I think you may have lost my recent comment so let me say that I ran into your Utube channel when I was seeking information that would help me assess the differences between the many class "B" units that are out there. Your evaluation of the Pleasure-Way and the way it was built promoted me to check out the factory videos. Your expertise and seemingly analytical personality has been so spot on that when I went to the Tampa, FL RV show I was armed and ready to ask a mile of questions and examine the pros and cons of each manufacture. It being the largest RV show in the US with over 10 manufactures, it allowed me to view more than 50 class "B" RV's. That really opened my eyes on what to look for and what I should expect to actually pay for one. At this point the Pleasure-Way is on the top of my list of my next purchase. So Thank you for sharing your experience and honesty. I have to tell you that I just wrote the CEO on his latest Utube video of the Pleasure-Way Lexie that you are his best testimonial of Pleasure-Way out there. Keep it up for I really look forward to your posts.
Hi, Mike. Wow! Thank you so much for writing to Dean at Pleasure-way! PW's factory videos really do show the care and level of craftsmanship that they put into their products. I'm glad you found them. I really hope that you get your class b van. I think you will really enjoy it! Thanks for sharing your experiences on the channel!
David: I am watching a lot of RUclips with all kinds of opinions about the class "B" but Ultramobility (Neil) looks at it from so many different angles that he will absolutely be my biggest influence on which to purchase. Good Luck in your venture!!
Hi, Not ready to buy yet. But it looks like a pleasure way. I like the way they care about their product and their customers. You have been a great source of information. I am learning a lot about the class b. Look forward to being an owner.
I am a fairly new subscriber...and I have viewed many hours of Class B content. I can safely say that your content is the most objective/informative on the RUclips market. You have been extremely helpful in my Class B/B+ research. Thank you!
I just started shopping for a B or B+ and am catching up on your amazing videos. I like that you are not sponsored by anyone. Moving along, for you the Pleasure Way auto-start is for marketing. For me, with a service dog that is occasionally left in the vehicle, it is a deal breaker. And, get this, my 5 rivet PW dealer didn't know about it...you had to tell me. Even though I told him it was #1 on my purchase list. I emailed him after watching your video this morning to see if he knows about it. After a lot of research I decided on the PW Plateau FL. Keeping my fingers crossed that PW really has this option!
hey there - yep the AGS or automatic generator start is available on the newer 2018 - 2019 model years. The FL is a great choice. it is my favorite class b van at the moment.
Thank you for this video. Wow, I learned a huge lesson, I appreciate it very much. I almost paid 145 over the weekend without negotiating. I've been doing a lot of research and the only reason I didn't is because it was a private owner and I questioned a few things in it which the owner was not able to answer
Man, I really enjoyed this video, that story about your #1 point at the end and the Truma / newer model year photo and how you scored that deal WITH the help of P'way stepping in and your numbers and all that happened was really encouraging and informative. Your accounting of all that was really thorough.
Great video. Regarding your price with the dealer, I would have been worried the the dealer service Dept. would move me to the end of the line, necessitating long waits for service. If you don’t have to use that dealer for service, no problem.
Here in north Texas, we have one dealer that sells both Pleasure Way and Leisure Travel Van. Both Canadian companies as I'm sure you know. The dealer sells many more LTVs than PWs. As a result, there is less discount on the LTVs verses the PWs. The waiting time for a LTV to be built is 8 months are longer. They seem to have a supply of PWs most of the time. I'm curious as to how the two companies compare in Canada?
Hi, Jay. They compete in the class B area and LTV is bigger there. LTV used to sell class b vans but got out a couple years back. PW makes both class b and class c vans. In Canada both are very well regarded.
Just watched your video. My research on cars is about 13% off MSRP on a premium vehicle so your number matches. 20% - 25% off in non-premium sounds great. We are newbies and have 0 RV experience. We are on the research stage so Q & A is a way to acquire knowledge and understanding. We are physically 200+lbs so it concerns me about the Class B space. We live in an HOA and want to use the rig as a daily vehicle too. Looked at the city parking rules for street parking has to be 25 ft. or less hight 7ft or less. HOA parking might work but trying to figured out a strategy to approach HOA.
My story is...I wanted a Kombi van until I found out that nostalgia is a lot of work and very expensive if not hard to find. So I moved on and checked with Volkswagen. Currently, as things stand we will never see the Volkswagen California series in America until further notice. Apparently, the US and Canada safety requirements are too demanding for Volkswagen plus diesel gate scandal is not helping. Now I moved on and was excited about the Mercedes Benz Marco Polo which is clearly a high-class Volkswagen California copy which I was very excited about until MB put it out there that the V-Klass series will not come to the US and Canada market. So I was depressed at that moment about my dreams of a professionally finished low key daily driver van with the capacity to camp on a short notice. So Mercedes brings the passenger van V-Klass to America and the quality is not the same. Completely different dash and the console is not MB design language. Now I'm pulling my hair out cause I just don't understand why these 2 German car manufacturers are avoiding class B market in the US and Canada. Then a miracle happened. Winnebago came out with the Revel 4X4. I was blown away. I'm getting a van, jeep, camper, low-key daily driver all in one and it doesn't look too bad even though I was never much a fan of the look of the MB Sprinter. So I was ready to sign until MB released a new generation look and I decided to wait for the new look and that's wear I'm at. I prefer the new look. I'm jaded but dealing with it. On a side note, I would be interested in a Hymer Active 2.0 loft edition. Not a fan of the look but I can live with it with that fabulous kombi style pop up tent. Yes, I'm picky. I admit that but remember my taste is more the passenger van Westfalia style.
i think you're right about the safety requirements and diesel-gate. i love that you're choosey. stay choosey. remember that these vans are homes. you should be as choosey as you would be in buying your home. Check out Recon campers. They make some passenger vans built on the Nissan chassis that are more Euro-like.
Great video! So much info in it! You got a great deal on your Pleasureway! (Ive seen many dealers not knowing what comes in their vans on their lots) Normally they at least know what year it is!
I haven't driven a Class B yet... but I have driven a Class A when some buddies and I rented one to go up to Oshkosh. I did NOT like it. It accelerated well enough, but man, you feel so unstable even though it is very stable. It's big, it's not too fun when you get passed by semis... I don't think I'd ever own a Class A, even a small one.
An observation and a couple of questions... The observation: We are happy that your 19' 7" Ascent with Mercedes-Benz 2500 chassis and 9' height handles so well. Unfortunately, our 25' 5" Mercedes Benz 3500 chassis with 11' of height can be a white-knuckler! You wouldn't think that 6' feet of length and 2' of height would matter so much especially with the beefier chassis and 2 extra tires of the 3500. ... The question: Did the currency exchange play a part in why you bought the Ascent in Canada and did you negotiate in U.S. dollars? When we bought our Pleasure-Way in 2015 we had checked all the prices on rvtrader.com and rvt.com and the best price we could get in the U.S. was just under US$100k for a US$114k MSRP. In checking with some of the Canadian dealers we found better deals with the ones who offered U.S. importation programs. CanAm RV in London had our vehicle marked down from its CAN$120k MSRP to CAN$89k. As we paid the dealer Canadian dollars, with the exchange that turned out to be almost exactly US$75k or a discount of 34.2% which seemed due partly to currency disparities between the U.S. and Canada. We went to the dealer to inspect the RV and then after the paperwork and transaction were done they delivered it to us at the closest U.S. POE (Port Huron, MI). We paid the U.S. federal government a few hundred dollars and we drove home to Las Vegas. I suspect you can only do this with RV's manufactured in Canada. Which brings us to our second question: Apparently, you will drive long distances to save a significant amount of money. Our calculation is that we have to save at least $5-10K to travel a long distance. What is your number?
