Van Tour: Sprinter 144" Conversion with Bathroom & Shower | XO Beast by Storyteller Overland
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- Опубликовано: 15 окт 2024
- Walk-through of the Storyteller Overland MODE XO Beast, a 144' Sprinter van conversion. This Class B RV is 19 feet long with a cassette toilet and wet bath. Learn more about this small RV, all of its features and where to find one: storytellerove...
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After taxes fees and add-ons this can easily be $250k out the door, at this rate ill just get a base sprinter for $60k and poop in the woods 😂
Good point!!
Go big or go home
@thebairdhaslanded Go big, you are staying home. Cant afford to do anything else....camp in your driveway. 😆😅
@@rvierra7235 why did I not think of that lol
Yeah it’s awesome but how many can afford 250k for a camper van
You do an excellent job of reviewing the things that we care about.
I'd rather have the groove lounge any day than the bathroom... Some people are going to love this though. Great review Joe as usual.
Said no woman ever...😆
I couldn't buy one of these without a shower and toilet! I like washing my behind 😌 🙃 😂❤ love this build.
I know that it's been awhile-I haven't forgotten you guys! This Storyteller has all of the bells and whistles! They get better and better, each year! Love that extended seat! Take care, guys!!🏕🤗🤗
Welcome back!
The #1 reason I bought a Revel. The separate bathroom gave me, wife and daughter privacy. I was able to upgrade my Revel with the accessories I liked from 3rd parties instead of paying a premium that come installed with STO. Everyone has their own requirements and creature comforts they can’t live without. STO vans are very nice builds. If they had the bathroom option when I was shopping, I may have been a STO owner???
Thank you for touring this van. I love the storage under the bed. I personally think the shower is a poor use of space. In my class b, in over 2 years, I have not showed in it nor would I. Ours has a round vent fan in the bathroom. The first thing I did was take the bathroom door off and put up a curtain for privacy. That door was in the way when there were 2 of us in the van. Our van is setup to be a couple's van with the bedroom in the rear and it can be small twin beds or one Queen. I am still trying to love the full sided van, but since my husband passed away, I find I really don't need or enjoy all that space and I really enjoy the minivan because it just blends in and I can park overnight even in quite neighborhoods and no one notices it. Our class b is the classic1995 Dodge Ram Van 3500, and everyone notices it, and total strangers will ask if they can look inside. Traveling solo now, I really don't like the attention. Everyone just figures the minivan is likely full of screaming kids or a couple out on date night... Just my 2 cents worth. Thank you again for the tour.
I think they feel the pressure from the refresh Revel. Manual side window is less likely to break. Hard to fit a CAV rear up fit on the Beast.
I love the bathroom, but I wish the cassette toilet was portable and not built in. That would allow it to be set outside the shower while showering.
Absolutely agree.
It could also have a bigger tank. This is 4.5 gallons. A thetford Curve is 5.5 gallons.
That van is AWESOME!!! I love these camper tour videos from you guys; keep up the great work! ❤
Thank you! Will do!
Fantastic review, thank you! A couple of things I observed- you lose the front drivers seat from turning around and being useful in this XO setup. May not be a big deal to some, but some of the usefulness of a setup like this is turning both front seats around and having seating for 4 adults (or someplace for a dog/cat). The front seat/table seems cramped when used together (although I like the adjustments to pull out/recline). The power window is just another thing to give you problems in the middle of nowhere and seems unnecessary. Honestly, I was hoping Storyteller was going to add some type of pull-out toilet that pulls into the shower pan area and you could just utilize the shower curtain for a bathroom privacy option (IE, a better solution than the CAV slide-out toilet, perhaps with an exhaust fan). I can't believe STO hasn't developed a better front bumper, this bumper is solid steel and about 150lbs.. for a "beast", they should do something similar to a catuned with a winch and streamline the bumper to be lighter and better equipped for recovery. Also, improvement on insulation would be nice too, especially at this price point.. which gets me to my last point that $240,000 is not going to sit well with many given the competition (you can buy a 2025 revel with nearly the same power and put $20K into it and be close to this, and pocket a cool $50,000). 2 years ago you could get a STO beast for under $200K, they increased pricing due to market demand and a year wait for anyone ordering, and I'd say that demand and the ability for people to finance a van like this has significantly decreased but STO has not adjusted back (time will tell how this will do, of course). There are almost 50 STO Beasts for sale on RVTRADER, inventory seems to be sitting at this pricing. I love STO, love the brand, love the vans, hope this one is a success and fits it's target market (STO Fans kinda wanting a Revel but don't care about price). :)
Storyteller finally figured out why they lost so many customers to the Revel. 😁
Thanks Joe, always enjoy your videos. Last May I bought a 2023 Mode
LT as I don’t trust or like MBZ (had two of their SUVs that spent more time in the shop than I did driving them). I have been happy with the Transit and STO’s quality but did have a few minor problems with the thermostat for the heater. As an older woman I was hesitant about no fixed bath but have found the halo shower and porta potty adequate. The groove lounge is a must for me because I travel with two Great Danes and that is their bed.
