RV Campground Review: Davis Bayous Gulf Islands National Seashore Park
Davis Bayou is one of two full service RV campgrounds that are part of the Gulf Islands National Park. The other campground is Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island near Pensacola Beach, Florida. The Fort Pickens Beach that stretches from the old fort east to the village of Pensacola Beach is regularly voted as Florida’s favorite beach so getting a reservation at the Fort Pickens campground can be more difficult than at Davis Bayou – which is one thing we like about Davis Bayou, we can actually get a camp site there! Another thing we like about Davis Bayou is the camp roads and the individual site parking pads are paved. The sites are also nicely spaced from one another and the mature live oaks and pine trees offer most sites at least some shade during parts of the day. All 52 sites offer water and electricity.
The Campendium camping and rv community rated Davis Bayou as one of the Top 10 Mississippi campgrounds.
52 nicely spaced campsites, all with water and electricity.
Sturdy picnic table in excellent condition on a paved pad. First class campsites.
The Park Visitor Center has some exhibits explaining the natural features in the park and suggestions on things to see and do. There is also a fishing pier adjacent to the center for anyone who possess a Mississippi State Saltwater Fishing License. The park also has a boat launch and pier for fishing and boating in the bayous or out in the Gulf itself.
Popular activities of campers are biking, bird watching, boating, fishing, hiking nature trails, and alligator watching. The popular tourist mecca of Biloxi is about 10 miles away with its sand beaches, casinos, restaurants, museums, golfing, and other entertainments.
Nature Hiking Trails – Slide Show
The entrance to Davis Bayou is off of Gulf Highway 90 that runs along the Gulf from Bay St. Louis to Pascagoula. Unfortunately there is no direct connection to the Florida Gulf Coast Scenic Drive highway without going away from the Gulf through Mobile to connect with Gulf Highway 98 that runs to Pensacola. An attractive alternative that greatly reduces the highway miles is to stay along the Gulf shore and drive out to Dauphin Island where you can take a ferry to Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores and then to Pensacola. Along this route is one of our other favorite campgrounds, Big Lagoon State Park, which borders Perdido Key.
Summary of Pros & Cons of Davis Bayou RV Campground
Pro: Top Notch Campsites, Easy Access from Highway, Decent Affordable Price, Good Roads for Biking, Close to Grocery Shopping, Less Competition for Reservations.
Cons: 10+ miles to decent beach and other visitor attractions, fewer & shorter hiking trails.
See our calendar of Best 2023 RV Shows this winter. See other show and RV links at the bottom of this page.
ChicagoLand RV Show
The 2023 Chicagoland RV and Camping Show will be held February 16 -February 19, 2023 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. (see links lower down this page)
Here’s an idea of what to expect from our attendance at previous shows. I particularly enjoyed touring a number of Retro Campers and Travel Trailers (pictures below).
The AirStream Sport 16 is the pinnacle of compact luxury RV Traveling
The Chicago RV-Camper Show is about 10 times larger than the Madison RV Show we attended a few years ago. Hundreds of pull-behind campers, travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, and motor homes from Class B to mammoth luxury coaches.
We scored some discount coupons online which saved us “seniors” $4 off the regular $12 show price. But we got clipped real good at the nearby parking – $15 and still had to walk almost two blocks to the Convention Center. A better deal for parking and only about a block more of walking is the CTA Blue Line Depot at 5801 N. River Road (2.5 blocks north of the Convention Center).
While the Donald E Stephens Convention Center is a large facility the exhibit space was quite odd-shaped so it was really easy to get turned around and lose your sense of direction. If I went again I’d want to bring a compass to help navigate. Many times we stood around trying to figure out if we’d been down this aisle or that one.
