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2018 Roadtrek Zion Campervan Detailed Owner Review, February 2018
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- Опубліковано 11 бер 2018
- A detailed review and tour of our new 2018 Roadtrek Zion campervan.
For more videos, check out our UA-cam channel:
/ @hikenrv
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/ @hikenrv
I have watched many many reviews of the Roadtrek Zion over the last year and I have to say IMO yours is the most informative and useful. Thank you for doing it; looking forward to the "after 6 months" review.
Thank you Larry for your comments! Looking forward to putting together an update as well.
I moved my whole house in my Zion (configured with the walk through aisle as opposed to the rear seat). I've also moved long pieces of lumber and my kayak in the center aisle. I REALLY like the Zion compared with my Chev 190 I owned previously. The location of the front washroom is also really handy if you or your passenger has a problem walking (which my wife has). Very comfortable camping in the winter if you have outside electrical power and can use an electric heater. If you need more heat you can always go to your on board propane heater. I've taken my Zion over some pretty rough (lumber) roads with no problem. The fact the Zion has front wheel drive you always know where your drive wheels are. Important in muddy back roads. Sleeping longitudinally or laterally no problem (I'm 5' 8"). I use those 25 Gallon plastic containers you can buy at most box stores for extra storage in the center aisle.
I LIKE your shower curtain modification. Great Idea! I use lap tables for dining up front instead of the RV table. I agree..putting the table up front is just too much of a hassle to move the seats around. Also I don't like to shut off my engine during short stops. And when you leave the engine on you get a beeping alert when you turn either of the two front seats around...which is annoying. ALSO..when you have the seat turned around you can not move the gear shift out of Park. You have to make sure both seats are pointing forward and locked in place before you can move the shift out of park. I did buy a lap top table with cup holders that I fix on the RV table in the back and secure it with a bungee. Not great for looks but it works when you're carrying passengers who want drinks.
BADGUY 1 appreciate your tips in both this and your second comment. Like you we have found the Zion pretty good on forestry roads, albeit a bit noisy with the bumps and also good so far in snow. And certainly our preference to use an electric heater if we can in winter! Thanks for sharing your experience!
I LOVE this video. This is exactly the stuff I look for. I drove 60 miles last weekend to checkout the Roadtreks. This video was almost more helpful than that! Reality is soooo useful!! Thanks!!
Glad it was helpful! It was one of our first, so certainly some ways to improve. We have a few other subsequent reviews ; at 6 months, 1 year etc you may find useful, though they tend to discuss less about the van itself.
Great detailed video. We purchased a new 2017 Roadtrek Zion a little over a year ago and have very few complaints. We looked at the Pleasure-Way Lexor but wanted a coach that did not have a standard generator with its noise and maintenance issues (we have not had to use the volt start feature to date). We too are from Canada (Ontario) and didn't think about our running lights automatically turning on once the engine starts so thanks, this is good to know. We have a few long distance trips under our belt at this point and we are averaging 19 to 20 mpg on the highway at 60 mph (Canadians can easily convert to kms). The only frustrating part for us is that with some terrible highways along the way, cabinets have started to shift and loosen a bit, but that is probably true with most models. We store our coach during the winter as well and last winter I took it out once every two weeks for a run. I do this as opposed to letting it just idle to get the rpms high enough to properly charge my chassis battery. Of course, I'm also charging my 2 lithium coach batteries as well. I disengage the negative chassis battery cable during winter storage but, as you know, the battery is located under the floor panel on the driver's side of the vehicle and a pain to get to. This spring I had the dealer install a battery kill switch located inside the cab to make things a little easier. Anyway, I hope you both enjoy your new Roadtrek!
Bill Fairservice thanks for your comments and for sharing some of your experiences as well! This year we often used our Zion even in poor weather, but if not, like you we would take it out for a short drive every 10 days or so. And yes, so nice not to have the generator noise! Lots of places to visit out this way, so hope to see your Zion out west next spring or summer.
Not having the loud external generator is a blessing when in a camp ground that limits use after 10:00PM.
Bill Fairservice
Hey Bill, Just reading your comments after watching the excellent review on the Zion by Hike’n RV. As you live in Ontario (as we do) I was wondering if you could share a couple of things with us to help with our first MotorHome purchase. From your comments I assume that you are happy with the RT Zion fit and finish, could you let me know where you purchased your RV and what you thought about the dealer and lastly, what did you pay for your RV, if you don’t want to give me exact $$ could you give me an idea in %age from MRSP. Much appreciated. Gary.
@@badguy1481 It's also considerate of the people around you who do not have to listen to it before 10PM.
Great video, were in a Class C 25’ right now.....so I’m running the Pros and Cons, largest issue I have is storage, bedding, blankets, clothes, chairs, small table, exterior stove etc. Appreciate the share, very informative✌🏻✌🏻
Thank you and no question, in a class b storage is much more limited, though we find that if we take only what we really need we have enough. We do however look for things like chairs that pack small and are light. Still there are times we wish for just a little more space, especially when we bring along something like our inflatable kayak!
Great video. For my Simplicity I built a couple of wooden shelves with lips. They just hook onto the rear window wells. There is enough of a gap there that it does not interfere with the privacy screen or the bug screen.