Love the swivel multi directional toilet. Nice removable cabinet options. Price seems high for the Beast. Nice bed and garage area.
Once again Joe, you provide a top notch review. Thank you.
My pleasure!
They thought of everything it seems!👍I liked all the storage features throughout.
Good for Storyteller to offer the option of a fixed bath for those who deem it essential. I'll stick with the openness and I'd never give up my (rare) Storyteller LT on theTransit.
Really cool and innovative!! I love the manual slide out to give more space but won’t break like other slide systems! Tons of storage too!
Glad you like it!
It looks almost exactly the same as the revel but probably 100k more!
Great review, I watched a couple of others do this review, and you are far and away the best.
Wow, thank you!
Agree. Nice deliberate pace with useful explanations. For example, showing all the steps in folding down the bed (useful for an STO wannabe). Second example, showing how with the Lagun table installed you can't fully rotate the driver's seat to point rearward. Makes sense when you see the anchor point, but up till now it hadn't dawned on me. Third example - going up on the roof and taking time to show the room for packing, adding solar, and placing camp chairs for hanging out. Fourth, unscrewing the bath shelves from their storage and noting the rubber inserts where the shelves meet the shower.
the movable passernger seats. loved that idea
I'm a new owner of the 2023 Jayco Terrain, and there are some nice features of this Storyteller such as the seats. A missed opportunity is a storage shelf above the driver and front passenger. The Murphy bed is cool and something I've been following Storyteller for some time now. It does reduce the opportunity to load about 100 pounds extra on an elevated bed while driving with dirt bikes in the garage. Until you spend time in one of these Sprinter Revel type layouts, you don't really get the spatial understanding of how tight these vans are. I have found that RUX storage "boxes" and their clip on rails bags really work for additional storage solutions in these vans. My max carrying capacity with all fuel and water tank filled is only 830 pounds, so I'm constantly looking at ways to reduce weight. If they sold Storytellers in Canada I would have liked this build.
In Canada! Have you looked at Yama Vans or Nav Camper. Both real nice 🇨🇦builds,
I would love to see Modes and Revels offered on the 170 chassis. I know you would lose some off road ability, but the added space inside would be awesome. Call it a Mode XL or Revel XL. You could have more storage, more surface area for solar on the roof, and a larger sleeping area.
That would be cool!
Book a call with Joe - Are you buying your first RV or have questions about RVing? Let’s see if booking a 60 minute session with Joe is the right fit for you. weretherussos.ck.page/callwithjoe
Would you be able to do a video on the differences between the 2023 vans on the Volta battery system against the 2024 vans on the lithionics battery system? How much more time for example can you run the ac with the lithionics?
STO always evolves. Nice they now offer the fixed bath as an option.
I’d still prefer the open layout.
The main problem with STO is still their wait time. Meanwhile, their competitors like the Revel seem to be improving their quality. So if you want a fixed bath, the Revel may still be a good choice if you don’t want to wait two years for your van after you purchase it.
There isn’t a wait time for a Storyteller. You can go buy one now and drive it off the lot. The wait times were during Covid when everyone was buying RVs.
Great video Joe and Kait. Love the Raccoon shirt!! Does the bed have a weight compacity? I think the heat vents location preventing pipe freeze is a great option!
I think the weight limit is 800 pounds or more
Very compelling and would take this over Revel any day. My only complaint is all the electric switches for opening windows and moving rear seats. Keep in simple and manual along with awning. Just ask Winnebago about their nightmares with power awnings...
