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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ส.ค. 2020
- We have been receiving more questions lately about our rig so we decided to give a tour of our RV, a 2008 Roadtrek 190 Popular 4x4 that we call home whenever we can escape to #vanlife.
We tried to cover a lot of the basics on this tour but didn't want the video to be any longer than necessary, so we probably didn't talk about something that you might have a question about. If that's the case, please post your question in the comments and we'll be happy to answer it there.
Keep on trekin'!
- Ari and Jessi
#hikecampgo
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I think it is so sweet that a father and his daughter can travel around the country and be so happy doing it in a class B van!!
yo that's what i thought .....
Huh? Oh she's calling him by name.
Nope, we're husband and wife. 😃
@@TrekersThat means your wife is quite the looker & has a youthful glow to her! You two look great together & your van-life channel is great! 😍😍
Thanks for a very thorough & helpful tour of your 2008 Roadtrek. It helped me see things I was unaware of. I just purchased this 2013 so it is 10 years old now but with only 12,000 miles and is very clean in and out. I am a long time RVing senior woman who just downsized from a Class C. I travel solo with my 3 year old Chocolate Lab. I will get used to the smaller footprint but will no longer have to tow a car. Happy New 2023 Year. Stay Healthy, Happy & Safe. Vicki A.
Wow, you got lucky to find a rig with so few miles on it. We hope you enjoy many adventures with it! Thanks for watching and commenting to let us know about your travels. Keep on trekin'!
Thank you so much for the tour! You both are very friendly people. It is always fun to see your vlogs. I always learn something fun or useful from them.
Thanks for that nice comment, Karen, and for all of your support. We're glad you enjoyed this video!
Thanks for doing such a great tour video! Very clear and concise!
Thank you for watching and for such a nice compliment. We're glad you enjoyed the video!
Great tour. Really like the 190 Popular. We just sold our 2001 190 Versatile Roadtrek. Maybe look for something else next year. Thanks fir the tour.
Nice video. I've lived in my Roadtrek (08C170P) for 7 months now. Similar layout but different. Only a 2WD but I trailer my side-by-side and dirt bike for off road adventures. I'm alone so plenty of room. Already put 14k miles on it travelling between MN & South TX. Did not know about the storage under the toilet. Nice find. Happy trails.
We no longer have our Roadtrek because our travel style changed and our needs changed so we changed our rig. But there are many days when we still miss our Roadtrek. It sounds like you are having some awesome adventures with yours. Safe travels and keep on trekin'!
Awesome video and channel! Just subscribed. I've been looking at Roadtreks for awhile. Thank you for the information!
We're glad you found the video useful. Thanks for watching and for letting us know! Good luck with your RV search. Let us know if you have any questions; always happy to help.
Thanks, guys! Strongly considering this rig. Enjoyed your video!
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great tour! You guys do such a fantastic job!
Thanks so much! It has been fun to keep growing this channel and to hear from people who have been inspired to travel because of it or who have found information we provided to be helpful with their trip planning.
SO CUTE! you both seem very active. what a beautiful rig! Happy trails!
Thanks so much! We try to stay active, it keeps us out of our tiny rig more. 😀
Great tour! My wife and I have really enjoyed all of your videos. I grew up just south of Harrisville State Park and we still drive up from Ohio a couple times a year to escape the humidity.
Funny to hear people coming to Michigan to escape humidity! I guess the grass is always greener...😃 Thanks for watching and commenting, we're glad you enjoy the videos. -Ari
Ok this van is AWESOME! I've been a VW Westfalia guy for years, but this thing is looking pretty awesome to me right now. Thanks for making the video, it is very well done.
Glad you like it! We got lucky when we found this one used but very well maintained by the previous owner. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you for giving us a tour. It looks very cozy. You two are so happy and awesome.
Thanks! There are times when it can be a bit too cozy, but we really like it overall and anytime we think of getting something bigger, we realize it would really change our travel style. Thank you for watching and commenting!
@@Trekers You are so welcome. And thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I am buying the same model. This was an awesome video tour. Thank you! Going to look for a group to go camping like you folks did, but in Canada.
That's great to hear, we hope you enjoy your rig as much as we have. Safe travels. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Excellent video. One of the best out there.
Thank you for watching and for commenting to let us know this. Glad you liked it!
I love it. I got here because Ian planning to get one in the near future and wanted to know how it works. Thank you and happy trails.
We're glad the video was helpful. Good luck with the search for your rig and happy trails to you, too!
You seem like lovely people. I look forward to watching many of your videos.
Thank you, and welcome to our channel!
We love our Roadtrek.It is versatile!.With this time of uncertainty. It gives us a place of feeling safe get away.
Even before COVID, we found were spoiled by having our own kitchen and bathroom everywhere we went! 😄
Loved it. @ 79 giving serious consideration to my first Roadtrek. Haven't been on the road since the 7 kids were little in a POP Up camper. A little concerned about my 2 Golden Retrievers but...
Your enthusiasm gives me hope.
We really enjoy the flexibility our Class B RV provides us when traveling. And seven kids in a pop-up? You probably deserve a medal. 😬 Thanks for watching and commenting!
A wonderful video in which I watched what I wanted to know about real life in this particular caravan and found this in you,
but I was amazed when you keep all these things and so many things in an exaggerated manner ?!
I think Americans always like to keep everything even if they don't need it.
We are constantly reviewing what we're taking with us when we travel and try to downsize our belongings, but we also want to live comfortably and keep up with our hobbies. Thanks for watching!
Those RoadTreks are the best! ✨
We really like ours. We were very excited to see them back in business and doing well. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Really enjoying your videos. Great stuff!!
Thanks for watching and letting us know you're enjoying our videos. We appreciate it!
You guys rock! Very cool and fun to watch! Now I want the same CAMPERVAN !
Thanks for watching and commenting! We enjoy our rig and the flexibility it provides us while traveling. Could use some more space when parked, but we make it work!
