RV Camping

Campgrounds and RV Resorts | Chiefland, Florida

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southern leisure rv park

Best Campgrounds for RVs in Chiefland, Florida and Cedar Key Most RVers and campers come to Chiefland for its nearby Manatee Springs State Park or because of the attractions found in the Gulf resort community of Cedar Key (about 30 miles SW). While Cedar Key does have 4 RV parks, they are mostly filled with … Read more

Mississippi Palisades Campground

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mississippi palisades park

RV Campground Review: Mississippi Palisades State Park Located a short distance North of Savanna, Illinois the Mississippi Palisades is an Illinois State Park and Campground. Portions of the park include high steep sided bluffs looming over the Mississippi River valley. We like the Palisades park for the numerous scenic overlooks of the Mississippi and its … Read more

Safe Travel See the USA in your RV

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RV camping and travel

RV Travel, A key to Economic Recovery Article Update June 7, 2020 Extreme measures were being taken in the interests of crisis control and preserving important hospital capacity. Most, if not all, US States mandated “stay-in-place, stay safe at home” practices. All but essential businesses and organizations were asked to close or greatly restrict their … Read more

Welcome to RVing

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winnebago motorhomes 2019

Advice & Tips for New RV Owners Our friends Rick & Sue recently took the plunge and bought an RV motorhome. Being new to RV ownership, they asked for some tips on traveling and using their new unit. After writing down some ideas and sending them an e-mail, I realized “Hey, this could be a … Read more

Update Hymer & RoadTrek Layoff

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winnebago travato class B RV

Are Aktiv and RoadTrek Class B Motorhomes going out of business? As many Aktiv and Road Trek owners know by now, on Feb 15, 2019 Erwin Hymer Group North America, Ontario manufacturer of RoadTrek, Hymer Aktiv, and Carado Class B motorhomes ceased business operations, laid off all their employees, and was placed into receivership by … Read more

The Best Class B Motorhomes

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hymer class b motorhomes

RV Review: What are the Best Class B RV Motorhomes

See our other RV Reviews: Best Class C Motorhomes, Top European Compact RVs and see our list of Top RV Shows for 2023

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.

Winnebago Travato
The Winnebago Travato is the leader in Class B Motorhomes
Thor Compass RV
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.

For newer models see our 2022 Reviews – Best Class B RV motorhomes

Our Top 2020 Picks for Best Class B Motorhomes

top class B van motorhomes

RoadTrek 210 Popular

An expanded version of one of the long time best-selling Class B, the RoadTrek 190. Read our RoadTrek 210 Review here.

Hymer Aktiv 2.0

European manufacturer Hymer is bringing their classic compact designs to their new manufacturing facility in Canada. Read our Hymer Aktiv 2.0 Review here.

Winnebago Travato  – 2020

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.

Updates: Best Class B Van Motorhomes

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.

Then in 2020 Thor and Some Canadian Manufacturers introduced some Class B Challengers to Travato’s Best in Class status and also in 2020 Winnebago introduced the Solis which soon became the Class Leader in Pop-Top Camper Vans.

More RVing Resources

See our calendar of Best RV Shows for 2023.

See our 2021 Update – Best Class B RV motorhomes

See our recommended RV & Scenic Travel Guides.

Road Trek 210 | Best Class B RVs

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RoadTrek 210 Class B RV

Reviewing the RoadTrek 210

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!

See our more recent post on the New 2021 Line of RoadTrek Motorhomes and Camper Vans.

RoadTrek 210 Review

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.

roadtrek 210 dinette
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.
roadtrek 210 galley
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.

road trek
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.

RoadTrek Updates

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.

May 1, 2019 Update. Good News. The RoadTrek Brand & Manufacturing Facilities (read article here) have been acquired by French motorhome manufacturer Rapido SAS.

RoadTrek Class B 2021

December, 2020. RoadTrek rises from the ashes: The “New” 2021 RoadTrek – See our Review

Other Top Rated older model Class B Camper Vans to consider:

Grant River Corps of Engineering RV Campground

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mississippi river sunset

RV Campground Review: Grant River Recreation Area – Potosi, Wisconsin

Grant River is one of our favorite Corps Parks. Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, it has nice mature trees offering lots of shade options for the camp sites. Modern full service washrooms with showers kept spotlessly clean. Lots of frontage along the river with benches every 100 feet or so offering a pleasant places to sit and watch the river roll by. There isn’t a lot of activity on the river itself, largely free of the sound of jet skis and power boats charging back and forth disturbing the tranquility. But there is an adjacent boat launch for fisherman and a large parking area for trailers.

grant river campground
Spacious, well-planned camp sites with shade at least part of the day.

