After a mere year of anticipation, I took ownership of my Unity Travel Van from Schaap’s RV Traveland in Sioux Falls, South Dakota – a dealership I wholeheartedly recommend for anyone looking into recreational vehicles. Having journeyed approximately 70,000 miles towing Airstreams with my Dodge/Cummins 4×4, and another 51,000 miles in a 2010 Tiffin Allegro Bus before embracing smaller RVs, I can confidently say I have a solid background in the RV world. Now, with 11,000 miles clocked on my Unity, I’m ready to share my comprehensive experience and the enhancements I’ve made over the past 10 months.
What truly captivates me about my Unity travel van is its car-like maneuverability – or perhaps more accurately, that of a nimble small truck. The fuel efficiency is remarkable, typically ranging from 14 to 18 mpg, naturally influenced by wind conditions. The build quality is another standout feature, far surpassing what I’ve encountered in most recreational vehicles. In my estimation, it rivals the renowned craftsmanship of that other esteemed Canadian manufacturer of luxury coaches, whose name often gets mispronounced. For someone like me, needing a dedicated workstation for my iMac, the Corner Bed model is an absolute dream.
However, no vehicle is without its minor drawbacks. The original cockpit seating could benefit from improvements, a point addressed in the newer Sprinter chassis models. Beyond that, any other adjustments have been personally undertaken or seamlessly integrated into the van, as detailed further below. In terms of issues, I’ve only encountered a minor water leak near the bedroom window (promptly resolved under warranty with a galley faucet replacement), a lost hubcap (courtesy of Triple E for the replacement), and the common Sprinter front-end alignment concern, widely discussed across Sprinter forums online. After 11,000 miles, an alignment was indeed necessary. It’s worth noting that some rather jarring potholes along my routes likely contributed to this, making an alignment a reasonable maintenance task.
Now, let’s delve into the modifications and additions I’ve implemented, accompanied by photos to illustrate.
To enhance the audio experience from the front TV, I installed a soundbar, a worthwhile upgrade in my view. But first, let’s start with a look at the conveniently placed compartment just inside the entrance – its purpose is quite evident.
Storage compartment to the right of the entrance in a Unity travel van, showcasing its practical design.
Moving to the cockpit area, I’ve added a door armrest for enhanced comfort, a new head unit with SiriusXM for entertainment, dual GPS units for navigation redundancy and route exploration, a Valentine One radar detector to maintain driving awareness, and a front dash camera for added security. Furthermore, a custom center console now houses my oversized coffee mug, iPhone, iPad, and CB radio, and can be easily detached with two wing nuts if needed.
Unity travel van cockpit upgrades including armrest, head unit, GPS, radar detector, dashcam, and custom center console.
Next, examining the U-dinette option, we observe the under-seat storage accessibility – an area for improvement, in my opinion, for Triple E. Given my need to carry a 27” iMac, I’ve mounted it on an arm that’s securely bracketed to the U-dinette seat itself, rather than drilling into the wall, which I was hesitant to do.
U-dinette area in a Unity travel van with under-seat storage access and a mounted iMac workstation.
Above the galley area, I’ve incorporated more IKEA rods and hooks for organization, along with a paper towel holder I fabricated myself for added convenience.
Galley organization enhancements in a Unity travel van with IKEA rods, hooks, and a custom paper towel holder.
Lastly, I’ve made a couple of organizational adjustments within the bathroom cabinet to optimize space and accessibility.
Bathroom cabinet modifications in a Unity travel van for improved organization and storage solutions.
What’s on the horizon now? Perhaps it’s time to slow down the modifications and simply hit the road again, thoroughly enjoying my exceptional RV. My sincere appreciation goes out to the dedicated team in Winkler who uphold the principle of doing things right.
Scenic landscape view from a Unity travel van, highlighting the joy of RV travel and exploration.
By Tommie Lauer
Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, around the era of covered wagons, my journey began with photography, transitioned to medical school and a medical practice, and then retirement after 60, opening the door to extensive travel across the country. I’ve logged about 50,000 miles on two wheels, including numerous Canadian explorations with my son. It was on US-2 in northern Montana, returning from Portland, Oregon, that I realized there had to be a more comfortable way to travel. Starting in 2008, I explored Airstreams, then a Tiffin Allegro Bus. Back to an Airstream in 2014, and ultimately, after over 70,000 towing miles and 50,000 bus miles, I discovered my dream machine: the LTV Unity Corner Bed travel van. The wait was just over a year, but undeniably worth it.
