Editor’s Note: The views, recommendations and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of Leisure Travel Vans.

The choice can seem daunting when narrowing down your options for a Leisure Travel Van floorplan. Wonder or Unity? Slide or no slide? To Murphy bed or not to Murphy bed? A few factors played a large role in our decision–we both needed a workspace, as much kitchen counter space as feasibly possible, and large enough tank space to boondock regularly.

We decided on the Unity Rear Lounge because it checked off our most important need–separation of space. This layout made the most sense for our lifestyle since we live, work, and travel in our RV most of the year. After over two years of owning and living in our Unity Rear Lounge, below is an overview of our favorite and least favorite things about our LTV and this floorplan.

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Layout

Fundamentally the Rear Lounge layout sealed our decision to purchase an LTV. One of us typically works in the front dining space, while the other works in the rear lounge. We purchased two separate Lagun tables to mount in both areas, so working simultaneously is a breeze.

The door to the shower serves double time as a room divider when we are both on calls. While the door is not noise canceling, it offers a substantial enough buffer to avoid being distracted by a simultaneous meeting or call.

Additionally, if one of us wants to rest while the other is working, we can lay on the couch or pull down the Murphy bed without impacting the other’s workspace. Most importantly, the bedroom, which in our previous RV would go unused most of the day, can be put away so that we can comfortably stay in a compact size while traveling without it feeling any more compact than our 30ft travel trailer.

Rear Lounge office with a view!

Work from bed or take a nap…so many options!

The lounge also acts as a great workout space. I can roll out my yoga mat at an angle and do yoga and body weight exercises using the smart TV. Typically, I use my Peloton app from the TV to follow along with workouts. I am 5’4″, and while my fingers sometimes touch the ceiling, it is enough space to complete 95% of the moves.

Finally, the small attention to detail makes me appreciate this layout. The wine storage in the lounge is great because I never have to find clever spaces to store my wine bottles during transit. The mirror in the bathroom that also doubles as a window shade allows for light and privacy when needed. The pull-out pantry allows me to store many staples without impacting the drawer and cabinet space.

Exterior Fresh Tank Fill

It seems like a funny thing to love about your RV, but we always use the fresh water tank hose from the outside. In our previous rig, we would have to carry heavy jugs and tilt them into our water fill which was quite strenuous. This setup, however, makes filling up your water tank when you don’t have a water spigot around so easy and convenient.

We have several collapsible 5.5-gallon water jugs we will fill up when we go to town. This allows us to stay in our campsite without relocating (we have a vehicle that we tow) when we are remote camping. Additionally, the exterior water fill also makes winterizing your LTV incredibly simple. We just put the hose in the jug of antifreeze and run it through the plumbing—such a small detail, but we love how LTV thought of this.

Extra Counter Space

My biggest concern about transitioning to a smaller RV was the amount of counter space in the kitchen. The kitchen is small, but the counter that drops over the dining seat doubles the counter space available for prepping meals. It can be folded back up when you are not using the kitchen, so it doesn’t impact your ability to dine comfortably. Some of the other LTV models don’t have this much additional counter space, so I appreciate this about the Rear Lounge.

An abundant amount of counter space that flips down from the wall and stows away when not in use.

Abundance of Light

The amount of light that shines through our Rear Lounge is wonderful. The pop-up skylight in the dining area is great for bringing in a substantial amount of light but also allows for additional airflow. But the most fantastic display of natural light comes in from the lounge area.

The large double windows bring all of the outdoor scenery indoors. My only wish is that the double windows would be on the passenger side of the coach. Since RV hookups are on the driver’s side with the double windows, your view is of your utility center if you are in an RV park. Also, when boondocking, we typically face the passenger side towards the best view because we can set up our chairs and awning on that side.

The Wonder Rear Lounge has double windows on the passenger side, making our decision between the Wonder and the Unity more difficult. Finally, a shower with a skylight above makes it feel much larger–when you’re under trees; it makes you feel like you’re in an outdoor shower. It’s a magical way to enjoy a shower despite the petite size.

Skylight and windows galore!

Floor-to-ceiling windows in an RV!