I’d be happy to buy your rig If u ever want to sell it one day. I live in toronto. It is a perfect size to drive my 92 yrs old mom around town or to the beach. :-). It’s got the toilet for her to use while traveling and a bed for her to take a nap.
It's so interesting to compare your RT to ours that's 8 years older! And we also had a pop-up Aliner before the RT. I imagine the 4X4 is nice to have! And I'm jealous of your spare tire carrier and the size of the bed.
They have changed so much over different model years and body styles. The 4x4 is nice for traction and it provides a couple of more inches of ground clearance. But we're still super careful about going over things on trails. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for great review and walk-thru.Good compromise between being boring-ly long, and leaving out lots of features. Well-done !
Im amazed at the wide price range of comparable RT's. Some sellers think theirs is worth their weight in gold. I realize they were very expensive when new.
Glad you enjoyed it! The market is up on Class Bs in general right now, but you're right that many people are over-valuing their rigs. It's kind of crazy. Thanks for watching!
Just bought a Roadtrek for our winter ski trip Dec 1-Jan15. First camper van! Very helpful advice!!!!! I’m a little nervous but it’ll definitely be an adventure!
Have fun on your trip! The more you spend time in your van the more you will find ways to more effectively pack things. Glad to hear our video was helpful. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great tour! We do have an awning “with the little button and wind sensor”. We Can open the doors and such. But we don’t use it a lot. Prefer the light to come in. 2019 Airstream 19’. Love 4x4. You don’t need it until you need it! If we didn’t have it, we’d still be somewhere in South Dakota! I’d love to see you on a trip full of fuel, food two people, water etc and go on a CAT scale for GVWR assessment. You need to be sure about all the storage you filling.
We have done a weigh-in when fully loaded for a long trip and came in within specs, although we didn't have a lot pounds to spare. it sounds like you have a great rig for some fun adventures, as well. Thanks for watching and commenting!
We have a 2000 190 Popular as well and love it! Your channel and tours of Michigan's State Parks are wonderful and so comprehensive! They've helped us figure out options which we haven't hit yet or those which may not be the best for us for one reason or another. Using the bottom three drawers on your 5-drawer Sterlite storage container for your "pantry" is brilliant! Those are hard to find now; only found a 2-pack on Amazon but will keep looking for single. Thanks for all you do!
Thank you for watching and commenting! We're glad you like our channel and find the videos useful.
I'm not certain, but I believe we found the drawers for our "pantry" at Walmart, so you might try there.
Cheers and safe travels to you! -Ari
@@Trekers Thanks! There seems to be a run on them being out-of-stock at Walmart, Target, etc., and super expensive at Amazon with a 2-pack. Just found an off-brand of the same item at Home Depot. Score! Thanks again and safe travels.
After selling my 29 foot class C this year, I've been thinking about downsizing and the mid-2000's Road Treks have really caught my eye. I've been looking at them online for a couple of months now. Your video tour is far and away the best coverage of the Road Trek that I've been able to find online anywhere. You've sealed the deal. That's what I'll be buying. Great video.
Thank you so much for that compliment about our video; we're glad you found it helpful! We have truly enjoyed our Roadtrek from the mid-2000s and every time we think about traveling in something different, we often found ourselves saying, "Yeah, but..." and noting something we really like about the Roadtrek. Good luck on your quest to find one and keep us posted on what you end up with. -Ari
Love your videos and hope to run into you somewhere along the way.
Thanks for watching and for the nice comment. Safe travels!
I have beeng van shopping but lately my family has been telling me is to look at a Roadtrek - I am subscribing to see how you two do it and thank you for being honest with your like and dislikes of the rig! Looking forward to your adventures!
We're in an Airstream trailer now but still look back fondly on our time in the Roadtrek. Feel free to ask questions here or via our website, where we also have posts about that rig: www.trekers.org. And good luck with your search!
thank you so much for sharing
Thank you for watching and commenting!
Love it !!! I own aaGMC's mainly, but deffinately a GM lover...❤❤❤
This was a great rig for us ...we made a lot of good memories traveling and exploring in it. Thanks for watching!
I have a 2002 190 Popular and Love It --- so much storage.
The older units always seem to have more storage than the newer ones. Our 2008 has more than the later ones, and we have noticed that some of the earlier units have even more storage than we do. And in a van, storage space is key. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@Trekers I just redecorated mine -- maybe not to everyones taste but I am really having fun with it... Van is now Vardo Van th-cam.com/video/7d7jBdfo8zs/w-d-xo.html
just fun and living the life.
Love that you compare to "modern" vans when I'm just watching your tour to see how what I consider modern is built :P
Ha! It's all relative, isn't it? Thanks for watching!
I just bought a 2008 170 Popular. It's pretty much the same as yours except that the bed/living area is smaller, so I'll have to sleep across the back instead of along the side, as I'd hoped. I'd wanted to keep one side open all the time (it's just me), so I'd have space to do crafts on the other side without rearranging everything. But I'll make it work. I'm doing my first overnight trip in a couple days and am so excited to get started on this new life! Thanks for a great, and very thorough, overview of "my" van!
It's exciting to hear about you starting your new adventures! Safe travels. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Nice job and very informative. Thanks
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Very fun video, well put together. I may buy a RT in the coming months. I love the little unknown features you showed like the hidden countertop. Just a tip here, to get to higher shelves try using a small collapsible step stool. We rented a Class C and I got a step stool so my girlfriend could more easily enter it. Turns out she loved using it to get to higher cupboards and the freezer. Whoda thunk. Lol. Liked and subscribed, going to watch your other videos too. 👍
Glad you enjoyed it! We do have a folding step stool now for Jessi to reach higher things. I've found it handy for working on the van engine, too. Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing!!
