Thor now #1 in Class B

[Chance]

Originally Posted by RACarvalho

Need to take what a Woke company does with a grain of salt.
Why would fedex and UPS have most of their fleet run on gasoline and natural gas and Amazon on expensive diesel?

I don’t believe Amazon care all that much about gas versus diesel since they also buy a huge numbers of gas RAM ProMaster and Ford Transit vans. My guess is that Amazon are trying to buy as many vans as possible, and Sprinter in size they use are diesel.

Their expansion problems may have gotten worse with delays in electric van deliveries, compounded by supply-chain vehicle shortages. Just a guess on my part, but I think they will buy just about any large van they can for now.

[Chateau_Nomad]

Originally Posted by RACarvalho

Need to take what a Woke company does with a grain of salt.
Why would fedex and UPS have most of their fleet run on gasoline and natural gas and Amazon on expensive diesel?

LOL! Once you understand "Woke" vs virtue signaling, you'll realize it's "all about the Benjamins" and absolutely nothing more.

[Bob Denman]

Class A rigs are too large...
Class B rigs are too small.

Class Cs are JUST right!

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Chance

I don’t believe Amazon care all that much about gas versus diesel since they also buy a huge numbers of gas RAM ProMaster and Ford Transit vans. My guess is that Amazon are trying to buy as many vans as possible, and Sprinter in size they use are diesel.

Their expansion problems may have gotten worse with delays in electric van deliveries, compounded by supply-chain vehicle shortages. Just a guess on my part, but I think they will buy just about any large van they can for now.

I live in a gated village about 4 miles from a new, large Amazon fulfillment center. We have a different Amazon truck come by every two hours or so. Nice to be one the one hour or less Amazon delivery schedule. All the Amazon delivery trucks here are compress natural gas powered as are UPS's. Only FedEx is still using diesels, here.

[ducksface]

Hobby costs are based on love, not value.
Diesel rv ownership instead of gas is the same hobby in any but the largest bodied of rv examples.
The value is in the esoterics of diesel Hobby and love. It SURE isn't monetary savings.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Class A rigs are too large...
Class B rigs are too small.

Class Cs are JUST right!

Depends on who you are and what your ideal rig is.

What’s just right for you might be garbage to me.

[Chance]

My “too large” keeps getting smaller.

[mstng]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Class A rigs are too large...
Class B rigs are too small.

Class Cs are JUST right!

That could happen....
Just offering a little different perspective. For me it came down to whether I was a tourer or a stayer. I am definitely a tourer and drivability is paramount in my decision to stay with the class B. There are huge sacrifices regarding space but drivability and ease of setup and being often on the move swings it for me.

My evolution below. I wouldn't be surprised as I get older if I end up in a non slide small class C in the future. I don't think I will ever be in a class A again, I loved the space, but I just don't trust the manufactures building of the cab portion after my experience with the Axis.

National SeaBreeze 2002...18000 miles in 12 months
Newmar Scottsdale 2003....17000 miles in 12 months
Gulfstream Vista Cruiser Class B 2005-2017 124,000 miles
Thor Vegas 2017..14000 miles in 14 months
Midwest Automotive Sprinter 170 class B 2018- 29,000 miles

With regards to the stats of recent sales, When out and about I pass more class B's in my travels than I do Class A's.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by mstng

...cut....

With regards to the stats of recent sales, When out and about I pass more class B's in my travels than I do Class A's.

I have also noticed more Bs on the road, but very few so far at campgrounds on present trip. Last two campgrounds only had one older Roadtrek Class B. Actually, most RVs at campgrounds were trailers, not motorhomes.

Even if “B” sales are higher than ever, it may take years before the cumulative number of Bs is high enough to move the needle.

I agree completely that a smaller size can sometimes have benefits for some owners. Our van is presently in a parking garage that can not fit typical Class As or Cs because of height or length. Granted, if we had a large motorhome, we probably wouldn’t use hotels as often as we do. Still, for how we travel, we enjoy the flexibility if we want it.

[Scubawise]

The Vegas Axis fits almost anywhere

[RSKDSK]

I have owned a few B class RV and I will say that I much more prefer the diesel than the gas. I hear people talking about cost of maintenance but I have not found much of a difference and lets have that same conversation after 100K miles are on the odometer (gas vs diesel longevity). Also, try traveling at 75mph on the highway with the Ram vs the Mercedes platform and then let's discuss which is better ... hands down it is the Mercedes.
I see the B-class as the RV that you can truly camp anywhere (off-grid, off-road) and that also means I need 4X4 with clearance ... and the Mercedes is the king there as well. If I were parked in campgrounds, then anything goes.
One last point, the diesel has more torque throughout the rpm range and allows for higher towing capacity, better hill climbing, and better highway causing speeds as it does not need to continuously downshift to maintain highway speeds. I know the old Moto ... but I like to get to my locations quickly so traveling at highways speeds is very important to me.

