‘Fairytale’ Irish castle ranked in 25 best travel experiences in the world

Read article : ‘Fairytale’ Irish castle ranked in 25 best travel experiences in the world

A “fairytale” experience at Ashford Castle has been listed as one of the 25 best travel experiences in the world.

The listing was compiled by US travel advisor Chad Clark, who is aiming to certify travel “experiences” to create an annual list similar to what the Michelin Guide is for restaurants.

“You have the Forbes Travel Guide for hotel star ratings and Michelin for restaurants and Golf Magazine for the Top 100 courses, but there is nothing like that for experiences and that’s what everyone is looking for today,” he says. The ‘Certified 25’ is the “first of its kind in the travel industry”, he says, and the aim is to create an annual list of the best travel experiences around the world.

Experiences - and “experiential travel” - are the current buzzwords travel industry. For the ultimate travel bragging rights, it’s no longer enough to book a luxury hotel room in the five-star hotel with the best views of whatever piazza you happen to be in. Now it’s about “making memories through experiences”, according to travel advisors. Travellers want to actually do, see or learn something while on a trip, as opposed to lazing by the pool. It’s no surprise that the trend is particularly evident in the luxury travel market with wildlife safaris, Arctic cruises and active travel with learning experiences, such as photography courses, all on the increase.

Airbnb is also building on this momentum with its “experiences” section, where travellers can link up with locals in cities around the world. Other similar initiatives include Cool Cousin, which is soon to launch in Dublin. The Cool Cousin app provides a profile of locals who you can select according to your interests. You then receive their map of their city ,which is loaded with at least 25 of their favourite places, from restaurants to shops, as well as personalised advice.

Despite all the interest in the area, Clark believes it is hard to find the “best in class” experiences – there is no gathering of five-star experiences, which is where his “Certified 25” come in. The winners of the first annual listing were announced at the Virtuoso Travel Symposium in Las Vegas earlier this week. Virtuoso is a consortium of luxury and specialist travel advisors and agents and many of Clark’s listings are affiliates of the network, which has about 1,700 affiliates around the world.

Clark owns the Phoenix-based Chad Clark Travel Ventures. To create the Certified 25, he surveyed luxury travel industry suppliers and other travel experts, who submitted their best experiences from around the world. The winners were “chosen on their own merits of how cool the experience actually is”, he says. Reader beware however – money is no object when it comes to Clark’s definition of a “cool” experience.

A private showing of The Quiet Man in the 32-seat cinema at Ashford Castle is included in its fairytale experience – with Champagne and popcorn of course

Ireland’s sole listing is the “Ashford Castle Fairytale experience”. It includes private chauffeur transfers from the airport; two nights in a Stateroom; afternoon tea in the Connaught Room; falconry; a private showing of The Quiet Man in the 32-seat cinema at the hotel, with Champagne and popcorn of course; dinners in the Dungeon and George V restaurants; wine tasting; and meeting the estate’s Irish Wolfhounds. The price of your fairytale? From €4,350 in low season to €6,350 in high season.

General manager Niall Rochford says the castle is “privileged to represent Ireland and Irish tourism internationally as the only Irish property to be included in this inaugural list”. He describes Clark as someone “who has himself carved a career as a highly regarded and influential travel expert worldwide”.

“Our Fairytale Castle Experience offers guests the chance to experience the magic of Ashford Castle, offering the utmost in modern luxury and five-star hospitality in the unique setting of this historic castle.”

In Sydney, Clark’s list recommends you contact husband and wife team Jamie and Alex, aka Local Eyes Sydney, to give you the quintessential Sydney experience. This involves starting your day with early morning yoga or surfing on the beach before breakfast, National Park bush and beach walks. Jamie and Alex bring guests to their home for lunch and drinks before sailing to see Sydney Harbour’s icons up close from their classic cruiser, Iluka. The nine-hour “quintessential” experience will set you back €4,183 for two people, more than what most of us will spend on a 10-day trip Down Under. (Price comparison note: Flights from Dublin to Sydney average at €1,100 per person.)

For those with even deeper pockets (or a second home to sell) who also have an ethical travel conscience, safari company Singita offers a behind-the-scenes stay in their lodge and Sabora Tented Camp in Tanzania.

Grumeti Black Rhino Project, learning about their anti-poaching unit and local enterprise development" height="348" src="https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3189875!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg" width="620" /> A six-night safari with Singita Safaris in Tanzania includes working with Grumeti Black Rhino Project, learning about their anti-poaching unit and local enterprise development

The experience includes learning about their wildlife re-introduction efforts, through the Grumeti Black Rhino Project; working with their anti-poaching unit first-hand; learning about their new canine law enforcement unit as well as their fund of local enterprise development. As for the cost…take a deep breath. The six-night experience costs €6,305 per person, which might not seem too wild for a luxury six-night safari experience. However, there is also a compulsory contribution of €42,500 ($50,000) per booking to support Singita’s conservation programmes. It is based on a minimum of two people and the maximum group size is six.

