Elaine. Really happy that you've found my channel! thanks for the compliment and for watching.

wow, big step Spanish conmigo! i'm glad that you find my channel helpful. thanks for watching!

Spanish Conmigo Same

Ascent

I'm in the same boat. All the creature comforts & aesthetic I want are in the RV Vans you buy, but the cost to build that on my own (to the same level) would equal the same or more but probably with less quality --- I'm not an experienced woodworker, electrician, plumber, etc. I know enough to take it on as a project, especially bc it'll definitely save me money to do it myself. For me, it's a question of investing the time and dealing with the hassle of acquiring the materials I'd need.

I just bought a school bus. I hope it's converted my August.

On the one hand, having the solar and the generator along with fresh water and a warm safe place to sleep would be a welcome option I would imagine. One of my use cases is planning for a big earthquake here in California so I follow a few precautions: i never let my fresh water tank sit empty; i never let my propane get below 50% and I never leave the gas tank below 50%. If I were in Florida I may have opted to buy the Lexor instead since it is gas.

Energymaven, really glad to hear that my videos helped you make a choice. I hope that you are loving your new rig. I think you'll find the shorter size is a real bonus for just hopping in it for quick trips. That's how memories are made. I like the idea of the AGS - I think they did it to fend off some of the marketing blitz Roadtrek was getting for VoltStart. Both systems are really designed for pets as I see it - so that you can leave them in the rig in hot weather and still run the AC when you need to.

Hello, I’ve been looking at the class b Pleasure Way vans. I’ve noticed that they look like there ALL stick shifts, not automatic. Can you tell me if they are in automatic? Thanks

Miss Kc You may have already found out but the US model are all automatics. The shape of the shifters do look like manual stick shifts but thats just the design of the automatic shift lever. Not sure if they have manual version campers in other countries or if they even sell Pleasureways outside the US.

Dweeb The Pebble Johnny -- Thank you 🙂. That was nice of you to answer my question.

yes and show her how much money you save a month by not having to pay rent. also this would become a tax writeoff.

Glad it was helpful!

yeah i agree. I've thought about this and the only thing i can think of is that PW caters to the retired couples market. they don't have any products that can sleep more than two people so it seems they don't feel an additional two captains chairs fits that market's needs. they'd rather use the space for living I suppose but I get what you're saying. they should consider a new layout for families with captain's seats and a second bed option in my opinion.

Agreed, Thanks Rob

great to hear that my reviews are helpful to you!

Hi, Nancy. Really glad that you found the video useful. That's why I'm here. I made my fair share of mistakes buying the wrong RV for myself but ultimately found the perfect one. Along the way I learned a lot and want to share that with others so that you won't make the same mistakes. Really want people to feel comfortable making these life changes so it's all about sharing experiences. Thanks for watching!

Bill Redding Same

Glad it was helpful!

Winnebago is getting better at finishing off areas where people normally don't look but you can still find places (like taking out drawers in the galley and looking inside) where you'll see uninsulated areas; wiring that is not harnassed, etc. The PW is pretty good. I've taken panels off mine and looked behind walls, etc. and have seen wiring harnesses properly attached to the walls, insulation, etc. It is a shame that most manufacturers only do enough to impress people on the surface.

Hi. Colorme Dubious (love the name). Why don't you call LTV and see if they can build and deliver to you directly? They may not do this but worth a try. Also you can try an out-of-state dealer. There are some who will fly you out to purchase and then you can have a nice roadtrip back. Finally, I'd love to hear more about how you intend to use your van as a mobile office!

Thank you for your reply (and the love)! I'm planning to call them this week with a few questions about the Wonder MB's features that their video, brochure, and downloadable owner's manual didn't clarify. You've just put another question on my list. My plan is to sell my business by the end of the year and start my second career as a freelance writer (fiction and non-fiction), photographer, and videographer. It isn't a "cold start," as I've been able to engage in some creative work while running my current business. I need room to use my big laptop and several peripherals, stow and deploy a multifunction printer, stow a bunch of camera gear (several different systems), and carry a lot of consumable supplies. I'll need multiple power sources (400W solar plus the optional propane generator), room for at least 3 weeks' worth of food and clean clothing, and the ability to not have to pay for a hotel. I will not NEED internet access from the road, but I'd like to have the option via wi-fi/4G booster. Mainly, I want flexibility AND simplicity. The Wonder seems ideal for all of the above. As I noted before, the research continues!

I can't wait to hear about your adventures! This sounds like a lot of fun. Please keep us informed on your journey as you're looking and evaluating. I think a lot of viewers can relate to your dream! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for asking! Will do.

