His Thoughts on Roadtrek Life
Why describe
our Roadtrek improvements?
If you
own a Roadtrek you know why you bought it.
You like to travel first, and enjoy your own adequate living space
second. If you don’t own a
Roadtrek, think about buying a new or used one. Why? Some Roadtrekkers have
downsized from a big Class A or Class C, or a 5th wheel. Others want
to travel as their children leave the nest but dislike the hassle and expense
of motel overnights. It is a personal decision. See if you can borrow or rent a
Roadtrek if you’re investigating the travel lifestyle. We describe these
improvements because they’ve increased our SAFETY, VALUE, CONVENIENCE,
and COMFORT from our Roadtrek. Some
ideas may increase yours also.
How we think
about improvements
When we
bought our used 1995 Dodge Roadtrek 190 Popular we were the fourth owners. It
had 82,000 easy miles and prior owners had maintained it carefully. We had
borrowed a friend’s later model Roadtrek for a weekend, so we were
certain that was what we wanted. Our first improvements were to increase
SAFETY: New tires, new shock
absorbers, new brakes, a fire extinguisher, tire pressure and temperature
monitor, and alignment.
Used
Roadtreks are less expensive than new ones. On-line research can show you what
is available. Be sure to see and
drive before you buy. Since our
used Roadtrek was around $10,000 and new ones cost from $75,000 to $110,000, we
did not think that any changes we could make would decrease the VALUE of the
vehicle. If we had purchased one new we might be afraid to drill holes, run
wires, and make major changes – it would be like buying the Taj Mahal and
remodeling it! Most of our changes
and upgrades were made to increase our CONVENIENCE and COMFORT.
Since
storage and living space are limited, we found that if you can put everything
in its place, clean up in a few minutes, and get on the road fast, it gives you
more time for fun. In our Roadtrek we have a big table set up in the rear with
two benches for day use. At night we stow the table legs and top in front of
the driver’s seat and unroll our two sleeping sacks on the twin beds.
Some Roadtrekkers keep the king size bed set up day and night, and cannot
easily invite others for coffee and ice cream. We also have a front table that
can be set for three for day use. Living arrangements are deeply personal, but
CONVENIENCE is paramount with us.
That is why we have installed many electrical outlets, clothes hooks,
dedicated storage, and kitchen amenities. Some Roadtrekkers never use the
perfectly fine toilet and shower. Zounds, what a waste! Might as well use the
Roadtrek only as a station wagon, stay in motels, and eat at restaurants.
Why do
some RVs seem comfortable, whether small or big, while others seem
confining? Architects and interior
designers know there are several ways to increase the apparent size of small
spaces: 1. Cut off room corners to borrow space from adjoining rooms, 2. Use
mirrors to lengthen sight lines, and 3. Use cool colors and small or
non-pattern materials on surfaces. We have three additional wall mirrors (cheap
fix) to reflect other parts of the interior to increase sight lines, and our
carpet and furniture are blue with small or no patterns. Visitors sometimes remark about how
spacious our small Roadtrek seems.
My wife
is an engineer and I am an author, so we stay connected through the Internet,
cell phone, and office equipment.
We also want to know the status of all the electricals, so we have more
and better battery and shore power monitoring than most. Our TV is dinky compared to some and we
only watch DVDs occasionally. Many
Roadtrekkers have big flat screen TVs, Dish networks, and surround sound
hi-fi. Equip your Roadtrek the way
YOU want it. Many of the described
improvements have been borrowed from others. Feel free to contact us with any
questions, and we hope to meet you down the road or at a Roadtrek Rally. Do
join the FMCA and Roadtrek International Chapter to maximize your pleasure in
your travels ahead.