The truth about buying a $100,000 VAN

★★★ ACCESS SECRET VIDEOS & PERKS BY SUPPORTING US! ★★★

★★★ OUR MAILING ADDRESS ★★★
Bob and Hillary
4960 S Gilbert Rd #1 PMB 433
Chandler AZ 85249

★★★VANCASKEYS DEPARTURE CHECKLIST ★★★

⋘ CATCH UP WITH US IN REAL-TIME ⋙

★ SHOP ★

OUR 📷 GEAR:

VIDEOS TO WATCH!

★ MUSIC WE USE IN OUR VIDEO ★

►Epidemic Sound & Storyblocks

★★★ SHOP ★★★

★★★ PLAYLISTS YOU MIGHT LIKE ★★★

Valuable Van Info!

Catch up on Vancaskeys!

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

DISCLAIMER: most links in this description are affiliate, which means that if you buy from my link, we will get a small percentage of the profit at NO EXTRA COST TO YOU!! Thanks for supporting us.

WHAT'S OUR WHY???

This channel is all about being REAL. We want to show you the real side of traveling by van. Highs and lows, ups and downs. We don't have it all figured out, and think that's okay!

We are so excited you are here, and we hope to inspire you to LIVE before retirement. We feel passionately that life and adventure can start anytime. It's so important to embrace life today.

Our goal is to inspire others to start #vanlife or #rvlife or #skoolielife...whatever you choose- let it be something that helps you chase your dreams and get you out in the beautiful world to explore what it has to offer. Thanks so much for coming along on our journey! Say hi in the comments! We love meeting you all!

Ps...why Vancaskey? We took our last name McCaskey and added a van to it 😉 #rvnewbies #classbrv #vanlife

Vancaskeys LLC, All rights reserved.
Episode 66 | Filmed Feb 8, 2023 | #quartzsite #rvshow #classbrv #2023rvshow

[US_ARMY__INF._DIV.]

That is the good thing about my having served for 2 years in an Army infantry battalion....everything after sleeping on the ground on a 1 inch bed roll and not taking a shower for up to one month and eating cold MRE s etc....this van is like living in a 5000 k a night 5 star hotel in Italy....

[michaelb]

Spent 6 months traveling full time in a top of the line 2018 18 foot travel trailer. Now we own a 25 year old 1998 18 foot Class B van. I’d take the van any day of the week.

Why? The ability to park it and drive it anywhere is truly a game changer.

On travel days with our travel trailer we were so limited to where we could stop. With the van if you see a tiny pull off for a trail head, no problem - towing travel trailer- or even a Class C or a Class A? - forget about it.

With the van you can drive into any little town or narrow city streets without issues. Want to stop for lunch or a drink or maybe hat ice cream stand? - no problem, you can park it anywhere. If you’re in a bigger rig, it’s often not possible.

With our travel trailer we were constantly playing Boomerang - park the travel trailer at a campground, drive 45 minutes to a trail head, then you spot a better campsite!! - but you can’t stay there because you need to go back to your travel trailer. With the van you can just keep moving forward, no need to constantly go back.

Also, so many times we would accidentally leave the sunscreen, bug spray, lunch, camera, etc in our travel trailer when we took the truck to a trail head or into town, etc. With the van, you always have everything. Spy a cool spot on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean and want to have dinner there? - no problem, you have everything with you.

A travel trailer, class C and especially a class A offers more space, but at the huge cost of massively limiting where you can park it.

If you like to stay in one place for a long time then a travel trailer or a Class C/Class A (especially with a toad) has it’s advantages, but if you want to travel it’s tough to beat a van.

And, FYI - you don’t need to spend 100K on a class B van. The newer models are beautiful, no doubt, but there are plenty of older and well cared for class B vans out there. Yes, you will likely have to put some money and sweat equity into them, but we’ve already put thousands of miles and had so many adventures in the two years that we’ve owned our 25 year old van. We love it. Just my 2 cents.

[jasonwhitley]

Here’s my take as a 5 year full timer: 1) A class C is so much better due to 1) extra room 2) enclosed shower 3) separate toilet area 4) huge water tank 5) lots of storage 6) separate living room, basically everything. I started with a van and 1 year later transitioned to a Class C slide. The drive is nearly the same, it uses more gas and takes 2 parking spaces but the things listed vastly outweigh the others. Also, the on demand hot water is a must. Nothing beats a hot shower after hiking, biking or fishing, , , nothing. Then sitting on a full size couch and watching You Tube. Lol

[juniper]

What you need is a pop up tent to leave your outdoor stuff in, to hold your campsite when you drive off for errands. It doesn’t have to be an actual usable tent; it just has to sit there to show that the space is occupied.

[justincase]

I’d suggest removing the space wasting 2 seats & replacing that area with a permanent 32” high 3’x3’ cabinet. Preferably one with a solid tiltback mica or butcherblock countertop & a slide out top access Dometic fridge/freezer & more water storage behind the fridge … If ur taking a dump, privacy should Never be an issue bcuz the other person should/will be hiding outside from overwhelming smell? … Is your Van 2 wheel drive or all wheel? … You can hang netting from the interior doors & ceiling sides for added storage. … Bottled drinking water is paramount in helping you ration your 27 gallons for flushing & cleaning purposes. Vaya Con Dios 🙏☮️

[onewayofliving]

I went a different route. Rather than spend $100K on a Class B RV, I bought a full size, high roof, Transit 350 ecoboost . 15 passenger XLT, paid about $35, 000 back in 2020 with 2000 miles on it. Spent another $2000 bucks on a mini fridge, battery pack, portable toilet and Queen bed and camping supplies to keep in the van to go camping and road trip.. BUT.... have another $63, 000 bucks to use on 5 star hotels when we road trip or rent other big RVs if we really need one for a couple of weeks. 5 years from now, there will be so many used Class Bs for super cheap.

[michaelconner]

I love my 2001 Coachmen class C 220 RK. I have owned since new and been on many trips with Grandkids and as a couple. It is 24 ft and don't tow a car but it can be parked fairly easy to eat out or run for groceries. I always park at rest stops with the car section not with the big rigs. It has the 5.4 V8 and gets between 10 and 13 MPG. For me a small class C is a good compromise for comfort and size especially since I am 71 yrs old. It has been stored in my detached garage since new and still looks new. Recently an elderly gentleman with a huge fith wheel offered to trade but of course i declined. I enjoy the nimbleness and simplicity of my RV and plan to keep it until I can't do it anymore. I enjoyed your video and am glad you enjoy your rig!

[Rex-bkgh]

You may want to check your specs for the lithium batteries. 800ah is a $20K+ upgrade, no way your van is only $100K if its really equipped with it. It should be at least $120K and above depending on when you purchased. Also comes with the Mastervolt control panel and can run AC for 8-10 hours straight. Yours is the Balmar panel so double check, you may only have 200ah version. I know because I've been in FB groups with owners thinking they got the 800 ah (2 x 400ah) version for a big discount when in fact they have 200ah (2 x 100ah) and no remote start. Thor and dealers make this very vague (spec sheet shows dual lithium battery but no battery size). A few ways to know is looking at the control panel (Mastervolt vs Balmar), 800ah has auto start feature (engine starts automatically when battery goes below 30%) and 2 yellow disconnect switches under the van (under sliding door area). 200ah lithium is still pretty good compared to the AGM batteries, just hope you didn't pay premium for lithium thinking you got 800ah but really it's only 200ah. I hope this doesn't turn out to be a con for you in the video.

[JohnJohn-wrjo]

Everyone has different needs and wants when it comes to an RV. My wife got sucked into the B craze on social media. Long time camper/rv family. Retired 3 years ago and US travel was at the top of our bucket list. We did a ton of research on B and B plus options. I convinced the wife to narrow it down to 2 or 3 and we would rent each unit for 1 to 2 week trips. We're both glad we took this approach. We rented a 21 Travato for a 2 week New England fall trip and a 20 Leisure Wonder for a Southern Winter trip. We liked the Wonder so much more than Travato. We realized the first week in the Travato that the B option wasn't for us for many reasons. We still rented the Wonder to confirm our findings.
1) Overall comfort was a deal breaker, both driving and spending time inside. Sleeping was OK but we spent a rainy day or 2 in both units and it was miserable.
2) Organization and lack of storage for all but the basics. Wonder was better but still too little for week or more.
3) Wet bath in the Travato was a huge negative

4) Cost and quality. In my opinion the available chassis choices in North America for the Bs are seriously lacking. They are all junk in my opinion, and will cost a fortune to maintain once out of warranty or to continue keeping under a high miles warranty. The components in both leave a lot to be desired. See a lot of maintenance. I spent a few hours at a Winnebago dealers service department in NH. Spoke with several disgruntled Travato owners who were not happy with their units or Winnebago.

To sum it up. For us the Bs are ok for a couple for day trips and at best a long weekend when extra gear isn't necessary. We found both units uncomfortable when spending more than 5 total hours driving, even with breaks. Cost, quality, and overall comfort were the biggest deal breakers for us.

[Ardell]

Every RV has advantages, and disadvantages. It all depends on how you are going to use it.

[davidthomson]

Love our class B, a PW OnTour 2.2. Always good to help folks with the Pro and Con of the features. Battery upgrade was probably spendy, but gives so much versatility! On our way to Puerto Penasco!

[vicki]

In our 5th wheel, our motto is “we can seat 6, feed 4, sleep 2”, no other questions have been asked! 😊

[philw]

As a european, i wince at the idea of 5 mpg!! I run a european version of the same van you have (Ducato), and it gets 30mpg (diesel). They generally make more sense over here, especially in the Uk with its tiny roads and small parking spaces, and where 'van life' is less of an easy thing due to space and wild camping restrictions. You just have to pack and live 'mindfully' in them as there is less interior space. They do however warm up more quickly and use less heating fuel in winter as an added bonus! (Not to mention cheaper insurance, tax, servicing, toll roads etc)

[twotrains]

My wife and I own a 2021 Tellaro AT (with top bunk sleeper) and traveled cross country from coastal Virginia to Portland OR, driving 8800 miles in 30 days last summer. The best mileage consistently achieved is 14.5 mpg, highway miles. Not nearly what you claim you get (18 mpg). Like you, the Tellaro is very convenient yet cramped in the "bathroom". Let's call it "the mini potty" and "port-a-shower". However, the van shines when having to park ANYWHERE with which only 22 feet to contend. My biggest complaint is the blatant lack of build quality by THOR. Molding, drawers, skylight, electrical tower, and even the awning...just simply junk. Have returned to Camping World on at least six occasions to plead for warranty repairs. For 100K, this van's amenities are lacking and almost disappointing. The RAM 3500 rides well, but we found it dismal with the transmission struggling to transverse I-70 West through Colorado and other 5% inclines along the way. The 20FT van concept is solid and makes perfect sense for couples seeking to tour North America. THOR simply needs to up its quality standard when tricking out these van shells. Thank you for sharing your experience with the world. Happy Vanning!

[thom_lester]

nice video U 2 :) My wife & I lived full time for over 2.5yrs in our custom build 2017 Ram 2500 RB. I designed a kitchen w/over 8' of gleaming SS counters, full bed, bath, 2 front swivels, basement and the works. AND five years later it is now our daily driver as we moved into a custom tiny-house-on-foundation in the SW desert. Class B's are awesoe! Oh, and total (new 2017) van + professional-shop build? ... $58K :)

[harryknutts]

its all how u look at it, but im a trucker and live on the road, all i have is a standard truck bed but i put a mattress pad on it and it is pretty comfortable and i can sleep good all night unless i get woke up { which happens alot} i have a 4day cooler which means with enough ice u can keep stuff cold almost 4 days, i finally got a 700 watt microwave a few months ago and thats kinda nice but i drove years without 1 but u really dont need much unless u want to go off into the middle of nowwhere for days at a time, you just park in the right spots and everything is in there, like a truckstop

[rwendell]

Finding the right rig so important, after a two year search I found the perfect Class C RV, 28FT, well maintained, sold to me by a good friend of a friend who knew the complete history of the vehicle.I lived in it for three months last year playing drums all over the east coast, what a blast !!! Been upgrading and maintaining it all month getting ready for this summer, love working on it and making it my own .RV life is good.

[markrenfrow]

It all depends on what your needs are, and what you can afford. My budget let us buy a '09 chevy 3500 shuttle bus for $6500. 4 years later, adding a bit at a time, we have 800w solar panels, 3 battle born 100ah, 2500w Aims inverter/charger, and finally (on the third try) an 12k btu Pioneer ac/heat mini split that will cool the bus at 95 degrees outside in full sun (running on solar). All together, including 3 engine repairs, have invested less than 17K $. Traveled 27K miles. Average 12 mpg on diesel. Fully loaded with fuel and water and stuff we weigh 6 tons. I did all the work myself except for final connections on the mini split. On our last trip to FL, talked to a guy in a 2022 Mercedes 4wd van, with ALL the bells and whistles, who hired others to do all the work. I couldn't help myself, asked what he had invested (even though I felt rude asking). He thought a minute, then said somewhere between 225k and 250k $. So, what do you need, what can you afford.

[TinyGoHomes]

I’m about 35k all in on my rig. I don’t travel as much, I just like minimal life. I built my own tiny home trailer I live in full time and my tow rig is a hummer. The tiny home comes off the trailer quite easy so you can use it like a flat bed when needed. The hummer is outfitted in the back to carry all my tools for work. I use it like a mobile cabin for when I’m working off the lake. I’m just finishing up all the smaller details this year like mounting an enduro bike, the solar system and a custom roof box for the hummer.

[Jollyprez]

I've owned a 31' class A, 40' class A, and a 35' class A. They got 6, 5, and 10mpg respectively. Gas, diesel, and diesel. That last dropped to 6mpg when towing a small Honda Civic flat. Major pains? All were a pain to service, all were a pain to maneuver just about anywhere other than on interstates. Fueling-up was always at truck stops. Most important: all were extremely expensive to maintain their drive trains. I LIVED in the 31' for 3 years single, and 3 years in the 35' with family of 5, the latter in Ontario, Canada during a winter.
Because of their size and pain factors - they didn't get used much once parked.
My brother has a 40' 5th wheel. With his wife, they cavorted around a total of about six months. He hasn't driven it anywhere in a decade, and has had to repair its plumbing twice as it sat and rodents ate the Pex water pipes.
#1 son has been living in a 5'x10' cargo trailer camper we made - for THREE years. Towed by a Frontier pickup, he's saving for a Class B that we intend to convert, too.
Unlike Class As and most trailers - Class Bs will be USED frequently and not sit. "Lot Rot" is the main problem with larger RVs as sitting is horrible for drivetrains ( particularly automatic transmissions ).
The layout of your particular van and its bathroom wouldn't work for him. #1 son is 6'6" and, though living alone currently, he intends to "entertain" at some point, and that pitiful bathroom space ain't gonna cut it. We have ideas to mitigate that.
Keep up the good work, only suggestion I'd give is to indicate WHERE you are when you're showing the scenery!