Marc Dsh a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
What a great review! Huge bonus points for filming in the bathroom, that was always a concern of mine was the size but you provided a true view with scale. Well done and enjoy your Zion. You helped me a lot.
Thanks Jim
Thanks James. New to this so we are still working to get video and audio right, but glad this helped you. We really enjoy the Zion so far, and looking forward to many trips in the future.
For cup holders, buy some standard ones and find a way to attach them to glides under your small table, so you can pull them out when needed. The other way is to buy collapsible silicon cups and stick them on top of your table and just press them down when not in use.
Lass-in Angeles thank you for the advice! Later we found some which hang off the window sills and work OK as long as the cup not too full. Will look at the attachment option you suggested as well.
I believe Amazon has the collapsible cup holder that attaches to the wall, also check marine supply stores. Use heavy duty Velcro to attach and of course the detachable hooks that can be arranged to hold cell phones. Your video was very informative. I appreciate the positive and most importantly negative feed back. The bathroom can feel extended by using a extended curtain
rod that bends outward so the shower curtain doesn't stick to your body while in the shower. Also one man put Velcro on the
edge of both of the bathroom doors so they stick together better when out at a angle. THANK YOU for sharing.
Janet Folkerts thank you for the comments and the suggestions! Helpful! We did buy some simple cup holders off Amazon that fit nicely into the window sills/grooves and work well enough.
Thank you Mickey for being a lovely assistant.
M Daze thank you for your comment! Gordon did all the heavy lifting on this one! 😆
Nice to see a thoughtful, in-depth interview by actual owners. What about your overall impression of build quality ? Do you feel like the cabinets, plumbing, and other Roadtrek-built bits & pieces are well put together ?
David Huff thank you for your kind comments. As for build quality, generally it seems fine, but still early in our ownership. Our impression is that the RT factory has a lot of demand and thus quality control may be then be an issue, but not for us so far. We have had two minor warranty issues, but nothing significant. The dealer and RT were able to address quickly. There are some design improvements that we might suggest once we have settled in a bit more.
Excellent report! We are looking for a 20' RV. Your report helps us a lot! Thank!
Glad we could help! Enjoy the search!
Great video and love the transition 😉🖒from winter to spring🤗 Will be following you. I'm shopping now. Agree with your assessments on the Travato, for me, it's insulting they only offer a 1 one warranty for a vehicle costing $80,000.00+ 🖓🖓🖓 Best to you and yours on your journey 🖒🖒🖒
Steve Rossi thank you and enjoy the shopping! Hope this helps!
Mod the table off center, possibly also with a swivel arm, so you can move it around horizontally as needed. Se the 'Lagun table mount' for inspiration.
KarasekUS . Thanks for this. I followed your reference on the Lagun Table and it is something to explore further.
Just subscribed due to your honest reviews and video quality. In the process of making a decision on which class B to go with. Currently seriously considering the Travato Gl. Also based on my experience with my VW westfalia closing the side door without slamming is much easier with the passenger door open or window cracked open. Be safe.
Raven M. Thank you for your suggestion, comment and subscription! We have found it is slightly easier as well, but often forget and you still need to give it a good pull regardless. It can “sound” closed, but not tight enough to lock the doors. We quite liked the Travato, but the lithium batteries , Underwood generator, Voltstart were high on our list. Since then there is something similar (stats look even better! ) on the Travoto which the makes the decision that much tougher..all good choices, just find what fits your needs best and we are sure that you will enjoy! And we “love”Westfalias! Have you seen the Recon campers on the Nissan chassis? We haven’t actually had the opportunity to physically view one, but did see one on a UA-cam video and it looked quite interesting, but quite different than a class b.
What I'd like to see about class b vans is a video on how one puts the sheets on the reconfigured sofa versions to make a bed?
Just how do you tuck the sheets under the cushions? What is the size of each configuration and where do you buy the sheets to make each configuration into a bed?
What happens if you need to replace a cushion? Where do you buy a replacement? At least with a class a or c buying a replacement mattress is fairly easy. Same with sheets.
Jack Brown. Hi Jack, some interesting questions and suspect others may have some better answers only in that we are relatively new to this. With regard to sheets, we simply tuck in some between cushions and are using either light sleeping bags or a down blanket to sleep in. Works well for us, and is simple to set up. We moved from backpacking to this so easy is best and we sleep well this way. I know the folks on RV Lifestyle (roadtreking.com/the-most-important-part-of-an-rv/ )have some info on sheets etc they use in their class B. As for cushions, well for six years everything is under warranty so we would look to RT to replace if applicable. If our fault or after that would likely just get a local upholstery place to retrofit as needed.
Great review, I have a Simplicity SRT and that answered quite a few of my questions keep up the good work!
Urbanwarrior thanks for your comment! Glad we could help and enjoy your van 🚐.
A very good detailed review! My wife and I are considering getting a Zion. Thanks for sharing! 😀👍
Thank you and appreciate the comments. Was literally about to send you the link to the 6 month review when your next comment popped up! Hope this was helpful and enjoy the search...lots of fun to look as well!
@@hikenrv Quick question - Do you find solar panels are a good thing to have?
