer, I know there are a multitude of ways to obtain the desired results. The enjoyment and satisfaction, true success is getting as close to what I was aiming at as I can. 1000 ways to do this...1001 now that you've thrown your hat in the ring !
In one of my other videos I recounted the terrifying experience I had when one of the rear wheels came off the van! So Now the spare tire is occupying that location until I can find a road wheel to match the other three on the vehicle. Thank you for the comment Judy.
I have the same Roadtrek as you Funny I also get notes on my windshield with some one wanting to buy it , we get stoped at the gas stations people wanting to look inside , We’re a family of 5 the seats convert to twin beds , lots of storage . Love this Road trek
Hi, I am Jas. I love your channel and you and your fixes like your beer can with a piece of hose to get more water in. I am new to the VanLife and to making UA-cam videos, I am NOT full time YET, NOT until I fix up my Campervan how I want it. I subscribed and look forward to future videos, and if you get a chance please feel free to check out my UA-cam channel about starting to change from a house to a van.
Hey There! Question...I have a old dodge roadtrek and the "cloth" that walls the inside of the van, that blue carpet kind of material, have you tried cleaning that or doing anything with it? Mine is very shabby looking especially on the inside of the doors but I can't find anyone who has cleaned it or replaced it
Thanks for the tour. I think will have to do a Roadtrek tour too. Your looks just like mind. If you need any tips on check out our channel, my husband is a master mechanic. Happy travels :-) Welcome to the Roadtrek family they are awesome homes :-)
Great explanation thanks! Just bought one exactly like this yesterday!! Got it for $8000.00 I think I scored. It has 26k miles. Quick question how do you run the microwave withought being plugged in?
Hi Nick, thanks for the question. Yes, absolutely you scored. Wanna sell it? I'm just getting you prepared, you'll probably get asked that often, I do. Yours must not have one of those onan on board generators, either, like mine. I bought a 2000 watt modified sine wave inverter. People say ooooh noo you'll ruin your electronic microwave. Maybe...the modified is harder on it than a pure sine wave which is usually cleaner than house current but a 2000 watt pure sine wave one is about 8x what I paid for this one. I made a bid for it on eBay and won, it was pretty cheap, more than fifty less than a hundred. Now with the inverter wired up to the house battery, all I do is plug the micro into the inverter via an extension cord, turn the inverter on, start the engine of the van and I have all the power necessary to run the microwave which could be as long as five minutes. So let's say I want lasagna for lunch and I've got to run an errand. I'll put the food in the micro, run the errand and eat somewhere along the way. Coffee, tea, soup, anything at all that can be heated any other way than micro, I heat another way. So over time, about the only thing I use it for is heating left overs like pizza. But I'm eating healthier, raw vegetables, some cheese, chicken, turkey, roast beef, I used the micro yesterday to heat some pizza but honestly, I don't think I've used it in a couple of months. The only other AC appliance is the air conditioner but I got a four stroke, very quiet, (LIKE A HONDA)1000 watt generator to run it that fits in the clothes closet behind the driver's seat and I replaced the air conditioner with a low power soft start Fridgidaire unit that draws about 650 watts. That set up was under 350.00. I just answered a question for another viewer and had to look at Walmart's website and noticed they have both the air conditioner unit and the generator on sale. Generator is 199 and the a/c, I think, was 149 so under 350 by a whisker. Stay tuned, you might like the solar panel set up I'm putting in the Roadtrek. OR you might think I'm nuts. Either way, I hope you'll find it entertaining and informative. Subscribe and click the bell to get notified of new vids. Welcome to the Roadtrek Family ! We've got Roatrek Rich, maybe you can become Roadtrek Nick.
Also, if you haven't checked him out yet, check out Hobotech on UA-cam. His name is Tom. He's a Roadtrek owner, same one we have but he does have an on board generator. He's done lots of upgrades and is a great resource. He also has a website Hobotech.TV where he has every part to every upgrade listed. He's done a lot of work to create a helpful, "one stop" for people who are looking for the kind of stuff we need for these 19 foot vans that work like a 40 foot motorhome and park like a car.
Hi Boss Monster, thank you for the question. It is a Duracell Deep Cycle. Not really that great of a battery, lead acid, flooded, about 75 amp hour. I think it was about 120 dollars. I will probably get a larger and also larger capacity ( 100 ah ) battery in the future and wire them in parallel. It's a pretty meager amount of battery power, at present. But each thing in its time. I've learned to become pretty frugal with battery power so I guess that's a good thing.
@@RoadtrekRich Thnx for the answer. I just got a 1995 Dodge Versatile 190. Wanted to get the Popular (longer length rear seating area) but couldn't pass up on the deal on the Versatile. Anyways, the shorter rear section in the Versatile only gives me a small area to work with when it comes to the house battery (the generator takes up much of the space next to the battery), so any modification would allow for only one - somewhat - larger battery, would have been great to go with a dual setup. So now I guess it's deciding between one large Flooded, AGM, Gel, or Lithium Ion battery. Probably go with an AGM. Looks like I'll be going through your vids for some tips and tricks. Thnx again...