The Girard awning in these are awesome. I don’t know anyone who’s had issues with them
Great walkthrough Joe/Kait 👍🏼
I really like that front lounge area with the reclining seats, and auto open/close window… very cool! Another great video by the Dynamic Duo 👍🏼👏🏼🤩🤩🖖🏼
Thanks! 👍 hope all is well Rob!
My favorite feature is the versatility of the second row seating. Thanks for another great review!
Our pleasure!
Love the idea! Lots of nice upgrades, and significant thought went into the process by SO. Do you ever see SO coming out with a van on the RAM chassis with sleeping option for family of 4?
I don’t see it happening as the Ram will always be 2wd but who knows
if it is just an option, great. But to have an open space in a small van like this is more than everything.
Nice coach, not a Sprinter fan 🤷🏼
Thanks for the tour👍🏻
better than the first model with that awkward box/shower seat/lounge contraption but still very utilitarian looking. The enclosed bathroom is kind of the elephant in the room, obviously “inspired” by the revel. too small to enjoy when you are inside it but the bright lights are a thoughtful touch so you can see how small it is 😂
Your videos however Joe are always professional and worth watching!
Appreciate that - thank you!
I was waiting for your review of this as you’re so thorough. If you get a STO with a bathroom, Kait loses one of her fav places to sit! I really would miss the second bed option but hubby likes an enclosed bathroom.
This is true!
Very thorough review! This one is nice. I like the bathroom too. Also like the air conditioner that can run all night.
My wife and I trade driving and sometimes will sleep while the other drives. Having seatbelts in the centers passenger seats is necessary.
How far can you recline the back passenger seat? And how do you reach the remote to recline it.
Nice options. Great overview, as usual. I do like the enclosed bathroom.
Thank you!
I just spent a week in a rented Revel and honestly it was great. I think STO looks to have better build quality and I was never a fan of the original shower/toilet setup STO offers. The built in shower/toilet was clutch for a week of off grid life for my wife and I and without it the trip would not have been as enjoyable. That being said, the revel’s power lifting bed is a better option for convenience and allowed easier access to the garage area. It’s just more versatile and at a much cheaper price. Revel still wins for me.
I prefer this Roadtripper bed. It’s a larger sleeping area first of all. In the Revel you can’t stand fully upright in the garage area. I also like that the Roadtripper bed allows half to be left down and used as extra counter, table, or desk space. So, for me, Roadtripper bed wins.
@@seebee46 I understand where you’re coming from however I didn’t find it to be a problem getting into the garage area with the bed up. I’m 5’9” and only had to slightly duck. My 5’1” wife fit under there perfectly lol. The “desk” configuration of the STO bed is easily doable in the revel with aftermarket parts as well. IMO build quality is the only separating factor. Though the revel has better window shades and no power windows or power reclining seats to break so I like that as well.
I like the reclining back of the seat. What would be an extra bonus is foot rest.
Maybe on the passenger seat have a power foot rest.
Also I would like to see that seat bed be able to swivel to face the side door. If that isn't possible then maybe an L shape seat.
It doesn't have to be Story Teller to make it.
Fantastic review - thank you!
My pleasure!
Great walkthrough thank you!! 👍
Glad you enjoyed!
Nice review! Just noticed Storyteller added a bend in the two side bed cushions to allow storing them without them poking out the end. Is that new in '24?
e - I guess they need it to accommodate the XO bathroom wall.
Needed a removable toilet rather than a permanent cassette. I've owned a truck camper with a cassette toilet, and the rubber seal between the toilet and the cassette is a point of failure. Trust me. Also not sure why they still use the Coleman AC when there are more efficient and quiet DC 48V units on the market.
Love that things continue to improve but I would prefer not to have the second row seats, DD lights would be better than KC
Classy review as always. Thanks Joe and Kait!
Our pleasure!
I almost bought the revel till RUclips this & they have these available
Yes the revel is way cheaper but doesnt have all these addons
I really wish they offered a 170 version of this.
They share delivery timeframes? Seriously considering canceling my 2025 Revel order. Nice video!
They are already available at dealers
Another great video! Thank you!
My pleasure!
Eye watering price. Good options but damn.
I love the poop sack.
Don’t need an electric window. Kinda overkill.