Haswell Travelled where we live of limited benefit most of year, but during the summer they do help...especially at mid day. We could easily get by without them given our lithium batteries, but would order again. If you ever have other questions you can email us at hikenrv@gmail.com , if we can help we will. Thanks for watching! 🚐
@@hikenrv Thanks a bunch for your info. Take care!
Hike'n RV....Finally a real review of pro's and con's of the Promaster Class B van ! I'm looking to purchase a Promaster and concerned about build quality. When looking at the new Roadtrek Zion & Winnebago Travatos; I noticed a large air gap (1inch or 2.54 cm in diameter) in the lower rear center of the doors ( I could see daylight); most likely the cause of your cold air problem; it appears that a re-designed door gasket for the rear door area is needed? In addition, I believe controlled ventilation via awning style windows may be the best to allow plenty of controlled ventilation during inclement weather conditions and during sleeping for van security. Would also like to see TWO roof ventilation fans (one in front and one in the rear) for natural ventilation. The Fit RV had their Travato modified to include all water lines within the van body so they could camp in colder climates...wish this modification would become the standard so the need to winterize (RED STUFF) is minimized. Thanks for the information on inability to extend/retract the powered awning when engine running; to include auto exterior light activation during VOLT-start mode (especially at night during sleep time). The rear table clearance problem has been resolved in the new Pleasureway Lexor with an articulating arm style table design mounted on the side of the floor as opposed to the center mount in the walking path. Like the fact that you changed the tires to Geolander's for more 4-season travels...do you get allot of road noise? Thanks for your honest review and reporting issues that sales staff never talk about.
Hi Mike and thanks for your comments. Bottom line, there is room for improvements in any of the models. On the gap at the rear of the doors, yes there is one and we have blocked when in use on a temporary basis. Looking to mod something a bit more permanent. An easy fix hopefully. Hadn’t realized Pleasureway had addressed the table issue so will look to what they added, but there is a RV/sailboat table that looks like it would work well. Last, I have been very pleased with the Geolander GO15 tires. They work well in snow and are quiet (but remember we are in a van where everything rattles a bit). All in all, the van is quite pleasant to drive!
We also have a 2018 Zion purchased in August. We put a layer of self adhesive, black gasket on top of the existing one at the bottom of the rear door area, purchased at Lowe’s. We removed the rear door panels, placed insulation in the area and we also use a blanket across the doors at night for additional warmth. Regarding the batteries, our manual says to turn one on at a time then press the corresponding reset button. As a matter of personal preference, we reversed the mirrors on the bathroom doors, had to sand/scrape two corners of one of the door openings but they fit snugly and prefer this look. Overall, we love the rv and purchased it primarily for the 6 year warranty, underhood generator, and lithium batteries. Also, we drive it in tow/haul mode.
Thanks so much for info and I'm glad you enjoy your VAN. I'm surprised that Promaster has yet to correct this GAP issue with the Rear Doors; owners' should report this to Promaster as well as their respective dealers...I will be checking out the Lexor next month to see if problem occurs with another builder.
This is a terrifically helpful video; thank you! One question: does your Zion have front wheel or four-wheel drive? What's been your experience with that?
Glad you found useful! The Zion is built on the Dodge Promaster which is front wheel drive. The main bonus to that is a short turning circle so very easy to turn around on roads etc. Truly enjoy driving the van, though would prefer a bit more clearance at times. We have had no issues, but does mean on the odd occasion some really rough roads not something we would try. In over two years though we have never had an issue. Our other reviews (6 months and one year) add a bit more about our experience with the van itself.
Maybe somebody already told you this , but your blinds in the rear side windows were installed incorrectly . The screen side should pull out at the open window and the darkening side should be at the none open part of the window . Great tour . Thanks .
Stan Watkins thank you and no one mentioned before. Not something we had noticed. Still works well, but that seems a better fit.
@@hikenrv As it turns out Roadtrek did this on purpose . I saw another video of a Simplicity that does the same thing . I would love to know their logic on this . Happy Trails .
Excellent info. Thank you. You've helped me decide to buy a Zion. I noticed you're storing your Zion outside. Is that working out ok? I'm concerned about the solar panel and and also overall weathering effects. So I'm thinking indoor storage even though its expensive.
Doug Ascoli we went though much of the same points, including adding a cover. Many folks in worse climate than ours seem fine with outdoor storage, but we too were tempted by indoor storage. Our issue came down to use; we like to use our van often (almost every week) and indoor storage was difficult in that case. We haven’t had an issue, the paint seems quite good, but certainly indoor or at least covered would be the best choice if it worked for you.
We could not see the step to enter the van. Wish there was more storage space out back - But nice.
A good point! Steps are electronic in that they open/retract when the door opens/closes (you can lock out the power step on the sliding door when camping though- and even if you forget it will retract when the van starts). We would actually prefer fixed steps as we occasionally have problems with them. We often use the bathroom for temporary storage while traveling…but of course you then need to remove if you use it.
Great video. Since I travel all the time for work, The wife and I are considering one of these.