@@twofacepalmer1212, This is the one I'm going to get to add to the one I have. www.amazon.com/Universal-UB121000-45978-100AH-Cycle-Battery/dp/B00S1RT58C/ref=pd_sim_263_2/131-9173618-6805063?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00S1RT58C&pd_rd_r=70715b2f-2419-11e9-a720-93fce9026ffb&pd_rd_w=0gH91&pd_rd_wg=fFjne&pf_rd_p=90485860-83e9-4fd9-b838-b28a9b7fda30&pf_rd_r=3V4ESBS86A5T7BFPAKZE&psc=1&refRID=3V4ESBS86A5T7BFPAKZE Sorry for the long link. Tom over at Hobotech channel got these and he's pretty happy with them.
Hey Dear Rich, I just became worried about you. You need to add good fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains to your diet. We want you healthy and happy. Lean chicken, turkey or pork lion. Blessings
Hi GR. Believe me, I worry about my diet, too. But I'm living in the "Salad Bowl" of the world. I have fruits, vegetables, and plenty of other wholesome foods to consume. I eat a little meat, my favorite is steak but on salads, regularly have chicken, ham, turkey. The key in the van is to eat as close to earth as possible. That means mostly raw fruits and veggies, some rice or pasta, so that prep and clean up can be relatively simple and quick.
If you are looking of one like mine, they are scarce right now. One allegedly in WA for 10300 Another at a dealer WA for 24000 One in Bullhead City CA for 21000 One at a dealer in Pheonix AZ for 25000 one in sunnyvale ca 18900...maybe. one in Peculiar MO for 20000 another in Beech Island SC 19500 a possible one in NC 24500 one at a dealer in titusville FL for 28500 another dealer in sebring FL has one for 22500 So nationally, that's about it right now...10. Some of these may not be real offers. They may be bogus phishing sites to harvest your email. I left out ones that were obvious to me to be bogus. I set up a gmail account specifically for craigslist to send and receive responses. Some ads request I email a phone number so they don't trash my email response as spam. This can be a phishing site too. One that wants your phone instead of email. Up to you. I usually try to stick to listings with a phone # but I have corresponded with many that started with an email. Hope that helps you to look for a Roadtrek. Note most of these are Versitiles. I don't know what % of Roadtreks were Populars but in all my searches, they seem harder to find than Versitiles and the 170 models are really scarce.
.......'bout half thru this vid........gonna sign off.........wanted so much to see the Roadtrek..........not so much, the contents of cabs/drawers/closets, etc.......thx anyway........:)
I would be happy to fill your request. Not sure what you would like to see but if you let me know, I would be happy to record it for you. What I was trying to show was the combination of features, my impressions of them and how we all individually compliment them with our personalized accessories, etc. Let me know what kind of a tour you would like to see, I'm sure it would make for interesting content. Thank you for your comment.
Roadtrek Rich ........thx for the gracious getback.........was interested in seeing the finished 'home' environment of your van........the closeups of the cabinet interiors deny the viewer's picture of what the design of the room looks like.........thatz what i love to see.........ty for asking........:)
I'll do my best. My camera is kind of the limiting factor. Some people use pretty wide angle lenses that work better. I'll try to get some better angles and views rather than the close up stuff for you. Thank you for the suggestions.
Roadtrek Rich ........the absence of expensive equipment is probably why this happens on some many van tours.......at least, thatz why it would happen in my vids.........usually leave a vid when this starts........i didn't know...........my apologies........:)
![Roadtrek Consumer Video [1997]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/l7VOJ6yB_Eg/mqdefault.jpg)
Bubble wand, yes! I keep bubbles in my car and when stuck in traffic that's not moving, will open the sunroof and blow bubbles. A good stress buster. Nice Roadtrek!
Hi Robyn p. Thank you for the comment. I wish I had a sunroof ! I like blowing bubbles even if no one is around. Sometimes I notice, like in a crowded parking lot, people are so focused, they aren't aware of what is going on around them. Then there are those who smile, say something. I like to see people smile.
Under mug knife sharpener great tip! Never would have thought of it
Dan T,
Thank you for the comment.
Yeah, ceramic mug. It's like the ceramic in those elaborate, angled sharpeners you slide the knife blade through. I have one of those. I like the mug better because, like a stone, you can fine-tune the angle rather than take what the sharpener gives you. Those never seem to get the knife as sharp. Maybe it's just my imagination or wishful thinking.
Thinking alot about buying a RoadTreck, it would be my first attempt and I found your video's most helpful. I found you very down to earth. All good tips from you are beneficial and your easy going attitude/personality. Like it very much. I shall continue to watch and learn. You are in California, I'm in Oregon.
Thank you.
We enjoyed the video. We have a 1990 Roadtrek Versatile Dodge Ram B250 with a 360 w/ Electronic Fuel Injection, gets about 13-14 MPG average. Low mileage _about 74,000. It is a bit small for the two of us but we haven't had it long and are learning how to adjust to the tight quarters. Your tour was Very Helpful, thanks!
