New Rig Saga (and tour) - Channel Update

[@kathywilson520]

Love your videos Alice .. and I missed you! Please post more often if you can. You're very interesting to watch and listen to. And you are DEFINITELY not average. :)

[@midwesta-framer649]

Congrats on your purchase! Although I love love love aframes, your camping style and needs definitely calls for a class B or C. Glad all is well and y’all are camping again! Looking forward to more adventures!

[@itchingtogo7362]

So glad to see you again!

[@CosmoWeems]

Thanks for the update. Well done! If you get tired of the heater moisture consider a Propex HS2000. Love your ideas and commitment to customize the rig to your needs. I have a huge window on my tiny trailer and I have a skylight shade which makes an enormous difference keeping cold from being conducted into the trailer. When I open it you can feel the cold pouring in. I am looking forward to your adventures in the new rig. If things get cramped you can always consider a Clam shelter. Regards =Cosmo

[@averagealice8877]

Thanks! I did look at Propex heaters but the existing one in the van is 16000 btus and the largest Propex is 9600 btus, so not sure if that would work. Still considering the clam, but leaning more heavily toward driving 2 rv/trailers to a base camp for extended stay somewhere later this year.

[@boba6776]

Hi Alice - Very nice video, especially for those of us thinking of an older Class B RV. You have made lots of RV updates and with an older RV many repairs and fixes are really needed. At some point you will be able to enjoy your RV even more. Thanks! Bob

[@anniesmith5989]

I look forward to hearing how the van works out for you. I have an Aliner and love it. I’m traveling with 1, though, and can leave a full time bed, dinette, and still have plenty of room to move around. I’ve been considering a class B, so I’ll be following your experiences. I’m glad you’re back.

[@averagealice8877]

Nice! The Aliner definitely smells fresher than this class B - maybe from some of the mechanical repairs under the van.

[@hikingfool99]

Thanks for posting Alice, it's been awhile was a little worried about you guys, Glad everything is okay. Keep posting love your warmth . Happy travels be safe

[@oldmillrd8153]

Had to laugh at the change; as I went from a van to an A-frame (Chalet). One thing I will say is that I've found the quality of the Chalet far superior to the Aliner and I have no drafts even in hard winds. We have no condensation issues even if we use a buddy heater. We just vent and use a small rechargeable fan to move the air around. I also modified my Chalet for more storage by cutting down the dinette area in 1/2 and filling the entire area up against the wall with shelving and slide in baskets. My wife and I have way more space than what we need and some of the baskets are usually empty. I like having the option of leaving the Chalet set up and driving off to explore with our Tacoma.

[@averagealice8877]

Agree on the exploring with the Tacoma. That's more of an issue now with this van. But we also used to worry about break-ins and theft leaving the Aliner since we were parked so remotely. I think we'll buy a cheap pop-up tent and leave it at our campsites and see how it goes with that.

[@lazaroisern8032]

I am buying an Aliner this year but I’ve been hearing incredible things about the chalet. Should I reconsider.

[@Ron_C]

I found this channel looking for Aliner information. Now I need to look into these "Chalet's"! I just turned 55 and am trying to plan some adventures for the coming retirement. Solo camper, so I won't need a lot of room. The new Van looks great!

[@gregoryadkins2213]

oldmillrd I looked at the Chalet/Aliner,but I bought an Rockwood-122S(S for storage in the front)and almost double the fresh water tank capacity vs the Aliner(20 vs 11 gallons)And it was a great deal including a bbq grill,port a potty and sway bar free installation.

[@gregoryadkins2213]

Lazaro Isern I bought the Rockwood 122S-massive storage in the front and just about double the fresh water tank capacity(20 vs 11 gallons)And the Aliner-Ranger 12,the equivalent to mine was $4,500 higher,plus I got a free sway bar,levels,blocks and port a potty and bbq grill.

[@ExpressVanCamper]

Well I must say, we are a bit disappointed in hearing the Aliner taking a back seat. Just in the past 6 years, we have tried our best to find that "perfect" rv for our camping needs. We started with a well used tent trailer but quickly went to a small new Retro 15' travel trailer but decided I would prefer not to tow. We then went the route of a Four Wheel Camper on the back of our 1/2 ton truck. We loved the Four Wheel Camper and the ability to easily park in a minute into a campsite. Great gas mileage too. Just not quite enough room for us. We needed a bit more space and really wanted some air-conditioning in our unit as we camped much of the summer in California and Oregon. After much debating, we narrowed it down to a new Ford Transit High Roof Van with AWD that we would build into our camper or an Aliner. I kept coming back though to towing and having an Aliner. I really liked the idea of the easy tow and the height below that of our tow vehicle, solid sides when setup and the fast setup of the Aliner. We also preferred being able to have a vehicle to head into the surrounding areas to check nature out. We ended up with a Classic and the two hard dormers. Really looking forward to getting it out "sometime" this year! Wish you the best and maybe see you around.

[@williambranham6249]

Really nice to have you back. You have been missed by all your subscribers. Lots of good info. We have a Casita but I hate the dangers of towing. Always wanted a VW bus but my friends who own them advise against that. It is frustrating.

[@averagealice8877]

I wanted a Casita as well. Driving this van is very white-knuckle as well unless you drive slow, but it does feel more care-free. We still have to have a departure checklist just like the Aliner (different items on it)

[@noniemcd]

I too was very worried when you hadn’t posted in such a long time. We still have our Aliner Expedition off-Road. We’re looking to replace it because we’re tired of taking everything down and putting it up every time we move. We can’t find anything that quite fits. I will enjoy your odyssey.

[@Willtuttle20]

Welcome to the van community! I think it would be really interesting have a video of all the things you have done and had done to the van. People would love to know cost of the van and mods if you feel comfortable sharing. One question in particular I have is: how does it handle with the lift and tires vs before?

