It must be Ram Pro Master Day or something.

$85,000 for this? The only retard that would pay that much for this is BAFO.

Great place for the battery! NOT!!!

5th wheels and travel trailers just make much more sense for something you use a few times a year at the most. But I can see the appeal of renting one of these to go on a road trip.

Haha what a place for the battery. You could get a pretty decent class C RV for that price with probably close to double the interior space.

There are many advantages to a class B.

I'm happy to see more of these and less of the larger ones clogging up the roads. Even it is a ramturd.

There's even a nissan nv used by Road Trek

Mini weenie? Perfect for fanboys out there.

It looks to bland, it need colour and decals.

I would think this would suit a lot of people, especially the diesel variant. Most people need a bed, somewhere to cook and a TV.

You can drive around the US and Canada getting great FE. The money you save in fuel would probably pay for your food.

It would make a nice little tourer for a couple.

Hey, that's were the battery is in my 1929 ford model A!!

That battery location might be beneficial in colder climates as the floor boards will be getting warmed from the interior heater.

Hardly a new idea. European convertors and Australian RV companies do a much better job of a Class B Still the Ducato is fairly new in the US, so half hearted efforts like this maybe just the start.
AVIDA in Australia makes a Toyhauler/Class B
http://images.tradingpost.com.au/KBC7Y48P/1827/SC2CTN-Resized640x480.jpg

Trakka from here makes a Class C version with dual wheels.
http://www.trakka.com.au/model_images/Trakkaway-860/gallery/1.jpg

http://www.trakka.com.au/model_images/Trakkaway-860/gallery/TWAY_860_int.jpg

http://www.trakka.com.au/model_images/Trakkaway-860/gallery/Tway860.bedroom.jpg

28ft Jayco Optimum Class C
http://assets.cougar.nineentertainment.com.au/imagegen/p/800/600/assets/traderspecs/2013/09/05/misc/jayco_optimum_3.jpg

With Slideout
http://www.myrv.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2011-Jayco-Optimum-Motorhome-exterior-slide-out.jpg

@RR, Jayco is an American company, but it does have an Australian operation. Both divisions make good products. I would take the Sprinter or Transit platform for one of these things if I had to, rather than the FWD Ducato/ProMaster. Trailers make so much more sense, unless you're retired and traveling around the country a lot. I like Keystone 5th wheels and travel trailers and Outdoors RV Manufacturing travel trailers, which are suitable for below freezing winter camping (tanks won't freeze up and better insulation all around). You spend about 1/3 of the price and get more room!

Well, you can certainly pick out the RVers from the chaff in these comments; it seems few are aware of just how expensive RVing has become. If a sport-tuned pickup truck can cost $65,000, how can you possibly imagine that a fully furnished motor home--even if it is only a Class B--cost any less? Sure, some travel trailers are "cheaper", but it's not like you'll only pay $25K for a 25-footer. Any more, you're lucky if you can buy a new pop-up for less than $25K.

For me I would much rather have a pickup and a truck camper--like mentioned above, cause you still have a useful/multi-purpose vehicle when you aren't travelling.

However, I bought my truck camper from a retired surgeon. He and his wife were older and just tired of "climbing" in and out. He was looking to buy a smaller motorhome for ease of use--and $ wasn't too much of an issue.

@Big Al

For couples is right! They are the people with the money. Young families have lousy economic prospects these days, but those who are retired or semi retired are becoming the target market for this sort of thing.

I 'm just not seeing what's so bad about the battery location?

@Alex: depends on if the rv'r needs a truck or not as well. An rv lets you be in it while travelling, a 5th wheeler that is a no-no.

So if a person doesn't need the truck, and most 5th wheel pulling trucks are gonna be 2500/F-250 and above, then thats atleast 40K that doesn't need to be spent. Since we are talking new rv price.

They both have their advatages, haul fifth wheel and need something from town? Take the truck, but then if truck that big isn't needed, you still have to pay for it's registration, up keep, and more tires.

Insurance is a bit cheaper on the rv vs a full size truck.

@Alex
Australian Jayco is not owned by Jayco US, Gerry Ryan is the founder and owner. He can use the Jayco icon as he used to work shortly for them in the US and uses some parts to cut costs for his operation in Australia. His Australian Caravans are heavily influenced by the German "Hobby" Caravans. Jayco is one of several companies owned by Ryan, the best known is Global Creatures the worlds biggest Animotronics business. He also owns various wineries and sponsors Cycling and Triathalon events.

@papa Jim,
I have seen young couples here using Camper Trailers . There is about 100 builders of them here. You get normal road versions as well as the more common Off Road versions.

@papa jim
I retire in about 2-3 years and will travel around Australia. This style of vehicle will not suite me, unless I can tow a Corolla or something behind.

So I might as well have an off road camper trailer. I'll have to make a rollerised setup over my roof so I can put a tinnie (14-16' aluminium boat) on top.

In a dual cab you rip out the bench seat in the back and put in drawers and load the ute back with fuel, outboard, and the all the other stuff you need.

Hopefully I'll still be blogging on this site and when I start to modify my vehicle I can post photo's.

I'm not doing an oxi, but I will be able to do a degree of expeditionary travel.

@TRX, I think that appeals to me about a trailer, it gives me an excuse to buy a truck that I can drive around in the rest of the time. I do see the advantages of a motorhome, I just think it's best for people who use it often, otherwise you are buying an engine and power train that won't get a lot of use. I think it's especially appealing when the "traveling" is part of what you are doing with it. If you are more into the camping aspect, then a trailer might be best. I'd like to rent a motorhome for a road trip at some point. It would be great if Cruise America gets the Cummins ISV in their fleet. Though the rental fees probably make up any fuel economy savings.

@Robert Ryan, thanks for the clarification on Jayco.

I'd rather have a trailer than one of these. It isn't a practical commuter vehicle. It is okay if you plan on traveling for months at a time or multiple long trips. I see used motorhomes selling for cheap because it is hard on the drivetrains sitting all of the time.

Been a big fan of Road-trek and the B class for decades when all they had was Chevy full-size vans. Road-trek then had to cut the chevy van to pieces lower the floor and put it back together justifying the price due to labor coast. I just can't justify the price point on the Promaster chassis, All they have to do is bolt the components into this inexpensive and small chassis. You get so much less than the Sprinter, Mercedes chassis, diesel engine, more room. Some of the promaster's don't even have leather seats. The RV industry missed an opportunity to provide a true entry level unit to the consumer. This should have a MSRP of $70-$75,000 well equipped.