King Samson thank you for your comment. We have really enjoyed ours and will do a six month update in mid to late July, but overall it has been great. A class B is small, but easy to,park and drive. You live outdoors as much as possible. Enjoy if you do decide to purchase!
hi i am in the UK this van is made by Peugeot and Citroen great van i have 245k miles on my van, closing the side door if you have the front windows open or a door open the side door will close without slamming
bill mcfarlane thank you for the tip! A few others have mentioned as well...our challenge is simply remembering! Appreciate you sharing how much you like your van as well.
Very exhaustive review, it does show little things I had not seen or heard (furnace) before. Thanks
Thanks Robert, that was our intent - to add in the things you don't usually see in the videos from dealers who sell these. Focused more from the user perspective.
Little things that only a owner would share..not things that a salesman would share.
I want to express my gratitude for such a though review of this model.Just wish to know about the warranty for the van & power train.
Robert Keenan you are most welcome and you may find our follow up 6 month review of interest as well. As for warranty; the RT is 6 years for coach and transferable once (we believe)..everything is covered including appliances. For the Promaster it is the usual auto warranty; basic is 3 years (60,000 km) and 5 year power train (100,000 km). For US models we believe it is the same, but 36,000 miles and 60,000 miles respectively. The RT warranty is one of the best (if not the best) in the industry.
Awesome thorough review!!!
Wished you showed us the refrigerator, is it 3 way? , also is the microwave the convection type??
Finally, is the zion 4x4 and has insulation on the pipes for wintery weather??
Looking forward to more reviews as you use your Zion more.
Gina Brown thank you for your comments! We just finished our 6 month review (will post soon) and we did add a short clip of the fridge. To your questions: first the fridge is electric only (technically it runs off off battery), but as such works great as you will likely always have power. Microwave is standard, not convection (not enough room I suspect) and no the Zion is FWD only, but works very well in snow-see our spring snow-camping video. Last there is no or little insulation on the water/waste water lines or tanks, but you can still use the Zion in winter if you winterize: effectively remove the water for the season, less convenient perhaps but works well.
@ Gina Brown:
No, MOST of the Class B makers don't even TRY to make their coaches 4-Season, even the Canadian makers. TMK, only Winnebago does, such as their Revel 4x4 and Paseo 48P. Canadian Class B makers SHOULD know how to make a 4-season RV, and SHOULD be producing them, but they don't -- a serious market oversight and missing what more and more of the buying public wants TODAY (not wanting to stay in RV parks all/most the time hooked-up to power/water, AND not having to forego using their RV in the Winter for fear of things freezing). Still, the Canadian makers are stuck in the past, even if their technology has gotten better (Roadtrek's Volt Start and "under hood generator" are 2 great features!), the actual real-world usability hasn't -- IMO...
Winnebago ALSO takes the lead by offering a more capable off-road motor-home (the Revel) and no one else is doing THAT either (except "specialty" 3rd-party Class B makers such as Sportsmobile).
Finally, IIRC Winnebago offers more SOLAR than the other makers, too (although IMO it's still too little at 400 Watts...the "industry-standard" offering should be at least 600-700 Watts by now (2 large panels). Given the increasing popularity nowadays of "Overlanding" we've been seeing recently, I don't know why the ALL the B-makers don't get up to speed (like yesterday!).
For sure, when I get MY Class B, I want:
1. 4-season capability, as I want to use my RV all year long, especially Winter (to visit friends in snowy/freezing/sometimes-blizzard-conditions up in Colorado) and don't want to mess with winterizing.
2. 4x4 or AWD, so I can go more places NOT reachable by paved roads. Nothing serious like rock-crawling of course, but dirt/gavels and some rocks/steep inclines. And better traction in rain & snow conditions. I'll be using All Terrain tires on my Class B as well -- the Revel 4x4 has VERY capable BF Goodrich KO2 AT tires as an option -- I'd GET them!
3. All the solar I can get (~1KW, 3 large rigid panels, mounted on the OEM roof-rack)) and lithium batteries (4 would be max) so when I AM boon-docking, I can stay out there longer. And, I'll be getting a small wind turbine (marine-type as boats have been using for years) to back up my solar during overcast days, or @ night when (of course) solar doesn't work at all. As long as there's wind -- day or night -- the wind turbine will be producing. Or, if I want to park in the shade, it would harm solar gain but not stop the wind turbine.
As for those type of refrigerators you mentioned, forget those old (and obsolete!) 3-way ammonia/absorption units...a COMPRESSOR unit is the way to go NOW (and are coming on more and more RVs, such as the Nova-Kool brand of refrigerator/freezers). Not only are they WAY superior to the old technology, they cool/freeze regardless of how hot is gets outside. And best of all, they use very little electrical power to do it! And I like the INDUCTION cooking top some Class Bs come with nowadays (like the Revel 4x4)...and some don't even need propane for heating so the coach is propane-free. We'll be seeing MORE of these all-electric RVs in the future (hence the need for more serious solar output from the Class B makers, AND cheaper lithium batteries -- no more AGM batteries, thank you, they were WAY better than the lead-acid types, but with lithium technology, the AGMs are on their way out, too).
So while I like the excellent Roadtrek warranty -- yes, it IS the best in the industry, even of all the OTHER classes of RVs (and Pleasure-Ways' @ 5 years coverage -- not sure about Leisure Van's warranty) -- it's just not enough to make up for (for ME) NOT having the features I MUST have in My Class B (as mentioned above): 4-Season, 4x4/AWD and a larger solar array (and batteries to store it).
