2006 Home and Park Roadtrek RS Aliso Viejo CA

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So what's it like, driving around with a house on your back? We got the chance to find out when the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) loaned us a Home and Park Roadtrek RS so we could experience a nomadic lifestyle for a few days.

Unless you've a recreational vehicle fan, you might not have heard of Home and Park. They're not as much of a household name as Winnebago or Airstream, but this Canadian manufacturer has been building the best-selling Type B motorhomes for over a decade. As a Type B motorhome, Home and Park's Roadtrek is a member of the smallest and easiest-to-drive class of RVs. You wouldn't know it to look at it though. Type B RVs are van-based, without specially widened bodies--but what a van! Our Roadtrek rode inside of a capacious Mercedes-based Freightliner Sprinter. These high-roofed, long-wheelbase vans are commonly seen in FedEx or UPS livery. Equipping this spacious vehicle with the trappings of a small apartment doesn't impair its functionality or driveability in the least. At 21 feet long, it's big enough for a couple or small family to live in, yet still able to fit in a regular parking space.

We prefer the high-bodied, easy-to-drive Sprinter chassis to the more conventional Chevrolet or GMC platforms that Home and Park also uses, but any type B RV makes excellent lodging for one or two. At a glance, it doesn't look all that big; it's tall and long, but not much bigger than the average FedEx delivery van. The slope-nosed silhouette gives the Roadtrek the illusion of being the world's largest minivan. Dummy windows painted above the windshield give the front end a bit of visual interest. The rest of the Roadtrek is more businesslike, with large windows letting light in, an exposed air conditioning unit on the roof, and side vents for the stove and refrigerator units. An available thirteen-foot awning folds into a compact unit along the right side, and shades both doors from rain or sun when extended. Experienced RVers will appreciate the Roadtrek's easy access to LP gas and holding tank dump valves, and they're hidden under side skirts to keep things clean. Running boards help ingress, but the Sprinter body doesn't allow many places for grab handles in assisting passengers inside.

It may look like a van on the outside, but inside the Roadtrek is more like a small apartment. This oversized van has all the comforts of home; a gas stove, convection oven/microwave, refrigerator, shower, hot water heater and even a flat-screen TV with a DVD player. The on-board generator can be used to power the appliances, or the Roadtrek can be plugged in to an RV park's power source. Open the windows and doors and zip the available bug screens into place and it's an instant cabin; close everything up, turn on the air, and it's a quiet apartment with whatever view you choose. All of this equipment is packed into a compact space that's no more claustrophobic than the average studio apartment. Versatility is the name of the game; up front there are four captain's chairs that swivel to form a dining area around the removable table. Our passengers found the shortish rear seats to be less well suited for long-distance travel than the generous chairs provided in larger campers. The bathroom and shower are located in an expandable cabinet that keeps the facilities out of the way when they're not in use, and the galley features a two-burner stove and full sink with generous cupboard space for cooking supplies and food. At the rear, our Roadtrek was equipped with the optional power-folding sofa which drops down to form a surprisingly comfortable king-sized bed. For additional sleeping space, the captain's chairs up front can be folded to form a pair of twin beds, though the swivel and fold function falls victim to the ergonomic vagueness typical to Mercedes products and can be hard to figure out.

A note to those endowed with generous height or girth; the author, at six feet tall, is just about the right size for the Roadtrek. Taller occupants will likely have to stoop to move around; big folks are going to find the narrow rear compartment and even narrower bathroom an uncomfortably tight squeeze.

The Roadtrek's size masks an easy-to-drive nature. It looks big and intimidating to first-time RV drivers, but thanks to a high seating position and rack and pinion steering, this type B is easy to pilot around town. The 2.7 liter five-cylinder Mercedes turbodiesel engine is up to the task of moving the Roadtrek's 8500-pound bulk. On the road, acceleration felt the same as in the last Sprinter we tested. This is no waddling, wheezing RV that will hold up traffic struggling up hills. Better yet, fuel economy is also not affected, so the Roadtrek will routinely top twenty miles per gallon on the open road. We averaged 21.8 mpg over fifteen hundred miles of driving--better than the last Toyota Sequoia or Ford Expedition that we drove. Shifting duties are handled by a smooth five-speed automatic transmission with Mercedes' handy manual shift function. The Roadtrek's Sprinter chassis is also shared with several branches of DaimlerChrysler, so it can be serviced at Dodge, Freightliner, or Mercedes dealers.

On the road, new RV drivers will only have to get used to the myriad rattles, clunks and sloshing sounds that come with having a kitchen and bedroom along for the ride. The Roadtrek is no more difficult to drive than a large SUV. The Sprinter's suspension is a stiff, strong commercial affair, so the Roadtrek rides like a truck, but it's comfortable enough on the freeway. Keeping up with traffic is not a problem, or you can set the available cruise control and just relax. This is a large and comparatively light vehicle, so you'll feel a bit of a nudge when a big truck passes you, and gusty crosswinds will affect the directional stability as well.

So, why are you still cruising around town in that full-size SUV? Unless you have to go off-road, we can't think of a reason, either. The base price of the Roadtrek is $77,935, and includes a furnace, microwave oven, power inverter for running appliances, refrigerator, full sewage system and restroom facilities. Our tester was well-equipped, with the awning, roof-mount air conditioner, coffee maker, TV and DVD, leather seats, power-folding sofa and propane generator bringing the total price to $89,283. Considering that we could have sold the Roadtrek to onlookers three times during our week with it, that's a pretty reasonable rate indeed.