Some of the highlights for us. Getting a chance to tour some of these luxury Motor Coaches. We see them often during our travels but never have been in one before. Another unit we’ve admired from afar but have never seen up close and on the inside are the famous Airstream Travel Trailers. One dealer had several sizes from a compact 16 footer to the larger, more luxury models. We spent some time admiring the new Winnebago Fuse, built on a Ford Transit chassis. I think this one is going to be a winner for Winnebago. We also liked the Winnebago View 24J, a very classy and well-appointed compact Class C motorhome built on a Mercedes chassis.
TearDrop and Pod Trailers
We did some Pod & Teardrop Trailer profiles a few years ago in an earlier RV Show article. We saw a few new models at this show and some we were familiar with but now tricked out with more accessories and distinctive styling.
Pod or teardrop trailers like this Tab are offering stylish and compact camping alternatives to tents.
Vintage & Retro Travel Trailers & Pods.
Our favorite camping units at the show were the Retro & Vintage travel trailers that have become more popular recently. Love the shape and the moon hubcaps. One both Jo and Eileen thought was really neat was one made by Amish craftsmen, the SunRay Travel Trailers in Shipshewana, IN.
We loved this Sunray Retro Camper made by Amish Craftsmen
Touring the Madison, Wisconsin RV & Camping Trailer Show
The 2023 Madison RV Show will be held on Feb 3, 4 and 5, 2023
Pods, Tear Drop and Ultra Lite Campers were popular items at the Madison RV Show. (For more on these new trends in travel trailers, scroll down for photos, descriptions, and info links lower down this page)
Held at Madison’s Alliance Center, the Madison RV Show features hundreds of trailers and fifth wheel “homes”, many of them more suitable for parking at a campground for several months than weekend traveling or traveling around the country. Jo and I had hoped to see some motor homes but there were only a handful in attendance.
More RV Show & Review links near bottom of the page
RVing & Outdoor Lounging
We are seeing more and more of these fancy outdoor kitchens as a popular feature in the larger travel trailers and fifth wheel homes. Another accessory is an outside plug-in and a mount for a flat screen TV and a set of outdoor entertainment center speakers. All these features seem oriented to the camper who spends as much lounging outside of their rig as they do inside. Keeping with this theme, another relatively new feature we noticed were units that were equipped with an the additional outside entrance to the RV that led directly to the bathroom. So when you are outside and need to go “potty” you can go directly there instead having to walk through the main living room of the RV. Would also be handy for the younger generation who may be tenting or in a pop-up camper next to the grandparents bigger RV.
In addition to the regular kitchen, this model offers an outdoor kitchen complete with sink, stove, microwave, fridge, and the usual outdoor bbq grill
This one had, in addition to the outdoor kitchen and bbq grill, a second outside entrance to the bathroom convenient for outdoor living
Pod Trailers and Tear-Drop Campers
A popular style travel trailer that seems to get a lot of attention are these retro tear-drop shaped models that are aero-dynamic and light enough (under 2000 pounds) to be trailered by a smaller, more fuel efficient vehicle (i.e. SUV not needed). These units are a nice graduation from tent camping because they can fit on smaller camp sites, are easy to tow, easy to store at home, and yet offer a clear improvement in comfort and protection from the weather over tent camping. Two of the more popular of this type of unit are the T@b (aka Tab) and the R-Pod. They come in a variety of floor plans, including slide-outs, expandablesome of which include the outdoor kitchen to give more room inside for other amenities.
The largest and most completely outfitted of the compact pod trailers are those offered by Forest Rivers R-Pods Compact, but the unit even includes a separate bedroomThe convertible dinette and kitchen sink (stove is to the left out of view)Even some of the smaller units offered an outdoor kitchenThe dinette (converts to a bed) inside the Tab. The cabinets also serve as a pass-thru from the outside kitchen
Pictures & Links to some Ultra-Light & Pod Travel Trailers
Forest River R-Pod
Forest River’s Pod Campers offer the most conveniences but are heavier than most in this class, yet they still would be classified as light. forestriverinc.com/rpod/
The T@b or Tab Camper Trailer
The T@b also offers a number of extra features or conveniences but in a compact package.