You might be glad to find out that the list also includes more affordable items to enhance your travel experience wherever it may be, such as the Kickstarter crowd-funded G-RO Smart Carry-on luggage.

features USB ports and a powerful battery, lightweight design, and a patented larger wheel making it easier to wheel on all terrain" height="348" src="https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3189874!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg" width="620" /> G-RO Smart Carry-on luggage (from €380) features USB ports and a powerful battery, lightweight design, and a patented larger wheel making it easier to wheel on all terrain

The bag (from €380, g-ro.com) features smart technology such as USB ports and a powerful battery, slick lightweight design, as well as a patented larger wheel concept that means a bag that is easier to wheel on all terrain - from cobbled streets to airport walkways.

Photography company Flyographer (flytographer.com) also features. The company, founded in 2013, links travelers with professional photographers in more than 130 destinations so you can abandon your selfie stick and instead use a professional photographer to capture your holiday snaps…for a fee of €210-€550 depending on the number of locations and length of the session.

Other immersive experiences include a volcano adventure with Four Seasons Hualalai; Mongolia’s Golden Eagle Festival with Nomadic Expeditions; an overnight Yurt stay at Platte Canyon with Brush Creek Ranch Luxury Collection; and a banquet on a remote section of the Great Wall of China with conservationist William Londesay.

See the full list below, or for more details, chadclarksertified.com

Top 25 Travel Experiences in the World (for those with very deep pockets)

Cong, Ireland: Ashford Castle’s Fairytale Experience includes a “luxurious stay in a medieval Irish castle where guests are invited to take part in authentic Irish activities throughout the castle and its picturesque grounds”.

London, UK:Travel company Noteworthy - who create “unforgettable Exquisite British Experiences” - allow clients behind-the-scenes access to the “Changing of the Guards” and the opportunity to photograph the event.

London, UK: The Beaumont Hotel in London offers a ‘do-it-yourself’ ice cream sundae with 300 potential permutations in the resort’s Colony Grill Room. For Clark, this is (thankfully) only part of the luxury offering at the Beaumont, which adding personal touches to all client stays.

ice cream sundae with 300 potential permutations in the resort’s Colony Grill Room" height="348" src="https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3189870!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg" width="620" /> The Beaumont Hotel in London offers a ‘do-it-yourself’ ice cream sundae with 300 potential permutations in the resort’s Colony Grill Room

Bhutan:Amankora Bhutan’s spiritual and cultural safari involves walks through ancient rhododendron forests watching black necked cranes, soaking in a hot stone bath; interacting with novice monks and dining in a rustic stone potato shed.

Wyoming, US: Platte Canyon Overnight Camp at Brush Creek Ranch is a luxurious camping experience that includes private outdoor activities, gourmet meals around an open fire, a large yurt and two traditional teepees with large decks located over the North Platte River.

New York, US:Chatwal Hotel guests can enjoy insider access to Broadway from the landmark building once home to the oldest theatrical club in the US. Guests have the opportunity to be part of the cast of a Broadway show.

Italy:Rosa Alpina Hotel bring guests on a journey through the Dolomite Mountains where guests hike in luxury from “hut to hut” while enjoying the gourmet food and wines.

Colorado, US:Limited “only by the imagination”, Colorado’s Dunton Hot Springs offers customizable experiences that are specifically tailored for each guest’s interests, including cattle driving, and horse riding.

Flytographer:Flytographer connects travelers with vetted local photographers for short, candid vacation shoots in over 200 cities around the world, providing both an authentic travel experience and unforgettable souvenirs.

Hawaii, US:The Four Seasons Hotel Hualalai offers a volcano with a private helicopter journey over the big island, a trip to a Rainforest Cottage Hideaway where you can hike, swim, explore the area around the volcano.

New York, US: The Greenwich Hotel offers a fully complimentary minibar in all rooms. This includes v “vintage favorite goodies” reminiscent of childhood combined with trendy new snacks with all-natural, vegan and gluten-free options. By the way, this is a mini-bar with a difference. Alcohol is excluded.

Utah, US: A stay at the Waldorf Astoria Park City offers beautiful snow-covered views of the largest ski and snowboard resort in the US. Don’t forget to take their signature vanilla mint chapstick on all adventures, according to Clark.

G-RO Luggage: G-RO luggage is specifically designed to accompany on-the-go travelers whether they are traveling around the block or around the globe.

China: With Imperial Tours, guests travel by helicopter over the Great Wall of China, landing at an isolated tower for a gourmet banquet with conservationist William Lindesay, who helped draft the law protecting wall.

