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Something we’re starting to see more and more of in small coaches are twin bed floor plans. Leisure Travel Vans has made their second twin bed floor plan with their newest coach, the Wonder FTB (Front Twin Bed). Unlike their Unity, which has the twin beds in the back, the wonder brings the beds forward, which creates a very open cabin. Have a look in our video below:
For two travelers, the twin bed setup makes a lot of sense. It allows for a spacious feel, with windows along both sides. Nobody has to climb over anybody else to get up. The beds can serve triple-duty as sleeping, eating, and lounge space. And rather than a large, monolithic bed to design around, you have two smaller items with an aisle. Your options are limited for additional sleeping arrangements though, so these floor plans are really best for just two occupants.
We go through every compartment we can access in the video. So rather than recap what you’ve seen there, I thought I’d just give you the high points of what we really liked, and what we wished was different.
What We Really Liked
- Contemporary design
- Open, spacious feeling floor plan with wide aisle
- Innovative table
- Cargo capacity for days… 1890 pounds!
- Storage space (inside and out) to match the cargo capacity
- Solar options up to 400 Watts
- Large propane tank that operates with no relay
What We Wish Was Different
- Ford Transit cab is tight, tough for egress, and only one seat rotates
- Bring fresh water inside the heated space for 4-season readiness
- Absorption Fridge
- Generator-free/Lithium option – you knew I had to say it!
There are more points than that (mostly on the “like” side of things) that you’ll see in the video. All in all, we like the Wonder series from Leisure Travel Vans, and we’re excited to see what kind of a floor plan they’ll come up with next.
Bye for now!
Thoroughly enjoyable! You two are a combined-treasure! Look forward to viewing more of your evaluations. All the best!
Glad you liked it!
I just watched your review of the LTV Wonder Front Twin Bed. Excellent review!
This rig pretty much checks all the boxes for me, especially now that LTV is offering an option of Lithium Battery upgrade for 2021. There’s a few more upgrades for 2021 as well, but still no compressor refrigerator or leveling jacks.
Is it possible to have a professional swap out the absorption frig for a compressor frig? This is not a project I would tackle on my own.
Well, if I could swap out our own refrigerator for a compressor model, I suppose an RV dealer could probably figure it out.
The bit thing would be if there was a compressor refrigerator the same size as the one you’re replacing.
I’ll warn you though – our fridge swap was no easy task!
It took me 5 weeks and 5 videos to do it! You can start to see what you’re in for by watching the videos.
I wish to own one of this in my lifetime but ALAS, i dont know how I can afford it as the cost is out of this world for me as Nigerian living in NIGERIA…I have watched tons of videos on them and admire, smile ,pray and hoping that God will make it possible.
I wont loose hope and I believe, with God, all things are possible!!!
Saba Ajayi Emmanuel.NG
Well that’s a first.
Congratulations on being our first commenter from Nigeria! (I actually checked his IP address. He really is from Nigeria.)
It might be difficult, but I hope you get to own your dream rig one day.
Best wishes from the US!
With all the craziness about covid 19 i have had time to watch youtube more.i enjoyed your review of the wonder ftb.you really seem to appreciate all the hard work that goes into building this unit as well as the detail.just as an added bit of information i actually work there.so i wanted to say thank you
Brian – thank you so much! Glad to hear that you liked the video, and yes… it takes a lot of work to bring one of these to life. We saw that first hand on our factory tour with Dean a few years ago. We were impressed!
Hello, Big fan of all your RV videos. I’m very interested in this exact rig. LTV FTP No dealers near by however. Can you tell me the quality of the cabinetry and general wood components. They don’t look high quality like a Coachmen Beyond. Can you provide any opinion? Thanks
They might not be solid cherry dovetails, but I find the cabinetry in Leisure Travel Vans to be well made. You can even see Dean hanging off them in some of their videos.
I’m not an LTV owner myself, but I can honestly say that “poor quality” is not a phrase you’ll hear in a conversation about Leisure Travel Vans.
I wouldn’t have any worries about the quality of the cabinetry.
Hello Saba, Watch youtube video’s of NEVILLE GODDARD. He teaches us that
our only limitation is our mind, and to LIVE IN THE END (what we choose to be).