Hi, Health Travelers. When did you purchase in Canada? I purchased in 2017 and found that they are now quite strict with regards to selling to Americans. They require a Canadian license to purchase. Did you run into that. In any case, I lived in Canada so it wasn't a problem. I paid in Canadian dollars but I exchanged US Dollars at my bank to get the Canadian dollars so I got something like a 25% discount right there based on the exchange rate.
Ultramobility It was October 15, 2015 that we bought our Pleasure-Way Prestige in London, ON. I'm a dual citizen but that apparently didn't factor in because I only had a Nevada license then and wasn't asked for it. I never drove the PW in Canada until it was after it was delivered to Port Huron, MI and I received temporary plates from Michigan to get it back to Las Vegas (although we took it to show our daughter in Hamilton, ON before returning to Vegas). I've noticed that there are dealers in B.C. that specialize in US importation as well as CanAm RV in London.
Interesting. In 2017 I tried to purchase from 1000 Island RV in Ontario near Kingston and they would not sell to me until I showed them a Canadian driver's license. Perhaps it was because you are a dual Canadian citizen. In any case I'd be surprised if Americans can just travel up there to purchase and drive back but perhaps it can be done.
Ultramobility I think it may have to do with having the dealer willing to drive it into the U.S. for delivery. What is your thought on how much one should save to make a cross-country trip worthwhile?
well my feeling is that the dealer in Canada may try to jack up the price if they find out you're American. I had one dealer ask me that. in that case it's not worth it in my opinion. but if you can get them to deal with you in CAD dollars and then on your own deal with the exchange rate then it's probably worth it. I'd say if you can get them to come off their advertised price by 10% then you should do it (if possible) because the exchange rate alone is worth it. what about you?
You shower sitting down? What about the rest of ones self? Our Toyhauler's had dry bath showers, which were a PITA compared to our house shower. I can't imagine dealing with a tiny, wet bath shower. What say you?
We recently bought a 2011 Pleasure Way Excell after looking at so many other brands and I have to say it's only Pleasure Way for us! Nothing compares to the build quality!
I’ve seen how pleasure way makes its RVs, they literally sneak in insulation wherever they can while Roadtreks literally have zero insulation which is ridiculous. I just wish Pleasure way will start taking advantage of volta systems and more lithium so we can use the AC for prolonged periods without using a separate generator. There’s a big ol engine under the hood which is quieter and more efficient, use that and add more lithium where the separate genset is supposed to be. Also please start using Dometic Harrier air conditioners with variable speed compressors.
thanks for the ideas and comment max. I think PW will introduce more and more lithium as time goes on. they are the only manufacturer offering lithium on all their models standard. on the sprinters Mercedes isn't keen on master upfitters using the second alternators.
Thanks for the video. I found it to be very informative and helpful . I'm looking for a Pleasure-way , used of course. Any suggestions at what a fair price would be? Between 2000 and 2015 model years .
Hi, Patricia. What model are you looking at? RVTrader is a great resource of used RVs. I sold my 2014 Roadtrek CS Adventurous there. You will get a good idea of what the going rate is for almost any kind of used or new RV. I recommend you check it out. That's rvtrader.com. Let us know what you find and I might also take a look for you as well.
Hi Neil. I just started watching your great videos on class B campers since I need a new car and / or van very, very soon. Basic question: I'm assuming you're talking AMERICAN DOLLARS when you talk of the PURCHASE PRICE, even though you bought one in Quebec? (I am from Montreal but I became an dual citizen and working here in the San Francisco Bay Area). Thanks! I will keep watching.
chappi59 commented: "Oh, another question: how easy is it to park or find parking spots for this kind of size vehicle. Especially not having to pay big fees. Thanks" 1 day ago
@chappi59, it is really easy to find parking spots. The Ascent is built on the 144 inch wheel based Sprinter and it just a tad over 19 feet in length. Since most parking spaces are 20 feet you can fit in nearly all of them. I have parked my Ascent in downtown Montreal and San Francisco and have no problems fitting in a normal space in a parking lot.
Hi, Grace. Great question for a new Q&A episode! I'll give you the short answer here: insurance is not really much higher than your average car. Here in CA if you only use your camper van for trips and your mileage is below 7000 miles per year then you get a discounted rate. Mileage for the 4 cylinder Mercedes chassis (they don't really sell it anymore though) is great: 17mpg in the city and 27-28mpg highway. My dash computer says that my lifetime since I've owned the Ascent is 21mpg which I think is fantastic. I've only had to put the DEF (diesel emission fluid) in once which I did myself (you can buy DEF at Walmart for around $11 per gallon. I have a major servicing coming up in around 5000 miles and I'll post here that cost which I expect to come in around $700-$1000. That will be my 15,000 mile major service.
Being visually challenged, I notice you sit with the light behind you; which makes for *very hard viewing* . Your content is great & I just subbed. I trust you will accept this as constructive info!
Maybe as a favor to a fan of your channel you could tour the Hymer Activ 2.0 (Loft Edition) and give your opinion. It really does make a difference having that loft.
I have to take a small exception with your comments about pricing . I've seen new pleasure way Ascents for way under 120k. More in the 105k range. Perhaps you paid more because of the location you are in
Ultramobility it was a brand new 2017 closeout I saw this one about 6 months ago at Berryland Campers. So I believe if you negotiate hard enough you can definitely get 25% off MSRP
chappi59 commented: "Is your model a diesel? The reason I ask, is that you can run it during the night to heat the vehicle without running out of fuel.
@chappi59 My model is a diesel. The cab heater does heat the rest of the coach pretty nicely. However, be aware that MBZ does not recommend idling the diesel Sprinter for prolonged periods of time.
Hello, Neil, Thanks for all of your great videos. I am very close to buying a new Ascent. But, I was only just recently alerted (by one of your readers comments) to the potential fuel issue (or is it?) concerning the “bio” content of diesel fuel and the Mercedes Benz manual that says you need to restricting that content to no more than 5%. So Neil, I’m curious to know, are you minding that for yourself? How easy is it in California to find “B5 diesel”? Do they display it at the pumps? (I’m sure California is going to be one of my favourite destinations). Also, how easy was it on your cross country drive last year to find the right fuel? Or, am I overstating this issue entirely? Very keen to hear your own experience before I get my new Ascent. Thank-you.
Hi, John. Thanks for watching my channel! I just did an entire episode on the whole diesel vs. gas issue and specifically about the Sprinter. You can view it here: ruclips.net/video/9hzP133RIoE/видео.html I don't worry much about it here in CA. Almost all the main diesel stations sell pure diesel. It wasn't a problem going across the country for me but i stayed mainly on the 80 where there are lots of mainstream diesel stations. MB says that you can put b20 in but don't do it regularly. it's not like filling it up with b20 now and again is going to kill your engine. it's not,. b20 may be problem for others living in states like Minnesota which now mandates it.