Easy-to-Clean Finishes

As an owner of two dogs with delicate stomachs, it’s comforting to know that no matter the accident, everything can be cleaned without leaving permanent damage. No carpet or fabric will absorb any splatters or spills. The floor is vacuumed and wiped down easily.

The Ultraleather® is also incredibly durable and easy to clean. We opted for the lightest Ultraleather® color, and while it does get dirty easily, it cleans up nicely with a wet microfiber towel. Window screens pop off (don’t need to be unscrewed) to spray down the windows. I find that it is a misconception that you spend less time when you are in your RV cleaning since it is a smaller space. Every space is well trafficked, and thus you are cleaning more often. I’m relieved that while cleaning up often, everything is designed with simple maintenance.

Just to note, this isn’t unique to the Rear Lounge–all of the LTV floorplans use easy-to-clean materials, and it’s a HUGE positive.

The Pain in the Rear…Lounge

While everything is nearly perfect in our Rear Lounge, there are some opportunities that I hope LTV takes into consideration for future models.

Toilet

Probably strange to have this as the first thing you dislike about your RV, but the toilet is the only thing I dislike. The layout requires a macerator toilet since the black tank does not sit directly below. The macerator toilet can use a substantial amount of water to flush, even on the lowest water setting. I find it often requires multiple flushes to get everything down. I also found that I often scrub to keep it clean. Making fixes can be difficult because of the way it’s mounted. There’s only a few inches of clearance to squeeze your hand in if you need to tighten anything.

The High Point Is a Low Point for Us

We do not use a microwave, but the High Point Microwave Convection oven struggles to brown and crisp foods. I wish there were an option for an oven in the LTV or to use the enclosure for the microwave as storage instead. We have taken this into our own hands by removing the unit and using the space as an additional kitchen cabinet.

Our new cabinet in place of the High Pointe Microwave/Convection Oven

Lagun Table Will Droop over Time

We have had to replace the leg bushings on our Lagun table legs a few times because the table top began drooping. We are careful not to put excessive weight on the table, but normal use will cause it to droop within a few months. Replacing the bushing is incredibly difficult; otherwise, we would do it more often since the part is only a few bucks. There is some opportunity for the table to be lighter and the part to be made of metal or stronger material.

Tiny Bladder

The holding tank in the Unity Rear Lounge is only 25 gallons, about half of our previous travel trailer. With normal conservation, we can typically go three days before filling the tank, which isn’t long. Ideally, we would like to get closer to 5-6 days. While this isn’t ideal, the exterior fresh tank fill makes it so easy to refill using our water jugs that it’s not a deal breaker. It just requires additional planning when camping off-grid for extended periods.

Dometic Multi(com)plex

Overall, I like the Dometic Multiplex system. It’s easy to use and nice to have all of the functions of the RV at your fingertips from the panels and app. My primary complaint is that it would be nice to have some light switches quickly accessible, at least in the restroom and the entry. When I’m carrying a load of groceries into the Leisure Travel Van, I’d like to be able to easily press a button instead of navigating to the RV light panel and scrolling through the extensive lighting options to select the one I want.

On another positive note, I like the many panels throughout the motorhome for accessibility purposes. As of the time this post was written, LTV has moved away from this system and has some easier, more accessible light switches.

Ultimately, we’re really happy with the design and build quality of the Leisure Travel Van Rear Lounge. It suits our unique needs, and we’ve managed to boondock for upwards of 10 days in the most beautiful places only accessible with our size RV. On top of that, we were able to comfortably work, sleep, eat, and recreate from those places. We’re incredibly grateful to our LTV for providing us with the well-functioning tools to make this all possible.

Editor’s Note: This post is written by a member of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

Editor’s Note: This post is written by a member of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

Nestled along the shoreline of southern Maine amongst the small coastal northeastern towns is one of our favorite food destinations in the United States. When we lived in New York City, Portland was an escape from the city’s congestion and high prices. Little did we know that those were the good old days and that this seaside town would be discovered. Today we don’t bat an eye at a $30+ Lobster Roll, and the days of $12 lobster rolls are a precious memory of the past. Ultimately, if it weren’t fantastic, I wouldn’t be paying those kinds of prices, nor would I be recommending that you plan a trip entirely around food. Granted, there is plenty to see and do, but the fare is the highlight of any trip to Portland.

