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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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