We have a 2012 Roadtrek 210, also on a Chev Express van. Not 4x4 so limited as to where we can go. But we love it. We took out the tv because we never use it and it makes the back area much bigger. The 210 has a larger fridge which is also nice. Love the tire table design, we just have a chunk of plywood that we put on top. Yours is much tidier. Will check out some more of your videos for ideas.
We do envy rigs with bigger refrigerators, although our packing skills have improved and we can put in quite a lot now. Thanks for watching and commenting -- safe travels to you!
Good video! Very helpful 😃
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting.
These two are a hoot. You can tell they have an engineers mind.
And let me show you the kitchen. Takes one step down. And here we are.....
Glad you enjoyed our presentation. 😄 Thanks for watching and commenting!
I bought my 2003 190 Popular, used w/high milage, approx September 2018... had not used it for much except trips to the park with my dogs while waiting to plan a really worthy road trip to test all the features.... then came November 8, 2018, the Camp fire hit us and we were scrambling to pack as much as we could into the Roadtrek and our pickup truck... 2 adults and 3 dogs called the "Trek" home for 4 weeks while waiting to hear if we still had a home to return to... without a proper test of the features it was hands-on under real conditions... everything worked flawlessly and made the fear and anxiety of the event a great deal easier to deal with, especially when we would hear about the poor souls forced to make camp in the Walmart parking lot and other such places... it was like having a motel room on wheels..bottom line, ROADTREK = a truly quality experience and well-built product...
Wow, what a scary experience. So glad to hear your Roadtrek served you well in your time of need.
Beautiful rig!
Thanks - we had a lot of good years with her, as did the previous owners. And we found someone to sell it to who is also having grand adventures. She was a bit of a unicorn build and it shows!
We had NO clue how to support our front table, and it's not in the Roadtrek manual, but thanks to you, we found that slide bar that supports it. We just got ours 2 days ago. Thank you for all the great ideas!!
Great to hear! Glad our video was helpful. Do you have the slide out cover on the silverware drawer? Many people found the one in their rig YEARS after they purchased it! Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@Trekers Yes, we have the slide thing in the kitchen drawer. I ordered some drawers for the closet/pantry. Your video was so helpful.
OH My Gosh, that tour was amazing. We are about to embark on our road trek adventure at age 80.
We were Cruise Ship Entertainer for 10 years together, so small spaces was not a problem. I was also a
flight attendant on a private jet, and the galley was smaller than your kitchen. I am so excited to get started.
Now just to find the Road Trek is our first step. Thanks so much. J&B, Johnny & Barby
Thank you for the compliment and for telling us your awesome story. You certainly have dealt with plenty of small spaces in your life. How exciting for you to be starting your next adventure. Good luck finding the right Roadtrek or, as we have often heard and experienced ourselves, good luck with the right Roadtrek finding you. Safe travels and keep on trekin'!
28:58 I'm got so excited watching your video. I will be the only person traveling and have been worried about how to store everything that is needed. Thanks so much for going thru it all. It makes my purchase in the future not so uncomfortable.
You should have plenty of room with just one person. We're excited to hear you'll be embarking on an adventure - good luck with your search for a rig and safe travels when you get going!
Great video...
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Great tour of your Roadtrek. We just sold our 2001 Dodge 190 Versatile. We loved it, but the crosswise sleeping in the back didn't work well for us. Thinking a Popular would work better with the North-South sleeping, and possibility of twin beds. Love seeing Whitefish Point at the beginning of your video. Visited there years ago and loved it. Of course, we went in the summer, not winter. Haha. Thanks for the awesome tour.
We have slept sideways in our Roadtrek when we make a quick rest-stop type of pause in travel to grab some shut-eye. But it isn't as comfortable as having the full bed set up. Whitefish Point is always a great spot to visit -- it's like two different worlds between summer and winter though! Glad you enjoyed the tour. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Awesome van
Thank you!
It's my dream to have a 4x4 road treck, I'd love to travel the country!
We have a lot of fun with it. And while the 4x4 doesn't really help us much for off-road clearance, it is handy for peace of mind when it comes to traction in some backcountry spots. Thanks for watching!
Great vid! We have a16 210 pop, and are also Michiganders. Perhaps we'll eventually run into each other down the road😁 Easy enough to recognize your rig!
We aren't in Michigan as much lately as we are elsewhere a lot more, but it would be fun to run into you somewhere. Do you wave at other Roadtreks when you pass them? We do - it's a habit we picked up while driving our Jeeps.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Awesome! Rig ! I’ve been to the upper up
Thank you. The Upper Peninsula is our favorite peninsula in Michigan. :)
@@Trekers yes ! My grandparents use to take us up Traverse City Michigan yrs ago to camp ! I recall going to sand dunes ect
great presentation
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching and commenting.
This is one of the most thorough views of a Roadtek I've seen. There were several things you pointed out that I havent noticed in other videos by RV lots.
Question- how is the generator? Noisy / Useful? Is the factory electrical system enough for your needs? Any upgrades you're considering for the future?
Thanks for watching and for the nice compliment. We're glad you found the video helpful! The generator is noisy although we have a resonator we use to make it a little bit better. We tend to use it only when necessary because of the noise, but it is nice having it to fall back on when we do need it.
We don't have any big upgrades planned -- we already upgraded our Fantastic Fan and we carry a briefcase solar panel for an additional power option. We had thought about moving to lithium batteries but the large upfront cost and the inability to charge them in very cold weather has us sticking with AGM batteries for now. -Ari
Good morning We just watched this for the second time and want to thank you for making it, We just joined the team. We went to Michigan from Florida and purchased a 210 Versatile 07 on a Chevy 3500 and drove it home. We have got to get used to the noises that are normal and the ones to worry about. One of our first concerns is a back up camera. Do you have any advice on what to buy or how to install? Love your channel and look forward to your next video.
That's great to hear, thanks for watching and for letting us know. There are plenty of noises to get used to! LOL Here's a tip: wrap the glass tray from the microwave in a hand towel and then put it in the microwave. That will keep it safe and quieter.