France: Indulge in a progressive Parisian culinary journey at Le Bristol Paris, where they experience the French Art de Vivre, a decadent breakfast, a tailor made picnic and dinner at Michelin three-star restaurant, Epicure.

France:A meal at Les Prés d’Eugénie-Michel Guerard is described as capturing “the essence of French luxury, style, grace and elegance in a sumptuous setting”.

Ecuador: Metropolitan Touring offer a nighttime walk through the forest in search of nocturnal amphibians and insects, ending with a surprise (well, it was meant to be a surprise) picnic.

Minaret Station, New Zealand:Travel company Minaret Station bring clients on a helicopter tour of the Southern Alps in New Zealand before touching down in a deserted alpine meadow. Then it’s time to enjoy a gourmet spread of lobster pulled fresh from the sea, Minaret Station-sourced beef and lamb and award-winning New Zealand wines.

Mongolia: Watch Kazakh hunters at the Golden Eagle Festival in the remote Altai Mountains as these skilled hunters and their highly-trained eagles compete for the top prize. Nomadic Expeditions arrange this experience.

Amalfi Coast, Italy: Hotel Palazzo Avino’s “Sea of Love” dining experience aims to suspend guests between land and sea. Start with a boat trip to your private candlelit dinner overlooking the ocean.

Hotel Palazzo Avino’s “Sea of Love” dining experience aims to suspend guests between land and sea." height="348" src="https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3189871!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg" width="620" /> On the Amalfi Coast in Italy, the Hotel Palazzo Avino’s “Sea of Love” dining experience aims to suspend guests between land and sea.

Peru:Experience the mystical beauty of Peru’s Lake Titicaca, the cradle of Andean civilization, through visits to a traditional community on the island of Taquile and hiking ancient trails surrounded by stunning snow-capped mountain landscapes.

Tanzania:Singita safari company offer behind-the-scenes insight into the work of the Anti-Poaching Unit in the Serengeti.

Singita Safaris offers a behind-the-scenes stay in their lodge and Sabora Tented Camp in Tanzania – once you make a $50,000 ‘donation’ to their wildlife preservation work" height="348" src="https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3189876!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg" width="620" /> Singita Safaris offers a behind-the-scenes stay in their lodge and Sabora Tented Camp in Tanzania – once you make a $50,000 ‘donation’ to their wildlife preservation work

India:Guests of the Ultimate Traveling Camp at Thiskey enjoy a day “on top of the world” where they are immersed in the region’s unique rituals and have the opportunity to try their hand at archery, raft down the Indus River and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Australia: True North conducts adventure-cruises in Australia’s stunning Kimberley region, with daily off-ship activities, some via the ship’s onboard helicopter.

Australia:Tour Sydney with husband and wife team Jamie and Alex (aka Local Eyes Sydney) who invite guests to their home for lunch and onboard their classic cruiser, Iluka to sail up close to Sydney Harbor’s icons. The tour also includes a native bush walk and opportunities to surf, stroll or perform yoga at the world famous Manly Beach.

2016 Travel Lite 625 Super Lite Review

Read article : 2016 Travel Lite 625 Super Lite Review 

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TCM reviews the half-ton targeted 2016 Travel Lite 625, a short or long bed hard side, non-slide, non-bath truck camper.  Can a camper small enough to fit inside a short bed tailgate actually be worth owning? According to Dustin Johns, President of Travel Lite, the reasons for building the 2016 Travel Lite 625 called him on the phone constantly.  When the625 debuted in Truck Camper Magazine in June of 2015, Dustin explained, “Our customers and dealers have wanted a half-ton short bed camper that would allow the tailgate to be kept up, offer plenty of interior room, and feature basic amenities including a stove, sink, and refrigerator.  I was asked to build this camper many, many times.”

Above: The Travel Lite 625 at D&H RV Center in Apex, North Carolina

From the repeated requests, the Travel Lite team designed a hard side truck camper that would fit inside of a 6.5-foot short bed truck with the tailgate closed.  Keeping the camper inside the tailgate would allow for towing without an extension hitch and provide the best possible turning radius for the rig.  Once lowered, the tailgate could then become a small deck for sitting or gear.

Perhaps the Travel Lite 625’s most impressive trick is its ability to work with short and long bed half-ton trucks.  It looks a bit odd mounted on a long bed, but the two feet of bonus truck bed storage is perfect for toys, gear, and water containers.

To keep the weight down, Travel Lite used the materials, construction approach, and design concepts of their best-selling 770 Super Lite model.  The 625 features the same overall profile, kiln-dried Banak wood from South America, and cabinetry netting as the 770.  Further eliminating weight, the 625 was designed without a bathroom, black tank, or grey tank.

Dustin reported the initial dry weight of the 625 at 1,285 pounds and gave the camper a $10,495 MSRP with standard build options; refrigerator, sink, stove, fresh water tank, converter, and manual Rieco-Titan jacks.  Clearly Dustin was looking to put a sizable dent in the half-ton truck camper marketplace.

