| [GMCnet] New 23 foot Roadtrek CS [message #279644] |
Thu, 11 June 2015 15:07  |
glwgmc
Messages: 1014
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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On page 65 of the July 2015 edition of the GoodSam Motorhome magazine is an interesting article about a 23 foot Roadtrek version (on an MB Sprinter chassis) with what they call the E-trek package. That includes eight 6vdc batteries (which should give about 900 amp hours of capacity and weigh somewhere around 400 to 500 pounds), a 5000 watt inverter/charger, a 240 watt solar charging system and a 3500 watt engine driven (via belts) alternator. They say this system can drive the roof ac, the electric refer and the microwave all at the same time - but, they don’t say for how long! Another interesting thing is they use just a 30 amp shore power cord. I wonder how they limit the DC draw of that big of a battery charger when all those batteries are drawn down from use and you plug it into your RV park outlet. How do you spell “did you dim the lights, momma”? I also hope they have that thing wired with at least 00 gauge wire throughout the 12dc side to handle all those amps flying around.
Some other interesting stats. Size is 22’ 9” long, by 9’7” exterior height, but it is only 6’8” wide. Contrast that with a 23 foot GMC which is about the same exterior height and length but more than a foot wider and no wonder the GMC seems so much more spacious. GVWR is 11,030 with a claimed 1730 realistic occupant and cargo carrying capacity. They don’t say if that includes all those batteries or just the standard unit with the normal small battery bank. It has 33 gallons of fresh water, 10 of black and 21 of gray so hard to see how one could boon dock long enough to use up all that battery capacity without a place to dump the tanks and refill the fresh water. We can easily out live our water, black and gray tanks in the Royale with “just” 460 amp hours of battery capacity.
Oh yes, the MSRP is $156,598. One can do a lot to modernize a 23 foot GMC for that kind of coin…..None the less, glad to see manufacturers are turning attention to smaller but high quality and high spec motorhomes for a change. I am hoping there will be one of these at the FMCA Northwest regional rally in Coos Bay, OR, later this month. I am hearing from several GMCers who say they are going to attend this rally, too. Should be fun and educational.
Jerry
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com
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Jerry & Sharon Work
78 Royale
Kerby, OR
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| Re: [GMCnet] New 23 foot Roadtrek CS [message #279671 is a reply to message #279644] |
Thu, 11 June 2015 19:00  |
Hal StClair
Messages: 971
Registered: March 2013
Location: Rio Rancho NM
Karma: -12
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Senior Member |
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The charging shouldn't be an issue as many inverter/chargers can be set to pull a predetermined amount from the shore cord. As you mention, staying power is limited by fluid capacities more than power needs so this 'package' doesn't seem very practical. There are some very interesting units available though and its tough to argue with their 22-27 mpg economy. Being a foot narrower and taller than our units tend to make then a hand full in a side wind, the single rear wheel ones particularly. I hope they don't do to the Sprinter what they did to the old Datsun/Toyota chassis motor homes and keep adding weight until something broke. It looks like Winnebago is having front end issues already on some of their Sprinter based units. Time will tell.
Hal
"I enjoy talking to you. Your mind appeals to me. It resembles my own mind, except you happen to be insane."
1977 Royale 101348,
1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,
1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout,
Rio Rancho, NM
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