So-Cal compact trailer
The So-Cal Teardrop trailers are light and compact but offer a few ingenious comfort and convenience options.
The Little Guy is the T@b’s little brother for the ultra-lite travler whose primary interests are a good warm dry bed ready to go in minutes if not seconds.
A Class B Motorhome is essentially a Custom Van built on an assembly line by a motorhome manufacturer. In the US the most popular van chassis as a base for the customization are the Mercedes Sprinter, the Ford Transit, and the Dodge Ram ProMaster. Some of the top Class B RV manufacturers are Airstream, Pleasure Way, Coachman, Winnebago, and Hymer-Road Trek.
What is the difference between a Class C and a Class B Motorhome?
What distinguishes a Class C motorhome from a Class B is that in the former case only the Cab section and underlying frame and running gear come from the vehicle manufacturer. Whereas in the Class B it is the entire vehicle. Inside a Class B and a Class C vehicle may look very similar; however the interior width of a Class B is limited by the basic width of the van chassis. So in general, for a given overall vehicle length, a Class C is more spacious because the coach section of the RV is wider than the cab.
The Winnebago Travato is the leader in Class B Motorhomes
The Thor Compass is a Class C motorhome
Advantages of a Class B RV
One advantage of Class B is price and value. For the motorhome manufacturer, it is less expensive to convert and customize the van chassis over having to build a coach section from the ground up. Another advantage is driving ease. Many Class Bs feel as easy to drive and park as an SUV or large pickup truck. Service is also a plus since just about 100% of the drive train, running gear, etc. are standard parts and service that are available from a Mercedes, Ford, Chevie or Dodge dealership.
There is also a broader array of interior design options because you aren’t limited to the major RV manufacturers models. A whole small industry has sprung up of small custom van shops that build a Class B or custom camper van based on a customer’s specifications. The most popular of this group of custom RV manufacturers is Sportsmobile. They have 3 manufacturing shops (Texas, California, and Indiana) and offer both standard models and custom design-your-own van or motorhome.
Lately there are also small van component manufacturers who offer do-it-yourself kits to convert the interior of a van into a completely furnished RV. The kits offer modular units that slide in place. Some are meant for permanent installations, but others are built in a way that you can easily remove them so you can use your van for general cargo carrying.
The Top Class B Motorhomes
While the custom-job and component shops offer many interesting options, our Class B review here focuses on what is available from the traditional RV manufacturer. We are also focusing on vans that are full-featured motorhomes in contrast to camper vans that may not have a bathroom or lack a furnace or air-conditioning unit.
The major disadvantage of the van-built RV is space, space both for interior comfort in the “coach” or living section of the unit and space for storage of clothes and gear. How a particular manufacturer and model handles these challenges is a major consideration in our ratings.
Some of the criteria we considered in narrowing the field:
Less than 23 feet long; too long affects ease of handling and parking
Luggage space – room enough for two golf club bags
Natural Lighting – this is particularly important due to the small living space
Dinette option that doesn’t require tearing down your bed
Seating and Seat Belts for at least 4 people
Convenience accessories and appliances equal to larger units
Cost – under $125,000, otherwise why not get a Class C
Using these criteria narrowed our options greatly. As we observed with our review of Class Cs, European RV manufacturers do a much better job than their American and Canadian counterparts in packing a huge amount of value and convenience in a small package.
One of the standards features you often find in Europe are the dinette set up front behind the cab that doesn’t require being broken down for the main bed, allowing the rear bed to remain made-up during the day if desired. A few American and Canadian Class Bs are employing that feature including all of our top rated units.
Post Update: The following reviews were the top 2020 Class Bs. Helpful if you are in the market for a used or pre-owned Class B.
European manufacturer Hymer is bringing their classic compact designs to their new manufacturing facility in Canada. Read our Hymer Aktiv 2.0 Review here.
