RV REVIEW Feature by Howard J Elmer 2023 ROADTREK ZION SLUMBER CLASS B Class B with front-wheel drive
height, and lowest step-in height. If you are a company like Roadtrek, who builds on stock vans, this is all good news. Hence the original Zion. But back to the key differences between this and other vans. It’s the lack of a driveshaft, full rear axle, and differential that makes the body sit very low. This offers up more inside space for Roadtrek to build in — but it also gives it a low center of gravity, full flat floor and a firm, planted feeling while driving. Up front, the turning radius and steering feel isn’t just a lucky engineering break; 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 this van around in a very tight circle. It uses Ram’s Pentastar V6 gas engine, and also offers a stability program that includes wind assist, sway assist, drift compensation, rollover mitigation and (when towing) trailer sway control. So, what’s inside the built-up Zion? • Exposed center aisle for storage of larger gaming and sporting items • Firefly coach monitoring system • Galley featureing a 5.0 cu.ft. refrigerator, propane stove, microwave, and flip up counter extension with charging station • Loads of storage in the kitchen including a slide-out pantry and large pot drawer • Interior permanent bathroom with marine toilet, sink, and shower • Automatic propane heating system • Abundance of interior storage including large under-sofa drawers • Rear power sofas can be used as twin beds or easily transform to a king-size bed Other technical features include: • 11,000 Btu roof-mount air conditioner • Retractable power awning • Outdoor shower • Heavy duty, magnetic bug screen for rear and passenger sliding door
At the Tampa Super RV show this past January I poked around inside a Roadtrek Zion. This Class B van conversion was first Introduced at the Louisville RV Show in 2015. I decided to review it again — not because it’s “all-new” — instead because it’s been such a steady seller these past 8 years. Roadtrek was one of the first Class B manufacturers to buy and build on the newly introduced Ram ProMaster chassis back in 2015. The fact that it’s now building a variety of van configurations speaks to how well it’s been accepted by Class B customers. It’s worth having a look again — as well as exploring one of its newest configurations, the pop-top Slumber model. What’s unique about the ProMaster in the van world is its front-wheel drive design, which Ram says gives its new van several best-in-class features. Features such as fuel economy, cargo capacity, payload, turning radius, interior ceiling
RV REVIEW
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