The Lobster Roll Round-Up

Let’s face the hard truth first. You go to Maine, you have a lobster roll, and you consider your trip to Maine a success. But there is more to the lobster roll than you see on the surface. There is a huge rivalry of sorts amongst lobster roll aficionados: Maine vs. Connecticut. It comes down to cold vs. warm and mayonnaise vs. butter, respectively. Wondering where I stand? Would you ever admit to loving one of your children more than the other? No. I’m equal opportunity, mayo, and butter.

Eventide Oyster Co.

If you’re coming here and expecting cold lobster tossed in mayonnaise on a buttered roll, you might be surprised with what you get. See, Eventide does things differently. Cold lobster salad? Nope. The lobster is lightly warmed. Mayonnaise? Wrong again. Think warm lobster claw and knuckle pieces tossed in a decadent brown butter vinaigrette. Buttered New England hot dog bun? By now, you know that’s not the case. A spongy steamed bao bun. It’s so distinct and so delicious that Eventide has gone as far as to trademark its lobster roll. It’s that good. Pro-tip, the wait at Eventide is often 2+ hours, so place an order online and eat them on the picnic tables on the grassy area half a block away.

Bite Into Maine

If you’re looking for a classic Lobster Roll, Bite into Maine is our top option. If you’re also looking for a lobster roll with a twist, Bite into Maine is also our top option. My favorite is the “Picnic Style.” It has a lightly dressed, finely chopped coleslaw and is sprinkled with celery salt. Typically, I’m not a coleslaw person, but it works here for whatever reason. John goes for the wasabi lobster roll. It’s light on the wasabi but adds a touch of heat that offsets the cool mayonnaise. Oh, and did we mention that there is a kettle of clarified butter that they drizzle on top of your lobster roll when you retrieve your order? Not for the light at heart. Bite into Maine has a few locations: Allagash Brewery and Portland Head Lighthouse are their food truck locations, and their Scarborough location menu is more extensive.

Beyond the Lobster

When you tire of lobster, you know there are good (in fact, stellar) options that aren’t seafood-focused. We always like to try the new restaurants in the area, but these are the tried and true restaurants that we always make our way to.

Noodles at Honey Paw

Honey Paw Wings and Khao Soi

The Honey Paw

Southeast Asian fare is brought to you by the same restaurant group that runs Eventide Oyster Bar. Often times we will opt to dine here when we cannot fathom waiting for hours at Eventide. Typically the wait is not very long. Honey Paw shouldn’t be missed if you’re looking for bold flavors. Khao Soi is highly recommended, especially if you’re here on a cool Autumn evening. Braised lamb and thick egg noodles come nested in a curry-laced coconut milk broth. Wings come crispy, sweet, and savory…and addictive! Leave room for dessert. Their rotating soft serve and cake options are worth stopping for even if you aren’t having a meal.

Scratch Baking Company

I’m making a bold statement – these are the best bagels in the U.S. Scratch Baking only offers a few flavors of bagels: sea salt, sesame, poppy seed, and everything. They are best early in the morning when the bagels maintain their airy interiors and chewy exteriors. Sea salt and poppy seed are true winners here and don’t pass on the whipped cream cheese either. Toasting is not necessary if you’re eating them fresh. Be prepared to get there early, or place an order online to reserve your bagels if you like sleeping in. Scratch Baking is only a short drive from the Portland Head Lighthouse, so if you can resist not tearing into your bagel, you will be rewarded with a fantastic bagel with a view. They also have a large selection of baked goods, all of which have been delightful.

Central Provisions

Get the raw beef salad. Don’t question it, and you can thank us later. Like most Portland restaurants, you’ll want to make a reservation or be prepared to wait. Dimly lit and incredibly inviting, try to budget enough time to sit at the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail. Central Provisions is an ideal choice for group dining since many dishes are meant for sharing, and you’ll get to sample more of the menu with a group of 4 or 6. Their menu is ever-changing based on seasonality and intentionally balanced across proteins, vegetables, and seafood options. Great cocktails and a thoughtful wine list will likely keep you lingering past your meal.