As for a backup camera, I installed this one and wished I had done it much sooner: amzn.to/3J4l5nT
It's attached to the louvers on the air conditioner shroud with zip ties and the power is supplied by a wire connected to the tail light.
Good luck with the "new" rig and feel free to reach out with questions! -Ari
really enjoyed the video I'm picking up a pleasureway lexor almost the same as RT.1.how many times can the toilet be flushed,like how much water for each flush & how much chemicals are involved.2.when cruising on expressway can the roof vent be somewhat open just incase someone is taking a dump?3.the cargo 3500 tow 9KLBs I believe the RT tows 5K you mentioned towing but didn't elaberate, like what are your tow loads?4.where do you get the propane refilled and how many LBs or gallons is the tank & do'es the gas get stale if left in there for for extended periods.5.you mentioned Kayacs do you put kayacs on the roof? I bet the upper MI was a fresh water boaters dream cruising area.
the lady at end of video mentioned not much privacy maybe a curtain separating middle to back for like when your changing clothes.
Hi Steve, sorry about the delay in responding but TH-cam held your comment for review for some reason!
Glad you enjoyed the video, here are my answers to your questions:
1. The holding tanks on our Roadtrek included 10 gallons black. Each flush doesn't take that much water, but you want to be sure you're using plenty to keep the tank emptying process as efficient as possible. Not enough water in the black tanks can create a lot of problems later. Chemical use is minimal -- we often used one of those disposable packets and it was a bit of overkill but we never had any odor issues.
2. The roof vent we had was designed to be used when driving only when fully open, partially open was not recommended. We never drove with it open except for short excursions because we didn't think it was worth potentially damaging it.
3. We never towed anything but light utility trailers with our Roadtrek. Fully loaded with our clothes, food, equipment, water, etc., we felt it was too close to its limits to tow anything substantial, but we know some people do tow other small vehicles with theirs.
4. Propane refills for onboard RVs are usually available at RV stores, propane retailers, many of the Flying J truck stops, and even some hardware stores. Using an app like iOverland can help you locate propane suppliers. Propane doesn't really age so it won't be a problem letting it sit unused for a while.
5. We used an inflatable kayak that fit under the back couch when deflated. We never found a good solution for carrying hard-sided kayaks on the rig. And, yes, northern Michigan is great for small boats!
6. Regarding privacy, we did have a privacy door and curtain combo that could be extended between the bed and the rest of the unit, but it usually wasn't worth deploying it since it was just the two of us and we're married.
I hope this helps. Safe travels and good luck with the new rig! -Ari
Gotta check my Roadtrek now for that storage under the crapper. You gotta get rid of those pull out racks!!! Losing so much storage there!
The area under the toilet holds a lot of stuff, so we hope you find it. And we like the slide-out racks. While we lose a bit of space, the overall convenience of reaching things stored in those deep cupboards is worth it to us. Plus, the racks actually hold quite a bit. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Oh man, I ran out to my older Roadtrek just now and looked for that in-drawer shelf. So sad it did not have one! But there is a drawer under the passenger seat that was never used before I found it, despite being 27 years old. I keep my weed there!
Too bad you don't have the kitchen shelf! Our rig doesn't have the drawer under the passenger seat though, so you win on that one. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I enjoyed the RV Tour a great deal. You guys should have your own show on HGTV! Do carry just a standard First Aid Kit or something more substantial?
Ha! Thanks for that nice compliment. We carry what would be considered a slightly larger but standard first-aid kit. It's a balance between being prepared and making it fit in the space we have available! Here is the one we carry: www.amazon.com/dp/B01G7M393E?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Hey guys, great video. I wanted to maybe share another trick that van will do that you may not know about. I noticed when you opened the passenger side doors that you didn't open them past 90 degrees. Did you know that if you open them about 45 degrees you can pull on the silver door catch in the door jam about halfway up and while holding that flat latch towards you you'll be able to swing the door open past the 90 degree point making more room to get in and out of your coach. And yes the 2nd side door does it as well!! Also when you go to close the doors the latch resets itself automatically to catch the door next time you reopen it to prevent injury and damage during high windy days!
I hope this is a surprise for you and that you enjoy your new trick!!! Keep up the great videos!!!!
We knew about this but often forget to do it. 😄 Thanks for watching, for the tip, and for the nice commment!
Oh shoot!! I was hoping to have a hidden gem for you guys since you've helped me so much with the little ones in your video!! I'm deployed and will be back home very soon and when I do I'm finally getting my Roadtrek that I've been wanting so bad. Taking a roadtrip from St. Louis to the Northwest and riding the PCH all the way down to San Diego, stopping at all the parks along the way. Thanks for the video, just more solidifying my reason and rationalizing of pulling the trigger as soon as I get home!!
Keep Treking Trekers!!
@@seanmcmaster We always welcome tips and like to share ours with others. You never know who might benefit directly or indirectly. We inadvertently helped some folks find a hidden shelf in their kitchen drawer by mentioning ours during a rig tour. They never knew it was under there!
It's great to hear that you plan to travel when you return from deployment, you certainly will have earned it. Thank you for your service!!
I have the 1990 Versatil and I am looking at your Roadtrek with envy. LOL
We think we got lucky and hit a sweet spot in the manufacturing timeline with ours in terms of features, storage options and more. Thanks for watching!
Love this van style ✨️ Lol 😅 i've actually considered selling my current 2016 Roadtrek Zion RV for one of these. Down-sizing to this would be super easy!
It's for sale... 😏 www.trekers.org for details.
I went to the website couldn’t find anything about selling your van, tried sending you a message vi the contact is tab and it didn’t work… I’m interested please let me know the price ect.
Sorry about that, Maria, but our Roadtrek has been sold.
Love your videos, Jess and Ari! (this is Sarah Fortino) Do you guys think you’ll venture out of Michigan soon??