All things are possible to those who believe, we just have to IMAGINE. Be a DOER of your imagination more than a listener. We are all creators and can manifest anything. Believe, trust and have faith. We are all God. You can have this RV, namaste’, rachel
I really appreciate your thoughtfulness in your thorough reviews, especially this one. I love how you guys really seem to enjoy what you do, and look at everything from a true rv’ers perspective. I’ve been researching, praying and pondering for quite a while about my next RV (I’ve had a Starcraft TT, a Nash TT, and most recently, an Arctic Fox 5th wheel). Thanks in part to your reviews, I just contracted with Ben at Johnston RV on a slightly used ‘18 Wonder FTB. I’m so stinking excited! Your review of the rear bed model was what originally got my attention on YouTube, and I was really hoping my Terry bike could ride inside the garage, but this floor plan is so much more open and workable for me. Thanks again for all you do-keep up the good work!
Glad we could help. And even more glad that you found a rig that’s going to work for you.
See you on the road!!
I was so excited when I watched your review of the RTB. It is perfect for me and my dogs. But then I saw the 2,000 lb towing capacity and it was a deal breaker. My car weighs 3,200 pounds, so I can’t tow it.
Now I am looking at the Unity U24CB. Does anyone have the OCCC or curb weight for this model?
In general, these smaller class C rigs are meant to be used without a tow vehicle. You’re going to have a tough time finding one with enough towing capacity to pull a vehicle – especially once you consider the occupants and cargo you’ll likely load up.
As a rule of thumb though, the models *without* slides will be lighter, and therefore have more cargo capacity. Also, the Sprinter-based models will have more weight to spare than the Transit models.
Almost all of them have the towing capacity I would need without impacting the payload significantly or even at all. The GCWR of the Transit is 13,500 pounds, and the GVWR is 10,360. So, I can tow 3,140 pounds before impacting payload. Since my car is 3,200 pounds, I would only use 60 pounds of payload.
The reason for the low towing capacity on the Wonder RTB is because, I am told, the rear garage doesn’t allow for a larger hitch to be installed. It has nothing to do with the Transits ability to tow. The other models have a 3,000 lb hitch. The Sprinters have a 5,000 pound hitch.
So almost any class C will tow my car, just not the RTB.
Still looking for the OCCC or curb weight on the Unity U24CB.
I know this is an older review, but I’m rewatching a lot of your videos after spending a week renting a class C and further refining my RV wish list. This is a great video. Thank you.
LTV did use compressor fridges in the Free Spirit SS for a few years. The switched to 3 way in 2015, I think. I don’t know why they made the change, unless they wanted continuity across all their models. I know about the the compressor fridge because I rented an SS (I think it was a ’13 or ’14) once. Even though it had well-used old fashioned batteries, and even though we ran the furnace blower and fridge all night, we still had plenty of juice left in the batteries in the morning. An hour of sight seeing and we were back to almost full. I tell that story because I think renting a variety of rigs has been really valuable to me. I’m finding out how much battery power I actually need (less than I thought), whether I want a dry bath (I do), what kind of storage makes my life less stressful, how often I’ll actually dry camp, and what kind of kitchen equipment I want to bring along.
Anyway, thanks again for all of your videos and blog entries — and thanks especially for being fair as you look at different brands.
Glad you liked our review!
And it sounds like you’re taking your purchase decision very deliberately – which is a good thing!
We’d be very interested to hear what you finally land on.
had a question about the Mercedes 188hp v6 diesel will it go up hills with and power? my Hyundai has a 110hp and can’t get out of its own way.
It’s torque, not power, that gets you up hills with ease.
The Sprinter chassis should have no trouble getting you up hills.
I mean… it’s not a race car or anything, but there should be no issues at all.
James is right. Torque is going to get you up that hill. I drove one up a hill for an hour, with twists and turns, never did it feel lacking in power, and I didnt feel like I had to floor it either. It just goes. I feel like it would have trouble if you are towing something uphill however.
Why is it so difficult to find a price for these RV’s?
Well, it’s kind of like finding a price on a new car.
There’s the MSRP… but then there are options… and then different dealers may price things differently.
As they have said there is a base price but then to come up with an accurate price all the options you might want have to be included.best way to get accurate pricing is to go to leisure travel van website and go through the options
Don’t like curtains for cabin separation. It’s cheap and a pain in the a** for such an expensive vehicle. The designers got lazy. It should be a nice pocket door there.
Can the propane fridge be on while your driving?
I noticed on the roof there is room to install one more solar panel in the front and another in the rear if you really wanted to cram them in for another 200 watts.