Eventide Oyster Co. (Listed Twice for a Reason)

You’ll notice that Eventide is on the list twice and not by mistake. While they make insanely delectable brown butter vinaigrette lobster rolls, sticking around and sampling their extensive oyster offering would behoove you. Cocktail sauce and Mignonette are offered as standard accouterments, but their kimchi ice and pickled red onion ice is an enlightening approach to the oyster experience. If, after two lobster rolls and a dozen oysters, you don’t think you can have another bite, think again. The Maine lobster stew is worth undoing your pants’ top button. Not traditional in any sense, the Eventide lobster stew is a green curry stew with large and small pieces of lobster, sweet potatoes, and coconut milk. Mind-blowingly good.

The Beer Guide

When you need a break from the vast culinary landscape that is Portland, you’ll be overjoyed to know that Portland has one of the most breweries per capita in the United States. While there are too may good breweries to visit in one stay (although John has!), we have narrowed our recommendations to those that are most inviting, social, and have food.

Maine Beer Company

In addition to having great beer, wood-fired pizzas, and a beautiful indoor and outdoor space, Maine Beer Company is a downright upstanding company. They are committed to treating their employees right (they pay 100% of their health insurance and provide ample time off), and they pledge a portion of their proceeds to environmental organizations. Their facility has a ridiculous amount of solar that will get any Leisure Travel Van owner thinking about how they can add more panels to their roof. While this brewery isn’t in Portland per say, it is in Freeport, which is about a 20-minute drive away. There is plenty to do in the area to make the drive worthwhile, such as outlets and the very popular L.L. Bean.

Bissell Brothers Brewing

Bright and airy and filled with intensely colored murals, your mood will be instantly lifted when you walk into Bissell Brothers. It’s a fun space to have a meal, a quick beer, or linger and get some work done. Their beer offering tends to be heavy on the IPA, but there are generally various styles available on tap. Bissell Brothers frequently have can releases, where you can purchase one or two beers that are small batch produced. Food options are fairly standard pub fare, but they have plenty of vegetarian-friendly options as well.

Allagash Brewing Company

One of our favorite autumnal breweries to visit, Allagash is a great place to spend an afternoon. They have a vast outdoor space with games and food, which makes it popular amongst families and tourists. Probably a safer bet for people who like beer for recreation as they generally have lighter beers but no less variety. Their beer is distributed nationally, but this brewery feels local and homey.

You’ll be sure to find us in Portland in the fall when the air is crisp, some of the crowds have thinned, and the leaves are putting on a spectacular show. Let us know if you have any favorite places to check out next time we’re there. Even better, if you plan to be there in the fall, let us know, and maybe we can even have a lobster roll and beer meet and greet!

Editor’s Note: John Lloyd and Lisa Kageyama are members of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

The Bar That Started It All

Many of life’s greatest decisions are made in a bar. I was traveling to San Francisco for work and John later joined me and we decided to meet up at a bar. At the time, we were both working very high-stress corporate roles and it was the same thing every day. We couldn’t imagine the foreseeable future becoming this monotonous, predictable cycle of riding the subway, working endless hours, followed by happy hour, then a lackluster takeout meal, and never enough sleep. It was exhausting and while it seemed in the moment we were going somewhere, from afar in this bar in San Francisco, I realized, we weren’t going anywhere. But then came the greatest life-altering decision we had ever made. I blurted out “I don’t want to go back.” It wasn’t necessarily that I didn’t want to go back to New York because I love New York; I just didn’t want to go back to the routine that had become our lives. That’s when I suggested that we buy a school bus, renovate it and travel the country. To my surprise, John said, “let’s do it” and that’s how our RV life began.

A Life We Didn’t Give Up On

We quickly realized that “Skoolie life” might be getting ahead of ourselves because after all, we were not renovators nor had we ever really RV’ed much less camped (actually, we camped once in a tent, and I vowed we would never do it again and still stand by that decision). So instead, we opted for a 30 ft 1994 Airstream, which we renovated mostly ourselves, learning as we went through endless amounts of YouTube videos. It took us about 6 months to finish the renovation and in December 2018, we set off with our two mini–Australian Shepherds, Clinton & Dani, for what we thought would be a year on the road. Within the first week, I wanted to go home because I hated it. Everything that could possibly go wrong did. Fortunately for future us, we didn’t turn back. Since our house was being rented out, we had no choice but to press on and fix our issues, which we did.