Thanks for sharing!
I like the van how you organized. Clean and neat.
Thank you for well presented tour of your Roadtek
You're welcome. Thanks for watching.
THANK YOU for a very informative tour. Jp
Again. Very timely and encouraging for me. THX
Thank you for the comment.
Very nice job on this video!!
Great videos. I just found your channel because I’m doing my own roadtrek research. Thanks for putting these together
Hi Eileen O'brien, thank you for the comment. If I can be of any help, just leave a comment or question, I try to respond to everyone who does so.
Much better then the first one. If you had a larger door on the generator compartment you could store your little one in that space with the gas.
Rich....thank you so much for the “grand tour”...I own the same model and absolutely LOVE IT....you are an inspiration for all your info....thank you...🙋🏻♀️
Hi Darlene Ruby,
You're welcome! Aren't these Roaddtreks wonderful? I have owned and appreciated a lot of vehicles including Porsches, Mercedes Benz, Triumph, MG, I had a VW Westfalia forty or more years ago. Who would think this lumbering commercial van full of creature comforts could illicit my affection? Goes to show, I am a creature and I appreciate comforts!
This is the second video of yours that I have watched this morning and now you have a new subbie. Looking forward to seeing more from you.
Hi Miss Mary...thank you for subscribing! I really appreciate that. I have some videos I need to upload and will be doing so over the course of the next few days. In the meantime, I hope you find some value from the existing content and thanks again for subscribing.
rich very good tour i am loking at an older dodge roadtrek rv just like yours dale j in arizona thankyou for all the information happy rving rich
Hi Dale,
I just took a look in this area to see if there are any for sale. One at a dealer in Sacramento, a 2001 with 40K miles for $37995.00. Very nice but no solar panels, like mine has, no additional batteries, like mine has, absorption refrigerator vs. a 12 volt compressor (mine), and in Arizona, an absorption refrigerator only lowers the temp in the box a maximum of 40 degrees making it pretty useless in any temps over about 80 degrees, (been there done that, lost all my food to spolage), propane heater vs. diesel heat (mine), old a/c vs newer low draw, llike mine, doesn't mention a generator, mine has a tiny one that runs anything onboard.
Looks nice though.
Here's a link to it, it was posted a month ago, sacramento.craigslist.org/rvd/d/rocklin-2001-roadtrek-popular-190-class/7302430714.html
The SF Bay Area is a huge market for Rv's and especially class B's and right now is "prime time", to list, for anyone, if they want to sell theirs. So for there to be one listed is telling. I think critical mass was reached a little over a year ago and whoever has one knows what they have...something in extremely high demand with next to zero availability...supply ended 18 years ago. Good luck in looking. I would suggest using a search engine called Search Tempest. If you plug in Roadtrek, it will search all CL listings across the nation and return the results to you so you can search a little more efficiently. This season, as I do every season, I take stock of things and consider whether or not I'm ready to sell this Roadtrek. I even went so far as to borrow a car and drive it to remember what it is like...I haven't driven a regular car for about five years now. I got a coffee and sat in the car ticking off in my mind all the things it doesn't have that the Roadtrek has. When I see something like the one listed I referred to here, I could spend over $20K on mechanical items just to approach the asking price of one that's available. If I renewed everything, I don't think I could spend $20K. And I would still be lacking several thousand dollars of updated items I have introduced to thie Roadtrek I have. I know the example I sited is at the extreme but that's now, today, it won't be for long. All one needs to point to are VW Westphalia's and Winnebago Rialta's as case studies of what happens to prices when people want something that is no longer being made.
Great video on your roadtrek, really enjoyed it, I have one myself here in the united kingdom, great little RV,
Hi GMCURBAN, thank you for the comment. Is having one of these in the UK a rarity? I would think so. I agree, they are great.
I owned a 1967 MGB some time back, it had both the hardtop and ragtop, I loved that car. My first R.T. Was a 96D190V and I really loved that unit, but it was a pig on gas....I thought I could improve on it and “upgraded” to a 2007 Pleasureway Sprinter Diesel, we’re remote living here in Canada, and it was a Dodge Body with a Mercedes Motor, no one wanted to work on it so I was afraid of breaking down alone in the Bush....towns around here are really spread out, so it got to the point that I couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. I’ve really come full circle....you know the saying “over my dead body” that’s the only way I’ll part with this one, by the way her name is Treksee....stay safe...I really enjoy watching videos on Roadtreks....keep up the good work....🙋🏻♀️
The Sprinter is really an institutional / commercial vehicle. Police, ambulance, shipping companies, institutions with a large fleet of vehicles who can invest the money on the infrastructure to support them.
When these vehicles began gaining popularity in the consumer market, their shortcomings translated into expensive repairs, lack of support, and training.
Fuel consumption was the big selling feature. And one that one feature, the vehicle arguably put up better numbers than its gasoline counterparts. And for institutions logging millions of miles, this was enough to lure them in.
