Date:         Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:01:41 -0700
Reply-To:     Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: camper conversion other than Volkswagen
Comments: To: Troy <colorworks@GCI.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <524797FBDFE54F7EA2D9C28411B5C875@troyb5bff49d63>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I've driven both the Dodge and Ford platforms of those.  The Ford was my bro-in-law's E350 Sportsmobile and the Dodge was a passenger version in my Vermont Bicycle Touring days.  Both were full-sized LWB vans with the extended body, large and thirsty.  Buick Roadmaster vs. Civic to give you a non-van comparison to the Westy.

I'm not well acquainted with the camping accoutrements but they sound nice.  The buy-in would be steep on a new one and I'd love to believe they get 20MPG but I don't.  If tempted by a vehicle that size and cost I'd likely build out a Sprinter to get exactly what I want in a pay-as-you-go package.

Stephen

--- On Fri, 3/25/11, Troy <colorworks@GCI.NET> wrote:

From: Troy <colorworks@GCI.NET>
Subject: camper conversion other than Volkswagen
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Friday, March 25, 2011, 6:50 PM

I have read many times that there are no replacements for our beloved vanagon. I largely agree.  I was looking at the T5, aka "CALIFORNIA", and in the comments one person mentioned how lucky we are in the US to have Roadtrek's.  I really had never heard of Roadtrek, but a quick Google search revealed all kinds of information.  This is basically a small class B. motorhome, er van conversion.  These are built on either a Dodge 2500 chassis, or the newer ones are on a Chevy 3500 chassis. They are 17 feet long (smallest) and about a foot wider than a vanagon.