Hi Sarah! Thanks for the compliment. Right now, we're looking at completing a few travel projects in Michigan and probably not heading out of state until next year when, hopefully, cross-border restrictions calm down a little bit. But, as usual, serendipity tends to guide our travel plans a lot, so things could change. Stay tuned! 😀 -Ari
The side doors have a "hidden trick" you didn't mention. The on the side doors allow you to open the side doors MUCH further for more access. To use it, just open the door about 15% and put your finger in the door latch and pull towards you. Now the door opens further, and close the door as normal.
Yes! We learned this later. Good tip, thanks for mentioning it here -- and thanks for watching!
I'm sure you know, but you can unhook the limit straps on the side doors to get them out of the way.
Yes, we used to do that from time to time. They never opened up that much further, but sometimes the little bit more space provided was just enough for what we needed.
Great video! Best review of these vans I’ve seen. If you don’t mind me asking, what did you pay for this van and how many miles did it have at that time?
Thank you!
Glad the review was helpful -- thanks for watching and letting us know! Ours is a 2008 that we bought used in late 2015. I don't remember the exact price but it was in the low $50s and had about 107,000 miles on it. -Ari
That was a big help as we will be looking for a used rig toward the end of 2021. Thanks. Average gas mileage? Suggestion on tire brands?
We're glad the video was helpful! We average 13 mpg depending on the terrain. But we also tend to travel with our water tanks fully loaded since we don't always know when we'll be turning off and stopping for an hour or for the night.
The current tires we own have been performing great for the past year. They are the Firestone Transforce H/T 2 model. Because they are considered a commercial truck tire, they have a stiffer sidewall and handle the weight of our rig without issues.
Good luck with your search and feel free to ask more questions if they arise. Thanks for watching!
Nice tour ! We travel in our Roadtrek as well and love it. I liked and subscribed to your channel. Mike WG7D
Thank you very much, we appreciate the support! Safe travels to you. What year and model of Roadtrek do you have?
@@Trekers No problem its a 2015 Etrek, modified with Lifepo4 batteries.....th-cam.com/play/PLZnWvh5oIJiRwZ_vo10XH4WWuvKWBDN2a.html
I know this is late, but I thought I would tell you they make little wheels that you attach to the upper corners o your doors so they don't cut your awning. Good to another RT. AL
That's a good tip. We knew they had them for the Airstream but I guess it makes sense they'd make them for other types of units, too. -Ari
It was most likely me that made all the original markings for the new windows to be cut out. I had to measure and mark so many holes depending on the model.
I was the first person to touch the vehicle in the entire process.
We visited the factory and we were amazed at how much transformation the original van bodies went through, especially on the 210s. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I have a 2005 Roadtrek (bought just before the world shut down) and are planning to live in it full time in another year. Thanks for the tour. I'm going out in a minute to see if I have a storage compartment below the toilet.
Good luck with your full-timing adventure; how exciting! You'll have to let us know if you found the secret storage compartment. 😀 Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@Trekers Yes I have the secret compartment. Have already loaded it up.
Great! Every little bit of space helps.
I have the same, 05 190 pop. Been living full time van life for 4 yrs... I hope you very much enjoy yours.
Safe travels
We're full-time part-timers now, moving toward spending more and more time on the road. Safe travels to you. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for letting us into your home away from home. It was great tour. Are there any changes that you would make to the van?
That's a tough question because the answer ranges from wanting to redo some of of the colors to make it brighter inside to having more space for a much larger inverter. Having said that, the one design flaw that Jessi noted is when the front table is folded out for use, it completely blocks access to the cupboard we use as our pantry. For Ari, he'd like to have a better cushion on the couch so that it slept more like a regular mattress than a stuffed couch. There are always days when we wish we had more storage room or a dedicated sleeping space, but we gladly give those up for the small footprint and flexible travel style the Roadtrek affords us. Thanks for watching and commenting!!
@For Travel, one more thing occurred to us as we are preparing for a much longer trek next year, is that we really wish we had more refrigerator and freezer space. The small unit that came with our rig is quite limiting.
Great video, very informative. We just bought our 1st RV, a 2010 Roadtrek 190 popular. A quick question that I can't seem to find an answer for. Does the battery switch on the main control panel need to be in the "on" position to charge the "house batteries" when driving or the house batteries are automatically being charged regardless of the switch position? When plugged into "shore power" are the house batteries automatically being charged regardless of the aforementioned switch position? Thanks
For that era of Roadtrek, the battery switch should always be turned on before hooking up so that the batteries will charge. That is when you are plugged into AC (or using the generator). If you are driving, the batteries are supposed to charge whether the switch is on or off. We always leave the switch on whenever using the rig or when getting ready for a trip. It needs to be on to run everything anyway.
Thanks for watching; glad you enjoyed the video!
Really enjoyed! In the near future hope to have the SRT ... curious ... with the cat where do you keep the kitty litter box?
We kept Tigger's litter in a storage container that was slightly smaller than a litter box, which worked for him because he was a very small cat. Also, it gave us the option of using the latching lid to keep the box closed during travel. When we were parked, it sat open between the two front seats. While driving, we kept it in back in front of the couch. Sadly, we lost Tigger to illness in December 2020. But he is still with us since we keep finding kitty litter. No matter what you do, that stuff will get everywhere and then show up in the most random places later! Hope this helps, fee free to ask follow-up questions. -Ari
@@Trekers thank you so much! Good ideas! Sorry about Tigger’s passing... totally understand about find kitty litter everywhere! Happy traveling!
Loved all the info. You mentioned your cat. Where do you put the litter box and water bowl?
When camping, Tigger's litter box goes between the front seats. But we should note, we don't use a full-size litter box; he uses a Sterilite-type storage container that seems to work well enough and has the added bonus of a locking lid for travel. Food and water bowls go up toward the front of the aisle under the pantry. When driving, the litter box goes in the back by the couch but is kept closed.