Good luck choosing your RV,
-- BR
P.S.
I'd prefer a GAS engine 4x4/AWD Class B (preferably with the very capable Ford 3.5 EcoBoost engine, which may be the best engine for a Class B motor-home power AND mpg-wise) and an American-made chassis (Ford/Dodge)...but no one (even Winnebago) makes one. So for now, the only choice is the Mercedes Sprinter chassis and diesel engine. I'm hoping in 2-3 years -- when I'm ready to buy -- one of the Class B makers will come out with a Ford/Dodge chassis gas-engine AWD/4x4.
But only time will tell...
-- BR
How much of rooftop AC unit do you use?
Those who argue that "the noise and inconvenience of use of propane/gas generator to power rooftop AC is not a big deal" say that:
1- the coach AC unit on the front is sufficient to cool 20-21' RVs;
2- the rooftop AC is seldom used because the inside RV temperature does not get all that hot and it can be dealt with by turning on the rooftop fan or by opening the windows.
I may believe the #1, but much less so the #2. Since my choice is between PW Lexor and Roadtrek Zion, could you all share your experience with me? Thanks
W Lee great question; and a couple of answers. We would generally agree on points one and two; we have rarely used the AC, even in quite warm temps as long as an open window, (and side door if we are there) and fan has often worked well enough, but we do try to minimize our exposure to sun (e.g. park in shade when we can). Class B’s can get very hot if you don’t. Last summer total AC usage likely under 1 hour. But most of travel was in BC where humidity is low. We do however use the Underwood generator on occasion to recharge our batteries a little, and it is very quiet (!) when compared to other RV generators. Doesn’t bother us or the camping neighbors. We quite like the Pleasureway, but the lithium batteries and the under-hood generator definitely made the difference for us. Everything seems to be a trade off and either is a great choice.
@@hikenrv Thank you for the reply.
From reading other posts, I think it is climate dependent. In most of the US, I think the rooftop AC and under-hood generator should be a must.
Yes, after much thought, although I love the finish of PW, the under-hood generator makes me to favor a regular Zion. Ease of parking of regular Zion versus Zion SRT is no longer an issue for me. I have simulated parking my sedan with back bumper sticking 21 ft from the from bumper, versus 19.5', and I don't think there is a noticeable difference.
One thing that PW CEO said was that he was not yet fully convinced of reliability and serviceability of lithium battery system in the newer RVs. It is an interesting that you and SoloTraveler mentioned issues with batteries soon after the purchase.
W Lee you remind me (Gordon)of me (e.g. parking tests given the length of vans). We certainly like the UH generator, but we did have few issues with one of the lithium batteries (simply failed on occasion). RT looked at (via dealer) and just replaced so hopefully no further issues. We have found both the dealer and RT to be quite helpful. You may also wish to look at the Hymer models, same technology as the Zion and now with similar rear sofa option if of interest. Also, thanks for the white paper on batteries..an interesting read, but we can’t really offer much in way of commentary. Our batteries seem fine in the cold we have seen to date, Hope to hear soon about your travels in your class B!
@@hikenrv
1-I tried to email RT and was automatically sent to their chatroom assistant who was courteous and attentive. He/she replied that the whitepaper by the Advanced RV was vague and not conclusive; and suggested charging up the batteries before shutting them down for winter storage. I would not still dismiss Advanced RV's whitepaper since they were the first one to introduce use of lithium batteries in RVs and are known to be thorough and highly quality oriented.
2-as to Hymer, my reservations are twofold (a) cassette toilette and (b) narrow walkway. I question how easily and thoroughly one can empty cassette in bathrooms in truck-stops/rest areas, since there would be no hose to wash inside of the cassette (at least, as seen in videos).
Excellent.
How do you keep your batteries in sufficient charge during storage? I have heard and seen many battery difficulties caused by storage and or parking.
My wife and I will very likely buy a Zion and are working our way through the learning process.
We will need to store offsite in a single stall, enclosed, public locked facility w/o electricity 15mi. away.
You both are excellent communicators thank you so much!!!
barney61ful thank you so much for your kind comments. I am certain that you will enjoy the purchase...the hardest part is deciding and then waiting if not already on the the lot! Our storage situation is similar to what you described. As for the coach batteries Roadtrek suggested to to us to try to top off every three weeks or so, but feedback we have seen on the Facebook page dedicated to Zion’s has suggested longer may be OK. For the Promaster itself we have heard you should run the engine to charge battery at least every two weeks (unless you can trickle charge). So that is what we heard, but here is what we do: if we are not using each week then one of us pops by and either runs the coach for 20 or 30 minutes or we take it out for a 30 minute drive. Works for us. As relatively mew owners we are likely more conservative, but no battery problems at all so far. Lots of other folks probably store and leave for a long period and then deal with recharging batteries later, but we haven’t tried that.
@@hikenrv What is the mileage per gallon? And what type of fuel it uses?
We average about 18 mpg, a little better on flat highway and closer to 12 if lots of uphill. Ours is a gas engine.