The originator of the modern mass manufactured motor homes has 4 Class B models; we think the Travato is the best of them. Read our Travato Class B Van Review here.
Honorable Mentions:
If you only expect to transport two people or are a solo RVer, the compact RoadTrek 190 would be worth looking at. We also were impressed with the Canadian Manufacturer Safari Condo and their XL FLEX 22′ model. The one drawback we saw in this one was it appeared the dinette table had to be broken down during traveling. If off-roading, boondocking, and bringing your bikes or kayak with you fits your life style, the Winnie Revel is a clever compact 4×4 with just about all the amenities you’d need. Practical capacity would be 2 adults + one kid and you’d need about $150,000 to get set up right in this little guy.
In 2019 unfortunately 2 of the 3 recommended Class B Van Motorhomes featured in this article became discontinued and no longer in production. This was due to a major financial fiasco (including possible malfeasance by top executives) of Hymer North America, the Canadian manufacturer of both RoadTrek and Hymer brands of motorhomes (read more here).
That left the Winnebago Travato alone at the top of this market. Good for Winnebago, but not so good for choice of options by the consumer. One of the options is buying a basic Van and tricking out as a Custom Camper Van by using modular camping units that are being offered to the RV Market. Look for our article on this soon.
While the popular RoadTrek 210 model is no longer in production, this review will be helpful for those looking to purchase pre-owned compact motorhomes. And if you are NEW to RVing, buying an older unit might be the quickest way of entry into the lifestyle!
There are probably more Class Bs on the road by Road Trek. They began in 1974 as a custom van manufacturer creating the Home & Park brand from Dodge Vans. The first fuller-featured RoadTrek was introduced in 1980. They currently offer 10 models with a range of options within each model allowing customizing to your tastes and needs.
The 210 Popular Model is a very handsome unit with lots of nice amenities in a vehicle that is less than 22 feet long. It’s powered by a Chevie vortec 6.0 V8 gas engine and built on the Chevrolet Express chassis. It has pleasing aerodynamics, less than 9 feet tall (including AC unit) but the interior height will still allow a 6 foot 2″ person to stand tall.
The compact dinette up front means you don’t have to make up the bed in back to have a meal. There is a larger table in the back that can be set up for serving more than two people.
Generous counter top space and 5 cu ft fridge are two features we liked in the RoadTrek.
Some of the standard features I liked was a nice size 5.0 cu. ft refrigerator-freezer, the galley with more-than-average extra counter space, and the pull-out dining table for the front captains chairs. This last feature allows you to leave the rear couch-dinette-bed unit to be kept as a made-up bed during the day. A wardrobe or armoire is available as a replacement for one of the lounge seats.
RoadTrek has also extended the Chevie Van width to allow more external storage than you often find with Class Bs and a wee bit more interior room. This customization of the coach portion of the van makes it what some might call a B+ Class as it is wider and longer than the Chevie base van. Because they added length and width to the standard van, this added extra weight and probably accounts for the more modest 1000 towing capacity.
An option I’d recommend is the EkoTrek battery management system featuring lithium power module that greatly extends living off-the-grid or boondocking. It will run both 12 volt and 110 appliances and because of the battery technology and the unique underhood gen set, recharging the batteries is much quicker.
The seating in the rear converts to a king size bed.
The RoadTrek 210 MSRP is $128,952 pricing it similar to Mercedes/Sprinter model Class Bs. The trade-off is that instead of the Mercedes diesel power plant and Sprinter chassis you get easier and less expensive service with the Chevie Chassis and Powertrain and a bit more interior/exterior storage space than you’d get with a Sprinter model. Since the base price is on the high side, one disappointment was the number of features listed as optional that are standard in some competitive units that have a lower price tag. In our search for units for sale by dealers, we couldn’t find any offering the 210 model. Price point could be the problem. Buyers who can afford a $130,00o to $140,000 unit may not pay that for a Chevie but would for Mercedes. (These Mercedes buyers are likely to find that they pay a premium a second time whenever they need service!) Most dealers preferred to offer the RoadTrek models under a $100,000 MSRP. But those less expensive models didn’t meet enough of our criteria to qualify.