For the average rv consumer, this was like the holy grail. Unfortunately, most, if not all, rv'ers never log enough miles for the fuel savings to offset all of the other higher operating costs (relative).
Not to mention the higher cost per gallon for diesel, and the premium price paid for the diesel powered vehicle in the first place.
A person could rebuild every component on this Roadtrek and update the "camper" equipment with new technology and drive it 20 or 30K a year and still be way ahead of the entry fee and operating costs of a diesel sprinter.
Institutions know this. They have almost entirely shifted their fleet from the sprinter to Ford offerings and the Dodge Promaster.
This is from a person who loves Mercedes, I have owned and restored 9 of them.
The Dodge platform my Roadtrek is based on is actually a Daimler Chrysler, a division of Daimler Benz, the umbrella corporation that builds Mercedes.
My rationale is I am offsetting the mpg of the diesel by buying less expensive gasoline vs. more expensive diesel, buying it at Costco where I generally get the lowest price and using a credit card that pays me cash back on the fuel purchases I make, not to mention everything from oil changes, tires, brakes, and internal mechanical repairs are already 40% less than what a sprinter would be.
If a person wants one, hey, go for it but just know there are many other vehicles that are similarly equipped or even have superior features to that era of sprinter that can be operated for way less.
That three-pointed star comes at a heavy premium.
So organized, I have to get a roadtrek
Waaay better than the other one ..318 motors are great they go forever
Thank you for the comment. Yeah, the first video was whacked out ! The only thing I can think is that I had mistakenly clicked something like stabilize and the editing program was freaking out.
The hope is that a video tour helps people see what is included and then how someone puts the feature to use. I've watched tons of tours and I get a little something out of each one. Everybody has a different way of dealing with the same challenge. It is interesting to see all the different solutions.
You are very organized for a guy, Some are, but a lot are not! I like that, it is so much easier to be clean. I keep daydreaming of how my van will be homey and I try to listen to every tip that I have learned on UA-cam, how did people ever live without it?
Thank you for the compliment.
I use the van as a lab to determine the amount of stuff I permit myself.
Which kind of takes me to your next part about daydreaming about how your van will be homey.
I would ask how is where you are homey?
It probably has to do with objects you surround yourself with and the feelings they evoke in you.
While objects in the van may be different due to the space limitations, the ones you choose still have the potential of evoking the same feelings of homeyness.
I repeatedly ask two questions, what can I live with? what can't I live without.
You learn to stay organized in a small space. Roadtreks are awesome.
Rich nice tour. It's fun to see the difference between your lay out and my 1995 dodge xplorer. Good idea about adding another battery. I like your van and the way you have it set up well thought out. I do have 2.8 onan generator. I only have one house battery. I bought the 100 watt solar panel suitcase. Should fit my need. Take care and have a fun weekend.
Hi Richard, thank you for commenting.
From the little pic (avatar), that Xplorer was high on my shopping list. I could never find one near enough to buy.
I think before I get another battery, I am going to try and find a red hot deal on a solar suitcase like you have.
My current house battery is brand new and I have yet to discharge it very low with my daily routine.
The van runs pretty much everyday so the house battery gets a charge from that.
My reasoning for solar and extra battery is to have some power to keep a small compressor fridge running on very hot days.
In that kind of heat, parking in the shade would be a priority so having a portable solar panel to place in the sun would be the way to gather the sunlight. I am thinking it would also be more efficient to keep the storage battery close to the solar panel so I thought a second battery would be useful.
I still have to think about it and mentally walk through the scenarios to figure out how to address them.
Currently the propane powered fridge is consuming propane I have to buy. With a solar powered compressor fridge, propane usage would go way down. The savings can be applied to the cost of the additional fridge and solar panel. Over time there is the potential of recovering the cost of these components from the savings on propane.
So far I can't shoot any holes in this but I'm taking some time to think through it a little more.
Roadtrek Rich That's sound reasoning! You could also replace the gas stove burners with electric very cheaply which would help justify the solar and refrigerator and another battery perhaps?
Roadtrek Rich Couldn't you get enough solar to possibly replace the generator for the A/C? Part of that equation would depend on how energy efficient the A/C unit is I guess.
Thanks for the great tour of your RoadTrek. You answered a lot of questions for me. I have no experience as a mechanic and would appreciate hearing you talk more about the mechanical upkeep. My husband was a mechanic for a while but he thinks my Roadtrek might as well be a space ship!
Hi Bonnie. Thank you for the question and comment.
It's pouring rain, which, I had said, is a good day to look at a Roadtrek but it's not so good for doing videos. I am putting together a video of what I call "the process".
That is where I take a vehicle, assess the parts that need maintenance or repair and bring things up to "normal working condition". Then maintain the "working order". When things need something, I do it or take it somebody and pay them for the tools, equipment and expertise that is needed.
In brief, a Roadtrek is just a collection of different systems that perform different functions.
Some of these systems work together. Some work independent of each other.
Some function to move the vehicle around. Some provide convenience and comfort.