Colorme Dubious I love the wonder ....perfect setup ! Maybe I’ll keep my travato 59k for 3 years and upgrade...

Happy to hear that!

Hi, RCarmel and thank you for your comment!. Generally, you take the coach into an authorized Pleasureway dealer and they will do any repairs. That could be the dealer from which you purchased the van or any other authorized dealer. It's a great question about a specialist to check out a used unit. I know people exist for cars and I've used them. I haven't heard of any for RVs but I'm sure they exist. I'll see if I can do some research as others might also find such a service useful. I have seen video's of the Atlas. it is on my list of rigs to see in person. It's interesting that Airstream is getting into the B-plus market. Personally, I would consider a Leisure Travel Vans B-plus over an Airstream Atlas due to build quality. LTV has a higher build quality in my opinion.

Again, love your engagement! We agree on comparability of the PW to LV - although you are the guy speaking from experience. What I find interesting re: Atlas is its Euro styling. Have watch a number of videos on Euro RVs and it’s clear where Airstream’s inspiration comes from. As a fan of sleekness and simplicity, I applaud this trend. Re: an RV expert to objectively check out an RV prior to purchase, I’ve heard on an occasional KZfaq that they exist. The issue is finding them. Finally, since buying an RV new for a first-timer is a hefty and daunting purchase, I thought buying a used late-model PW (or LV) a practical way to dip toes first into the RV world - especially for a possible full-timer. What better test for quality than time and use? I would think both PW and LV hold their value better than other makes as well. Thank you so much for this useful dialogue! Safe travels. PS: the question re: PW repairs stems from dearth of dealerships, especially in Southeast US.

you watched me on your commute?

hey David - first off thank you very much for subscribing and watching my videos. yes, the lane keep assist will both give you an audio and video signal that you're drifting. the XL series from PW are an excellent way to go for your use case. They are significantly larger especially the bathrooms. The bathroom in the XLTS is absolutely beautiful.

Hi, Dave. Here's a video of some of the Sprinter safety features in action! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qdyqd9BhxpyqfGg.html

Hi, Andrew. Well I've slept in it by myself with my daughter. Have never slept with 3 people in it. The third person would have to sleep up front. You can get an after market bed that lays across the two front seats but it is only large enough for a child. I am full time with this channel and am glad that you find it useful!

linda - i appreciate the feedback and appreciate that you watch all my videos! thank you!

Hi, Jennifer. I hear ya. I had the same reservations but there are advantages to propane: it is relatively cheap, available, goes a long way and frankly has many uses: outdoor bbq grill, stovetop, refrigeration, generator, heating, water heater. If you want to power all those components without propane you have to find a cheap, plentiful and readily available replacement. Solar doesn't cut it because there are many days when there's not enough light. That leaves an underhood generator which is unproven its effects on the chassis engine idling for long periods of time at a higher rpm. Maybe you could share with others your dislike for propane? I'd be interested in hearing.

Hi, You Jin. Neither the Ascent nor the Agile are 4 season. if you want 4x4 AND all season then you're only bet is the Winnebago Revel. It is both. I'm going to do a review of it sometime in the future. I'd take a look at it.

@ You Jin: As mentioned earlier, the Winnebago Paseo 48P is also 4-season. But unlike the Revel (Mercedes Sprinter diesel, short wheelbase 19' long), it's on a Ford Transit chassis with a gas (but powerful) engine, the Ford 3.5L EcoBoost. It may be the best Class B GAS engine available (IMO, better than the less-powerful Dodge Pentastar). AND, it's a dually, so more than double more carrying/towing capacity of the typical Dodge ProMaster Class B. In contrast to most other Class B makers, Winnebago has aid attention to people wanting to use their Bs all year long, so Winnebago has put all plumbing inside the heated coach space, including the fresh water tank. Holding tanks are heated (pads?) and the drain valve can be had with heating (optional), too, so the valve doesn't freeze. As for tires, the Revel 4x4 can be had (optional) with BF Goodrich KO2 All-Terrain (AT) tires -- nice. For other Class Bs, you could always put something more aggressive on them if you want, such as Continental's excellent TerrainContact AT tires: Even if it's only a 2WD vehicle, it'd help. I'm putting these exact Continentals on my 2016 Honda Pilot in 1-2 years...when the OEM All-Season (A-S) tires wear out -- partly for better traction in inclement weather, but also for when I take the Pilot out into the desert here (mild off-roading). Good luck, -- BR

robert, Winnebago is at the bottom in terms of quality but they have the best price. can't yet speak to the quality of the Galleria until I do a full review. Roadtrek has the best warranty at 6 years but they have some quality control issues. You will use that 6 year warranty. having said all that if you're looking to boondock and you want 4 captain's chairs then either the RS with etrek options or the etrek with 4 captain's chairs is your best bet.

