What is also at work during the drive is felt (but not seen) and comes from the van’s computer. It offers a stability program that includes wind assist, sway assist, drift compensation, rollover mitigation, and (when towing) a trailer sway control. Lastly, and by this I mean it occurred to me lastly—NVH. Noise, vibration, and harshness is an industry term that auto scribblers like me try to pay attention to. But in the case of the Zion, it was only after my afternoon drive that it occurred to me that the interior had been very quiet; I hadn’t heard any rattles, squeaks, or groans from the interior fixtures (whether on pavement or gravel); and harshness—well, I hadn’t felt any. Up front, the turning radius and steering feel isn’t just a lucky engineering break. No, again, it’s because of the front-wheel-drive design. It puts the weight of the engine, transaxle, and drive components right under the driver’s feet, and the position of that front axle will turn the bus around in a very tight circle. What Roadtrek has built into the space provided by the ProMaster is a combination of efficient and simple. This van has no slides or popups. It is built around a single center-aisle design that includes twin couches (or beds) at the rear. This pass-thru design takes advantage of the large rear cargo doors that can open to 270-degrees, creating easy access for all manner of hobby, sports, and lifestyle accessories. For instance, bikes enter and exit easily from this space. Under the couches on either side is where you’ll find the bulk of the storage space. And, while all can be accessed from inside, its nice and easy to get at things when those doors are open and you’re standing on the ground. While I have used the word “simple” to describe the Zion, that doesnotmean it’smissing anything. Cabinetry is bright, cleanly designed, and has a place for everything, while its list of features covers all the on-road necessities including an under-hood 280-amp, 12V generator. The roof mount A/C unit puts out 11,000 BTU, while the furnace pushes 16,000 BTU. An onboard 3,000 watt inverter will run most everything whether plugged into shore power or not. The two burner range, five cu. ft. refrigerator, microwave, water heater, and 22-inch HD flat screen are all powered by either gas, propane, 12V or 110V in any situation. They switch as needed—in other words, just let the van worry about that. Wherever you stop, all your conveniences are there with you and working. If you don’t want to run the generator, an optional solar charging system will also be available. It will make up to 200 watts. The bathroom in the Zion is surprisingly large for a wet- bath setup. The twin swinging doors can be left open for more elbow room, while the shower curtain directs all the water down to the raised floor pan. However, for pleasant day bathing there is also an outdoor shower hookup. Speaking of pleasant weather, my test unit did not have any screens for the sliding side door or the rear barn doors— but the company tells me that an optional kit is on the way. I would imagine that a feature like this would also be
followed by some sort of tent-type extension. Certainly the 12-foot power awning over the sliding door already lends itself to creating an outside room. So, while the ProMaster body is mostly a Fiat design, powering it is Chrysler’s own 3.6L Pentastar V6 gas engine that puts out 280 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine is on the Ward’s top ten engines’ list and is found in more than half of the Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep lineups. The standard six-speed automatic transmission pushing the power to the wheels was designed for the cargo van and uses unique computer software that lets the transmission respond to road conditions and driver demands. Called the 62TE, this transmission comes standard with a trailer-tow feature that adjusts the shift points automatically when engaged. In conversation with the marketing manager, Jim Rawn, I also discovered that Roadtrek has identified a rising buyer segment in the Class B market—singles. Folks without partners who want to get out on the road are buying Class B’s in greater numbers. You can imagine that for someone travelling alone, the Zion’s simple, worry-free attributes would be attractive.
LENGTH: 20’ 11” WIDTH: 6’ 11” HEIGHT(WITH A/C): 9’ 5” INSIDE HEIGHT: 6’ 2” WHEELBASE: 159” 2015 ROADTREK ZION
GVWR: 9,350 pounds CARGO CAPACITY: 1,250 pounds
FRESH WATER: 36 gallons BLACK WATER: 9.6 gallons GREY WATER: 23.5 gallons TOWING: 5,000 pounds
FALL 2015 COAST TO COAST 21
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