Do you see how we are taking this machine and simplifying what appears complex on the surface?
This is how we humans function and where we get dysfunctional.
We function by observing, imagining, drawing up plans, building, assembling, integrating all the various components into a working whole.
That in a nutshell is the creative process and we are creatives...all of us.
However, when we are plunked down in front of a "creation", the collection of systems is overwhelming.
This can be an object or a situation.
We become dysfunctional. We freeze up. We experience fear, uncertainty, doubt. Why?
Because our minds need time to process what our senses are taking in. The freeze up is our coping mechanism that buys us the time to process things. Since this involves effort on our part and we humans prefer play over work, we'll excuse ourselves from the "work" by saying stuff like "it's making my brain explode", "I'm not mechanically inclined", etc., etc. We're funny aren't we? We want to "know" but we don't want to do the work to learn.
I've learned a secret. If a human wants to be functional vs.dysfunctional they need to go with their natural attraction to play vs. their aversion to work. Simply put, for a human to work, they need to play. What does that mean? To learn physics do I need to go bowling? Well, maybe.
What I need to do is discover a way to convert the process of learning about physics into a playful activity. For example, thermodynamics is a big pill to swallow...I think my brain is getting ready to explode.
But boiling some water on the stove is a "thermodynamic process" in fact many thermodynamic processes are in play. So maybe I'll start by just boiling some water, that's kind of fun. Come to think of it, I'd like a cup of coffee. This is how we humans can deconstruct complex systems and make them manageable.
Most of us humans don't jam a whole sandwich in our mouths, we consume it a bite at a time. And we enjoy the process. It's TASTY !
So here we are.
In the case of the Roadtrek, we're all freaked out. There's so much to take in.
Sure. But taken one thing at a time, each system is something we can understand.
Once we become familiar with a system, it's no longer overwhelming. We can play with it and see how It responds to natural laws.
We can see how it works, how it interacts and relates to and with the other systems.
We may even design, that is, conceive and create, novel, complimentary uses for the systems.
All this conscious "taking in" happens fast but processing it takes longer.
By breaking each system down, seeing how it works, what it's role is in the overall scheme of things, we can take care of the systems so they will provide the services they are intended to perform.
And this ongoing care is not brain exploding "work", it is fun. We get more out of it than we put in. ROI, return on investment. That, in a nutshell, is why we are attracted to what we perceive as play and averse to what we perceive as work. We want a return on the investment. What are we investing? Time.
We're funny saying things like "I don't have time." Huh? Yes, you have time, 24 hours each day. A wallet full. You can and do spend it. You can't save it. It's in the who, how, where, why and what we invest our time that we realize a dividend or gain.
I hope you'll subscribe so you can get notified when a new video drops.
I hope the vids will help bring that "space ship" back "down to earth" and give you the understanding and knowledge to take care of it one part at a time.
Roadtrek Rich Thanks Rich, I’m looking forward to it.
Roadtrek Rich - That's some seriously insightful wisdom you imparted. It's applicable to most things in life. Thanks for sharing! I subbed. 👍
Roadtrek Rich, I am a new subber after viewing 2 of your videos. I especially appreciate how you break down and analyze the decision making process.
I am attempting to do that to figure out what type of rv I want or, better choice of words, I can afford and manage bc I would really love a 25+ ft one but I don’t want to drive or tow something that big.
Btw, I am a 68 yo single woman who discovered last winter when I came across a YT channel that people live in vehicles and rv’s full time as a choice. At the time, I was vacationing in FL and extended my vacay to stay in a friend’s tiny toy hauler for 2 weeks. I found a wonderful FL 55+ community that allows RV’s to stay for a year for $3000 and live in it for 6 months. I ended up staying for 3 months and learned I don’t need a whole lot of possessions and can live quite small. It is possible to stay there year around for a monthly rent if I wanted to. If I were to do that, I would then get something a little bigger.
If I only stayed 6 months, I would need my daily driver to travel in for the other 6 months so I would have a van. That’s been my current thinking.
Then, other days I think I want a truck camper that I can take on and off when needed. Since I need a year to get rid of my possessions and house, I’ll be watching more YT and analyzing!
Most of all I’ll be applying your most important strategy of asking what can I live with and what can I live without!
Mo from NJ and...
Thank you for subscribing ! I had a 22 ft. Lazy Daze class c. For me it was too big because I couldn't use it on a daily basis in the same way I can use the Roadtrek 19 ft.
I can tell you that before I got any vehicle, I imagined a lot. When I did, the idea of having only 19 ft seemed like too little space.
So I got bigger for my first vehicle. The space was nice but I had other vehicles that were much more convenient for daily use so it just sat most of the time.
When I found a Roadtrek van, I decided I could sell my other vehicle and use the Roadtrek all the time.
For me it has worked out fine. It's a little thirstier with fuel but I have the essentials of my stick and brick house everywhere I go which makes life VERY convenient.
In the smaller platform, I can't carry as much stuff. But as I equip the Roadtrek, I find myself being very thoughtful about what I actually use.