Of course the path to half-ton truck camper paradise is paved with good intention truck camper designs that never caught on.  These campers were usually too heavy, too expensive, or too small to become a consistent seller in the marketplace.

The question is, will the Travel Lite 625 break through where so many others have failed, or end up in the half-ton truck camper bin of history?  It’s time to put the 625 under the microscope.

We photographed the 2016 Travel Lite 625 seen in this review at D&H RV Center in Apex, North Carolina.

Floor Plan Evaluation

As seems to be the trend of late, the Travel Lite 625 is infused with the ideas and lessons of the past five decades of truck camper design.  This is not a fancy SolidWorks modeled multi-slide with intricate cuts and exotic amenities.  You’ll find no CNC-routed curves or luxury appliances here.

What you will find is an firmly old-school, pencil-to-paper, saw-to-wood truck camper design that shoe-horns an impressive amount comfort and utility into a short bed half-ton compatible truck camper.  Shut the tailgate and that’s exactly what Travel Lite’s dealers and customers asked for.  As the saying goes, give them what they want.

Above: The large 4-foot sliding dinette window brings in a ton of light

Stepping into the 625, the careful design decisions are everywhere.  The main living space feels open and spacious with plenty of light from a dual-window entry door, two large windows in the dinette, and a cabover side window.  Kitchen and dinette cabinetry and storage are readily available and the overall level of materials feels solid and durable.

While we didn’t take precise measurements, it appears that half of the available kitchen counter top is taken up by the single-basin sink and two-burner cooktop.

The flip-up counter helps by adding about 25-percent more counter space, but it’s still a tight set-up for preparing anything other than the basics.

To put this into perspective, Angela and I are connoisseurs of culinary basics on the road.  Our coffee, tea, one-pot-meals, and endless PB&J sandwich preparations would all work fine between this kitchen set-up and dinette table.  Now our laptop-to-laptop work requirements would be seriously challenged, but that’s another topic.

The U-shape dinette in the 625 was designed to accommodate three to four adults (if they’re very good friends) around the table for meals, conversation, and cards.  In reality, the dinette seating, table, and available leg area is best for two adults.  With just two, there’s plenty of floor space for legs and feet underneath, and ample table room for two plates of food, and drinks.

If this were our camper, we would want a larger table, and a more stable table leg and/or wall attachment system.  There’s nothing worse at a restaurant than a table that moves when you put your dinner plate or elbow on it.  With a single post, this table is fairly stable, but requires care not to bump it.  Naturally, one table leg is less weight than two, and a smaller table weighs less than a bigger one.  Compromises, compromises.

Above: The table and table leg are easy to remove for more room, or to make the dinette into a bed

Above: The porta-potti has a convenient storage compartment under the dinette

The dinette quickly makes into a 6-foot bed with the provided cushions.  This makes the 625 an ideal choice for the hunter or fisherman who wants to bring a friend for a weekend trip to that remote hunting ground or fish camp.

Above: The dinette makes into a 6-foot long bed

On the rear wall, the 625 features a 110-volt outlet and the thermostat.  While I don’t foresee this unit connected to shore power often, this outlet will be vital for charging computers, phones, and cameras while hooked up to AC or a portable generator.

Above: Standard on the 625 is a two-cubic foot refrigerator, which can be upgraded to the three-cubic foot size shown

The three-cubic foot, three-way refrigerator is ample for a camper this size.  In the past, campers targeting the short bed half-ton size and weight came primarily with ice boxes if they had cold-food provisions at all.  Having an actual three-cubic foot, three-way refrigerator is quite a luxury in this weight category and price.

Just below the refrigerator is a cabinet dedicated to a sealed enclosure for the 625’s single battery.  When I opened this cabinet, I was hoping to see storage, and found myself disappointed that this space was almost completely used.

I would look into moving this battery elsewhere.  My favorite go-to battery moving product is the Torklift International Hidden Power that places a battery inside a protected and sealed box under your truck.  With this modification, you could recapture this valuable storage space without losing the house battery.

Another option is changing to sealed AGM battery in this location.  You won’t gain your storage back, but you’ll likely gain more amp hours.  Then again, a bigger battery adds cost and weight.  When designing a camper for a half-ton short bed, trade-offs abound.

To the right of the refrigerator and battery cabinet is a large two-section cabinet and pull-out drawer.  With its immediate proximity to the kitchen and dinette, the drawer will likely be used for silverware, cooking utensils, and other kitchen items.

The large two-section cabinet is open season.  Some will use it for dry food, pots, and pans, while others will store clothing and camping gear.  We would at least attempt to use the cabinet over the sink for all dry food, cups, and plates, and use this space for a limited number of pots and pans, and then clothing and camping gear.  In truck camping, less is more.  In truck camping in a small camper, even less is even more.