Lots of nice features though. The bathroom is a switch for them. Won’t work for me, I’m too big for that 😂. I could probably make it work if I was single but it’s a big no go from my wife 😂
Love it but here are the changes I would make. 1) A drawer fridge. This is especially helpful for off-road use to keep things in place. 2) A real sink. I honestly can't stand these RV sinks. They're too small and the faucet is too low. And realistically if you're using that counter you're going to be using the sink at the same time. So that extra counter space from the cover is unnecessary. 3) An additional roof vent over the shower. This along with the bottom vent would create a lot of air flow which should be especially helpful to prevent mold and dry out wet gear. Other than that I would buy one of these in a heartbeat if it was within my budget
Do you happen to know the amount of amp hours the batteries give for the beast vs classic mode?
Yes - so it’s the equivalent of 1400 amp hours on the Beast vs 700 on the classic.
@@Weretherussos Thank you so much!
Hi guys FELICIANO here, are you coming to the rv show this weekend in San Juan Capistrano may 3 to may 5 ? 😊
Yes, Kait and I will be there! Are you going?
@Weretherussos yes, I'm working around the corner from the rv show, I'll see you guys there ; )
@Weretherussos good morning, I'm here in the rv show where are you located this time?
Awesome van
We agree!
Wait why are there shelves in the bathroom like that?? doesn’t make any sense to me
How many alternators?
Two. One for the vehicle and a secondary for the camper battery
wanted to learn about the new power system
Outside of it being a 16.8 khw Lithionics system what did you want to know?
@@Weretherussos difference between Lithionics and Volta, can 8.4 base unit be easily upgraded to 16.8? What about the alternators?
Hi guys I'm geliciano from San Juan Capistrano, I had a question related to the maxxairfan ,what kind of conformal coating spray did you use on the circuit board , acrylic, silicon or polyurethane? Thanks guys a great videos every time ,say hi your mom for me thanks.😊
Hey there Geliciano!
I don’t believe it matters which one but this is the one I got: www.amazon.com/419E-Premium-Acrylic-Conformal-Recognized/dp/B07TXWN3V6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=TM26AE9XAKCM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aFXPF9Cukx9ijd_BM1-0YOLLBeuMDcGg1d-No2kol9wm-aBkXR6UOzyKSbsJ1OGSdZiSYQkaaImRAkToyP3WbKGaQXqtusPcbifJdvtGGNswLYugffTkvASe8kyF7GVKzqdikrHvQ6LoW82hbBRxyQYXomuotBRP6KuYslyhaxZBQYWQXID03daU3OQJS1rOeW1INcyYSo17SUuXO6EJNA.VPH7uSW0Tudv8S2CuSXP1TyB5qqvMYPEufZXE92U_9k&dib_tag=se&keywords=conformal+coating+419&qid=1714166220&sprefix=confirmal+coating+419%2Caps%2C476&sr=8-1
@Weretherussos I noticed that I wrote down geliciano instead of FELICIANO, thanks for the info.
I was wondering about that 😁
Can you sit straight up on the bed without hitting your head?
Depends on your height but if your under 5’11 you should be okay
At these insane prices these things are exclusively for the top 1% that Green Day whines about.
Th rv industry is already in serious decline, inflation isn’t going away and interest rates are rising, not falling. Credit card and auto loan defaults are at record highs. Stimulus checks are over. Hoping for content that is fiscally reasonable for families that make under $200k per year.
The only problem I have with the Sprinter is that dinky 2.0 Liter engine. Around town it is probably ok, but going cross country (Nevada, Montana, Texas, Idaho, etc.), that little turbocharged engine is working Very Hard to maintain freeway speeds. I'd much prefer the old 3.0 Liter Diesel engine......
The 2.0 liter has more power, cruises better and goes up hills much better. Oh and the MPG is significantly better. There also isn’t the turbo lag of the 3.0. I’ve done southern CA to Portland OR through the mountains towing a small trail with the 2.0 and didn’t even know it was back there.
@@Weretherussos But remember, the 2.0 liter engine is developing more power per cubic inch of displacement than a 3.0 Liter engine. That engine is working harder to develop the horsepower. In vehicles like race cars, it doesn't matter because the life of the engine is measured in # of races, or hours before it must be rebuilt....
I get that but given Mercedes’ history with diesels I doubt it will make much of a difference and most will never drive one enough to find the mileage limit of either engine.
I thought the door in the shower was to keep your tp dry
No it’s not big enough for a roll unless you folded it
240k? WOW
$240k 😳
another company with the choice to copy the Revel, but again, puts in a cassette toilet. Should have an option to have no toilet, or have a composting option. near impossible to shower with the immovable toilet inside the tiny wet bath. Really like the way the bed opens up for a floor to ceiling pass through.