Class B has advantage of agile transport but limit the number of people sleeping inside as I thought would be nice to have 1-2 friend to come with you. Have you consider class C RV and your insight of choosing class B instead? I cannot make decision which way to go at this time. Thanks. BTW. Enjoy your video, very details and articulate. Thanks.
@@Ultramobility Thanks for your reply. I watch some of your boon docking video, I would like to know any safety concerns or precaution as compare to the camp ground. Any insights or reference of your video on safety will be helpful. Thanks
New subscriber but listening to all I can, so helpful. I am picking a brand and have almost settled on Pleasure Way..but Airstream? I like the layout of PW better but Airstream seems to have many more chassis safety items, like side view camera, thorax air bag, etc. I personally think those are very important although I know I am in the minority. I can't find a segment on this. Could you do one?
pw and airstream both come with all the Mercedes safety options like lane keep assist, blind spot detection, collision detection, cross wind assist, hill assist, automatic high beams and wipers. the side view cameras that airstream uses are added after market by them. both pleasureway and airstream have thorax airbags. in other words the airstream and pleasureways are equivalent in safety systems as least as far as available options from Mercedes. go with pleasureway - quality is much higher.
Advice for FB post? : We have a 2016 Ascent with a sofa that will no longer retract or extend. The folks at PW Warranty have been great. They put us in touch with the Spyder folks who made the control board (Maybe they are called PC Boards?) and they say this is a broken relay, a known problem and are sending us a new board. (PW will pay for one hour labor.) What remains is finding someone to replace the bad board. We live in San Francisco which is a wasteland for RV sales/service. I don't have time to drive to Sacramento or Paso Robles. Can anyone tell me what type of vendor to seek online to do this? While it seems like a simple electrical component replacement, what if they do it wrong and blow up something that was just fine?
Hey Kevin. Why don't you take it to LazyDays RV in Sacramento? They are a PW dealer and should be able to do the fix. I know it's not ideal but there are worse things than an afternoon in Sac ;-) Will likely be a lot faster than trying to find an electrician to do the board removal and replace. Just my 2 cents.
I think this little example exemplifies one of the great fallacies regarding RV warranties. It's not so much the length of the warranty, as how frequently you may need to use it. It should be noted that under the warranty, it becomes your responsibility to get the RV to someone somewhere that can effect the repair. The RV manufacturer never compensates you for this time and effort. I think they should. And if your RV is out of service for any length of time, that should be compensable also.
Awesome vids Neil! i'm sold on the Ascent. my only question is how many MPG are you averaging on the highway and sidestreets. you have probably been asked that a million times. ty! hope to hear from you. Subscribing now😀
thanks for subscribing Paolo. I have a lifetime average (after 12k miles) of around 21mpg. I get around 25-26mpg on the freeway traveling at the speed limit.
Hi, csaaprile. I like the Activ 2.0. I like the lounge in the front and think the rear area that doubles as a bedroom and garage is nice. I personally don't like having either and prefer having a lounge/bedroom. The Hymer is built by Roadtrek so it offers all the configurability as other Roadtreks. That's great if you're a performance buyer. I worry a bit about the build quality as Roadtrek needs to up their quality control game. Not sure if this is also true with the Aktiv or not.
i like the promaster. i have owned 2 diesel sprinters and i loved those as well. they get great mileage but are costly to maintain and harder to find a service center
Your videos are very helpful. Question, does your Ac and heat in the rig run without the generator when driving? Also, when shopping for your RV, did you ever consider the 3500 model? Do you feel a huge difference in performance and practicality in the 2500 vs the 3500? I like the idea of 9 passengers vs 4. Thoughts?
Hi, Rick. Thank you very much. First off, for many situations, the cab ac and heat will heat the entire van just fine. Only in extreme temperatures would you need to start the coach ac/heat. The coach heat is propane and works without the generator just fine. The ac would require the generator to be running. I've owned both the 3500 and the 2500. For the longer sprinter 170 inch wheelbase the 3500 is ideal. for the shorter, i prefer the 2500 4 cylinder 7 speed because the mpg is just out of this world. unfortunately they don't sell the 4 cylinder sprinter in north America any longer so the 3500 is your only choice. if you like more passengers check out Midwest vans Daycruiser! I love it: 8 passengers and a van as small as mine! midwestautomotivedesigns.com/sprinter-vans/daycruiser-144
Well after hearing the story of how you got your pleasure way, it reminds me of what Shakespeare once said “better a witty fool than a foolish wit”. Stay thirsty my friend.
This past weekend we went to a RV show at Anaheim Stadium. We were able to get the price of the Pleasureway Ascent down to $114.5K. i'm not sure if it is the same as the one you have, but i know the cabinets are not the same. Do you think we got a good deal? Is there a way we can send you the pictures of the RV and listing?
Ultramobility : it is the 207 Chassis but 2018 interior. I do not have a website to link to. Can I send you a picture of the sticker price and listing?
Ultramobility it is all the base plus Painted ext moldings $1950; 190 Watt Solar pkg $1560; Rear and Side roll up screen $1660 Total price : base 129155+options $5070+freight $300= $137225 sticker
hi there. it's on my list of videos to shoot! but in short: fiamma single mount awning which gives better support of attaching the awning to the van (as compared to the previous awning which had 3 separate support attachments); new taller faucet in kitchen'; new color led touch panels in front and rear. These panels control everything the old ones did plus they control the heater, ac, fantastic fan vent, awning; new power center controls showing actual amperage draw and dc load control center status; ags or automatic generator start which allows you to set parameters for when the automatically start the generator to recharge the lithium ion batteries and when to turn on the AC while you are away and not plugged in; new fantastic vent fan with power lip open and close and rain sensor. I believe those are the improvement. quite a list if you ask me.
Yes thanks for the all the info - you also mention that you made a "costly" mistake with your previous RT. Is there a video where you outline the details? PW was initally off my list but since reading forums and watching videos like yours i think i need to investigate further. Was leaning towards activ , now leaning towards activ without any ecotrek / voltstart tech as this seems to be the major issues with current models and the biggest pain in the butt.
first I feature your question in this Tuesday's episode answering your question about my opinion of the Aktiv so stay tuned for that! I haven't made a video about my previous RT. I didn't have the channel back then. But I am thinking about doing a future episode where I talk about that. I just don't want RT owners to feel like im' bashing RT. What's your primary use case for buying your van?
When you and your family go for a RV vacation, how did you get the heat absorption refrigerator cold. My driveway is sloped at about 5 degrees and the absorption refrigerators only work safely at 3 degrees or less for long term reliability. I've seen some articles talking about putting ice bags or frozen gel packs in the refrigerator the day before you leave. What are your thoughts about this? Thank you and enjoy your videos. I just order a Pleasure Way XLTD unit and should be getting it by late May 2018.