I. I’m impressed with the video. Single woman looking at buying similar. van for health reasons. Thank you so much
Diana Covert you are most welcome and we hope it helped in your search! We think it would be almost perfect...you could also look at the SRT (a bit shorter). We will have our one year review out a in week or two. Less details about the van, more just discussing how it has worked for us. You may find useful as well.
Thank you for your very well done review.....a few questions I have. Which engine do you have ? Gas vs Diesel ? Is it built on the 3500 chassis ?How does it power up the mountains ? ....I should add that we love BC and on our way up to Alaska was pleasantly surprised by the wildlife and beauty ....excited to take the new campervan back to Alaska.
Thank you for your comments! When we ordered the only option for the Zion was gas and it is on the 3500 chassis. It is adequate on the mountain roads (we can stay at the speed limit), but as it is still new we haven't pushed it too hard yet. Short turning circle makes it enjoyable to drive. And yes, BC is a beautiful province - we are off shortly to the west coast of Vancouver Island and hope to share some of the great scenery from there. Would love the drive up to Alaska though, enjoy!
Hi, we are living at Downtown Vancouver (near Stanley Park). We are looking for a 20' RV and have talked to a couple of dealers for a Zion SRT. I have a question: where can I find a place to store a RV near Downtown Vancouver? Thanks in advance for your advice.
Hi Max, thanks for following up by email. Hope it all works well for you!
Many thanks for making this video, this helps a lot!
RC you are welcome! We are planning on a 6 month review in the next few weeks. Hopefully you will also find useful.
As a single retired person I like the small front table
Aqua Stone thanks for the comment..and yes, it would certainly be a better fit for one!
So, if you do not mind sharing - what did you pay. Enjoyed your video.
Dianne Harris thanks for the comment. We paid about 13% less than asking sale price. We found one with similar features for sale in Ontario and the dealer largely agreed to match (or close to it) and ordered in what we thought was the slow season (Oct), but my impression now is that for the factory there is no slow season...they are busy!
Have you used your voltstart system? What’s your appreciation? Any concern with regard to the law (engine idling without surveillance)?
Robert Blanchette yes, a few times. We show it being used in our 6 month review (just after the 18 minute mark) we have used it only two or three times. where it has actually had to come on. It works and Is nice to have if you are somewhat concerned about losing power..for us that is primarily if we leave our cat alone with the AC on but even then we would not go for too long if weather extreme. Interesting points re idling law and suppose one may argue you were actually charging not idling....but for most trips you would likely be remote areas, so likely few apply and it is really on for back up not regular use.Technically however we would assume it may fall under ‘generator hours’ in most parks, but is is so much quieter! We do on occasion simply run the engine to charge our batteries and if in a park campsite we always follow the generator time period, though we usually only charge for 20 minutes or so. One thing..a least in Canadian models the driving lights also come on if the Voltstart starts the engine.
Thanks, keep on the good work. This video really answered a lot of questions I had.
Hi, Happy New Year to the 3 of you. Just watched this one and have a couple of questions. First, have you ever used the Eliminator jump start pack? We have had battery problems already. And second question is how do you like the Yokohama tires? We are considering a change of tires for the same reasons you had.
Our first video if we recall correctly! We haven’t had to use the battery pack, other than as a light once. Holds a charge for a long time. Our original battery lasted less than one year and was replaced under warranty. Next one lasted about 3, neither let us down, but did set off warning lights as getting low. We really like the Yokohama’s, but for our van may change when needed to either Nokian Outpost AT or Michelin Agilis Cross Climates. Former is a little more aggressive tread (we think) and the latter is very much a favorite for owners of RT vans. Happy New Year and safe travels in 2023!
@@hikenrv Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. And safe travels for you three this year too.
I’m looking for an RV and I have been looking at this model. I do like this one. Thank you for your review. I would probably get more use from the outdoor shower. Where I live, we have three seasons of summer. 😫
thanks Melinda for your kind comment. Three seasons of summer, we are often lucky to get one, though winters can be mild. We will finally de-winterize this weekend and it will be the first time to use (test) the outdoor shower.
You stated that the Van won't turn on when.
A. Seats are turned around
B. Awning is out.
Will the engine still start with the Volt start button On while awing out or seats turned around?
Hmmm, to be honest we have never had this situation occur,. Note; for us it was the awning that wouldn’t come out if the engine was running. We don’t know if Voltstart will start the engine if the seats are turned around. We never have used Voltstart in the last few years or at least have had to have it run. We tested it once and did set it on occasion, but rarely. Now we don’t bother as our power is alway sufficient for our needs. It would be an interesting test, and if our batteries look like they are getting low at some point soon, we will try to test and update.
@@hikenrv Thank you Miki and Gordon for the fast reply. I really do appreciate it and glad to hear you always have power. I figured I would ask about the Voltstart. I definitely want the 270 Watt Solar like you have. I saw a Zion SRT, which is the shorter version at a motorcycle race this weekend and I fell in love. Always wanted a Class B vehicle like a Sprinter, Promaster. I started to look at Airstream which is way over priced, Winnebago, Coachman, and many more. But the Roadtrek looks the best fit for my lifestyle. Thank you for your great review with the walk through and I am currently watching your 2 year review right now.
