MB vs. CB version (Corner Bed) - Your thoughts?

[gspinkwrld]

Hi all,

I'm brand new here to Sprinter-Forum, and while not new to RV'ing, my spouse and I are about to purchase our first RV (we'll be ordering this week). We've just returned from FL where we visited the Coach House factory, as we'd pretty much narrowed our decision to either a Coach House sprinter or the LTV sprinters. Spouse is 6'2 1/2" so height and bed length is an issue for us, and importantly, also shower head room. Because of that issue alone, we have now decided on the LTV over the Coach House.

We've pretty much decided on the CB model for a few reasons I won't mention. If it werent' for one thing, we might be leaning toward the MB version, though, and that's what brings me to ask your thoughts here. As much as we both love the MB model of the LTV, the one drawback for us would be that there is really no other place to sit and read, other than the cab, which of course is right next to the murphy when bed is down in position and one of the two of us retires. Spouse is often earlier to bed than I and I sometimes like to stay up for a while and read or surf the internet. With the MB version, there's no other place to read or do anything. With the CB version, there obviously is.

For those of you who might own the MB model, have you run into this dilemma? Have you found a way to provide seating elsewhere (in the bath, perhaps?) for reading, and if so, can it be comfortable/what have you done?

Just fyi, we already ruled out the IB version for a number of reasons.

Any thoughts or comments are welcome!

GS
(And just in case some other suggestions for other makes/models come up, we've already ruled out PW, Winn./Itasca, Forest River, Airstream and now Coach House, and just about anything else sprinter-wise.)

ADDENDUM:
No need for anyone to reply now. We didn't hear anything so went ahead and ordered 2013 CB unit today.

Looking forward to spending more time here in these forums reading and learning and sharing.

GS

[tdew]

Enjoyed reading this thread. My wife and I ordered an LTV Unity MB last week. I think you bring up a good point about alternative seating when the MB is down. We generally go to bed at the same time and it dosn't bother either of us if the other wants to read or watch TV in bed. We previously had an LTV Free Spirit and one of the few things I disliked about it was the contortions you had to go through to get into and out of the bed as there was no access to either side. We chose the MB or the CB because we can access the bed from either side or the end and it has a huge bathroom. The CB has less access to the bed and a smaller bathroom. Either model will provide years of RV fun I'm sure. We have been very pleased with the LTV Free Spirit and had not intended to sell it UNTIL....someone with a new Unity MB camped next to us one night in California. They showed us the inside and its features and the rest is history!! Looking forward very much to getting our new Unity MB in mid June.......Tom

[gspinkwrld]

Hi Tom,

I'm excited for you. I am sure you'll love the MB! The bathroom is so roomy, too. It's just a great layout for a smallish coach.

We ultimately decided on the CB model for the following reasons: the one, which I mentioned above is that I have no where to sit away from him if he goes to bed early (he likes to climb and wears himself out); secondly (and this was not a big deal to me), is that if we just want to pull over and he's tired, he'll just be happier knowing we don't 'have' to extend the slide and put the bed down, even though we'd probably leave it made up, as I'm sure most would do. He just really liked the idea of the bed being made and ready for him, no matter the hour. The IB just didn't suit his length as well and even though bed length is supposed to be the same in the IB as the CB, the CB felt better to him.

Just curious, too, Tom, since you just ordered is your model going to be a 2013? If so, are there any changes to the MB for 2013, from 2012?

Our CB will be one of the first 2013's off the line, I'm told. And I actually have fabric swatches coming from the company because they've changed the 'ivory' colored leather fabric to a taupe for 2013. So I want to see the combos for our model since ours includes the separate euro-recliner which, depending on interior choice, might be in a diff. color, and being female, I want to be sure everything works well together.

GS

[mrcolin2u]

Hi Gloria,

I'd love to hear about your new RV after you pick it up and your experience driving it home.

I know the Unity has pretty much everything as standard, but did you add options such as a generator ?

Best
Colin

[gspinkwrld]

Hello Colin,

We pick ours up now Sept. 11 and will spend 2 weeks with it before returning home so won't be able to report on that until late Sept.