Hi, 2badger2. I get a lot of question about the 3-way refrigerator and candidly before I got mine I had them too. Here's my experience: First if you can comfortably walk around in the van then don't worry about the refrigerator being level. It will work fine - that's directly from Pleasureway and I've found it to be true. Secondly, I haven't had a problem getting the refrigerator cool. I've heard that some people turn it on the day before and cool it down but I don't do that. Generally, I'll load it up with whatever I'm taking already cold. Then I turn it on and forget about it. The cold items tend to give the refrigerator a boast and by the time I check it later it has cooled down and is maintaining the temperature. I do this almost every day. I take my lunch or breakfast with me in the morning. Pop it in the refrigerator. Turn it on and leave. By lunch, I open the refrigerator to get my lunch and its all nice and cold. I haven't experienced any strangeness that people bring up with regards to getting it to cool down. Now, this may pose a problem in really hot climates. I live in California and we're pretty mild here. Congratulations on your XLTD - that is a fantastic van! May is a great time to year to head out on adventures! Let us know when you get it and how you're loving it!
Thank you. I also got a great deal because of a sales person mistake and talking to the Pleasure Way Rep about the mistake that the sales person made at the RV show in Pleasanton.
The sales person at the RV show somehow didn't know about the sale stickers in one of the RV's which was 10% off each of the 5 Pleasure Way models at the show. I don't know why all 5 stickers were in one RV. When the sales person said he was going to get me a great deal, he came back after about 25 minutes and said he fought for 8% off. After about 10 minutes of telling him that wasn't enough off and listening to him have excuses. I finally showed him the stickers in the other RV and he told me he wasn't sure I could even get that price. I said I didn't like him trying to cheat me and I should maybe look at a different company. He then said "name your price", I told him 15% off and he said no way but he'll ask his boss. He when left and I immediately talked to the Pleasure Way Rep who was 20 feet away, the Rep ran after the sales person and they were back in 2 minutes shaking my hand that I got my price. YES
You're a good negotiator 2badger2. well done! Other viewers will find your experience very useful. Stick to your guys and use whatever resources you need to drive the best deal. In your case a PW rep was nearby and you used them and saved thousands of dollars!
Ultramobility common camper van questions has music between questions and also in the beginning of the video. It’s probably just me showing my age! 😆 thanks!
Noted. future question and answer videos do not use the music :-) I still use my theme music for opening and closing but I'll try lowing the volume a bit. i completely understand and thanks for caring enough to let me know!
I have only one comment, I have a 45' DP with a smart-wheel, electronic stabilization system, an accident avoidance system that works with the engine brake, adaptive cruise control and air abs system. It also has a computer assisted steering system and passive steering tag axle. I went to an RV so I wouldn't have to drive long hours and distances. But I have on occasion driven 12-15 hours. I was not fatigued, after these long drives. I used to get angry with owners of smaller RV's who always point to things like "not having to pull a toad", and being able to park anywhere. But I now realize that those kinds of things are not a priority to me. I dock my RV and use my toad to explore, discover, and transport supplies. I also realize that there are pro's and con's for every type of RV, and these must be matched with personal preferences and usage. I would just ask that in describing some pro's and con's, that you stick with comparisons that you have actually had experience with rather than speculating and guessing. You mentioned that you would check with your Dad on his Class A experiences, I think you should do that before you speculate, and make it sound like your speculation is a fact....... Thanks for the videos and your good intentions...
Hi, Rory. Thanks for your earnest comment. I certainly don't mean to insult folks who like or own class A's. If I offended you I apologize. But I'm curious where you feel I speculate and guess? I don't think I've ever said "this is what owning a class is like". I did say "This is the ideal size for me unlike a class A where I think I'd be a little nervous". If that's what you're talking about then I don't feel I'm stating anything as fact other than my feelings of being nervous which is true. I've only shared what I like about owning a class B. In fact I've owned a longer 24 foot class b and didn't like that so I downsized to the 19 foot sprinter and like it much better.
You didn't insult me, I have long ago gotten beyond getting emotional because of someone else's preferences. You made the comment on driving in your class "B", you didn't feel nervous about passing or being passed by a semi. I assumed you were referring to being drafted or pushed by the airflow of the semi. In the larger Class A's & Super C's you don't experience that. I own a Newmar, and Newmar and Foretravel are the only two manufacturers I know of that incorporate a computer assisted steering system, that handles extreme hwy pitch & crosswinds. You don't have to fight the wheel to stay on the road. I have driven Class B, C, Super C and class A units. I have owned a Class C prior to my current A. I needed it because my family traveled with us. Kids are grown with their own RV's now & we decided to upsize to a class A. As I said I have followed you and other youtubers (regardless of their personal preferences), because I can always learn something new. But keep in mind, one size does not fit all. There are pro's & con's to each class. Everyone is an individual, that is one reason why there are so many Makes, models, floorplans, & options. I thank you for taking the time to answer my comments.
You're right. There are all manner of rv's for different lifestyles and likes. I thank you for watching my videos and I do hope that you'll indulge me in my zeal for class b's because... well that's what my channel is about. If you do watch my other videos you'll see that I am enthusiastic about my van and want to share that with others. I'll keep in mind what you say about talking about rv classes that I have no experience with but on my channel you'll always hear my honest opinion and I will always extoll the virtues of the class b motorhome!
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I think you may have lost my recent comment so let me say that I ran into your Utube channel when I was seeking information that would help me assess the differences between the many class "B" units that are out there. Your evaluation of the Pleasure-Way and the way it was built promoted me to check out the factory videos. Your expertise and seemingly analytical personality has been so spot on that when I went to the Tampa, FL RV show I was armed and ready to ask a mile of questions and examine the pros and cons of each manufacture. It being the largest RV show in the US with over 10 manufactures, it allowed me to view more than 50 class "B" RV's. That really opened my eyes on what to look for and what I should expect to actually pay for one. At this point the Pleasure-Way is on the top of my list of my next purchase. So Thank you for sharing your experience and honesty. I have to tell you that I just wrote the CEO on his latest Utube video of the Pleasure-Way Lexie that you are his best testimonial of Pleasure-Way out there. Keep it up for I really look forward to your posts.
Hi, Mike. Wow! Thank you so much for writing to Dean at Pleasure-way! PW's factory videos really do show the care and level of craftsmanship that they put into their products. I'm glad you found them. I really hope that you get your class b van. I think you will really enjoy it! Thanks for sharing your experiences on the channel!
In considering buying one too...
David: I am watching a lot of RUclips with all kinds of opinions about the class "B" but Ultramobility (Neil) looks at it from so many different angles that he will absolutely be my biggest influence on which to purchase. Good Luck in your venture!!
Hi, Not ready to buy yet. But it looks like a pleasure way. I like the way they care about their product and their customers. You have been a great source of information. I am learning a lot about the class b. Look forward to being an owner.
I am a fairly new subscriber...and I have viewed many hours of Class B content. I can safely say that your content is the most objective/informative on the RUclips market. You have been extremely helpful in my Class B/B+ research. Thank you!
Really enjoying “binge watching” your videos. Thanks, Neil.
I just started shopping for a B or B+ and am catching up on your amazing videos. I like that you are not sponsored by anyone. Moving along, for you the Pleasure Way auto-start is for marketing. For me, with a service dog that is occasionally left in the vehicle, it is a deal breaker. And, get this, my 5 rivet PW dealer didn't know about it...you had to tell me. Even though I told him it was #1 on my purchase list. I emailed him after watching your video this morning to see if he knows about it. After a lot of research I decided on the PW Plateau FL. Keeping my fingers crossed that PW really has this option!
hey there - yep the AGS or automatic generator start is available on the newer 2018 - 2019 model years. The FL is a great choice. it is my favorite class b van at the moment.