Also, would you ever think about designing your own next time? I have thinking about that to make sure the insulation was excellent.
Certainly the best way to get what you want! One of the challenges we found in looking at class b's was the trade-offs between brands and models. The Zion was the best fit for us for now, insulation would certainly be an area for improvement.
Do you live in a housing development that has an HOA? I’m curious because I do and I thought that if I purchased a camper van 20’ or less, it wouldn’t be an issue because it looks like a regular van.
Hi Kathleen, no we don’t live in an HOA, but where we live don’t have space for a van. I think the rules vary, but with an awning and a AC unit ours does look more like a small RV. It is just over 20 feet as well. You would likely need to confirm first.
Your Eliminator battery charger looks good. Would really appreciate the model number if/when possible.
S Gray here is the link to The model we purchased (www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-eliminator-750-a-lithium-ion-booster-pack-and-power-bank-0111906p.html#srp). Note we have never needed to use it, but we do check it every month or two to make sure it is fully charged (which is easy to do). You can get more powerful models, but not as portable. For up to a 5 l engine (gas) or a 2.5 l diesel.
I am trying to decide between SRT and regular length Zion based on ease of parking on regular city parking lots. Could you share your experience on this matter?
W Lee if you plan on parking a lot in a city then likely the SRT a better choice. We didn’t get to test drive an SRT so a bit of a guess. I think we touch on this in our 6 month review, but generally we don’t find parking an issue for us, but we have only parked a few times in the city. In most cases we are right on the maximum length and if possible try to either get a spot at front or back for a bit extra space (or front or rear at bit over curb) and it seems to work fine. Likely in a big city not as easy. Malls are an issue, but usually head to the back somewhere where we can up a bit more room. One thing, double check the specs on the SRT, most are likely the same but the propane might a just a bit smaller. A bit of trade off; room or smaller parking, and there are certainly times where being a bit shorter would have helped, but not many. If you ever take a BC Ferry the SRT is the same price as a car, but the Zion will cost an extra $6. Best advice: if you can try both.
Best review I’ve seen! TYVM for sharing with us. Can you take it out for Winter camping?
Joyce DeBolt thank you for your comment! We have not taken ours out camping in the snow (yet),but absolutely. The coach however is not well insulated, so you will need to use furnace often or if you can plug in use a small heater. We have camped in just below freezing weather and they work fine, but we also use reflectix in our windows and some blankets to cover rear/side doors. Kept us toasty at just below freezing and we are looking forward to trying in the snow. That may need to wait until next year unless we venture in the mountains near here.
Did the extra insulation work?
Very little effect....adding temporary insulation in windows and on doors as needed at night was much more effective!
Great video! The only question I have is where were you camping at the end of the video? It looked like a great site. ✌️
Thanks Ray! We went back to Porteau Cove, a small provincial park on the ocean about 40 minutes north of Vancouver, BC.
Thanks for this outstanding review!
The two Lithium-Ion Batteries can be charged via three methods, underhood generator, solar and voltstart. To secure charging of the batteries, "in all instances" you must push the on and then the reset button for the batteries and then the inverter much also be turned on, is this correct?
First, sorry for the delay in responding. For whatever reason this just showed up this week. Also, thank you for your kind comment! To your question, yes the batteries need to be connected and on in each case, but the inverter only needs to be on for charging from shore power. Hope this helps, albeit late!
Great review. Does the outdoor shower have hot/warm water capability?
joapp....sorry for delay, out of WiFi zones! Yes, the shower has hot and cold. A great selling feature for after a too hot hike or to rinse off your dog.
According to page 9 of the
advanced-rv.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Advanced-RV-Batteries-V4-White-Paper.pdf
a white paper by Advanced RV, the lithium batteries have minimum and maximum temperatures for (a) charging, (b) discharging, (c) short term storage and (d) long term storage. The paper gives data for different battery brands.
Since you live in Canada, I do know you can have very cold winter temperatures. Have you ever had any issue with your batteries? How do you protect against low temperatures during RV storage? Can you remove your lithium batteries for storage?
In the same vein, I see UA-cam videos of dealers from Canada where the RVs are buried in snow. I have never met a salesperson who touched on this issue.
As an example for PW lithium (LiFePO4 type) batteries the recommended temperatures are:
(a) the minimum temperature for storage and discharge is -4 F and
(b) the minimum temperature for charge is 32 F,
(c) the maximum temperature for charge and storage is 113 F.
A quote from Lithotronics regarding their system:
"The ePower must be kept between -4°F and 149°F at all times. The recommended temperature range is between 32°F and 100°F for optimal life time. Exposing the ePower battery to temperatures below -4°F will cause the battery to freeze. Such damage is not covered by warranty. The ePower batteries freezing temperature does not change with the state of charge like it does with lead acid batteries."
I would interested in your opinion on this issue.
