Maybe it's a Boomer thing, but the weekly exploits of the SS Minnow was so engrained in my childhood that I couldn't resist drawing comparisons. Class B vans (conversions) like the Roadtrek 2500 Sprinter SS-Agile are in many ways like a small boat. In nautical terms, everything onboard must have its place. In that regard, SS-Agile didn't disappoint me, and once its galley was buttoned up, it had the feel of a finely crafted schooner.

But that's where most of the maritime similarities ended and the coastal adventure with SS-Agile began.

A Cruise Along the Pacific
My wife Janey and I set a course north following Highway 1, also known as Cabrillo Highway, State Route 1, and Pacific Coast Highway, depending on your location on it. By all calculations we'd be on the road for approximately seven days. Together, we planned a trip with brief stops in Santa Barbara, Morro Bay, Cambria, Big Sur, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, and then in Marin County.

The trip back home to Southern California would bring us south on Highway 101 through Paso Robles for some wine tasting in the vineyards. Joining us were our two Labradors, Jersey and Jetta.

The main mission was to be self-reliant in the SS-Agile (MSRP of $106,282 as tested) from Roadtrek Motorhomes of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. While the first-generation SS-Agile was introduced in 2006, Chrysler revamped the Sprinter 2500 van chassis two years later.

The real strength of the SS-Agile was its fuel efficiency thanks to a Mercedes-Benz turbocharged diesel engine that puts out 154 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. We've tested other motorhomes featuring this exact engine and were impressed, so we wanted to see if we got anything close to the 20-plus mpg some Roadtrek owners claimed. Since it had a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of only 8,550 pounds, anything was possible. We'd see.

Before long it was down to business, and that meant taking copious notes of the interior amenities-from real cherrywood cabinetry that looked every bit high-tech to granite countertops. The fact that SS-Agile could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a cargo-carrying capacity of 2,500 pounds and a storage capacity of 47 cubic feet was impressive. On a personal note, all I wanted to know was if my golf clubs would fit.

While this new model from Roadtrek was officially referred to as the Short Sprinter (144-inch wheelbase) and designed mostly for weekend trips for empty-nesters or small families, we envisioned more of a wandering journey with no stays lasting more than a day.

There would be no hotel accommodations, no dining out (well, maybe once), just a care-free adventure in a Class B that would have us evaluating all the standard and optional features SS-Agile could muster, including a sit-down or stand-up bathroom shower, a two-burner recessed stove, a stainless steel sink, a 19-inch flat-screen TV, and an electric power sofa that reclined into a bed. The SS-Agile also features a four-year, 48,000-mile limited warranty.

To better illustrate the story, we'd compare this trip in an RV to that in a standard passenger car-with all the associated expenses that go with it. That was my wife's idea and a good one. (More on that later.)

Santa Barbara Coast
Before long we were nearing the Santa Barbara coastline. For those not familiar with the area, Santa Barbara is about two hours from Los Angeles and is blessed with some of the best beaches in California.

It was in Santa Barbara where I decided to pull off Highway 1 to give Roadtrek another inspection. Parked, it was refreshing to see such a euro-influenced van in the company of so many uninteresting domestic RV designs on the road, some terribly outdated and needlessly larger than life.

Roadtrek's conversion of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (by Daimler AG) was seamless; remarkable given the fact that Roadtrek started with a barren van and stayed mostly true to the original German influences. Other RV features included some mild exterior graphics, a top-mounted 110V A/C unit, a retractable awning, and an optional Continental spare tire kit out back.

While many elements were worth noting, the function-over-form features developed by Roadtrek were what got our attention. Like the external shower with hot and cold water, which came in handy after the dogs decided to take a swim in the ocean.

The hookups were at the driver's side, hidden in a lower rocker panel and including the LP-gas, cable, electric, and gray/black water disposal system with a 12V sewage macerator. Also in reach was the standard 30-amp power hookup that powered all the 110V features, including the 11,000-Btu roof-mounted air conditioner.

A 2.5 KW Onan MicroLite propane generator was onboard and could be used when dry camping to run all the appliances. Worth noting were the sizeable 22 U.S. gallon capacity combined gray/black water tank, 21 U.S. gallon freshwater tank, and 6 U.S. gallon water heater system.

At this point in our trip, we couldn't have asked for a better RV. At only 19 feet 5 inches long and with a lively turning radius (45 feet curb to curb), SS-Agile drove like a car. It fit in most parking lot spaces without much worry, and parallel parking was effortless.

While we didn't want to get too cocky with its good behavior, the SS-Agile held its own on the road thanks to four-wheel disc ABS and a 5-five automatic transmission with a manual shift override.

The SS-Agile was generally smooth and very comfortable thanks in part to the big captain's chairs up front. Sure, if you came into a corner too fast, it had the top-heavy feel of a vehicle that stands 9 feet 7 inches (with A/C unit).

In Lompoc we discovered a sleepy agricultural town that probably hadn't changed much since it was incorporated as a city in August 1888. Beyond the painted murals, Lompoc is best known for the seasonal flower fields and Vandenberg Air Force Base nearby. With a brisk walk around, we soaked up some sun and soon were on our way.

We passed the towns of Guadalupe, Nipomo, and Grover Beach in quick succession. They didn't look like much to the naked eye, but they were worth a visit. Produce is king along this stretch of the coastline and it showed. Everywhere we looked was a small produce stand selling fruit and vegetables at deep discounts. Farms butted up against towering cliffs that fell to the ocean below. It was amazing to see (and smell) the crops in full bloom.

Since SS-Agile was equipped with a Dometic 12V (3.8 cubic foot) refrigerator, it gave us the option of loading up with fresh produce for the trip.

After a relaxing drive farther up the coast, Janey and I arrived in Morro Bay just in time to enjoy their outdoor market. There were lots of interesting goods to admire, and the local street musicians made the stop in the little seaside town worthwhile.

Plan it correctly and you, too, can find time to enjoy a stretch of beach in Morro Bay, the marine wildlife, and other sights in the area that draw millions of people each year. Be sure to check out Morro Rock, a famous ocean outcropping named by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo when he first charted this coast during his 16th-century voyage of discovery.

Heading north, we soon made another stop, this one in Cambria, along one of the most photographed coastlines in the world. Cambria is an ocean community with some fine dining and excellent shopping.

Farther up Highway 1 we passed San Simeon, which is the site of Hearst Castle, started in 1919 when newspaper magnet William Randolph Hearst asked architect Julia Morgan to build "a little something" on a majestic hillside with ocean views. What became of that conversation is a 126-acre estate with pools, gardens, terraces, and 162 rooms for the Hearst family and many of Hollywood's stars.

From this point all the way to Big Sur, Highway 1 began to get twistier and the elevations changed dramatically. Cliffs dropped thousands of feet below the highway, into the Pacific, often without a guardrail.

While lots of RVs were on Highway 1, we didn't see many like this one. Which was a good thing. Most Class Bs don't actually look like a typical RV. The SS-Agile, for instance, looks more than a stylish van with an A/C unit on top, since most of its RV qualities are understated. Perhaps what gives it away are the graphics, but even those could be eliminated if you wanted to drive incognito.

Its van camper appearance also makes it convenient for those who live in an area that restricts RVs. The SS-Agile is so compact that it easily could fit in a standard driveway with room to spare.