But regarding options, you're correct, there aren't many options on the Unity units. On our unit we did order all options with the exception of the macerator pump, on the advice of our dealer. I've read and heard that macerators can be tempermental, and that was the thought of the dealer as well. It's not that LTV's macerator was not recommended, he just said that there are certainly pros and cons to using macerators, and some customers have had problems perhaps due to customer mis-use or some problems with the macerator.

Re: your question about the generator, we ordered the 3.6 LP gen.

And there was one thing we did order that was not on the options list but can be recommended by dealers. We got extra urethane coating added to the dump valve area, water lines and tanks as added insulation in case we have the unit up in AK into the colder weather, which was a minimal additional cost.

GS

[israndy]

We didn't hear anything so went ahead and ordered 2013 CB unit today.

GS

Curious why you went with the CB instead of the Serenity which has basically the same floor plan in a smaller exterior. Less wind resistance, greater chance it will fit into a large garage...

-Randy

[gspinkwrld]

Serenity is nice, but headroom is an issue for spouse who's 6'2.5" He scraped ceiling in there and head room in shower was even less. So we ruled out Serenity immediately upon checking it out. Plus slide out in Unity provides a bit of room we like to have.

GS

[mrcolin2u]

Serenity is nice, but headroom is an issue for spouse who's 6'2.5" He scraped ceiling in there and head room in shower was even less. So we ruled out Serenity immediately upon checking it out. Plus slide out in Unity provides a bit of room we like to have.

GS

It would be nice if the motorized couch was offered on the CB like they do on the Serenity. I really like the option of using that corner for a string room as well as a bed.

[Travelers24ever]

We are looking at the Unity CB also. I thought the new twin bed unit would be perfect for us but the seating area up front is too tiny. It's the Unity that offers twin beds, right? I've looked at so many they are all mixing together. I'd like to put together a little bit of this unit and a little bit of that unit.

We have two medium sized dogs who travel with us and they do not sleep with us so the U-shaped dinette would be their bed at night.
We also thought of replacing the side chair with stacking crates.

I like the idea of the L-shaped/ bed in the back corner also. I've even thought of the modification of :thinking:putting in a fold down bunk above the corner bed for times I can't sleep and need my own space....even a military hammock might work.

We are downsizing from a 40ft. Diesel Pusher and think the LTV has the best options.
Does anyone know, however, if LTV can insulate and heat tanks for winter use?...Is the Van itself insulated well?

I know the Triple E has options for winter use but there again, we want a Sprinter...

Thanks,
RKM

[israndy]

How you tell the amount of insulation is by how deep the Fantastic Fan hole is. The LTVs are not terribly insulated and the tanks are out in the open and even if they foam spray them the tanks are still outside where there is no heat.

You can get those tank heater pads and put them on before spraying, but the new LTVs come pre-sprayed so you would have to pull it off or ask them to do the install for you. I had my Serenity in 32 degree weather with the furnace going full and almost froze until I realized I could just close off the bedroom and the heat would be concentrated. The new Serenity has the furnace under the dinette. The Serenity is also hard to cool, all the windows open just a slit, the door and the roof make a good combo, but take time and don't work if you are away from the RV or driving. Best I have found is prop open the rear window (fire escape) and the roof, takes the air right thru, but you need something to prop it open, and would be nice if there were a screen.

-Randty

[mumkin]

At the rally this past week, a Libero owner had fashioned a velcro attached screen for the rear exit window... and then he had three pieces of wood to hold it open. He told me he even had the wood bits in three different sizes to increase or decrease air flow I guess. Wouldn't work if you were driving though. There was also another person who had all of his windows replaced (at his own expense, of course) so that he has sliders instead of those small openings. I'm pretty sure it was a Unity.

A number of people asked about getting the sofa system for the corner bed like the Serenity/Libero in the Unity. The development people said that they would look into it - may be a size issue.

As to winter use, I too considered the Regency GT24 because of the heated tanks, but couldn't bring myself to own another Ford. :thumbdown: But I chose to go with the Libero.

Mumkin
2011 LTV Libero

[gspinkwrld]

For those of you looking at the CB units, they are nice. We just picked ours up and left the plant today. Bed in the CB is shorter than the corner (convertible) sofa in the Serenity, so LTV would have to make some adjustments there.