I regularly take stock of stuff that starts accumulating. I assess whether it is something I use. If not, then I remove it. This keeps the van's contents leaner.
Food, especially dry and canned goods can collect. I evaluated my eating habits and removed the food that I "thought" I would use but didn't.
Don't get me wrong...we all need things and in the van there's plenty of space for those things. It's all the things we "think" we need or "will" use that take up space and make the van heavier and feel cramped.
If I stay on top of it, there is plenty of room for me and my stuff and the van has a very comfortable sized feel to it.
Remember, the people who designed and built this Roadtrek drove and lived in it from coast to coast in Canada. Their purpose was to build a platform that could accommodate the most in the least space.
I still am amazed at little things that have been built in. I can almost hear them thinking as they thought through how they were going to incorporate features and still leave plenty of flexibility for people to add their own personal and creative features.
I try to continue their process and use the same care and consideration when bringing something on board their creation that the creators used when designing this marvel of ingenuity.
Great Video!
I have a 1994 roadtrek, and I don’t know the house battery location.
I see wooden panel, but it is screwed down.
Great tour and video Rich! It's nice to see how one organizes their items they use on a daily basis. And what they utilize them for. I've found a Road Trek that the MSRP was over $150,000 new. It's a 2015, 27,000 miles & immaculate condition. What I like about that particular one is that it has the larger 2 door refrigerator (7.0 cubic feet), 5,000 watt solar system, and of course the motor generator rated at 2500+. Upgraded lithium batteries and no propane. Rated 20+ mpg with the Mercedes Benz Diesel engine. To put that into perspective, say on your 600 mile trip, it would take 30 gallons of fuel while yours would take 40. That would save me $22 to $24 on fuel. So say 600 miles a week, in a month I could save $100 in fuel (I'm trying to rationalize my decision here; lol). But those Dodge 318 motors are extremely reliable! Anyway, they wanted $110,000. Now $99,000. I've told them $79,000 & my manual bare bones 2011 KIA Sorento. Oh; it's a rare 24 foot long so there is like 4 feet behind the electric couch. On one side, I would stack a super small stackable washer/dryer as there is a hose/shower head for taking a shower outside and the previous owners added an additional water tank, besides the solar upgrades. After owning 5 homes, I currently don't have a "home base" and most items are in storage while I live in a garage. So "living in a van down by the river" would be a huge upgrade for me! Smile!!! I love the fact it's propane free. Think it's worth it?
Hi Greg, thank you for the comment. This is the kind of stuff I love sinking my teeth into.
Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
What is "rare" to one person is a deal breaker to another.
I have owned a 22' MH so I know that for me, 24' would be too long.
I park on the street. The longest vehicle that I can legally do that with is about 19 to 20 feet.
That mileage rating is pretty optimistic. The size and GVW of a 24' diesel powered sprinter, maybe a 3500 with dual rear wheels? I would expect more like 18 in anything other than pool table flat conditions with no wind.
This would factor in larger water tanks and the weight of the water, washer/dryer, larger refrigerator and contents, etc.
Even if the fuel mileage disparity existed, the cost per mile must include more than fuel. Higher costs for parts, labor, insurance, maintenance, tires, etc. would also have to be factored in for an average over say 50K miles.
I know from having restored 9 Benz diesels that the costs for parts are substantially higher than for a domestic. I would anticipate the same being true of the diesel sprinters and I have a little experience with them through the shop owner who helped me with my restorations. He's a 30 years of experience, factory trained, authorized Mercedes/Sprinter repair facility.
In two or so years, the sprinter has dropped from something near 150k to something near 75k. That's half. Will it lose more? Of course. Until it it has bottomed out on its depreciation cycle.
The amount saved at the fuel pump is gobbled up by the depreciation monster.
When all of the operating costs are factored in, I'm reasonably sure that a domestic will have lower numbers than a sprinter based chassis.
I guess that brings us back to the question...Is it worth it?
The good news is it is a Roadtrek. The company has been building a quality product for about forty years.
Roadtrek and other manufacturers chose Dodge chassis because Dodge vans stayed the same for 30 years and RV makers didn't have to retool, saving them time and R&D costs.
When Dodge stopped making vans, Roadtrek stuck with Dodge and the sprinter chassis.
However Roadtrek has also offered a Chevrolet chassis variant. Some of these were badged as 210.
In later years, the Chevy chassis and power plant has gained a solid reputation for long, trouble free service, low relative operating expense, ,etc.
Before I plunked down 80 large on a sprinter, I would see what kind of deal I might be able to make on a Chevy.
That is unless you happen to be someone over six feet or so.
That would be the one reason I might value the sprinter...if it still offers the headroom of earlier models.
When I started planning this many years ago, I was hell bent on getting a sprinter van and building it out myself. I had such a complete parts list, people bought the list just so they didn't have to do all the research.
I just could not find a van I was willing to go through this process with.
And once I objectively crunched the numbers, I changed my direction entirely.
I began looking for a Roadtrek.
What changed was my priorities. I shifted the emphasis of my efforts and concentrated on answering two questions...