Thank you for this video. Wow, I learned a huge lesson, I appreciate it very much. I almost paid 145 over the weekend without negotiating. I've been doing a lot of research and the only reason I didn't is because it was a private owner and I questioned a few things in it which the owner was not able to answer
Man, I really enjoyed this video, that story about your #1 point at the end and the Truma / newer model year photo and how you scored that deal WITH the help of P'way stepping in and your numbers and all that happened was really encouraging and informative. Your accounting of all that was really thorough.
Great video. Regarding your price with the dealer, I would have been worried the the dealer service Dept. would move me to the end of the line, necessitating long waits for service. If you don’t have to use that dealer for service, no problem.
Here in north Texas, we have one dealer that sells both Pleasure Way and Leisure Travel Van. Both Canadian companies as I'm sure you know. The dealer sells many more LTVs than PWs. As a result, there is less discount on the LTVs verses the PWs. The waiting time for a LTV to be built is 8 months are longer. They seem to have a supply of PWs most of the time. I'm curious as to how the two companies compare in Canada?
Hi, Jay. They compete in the class B area and LTV is bigger there. LTV used to sell class b vans but got out a couple years back. PW makes both class b and class c vans. In Canada both are very well regarded.
You're the fourth person who I've heard getting the upper hand in a auto purchase due to dealer screw up. Congrats.
Just watched your video. My research on cars is about 13% off MSRP on a premium vehicle so your number matches. 20% - 25% off in non-premium sounds great.
We are newbies and have 0 RV experience. We are on the research stage so Q & A is a way to acquire knowledge and understanding. We are physically 200+lbs so it concerns me about the Class B space.
We live in an HOA and want to use the rig as a daily vehicle too. Looked at the city parking rules for street parking has to be 25 ft. or less hight 7ft or less. HOA parking might work but trying to figured out a strategy to approach HOA.
My story is...I wanted a Kombi van until I found out that nostalgia is a lot of work and very expensive if not hard to find. So I moved on and checked with Volkswagen. Currently, as things stand we will never see the Volkswagen California series in America until further notice. Apparently, the US and Canada safety requirements are too demanding for Volkswagen plus diesel gate scandal is not helping. Now I moved on and was excited about the Mercedes Benz Marco Polo which is clearly a high-class Volkswagen California copy which I was very excited about until MB put it out there that the V-Klass series will not come to the US and Canada market. So I was depressed at that moment about my dreams of a professionally finished low key daily driver van with the capacity to camp on a short notice. So Mercedes brings the passenger van V-Klass to America and the quality is not the same. Completely different dash and the console is not MB design language. Now I'm pulling my hair out cause I just don't understand why these 2 German car manufacturers are avoiding class B market in the US and Canada. Then a miracle happened. Winnebago came out with the Revel 4X4. I was blown away. I'm getting a van, jeep, camper, low-key daily driver all in one and it doesn't look too bad even though I was never much a fan of the look of the MB Sprinter. So I was ready to sign until MB released a new generation look and I decided to wait for the new look and that's wear I'm at. I prefer the new look. I'm jaded but dealing with it. On a side note, I would be interested in a Hymer Active 2.0 loft edition. Not a fan of the look but I can live with it with that fabulous kombi style pop up tent. Yes, I'm picky. I admit that but remember my taste is more the passenger van Westfalia style.
i think you're right about the safety requirements and diesel-gate. i love that you're choosey. stay choosey. remember that these vans are homes. you should be as choosey as you would be in buying your home. Check out Recon campers. They make some passenger vans built on the Nissan chassis that are more Euro-like.
Enjoyed your q and a! Thanks for the sunset too!👍
Any time!
Great video! So much info in it! You got a great deal on your Pleasureway! (Ive seen many dealers not knowing what comes in their vans on their lots) Normally they at least know what year it is!
Lol right? Glad to have you on the channel Tracy! Keep us up to date on your Popular. I love that little rig!
I haven't driven a Class B yet... but I have driven a Class A when some buddies and I rented one to go up to Oshkosh. I did NOT like it. It accelerated well enough, but man, you feel so unstable even though it is very stable. It's big, it's not too fun when you get passed by semis... I don't think I'd ever own a Class A, even a small one.
Thank you for your helpful videos. The disappearing dog was an interesting distraction. It made me wonder for quite a while why it was faded out.
Thank you very much for your time producing this informative video.
Tarek Abdel Fatah, you're welcome. Thank you for watching!
I appreciate you very much! Everything I need is there for me. The Accent is the one! Thanx!
An observation and a couple of questions... The observation: We are happy that your 19' 7" Ascent with Mercedes-Benz 2500 chassis and 9' height handles so well. Unfortunately, our 25' 5" Mercedes Benz 3500 chassis with 11' of height can be a white-knuckler! You wouldn't think that 6' feet of length and 2' of height would matter so much especially with the beefier chassis and 2 extra tires of the 3500. ... The question: Did the currency exchange play a part in why you bought the Ascent in Canada and did you negotiate in U.S. dollars? When we bought our Pleasure-Way in 2015 we had checked all the prices on rvtrader.com and rvt.com and the best price we could get in the U.S. was just under US$100k for a US$114k MSRP. In checking with some of the Canadian dealers we found better deals with the ones who offered U.S. importation programs. CanAm RV in London had our vehicle marked down from its CAN$120k MSRP to CAN$89k. As we paid the dealer Canadian dollars, with the exchange that turned out to be almost exactly US$75k or a discount of 34.2% which seemed due partly to currency disparities between the U.S. and Canada. We went to the dealer to inspect the RV and then after the paperwork and transaction were done they delivered it to us at the closest U.S. POE (Port Huron, MI). We paid the U.S. federal government a few hundred dollars and we drove home to Las Vegas. I suspect you can only do this with RV's manufactured in Canada. Which brings us to our second question: Apparently, you will drive long distances to save a significant amount of money. Our calculation is that we have to save at least $5-10K to travel a long distance. What is your number?
Hi, Health Travelers. When did you purchase in Canada? I purchased in 2017 and found that they are now quite strict with regards to selling to Americans. They require a Canadian license to purchase. Did you run into that. In any case, I lived in Canada so it wasn't a problem. I paid in Canadian dollars but I exchanged US Dollars at my bank to get the Canadian dollars so I got something like a 25% discount right there based on the exchange rate.
Ultramobility It was October 15, 2015 that we bought our Pleasure-Way Prestige in London, ON. I'm a dual citizen but that apparently didn't factor in because I only had a Nevada license then and wasn't asked for it. I never drove the PW in Canada until it was after it was delivered to Port Huron, MI and I received temporary plates from Michigan to get it back to Las Vegas (although we took it to show our daughter in Hamilton, ON before returning to Vegas). I've noticed that there are dealers in B.C. that specialize in US importation as well as CanAm RV in London.
Interesting. In 2017 I tried to purchase from 1000 Island RV in Ontario near Kingston and they would not sell to me until I showed them a Canadian driver's license. Perhaps it was because you are a dual Canadian citizen. In any case I'd be surprised if Americans can just travel up there to purchase and drive back but perhaps it can be done.