Below the pull-out drawer is where you’ll find the stereo system, power converter, and fuse panel.  Having the stereo system and fuse panel easy to reach mid-ship makes sense.

The opening into the cabover is wide open and inviting with white-color LED lights perfectly placed for general lighting and reading.

Above: The cabover ceiling has a 110-volt outlet and provisions to add a 12-volt television

On the other hand, there’s not a single cabinet for clothing in the cabover.  Not one.  There is however a main LED area light, two smaller reading lights, a 110-volt outlet, and provisions to add a 12-volt television.  No cabover muss.  No cabover fuss.  That’s it.

 
Above: The overcab bed on the passenger’s side (left photo) the driver’s side (right photo)

In practice, I expect most folks will bring duffel bags for their clothing and keep the bags in the cabover when they’re not sleeping.  Duffel bags (or whatever cloth based luggage you prefer) are light weight and highly portable, especially compared to standard wood cabinetry.  Unless you just have to have your clothing folded up and put away, duffel bags make a lot of sense in a small camper like the 625.

Specifications

Specifications
Dry Weight	1,285 pounds
Wet Weight*	1,755 pounds
Floor Length	6’2″
Overall Length	10’10”
Width	78″
Interior Height	6’6″
Exterior Height	7’0″
Center of Gravity	29″
Truck Type	Long or Short Bed

At 1,285 pounds dry, the Travel Lite 625 is not the lightest weight hard side truck camper on the market, but it’s in the ballpark.

Travel Lite offers a range of options for the 625 including a solar panel system, electric remote-controlled Rieco-Titan jacks, roof rack, ladder, and an awning.

Above: Rieco-Titan manual jacks, cable television connection, shower power connection, and 110-volt outlet

Unfortunately, you could quickly defeat the concept of the light weight 625 if you add a lot of options.  Just the above mentioned list could add 150 pounds, or more.  In a camper where the design team opted for cabinet netting instead of cabinet doors, that doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Above: The Travel Lite 625 is 78-inches wide and 7-feet, 4-inches tall on the exterior

The 78-inch width of the Travel Lite 625 is 14-inches narrower than Travel Lite’s mid-size truck campers and 17-inches narrower than their largest models.  Obviously, every additional inch in length, width, and height on a truck camper adds weight.  For a camper targeting short-bed half-ton trucks, the 78-inch width strikes a good balance between interior space, and weight.

Above: The ceiling in the 625 is full height at 6.5 feet

One aspect of the 625 design that’s full-size is the interior height.  At 6.5 feet, standing in the Travel Lite is like standing in a much larger truck camper.  There’s plenty of headroom, even for tall folks like me.  That headroom helps give the 625 its roomy feel.

Above: The Travel Lite 625 on a long bed truck, photo courtesy of Travel Lite Campers

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the 625 is its long bed compatibility.  Mounted on a long bed truck, the 625 looks fairly ridiculous as it locates the unit two-feet inside of the truck bed.  To say this is an unusual rig aesthetic would be an understatement.  For many – us included – the immediate reaction was, “What the heck is Travel Lite thinking?”

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Above: The Travel Lite 625 on a long bed truck, photo courtesy of Travel Lite Campers

Well, Travel Lite was thinking that the 625 is compatible with the widest possible number of truck bed lengths and payload capacities.  In short (no pun intended) the 625 is compatible with many half-ton trucks, all three-quarter and one-ton trucks, and works equally well with short bed or long beds.  Does it look funny on a long bed?  Absolutely!  But very few hard side truck campers have this kind of truck compatibility.

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Above: The 625 on a short bed truck with the tail gate closed, photo courtesy of Travel Lite Campers

And we must recognize the point that mounting the 625 on a long bed allows for the remaining two-feet of bed space to be available for whatever the owner wants it for; bikes, water, gear, you name it.

Capacities

Capacities
Fresh	9 gallons
Grey	N/A
Black	N/A
Water Heater	6 gallons
Propane Tanks	20 pounds
Batteries	Optional

With nine gallons of fresh water, no grey tank, no black tank, and no inside bathroom, there’s not much to talk on the subject of the 625’s holding tanks.  Since you’ll likely only be using the fresh tank to wash hands, wash dishes, and brush teeth, the nine gallons could last upwards of a week, or more.

If you plan to scare the bears and use the outside shower, the nine gallons may only last you a couple days.

city water connection" width="800" height="534" />

Speaking of bears, I can hardly believe Travel Lite included a city water connection for the 650, but they did.  Without an inside shower, I can barely find a reason for this.  Maybe so those who enjoy flashing the wildlife take extended outside showers?  Hide your eyes Mother Nature.  Nothing to see here.