Nice❤
Thank you -- and thanks for watching!
I watched your video again. We have a somewhat roomier 2007 Roadtrek 190 Versatile but it isn't 4X4. In ours you can close the bathroom door to do your business, and it comes with a sink & mirror. There are 4 seats up front for traveling, eating, and sleeping for two kids. Other than that our campers are quite similar. Where did you guys get the screens? Did you make them? Also, I like your tip about hanging the coats near the door and taking out the backrest.
We've seen several Versatiles and liked the layout. The enclosed bathroom was an option on numerous models, ours just didn't have that.
The original owner made the screens for the side windows, but we also are using Skeeter Beaters on our current Chevy van and they are working well. They cut them to the proper size for your vehicle, which is nice, and they easily attach and detach with strong magnets.
Do you have the rear screen from the factory? If not, Rolefs makes a very nice one. It's pricey, but very well designed and made.
Pulling the seat back to make room for coats was an idea we always appreciated. We never missed that seatback!
So helpful. I am 76 and looking at a 2007 170 Popular, so even though it will be smaller this gives me a good idea of some of the features. It won't have that electronic couch, and the 3rd seat has been taken out. How do you fill the propane? Thanks! Enjoy your travels:)
We're glad this was helpful, thanks for watching and commenting! As for propane, we find it in many various places, from RV shops, to local hardware stores to propane distributors. You just need to look for bulk propane fill, not propane tanks. There also are apps that can help you locate sellers, such as iOverlander and Allstays. Good luck with getting your rig!
Thanks for the great tour. I'm also looking at a 2008 190 Popular, but not a 4x4. How often do you use the 4x4 mode? How is you average gas mileage with the larger v-8? The A/C heat-pump unit is a "plug-in". Does it operate on generator when shore power isn't available?
We use the 4x4 more for traction than true off-roading because clearance is still an issue. Here's a blog post I did about this for our website: trekers.org/roadtrek-4x4-off-road/
Gas mileage runs about 13 mpg, but we also tend to always have our water tanks full for spontaneous boondocking, plus we carry bikes, and an inflatable kayak, so we're quite heavy overall. (We do keep our speed down to compensate.)
The A/C unit will run on the generator but it chews up a lot of the available power from it since it's only a 2,800 KW unit.
Feel free to follow up with other questions. Thanks for watching! -Ari
Thank you for this excellent tour! Do you know where to get the full zip screen that is on the back door? I don't want my kitty to get out and yet want the fresh air. This would be perfect for my Trek!
We're glad you liked it -- thanks for watching and for letting us know. As far as the screen, the one in the video came from the factory (we're the second owners, too). When it finally started to wear out this year, we sprung for a Rolef rear-door screen because we saw one on a friend's Roadtrek and really liked the fit and finish. They are pricey but seem extremely well made. (www.rolef.ca/en/). I've also seen people talking about Skeeter Beaters (theskeeterbeater.com/). Good luck with your search! -Ari
Beauty. And the van isn't to bad either. Seriously though that is an awesome van . Quick question. Does it have built in inverter generator that runs off van fuel tank.? . I ask cuz might have missed the part if it did
Thanks, cheers m8😊
Our van had a 2.8K generator that ran off the gas tank, with a 1/4 tank shut off, so you didn't end up stranded somewhere. The inverter was only 750 watts due to its age, which isn't very big these days, but it worked for some things.
vanlife4ever!
Well, I hate to say anything is forever, but we've been making a good run at sustaining vanlife. Thanks for watching! -Ari
@@Trekers cool
I’m just seeing this as have become a new rt owner. Did you install the screens or did the previous owners add those. I’d like to know how to get this. Thanks for the video. Safe and fun travels.
The screens on the back door were part of the original factory package. They have since worn out and we replaced them with a Rolef screen. It's a very nice product, but pricey! Still, we use our backdoors a lot for airflow and to get to stuff stored under the couch, so not having a good screen and access option is crucial. Thanks for watching -- safe and fun travels to you, too!
I want to purchase one of these and get a SUV connect tent to attach around the doors so we can expand the living area while keeping the bugs out.
If you can find one that fits a van, that could work. It would limit being able to move the rig easily for sightseeing, shopping, etc., which is one of the points of a Class B. That's why we always ended up using a screen tent for our extra room.
Thanks! Love the tour and your other videos. We just got a 2007 190 Popular. I have been working down my punch list of fixes before we hit the road. The Cool Cat isn't cooling (heat pump and fan still work). But since you are saying that you hardly ever use yours, maybe we will wait a while to deice what to do. I'm hoping it might be a solenoid on the reversing valve. I'd like t odd some of the wire drawers like you have in your cabinet.
We both enjoy hot weather, so not everyone can go without A/C as much as we do. LOL But the Fantastic Fan and an open window near the bed at night make a nice breeze for cooler sleeping conditions.
The sliding wire racks in the cabinets are a huge benefit, we highly recommend that project.
Good luck getting the Roadtrek ready and safe travels to you. Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Yes I'm watching it once again learning new things! I just had to see again how you open up the inside of the third chair. Now I'm wondering what is the best way to make coffee: boil water on the stove or use a coffee maker or something else?
And do you have other videos?
Hi Rita! We're glad you're finding the video helpful.
For coffee, there are many options, but they all require heating water somehow. We have used a pot on the propane stove and we have heated water in the microwave. We prefer that to a regular coffee pot because Ari is the only one who drinks coffee and carrying around a full machine to make it just takes up space unnecessarily. This is the device Ari uses for brewing once the water is heated: amzn.to/3tZzwBj
As for other videos about the van and equipment, we think these might be useful for you:
Favorite Mods and Accessories: th-cam.com/video/6R5gagL2FsM/w-d-xo.html
Can you carry stuff in a Class B RV?: th-cam.com/video/WR1w0Ht9_dA/w-d-xo.html
RV gifts: Affordable ideas for small spaces: th-cam.com/video/14ADDxk85HI/w-d-xo.html
Class B Travel Pros and Cons: th-cam.com/video/XeZsCB_NvCk/w-d-xo.html
Cheers!