Four solar panels but I only saw two batteries whats up with that. Also a 1000 watt inverter for a vehicle that expensive is very weak. should have at least a 3000 watt
What about security? i heard no mention of cameras on all sides of the vehicle???
No swivel on drivers seat is weak. Also Im assuming those seats are not heated or massage?
I would also like to know how the inside of those walls have been sound deadened, insulated and protected against condensation. Way to often they go cheap on these vehicles and don’t do what they should!!!
Many people like the curtains for cab separation because they are quiet and can’t rattle. A pocket door (if one would even fit) would rattle right behind the driving position and would be really annoying. Plus, it would limit options for including the cab into the living area.
You could run the fridge on propane while driving – if you could keep it from blowing out. But most experienced RVers prefer to run the fridge on 12v power while underway, since it is plentiful at that time.
The only need for a 3000 watt inverter would be to run air conditioning and the microwave while not plugged in. Typically, that also requires a very expensive lithium battery (I know, we have one). Different use case for a coach. The 1000 watt inverter should run most coach loads while not plugged in. If you need to run the air conditioning or microwave while not plugged in, most people, in this coach, would simply run the generator, and therefore have no need for any inverter.
This coach, like most, does not come with security cameras. But there is nothing to prevent an end user from installing them.
The non-rotating driver’s seat is a problem with Ford. They simply don’t make that seat swivel-able. It’s a known issue with the Transit, and many have complained about it (including us). But it’s nothing Leisure can fix.
Some years ago, we did a tour of the Leisure Travel Vans factory. We made a video, and in the video, it shows the details of the wall and roof construction. You can find that video here: https://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/leisure-travel-vans-factory-tour/
Hope this helps!
Ooooh…. new model for the Wonder is coming out.
https://leisurevans.com/wonder-rtb/
Looks like this one is right up your alley!
I know!! Right??!!
I’m trying to figure out how Stef and I can get to see one soon.
We just bought a brand new 2018 wonder TB with the Ford Diesel. If we parked our wonder in the driveway I realized that there was oil dripping on my drive way. So the problem started that we had a hard time finding a ford dealer in our area. We found a ford dealer 1.5 hours away from were we live.
They looked at the engine and told us that there is a problem with the gaskets, and it takes 3 weeks to get the job done because they did not have enough mechanics.
We like our wonder but my wife and I are very disappointed spending that kind of money and having engine trouble from the beginning.
This is a very stressful time for us and NO support from Leisure Travel or the RV dealer.
We contacted Leisure several times and no support.
This is the time were a company can shine if there is a problem.
No help what so ever.
Well, to be fair, there’s nothing Leisure Travel Vans, or your RV dealer, could to about the engine problems. That fix *must* come from Ford itself.
But it’s strange to hear that it would take 3 weeks to fix a Ford.
That’s usually one of the benefits touted for the Ford chassis… that Ford dealers are everywhere and repairs will be easy.
It seems that is not as true as people believe.
If you had a problem with the “house” parts of your RV, I would have expected LTV or your dealer to step up.
I suppose maybe they could have helped you locate a Ford dealer, but beyond that, they are just as dependent on Ford as you are.
Was there some request you made of them that they wouldn’t help you with?
He said they were backed up with not enough mechanics which is typical during summer when everybody gets their cars serviced before vacation. I dont think the fix requires 3 weeks of part delays and if you went to the Winnebago Fuse facebook page some experianced oil leaks there too but not many.
Leisure Travel Vans produce Class C Motorhomes similar to Australian Units, except we love slide outs a lot.
Fit and finish is similar. We would have Lithium Batteries and Solar. Three way fridge but not that clunker.Unlike NA not many people like black tanks at all. We have facilities too deal with Cassettes
Here is one company similar too Leisure Travel Vans, but you will notice there is an emphasis on Off Road RVing with some models
https://www.sunliner.com.au
The proper facilities for dealing with a cassette make all the difference in the world!
Hello,
How much does this RV cost and what type of gas mileage does it get? Also how big is the gas tank (diesel)?
Well, we didn’t get to drive one during our review, so I don’t have any mileage info for you.
A Leisure Travel Vans dealer should be able to help you with pricing.
Thanks for watching!
Hi James and Stef,
Comparing your reviews of the LTV Wonder MB from 2017 and FTB, I was amazed at the difference in OCCC between the two models. The 2017 Wonder MB has an OCCC of just 998lb while the FTP has an OCCC of 1890lb. Subtracting a full tank of fresh water (335lb for each model) leaves just 663lb for both passengers and cargo with a Murphy Bed while the FTB could carry 1,555lb.