Mattress on this unit is deep! I haven't measured it yet, but it's a deep one. Probably the same as on the MB unit. I know the IB is not as deep a mattress as end of bed has to basically 'fold' for use of the vanity there.

Twin bed unit is nice. Making into king in that area is nice, and there's storage all around upper area in bedroom in that one. One staff member told us he, specifically, requested LTV consider making the wardrobes just a bit shorter in the twin unit and LTV will consider that as some people have bigger feet or don't like to have it too constricted where their feet are located.

We opted for the 'boring' old face to face dinette setup in our CB, as we like the thought of having our friends eat with us, and not having to look sideways to eat & converse with them (as around the 'u-shaped dinette') vs. looking straight across the table at them. I like the look of the u-shaped, but I think the traditional is better for our needs.

We didn't get very far today before we got asked to see our vehicle...by the border crossing guard coming into ND. He knows these are quality vehicles. It was a slow day for him, and surely we didn't mind showing it :smirk:

The CB units are the least sold Unity model (excluding the TB unit as it's so new it can't yet compare with the others). But while we were there, another couple was picking their CB up, and one went out the day before.

One thing to note....these beds sit quite high (as they do in the IB unit, also). I'm 5'6.5" and I need a stool to get up there!

Another thing of note: the large exterior storage compartment on this one (see Dean's video) has a shelf in it that can either be removed or stowed vertical and pushed to the back, flush against the back wall, making the storage area one big compartment.

Spending our second night in it as I write, and loving it.

GS

[mumkin]

Congrats on your new unit. I probably saw it as I was touring the factory with our Dean-led group. I too have a corner bed. I didn't get the mattress since it is just me. I chose to put in a narrow sleeping mat that I had used in my converted van. This gives me more storage space between me and the wall. :smilewink:

If you take the tour, you see why even a small tweak in the size of any area is a major process and not feasible for one person at a time.

[westcoasting]

From what I've seen on the internet so far, my favorite Sprinter RV is the LTV Unity. I was originally focused on Winnebago's View & Via, but, after reading some pretty convincing customer gripes online and not feeling totally sold with the youtube walk through clips, I decided to keep looking around. The LTV products really do look high quality online and when the time comes when we're ready to buy, the Unity floor plans will be the ones we see in person first.

The floorplans CB,MB,IB/TB are all so different. I'm only 5'9" (wife 5'6") so, height isn't an issue at all. We prefer ample comfy sleeping area (wife tends to twist/turn), so, the new TB model seems like a good choice (nice sized twin beds- I call dibs on the one without the hanging closet)! Also, the separate toilet closet and shower stall seems like a plus! The IB could also work... the hidden vanity is a cool feature, but, the mattress seems thinner. Regardless, with both these floor plans, the ONLY drawback I see is that the dining/living area does seem small. And, that might be something that annoys us after a while. It's hard to know without actually spending lots of time in one.

The MB model has that nice size bathroom area! However, being forced to slide out the wall to drop the bed down and sleep isn't really something we're interested in (especially since one of us might want to stay up later). For those pairs that have synced sleeping times and don't mind alternating between a big residential style bed and generous dining/living area via the slide out, this one would probably be the one! It's just not what we're looking for.

The CB model is the one I originally ruled out. That corner bed (confined looking) and adjacent cramped looking bathroom seems to be the arrangement that many other makers use for their Sprinter models. However, after reading the comments of gspinkwrld, I'm going to have a look at this model. The bed looks confined in that corner, but, if it's a really comfortable thick mattress, we might be able to get used to the corner placement. The bathroom looks small, but, in reality, so long as it's functional, we can probably live with that. Having separate toilet/shower seems nice, but, with water a scarce resource while boondocking, we probably won't be spending lots of time in shower. So, a highly functional CB bath might be good enough. The big PLUS with the CB is getting more living space with the slide out U-Lounge (yeah, I think I prefer the U over the Diner booth) and that cool looking residential euro recliner. It just seems more residential than the IB/TB living area. And, sliding out the wall isn't necessary if all we want to do is to go sleep. With the Winnebago View, you have to slide out the vehicle rear wall to let the queen bed lay flat ... not something we're interested in.

