The E-Trek - Roadtrek's New Eco-Friendly Motorhome 

Review of Roadtrek Etrek: We are having a lot of problems with our etrek underhood generator. It will only engage for a minute if our battery bank falls below 1/3, which is frequent when running ac in Texas heat. Then we have to wait for the solar/regular 200 amp alternator to charge our battery bank, which is slow. The engine generator is supposed to put out over 5K when driving and 2.8 at idle, however, we can be driving 65 mph with the rear AC, refrigerator, and microwave on and watch our battery voltage fall as we are going down the road. These loads do not add up to 5K when driving, so theoretically, the battery voltage should remain normal or in a charged state, and it doesn't. It literally discharges as we go down the road, unless the underhood generator decides to kick in, which it may or may not do. (We can tell when it engages because we hear what we believe to be a solenoid clank, causes overhead led lights to flicker, and immediately feel the parasitic load in the engine.) We have the 6000 watt Aims inverter. When we try to plug in to shore power, the battery charger (which is separate from the inverter), gets extremely hot and trips the onboard battery charger circuit breaker. According to the Aims and Roadtrek owners manual, we should get an indicator light when we are connected to shore power, however we do not. The only charger we can determine is working when connected to shore power, is the one built in below the ottoman and not the one built into the Aims inverter. (The Aims inverter is under the couch.) We have only plugged in once as we are fearful that the charger gets so hot it could start a fire. We really love the concept of the etrek and would like to have these problems resolved, if possible. We are contacting a roadtrek dealer tomorrow so we have to cut our trip short...just wanted to give everyone a heads up of some of the problems we are having. Leo at Roadtrek has been very helpful but no solutions yet.

With the use of FLEXIBLE SOLAR PANELS and the redesign of ZERO CLUTTER on the roof you might get 1000 watts. Roll Up solar inside the Awning is just around the corner. You could have an awning on both sides like Wings of a Bird with your roof panels so when stationery you could run your AC.

I think that 240W is probably enough in Australia where the sun is strong although it depends on how much electricity is actually needed. I have less on my van in Europe and it is sufficient for me but I do not use much electricity.

Great RV, but I like the secure feeling of having a generator as a backup power source! I can deal with having no propane, but no ginny...that could become problematic in certain conditions/situations! Cheers

Yes in terms of the possibility of things going wrong, but just remember that removing that energy source then requires you to do those tasks with a different source of power. In this case electricity. Electricity is definitely safer but requires you be plugged in or running the generator.

Diesel is available almost anywhere here.Especially near highways. Your right on the panels though 240 watts is under PERFECT conditions. I would personally think you would need twice that generated to be able "live" without running the generator.

I know is not wholesome electric, yet i like the idea that it used half free energy from the sun and do not consume fuel. This baby will sell well in South east Asia country, do you have branch at Indonesia? Equator country is perfect for solar energy motohome. Yet, i hope you make the water tank larger and the rear bathroom, nice big bathroom is what we need and a more space in the rear area.

I like the ideal of a motor home or camper being as self contained as possible so the solar would be nice as long as it worked correctly. However I think I would like a backup power system just in case. My main concern is it seems to dependent on electric and don't seem to have other options. Are they any that combine the best of both worlds?

Love it.

I agree with hxly2... would like to see this tech in a RT Agile... I would be VERY interested!!

All this talk about watts and amps. No one explains to potential owners what does that mean if your engine is off and you want to run AC and TV and cook. How many hours can it go on for? I think we need an video explaining all that.

is it true that absence of propane makes this vehicle more safer than its competitors?

ATTN.:Production Director. This E-Trek Features do you have it on "CS"Model???Like Induction Stove,Water Heater and Fold Down LED TV ??? Suggestion...Kindly Add a Accordion doors to separate or for Privacy to the Bedroom.. Gladly Appreciated

About 140k, not bad when you consider the cost of the build and everything that goes into it.

WANT!

$140,000.00 ?! I think John McEnroe would exclaim: "you can't be serious!" I find the green technological advancements inspiring and think one can implement them in a self build for a very small fraction of these kind of prices. Cost of the van aside £5k ? What do you think?

In a few years they have them fully electric for sale.

Just think...ITS NOT ALL ELECTRIC! Retract that statement by superimposing CABIN ONLY

I think some of the claims made here may be exaggerated. 240W solar, assuming the panels are the top of the range, will give a lot of freedom - I have less on mine and do not need to recharge constantly. But I am not using AC or television or an electric hot plate. The evoy system will recharge the batteries but how easy is it to find fuel for it in North America? I think I would have to see this work before I believe all the claims (which I very much hope are true).

Is eTrek going to be available on the shorter Sprinter chassis (the Roadtrek Agile)?

Your not comparing apples to apples. This vehicle doesn't have the fiberglass extended sides like the Serenity. Secondly the Free spirit ss doesn't have the quad capt chairs. just depends what your looking for.

Can go for "hours and hours and hours". That doesn't tell us how long you have power when you are off the grid. I'd love to know realistically what solar panels mean for those living in vans long term...

Скажите я правильно понял солнечная батарея выдает 2кВТ?

So pretty much every other motorhome with only 240w of solar on the top? SLA batteries at $140,000? HA

Is it 4×4?

Ther's no way a diesel van can be "eco friendly", solar panels or not. The class A, diesel pushers are more interesting about it though, because their higher-end technology provides them with water filtration of exhaust fumes for instance, which is quite not the case with any Sprinter chassis.

Pretty damn sweet but $140,000 is just crazy guys. Too bad.

what we really need is all electric 210 versatile so when i snneek the girls off from church i wont have generator noise

.......aren't sprinter owners having difficulty getting mechanics?..........never buy a new idea.......give 'em a few yrs to work out the bugs........

Sorry Mike, Roadtrek and RV CANADA are the worst companies to deal with.