@@Trekers Thanks so much! You two are great!
I don't know how to turn on the battery in the home section or maybe it doesn't work.
I did get it winterized so maybe they disconnected that battery.
So that's why I was thinking that I can just boil up some water on the stove and just do instant coffee!💓
Happy to help whenever we can, Rita. There should be a battery disconnect switch in your rig that would turn the connections on and off. If you have that set properly, then there is either a problem with your battery being disconnected or something else in between. It's possible they disconnected the battery for winterizing, so I'd start there once you've checked for the disconnect switch setting. -Ari
@@Trekers thanks so much guys! I got it de-winterized and now it's much better and they fixed the other stuff too!
I have a 95 dodge with the twin bed set up. Although the access to the center isle for transporting things is nice, I want the couch. My head touches the roof when I sit on the side beds.
We do have the advantage of Ari not being very tall and Jessi being quite short, especially when it comes to headroom in the van. We know several people who own the older Dodge Roadtreks and they seem to really like them. Thanks for watching and safe travels to you!
What do you do for safe drinking water? Are those leveling blocks really necessary? Is a backup camera necessary? I think a video for first time road trekkers would be nice.
We keep our holding tanks sanitized and use an inline filter when filling our tanks. We also carry numerous collapsible water jugs, so if we are staying somewhere with a good water source, we fill those up, as well. Then, as they are used, they fold down and store out of the way.
A back-up camera is something we did without for years, and while I don't think it's an absolute necessity, I do wish I had added ours sooner because they are very helpful to have.
Thanks for watching! -Ari
Really enjoy your videos. We just got a 2014 190 Popular. One question - do you have or use a rear table? Ours didn't come with one and we're on the fence about what to do.
Our rear table stores under the driver's side rear couch cushion and also turns the twin beds into a queen. So, we use it all the time for the bed, but we also use it quite frequently as a work table (and sometimes as a dinner table). The pole and table combo aren't the sturdiest, but they work well enough. Thanks for watching -- we're glad you enjoy our videos. Feel free to ask more questions as they come up.
@@Trekers Thanks for your reply- we'll see how it goes......
Like that you have four wheel drive , can you do a video on that , the cost and benefits of it .
That's a good idea. We've discussed it periodically in our videos and addressed it in blog posts. We'll look at doing something specifically on the 4x4. Thanks for watching and commenting!
23:55 🤣🤣 too funny. Those are very tiny his and hers
Yeah, we learned to pack small and light!
Hi Trekers! Is the screen for the side cargo door and the screen for the rear door something from Roadtrek or is it an aftermarket type thing. We have a 2015 GMC Savana for our tow vehicle and outfitted with dog kennels for our pups and the screens would be nice to have when we travel.
@RUNAMUK311 The screen packages came with the van from Roadtrek. We also have a couple of those magnetic-closure screens that you can buy for front doors on a house. Our side screen from Roadtrek is only big enough to have one side door open. By using the larger magnetic-closure screens, we can have both side doors open. We use magnets to attach those screens to the van. Hope that helps! -Ari
My wife and I also have a Roadtrek 190, ours is a little different we do not have four wheel drive, I really would like to have the extra clearance that you get with the 4X4 model, I am considering having a lift kit installed. ours does have the separate wet bath, that I didn’t think was a big deal but now I really like having that, so one of us can shower while the other can be doing something else and not be in each other’s way. I truly believe that there is no perfect RV and your needs will change according to your travels, for now our little Roadtrek is just perfect.
We never realized how we had the few extra inches with the 4x4 and what a difference it makes until we started seeing other Roadtreks. It's still more about traction than clearance when we go out boondocking. I've seen pictures and videos from people who have out a lift kit on and they do seem nice. Of course, with all of our trees in Michigan ,we'd have to think about losing height clearance above, too.
Couldn't agree more that there is no perfect rig, but a great rig is one that gets you out there traveling and having experiences, regardless of what the type or set-up is.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Safe travels! -Ari
@@Trekers WeldTec Designs, Cajon, CA, makes lift kits for these vans, and also 4x4 conversions if needed. Several videos on here, including RT Populars they have done. I have 2007 RT 190 Pop 4x4 & am considering their lift kit. Other acc available incl light brackets, etc. Bought ours because of 4x4 and it is perfect for year round living in the Adirondacks.
@@Trekers Also, Ari, do you not have a hidden slide out shelf under your AV cabinet for even MORE counter space? It looks stock in ours, but I bet anyone could build one.
Really enjoy your videos.
Vicki Mark I was wondering if they have that too. I have it in my 2005 190P.
@@vickimark9603 I've seen a few of the WeldTec videos -- they seem to do nice work. -Ari
Very nice video. Maybe you mentioned it and I missed it but what kind of mileage do you get?
Hi Doris, thanks for watching; I'm glad you liked the video. I don't believe we mentioned, but we get between about 14 mpg on our Roadtrek. That's generally with it fully weighed down with our bikes, inflatable kayak and gear, and full water tanks (31 gallons total). Also, we tend to not go above 65 mph even on the interstates. I have found that anything over that and the gas mileage plummets.
Great review, but a little about how expensive it is to run the van as an RV would be nice. MPG? Insurance? Ease of using utilities? Compare vs pulling a small travel trailer? At a campground, you can just ditch the trailer and take off for a day-trip. With a van you have to pack it all up and take everything with you. Nice van though. Class B vans, and even custom vans have come a long way over the years.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
We averaged about 12 to 13 mpg with the Roadtrek when fully loaded for travel, and that included water tanks because we almost always had water on board. (We also didn't drive it at full highway speeds, which helped.) I don't remember insurance exactly, but that's highly variable based on a lot of personal experiences. I do not believe it was exorbitant.