I emailed Leisure Travel Vans requesting OCCC of the Wonder but never heard back so your reviews are the only info I can find.
So my questions are:
Do you know if LTV changed OCCC on either version of the Wonder between 2017 and 2018? Can you think if any reason for the huge discrepancy? I understand smaller RVs typically sacrifice capacities but 663 pounds is ridiculously small, especially for two relatively heavy people. I also understand Sprinter-based RVs can have higher capacities but they have so many negatives compared to the Transits including purchase and maintenance costs.
Interesting observation! We didn’t go back and check the Wonder MB to see if its OCCC had changed.
I don’t really have an explanation for the difference. I can’t blame it on a slide mechanism, so the MB floor plan must just be heavier to build. Maybe it’s the bed mechanism?
Next time we see one, we’ll dig in.
James, an update based the factory labels found at the Pomona, CA RV show last month:
LTV Wonder MB 1597 lbs OCCC.
LTV Wonder RTB 1387 lbs OCCC
For comparison, here are OCCCs of other RVs we looked at:
Winnebago Navion 1,368l bs
Forest River Forester MBS 1087 bs
Forest River Sunseeker 2380 2304 lbs
Coachman Prism 2200 1407 lbs
Dynamax Isata 723 lbs
Orion 24RB o2271 lbs
Winnebago Fuse 23T 1332 lbs
Winnebago Fuse 23A 1192 lbs
Winnebago Minnie Winnie 22M 1262 lbs
So the Ford E350/E450 based RVs offer the highest load capacity and the most towing capacity (typically 7,000+ pounds) but the V-10 has awful gas mileage. I was surprised at the wide range of capacities in the Sprinter-based RVs, ranging from a measly 7620 pounds to 1,500+ pounds. Also surprising was the load capacity of the Ford Transit-based RVs. Despite the Transit’s lower GVWR rating (10600lb vs. Spriner’s 11,300lb) a number of Sprinter-based RVs had dismal weight (OCCC) ratings.
I fail to understand why any manufacturer would produce an RV that couldn’t handle two somewhat large people plus water and not allow any clothes, food, utensils, etc.
It’s ALWAYS recommended to check the OCCC of any RV you’re thinking about, and then compare that with your passenger/load scenario.
I enjoyed your excellent review of the LTV Wonder FTB. I do like the twin bed floorplan even more so than the Murphy bed alternative. Do you know if there is any provision for seatbelts behind either of the beds? If not an option, do you think these could be legally installed and meet safety standards.
There were not seat belts behind either of the beds. It “might” be possible to install some after the fact, but the safety aspect would be up to you. It would be tough to get right. Usually, those kinds of things are designed into the rig in the first place for appropriate bracing, etc. Personally, I wouldn’t go there.
Man, what a great layout!
My quibbles seem to be shared by a lot of commenters here.. absorption fridge: boo! AGM batteries: boo!
I think there was a true missed opportunity with the bed here.. why not make the bolster/backrest cushions longer and fit into the gap when making the big bed?
also I think one of the 1st mods I’d make would be for the under-bed kick panels to open so that you aren’t forced to lift the topper up to get inside.
I’d also like to see the sewer hose storage be in or near the service compartment, ya know?
And here’s a beef I haven’t seen others bring up.. this style of stove with the offset burners.. I want pancakes! there’s no griddle that will fit these things! lol
Otherwise, I’m very happy to see manufacturer’s stray from the MB Sprinter, and stick with offering a diesel.
About the bed… I’ll be a bit contrarian here. I think they did a good job with the bed, and wouldn’t want to see it changed. The big problem with bigger bolsters would be where do you store them when you actually want to use the *twin* beds? Throw them up into the cab? Trip over them on the floor? Maybe it’s just a design philosophy here, but I don’t like to see one rig that tries to be all things to all people (and they already have a Wonder with a large single bed). Different strokes, I guess.
But we agree with you on the offset burners! We hadn’t thought of it before, but why?? These stove tops were designed in Europe. Perhaps they just like that style?
I see your point about the bolsters. Perhaps as an option? Maybe a bungee net “gear loft” on the ceiling?