Ultramobility I think it may have to do with having the dealer willing to drive it into the U.S. for delivery. What is your thought on how much one should save to make a cross-country trip worthwhile?
well my feeling is that the dealer in Canada may try to jack up the price if they find out you're American. I had one dealer ask me that. in that case it's not worth it in my opinion. but if you can get them to deal with you in CAD dollars and then on your own deal with the exchange rate then it's probably worth it. I'd say if you can get them to come off their advertised price by 10% then you should do it (if possible) because the exchange rate alone is worth it. what about you?
You shower sitting down? What about the rest of ones self? Our Toyhauler's had dry bath showers, which were a PITA compared to our house shower. I can't imagine dealing with a tiny, wet bath shower. What say you?
We recently bought a 2011 Pleasure Way Excell after looking at so many other brands and I have to say it's only Pleasure Way for us! Nothing compares to the build quality!
Perez Team - glad you found your dream camper! Are you making memories and living the life with your van?
I’ve seen how pleasure way makes its RVs, they literally sneak in insulation wherever they can while Roadtreks literally have zero insulation which is ridiculous.
I just wish Pleasure way will start taking advantage of volta systems and more lithium so we can use the AC for prolonged periods without using a separate generator.
There’s a big ol engine under the hood which is quieter and more efficient, use that and add more lithium where the separate genset is supposed to be.
Also please start using Dometic Harrier air conditioners with variable speed compressors.
thanks for the ideas and comment max. I think PW will introduce more and more lithium as time goes on. they are the only manufacturer offering lithium on all their models standard. on the sprinters Mercedes isn't keen on master upfitters using the second alternators.
Thanks for the video. I found it to be very informative and helpful . I'm looking for a Pleasure-way , used of course. Any suggestions at what a fair price would be? Between 2000 and 2015 model years .
Hi, Patricia. What model are you looking at? RVTrader is a great resource of used RVs. I sold my 2014 Roadtrek CS Adventurous there. You will get a good idea of what the going rate is for almost any kind of used or new RV. I recommend you check it out. That's rvtrader.com. Let us know what you find and I might also take a look for you as well.
Hi Neil. I just started watching your great videos on class B campers since I need a new car and / or van very, very soon. Basic question: I'm assuming you're talking AMERICAN DOLLARS when you talk of the PURCHASE PRICE, even though you bought one in Quebec? (I am from Montreal but I became an dual citizen and working here in the San Francisco Bay Area). Thanks! I will keep watching.
yep American dollars! welcome to the bay area - i'm here too! I should do a meetup for all my bay area fans!
chappi59 commented: "Oh, another question: how easy is it to park or find parking spots for this kind of size vehicle. Especially not having to pay big fees. Thanks"
1 day ago
@chappi59, it is really easy to find parking spots. The Ascent is built on the 144 inch wheel based Sprinter and it just a tad over 19 feet in length. Since most parking spaces are 20 feet you can fit in nearly all of them. I have parked my Ascent in downtown Montreal and San Francisco and have no problems fitting in a normal space in a parking lot.
Thanks for all of the great info. What are the other costs of owning your Class B- ie insurance, mileage, oil changes etc?
Hi, Grace. Great question for a new Q&A episode! I'll give you the short answer here: insurance is not really much higher than your average car. Here in CA if you only use your camper van for trips and your mileage is below 7000 miles per year then you get a discounted rate. Mileage for the 4 cylinder Mercedes chassis (they don't really sell it anymore though) is great: 17mpg in the city and 27-28mpg highway. My dash computer says that my lifetime since I've owned the Ascent is 21mpg which I think is fantastic. I've only had to put the DEF (diesel emission fluid) in once which I did myself (you can buy DEF at Walmart for around $11 per gallon. I have a major servicing coming up in around 5000 miles and I'll post here that cost which I expect to come in around $700-$1000. That will be my 15,000 mile major service.
Being visually challenged, I notice you sit with the light behind you; which makes for *very hard viewing* . Your content is great & I just subbed. I trust you will accept this as constructive info!
Agree! I purchased a portable studio lamp today in the hopes that it will help out! Thank you so much for pointing it out and subbing I appreciate it!
Thank you sir. Subsequent vids. are greatly improved.
Maybe as a favor to a fan of your channel you could tour the Hymer Activ 2.0 (Loft Edition) and give your opinion. It really does make a difference having that loft.
definitely. trying to locate one. they aren't released yet...
What sort of discount would you currently expect from Hymer/Road Trek dealers since their closure of their North American Division
I have to take a small exception with your comments about pricing . I've seen new pleasure way Ascents for way under 120k. More in the 105k range. Perhaps you paid more because of the location you are in
Hi sea ray was the the Ascent built on the Mercedes platform or the Lexor built on the Ram Promaster? The Lexor can be found cheaper for sure.
Ultramobility hi it was a 2017 built on the Mercedes chassis.
was it an ascent new? 2018's are out so 2017"s if they exist will be discounted.
Ultramobility it was a brand new 2017 closeout I saw this one about 6 months ago at Berryland Campers. So I believe if you negotiate hard enough you can definitely get 25% off MSRP
yeah probably for last year's models. the trouble is finding any Pleasureway's in the first place ;-)
chappi59 commented: "Is your model a diesel? The reason I ask, is that you can run it during the night to heat the vehicle without running out of fuel.
@chappi59 My model is a diesel. The cab heater does heat the rest of the coach pretty nicely. However, be aware that MBZ does not recommend idling the diesel Sprinter for prolonged periods of time.
Hello, Neil, Thanks for all of your great videos. I am very close to buying a new Ascent. But, I was only just recently alerted (by one of your readers comments) to the potential fuel issue (or is it?) concerning the “bio” content of diesel fuel and the Mercedes Benz manual that says you need to restricting that content to no more than 5%. So Neil, I’m curious to know, are you minding that for yourself? How easy is it in California to find “B5 diesel”? Do they display it at the pumps? (I’m sure California is going to be one of my favourite destinations). Also, how easy was it on your cross country drive last year to find the right fuel? Or, am I overstating this issue entirely? Very keen to hear your own experience before I get my new Ascent. Thank-you.
Hi, John. Thanks for watching my channel! I just did an entire episode on the whole diesel vs. gas issue and specifically about the Sprinter. You can view it here: ruclips.net/video/9hzP133RIoE/видео.html
I don't worry much about it here in CA. Almost all the main diesel stations sell pure diesel. It wasn't a problem going across the country for me but i stayed mainly on the 80 where there are lots of mainstream diesel stations. MB says that you can put b20 in but don't do it regularly. it's not like filling it up with b20 now and again is going to kill your engine. it's not,. b20 may be problem for others living in states like Minnesota which now mandates it.
Class B has advantage of agile transport but limit the number of people sleeping inside as I thought would be nice to have 1-2 friend to come with you. Have you consider class C RV and your insight of choosing class B instead? I cannot make decision which way to go at this time. Thanks. BTW. Enjoy your video, very details and articulate. Thanks.
I have not considered a class C. I don’t like any class C styling and I find that they are built to a lesser quality. Thanks for watching my channel!