[@averagealice8877]

Thanks. It's hard to describe the handling accurately because everybody has different expectations for vehicle handling. And now after driving it for about a year I'm so used to the way it is! But I can say I don't feel comfortable driving faster than 70 most of the time on the highway in the RV unless it's a straight, boring stretch of road, because of the sway and handling. (Usually I drive 80 in the fast lane in our other cars (traffic permitting)). The cornering isn't amazing and we need to slow down on the overpasses. I can't honestly say whether it was like this before it was lifted. I love having the lift and only wish I had paid for the more-expensive option on that (we just got 2 inch front leveling spacers and new rear leaf springs). Would a Sprinter van handle better? I'm guessing yes, but there are other things to consider of course. So far we are not up to the cost of a new Winnebago Revel by any means and we have a better fridge and cooktop IMO and the same size bed, but alas no 4 wheel drive.

[@Willtuttle20]

Average Alice I bought a 2001C200P in March and am in north San Diego county so pretty close to you. Before I got mine I saw your van on weld tech’s page. It definitely served an inspiration for me. Then I was watching your AC install video and realized it was the same van! I lifted mine as well but went a different route. (Weldtech is out of my budget) but I have been really curious if the rear leafspings from them are with it. I just used blocks in the back. If you are on Instagram I’m @elevated_camper message me maybe some day we can grab a coffee and see each others vans.

[@averagealice8877]

@@Willtuttle20 I heard a rumor that you can get the same leafpack at E&C Spring in Escondido. Now I do recall the springs did reduce the harsh banging I was experiencing in the rear, but adding the all terrain tires made it somewhat harsh again. We need the all terrains though. As we speak I'm getting the upper front control arms replaced with Moog because the bushings were cracking (and new sway bar bushings). Haven't driven it yet. The front ball joint was hitting the frame occasionally on the passenger side.

[@patrickmckowen2999]

thx for posting Real fixer upper - had my share ( 2 fixer uppers) I like the AFrames a lot more - I would have done a lift on the ALiner if it was an issue getting into places. I am looking at the ForestRiver/Flagstaff T21TBHW Seems to check most of the boxes off - except storage(bring less sh!t:) and an awning. Anyway - hope you get the new rig kinks worked out. Cheers

[@averagealice8877]

Yes it’s going into the shop again tomorrow! Second fan clutch repair. Which is why a future travel trailer isn’t completely out of the question for us. (Or maybe a truck camper). Good luck.

[@rrr_rozell7992]

Oh wow! Big change!

[@kevinholland4156]

That's why most of us watched you; you had an A frame. I had 2 High top camper vans and found them to be too cold or too hot. good for one traveler but not two.

[@averagealice8877]

Good info.

[@equallywrong]

Wow, totally surprised by the Class B purchase. Based on your videos up to this point, I was expecting a travel trailer. May I ask, did your need for storage space change? In several of your previous videos you honed-in on the poor storage options in the Aliner. You also made it very clear the Aliner had air leaks all over and condensation from the propane heaters was an issue (something Slim Potatohead has demonstrated in the his videos many many times). I never got the feeling you were comfortable with the Aliner and the main reason for purchasing it was the tow-ability-factor. On second thought, I guess I should not be too surprise you purchased a Roadtrek van. They are popular and it makes more sense (except the storage volume). However, I am very appreciative of the videos. This is the kind of realworld applicability I am wanting to know about. If you keep producing them I'll keeping watching them. Good Luck and Happy Retirement.

[@averagealice8877]

Something I didn't mention in the video is that I have learned that not all storage space is created equal: with the Aliner, I don't mind setting up the trailer walls but I don't enjoy setting up the kitchen and having to carry stuff that we had stored on the floor outside (part of that is our own problem, having 2 people and boondocking for long periods). Or moving food and clothes in from the car. But even though it has been difficult to fit everything in this Roadtrek, I enjoy having a always- available kitchen, table, and bathroom. There are plenty of air leaks in this one also, plus Wave 3 condensation on the windows, but somehow the Wave 3 is keeping the Roadtrek warmer...not sure why. We definitely worry a lot less driving over rough roads with the Aliner/4Runner combo. So nothing is perfect I guess... At the moment I'm more on the van side but I really miss the Aliner bed and the fresh smell!

[@ManWander]

we recently went from an old roadtrek 190 popular to an aliner classic -- what you said regarding the built-in sewer hose... i disagree -- though i had to replace mine due to leaks, it wasn't hard, i replaced with a triple wall hose and i liked the convenience of not having to attach a hose every time i dumped -- please do upload videos on your window coverings -- thanks

[@averagealice8877]

Cool progression to an Aliner, just a different direction! Sorry I don't have videos of making the curtains. I'm happy to give tips tho. I used the old ones as patterns but made mine a tad bit wider because the new fabric (outdoor polyester) was stiffer.

[@rrr_rozell7992]

I have been watching tons of van videos. I have an aframe but it's a forest river and at some point as I camp more I think I will want a bathroom....

[@averagealice8877]

Shower is a must for me...and of course a bathroom however humble

[@williamkoch9977]

Can't the van pull the Aliner?

[@averagealice8877]

Technically yes! The entire operation would probably be 35 feet long though

[@sapphiresword139]

A dog lover with a cage. Wow - I'm out. I'm reminded of the father in Germany that loved his daughter so much he kept her in a cage in the basement.

[@averagealice8877]

Sapphire Sword Terrible story ! Buy yes, we’re working on training our puppy to not demand that we play with him every second of the day.

[@sapphiresword139]

@@averagealice8877 Yes it's a terrible image. I'm not sure how a cage is training but it's your mirror that you have to look into, not mine. Good luck with it. Bye.