Ultramobility Thanks for the info. I saw your video about quality where the Road Trek lights were falling out. That was a shocker especially give the price of. RoadTrek.

not yet. in 30 minutes look out for the Aktiv 1.0 vs. zion srt!

Hi, Robert. I pretty much work on this channel full time. A lot of my time is at my home office where I have a biggish desktop system for video editing. I wish I could fit it into my van as then I would always work from my van!

The tax write off is an awesome perk.

yep plus you can finance it the same as you would a second home.

hi there a welsh. yes, since i use my ascent primarily for business (this channel) i can write it and all my expenses including fuel costs off. as far as running all in solar: you can run 99% off solar on the PW. They have a large enough solar array, lithium batteries and large inverter. The AC is the only thing you need AGS (automatic generator start) for. AGS is just like Voltstart. Hope this answers your questions!

oh that's a good one.. i'll put that down as a possible q&a episode. I don't have anything off the top of my head. these dealers are like used car dealers. they are awful. you have to go in having done your research (use rv trader to get some idea of list prices) and also use forums like classbforum and search for discount or final price to get an idea of what others have paid. at the end of the day know what your limit is and don't be afraid to walk off the lot. I get my best deals during the off season (winter) after I walk off the lot. invariably the sales person calls me back later and says that they can get me the price I want. it has happened to me twice.

I haven't had a chance yet Trish! apologies!

@ Trish: Unlike for cars, trucks and other such vehicles people buy/use, I don't think there ARE any Lemon Laws that apply to RVs, in ANY state...which is one HUGE reason you have to pick your RV manufacturer (brand) AND dealership carefully! Research them heavily before buying...at least narrow it down to 2-3 on a Short List...then more research to choose ONE! You may have NO good (well-rated via customer/owner reviews) dealerships within hundreds of miles of you, so keep open the possibility you may have to travel to a distant dealer, even one out-of-state (as I may be doing). Good luck, -- BR

Hi, Stephen. Here's the deal on the 3-way refrigerator: What Pleasure Way shared with me is that as long as you can walk around inside the unit without needing to grab onto anything then the rig is level enough. I don't live in San Francisco (used to) but do live in an area with hills. The street outside my house is slightly inclined and I have no problems parking there and leaving the refrigerator on. Having said that a compressor refrigerator doesn't have that problem. One thing you should think about is how often are you going to be using the refrigerator and in what circumstances? Many people think the 3-way refrigerator will be too difficult to live with but the reality is that for most use cases it works just fine. Generally, if you are parking someplace overnight where it is too inclined you're likely not going to sleep comfortably anyway rolling to one side or the other. Finally it would be relatively easy to replace the refrigerator with a compressor refrigerator since there is an open 110 outlet in the back.

Guess that makes sense...if it was so bad there wouldn't be so many in use. I've never had one..always had a compressor box or just used an ice chest for weekends. I like to go to the mountains and sometimes you have to park on an incline and was concerned it would ruin the frig. Probably would be ok for the couple hours you're parked. I've read that the newer ones are more forgiving. Thanks for the reply.

There's no doubt that a compressor refrigerator will work on all inclines. But, if you're going to be sleeping overnight or whatnot then you're likely going to have to level the van anyways with blocks and if you do this then the 3-way refrigerator will work fine. The logic behind a 3-way refrigerator is that they run off 3 different power sources: propane, AC and your battery. That gives you a lot of flexibility. I'm not convinced that flexibility creates enough value to select it over a compressor refrigerator. If I were a betting man I'd bet the Pleasure Way will move to a compressor refrigerator soon. They would have to make the decision to make enough solar and lithium ion batteries standard on all units which they pretty much are now.

Tracy is a subscriber here and she owns and loves her Roadtrek Chevy. It is certainly easier and less expensive to maintain but the problem is finding one. they are becoming difficult to find. did know about all the car break ins here! I've been lucky I guess where I live. I park in front of the house. thanks for subscribing to my channel and honk if you see me around town!

Hi, Michael. Thanks for this great question. I really wanted the Lexor. It was my first choice in fact. I loved the layout. I loved the bathroom. I loved the fact that it was gas and not diesel. The layout is the TS layout for Pleasureway which means both the Ascent and the Lexor share it and it works for me. I liked the electronically folding side mirrors. I manually fold them in on the MBZ all the time so having them motorized would have been nice. I loved the turning radius of that front wheel drive Lexor. Tiny! What I didn't like about the Lexor: no safety features; the step up in the back. At night I don't want to trip and fall getting in and out of the bed. I'm not sure but there may also be a step up to get into the cab. I didn't like the exterior styling of the ProMaster. I didn't like the row of lights across the top of the unit at the front and rear. Having said that I would get the Lexor over any other competing ProMaster-based chassis because of its layout and build quality. Hands down.