@@Ultramobility Thanks for your reply. I watch some of your boon docking video, I would like to know any safety concerns or precaution as compare to the camp ground. Any insights or reference of your video on safety will be helpful. Thanks
i have a video coming out that talks about this. it will release in january 12,2023
New subscriber but listening to all I can, so helpful. I am picking a brand and have almost settled on Pleasure Way..but Airstream? I like the layout of PW better but Airstream seems to have many more chassis safety items, like side view camera, thorax air bag, etc. I personally think those are very important although I know I am in the minority. I can't find a segment on this. Could you do one?
pw and airstream both come with all the Mercedes safety options like lane keep assist, blind spot detection, collision detection, cross wind assist, hill assist, automatic high beams and wipers. the side view cameras that airstream uses are added after market by them. both pleasureway and airstream have thorax airbags. in other words the airstream and pleasureways are equivalent in safety systems as least as far as available options from Mercedes. go with pleasureway - quality is much higher.
Advice for FB post? : We have a 2016 Ascent with a sofa that will no longer retract or extend. The folks at PW Warranty have been great. They put us in touch with the Spyder folks who made the control board (Maybe they are called PC Boards?) and they say this is a broken relay, a known problem and are sending us a new board. (PW will pay for one hour labor.) What remains is finding someone to replace the bad board. We live in San Francisco which is a wasteland for RV sales/service. I don't have time to drive to Sacramento or Paso Robles. Can anyone tell me what type of vendor to seek online to do this?
While it seems like a simple electrical component replacement, what if they do it wrong and blow up something that was just fine?
Hey Kevin. Why don't you take it to LazyDays RV in Sacramento? They are a PW dealer and should be able to do the fix. I know it's not ideal but there are worse things than an afternoon in Sac ;-) Will likely be a lot faster than trying to find an electrician to do the board removal and replace. Just my 2 cents.
I think this little example exemplifies one of the great fallacies regarding RV warranties. It's not so much the length of the warranty, as how frequently you may need to use it. It should be noted that under the warranty, it becomes your responsibility to get the RV to someone somewhere that can effect the repair. The RV manufacturer never compensates you for this time and effort. I think they should. And if your RV is out of service for any length of time, that should be compensable also.
Awesome vids Neil! i'm sold on the Ascent. my only question is how many MPG are you averaging on the highway and sidestreets. you have probably been asked that a million times. ty! hope to hear from you. Subscribing now😀
thanks for subscribing Paolo. I have a lifetime average (after 12k miles) of around 21mpg. I get around 25-26mpg on the freeway traveling at the speed limit.
2016 mercedes sprinter rv Water hook up.
Would like to know what the 3 Water settings mean where I connect the water hose?
appreciate the fantastic information you are sharing. is it complicated importing this camper from Canada to the US? thank you
no not if the camper van is newer can conforms to us standards like all newer models do. older models may have a harder time.
Great information on buying, thank you.
thank you for watching Patrick!
Which is better Gas or Diesel fuel and way? Thank you John
hey john, here's a whole video I did on the subject!
ruclips.net/video/9hzP133RIoE/видео.html
What did you do with your ole Class B? I'm interested in possibly buying a used Class B. I'm sure others are, too.
hi there. I sold it on RVTrader last year.
Hello Neil, From which dealer did you get your Ascent? Thanks for all the very informative videos!!!!
You're welcome robert! I purchased mine from VR ST-Cyr in Quebec. If I were purchasing today in norther California I'd purchase from Happy Daze RV.
Did you install the solar panels or did you buy it with solar?
Excellent information - thank you
you're more than welcome thanks for watching!
Can you do a review of the Okanagan Tribute by Adventurer? So far I have not found any reviews on this camper van based on the Ford Transit
they don't seem to have a website which makes me suspect...
Have you looked at the hymer activ? Any thoughts? Test driving one next week.
Hi, csaaprile. I like the Activ 2.0. I like the lounge in the front and think the rear area that doubles as a bedroom and garage is nice. I personally don't like having either and prefer having a lounge/bedroom. The Hymer is built by Roadtrek so it offers all the configurability as other Roadtreks. That's great if you're a performance buyer. I worry a bit about the build quality as Roadtrek needs to up their quality control game. Not sure if this is also true with the Aktiv or not.
Right now today 2018,which dealer makes a better Class B on a Ford or on a Dodge pro master?
What do you think about the Ford nuget
What is your take on the differences between the Mercedes van vs the Ram ProMaster van?
i like the promaster. i have owned 2 diesel sprinters and i loved those as well. they get great mileage but are costly to maintain and harder to find a service center
@@Ultramobility Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'd totally forgotten about this question. Now I'm more interested in the Panoramic and EV RVs.
I enjoyed this so much and learned so much, it just was not long enough.
Not mine. I’ll pass on the suggestion. Thanks!
Your videos are very helpful. Question, does your Ac and heat in the rig run without the generator when driving? Also, when shopping for your RV, did you ever consider the 3500 model? Do you feel a huge difference in performance and practicality in the 2500 vs the 3500? I like the idea of 9 passengers vs 4. Thoughts?
Hi, Rick. Thank you very much. First off, for many situations, the cab ac and heat will heat the entire van just fine. Only in extreme temperatures would you need to start the coach ac/heat. The coach heat is propane and works without the generator just fine. The ac would require the generator to be running. I've owned both the 3500 and the 2500. For the longer sprinter 170 inch wheelbase the 3500 is ideal. for the shorter, i prefer the 2500 4 cylinder 7 speed because the mpg is just out of this world. unfortunately they don't sell the 4 cylinder sprinter in north America any longer so the 3500 is your only choice. if you like more passengers check out Midwest vans Daycruiser! I love it: 8 passengers and a van as small as mine! midwestautomotivedesigns.com/sprinter-vans/daycruiser-144
This Daycruiser is incredible, I've never heard of it before. Thanks!!
Well after hearing the story of how you got your pleasure way, it reminds me of what Shakespeare once said “better a witty fool than a foolish wit”. Stay thirsty my friend.
Thanks for a great channel. I just subbed. what is that title track music that comes up in the intro for this? Thanks.
i'll have to look that up. it came with the software package that I use for editing.
Are Pleasure Ways sold in Canada priced in CAD or USD?
cad
Great video thanks.
Hi, Seven Sevens. Glad you liked it. What did you like best about it?
This past weekend we went to a RV show at Anaheim Stadium. We were able to get the price of the Pleasureway Ascent down to $114.5K. i'm not sure if it is the same as the one you have, but i know the cabinets are not the same. Do you think we got a good deal? Is there a way we can send you the pictures of the RV and listing?
what's the year? i think you got a great price but please post a link to the listing!
Ultramobility : it is the 207 Chassis but 2018 interior. I do not have a website to link to. Can I send you a picture of the sticker price and listing?
Ultramobility it is all the base plus Painted ext moldings $1950; 190 Watt Solar pkg $1560; Rear and Side roll up screen $1660
Total price : base 129155+options $5070+freight $300= $137225 sticker
Yes I think you got a very good price. Excellent job. Does it come with AGS (automatic generator start)?
Yes the generator can be started from the inside and generator is located below vehicle. But I did notice we have a Truma Aqua water heater.
what are the main differences between 2017 vs 2018 models of the PW Ascent?
hi there. it's on my list of videos to shoot! but in short: fiamma single mount awning which gives better support of attaching the awning to the van (as compared to the previous awning which had 3 separate support attachments); new taller faucet in kitchen'; new color led touch panels in front and rear. These panels control everything the old ones did plus they control the heater, ac, fantastic fan vent, awning; new power center controls showing actual amperage draw and dc load control center status; ags or automatic generator start which allows you to set parameters for when the automatically start the generator to recharge the lithium ion batteries and when to turn on the AC while you are away and not plugged in; new fantastic vent fan with power lip open and close and rain sensor. I believe those are the improvement. quite a list if you ask me.