The single vertical 20-pound propane tank is absolutely perfect for the 625.  Not only are vertical tanks exchangeable at nearly every Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, and gas station from coast-to-coast, but a 20-pound capacity should last a long time in a camper this size, unless you’re camping in the seriously cold.

When camping with a single tank you always need to keep tabs on your usage.  When that tank runs out, there’s no second tank to change to.  If we had one tank, I would fill it long before empty, just like putting fuel in the truck.

Travel Lite lists the battery as optional on the 625.  You could connect the 625 to your truck’s battery and gain the space we talked about earlier, but that would not be our recommendation.  All it takes is one night of running the furnace in cold weather and you could be stranded with a dead truck battery.  Whether you get the built-in battery Travel Lite provides, or another battery storage solution, we definitely recommend a house camper battery.

Wet Weight Calculation

Using the standardized Truck Camper Magazine wet weight calculation, let’s run the numbers on the Travel Lite 625.

Base Dry Weight, plus single battery option

Travel Lite 625: dry weight, 1,285 pounds + 9 gallons fresh, 75.1 pounds + one battery, 65 pounds + 20-pound full propane tank, 20 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 1,945.1 pounds

Since we don’t foresee or recommend many options being added to the 625, we’re not going to run an optioned wet weight calculation.  As it is, the final wet weight of 1,945.1 pounds may shock some folks.

500 pounds of that weight is the standardized “stuff weight” that we add to each and every wet weight calculation in Truck Camper Magazine.  In a small camper with limited storage like the 625, 500 pounds of stuff weight is likely more than required.  If we subtract half of this stuff weight, we get a more realistic 1,695.1 pounds.

Truck Recommendations

To remain conservative, we are going to match the 625 with a 1,695.1 pound wet weight (250 pounds of stuff).  This may still be high, but we always play it safe when it comes to truck and camper matching.

For those who haven’t looked at too many payload stickers, it may come as a surprise to learn that many half-ton trucks don’t have 1,695.1 pounds of payload.  Many older half-ton trucks, or trucks with fancy packages and long option lists, have considerably less.  Do not assume that any half-ton truck has this kind of payload.  It might, but it might not.

That said, it would be a cinch to either locate or order a half-ton truck with 1,695.1 pounds of payload, or better.  If you approached your preferred local dealer and said, “I need no less than 1,700 pounds of payload in a half-ton truck” they should be able to work out the specifications you require, and locate or order the right truck without trouble.

You could also take those same specifications and find a used half-ton with enough payload.  New or used, always check the actual payload sticker (the yellow sticker inside the driver’s side door) on the actual truck before making a purchase.

If you are purchasing a new or new-to-you truck, it’s also worth considering buying even more truck.  Two years from now you may want a bigger camper.  Why not buy the right truck for that bigger camper now?  In trucks, you often don’t pay that much more to get a lot more payload.

The Verdict

Some truck campers are designed to wow the senses.  You walk in and they have a dance floor of interior space, a dinette ready for six, a refrigerator that could swallow a beer keg, and storage that could empty your attic.  You know you’re in one of these campers when the HDTV is almost as big as the one you have at home, and there’s a fireplace underneath it (almost kidding).

Where these campers “wow the senses”, the Travel Lite 625 “wows with common sense”.  From the very concept of the unit, to the way the camper was designed and built, everything about the 625 is a carefully considered compromise to create a hard-side unit that’s truly half-ton compatible.

Judged from this perspective, the 2016 Travel Lite 625 is a roaring success.  Yes, it’s chock full of compromises compared to the “wow the senses” models, but these compromises were the right ones to make the half-ton targeted size and weight.  The form, function, and comfort this camper offers half-ton truck owners – especially for the price – is very impressive.

In short, Travel Lite has built a truly half-ton compatible truck camper that’s worth owning.  Yes, you will still have to run the numbers to make sure the 625 will match your half-ton truck, but the chances are very high that it will.

If you’re in the half-ton truck camper market, and can live with the 625 list of compromises (tight kitchen, no bathroom, no grey tank, no cabover storage, etc.), this camper deserves to be on your list.  With the 625, Travel Lite has a serious half-ton ready contender.

Pros
Low weight and forward COG maximizes half-ton potential
Short and long bed truck ready
Tailgate closes on a 6.5-foot short bed truck
Excellent sense of interior space for a small camper
Good amount of kitchen and dinette area storage
Dinette makes into a 6-foot bed

Cons
Very tight kitchen area
Very limited 9-gallon fresh tank, no grey, no black
No bathroom, but features a porta-potti cabinet
Extremely tight kitchen counter space, but extension helps
Optional single battery takes up valuable interior storage
No storage in the cabover – pack your duffels

Model Information
2016 Travel Lite 625
MSRP: $10,495
Warranty: 1 year from time of purchase

Travel Lite, Inc.
71913 Country Road 23
New Paris, IN 46553

Phone: 574-831-3000
Request A Travel Lite 625 Brochure
Web: TravelLiteCampers.com

Quality, Customer Service, and Long-Term Reliability

Truck Camper Magazine inspects all reviewed truck campers for design, material, and quality issues and reports what we find.  However, since Truck Camper Magazine reviews only brand new truck campers, our reviews do not address long-term quality, customer service, or reliability.