Important Feb 18, 2019 Update. Bad News. The venerable RoadTrek brand has just suffered a potentially fatal blow. Hymer North America which acquired the Ontario RV manufacturer a few years ago has just laid off its entire workforce and announced it is going into receivership. Apparently some malfeasance by members of the upper management were part of the problem. Read more about the Hymer Layoff here.
German motorhome manufacturer Hymer acquired RoadTrek to gain entry into the North American market. They are manufacturing a Hymer line of products in the RoadTrek factory in Ontario, Canada.
Unfortunately the Hymer Activ2.0 that we profiled in this article, and liked very much, is no longer being made due to the company discontinuing operations (see article referenced above if you want more details.)
We like the Aktiv 2.0 as it packs a lot of quality features in a compact package. It is built on a Dodge ProMaster chassis and comes in at less than 21 feet in length. The power plant is a 24 valve 3.6 liter gas engine that I’ve been told gets pretty decent gas mileage. A feature I particularly like is the dinette area is forward next to the cab, a setup often found in European compact motorhomes. There’s seating for four with a bench seat and the two cab seats that turn around. The foldup dinette table, however, is too small to handle four people, three max. This allows you to keep your rear bed made up during the daytime, a handy feature.
Dinette easily offers room for two and some tiny space for two more casual diners. Table can stay up while traveling for a passenger to use as a desk.
The Murphy Bed tilts up for access to the spacious storage compartments and provides an aisle to bring bikes, golf clubs, or other toys.
Another feature I like is the gen set is part of the basic Dodge engine, actually a second alternator that generates 110 power. Why this is a plus is because separate generators take special care and maintenance; if they aren’t regularly exercised the carb gets gummed up and as a separate engine it brings another set of maintenance chores. I suppose running your Dodge engine might burn a little more fuel than an independent gen set engine, but unless you use your gen set quite a lot, the difference is probably only a few dollars a year.
You can see the influence of German engineering in a number of the appointments in the interior. Quality materials and intelligent design. Spacious cabinets, good led lighting, and a decent amount of natural light through the windows and skylight. The rear area can either be a convertible power sofa that converts into a king bed or a murphy-style bed that folds up if you want a huge amount of cargo space for bikes, golf clubs, etc. Even in the down position, the murphy bed provides a goodly amount of extra storage underneath.
While shown sleeping front to back, sleepers less than 6′ could sleep side-side in the coach due to the slightly larger width of the ProMaster chassis.
The main drawback is the relatively tiny closet. It looks to be only about 12 inches wide, maybe even less. So not much space for hanging clothes. The refrigerator is also smaller than the Roadtrek, coming in a 3.1 cubic feet.
Like theRoadTrek 210, the Aktiv also offers the EkoTrek battery management system as an option that greatly extends your off-the-grid living and comfort. Unlike the RoadTrek, the Aktiv has a more hefty towing capacity – up to 3500 lbs. And it is considerably less expensive to buy.
Hymer Aktiv 2.0 MSRP starting at $102,427
Important Feb 18, 2019 Update. Our enthusiasm for the Hymer Aktiv 2.0 has been greatly dampened. The Ontario firm has just laid off its entire workforce and announced it is going into receivership. Apparently some malfeasance by members of the upper management were part of the problem. Read more about the Hymer Layoff here and their financial difficulties involving an estimated $300 million in liabilities.
While Hymer won’t be returning, the company buying the assets of the firm and the RoadTrek name has re-entered the US-Canadian motorhome market. See our December, 2020. Article onThe “New” 2021 RoadTrek
New RoadTrek Motorhome
Next Review: Winnebago Travato – employing many of the design features of the Aktiv with a few twists.
