Pleasureway Traverse

[carneyvan]

Does anyone have any knowledge of the Pleasure way Brand , specifically the Traverse Model.

 

[salivan]

I have seen a couple around and looked closely at one in Zion last summer. It's on a 150 chassis so pretty light. Fairly low to the ground, especially with the running boards, but also low enough to get in most garages. Definitely not an off-road unit, but looked like a great road camper-van. There is a web site. Last year they were $50K+. I think there is only the 1 floor plan ... bench seat in the rear.

Philip

 

[carneyvan]

thank you for the info, everyday I learn more on this site.

 

[Jepa]

The Traverse is made in Saskatoon, Canada and is basically a copy of the GTRV Westy. It's actually built on a E250 chassis with the 5.4L engine. In Canada they're usually priced new at about $60K. There are no options available and you're on your own if you want to rack the roof.... which is only available in a v-top (like a VW).

Hope that helps,

Jepa

 

[salivan]

www.pleasureway.com lists the 2010 Ford Traverse as a E-150 w/4.6L V8. $58,000.

 

[Jepa]

My bad :c5:

When I was considering one of them they were all E250's with 5.4L. Can't say I like them as much as an E150. I've had an E150 at it didn't take long to overload it with 2 adults, 2 children, 2 dogs, 2 MTB's, windsurfing gear and camping gear.

 

[carringb]

Newer E150 = older E250. Since 2008 the E150 has an 8600 GVWR (and corresponding 8-lug wheels and Dana60 axle).

 

[jage]

Saw one at Yellowstone. Didn't meet anyone but thought you might enjoy the eye candy:

 

[CSG]

Well, I own a 2002 that I bought online at the end of '07. It's got nearly 8" of ground clearance but the running boards make it look like it sits lower. I've driven mine on some light 4x4 roads in the Sawtooth NRA and places like the Monument Valley road the Navajos run. As long as it's dry, no worries.

Just got back a couple weeks ago from a nine day trip through Southern Utah and Northern Arizona with my 10 and 12 year old boys. Tight fit but worked fine. It's a great rig and with the 5.4 gets decent MPG if you don't have a lead foot. We saw lows of 11 climbing against headwinds in the higher elevations and highs of 20 when cruising with a tailwind on the freeways. Overall MPG on this 2000 mile romp was a hair over 17 MPG.

I *was* looking at buying a Sportsmobile when someone at rv.net alerted me to this particular rig with 44k miles at the time. I bought it for $16.8 ( a steal of a deal) but had to pay to get it here from the Carolinas as well as local sales tax. Still, I'm into it for under $20k. Do I wish it was a proper 4x4? Oh yeah but I also own a Lexus Land Cruiser so if I need 4x4, I take that rig and travel a bit more primitively.


Here's a photo of mine with the top up. This is in the SNRA in Idaho:

This is also in the SNRA off of one of those light 4x4 roads this rig can traverse if the weather's dry:

And here's a photo in Monument Valley a couple weeks ago:

 

[carneyvan]

Very nice. You answer a lot of the questions I had, although I wish you would have told me it won't go on dirt roads.....might have helped my argument with the wife and convinced me I NEED a SMB. Practical sometimes isn't as much fun. It looks like it does all I want, glad to hear you love it. Have you ever thought back that you would have rather spent more and got the SMB?

 

[CSG]

Well, you can do what I've considered and convert it to 4x4. The cost of used or new Sportsmobiles is high and many people load them up with, what are for me, unnecessary options.

I can bring the Traverse to SLC and have Advanced 4X4 do a conversion for about $9200. The reason I haven't is that I'm not in need of 4x4 all that much as I'm not going to do hardcore stuff anyway. Should I decide that I want to go camping in a more backcountry capable rig, I've got a Lexus LX470 which is far more capable than I need. I do consider it from time to time though as it would make an nearly perfect camping rig.

Dirt/gravel roads rarely need four wheel drive unless they are muddy, icy, rutted, etc. So much if driving is using common sense. A great driver could take a 2x4 many more places than a poor driver could take a 4x4 IMO.

One thing a local 4x4 suspension shop advised me was rather than convert the van to 4x4, get some decent recovery gear and use my head.