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FIRST-CLASS B’s

Read article : FIRST-CLASS B’s

In a Market Dominated by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Chassis, Several New Players Emerge for 2014

Change is coming to the Class B motorhome market in 2014 with two new European-based platforms on which RV manufacturers are
expected to build: The new ProMaster van, already available from Chrysler’s Ram truck division, and the 2015 Ford Transit van that is expected to debut early next year.
Both will challenge the decade-long market supremacy of the diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, which, as an RV platform, outsold the domestic Chevy Express van by more than two-to-one in 2012. The Chevy Express has been the Sprinter’s primary competitor in the RV market since Ford mothballed the popular Ford E-series van last year.

Ford Transit

And camper van builders are quickly adapting. Winnebago Industries Inc. got a jump on the market this summer with the introduction of the long-anticipated Travato van camper on the Ram ProMaster chassis, while others already have plans to add the Ford Transit to their stable when it becomes available.
‘’There is additional competition coming,’’ noted Jim Brieske, specialty vehicle manager for General Motors Fleet and Commercial Operations.
The suddenly increased competition in the Class B market portends well for consumers. More chassis mean more choices with regard to price, floorplans and powerplants.
Horsepower and gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) for Ford’s unibody Transit haven’t been established yet, but it will be equipped with a V-6 gas or 3.2-liter diesel

Ram ProMaster

engine with wheelbases from 130 to 147 inches.
The Ram ProMaster, powered by a 280-hp 3.6-liter gasoline engine, features high- and low-roof models with a gvwr of 9,350 pounds and wheelbases up to 159 inches, while the Chevy Express provides a gvwr up to 9,600 pounds with a 324-hp 6.2-liter powerplant.
Although new to North America, both the ProMaster, based on the European Fiat Ducato, and the Ford Transit, upfitted for the U.S. market, have long been used in Europe as motorhome and commercial van platforms.
‘’Transit has been available in Europe for more than 40 years,’’ said Craig Hall, Ford Motor Company’s specialty vehicle marketing manager. ‘’It’s not a new vehicle, per se.’’
Hall says the Transit — not to be confused with the smaller Transit Connect — will be available in several lengths, roof heights and gvwrs. ‘’Fuel prices are going up, and the consumer wants better fuel mileage, which the Transit will provide,’’ he said.
The Ram ProMaster also has a long history. ‘’The ProMaster is a proven platform,’’ said Joe Benson, head of Ram commercial trucks. ‘’It’s been on the
European market for over 30 years and 4.5 million have been sold worldwide.
Two out of every three RV owners (in Europe) have chosen the Ducato on the Fiat platform.’’
Meanwhile, the Class B king, Mercedes-Benz, isn’t sitting still. The luxury European manufacturer is modifying the 2014 Sprinter chassis — released in September — with a redesigned front end and new 4-cylinder diesel engine that is expected to get 15 to 18 percent better fuel economy. Most van camper manufacturers that build on the Sprinter chassis will make the change to the new chassis in the middle of their 2014 model year.
Here’s a look at what some prominent B-van manufacturers are offering for 2014 (note: Sprinter-based photos are on the 2013 chassis).

Advanced RV

Factory-direct Advanced RV LLC of Willoughby, Ohio, offers an optional ‘’Independence Package’’ in the all-diesel Gulf Coast and Ocean One Class B motorhomes that include two solar panels to charge a set of lithium-iron batteries that also can be charged by a shore connection or through an optional generator attached to the engine. Standard with diesel appliances — including a hydronic heating system and on-demand hot water — the Gulf Coast is built on the standard 22-foot Sprinter chassis while Ocean One 24-footer is assembled on the Sprinter’s dual-wheel extended platform. Both include a touch-screen Silverleaf multiplex system to monitor tank levels and batteries; it also acts as a thermostat and starts the generator. Although highly customizable, Gulf Coast and Ocean One are equipped with convertible electric sofas — fixed double or twin beds are optional — LED lighting, heated floors, custom ground effects with integrated running boards, European-style cabinets, portable single-burner induction cooktop and a Keurig K-Cup coffeemaker.
Retail prices start at about $137,000.
Advanced RV
440-283-0405
www.advanced-rv.com