I think you answered your own question about the burners: Europe! They’re having breakfast in the charming little campground bistro, having croissants and tea. I have yet to meet a European who didn’t look upon an American flapjacks, bacon, eggs, toast, and hasbrowns 4,000 calorie breakfast in horror! lol
Something else I thought of.. the peculiar outlet & USB port placement over the bed.. where do your stash the gadgets? I think all RV manufacturers need to stop with the blue-LED lit ports as well. Assuming you’d probably sleep with your head to the front, that light would be shining straight down on your face.
But another big plus I forgot to mention here – NO SLIDE OUTS! Glad to see them offering some well thought-out floorplans that don’t rely on them.
Oh man – I hear you about the light-up USB outlets. Those lights are annoying. But until we can convince all the manufacturers to change them, a little bit of electrical tape takes care of them. Even red LEDs would be better, but I never see those offered.
And yes… no slide outs. We don’t like slides either, honestly. The whole Wonder series from LTV has no slide outs. We think that’s mostly responsible for the extra large carrying capacity of the unit.
I don’t think those are AGM batteries either. They look like the standard 6V Interstates they have been using in all their rigs. Did anyone see a spec sheet that is calling out AGM? I looked at the LTV website and did not see anything stating AGM.
The good news is there is plenty of room in the battery compartment to put a pair of Crowns or BattleBorn lithiums. Crown make a very good 260AH 6V battery that will probably fit. The standard Interstates are 200AH. That will increase usable battery capacity to 130AH. If you were to go with BattleBorn could get 180AH usable with two of their 12V 100AH models.
We have an FTB on order to be delivery early May. Can’t wait to fit it out and hit the road! Plan on putting my own 600W solar system on the roof. Thanks to James for the great shots of the roof layout. I think I can run four panels down the driver side and two on the passenger or maybe three on each side. The Renogy framed panels that I will use are a bit longer and narrower than the flat panels LTV uses.
James, is the AC unit ducted? Looks like maybe not.
Thanks for the very comprehensive review. Even better than Dean’s.
Thank you for the detailed review! The OCCC of 1,890 pounds was amazing, and thank you for showing us the compliance sticker. I wish every dealer was obliged to post a photo of the compliance sticker with every unit they advertise. One can look at hundreds of RV listings with 77 photos in each listing without seeing one photo of a compliance sticker.
Now, if LTV would start using larger capacity batteries and compressor refrigerators, I’d be hooked. Good quality compressor refrigerators are of comparable cost to replacement Demonics and Nevercolds (sorry, I couldn’t resist). A few folks on the Sprinter forum have made the change. I just hate the idea of wasting a new appliance and new batteries to get what I want.
Demonic and Nevercold! Love it!
And I’m sure Leisure will one day make the switch. Actually, I’m pretty sure everyone will some day soon.
Been eagerly awaiting this review! LTV FTB is one of our top 4 on the short list and we were really interested in the bed size/quality. Hubby not fond of slide outs and Stef’s observation about early risers vs late is a good one. Hubby gets up way earlier than me, and we hadn’t even considered that issue. Our last experience at a very nice, brand new mid-chain hotel sealed the decision to get a small RV: I got hives from something on the sheets (softener or detergent), small kids overhead were up till 12 and back at it by 6 a.m., and the mattress, while clearly new, was dreadful.
Thanks again for all your great work!!
EeeK! Sounds like a bad hotel experience, for sure!
If you like LTV, they have other floor plans without slides and with the ability for one partner to sleep in late.
You could look at the Serenity, and the Unity Twin Bed or Island Bed.
After a two year search, we took the plunge and bought our first RV- the Leisure Wonder FTB. Loved the layout when we actually got to see and drive one. We’re both small (5’6″ and under) so the tight cab wasn’t much of an issue. The salesman commented he’d never seen anyone so informed before buying one of these, so we gave the credit to you guys and recommended he send folks to your blog! Thanks!!
Awww… Thank you so much!
And we’re totally stoked that you jumped in and landed on an awesome rig!
Happy travels to you, and maybe we’ll see you on the road.
I know nothing about solar power – except that we ended up with 300 watts of solar and a 3000 watt inverter;
Which made me ‘wonder’ if a 1000 watt inverter was enough for the 400 watts of solar?
I like the idea of a real mattress!- however- why do you think LTV – when converting from two twin beds to one big bed, did not use the total width of space available? Could longer bolster cushions be used to fill in the space left on the sides when you put the two beds together?
The inverter and solar panels aren’t directly related. The 1000 watt inverter is adequate for what they have connected to it.
