Wow, Born Free is a quality manufacturer, on a par with the Lazy Daze I linked to earlier. I spent some time on the Leapin' Lions owner's forum, as Born Free was on my short list.

As a backpacker, I know water is about 8 pounds per gallon.

CCC was my concern with a Class C with a slide, and Winnie is tight about the numbers. But if you go to the dealer, they have to list it, usually on a sticker in the closet. Now, I looked at the '09 Cambria with 2 slides on about 30 feet, and even with the new 14,500 lbs. chassis, it only had about 750 lbs. CCC. So there are limits to what you want to do with the E450, for sure.

I need to get in the loop for the next Escapees rally around here when they have the folks that weigh each wheel. I have air shocks in back, so I could actually do something to make it right. My tanks are all in the back, the fresh water is under the bed, centered. But the slide and batteries, and reefer, are all on the driver's side. I wonder if the kitchen balances all that out? But I'm not loaded up for fulltime yet, anyway. And I should be way under on gross weight.

I drove a semi for a year, and the Cambria is only 96 inches wide, most RV's are 102. That 6 inches really helps. I tried to keep it at 55-60 going Ohio to Alabama, but everyone was going 75-80, so I figured what the hell. I can plug in the iPod, set the cruise on 80, and eat some highway. Or, it can get squirrely as hell at 55, if I let it. Think smooth.

I'd like to stress again that JRV and I have quality units, his a bit better, but both rugged. There is a ton of stuff out there that is half the price, but you will basically get something you will be working on every time you take it out. I really mean it when I talk about glue and staples, they slap them together paying folks by the unit, too. Depreciation can be heavy on a new unit. Often, the best deal is a unit that is 2-3 years old, that the owner used and wants a bigger RV. They probably took good care of it, worked out any bugs, and it should be ready to roll at a decent price. But if the roof seals have ever leaked, you may have dry rot inside, and it may not be long for this world. Neglect and water seepage are the killers of RV's.

Love my good insulation and dual pane windows, for heat and sound. Lets see that in a bus conversion.

-Chuck, Vegetarian fanboy