Thanks
Hi there - for some reason your comments ended up in a closed section on UA-cam, so not public. Not sure why. To your comments and questions; Not aware of any issues with the RT batteries and cold (their own technology). My suggestion would be to contact RT on their website for a more technical response. In our case we don't usually have really cold winter temperatures, usually not below freezing, but have not seen or had an issue at -14 f that we had for a few days last year. I had heard that some lithium type batteries had some issues, but haven't heard that problem with anyone I know of with a RT. That said, we have had some issues with one of our batteries, but not in the cold. RT plans to replace. Note that RT covers the batteries with a six year warranty. Hope this helps. Look forward to reading the while paper.
make that 14 f, not -14.
@@hikenrv Thanks for your reply. Since it appears that you are in BC, you would not experience -4 F winters, I presume. I will try to pose the question to RT on their website. I would be interested in hearing about your opinion of what is said in the white paper, though. I had posed the same question to Ultramobility, who had said he had experienced -30 F winters in Canada; but so far no response from him yet.
Very informative video. Thank you for posting this review.
shawn kane thanks for your kind comment. We plan to do a 6 month update in a few weeks as well.
Thank you, very helpful review!
Kim Balfre . Thanks Kim for your comment....and we are learning as we go!
Very nice video!
Gottawin01 thank you!
great in depth video, thanks for sharing
Glad you found useful and for taking the time to comment.
I'm curious, if the engine has been started by volt start can you then deploy the awning, and conversely, will volt start engage/activate if the awning is deployed?
Interesting question, and I expect it doesn't matter why the engine has started the awning won't deploy. As for the second part, that is something I will test next time our batteries get low enough. I am curious as well!
Please post your results, thanks.
Though not quite the same, I did try to see if engine would start if the awning was extended and it does, so I suspect it would do so under Volt-start as well.
Thanks for the update.
Does the Roadtrek Zion come with an onboard propane generator like most other class B vans?
Tim Reuterskiold the Zion has an under-hood generator, effectively like a second alternator that will charge the coach batteries. Much quieter and easier to use than a separate generator, but you need to either be driving or running the engine for it to work.
You kept the camera so high that we couldn't see the middle area of each area.
Thx, appreciate the feedback!
Your going to be very good at this video stuff!
Thanks Tony. Just hoping that folks will enjoy the videos, we have some great countryside to share.
What about the refrigerator?
We missed talking about it, but did cover in our 6 month review. It is about 5 cubic feet (large for a small RV), runs on battery/electric only and has a small freezer on top and overall works well for us. What we really like about it is that is at waist height so that you are not bending down a lot. With our lithium batteries we always have lots of power, so fully electric works well. And sorry for delay in responding!
how do u like the comfort of the bed? is it firm or soft?
We actually find it quite comfortable, and on the firm side. We are considering adding some form of topper though, but largely to cover the small gaps between the cushions.
thank u for the reply, i am looking for a firm mattress in my class b... i have also wondered how the gaps would feel when sleeping on these beds
That heater noise would drive me crazy!
Jay G. My initial thoughts as well, but much to my surprise I have quickly gotten used to it. In fact, we were camping earlier this week in snow and if I even noticed it, I actually found it somewhat comforting knowing that it was about to get warmer! Still loud.
Nice 👍
Brian Mellinger thank you! Literally about to start our one year review.
Awesome commercial. How can i donate?
Simply glad you enjoyed!
The capacitor is your friend..
Please thank he very shy Mickey for me too.
Diana Covert this was her first time on video...not quite so shy now, but still the nicest!
Look Good...
DrWoody2 thank you!
🎬 1 🎥 🎞 🗣 🎙 🧐 🚐 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⚖️ Outstanding, thank you so much for sharing 🚐 ⚖️ Good overview of your experiences. Blackout Insulated curtain good idea.
One Journey thank you and appreciate your comments!
no fridge ????
anthony marino yes, we forgot to comment on the fridge so appreciated the reminder, but you will see we did show it in our our 6 month review this week. We literally just missed it in first review. Overall we are pleased the fridge, size is good for a class b and it runs off your battery system, and just sips power. And with our batteries we always have power.
If the table were half the size it would be way more useful.
Appreciate the idea. We have seen some other examples where folks have replaced with round tables - that may work better as well. Of course, in warmer weather we wouldn't have been wearing jackets either, but still tight.
Sorry folks road track went out of business if you want one you'll have to buy a used one
Yes, and we were sad to see though many folks still buying current ones from dealers. May be some more news next week as apparently a number of bids submitted to buy the company or perhaps only parts of it (we don’t know yet) according to the Receiver.
What is a "BAT-Tree" ? The word you are attempting to pronounce is.... BAT tERy,
that's ....BAT-TER-EE.... not bat-tree
Too shaky to finish. First 18 minutes were informative though
Snowflake1 thanks for comment..and we continue to improve on the video side! And just an FYI that we will release a 6 month update in a few weeks.
You should of let your WIFE DO THE TOUR!!!!
one moment at a time a good suggestion. This was our very first and we generally split the videos between us now.
Kilometers??? No no no sir, miles please thank you.
VADERS.FORCE. GHOST thanks and a good reminder for us...we try to add both!
U say battery funny !
kelly white noted...either in haste or a bad habit and if latter, need to correct. Others have suggested it is a British pronunciation.
"Process" and "out" too, but he's pronouncing them correctly for Canada and that's where they live. If we were in Canada WE would be speaking "funny".
What a bad, bad presentation!!! Thumbs down and bye, bye