Yes thanks for the all the info - you also mention that you made a "costly" mistake with your previous RT. Is there a video where you outline the details? PW was initally off my list but since reading forums and watching videos like yours i think i need to investigate further. Was leaning towards activ , now leaning towards activ without any ecotrek / voltstart tech as this seems to be the major issues with current models and the biggest pain in the butt.
first I feature your question in this Tuesday's episode answering your question about my opinion of the Aktiv so stay tuned for that! I haven't made a video about my previous RT. I didn't have the channel back then. But I am thinking about doing a future episode where I talk about that. I just don't want RT owners to feel like im' bashing RT. What's your primary use case for buying your van?
So great
thank you Trish!
Semis pass you grandpa? :) You didn't check your mirrors before changing lanes? Yup, cali driver.
always do check my mirrors of course and they are adjusted correctly.
When you and your family go for a RV vacation, how did you get the heat absorption refrigerator cold. My driveway is sloped at about 5 degrees and the absorption refrigerators only work safely at 3 degrees or less for long term reliability. I've seen some articles talking about putting ice bags or frozen gel packs in the refrigerator the day before you leave. What are your thoughts about this? Thank you and enjoy your videos. I just order a Pleasure Way XLTD unit and should be getting it by late May 2018.
Hi, 2badger2. I get a lot of question about the 3-way refrigerator and candidly before I got mine I had them too. Here's my experience: First if you can comfortably walk around in the van then don't worry about the refrigerator being level. It will work fine - that's directly from Pleasureway and I've found it to be true. Secondly, I haven't had a problem getting the refrigerator cool. I've heard that some people turn it on the day before and cool it down but I don't do that. Generally, I'll load it up with whatever I'm taking already cold. Then I turn it on and forget about it. The cold items tend to give the refrigerator a boast and by the time I check it later it has cooled down and is maintaining the temperature. I do this almost every day. I take my lunch or breakfast with me in the morning. Pop it in the refrigerator. Turn it on and leave. By lunch, I open the refrigerator to get my lunch and its all nice and cold. I haven't experienced any strangeness that people bring up with regards to getting it to cool down. Now, this may pose a problem in really hot climates. I live in California and we're pretty mild here. Congratulations on your XLTD - that is a fantastic van! May is a great time to year to head out on adventures! Let us know when you get it and how you're loving it!
Thank you. I also got a great deal because of a sales person mistake and talking to the Pleasure Way Rep about the mistake that the sales person made at the RV show in Pleasanton.
What mistake did your dealer make??
The sales person at the RV show somehow didn't know about the sale stickers in one of the RV's which was 10% off each of the 5 Pleasure Way models at the show. I don't know why all 5 stickers were in one RV. When the sales person said he was going to get me a great deal, he came back after about 25 minutes and said he fought for 8% off. After about 10 minutes of telling him that wasn't enough off and listening to him have excuses. I finally showed him the stickers in the other RV and he told me he wasn't sure I could even get that price. I said I didn't like him trying to cheat me and I should maybe look at a different company. He then said "name your price", I told him 15% off and he said no way but he'll ask his boss. He when left and I immediately talked to the Pleasure Way Rep who was 20 feet away, the Rep ran after the sales person and they were back in 2 minutes shaking my hand that I got my price. YES
You're a good negotiator 2badger2. well done! Other viewers will find your experience very useful. Stick to your guys and use whatever resources you need to drive the best deal. In your case a PW rep was nearby and you used them and saved thousands of dollars!
Do any vans of this size have sliders?
you mean slide out? none here in North America that I know of.
Perfect camper van would fit in a garage but have a slide out & expandable (?) roof so more room.
I like your videos. Would you consider changing the music? Yikes...
hi kisskiss 1111 which music?
Ultramobility common camper van questions has music between questions and also in the beginning of the video. It’s probably just me showing my age! 😆 thanks!
Noted. future question and answer videos do not use the music :-) I still use my theme music for opening and closing but I'll try lowing the volume a bit. i completely understand and thanks for caring enough to let me know!
I have only one comment, I have a 45' DP with a smart-wheel, electronic stabilization system, an accident avoidance system that works with the engine brake, adaptive cruise control and air abs system. It also has a computer assisted steering system and passive steering tag axle. I went to an RV so I wouldn't have to drive long hours and distances. But I have on occasion driven 12-15 hours. I was not fatigued, after these long drives. I used to get angry with owners of smaller RV's who always point to things like "not having to pull a toad", and being able to park anywhere. But I now realize that those kinds of things are not a priority to me. I dock my RV and use my toad to explore, discover, and transport supplies. I also realize that there are pro's and con's for every type of RV, and these must be matched with personal preferences and usage. I would just ask that in describing some pro's and con's, that you stick with comparisons that you have actually had experience with rather than speculating and guessing. You mentioned that you would check with your Dad on his Class A experiences, I think you should do that before you speculate, and make it sound like your speculation is a fact....... Thanks for the videos and your good intentions...
Hi, Rory. Thanks for your earnest comment. I certainly don't mean to insult folks who like or own class A's. If I offended you I apologize. But I'm curious where you feel I speculate and guess? I don't think I've ever said "this is what owning a class is like". I did say "This is the ideal size for me unlike a class A where I think I'd be a little nervous". If that's what you're talking about then I don't feel I'm stating anything as fact other than my feelings of being nervous which is true. I've only shared what I like about owning a class B. In fact I've owned a longer 24 foot class b and didn't like that so I downsized to the 19 foot sprinter and like it much better.
You didn't insult me, I have long ago gotten beyond getting emotional because of someone else's preferences. You made the comment on driving in your class "B", you didn't feel nervous about passing or being passed by a semi. I assumed you were referring to being drafted or pushed by the airflow of the semi. In the larger Class A's & Super C's you don't experience that. I own a Newmar, and Newmar and Foretravel are the only two manufacturers I know of that incorporate a computer assisted steering system, that handles extreme hwy pitch & crosswinds. You don't have to fight the wheel to stay on the road. I have driven Class B, C, Super C and class A units. I have owned a Class C prior to my current A. I needed it because my family traveled with us. Kids are grown with their own RV's now & we decided to upsize to a class A. As I said I have followed you and other youtubers (regardless of their personal preferences), because I can always learn something new. But keep in mind, one size does not fit all. There are pro's & con's to each class. Everyone is an individual, that is one reason why there are so many Makes, models, floorplans, & options. I thank you for taking the time to answer my comments.
You're right. There are all manner of rv's for different lifestyles and likes. I thank you for watching my videos and I do hope that you'll indulge me in my zeal for class b's because... well that's what my channel is about. If you do watch my other videos you'll see that I am enthusiastic about my van and want to share that with others. I'll keep in mind what you say about talking about rv classes that I have no experience with but on my channel you'll always hear my honest opinion and I will always extoll the virtues of the class b motorhome!
Extoll on, I wouldn't expect anything else. I am a subscriber BTW.....
Keep me honest Rory!