Airstream

Jackson Center, Ohio-based Airstream Inc.’s Interstate Class B has been the best-selling van camper brand for the last three years and will be mounted on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis with a standard 161-hp 6-cylinder diesel engine by the time you read this. Available in seven 22 and 24-foot floorplans on standard and extended Sprinter chassis, the Interstate has been upgraded for 2014 with a larger TV, Alcoa DuraBright aluminum wheels, an enhanced navigation system and Xenon headlights with automatic rain-sensing washers. Other standards include Corian countertops and pedestal tables, high-gloss laminate cabinets, power rear sofas or twin beds, Ultraleather seating and adjustable LED lighting.
MSRPs start at $137,364.
Airstream
877-596-6111
www.airstream.com

Great West Van Conversions

Great West Van Conversions Inc. of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, builds three van campers: the Legend, Legend SE and Legend XE — all mounted on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter diesel platform with a gvwr of 11,030 pounds. Two floorplans, one with a tri-fold rear bed, the other with twin beds, are available in all three models. The Legend and upgraded Legend SE are 22 feet, while the Legend XE is 24 feet and offers more living space, a longer bed and four coach batteries. Both the Legend SE and XE are equipped with hydronic heating/hot water, along with a standard 85-watt solar panel. All models feature solid wood cabinets, recessed LED lighting, Avonite countertops and laminate hardwood-look floors.
Base MSRPs: Legend, $110,000; Legend SE, $120,000; Legend EX, $128,000.
Great West Van Conversions
204-338-9303
www.greatwestvans.com

Pleasure-Way Industries

Pleasure-Way offers two Class B platforms in varying lengths — the 19½-foot Ascent and 22-foot 9-inch dual-wheel Plateau on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter; and the 20½-foot Lexor on the Chevy 3500 Express. GVWRs are 8,500 pounds on the Ascent, 11,030 pounds on the Plateau and 9,600 pounds with a 320-hp gas engine on the Lexor. Pleasure-Way will start building on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter equipped with a 4-cylinder diesel engine when they become available later this year. Standard features include a private bath and shower, maple cabinets, Corian countertop, stainless steel sink and two-burner stove/cooktop. Its 2014 RVs come with a 5 Year/60,000 mile limited warranty.
Base MSRPs: Lexor, $87,000; Ascent, $109,000;
Plateau, $111,540.
Pleasure-Way Industries
800-364-0189
www.pleasureway.com

RoadTrek

Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, has introduced for 2014 the 22-foot CS-Adventurous series built on the Sprinter dual-wheel chassis with a gvwr of 11,030 pounds.
The floorplan is versatile with three captains chairs up front and a rear convertible sofa or twin beds, either of which can be converted into a king-size sleeping platform. The front-seating and rear-sleeping areas allow two people to get up and go to bed at different times without disturbing each other. Features on the new CS-Adventurous include frameless windows, marine toilets, engineered granite countertops, cherry cabinet doors and heavy-duty vinyl flooring. An optional E-Trek package allows the coach to be operated ‘’off-the-grid” with an engine-mounted 3500 watt generator, eight 6-volt solar-charged AGM batteries and an Alde comfort heating system that includes hot water.
Base MSRP: $115,960.
Roadtrek Motorhomes
519-745-1169
www.roadtrek.com

Triple E RV

Winkler, Manitoba, Canada-based Triple E RV has designed a driver-side slideout
in the 2014 Leisure Travel Vans Free Spirit FS22SS Class B motorhome. Built on
the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
chassis with a gvwr of 11,030 pounds, Triple E will give the buyer the option of a 4- or 6-cylinder diesel engine when it goes into production with the 2014 Sprinter chassis. New to the 22-foot 9-inch Free Spirit for 2014 is an electric convertible sofa, new roof trim with integrated power awning
and a 4.8-cubic-foot refrigerator. The FS22SS, one of two Free Spirit floorplans, takes a cue from European designers with curved cabinets and a self-contained lavatory. Standards include contoured Corian countertops, radius windows and powered patio awning.
Base MSRP: $113,815.
Triple E Recreational Vehicles
877-992-9906
www.tripleerv.com

Winnebago

Winnebago Industries Inc., long an innovator in the Class B market, has introduced the Travato motorhome assembled on the Ram ProMaster chassis with a gvwr of 9,350 pounds. The more affordable 21-foot, front-wheel drive Travato from the Forest City, Iowa, manufacturer is equipped with a 280-hp V-6 gasoline engine that gets an esti­mated 15 to 18 mpg. With more vertical side walls than Winnebago’s Sprinter-based Era Class B, the Travato provides 4 additional inches of shoulder room and offers features such as a soft vinyl ceiling, LED interior lights, shower, powered patio awning, laminate countertops, two-burner range and a refrigerator with a
removable freezer unit.
MSRP: $84,039.
Winnebago Industries
641-585-3535
www.winnebagoind.com

Bob Ashley is a columnist for RV Business magazine and has covered the industry for nearly 20 years. He is a recipient of the “Distinguished Service in RV Journalism” award from the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).