What can I live with? What can't I live without?
As soon as I focused on answering those questions to my satisfaction, the field of potential candidate vehicles expanded widely.
As I weeded one after another out for one reason or another, the Dodge Roadtrek just kept hanging around.
I could spend a lot more money on this van both on mechanical things and accessories and never approach what I would have had to spend to get a sprinter completely outfitted.
My only advice would be to be willing to let go of all of the things you think you want and need. Start a fresh page, be willing to consider something completely different from every conceivable position.
And finally look not at the vehicle, the bells, the whistles.
Look at you. How do you want to do this thing?
Each vehicle will have advantages and disadvantages over another.
The question is which vehicle or group of them contains the ingredients you need in order to do what you want to do as economically, comfortably, and unrestricted as possible?
No matter what you choose, it comes with limitations. Your job is to mitigate the affects of those limitations so they don't interfere with what you are trying to accomplish.
As a designer, I know there are a multitude of ways to obtain the desired results.
The enjoyment and satisfaction, true success is getting as close to what I was aiming at as I can.
1000 ways to do this...1001 now that you've thrown your hat in the ring !
I just found you. Loved your video, very well done and explanations.Loved it but where is your spare tire? Also loved the video on the frig.
In one of my other videos I recounted the terrifying experience I had when one of the rear wheels came off the van! So Now the spare tire is occupying that location until I can find a road wheel to match the other three on the vehicle. Thank you for the comment Judy.
Yes, Roadtreks ae awesome vehicles. We have a 1995 210 popular
I have the same Roadtrek as you
Funny I also get notes on my windshield with some one wanting to buy it , we get stoped at the gas stations people wanting to look inside ,
We’re a family of 5 the seats convert to twin beds , lots of storage .
Love this Road trek
Hi, I am Jas. I love your channel and you and your fixes like your beer can with a piece of hose to get more water in. I am new to the VanLife and to making UA-cam videos, I am NOT full time YET, NOT until I fix up my Campervan how I want it. I subscribed and look forward to future videos, and if you get a chance please feel free to check out my UA-cam channel about starting to change from a house to a van.
Hey There! Question...I have a old dodge roadtrek and the "cloth" that walls the inside of the van, that blue carpet kind of material, have you tried cleaning that or doing anything with it? Mine is very shabby looking especially on the inside of the doors but I can't find anyone who has cleaned it or replaced it
You show it around minute 18 of your video
Thanks for the tour. I think will have to do a Roadtrek tour too. Your looks just like mind. If you need any tips on check out our channel, my husband is a master mechanic. Happy travels :-) Welcome to the Roadtrek family they are awesome homes :-)
Great explanation thanks! Just bought one exactly like this yesterday!! Got it for $8000.00 I think I scored. It has 26k miles. Quick question how do you run the microwave withought being plugged in?
Hi Nick, thanks for the question. Yes, absolutely you scored. Wanna sell it?
I'm just getting you prepared, you'll probably get asked that often, I do.
Yours must not have one of those onan on board generators, either, like mine.
I bought a 2000 watt modified sine wave inverter.
People say ooooh noo you'll ruin your electronic microwave.
Maybe...the modified is harder on it than a pure sine wave which is usually cleaner than house current but a 2000 watt pure sine wave one is about 8x what I paid for this one. I made a bid for it on eBay and won, it was pretty cheap, more than fifty less than a hundred.
Now with the inverter wired up to the house battery, all I do is plug the micro into the inverter via an extension cord, turn the inverter on, start the engine of the van and I have all the power necessary to run the microwave which could be as long as five minutes.
So let's say I want lasagna for lunch and I've got to run an errand. I'll put the food in the micro, run the errand and eat somewhere along the way.
Coffee, tea, soup, anything at all that can be heated any other way than micro, I heat another way.
So over time, about the only thing I use it for is heating left overs like pizza. But I'm eating healthier, raw vegetables, some cheese, chicken, turkey, roast beef, I used the micro yesterday to heat some pizza but honestly, I don't think I've used it in a couple of months.
The only other AC appliance is the air conditioner but I got a four stroke, very quiet, (LIKE A HONDA)1000 watt generator to run it that fits in the clothes closet behind the driver's seat and I replaced the air conditioner with a low power soft start Fridgidaire unit that draws about 650 watts. That set up was under 350.00. I just answered a question for another viewer and had to look at Walmart's website and noticed they have both the air conditioner unit and the generator on sale. Generator is 199 and the a/c, I think, was 149 so under 350 by a whisker.
Stay tuned, you might like the solar panel set up I'm putting in the Roadtrek. OR you might think I'm nuts. Either way, I hope you'll find it entertaining and informative. Subscribe and click the bell to get notified of new vids.
Welcome to the Roadtrek Family ! We've got Roatrek Rich, maybe you can become Roadtrek Nick.