Our dogs, Clinton & Dani

July 2019

We were in Alaska and had met up with a group of Xscapers (a working nomad group, part of Escapees which is for retirees). Many people in this group had purchased older truck campers specifically for Alaska so that they wouldn’t damage their RVs making the trip through the famously terrible roads (quick note: they aren’t that bad). We were jealous of how nimble they were. Someone had brought up Leisure Travel Vans and that set off all of the rave responses. They mentioned how the Murphy Bed made the space so adaptable and how nice the finishes were. We stuck this mention in the back of our minds and didn’t think much about LTV because, at the time, we thought we would likely go back to New York and pick back up where we left off.

Ultimately, our time on the road would open our lives up to the possibility that there truly was more to life other than work. We had met countless fellow RV’ers that had all said the same thing, “we wish we would have done this sooner, you are smart to do this while you’re healthy and physically able.” Most people wait until they retire to take that trip of a lifetime or travel the world but we realized that we didn’t want the final years of our lives to be a rush of making up for lost time or worse, not having the opportunity.

Times Have Changed

Time is not always guaranteed so we adjusted our lives to ensure that we are able to balance the necessity to work with our love of travel, food, and nature. I (Lisa) have started a remote consulting business that allows me to maintain a flexible schedule and do all the things that I loved about my work in New York. Prior to the pandemic, there weren’t many opportunities for John’s work to be done in a remote capacity, but times have changed. He now leads a team from afar and his company is supportive of his unconventional, nomadic lifestyle. We are a long way away from our first week on the road where we wanted to go home. Once we got the hang of things, John and I became addicted and needed to figure out ways that we could continue living on the road. 

The Search For Our LTV

While we loved our previous rig, we had evolved into very different campers than when we first started. At this point, we were mostly boondocking so we wanted something smaller. The extra power was also needed so we could charge our devices (we didn’t even have an inverter!) Most importantly, we both needed to be able to work comfortably thus, we decided to sell our rig and find something that was going to be more in line with our needs.

The search was proving more difficult than we had anticipated as nothing quite fit our needs or our style and we really did not want to renovate again. It was then that we thought back to our conversations back in Alaska about Leisure Travel Vans. We went on to watch nearly every LTV tour with Dean to see if there was a layout that would work. Soon enough, we were hooked on the Rear Lounge and began calling all of the dealerships and scouring Facebook for listings. With an abundance of perseverance, we were able to take the place of cancellation in Michigan for a 2021 Rear Lounge.

This truly is the perfect layout for us because it allows us to have two separate workspaces (dinette and lounge area) and the design aesthetic is something that I have never needed to lift a drill or a saw to alter. 

Going Full Circle

At the time of writing this blog post, we have crossed the United States three times in our LTV and are loving our petite home on wheels. We have experienced the fall colors in the northeast the cold springs of Florida and the rich, red deserts of the southwest.

Fall in the northeast

Rich, red deserts in the southwest

We have also braved the snowy and lush Canadian Rockies, and continue to travel extensively and work comfortably (and quite glamorously) in our rig.

This summer, our LTV story is going full circle, back to where it all started, which is back to Alaska. We hope to meet many of you along the way. Give us a honk or flash of the headlights- we love meeting fellow travelers along the way. 

Editor’s Note: John and Lisa Lloyd / Kageyama are members of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

As frequent RVers, we knew that our RV needed to have all the functionality of a traditional home and then some. For the most part, newer RVs come with all the bells and whistles to make life on the road abundantly comfortable. The challenge that we had with selecting our next RV was that so many of them leave much to be desired aesthetically, both from an interior and exterior perspective. Layer on the challenge of wanting to have a smaller footprint, and a Leisure Travel Van was the no-brainer choice. The clean, simple designs and the richness of materials make for a great foundation, allowing your LTV to reflect your personal style. The nice thing is that it does not take much to give your rig a decorated look.