If this is a copy then the Revel is a copy of many vans before it with the same layout
@@Weretherussos i believe that the Revel was the original for this type of design. Looks like every other company just copied it. If i ma mistake, i would like to see which company came up with the original design.
This floor plan has been used in Europe for decades. Hymer brought the Aktiv to the U.S. which was prior to the Revel and the Revels layout is exactly the same. Roadtrek also had similar layouts as did Sportsmobile, etc
There’s only so much you can do with the inside of a van and it’s all been done before.
240K for a 4 cylinder turbo diesel 😂 things are getting stupid. I really question people’s logic
I agree. But we reasonable and somewhat handy people can steal the best ideas and build our own for a fraction of this price.
No armrests on the two passenger seats,golly.
Chop the roof with Alu-cab
Needs to upgrade the microwave to an air fryer, does the cassette toilet swivel? Not enough freezer space...Gone Mobile Van has a better shower, Remote Vans has a better passenger seat. and that sink is too dated and you can't spray outside.
Prices become nonsense...
Where’s Kate?
She’s the one filming
It's ok but these designers just want to stuff as much as possible into a small space. This is sized for two people only. The shower toilet takes up most of the space on the left. The outside shower is enough.
Granted, however these are roomier than Classic Class B’s with same things stuffed in it.🫡
Less is more. They overdo things.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I understand from a business standpoint, this provides STO to sell their product to those that before they could not as some it was a HARD NO, w/o a dedicated bathroom. From a personal viewpoint I wish they did not do this, it was another minor thing that set STO apart from the other companies. Oh well a business is just that and has to find ways to get their lions share of a market and if this helps them keep their company rolling and their build quality at their levels they are known so be it. Just not for me, thanks for the video/walk through sir…
Worst feature is the price
Those extra seats for passengers is taking up way to much real estate! Ugh
Just the price and I'll never get a Sprinter from MB. $267K is ridiculous for that size van the only Mercedes custom will repair, no not any MB Dealers. They won't though this Beast. Good Luck getting any service on the road.
Mercedes services these all the time. They are responsible for the chassis while Storyteller services the inside
Wish I could afford one. A quarter of $1 million for a class B camper van. 🤔, nope.
Why in the F would anyone pay that for a van? Lol well there are people with money that are suckers lol
Most of us who retire have extra luggage. This vehicle does not accommodate our reality.
Why is that? The entire garage space can hold your luggage and more.
add a Taxa trailer for more storage
I can buy a little apartment with the price.....
this wasn't meant for u ...
@@IAMHIM15 not for you either.
@@Robinluo888 don't be salty these rigs are out of ur price range. just appreciate and keep dreamin. 😜
surprised LA is not providing these free for the homeless there. Billions spent on homeless there in California.
Over 200k, lol.
What ! No special place to store your Grey Poop On ?
Lots of RV manufacturer branding all over. Would need all that removed.
Revel
Too much Velcro & pouches, I can get ziplock bags that do same thing, not worth the price, better off get smaller class c.
Extra seats huge waste space need them gone my personal opinion
insanely expensive. Just not worth it.
Calling that "big enough for you to shower in" is... a stretch. You're basically on the toilet.
😂 yes
The toilet is removable, but go ahead and keep looking for a problem for every solution.
@@NoteFromSELF where did you hear that the toilet is removable? I did not hear him mention that, and it looks like a built-in.
These vans are a ripoff. Seriously ......
Ugh eliminate the two extra passenger seats ugh huge waste space
Is that avail on a Ford?
No it’s not
@Weretherussos Well, that just eliminated a huge portion of the prospective customer base. Benz is WAY too expensive.
What air conditioner does it come with? Hopefully one of the quiet agree or Houghton units.
Coleman
Love it but here are the changes I would make. 1) A drawer fridge. This is especially helpful for off-road use to keep things in place. 2) A real sink. I honestly can't stand these RV sinks. They're too small and the faucet is too low. And realistically if you're using that counter you're going to be using the sink at the same time. So that extra counter space from the cover is unnecessary. 3) An additional roof vent over the shower. This along with the bottom vent would create a lot of air flow which should be especially helpful to prevent mold and dry out wet gear. Other than that I would buy one of these in a heartbeat if it was within my budget