The sites are level and concrete and the road throughout park is paved. The heavy, substantial picnic tables are well-maintained and stand on a well-drained gravel pad with a fire-ring and grill. The sites are electric-only with 20, 30, and 50 amp service. No water hydrants at each site, but several hydrants are sprinkled throughout the campground for convenient refilling. There is adequate spacing and green space between the camp sites. A few of the camp sites are dedicated for tent campers and provide very adequate spacing away from other camp sites.

grant river campground
This may be an original Shasta camper. Looks in good shape.

Just north of the campground is a day use area with a picnic pavilion, a boat ramp and dock, and lots of parking space.

grant river corps park
Watching the sun go down at Grant River Corps park

Things to See and Do at Grant River Corps Park

Besides hanging out at the campsite, we enjoy hiking around the park, enjoying the scenic views of the river, and biking both around the park and to the Potosi Brewery for a brew or food (see our review). The National Brewery Museum is also located at the Brewery and is a fun and interesting look at the history of brewing with stories and pictures from former breweries in Wisconsin and across the nation.

Potosi Brewery
One of our favorite things to do at Grant River Corps park is dine at the Potosi Brewery

For bikers, the rustic rural road that runs from Potosi’s main street to the park isn’t that busy with traffic and is a scenic bike ride over a mostly level terrain. More enthusiastic bikers can take the return trip along Brewery Hollow Road (a Wisconsin scenic rural road) back to the campground. And even more enthusiastic bikers can take the scenic River Road 20 miles north to Cassville and the Stonefield Village Historic Site.

When we have the grand kids or grand nephews/nieces with us they enjoy fishing from the banks of the river and the park playground that has slides, swings, climbing gym, volleyball court, and horse shoe courts.

Provisions like ice, beverages, and basic groceries are available at the Pine Point Store 4 miles away in downtown Potosi.

One Downside to RV Camping at Grant River

While we consider Grant River an A+ campground, some campers would downgrade that vote due to the fact of frequent trains running by. Seeing the trains is a neat experience for kids and train aficionados, but the noise of them passing can disrupt what are otherwise a very peaceful nighttime atmosphere.

All along the upper Mississippi River there are railroad tracks with active freight trains running day and night, so one downside of any campground near the Big River are the periodic trains that run overnight.

grant river campground site map
Grant River Camp Site Map

See our list of Best Great River Road RV Campgrounds from Dubuque, Iowa to Prescott, Wisconsin

Links to Nearby Travel and Visitor Attractions:

Indian Pass RV Campground

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Indian Pass Campground Beach

RV Campground Review: Indian Pass Campground, Port St. Joe, Florida

Indian Pass is a hook-shaped peninsula, about 3 miles long, jutting out into the Gulf along Scenic Highway 30A between Port St. Joe and Apalachicola.

Indian Pass Campsite
One of the pull-through RV campsites

The Indian Pass Campground is at the very tip of the peninsula adjacent to a portion of the St. Vincent Wildlife Sanctuary and the Boat Ramp and Ferry Dock. There are 34 RV sites with electric, water, and basic cable, plus a handfull of tent sites. There is a bath and shower building, a laundry area, and a modest store in the campground office. Wi-Fi is available at the office and on the porch. The lagoon formed by the peninsula and the adjacent St. Vincent Sound (bordering St. Vincent Island) make the campground popular with kayakers and canoeists. The convenient boat ramp and the protected waters are also ideal for fishermen. While the campground has its own beach, the isolated sand beach bordering the wildlife refuge is a better alternative for sunbathing and swimming.

Indian Pass Beach
The beach across the street at the wildlife refuge.

The Indian Pass community is mostly homes with a few smaller condos with few commercial establishments so there’s not much traffic and being located at the end of the road, the campground is in a very peaceful setting and the extensive beach looking out towards St. Vincent Island is uncrowded and unspoiled.

The campsites in general are well-shaded and mostly level. The sites are arranged in a somewhat crazy-quilt manner oriented around the trees and terrain. I think this adds to the general attractiveness, although it means large units will have trouble accessing some of the sites. But some will easily accommodate larger RV units and some sites are pull-through.

indian pass campground layout
Indian Pass CG Aerial View. Google Maps

Other Nearby Attractions. The nearest bar or restaurant is 3 miles away on Highway 30a at the entrance to Indian Pass. The closest general shopping is in Port St. Joe, 13 miles from the campground. The St. Joseph’s Bay Golf Course (see our review) is 10 miles away and for us a nice bonus as we enjoyed the course very much. Historic Apalachicola, with many notable seafood restaurants, raw bars, galleries and shopping boutiques is 21 miles from the campground.

Gulf Coast Drive Travel Links: