Conversion Vans Vs Mini Motorhome (Class B RV)

Conversion Vans vs. Mini Motorhome (Class B RV)
How many people know the difference between a Conversion Van, Camper Van, or Mini-Motorhome? Knowing the differences can help an individual make "Good Purchase Decisions". The right Van can be your daily transportation or RV. The differences become important for simple reasons like:How much will it cost me to insure my vehicle?

[b]Dodge Vans[/b]

How do I determine a fair "Blue Book" price to buy or sell? Does my neighborhood association allow me to park my Van at Home? Safety: Is my Vehicle Crash Tested by a Government Agency? Who will service my Van when I need repairs or maintenance?

Conversion Vans are not Motorhomes, but they can offer many of the features of a Motorhome. So let us clear up the differences!

Keep in mind there is room to stretch from one class of vehicle to another; and there is no defacto industry definition; just guidelines. Search the listings at RVTRADER.com and you'll find many Class C's mixed into the Class B listings not to mention the Class B's in the Bus Conversions. You'll even find ordinary Conversion Vans in the mix. It seems people really don't know what they have! Confusing isn't it? We love vans and own several different types and is how we at Conversion-Vans.NET define the Vehicle Classes.

Cargo Van - A Cargo van is a vehicle provided direct from the Manufacture with no rear seats, carpeting, or windows. These vans can be "Up fitted or Converted" to meet the needs of a variety of purposes. Camper Van - This is the simple conversion of a stock cargo van to add features helpful for "camping". So a Camper Van is any van that has been converted for the purpose of camping - simple enough! Yes and No. There is no such thing as a commercial "Camper Van" - unless you get outside of the USA where the nomenclature changes. Camper Vans are typically "Homemade" modifications. A Class B Motorhome can be Called a Camper Van if you please, but you can not call a Camper Van a Class B Motorhome unless it has some very specific features! (See next) Class B Motorhome (Class B RV) - Any full fledged Motorhome built on a Cargo Van Chassis by a licensed up fitter. The van may have the top removed or the sides widened, but it is still essentially a van in size and shape. Additionally in order to qualify as a Class B Motorhome the van must have built-in sleeping, eating, and bathroom facilities (Including properly mounting fresh and grey water holding tanks). If the frame of the van has been cut down clear to the floor level (they come direct from Ford, Chevy, and Dodge this way - just a frame and a cab) and built up completely from the floor it's a Class "C" not a Class "B". Conversion Van (aka Luxury Van, Custom Van) - Any van that has been customized for comfort can be considered a conversion van. These are really luxury vehicles used to transport 6-10 people in comfort. Conversion vans can have some of the features of a "Camper Van" or even a "Class B Motorhome", but are typically more upscale and designed for daytime use and luxury transportation. These vans may have a raised roof, fancy paintjob, Custom Wheels, Leather Seats, 4 Captains chairs, dual stereo, TV/VCR Combos etc. Mini C's & B+'s - These are really Class "C" Motorhomes masquerading as Class B Motorhomes. They feature sleek aerodynamic body styles - often made of a single fiberglass shell. The Chinook line of Motorhomes by TrailWagons, Inc. is probably the best example. These are also sometimes referred to as B+ Vans. They are in fact built from the same chassis as a Class C, but are made more to look like a Call B. Confusing? Ultimately it doesn't matter, as long as you find what you want.

So there you have it! The Van is an incredibly versatile mode of transportation that can be "converted" to suit the needs of a variety of individuals and purposes. Vans offer large storage capacity for hauling cargo to completely self contained luxury travel. So don't just rush out and get a giant RV until you have considered a Conversion Van or Class B RV.

Conversion Vans Vs Mini Motorhome (Class B RV)

Motorhome Gas Mileage - Now More of a Concern Than Ever

Motor homes are very popular amusements for wealthy people, because not only is it a vehicle, it's also a livable space. With gas prices rising as they have been, however, they're not as affordable because they're so large and it takes more gasoline to move them. Some motor home companies are conscious of this fact, and therefore they compete with one another to get the best motor home gas mileage. Regardless of what option you choose, it's expensive, being a motor home but it's still very worth looking into if you own and drive a motor home.

[b]Dodge Vans[/b]

The first motor home is a Fleetwood. This is a very solid company well-known for making quality motor homes. The mileage on it is quite slim - less than 7 miles. The length of the entire vehicle is 40 feet, and is very solidly constructed. The towing vehicle is a Ford, so there's little worry for quality there. Anything Ford-constructed is going to be very resilient and durable, and the engine in the towing vehicle is high-quality. Overall a good choice for a motor home even if it's lower on gas mileage than the rest. Generally people are going to look at gas mileage first these days when buying a vehicle of any sort, even a motor home.

The next one, a Four Winds model, is built by Dodge, another American company. This motor home has excellent mileage, at 16-17 miles per gallon. It's not known just how it gets that much distance, but apparently the motor home isn't as large as some of the others seen. Also, the ride is very smooth - some motor homes can be bumpy depending on the surface, but this one is a little more cushioned in the tires. Dodge's products are very dependable, much like Ford's, but Dodge, it seems, has better gas mileage, which is a very important thing in today's economy.

A third one that we looked at is another Ford model. It gets approximately 12-15 miles per gallon, which is an average amount. This is a very comfortable home with lots of amenities. It travels on the road quite smoothly, with few problems maneuvering or turning even on the toughest of mountain roads. This Ford model is best for its maneuverability, but as far as gas mileage it's not the very best that could be found - there are other motor homes with more.

These three motor homes have slightly differing motor home gas mileage, all pretty much within the same range give or take a few miles. If you're trying to pick the one with the best gas mileage, go with Four Winds, for almost 30 miles per gallon. The Fleetwood is the most solidly constructed, and the other Ford model is the most luxurious. It all depends on your preference, but the Four Winds has the most motor home gas mileage. As motor homes these days take a lot to maintain and run them, gas mileage is probably your most important concern when deciding to make a purchase or trade-in.

Motorhome Gas Mileage - Now More of a Concern Than Ever