Using the utilities was quite simple. The connections were easy enough to access, and set-up and take-down were quite fast, even when hooking up to water and electricity. We tended not to hook up entirely unless we knew we were staying put for a while because this was generally our only mode of transportation, which meant disconnecting everything before we could run errands or take sightseeing trips. That's one of the biggest differences with towing a trailer, the ease of being able to leave camp set up and drive away in a separate vehicle. However, the flexibility and the convenience of always having everything with you in a vehicle that could be parked on a city street was a huge advantage. It all comes down to what a person considers to be their primary type of travel.
The Class Bs have come a long way, although now the prices are skyrocketing to accommodate for all the new features and bells and whistles they are installing in them.
-Ari
I can't stop watching this cuz I'm trying to figure out what goes where in the van. Could you please tell me how Ari packs his clothes with those deep, deep overhead airplane bins.
I'm Very High Maintenance, so I would need tons of storage but my clothes would be in an impossible unorganized wrinkled Hell Hole up there!!!
And I adore all those secret hiding places you found!!!
Many Many Thanks to you!!!
Hi, Rita. I have found that folding my pants and storing them directly in the back of the overhead cabinet works best for those. For shirts and other items, we use Ebags packing cubes so it helps keep things organized. I will admit that I tend to wear athletic shirts (which don't wrinkle) or t-shirts (which do wrinkle but straighten out fast enough for me because I'm pretty low maintenance 😃). One trick is figuring out how to pare the wardrobe down so you don't need to stuff a lot in there as those cabinets can fill up quickly. Thanks for watching! -Ari
@@Trekers Thanks Ari. That sounds great! Now I have to Google Ebags!
@@rital7518 These are the kits we use. We bought several in different colors so it's easier for us to keep our stuff straight. amzn.to/3uWKtVt
Enjoyed the tour. Strongly considering going fulltime living in one at age 77. Any thought on insulation for extremely cold weather and how all the tanks, etc are affected. Thanks
We winterize for long stretches of cold weather. The Roadtrek tanks weren't designed for being used in the cold. For insulation, consider a barrier on the floor of rugs or something as it gets cold fast. We use cushioned kitchen floor mats as they are easy to clean. Also, look into getting a roll of Reflectix and cutting it to size for the side and back windows. That can help you retain the heat inside much better. Good luck with your decision making, it sounds exciting!
@@Trekers great tour. I have 190 p 2005/6. I have 2 things you may have and frequently missed as i have pointed out to others. One is there is a small slideout board under the electronics cabinet. It gives even more counterspace. The second thing i did not know about for 8 years. It turns out my waterheater has both gas AND electric. Inside heater compartment outside there is a switch way in back on left there is a cotter pin to guard the switch to use in electric mode. I have never used as i just heat water in microwave and do not use shower in van but you may have it for alternative. One other space is saw someone make small low box for under passenger chare in back of chair floor. I put low stuff like pens tapes. Tire guage etc work gloves etc. Whatever is low enough so chair can swivel over it. Few more ideas later as need to go now. Hope to run into you sometime . My tags are VICIVAN and my name is NOT VICKI! most don't get it .😉
@@jhamm279 Thanks! The Roadtrek units changed a lot from year to year, and sometimes even within the model year. Unfortunately, we do not have the shelf under our entertainment center. And I've checked on our water heater before -- we have the gas-only version. But thanks for the tips -- you never know what people may have missed! -Ari
That rig is a real keeper. It probably gets lousy gas mileage but who cares. 😊
It was a unicorn and an awesome rig. We averaged 12 to 13 mpg when fully loaded, which isn't too bad in the RV world.
Hi guys. I'm back again!
Are there two places to put in water? One inside the driver's door and one down by the outdoor shower? And if so what is the difference and why have the two of them?
Hi! On the 190 Popular that we have, there are three access points to add water. We have one at the driver's door for the outside tank, and one inside the back door of the van to put water into the inside tank.
Down by the outside shower is the connection if you want to hook up to city water. So if you're at a campground and I have water at the site you could run a hose to your van and just pull water directly from the campground, or you can also use it to fill your water tanks. You have to set the valves differently depending on where you want that water to go.
I almost always use the gravity fill ports at the doors. That way I don't have to mess with valves. Plus, by using only the onboard water tanks instead of city water, I have a better handle on how much water we have used and that helps me gauge how much water might be in the gray and black waste tanks.
First thing I would do is get rid of the TV and replace black water system with a compost toilet.
We didn't use the TV much, but living on the road as much as we did in that rig (and our current one) it's nice to have a TV available from time to time. And we thought about a composting toilet but ended up not converting before we sold this rig. In the right setting though, we have heard about the advantages of the composters. Thanks for watching!
Great presentation. How comfortable is the bed? There seems to be an arch in it after lying flat.
Thanks! The arch is probably more pronounced on the video than in real life, the bed lays almost flat. Having said that, we have put different layers down over the years to provide a cushion between us and the couch -- primarily because of the pattern in the cushions. I don't know why they couldn't make it a smooth surface when they knew it was going to double as a bed! -Ari
@@Trekers Thanks for the reply. I have seen some folks customize their beds also. Follow up question. You mentioned you guys don't use the ac unit often. Just wondering why that is. Noisy, pulls to much power, not efficient?
@Aloha State of Mind, it's a bit of all of the above. It is noisy, it's a tough pull for the generator, and can only run on the generator when we're boondocking, which means the added noise of the generator. We don't like A/C much and don't use the one in our sticks-and-bricks often either. It's nice to have in the rig when necessary but we'd prefer to just open doors and windows and move air through with the Fantastic Fan. At night, having just the windows by the bed on with the fan creates a good, cooling breeze.
I'm just a bit under 5'5" tall ...would I be able to sleep crossways on the bed?