If you’d like a good primer on solar energy and your RV, check out this post I wrote: How Much Solar Do I Need On My RV?
I agree with all said good and bad about the Wonder. The compressor refridge is a must. 400 watts solar is good. The Ford diesel is not as tested as the Bluetech MB. Ford recently has been indicted as Volkswagon on falsifying their emissions testing results so I don’t know what the future has in its performance. Diesel emissions control sensors are problematic, DEF needed, the particulate filter is expensive when it fills up. The Leisure Unity FX has a Murphy bed that is 68″ X 76″. It also has a separate couch in the rear so if one is still sleeping, the other can go in the back and do work with its computer table/ottoman device. The bed is a walk around bed easy to get up and go to bathroom or galley. Unfortunately Leisure is not planning on offering a gasoline chassis. And their generator is either diesel or propane. Like James, I prefer to do away with propane and get an induction cooktop. And the TrumaCombi can heat with electicity so no propane needed there either. The Travato 59K has the twin beds but all else is current. Go Russ Garfin. Nice review James. And don’t make Stef uncomfortable!
Yeah, James, don’t make me uncomfortable! 😉
There are 2 things I wish for from this floor plan (which otherwise is fabulous):
1) A rear window. It seems like LTV only puts one in their fiberglass-bodied (Serenity and the discontinued Libero) units.
2) A separate sitting area. We also wake up at different times, and I’m not sure a few inches of aisle-way apart is enough separation so that I can keep on sleeping.
I’ve heard that LTV is working on a rear twin bed version of the Wonder, so it will be interesting to see what they compromise (kitchen space? a small front living area, like in the Unity TB/IB?) to make that work.
All the same, if we were ready to buy, this FTB (or a Safari Condo) would top our lists.
Well, we can probably chalk up the rear window thing to the fact that it would be a window into the bathroom! 🙂
But we hear you on the second sitting area. That’s one of the things we love about our current Travato G floor plan.
Some of the LTV models have that separation though. Just depends on the floor plan.
Did you’ll get an a feel for how long the twin beds are? I am wondering if someone who is 6’+ could lay straight without their head and feet touching or having to lay at an angle. I really loved the Unity TB but the bed was short for a 6’+ person.
I love my Fuse and would buy another, but if you have not seen a Leisure Travel Van in person you should. The construction quality is second to none and you have to love their cabinets (though Winnebago seems to be catching up).
According to the LTV website, they’re 32″ x 76″.
LTV seems to have a great alternative to the Murphy bed.. I like the storage and the layout. If I was moving away from my Era, I would give it a view. Thank you for a great showing.
You wish the refrigerator was different? Thy wish is granted! You missed a MAJOR fact in your review. It’s a 3-way Dometic fridge and can be run on propane, 110V, or 12V.
We didn’t miss anything.
The wish is that it was not an *absorption* fridge, but a compressor driven model instead.
A typical, old school 3-way RV fridge, like this one, is still an absorption fridge. There’s no compressor. You have exterior vents. You have to keep it level.
A 3 way fridge simply changes whether you’re heating the ammonia boiler with propane, 12v, or 120v.
But it’s still an absorption fridge – you’re still boiling ammonia. That’s a technology that just doesn’t work as well as what you have in a house.
For my complete rant on absorption refrigeration, see this post and video: Replacing our RV Fridge – Part 1: The Old Fridge Sucks
Thanks for the clarification! I could have sworn that, during your walk-through, you’d said something about it being a “propane-powered fridge.” It’s a good thing my momma taught me not to swear! I always assumed you could leave the fridge running on 12v power while in transit. I guess I’m about to find out — I’ll check out the video that you linked. Thanks again!
Well, you *can* leave it running on 12v while in transit. But it would drain your batteries pretty quickly if you left it running on 12v once you stopped.
The heart of my beef with them is that the absorption refrigeration just doesn’t work as well as a compressor driven model.
First time I’ve been educated on spray foaming the inside of the wheel wells for a quieter ride. Would that be a viable option for the Travato?
I suppose it would.
You’d have to find someone who could a) do it, b) not make a mess, and c) not use the wrong kind of spray foam so that you cause a moisture issue in the wheel well.
I’ve toyed with the idea of doing it to our rig.
James, if you find an appropriate product for foaming your wheel wells, please let us know! I would like to do my Winnebago View. I’ve done a number of areas with rubberized undercoat spray, but like you I’m always looking for a way to quiet things down further!