Would the Lexor have been too long to use the same way you use the Ascent?

well it's a foot and a half longer. So it will just barely fit into a normal parking space. you can't go any longer however. that extra foot and a half does give you more interior space but makes street and parallel parking a tad bit more difficult then the Ascent.

hi diana - be sure to vote on my community tab on any polls for reviews and comparisons that you'd like to see! there are no other rvs in the class b and b+ realm that are on the same level as the PW.

@@Ultramobility - Actually, the Leisure Travel Van Wonder Murphy Bed is pretty much on equal footing. I say that bc I wanted the Pleasureway XLMB but I didn't want the Mercedes Chassis, bc it's the brand most likely to need repair, the mechanics who have the equipment to fix it are sparse, and the ones who do have them often charge a premium for parts and service. It didn't make sense to pay so much on a Mercedes just for the brand name. I started looking for a similar build on a Ford Transit or Dodge Promaster, both of which had accessible mechanical service in the US nationwide (including Mexico/Latin America), as well as inexpensive & reliable parts. I didn't want any slide-outs and I still wanted an open floor plan with plenty of storage. I discovered that the LTV Wonder Murphy fit the bill. Funnily enough, they're also Canadian 😊

I love the concept of a drop down bed. The Safari Condo out of Canada has one in the rear as does the new Winnebago Revel. I think it makes a lot of sense spacewise. Great comment.

Seven Sevens- Agreed. Americans like wood. Us European's like a more modern look. Lighter and brighter.

Hi, Laura. I would probably recommend the Winnebago Travator or Revel or the Hymer Aktiv. Both have a large enough rear area (the bed can be lifted or folded up) leaving tons of room for a powerchair. You could then purchase a ramp and hook it up to the back and drive the chair up or down into the unit. That's my recommendation. I'm likely going to do a review of the Revel shortly so I'll be sure that cover that for you. Excellent question.

Hi, JS. Yes, I can confirm on the Ascent there is a pump handle to allow both the driver and passenger seats to go up and down.

You are great, thanks! We are sitting here watching one of your review videos now. Thank you for the quick answer!

happy to help and glad you're watchin!

Hi there. Yes I have one of the very few four-cylinder sprinter RV’s that were ever saw in North America. Mercedes stopped making them available in North America I believe due to their own diesel scandal in 2018.

Ultramobility ahhh. Ok that explains it. Ok, I’m officially not going crazy haha. I’m sure the 6 cylinder 3.0 L will be fine!

yes I've owned the 6 cylinder as well and it is quite nice and powerful. a little less mpg but still great.

Hi, Charlie. Yes since I use my van primarily for this channel and my business then it is a tax write off.

Hi, Lap Wah Lee. I did based on your suggestion and here is the link to the comparison! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qdSRiKqK1qe-nqc.html

Thanks Neil. I saw it. It's an amazing coincidence that the next video you had up was the one that I had asked about. The comparison was excellent.

I don’t use my sink. I flush with antifreeze.

yes and love them. will be doing a review in the future of all leisure travel vans.

Thank you!!! I have subscribed to your channel and cannot wait for your reviews on Leisure Travel Vans. We really like the Unity MB

hi there Atlas Specialty Investments. LTV doesn't make any class b vans any longer so they only compete with Pleasure way on Class C's. I'd say as far as quality they are at the same level. top notch. as far as designs, i prefer leisure travel. They have excellent and innovative designs and layouts on the class c rvs. thanks for your question!

fine as long as you get an inspection done and better if they have a transferrable warranty.

Yep. didn't have a mic in this old video but all newer ones i'm using a mic.

not sure. I like the transit though.

Hello Stephen! Long time. Nice to hear from you. How are you doing?

Neil, I've been wanting to tell you this for years: Working with you had a lasting impact on me and I look back on it fondly. I still think about you, your family and the rest of the crew from time to time. You are still to this day one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Thank you for bringing young me into your project so long ago. I would love catch up some time. If this is too personal just delete it, I'll know you saw it.

Steve, feel free to contact me at neil.balthaser@live.com

Noted take a look at some of my other RV reviews.

How rude. Don't include "We" into this, we're all perfectly happy with his wealth of information in this video, as evidenced by all the likes and comments. YOU wanted to see his van, which is his personal space. You can find his reviews of dealership RVs including the model he owns on his channel. Otherwise, go start your own channel if you think you can do better.