Anyways, I recently registered to this forum and wanted to share my 2cents and say hello to everyone (first post!). Thanks for all your comments and great tips!

BTW, for boondocking purposes (southwest deserts in the winter), I'm hoping to be able to add high powered solar panels up top (using sticky feet mounts if possible), a PWM charge controller and add 2 pairs of 6V deep cycle batteries (maybe Trojan T-105s). Also, there's a US company (Colorado?) that makes 2 small closed tow trailers (one dome shaped can carry 700 lb. cargo, the other 1000 lb. cargo).. tongue weight 25lbs. I'm thinking of putting either mountain bikes or a Honda scooter plus 50 or 60 gallon fresh water tank in the tow. I guess we'll see when the time actually comes. I get pretty jazzed thinking about it.

[israndy]

Lucky that you are not my height. I got the Serenity as most RV beds are too short and it has a full 82" long bed (still touch my head and feet are over the edge, but I can reach top shelves so it has advantages too). I don't love the corner bed on cold nights as the walls you are up against are colder than if you were just keeping bedding warm, but considering how narrow the corner beds are at least I don't have to lean up against my wife to keep from falling out, we'd never get any sleep.

The biggest advantage of the CB model in my mind is the second bed. May not be as comfortable and it may require setting it up, but if one of you is sick the other can get away from the coughing fit and try to get some sleep. Hard to believe there is sleeping for four in a 23.5' RV (us and the two dogs, they get the front bed, made up all the time, but they are willing to share).

-Randy

[Karsty]

I wish that I had seen the LTV Unity models before I bought my Winnebago ERA. Although the ERA suits my immediate needs I am thinking of going part-time, full-time travelling and am thinking that I would like the larger unit. It is wider and I do like the larger bathroom as compared to the wet bath in the ERA.

I'd love to trade or sell mine but feel that I am probably too far inside down on pricing at the present time. I'm still looking and thinking. If I sell my house ... which is another option on the table ... I'll take the plunge and get one of the Unity models. I'm leaning toward one without the side ... or at least one that I won't have to open the slide at night while on the road.

Thanks for some interesting information and thoughts from previous posters in this thread.

[mumkin]

Randy - for those cold nights, you might want to consider what I use during cold weather... a 12v mattress pad that you could use against that cold wall. I'm assuming that you also have a 12v plug back there near the TV. Here's the website where I bought it... a site for truckers:

http://www.12volt-travel.com/12-volt-60-x-36-twin-size-bunk-warmer-pad-p-6687.html

Karsty - I know what you mean by wanting a bit more space for full-timing. I too chose not have a slide (shhh... don't tell... mine isn't Sprinter either). I saw all the Unity models at the LTV Rally in September. I thought that for someone traveling alone, the twin bed model would present the ability to use the other bed as extra storage... more closet hanging or shelves or both.

Mumkin
2011 LTV Libero

[renotse]

Westcoasting- We have a new 2013 TB model Unity and we love it. The TB and IB share many features. We bought it at the 2012 Hershey show and drove it 1500 miles home. At that show we had a chance to see (and feel) just about every model Unity they make. As the nations largest show we also had a chance to see and feel all of the competition. In my opinion Leisure Travel Vans wins hands down in the Sprinter category. We chose the TB because of spacious interior and exterior storage, very nice separate bathroom and shower, and the only twin bed that converts into a full king bed. All of this without slides to contend with. And one other bonus, there is a solid wood door that closes to make the bedroom completely private from the front living area. This is nice if you want privacy in the back of the coach but don't want to completely close up all the curtains on the front.

[israndy]

and the only twin bed that converts into a full king bed

The Winnebago Via/Itasca Reyo 25T also has the twin bed that converts, the king ends up being an inch smaller in each dimension, but it is up higher so you get more underbed storage...

-Randy

[renotse]

The Winnebago Via/Itasca Reyo 25T also has the twin bed that converts, the king ends up being an inch smaller in each dimension, but it is up higher so you get more underbed storage...

-Randy

I did not realize that but it would not have impacted my decision. Must have been because We did not seriously consider the Winnebago Sprinter line after seeing the LTV The fit and finish in my opinion is not comparable.