Also, if you haven't checked him out yet, check out Hobotech on UA-cam. His name is Tom. He's a Roadtrek owner, same one we have but he does have an on board generator. He's done lots of upgrades and is a great resource. He also has a website Hobotech.TV where he has every part to every upgrade listed. He's done a lot of work to create a helpful, "one stop" for people who are looking for the kind of stuff we need for these 19 foot vans that work like a 40 foot motorhome and park like a car.
I realize this is an old video but was wondering... what kind of house battery are you using? Thnx...
Hi Boss Monster, thank you for the question. It is a Duracell Deep Cycle. Not really that great of a battery, lead acid, flooded, about 75 amp hour. I think it was about 120 dollars. I will probably get a larger and also larger capacity ( 100 ah ) battery in the future and wire them in parallel. It's a pretty meager amount of battery power, at present. But each thing in its time. I've learned to become pretty frugal with battery power so I guess that's a good thing.
@@RoadtrekRich Thnx for the answer. I just got a 1995 Dodge Versatile 190. Wanted to get the Popular (longer length rear seating area) but couldn't pass up on the deal on the Versatile. Anyways, the shorter rear section in the Versatile only gives me a small area to work with when it comes to the house battery (the generator takes up much of the space next to the battery), so any modification would allow for only one - somewhat - larger battery, would have been great to go with a dual setup. So now I guess it's deciding between one large Flooded, AGM, Gel, or Lithium Ion battery. Probably go with an AGM. Looks like I'll be going through your vids for some tips and tricks. Thnx again...
@@twofacepalmer1212, This is the one I'm going to get to add to the one I have. www.amazon.com/Universal-UB121000-45978-100AH-Cycle-Battery/dp/B00S1RT58C/ref=pd_sim_263_2/131-9173618-6805063?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00S1RT58C&pd_rd_r=70715b2f-2419-11e9-a720-93fce9026ffb&pd_rd_w=0gH91&pd_rd_wg=fFjne&pf_rd_p=90485860-83e9-4fd9-b838-b28a9b7fda30&pf_rd_r=3V4ESBS86A5T7BFPAKZE&psc=1&refRID=3V4ESBS86A5T7BFPAKZE
Sorry for the long link. Tom over at Hobotech channel got these and he's pretty happy with them.
Hey Dear Rich,
I just became worried about you. You need to add good fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains to your diet. We want you healthy and happy. Lean chicken, turkey or pork lion. Blessings
Hi GR. Believe me, I worry about my diet, too. But I'm living in the "Salad Bowl" of the world. I have fruits, vegetables, and plenty of other wholesome foods to consume. I eat a little meat, my favorite is steak but on salads, regularly have chicken, ham, turkey. The key in the van is to eat as close to earth as possible. That means mostly raw fruits and veggies, some rice or pasta, so that prep and clean up can be relatively simple and quick.
+Roadtrek Rich
This is good news. Pardon my mother hen input.
I am looking for a Roadtrek...
If you are looking of one like mine, they are scarce right now.
One allegedly in WA for 10300
Another at a dealer WA for 24000
One in Bullhead City CA for 21000
One at a dealer in Pheonix AZ for 25000
one in sunnyvale ca 18900...maybe.
one in Peculiar MO for 20000
another in Beech Island SC 19500
a possible one in NC 24500
one at a dealer in titusville FL for 28500
another dealer in sebring FL has one for 22500
So nationally, that's about it right now...10.
Some of these may not be real offers. They may be bogus phishing sites to harvest your email. I left out ones that were obvious to me to be bogus.
I set up a gmail account specifically for craigslist to send and receive responses. Some ads request I email a phone number so they don't trash my email response as spam. This can be a phishing site too. One that wants your phone instead of email.
Up to you. I usually try to stick to listings with a phone # but I have corresponded with many that started with an email.
Hope that helps you to look for a Roadtrek.
Note most of these are Versitiles. I don't know what % of Roadtreks were Populars but in all my searches, they seem harder to find than Versitiles and the 170 models are really scarce.
Roadtrek Rich thanks so much. A versatile is what I would like
.......'bout half thru this vid........gonna sign off.........wanted so much to see the Roadtrek..........not so much, the contents of cabs/drawers/closets, etc.......thx anyway........:)
I would be happy to fill your request. Not sure what you would like to see but if you let me know, I would be happy to record it for you. What I was trying to show was the combination of features, my impressions of them and how we all individually compliment them with our personalized accessories, etc.
Let me know what kind of a tour you would like to see, I'm sure it would make for interesting content. Thank you for your comment.
Roadtrek Rich ........thx for the gracious getback.........was interested in seeing the finished 'home' environment of your van........the closeups of the cabinet interiors deny the viewer's picture of what the design of the room looks like.........thatz what i love to see.........ty for asking........:)
I'll do my best. My camera is kind of the limiting factor. Some people use pretty wide angle lenses that work better. I'll try to get some better angles and views rather than the close up stuff for you. Thank you for the suggestions.
Roadtrek Rich ........the absence of expensive equipment is probably why this happens on some many van tours.......at least, thatz why it would happen in my vids.........usually leave a vid when this starts........i didn't know...........my apologies........:)