topless
Wichita, KS
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Joined: 08/03/2004
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Thanks for the pictures. We went to the local RV show and they had 100 various trailers and 6-7 class A's. You'd think they would have at least had some class C's. After listening to comments from people there, I could have parked my B outside and sold tickets to get in. No wonder people around here gawk at my van. The dealers from around here act like they don't exist.
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Davydd
Minnesota
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Joined: 11/27/2005
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What struck me after passing through all the Bs is that in the Chevys and Fords you have to duck your head everywhere and I am not a tall person. If I were to buy a new B today I would stick with the Sprinters. That 2" of extra width inside for the Sprinters BTW does make quite a difference. If I were single I might consider one of the Chevys but since I am completing my 6th try with the 7 year itch it seems highly unlikely. 
The B that impressed me the most was the Great West Legend. Like all the Sprinters it has that huge side sliding door but they came up with a screen door design that beats all. Also the rear sofa slides forward to where you can haul some serious cargo. We don't do a lot of inside cooking and the solid surface counter top completely hides the stove and sink to give you a long unobstructed counter for other uses. I think you can see those things in the pictures. The GWV also has a double passenger second seat option that can fold up out of the way into the cabinet behind the driver. That option was not at the show.
Pleasure-Way has revised its electric sofa so that also can slide forward enough to carry bikes and other large objects.
I didn't get as much time in the LTV Sprinter as I would have liked. I got distracted with Dale Borstad looking at and talking about those graphic decals. Those LTV Freedom IIs were very nice but weren't really Bs. From the front cab on back they were nearly identical for both Chevy and Sprinter.
I liked the Roadtreks least of all. The bathrooms were not well designed in any of the models and I thought the quality was not quite up to the level of the P-Ws and LTVs. The RT Chevy Versatile had a 40-1/2" high kitchen counter. That totally puzzled me. That's way too high for me. Standard is 36".
I also looked at Airstream trailers and Winnebago As since I was looking for their Bs. I love Airstream trailers but what struck me was the outside of the trailer was super quality but the interior finishing was totally lacking in quality. The Winnebago RVs were surprisingly good quality and I was hoping to see their B. What I could not figure out is how they could sell the Winnebago Sightseer A for only $98,000 which is less than their ERA B. That alone kind of highlights why there are so few Bs on the road. That Sightseer was one nice A for the price but not our style right now since we most likely will drive 20,000 miles this year and the B rallies will be our longest stays in one place.
Davydd
2005 Pleasure-Way Plateau Sprinter B Camper Van
Davydd is the Welsh spelling for David with an English twist using a v instead of an f.
See Our Pleasure-Way and my pork tenderloin sandwiches
Visited states in an RV
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juliev
Minnesota
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Joined: 07/29/2004
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Great pics Dave, thanks for posting. Now we can stay home and keep warm today instead of driving up to Mpls.
I really like that screen door arrangement in the Great West. That might be the item that would sell it to us. We'll have to go look at them (after it warms up)
Julie & Chino
Julie
_____________________________________________________________________
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~ Lao Tzu
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Br-
Northwest Ohio
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Joined: 03/01/2002
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Nice pictures, good views of them all. Just curious about the sliding screen on the GW. Did you happen to notice if the entire door slides on a track or is it retractable, such as the screen rolling up to the side. Clever idea and needed on more B+'s.
Bruce & Sue
2007 pleasure-way excel-ts
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jnetrodriguez
denton,texas 76205
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Joined: 01/24/2008
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great pictures dave!! thanks, especially the one with the screendoor
thanks again,,,
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oebyrum
Minnesota
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Joined: 08/02/2007
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The screen door sounds great, but I am reminded of the patio door screens I used to walk through when over imbibing. DId the same door twice in one night.
Oh well, I guess I will go up to Minneapolis this afternoon before the show closes.
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Davydd
Minnesota
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The GWV screen door slides in track guides and automatically retracts. Note the hand holding it in place midway to show the edge. Also off to the left you can see a fixed screen that is attached behind the base cabinet. So you a very wide 4 foot opening.
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juliev
Minnesota
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I wonder if we can find someone to fabricate a door like that for our Plateaus? I think I am going to call Waldoch and see if they can do it. I'll bet they will! They did that nice shelf up over the top of our cab area. They seem to be pretty good at custom work.
JV
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oebyrum
Minnesota
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Joined: 08/02/2007
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I did go up to the Minnesota RV show this afternoon for a couple of hours. Disappointed that Roadtrek had only 210's and adventurous, no 170,190 or Agile. However B's are kind of a sideline for that dealer while Mr. B, Dale Borstad had a full range of PW,s, LTV's and GW's as evidenced by Davydd's photo's.
Having previously decided that my next B has to fit into my garage and cost less, I was troubled by how much I like the PW Ascent. The perfect B. Nice cab area, spacious open feeling , all necessary facilities and wide enough for me to sleep across. The electric sofa is close enough to the driver so that conversation should be possible. But the roof and the price are high.
I drove home running the numbers in my head and finding no responsible answers. Dale and his LakeRegionRV employees and the PW rep. John Mattern were busy and helpful. They run a good shop.
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Davydd
Minnesota
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Joined: 11/27/2005
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Ollie,
Build a new garage.
BTW, The companies do read these boards. While I was prowling through a P-W Excel, John Mattern recognized me right off. 
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