Choose a Color Pallet

This was the first step that we took before making any of our purchases. Pinterest has seemingly unlimited inspiration for color and corresponding products that fit within the palette that you select. For our rig, we opted for a desert-inspired color palette with a mix of different shades of terracotta, mustard, and deep green. We were influenced by our many months of traveling through the south western portion of the United States, specifically, Sedona, Arizona, where the richness of the red-colored dirt is intensified against the olive vibrancy of the Verde Valley. Like many RVers, we wanted our décor to reflect our experiences from the road.

Soft Goods Will Complete the Look

Rugs, pillows, and throw blankets will bring all the comfy, cozy vibes to your small space. While RVing draws us towards the outdoors, there are rainy days, nights, and rest days that keep us within the small confines of our space. It should be welcoming and enticing. A decorative rug can decorate a whole room; it is as simple as that. Also, the dogs love them. We used a small 2-foot x 3-foot rug for our lounge area and another in the kitchen. Other layouts might benefit from a runner. Pillows are great for comfort but can also add a splash of color and offer some much-needed texture. We purchased three small pillows, and while they primarily stay in the lounge area, we use them in the dining area while working for extra back support. Finally, a throw blanket, is both functional and can be that one item that says, “snuggle up and watch some Netflix.” It can add a pop of color, or it can help protect the Ultra Leather from getting dirty. All these things can be collected throughout your journey so they can truly reflect your experiences on the road. To start, we took our LTV to various stores like HomeGoods, Target, and Urban Outfitters so that we could “test” the look and size of them in our LTV and promptly return anything that didn’t work.

Bring the Outdoors In

We love the way both fresh and faux plants look in our RV. It’s an easy way to bring color into the space and fill some of the open shelving. Our love of plants might be a bit over the top for some, but we absolutely love the look of our herb garden in our kitchen. We removed the television in the front of our LTV Rear Lounge and replaced it with the Ikea Hultarp system of hanging pots. To cover up some of the holes from behind the television, we filled them, then applied a peel and stick tile in a hexagon Carrara style to make it look finished. Because we cook most our meals, the herb garden is another fantastic way to add freshness to scrambled eggs, salads, and soups. We use museum putty to keep plant vessels in place so there is no need to bring down the plants when moving the rig.

Add a Personalized Touch

Little personalized touches will be the things that people comment on when visiting your LTV. For ours, it’s definitely our spice jars. Ours are simply Ikea Rajtan spice jars with DYMO embossed labels. On a few of the spices, we’ve made some humorous spice puns such as “Old Bae” and “Oregano Gangsta”. Other personalized touches might be family photographs or framed paintings. Regardless of which route you choose, these personalized touches are good conversation starters (not that RVers ever need much of an excuse to strike up a conversation!)

Don’t Forget Your Patio!

While storage can be a challenge for some floor models (looking at you, Wonder and Unity Rear Lounges!), if you can fit a couple of items for your outdoor space, it’s worth it. We don’t have much storage, but we do keep a couple of essentials on hand and bring some of our items outdoors onto our “patio” on occasion. We have a fun printed outdoor rug in black and white that matches our Euro Sport color scheme and a couple of folding chairs. We have a larger folding table that we use for working or sharing meals. On occasion, we bring out our ottoman-style table and use this as a little side table to set our drinks and/or small cheese and charcuterie platter on. Some of the plants will come outside to add to the ambiance. It’s good to sun the plants but it also makes it looks like you really have done up your patio. If you have ample storage space (looking at you Wonder Rear Twin Bed!), you might want to bring along hanging lights for your awning, a small propane fire pit, or solar tiki torches. The options are limitless, depending on how much time you spend outdoors. Just remember, if you don’t have a tow vehicle, that you will probably want to keep a modest patio set-up, because packing up your outdoor space can quickly become cumbersome if you move often.

Ultimately, it doesn’t take very much to brighten up your space and making it your own. In most cases, less is more when RVing and the same goes for décor. LTV has exquisitely designed these spaces for optimal functionality, so anything more than a couple of items will only hinder the design. These few additions are simply to help reflect your personal style and make the RV more comfortable for all the traveling you will be doing.