BORN FREE MOTORCOACH HAS INTRODUCED A CLASS C motorhome that is designed to bridge the gap between the compact Class B van conversion and the traditional Class C. Dubbed the Bed and Breakfast, this new coach is aimed directly at the “empty-nest baby boomer,” who may not be interested in a larger motorhome due to cost, storage issues and zoning restrictions.
The Bed and Breakfast comes fully loaded, with no options, for $59,995, a price that rivals
luxury full-size sport-utility vehicles. For that cost, buyers get a surprising array of
features, including a 13,500-BTU roof air-conditioner with a 5,600-BTU heat strip, a
Fan-Tastic fan, a microwave oven, a toaster oven, a coffeemaker, an electric outdoor grill,
a fold-down flat-screen television, oak cabinetry, a six-seat dinette that converts into a
54×86-inch bed, and Ultraleather cab seats.
The coach is all electric, so there is no LP-gas system; the stove, the 3.1-cubic-foot refrigerator and the 4-gallon water heater run off an inverter powered by a 2.8-kW Onan MicroLite AC generator when dry camping, or by shore power. Two 105-amp-hour deep-cycle batteries are standard.
The coach rides on a Chevrolet cutaway-van chassis with a 9,500-pound gross vehicle weight rating, and is powered by a 5.7-liter V-8 engine tied to a four-speed automatic transmission. Coil springs are used up front, but Born Free fits the Bed and Breakfast with air springs in the rear to improve ride quality. A claimed dry weight of 8,400 pounds and an overall length of 21 feet mean that the Bed and Breakfast can legitimately be used as a second vehicle and will fit in most driveways.
The company addressed residential zoning restrictions by fitting the coach with single rear wheels; it is considered a van in the eyes of the law, according to Born Free. Another interesting feature is that the Bed and Breakfast is fitted with puncture-proof Uniroyal NailGard tires, which eliminates the need to carry a spare, Born Free suggests. In the event of a flat, the company states that it will cover all the expenses to get the owner back on the road. The Bed and Breakfast features an aerodynamic body made of reinforced gelcoated fiberglass, and utilizes 2-inch steel-tube roll-bar construction with wood framing, fiberglass insulation, a one-piece fiberglass roof and a 3/4-inch-thick plywood floor encased in fiberglass. The coach has an interior width of 82 inches and can accommodate occupants up to 6 feet 2. Capacities for the Bed and Breakfast include 37 gallons of fuel, 14 gallons of fresh water, 18 gallons of gray water and a cassette toilet with a 4.5-gallon capacity. Article by: Chris Hemer Born Free Motorcoach Inc., P.O. Box 39, Humboldt, Iowa 50548; (866) BORNFREE; www.bornfreemotorcoach.com.