[ducksface]

When doing 65mph in a 75mph zone as so many here profess, torque is not so consequential. They(90% of RV owners) won't use it anyway.
Compare v10 torque to the Mercedes torque. Post the numbers.

4x4 is available to almost anyone on almost any platform at less expense than the diesel/4x4 combo some rv's lock you in to.
You needn't buy diesel just to get 4x4.

Maintenance was originals were mentioned to counter the whole
'I get 20mpg' money savings type discussion.

Up front cost counters fuel savings well into the 200,000 mile range(your mileage may vary).

This discussion is like electric vehicle or solar power.

If you like it, that's perfectly. Just some see it as a hobbybdue to the monetary hobby love.

And
There are newbs here who might only know one side of the diesel/4x4 story.
They now have something to weigh.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by Chance

My “too large” keeps getting smaller.

When you get down to the point where you're sleeping on the ground in a space blanket: STOP!

[RSKDSK]

Originally Posted by ducksface

When doing 65mph in a 75mph zone as so many here profess, torque is not so consequential. They(90% of RV owners) won't use it anyway.
Compare v10 torque to the Mercedes torque. Post the numbers.

4x4 is available to almost anyone on almost any platform at less expense than the diesel/4x4 combo some rv's lock you in to.
You needn't buy diesel just to get 4x4.

Maintenance was originals were mentioned to counter the whole
'I get 20mpg' money savings type discussion.

Up front cost counters fuel savings well into the 200,000 mile range(your mileage may vary).

This discussion is like electric vehicle or solar power.

If you like it, that's perfectly. Just some see it as a hobbybdue to the monetary hobby love.

And
There are newbs here who might only know one side of the diesel/4x4 story.
They now have something to weigh.

I am not sure why you are comparing a V10 engine to a 6 cyclone diesel ... I have never seen a B class with a V10.
As for 4X4, I am not aware of any other new B class RV with true 4X4 (maybe custom or off brands) ... they may be one or two with AWD, but that is not a 4X4 and they certainly are not lift as high as the Mercedes.
Also, diesel get better milage and will last 4X as long as a gas engine. But I agree, The perfect RV depends on the individual needs.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by Scubawise

The Vegas Axis fits almost anywhere

What do they say about horseshoes and hand grenades?

Your Axis would have left the roof on a concrete beam where we were able to park due to low profile; which is low even for a van. My guess is that many of the 4X4 Sprinters with lifts and large tires would at least lose the air conditioner.

Again, not saying I would buy lowest profile just because of height, but it helps at times.
.

[Chance]

V10 old vans have 420 lb-ft. Sprinter V6 TD 325 lb-ft.

Mercedes has already stated next year Sprinter won’t have V6 or 4X4, only I-4 and AWD.

[RSKDSK]

Originally Posted by Chance

V10 old vans have 420 lb-ft. Sprinter V6 TD 325 lb-ft.

Mercedes has already stated next year Sprinter won’t have V6 or 4X4, only I-4 and AWD.

Yes I saw that video as well ... not sure that is the right move for Mercedes ... I guess that makes my B-class a little more special.

[Chance]

M-B trying to improve fuel economy and reduce weight in order to increase payload.

[Chance]

Following up with recent sales data for April 2022:

Thor gave up the lead in Class Bs back to Winnebago, but it’s still very close.

Also, Class B segment continued to grow year over year while others declined, pushing Class B sales above that of Class A by a significant number. We would have to guess that with gas averaging close to $5 a gallon, motorhomes that average 8 MPG face a headwind.

https://rvbusiness.com/ssi-april-202...wn-31-vs-2021/
.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Chance

Following up with recent sales data for April 2022:

Thor gave up the lead in Class Bs back to Winnebago, but it’s still very close.

Also, Class B segment continued to grow year over year while others declined, pushing Class B sales above that of Class A by a significant number. We would have to guess that with gas averaging close to $5 a gallon, motorhomes that average 8 MPG face a headwind.

https://rvbusiness.com/ssi-april-202...wn-31-vs-2021/
.

Imagine the surge now in Class B sales with current fuel prices.