Hi John! Hmmm, the only company we know of that’s doing that is Leisure. Not sure if they work on other types of RVs; but it couldn’t hurt to ask!
I’ve forbidden James from foaming our rig’s wheel wells because I’m the one who’d be taking him to the emergency room when he got a face full of foam.
Thanks for an excellent review of the LTV Wonder Twin Bed. This one has moved to the top of our list in our quest to downsize from a 29-foot class A. However we are a tad concerned about the exposed fresh water tank. I’m wondering if there might be a way to insulate it for colder weather. Do you have any thoughts on this?
The spray foam Leisure Travel Vans puts on there will give you some measure of insulation.
Also, last time I checked, you could order tank heaters from LTV as an option. Tank heaters – inside the insulation with the tank – might be enough, depending on how cold we’re talking about.
Came here to remark just about everything y’all said in the Wish It Were Different category above. So uh…yeah. What you said 😉 Also, James, what did you think of the build quality of the cabinets (since I know that’s one of your “things”) ?
Overall I *like* LTV’s layout and sense of design. Just wish they’d address those few things above.
I’ve always been impressed with the quality of the LTV units.
I don’t think he’s done it for a while, but in some older videos, you can see Dean swinging from the cabinets.
That’s not a trick. I’ve done it myself.
Nice Layout
Impressive Storage
Cozy Shower…….. Uncomfortable Wife
I seem to excel at making Stef uncomfortable!
Wait, has anyone told Dean you liked the table?
LOL!!!!!!!! I ALMOST said something in the voice-over like “Dean! Take note. I LIKE the table, okay?” But it was so long ago he pitched a fit when we didn’t like one of their tables that I didn’t think anyone but us (and Dean) would get it!!! This made my night, thanks for commenting, lol! 🙂 xoxo
Which model do you guys like best the MB or the Twin Bed. My wife likes the MB best because she wants to work from the road and likes the desk like setting of the MB.
I agree and have voiced my opinions to LTV about the newer 12 v fridge as well Lithium to ensure a great charge capacity for this appliance.
I personally HATE anything Bluetec and the issues with this emission system a have followed the Winnie Fuse facebook page to see if ANYBODY has had sensor issues like they seem to have on Bluetec and this Transit engine seems to be a clear winner. Good review guys and gals.
Hey Smiley! What a fun question. In fact, I’ve spent about the last 10 minutes pondering it, and looking over both layouts, the MB or this one. I ended up deciding that I believe this twin would work better for us. Mostly because James gets up ridiculously early. This morning for example, he was up before 5am. And then there’s me, up 3 hours later. With the MB, if I stay in bed, he’s really got nowhere to lounge. In the front twin, I can stay in bed and he can have his whole bed for his couch and work station (I’d give him the table side). I just asked James which he’d pick for us, and he said the twin as well, for exactly that reason. But! We all RV differently and have different needs. It sounds like your wife has thought through how you’ll be using yours. If you end up with one, do come back and let us know! Always curious the thought process and if there’s anything we missed in our reviews. Thanks for the question! It’s always fun to dream. 🙂
There have been a couple of issues with the Ford engine but nothing systemic or in any great numbers. I have a little over 15,000 miles on the Fuse with issues other than standard recall stuff. The MB folks seem to have many more issues with their Diesel.
Make that no issues.
I enjoyed the review, But for me, this floorplan sucks, especially when compared to the Fuse 23T. I don’t really understand the refrigerator issues you have with this RV. What’s the difference between absorption and brand B?
Absorption refrigeration is a different technology from the refrigeration you use in your house. It works by boiling an ammonia solution.
It also doesn’t work as well as the efficient compressor units (what you’re used to at home) available today.
For a complete rant on RV refrigerator technology, you can watch this video I made.
It’s a real shame they did not put additional seat belts on the twin bunks. It appears they could have added two to each bunk. I had a Thor Axis and it came with two seat belts on the couch. I also feel with all the storage they could have put the fresh water tank inside and added heaters to the grey and black tank
They probably have their reasons for the seatbelts.
But I do think they could have put the water tank inside! Wouldn’t be that big of a change.
Great review of a beautiful van. I wonder if the switches for the awning & the awning lights that are in the exterior storage are susceptible to activation when the load shifts while going down the road?
The twin beds seem very nice but am I right to think that (for most of us) when sitting on the bed with our backs against the cushion then our feet will dangle quite a distance above the floor? It seems that the twin Travato might have this problem too.